The Second String. Gould Nat

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СКАЧАТЬ delighted. "You don't mean it, that would be too much of a good thing. The 'Golden Land' is not the sort of steamer you would care to travel in; there's none of the luxuries of a liner on her. She's a cargo boat."

      "We were at the same school and that was good enough for us. Why should the same steamer not be equally suitable? I am looking forward to roughing it, and may as well commence with the 'Golden Land.' At any rate, it is worth risking in order to have your company."

      "Of course, if you really mean it, I shall be very pleased, and the passage can easily be fixed up."

      "When does she sail?" asked Jack.

      "At the end of the month if she has a full cargo, which she is almost sure to have."

      Jack thought of Lewes Races and his mount on Topsy Turvy. If the "Golden Land" did not sail until then he would not miss the chance of winning again.

      "I am going to ride in a race at Lewes, one of Sir Lester Dyke's horses, and you must come down and see it. There may be a chance of winning a few pounds to help us on our way."

      "I have seen your name in the paper," said Harry, "and often envied you. I wish I could ride well. It will be very useful to you in the colonies. I am afraid my funds will not allow of my travelling to Lewes."

      "I'll see to that. If we go out to seek our fortunes together we will have one common purse."

      Harry Marton shook his head as he replied —

      "That will not be fair, for I have very little to put into it."

      "Our combined capital will not be burdensome, but such as it is we ought to share it," replied Jack laughing.

      "Well, I will leave it to you, only mind, I insist upon a correct account being kept so that I can repay you if I overdraw."

      "Agreed," said Jack, smiling. "We will be as accurate as a bank."

      "If you have really made up your mind we may as well walk round to the shipping office, and see whether we can go by the 'Golden Land.'"

      The Captain of the "Golden Land" chanced to be in the office when they entered, and the manager introduced them. Captain Seagrave was a bluff hearty sailor of the old school, not given to oily words or polished language, but an able skipper, and his employers knew it would be hard to find a better man for their work.

      He had made many voyages to Australia and other countries, and risked his life in ships that were anything but seaworthy. He eyed the two young men curiously, and a humorous smile spread over his face. He hardly thought them the class of passenger for a rough and tumble trip to Fremantle in the "Golden Land." At the same time, he saw a prospect, in their company, of the monotony of the voyage being broken. In reply to the manager he said —

      "There's d – d little room on board for human beings; the accommodation is limited, and the bunks are not equal to the best shake-downs in a decent hotel. There's a tarnation lot of company in the ship sometimes, which we get rid of in the best way we can. The dining saloon, gents, is not on a par with an Atlantic liner's, but there's ample room for feeding, providing the sea's calm. When she's in motion, the 'Golden Land' lets you know it. If the firm's willing, I'll take you both, and I daresay we shall pass the time pleasantly enough. We shall know each other inside out before we reach Fremantle, I guess."

      CHAPTER FOURTH

       AN OLD TIME SKIPPER

      Jack Redland decided to take a trip to Fremantle in the "Golden Land," and arranged for his passage before leaving the office; he was surprised at the low amount charged.

      The manager watched them as they left with Captain Seagrave, and thought:

      "You little know what you are in for. I would not make a trip to Australia in the 'Golden Land' for a hundred pounds, how the deuce Seagrave manages to get the old tub out there safely beats me. She'll go down for certain before long. I hope it will not be this trip."

      Captain Seagrave was in a jovial frame of mind, and he liked his company. He admired pluck and knew his companions had plenty of it, or they would not have ventured on such a trip without asking a few more questions.

      "What sort of a steamer is the 'Golden Land'?" asked Jack.

      Job Seagrave smiled as he replied:

      "She's not what you'd call a floating palace; every time I sail in her I fancy it will be her last voyage, but she holds well together, and I know how to handle her, although she has as many humours as a thoroughbred."

      Jack laughed as he said —

      "I judge from that remark you are fond of racing."

      "Yes, my lad, I am, and not above winning a trifle, or losing it."

      "I ride in races sometimes."

      The skipper turned an admiring glance on him.

      "You don't look much like a jockey," he replied.

      "I am a gentleman rider. If you care to go down to Lewes the week before we sail you will see me win a race, I hope."

      "Lewes!" exclaimed Seagrave, "that's funny, bless my soul, it's funny. I was born there, in that glorious town I first saw daylight, or gas-light."

      "Well, this beats all," said Harry Marton, "it is a day of surprises."

      "A fellow must be born somewhere," said the skipper, in an apologetic tone, at which they both laughed.

      "Have you been there lately?" asked Jack.

      "Not this trip. I was there about twelve months ago, at the races, and had a look round the old place, but very few people know me now. I remember I backed a horse called Topsy Turvy, because he belonged to Sir Lester Dyke. I knew his father, they are a grand old family."

      "I rode the horse," said Jack, quietly.

      "Belay, there," shouted Seagrave, as he came to a dead standstill and stared at him, much to the amusement of the passers by. "You rode him, well, of all the – curious things this beats cock fighting."

      "And I am going to ride him again at the next meeting," said Jack.

      "The shekels of Job Seagrave go on to that horse," said the skipper, "and listen to me, young man, if he wins we'll lay in a nice little stock of dainties for the voyage. The 'Golden Land' is not over well provisioned, my inside feels like a salt mine sometimes before we touch land."

      "I am going to Brighton to-night," said Jack. "Will you come with me?"

      "You mean it, my son?"

      "I do, heartily welcome you will be, and you too, Harry."

      Harry Marton declined, he had no intention of draining his friend's slender purse, and, moreover, he had a little affair of his own with a bright eyed girl he wished to attend to.

      They parted at London Bridge, Jack and Captain Seagrave going by the Brighton train.

      "Glorious country this," said the captain, when they had passed Gatwick and got into the open.

      "I am proud of being a Sussex man. I have had some rare fun at Brighton and Shoreham in my young days. It was there I got my first taste of the sea, and I liked it so much I stuck to it, but I've СКАЧАТЬ