CHAPTER I.

Why I went into the Navy; and how--To Portsmouth--The old Guardho--Well, Youngster! what do you want?--The Main-deck--Encouraging Reception--Agree to enter for Ten Years--A hard Supper, and harder Pillow--Turning in and turning out--Rouse and Bit--A Chance for a Wash--Pipe to Breakfast--What the Doctor said--I am passed--Starboard and Port--Knots and Hitches--Handling a Boat--Feather and Toss--My first Uniform--A Ditty-box--The Mast-head--Cutlass Drill--Rifle Drill--Big Gun Exercise--Splices, left-handed Eyes, Matthew Walker, and Turk’s Head--Old Pipes--Hawser-eye and Dead-eye--Compass and Lead-line--The _Sealark_--Sore Feet--A Day’s Work-Out on a Cruise--Distress--The wrong Signal--Return to the Guardho--The _Highflyer_--Are you Napoleon Bonyparte?--A Lambasting.

Like many an English boy who quits school and the playground for the counter or workshop, I did not find it at all easy to settle down, for I had devoured _Robinson Crusoe_ and not a few books of travel and wild adventure, and thought ploughing the main and seeing foreign countries would suit me much better than learning how to sell locks and hinges, kettles and scythes. Persuasion was tried on me as it has been and will be on others; but I was not to be persuaded, having made up my mind to become a sailor. So on a very cold winter day, which seemed to chill my naval ardour, as the third-class train rolled leisurely to its destination, I presented myself at the admiral’s office in Portsmouth dockyard, holding in my hand a small trunk, which contained my little stock of clothing and sundries, and was forthwith sent away in a boat to the _Illustrious_, training-ship, which lay moored about half a mile from the shore. I was surprised, not to say startled, to see how big the old Guardho looked as we drew near, and might have indulged a little sentiment, but the men rowing to the foot of the gangway on the port side (there was a proper stair on the starboard side), cried, “Now, my lad, up ye go.” It wouldn’t do, I thought, to hesitate; so taking my trunk in one hand, and seizing the man-rope with the other, I scrambled up what then seemed to me a dangerous wooden wall. It was an awkward way of beginning a new career, and not very encouraging; for no friendly welcome awaits the novice who wishes to serve his Queen and fight for his country. It was getting dark; the deck appeared deserted: I could see lights gleaming from below, and hear a confused hum of voices; and I stood shivering, uncertain what to do, when the old quartermaster of the watch came up and accosted me: “Well, youngster, what do you want?”

“I want to be a sailor,” I answered, very innocently. The old fellow chuckled at my answer, as though he had said, “Another simpleton caught by a biscuit!” and bade me come below; an order which I obeyed with alacrity, or rather ‘smartly,’ and dodged the footsteps of my rough guide. We got on the main-deck, where I for the first time saw a cannon. There was a long row of guns, and as they loomed, black and indistinct, in the uncertain light of the ship’s lanterns, I thought how grim and uncomfortable they looked, and whether I should come some day to know all about them. Farther for’ard groups of novices and older hands were smoking, singing, talking, and laughing loudly: some of them observing me, sung out, “Another entry!” and I heard, among their exclamations, “Here’s another new cock for the county-gaol!”

During the few moments I had observed all this, I had been left by my conductor, who had gone to acquaint the commanding officer with my arrival. In my ignorance I expected to see the captain; but he slept on shore every night. Soon, however, I saw the lieutenant come out of his cabin, looking, as it seemed to me, very proud and very happy at the prospect of pocketing another half-crown by the new entry.

“Well,” said he, “can you read?” Most certainly I could. “Well, then, look at that,” and he handed me a bill, pasted on a board, stating the advantages of serving one’s country in the royal navy, scale of wages, provisions, and a list of necessary clothing. I read the bill, and gave it back, telling him I fully understood it: “Then you’ll enter for ten years’ continuous service, will you?”

“Yes, sir,” I unhesitatingly answered.

This ended the conference, and left me at liberty for the night. I was shown the way to the bread-room on the lower deck, where the purser’s steward and I soon made an acquaintance, by his giving me my handkerchief full of good sound Clarence-yard biscuit, with which I was soon deeply engaged, and fancied it much better than the bread I had eaten at home and at school. My teeth had not finished their first lesson when the master-at-arms sent for me, and having asked my name, gave me a bed and blanket, and told me very graciously that I could ‘turn in’ as soon as I liked. Feeling tired and lonely I went below at once, laid my mattress on the orlop-deck (ollop, as sailors call it), and taking two of the shot from the rack, spread my coat and trousers over them for a pillow, and wrapping myself in the blanket, I turned in, and soon slept soundly. I awoke once during the night, and for a moment forgot that I had left home, till the melancholy rippling of the water against the bends, and the striking of the bell, recalled me to a sense of my new situation and my future prospects.

I was roused the next morning in true naval style, by the unmelodious pipe, and the gruff voices of the boatswain’s mates: “Rouse out, here! rouse out! Show a leg and a purser’s stocking! Rouse and bit: lash away! lash away!” and other admonitory cries, to me seemed uncouth and strange, and at last I wondered how they could make such a noise. I rolled up my bed and put it away, and then went to the washhouse on the main-deck, where about forty zinc wash-bowls were ranged, each with an unlimited supply of water and plenty of soap. First come first served; all hands watched for a chance, got a sluice as they could, and wiped themselves afterwards on their own towels--if they had one. Some had no towels, and wiped anywhere, not being over-particular; and with them it was a good joke to single out a new entry, who is pretty sure to have a clean and dry towel; and while he is busy at his bowl, these fellows, with easy consciences, wipe themselves upon his towel, and fling it into some corner, leaving the helpless owner to wipe himself upon his own shirt if he likes. I waited for a short time, and presently got a wash and the loan of a towel from a very disinterested shipmate. After this we were piped to breakfast, and the whistling gave me as much surprise as my rude awakening had done. My first half-pint of cocoa in the service was very good, which is more than I can say of my last, for that was too full of horribles. Soon after breakfast I was sent for by the doctor. I went down to the dispensary, a small cabin on the lower deck. “Strip!” was the order. I complied. The man of medicine now began his examination. He looked first at my mouth and teeth, then felt the muscles of my arms and legs, telling me to make one step backwards or forwards; then, “Cough, will you? but don’t do it in my face. Cough again--again. Were you ever ill? Did you ever break an arm or a leg?” and “Have you been vaccinated?” All these questions comprised my catechism, and I was not a little glad when told that I was passed, and might put on my clothes again and “go.” I didn’t do any actual duty that day; I was merely initiated into the routine of a ship; taught to distinguish the stem from the stern, the mizen from the mainmast, and that again from the fore, and the same with the hatchways, and finally, the important fact that the right side of a ship was called ‘starboard,’ and the left side, ‘port.’ I was quite elated at my day’s training, and began to think I was now really a sailor. The next day I was put into ‘First Instruction,’ which means standing up to make the knots and hitches most in use, and being shown the proper way to lash up a hammock. The knots were mostly very simple and easy, but I now and then got treated as a ‘muff’ by blundering into a difficulty where none existed.

Three days was I knot-making, then advanced into ‘Second Instruction,’ learning how to pull an oar and handle a boat. The first thing necessary was to pull together, and very trying it was for those who could do so to suffer for those who couldn’t or wouldn’t, for till every oar dipped in the water as one, the coxswain wouldn’t cry “Oars!” which gave us a moment’s rest. Those who could pull well were soon picked out and put into a better boat, taught the way to feather and toss an oar, and the modes of saluting officers upon the water. For a lieutenant the coxswain only gets up and takes his cap off; for a captain, the boat’s crew lay on their oars, and the coxswain takes his cap off; and for an admiral, the oars are tossed, and all caps go off. All this I went through very creditably; the novelty of the thing made it a pleasure in my inexperienced eyes. While in this Instruction, I received my clothes, viz.: one pair of blue cloth trousers, two blue serge frocks, two pair of white duck trousers, two pair of white jumpers, two pair of stockings, two white frocks, three flannels, two caps, one knife, and a marking-type; all of which Government supplied for the moderate sum of 3_l._ 10s., including bed and blanket; but although Government pays this much, or did pay at that time, it was said in the ship that the things did not cost so much, and that the contract tailor, the master-at-arms, and the ship’s corporal, made a profit out of the job, and shared it among themselves. My shore-going togs I made up into a neat bundle, and when the man who generally bought the cast-offs came on board I offered them for sale, but as he only bid sixpence for the entire suit, I gave them away.

After this I had to ‘do away’ with my little trunk, as, according to the regulations of the service, we were not allowed the use of a box bigger than a tea-caddy; sailors call it ‘ditty box,’ and in it they keep all their hoarded stock of valuables, and often they indulge in what is called ‘sailors’ pleasure,’ turning everything out of their little treasury, overhauling the heap, and carefully putting it back again.

The white jumpers and trousers were as stiff as pasteboard when first put on, nevertheless I felt great pleasure at my appearance, and wouldn’t have exchanged my position for a better one on any account. In fact, as sailors say, I was as proud as a “dog with two tails.”

As soon as I was made a sailor I was ordered to the mast-head, and cautioned not to go up through ‘lubber’s hole.’ I executed the order very well, and upon coming down was complimented upon my evident willingness and alacrity. I felt no giddiness or hesitation while performing this task; it seemed almost natural to me, and I was vain-glorious enough to be proud of having scrambled up the rigging, and gone over the ‘futtock shrouds.’

On the tenth day I was passed from the boats into Cutlass Drill, or ‘Third Instruction,’ being taught first the various attitudes, the order of which was, “first position in three motions. One, lock the arms smartly behind the back; two, place the right foot in the hollow of the left; three, quarter-face to the right.” Then, “the same positions in one motion;” then, “the way to pick up and ground your cutlass; come to the guard; assault, first point, second point, third point, parry.” Then the different cuts and guards.

About twenty of us learned this drill at once, which was with most a favourite drill. Our instructor, Jim Clements, was an old marine, and many a wet of grog had he from numskulls and fools, for his liberal connivance at faults and petty weaknesses; but, be it known, these instructors in training-ships are little gods on board, and one word from them is well-nigh sufficient to crush a poor novice, let him be right or wrong; and woe to those who have the temerity to offend a trainer. Clements was very exact with us, and not choice in his expressions when any one blundered, and was fond of consigning the defaulter to some less agreeable place than the deck of the _Illustrious_. Three days in this, then in Rifle Drill, which is part of the third instruction. We were taught how to use the weapon; the platoon, and various exercises, and, finally, to fire, which operation most of us liked; albeit, some made but poor marksmen, others fired with great accuracy, and a third lot were so timid, that, failing to pull the trigger vigorously, the piece hung fire, and they looked sheepish, and if it went off and kicked they looked about as if they’d lost something, and didn’t seem exactly to know whether they were in this or the middle of next week. We used to fire at some old stakes in the mud when the tide was down, over the ‘quarter’ of the ship, and in the direction of Porchester Castle, at a range of about two hundred or two hundred and fifty yards. Our various shots--ten in number--were all put down on a printed form, and the result was read to us afterwards. I may place myself in the class of poor marksmen. I was too careless, I fancy, to be a good shot. However, good or bad, I was passed out at the week’s end. Then came the ‘Fourth Instruction’--big gun exercise--and under the rough, but able teaching of John Carter, gunner’s mate, we soon made visible progress; being taught first the different parts of a gun, the difference between the muzzle and the breech, its weight, the charges used for different ranges, the uses of the train, and two side-tackles; and, lastly, how to dismount a gun. I took great delight in this drill, and when in full operation, such as “four rounds quick firing, second and third round sponge, load and shift breechings,” it was much better than handling a musket all day. Having passed creditably out of this, I joined the ‘Fifth Instruction,’ under the boatswain, an officer of the old school, zealous in duty and for the service, and utterly disdainful of all new-fangled work. From him I learned to make all sorts of splices, short-long, long-short--a combination of both; eye, left-handed, and all useful knots, such as ‘shroud,’ ‘man rope,’ ‘Matthew Walker,’ and ‘Turk’s head.’ Making and remaking these gave us a thorough insight into their construction, and Old Pipes took care that nothing should be slurred over, or done in a hurry. His precept invariably was, “Do it well, my lads, and take your time; never mind bearing a hand.” Three weeks was I under Pipes’s tuition, and then I was transferred to the ‘Sixth Instruction,’ a continuation of the fifth into things more complicated, such as putting an eye into a hawser, making sword, thrum, and paunch mats, turning in a dead eye. Our instructor, in this case, was a middle-aged seaman, very good-tempered, and always willing to explain and tell something new. We all liked him. In this Instruction also we used to have lessons with the model-rigged ship in the schoolroom, learning the uses and names of all the ropes. Then into the ‘Seventh and last Instruction:’ the compass and lead line. These were soon acquired, and we were set down as ‘passed boys,’ and fit for any emergency, and ready to go away into a ‘sea-going craft.’

We were six months in mastering all the instructions, and then, to test our knowledge and ability, a certain number of us were selected and sent on board the _Sealark_, a brig kept for the purpose of short cruises in the Channel, during which the novices learn something more of seamanship, actually at sea. We were ‘told off’ for the brig the evening before our start, and I remember I was in a state of considerable excitement, and couldn’t sleep well for the thought of it. Early the next morning we heard the pipe, “Away there, Sealarks!” and, putting our bags and hammocks into the launch, we pulled off to the brig, which lay some distance down the harbour. It was Saturday forenoon, and the little vessel had been cleaned ‘fore and aft,’ and looked the very picture of neatness and ‘man-of-war’ sternness. Upon going on board we were told off to our different stations, messes, and berths. I was made ‘maintop-gallant-yardman,’ No. 60, and for a long time my elevation was a source of discomfort. Having to run aloft without shoes was a heavy trial to me, and my feet often were so sore and blistered that I have sat down in the ‘top’ and cried with the pain; yet up I had to go and furl and loose my sails; and up I did go, blisters and all. Sometimes the pain was so bad I could not move smartly, and then the unmerited rebuke from a thoughtless officer was as gall and wormwood to me; but it used to call out my latent energies, and although my exertions were put forth to the utmost, I had by the stinging influences of these rebukes to put forth a still greater amount of desperate but not unwilling energy. Our duties here were of a more decided and active character than they had been in the Guardho, the usual daily course being, five A.M., “Turn hands up; holystone or scrub upper deck; coil down ropes; half-past six, breakfast, half an hour; call the watch, watch below, clean the lower deck; watch on deck, clean wood and brasswork; put the upper deck to rights. Eight A.M., hands to quarters; clean guns and arms; divisions for inspection; prayers; make sail, reef topsails, furl topsails, top-gallant-sails, royals; reef courses, down top-gallant and royal yards.” This continued till eight bells, twelve o’clock. Dinner, one hour. “All hands again; cutlass, rifle, and big-gun drill till four o’clock; clear up decks, coil up ropes;” and then our day’s work was done. On other days it would be, “Up anchor, make sail,” and away we would go, gliding merrily through the blue water, out of the harbour, past St. Helen’s, through the _Needles_, inaptly named, and so into the open sea. And then such doings when a little sea happened to be ‘on;’ such wry and pale faces, such furious efforts to keep the food within bounds, such utter prostration and dogged indifference to the future, when, by-and-by, a nice fresh breeze springing up, “Reef topsails!” would be the order. The rigging quickly swarmed with eager youngsters; up they would go and ‘lay out’ upon the yard, and while busily engaged in hauling out the earrings and tying the reef-points, their formidable enemy would again triumph. The belly of the sail to leeward, our own faces and patches of the deck below showed the signs of a strong upheaval. On these occasions our instructors would come out with, “Ah! it’s a sin for you to eat; you’re only wasting good grub.” Our master, a stout devil-may-care kind of man, rough and ready in his manners, but having plenty of good sound sense, and a strong touch of kindness, on one of these occasions, when standing on the ‘fokesle,’ superintending operations aloft, and irritated at being the object of such a shower, sung out in his peculiar drawling tones, “Fore-topsail-yard there! I wish you’d keep your four-pound pieces to yourself.” This was jocularly comparing the pieces which fell to the pieces of beef, four pounds each, which are put into the coppers to boil for dinner. This sea-sickness with some was a lamentable affair; they would lay down on the deck and there remain, spite of kicks and cuffs liberally bestowed by the boatswain’s mate, and notwithstanding their being washed down every now and then as the lively little craft dipped her figure-head. I, however, was happy and glorious all this time; I never had the slightest touch of sea-sickness. I used to take delight, when the blisters healed and the soles of my feet became hardened, in my duties, which were active and novel. I endeavoured also to keep a blank page against my name in the defaulter’s book. But I was near getting its fair surface stained one day by what to me seemed a trifling incident. I was stationed on the poop, or the apology for one--as is usual in a brig--to look out for signals. It was nearly twelve (eight bells). Just then the master appeared on deck, but was deeply engaged with a yarn, which he was twisting to a friend. As he came aft, he said, “Look out for your dinner pendant, youngster.” “Ay, ay, sir,” I answered; “I have it bent on.” And, in truth, I thought I had. Well, the bell struck noon. “Up with your pendant!” cried the master; and up I hoisted the little roll of bunting to the mast-head and broke it, when, by ill luck, instead of the dinner pendant blowing out, it was the ‘affirmative.’ “Well, you _are_ a pretty fellow,” said the master: “_you_ a signalman! Here! fetch me that glass.” I obeyed, and as I handed the telescope to him he made a hit at me, but fortunately missed his aim; so he consoled himself with saying “I was a fool, and he’d a mind to punish me.” So ended my signal duties.

Our commander was a clever seaman and gentlemanly man, and he it was who always used to read prayers, and his mode of reading was characteristic. After going through all, he would finish thus: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, amen. Away aloft, topmen, loose top-gallant-sails and royals. Carpenter! rig capstan.” All this without a pause, and as if it had been actually part of the benediction.

I was in the brig three months, during which we made cruises to Cowes, Weymouth, Lyme Regis, Plymouth, and short distances in the Channel; and at the end of that time I was judged to be fit for active service, and with a clear defaulter’s book, and more experience, returned again to the more sober duties of the Guardho. This was seven months after my first entry into the service. Being now of some real use, we were entrusted with a few hands to keep certain parts of the ship clean; and our special duty was to wash down the ship’s side and clean the white streak every Saturday morning. We were exempt from all drills, and were allowed to improve ourselves in our profession in any way we pleased; but we were not allowed to be idle, and, indeed, I believe we didn’t want to be.

At length deliverance drew nigh, and my wish to get into a sea-going craft was realised beyond my expectations. The captain sent for me, and gave me my choice, to go either to a large or small ship, and recommended me to the _Cressy_, ninety-four, fitting out as he understood for the South American station, of which he spoke in glowing terms. I chose the small ship, the _Highflyer_, and together with another youngster was sent on board the following evening; or at least on board the hulk where the men berthed; the ship herself lying in the steam-basin. As soon as I was aboard the captain saw me, asked me one or two simple questions, told me he hoped I would get on, and dismissed me. I was soon afterwards stationed, and slept that night among my new shipmates.

On going to work next day with the men in the rigging, I was perfectly delighted with my new ship. How tremendously long she did seem! what a pretty build! how fine a figure-head! and, in truth, the dashing, fast-sailing, and pretty-modelled corvette was a great contrast to the lumbering, heavy-looking, and old-fashioned seventy-four. I joined my new ship as a boy, but this didn’t daunt me. I tried to make myself useful everywhere; and when the men saw I was really willing, they were always ready to show me how to set about a job in my new profession. And I was always trying to keep a civil tongue in my head, although it was very hard trying, and I oftentimes suffered for being ‘cheeky;’ for many are the small mortifications a fellow must submit to, or else he is always in hot water. If a boy thinks he is somebody before joining, he soon finds his mistake, for all consideration is for officers; even petty officers can make him feel how insignificant he is. As an instance: I was standing rather moodily on the main-deck in the Guardho one day, with my arms crossed, my thoughts travelling far away, when a disagreeable voice sung out, “Hi, you there!” Looking up, I saw it was the gunner. “Well, d’ye hear! Who d’ye think ye are--Napoleon Bonyparte, or who?” I said nothing, but took the hint and walked off.

My conduct, if it didn’t gain me any new friends, I’m sure made no enemies. I was put into the fore-top, and my duties were to run up and down for the men, to knot spun-yarn, pass the ball in rope-serving, blacken nettle stuff for seizing, and other odds and ends.

I soon learned the power of a first-lieutenant--however vague my notions of one might have been before. All the boys were piped to muster. I was at the time making ‘duff,’ that is, pudding, as were also one or two others; the rest were scattered, so that by-and-by down comes the corporal to collect us, and aft we were marched to the quarter-deck, where No. 1, in a towering passion, after looking nasty at us for a minute, made us ‘toe a line’ for two hours; in other words, we had to stand in a row on the quarter-deck. But we didn’t much care, it was summer-time, and a beautiful evening; our spirits might not have been so brisk had it been raw, cold, and wet, during the period of our penance.

As boys, we worked hard at sundry jobs during the day, and when the night came we waited hard upon the men, standing our chance for an occasional kick, or stinging box on the ear from the surly ones. But we were happy among ourselves; like birds of a feather we all kept together, and always endeavoured to steer clear of the men, and not make too familiar, for a thrashing or a good blow was the sure consequences of our attempts at equality.

As the fitting out progressed I had more to do, and one of my first important jobs was to ‘black down’ the fore-topmast, fore-top-gallant, and fore-royal backstays. I put myself in a bowline, and taking my pot and making it fast to the outside backstay, commenced my work, and did it as I thought pretty expeditiously, taking especial care not to leave ‘holidays,’ that is, unblackened patches. Alas, for a boy’s judgment! When I had finished, and got out of the bowline upon deck, a conceited and bullying boatswain’s mate, lurking near, all ready, pounced upon me, and, without any explanation, gave me, in naval phrase, a ‘lambasting,’ and when he had finished told me it was for not “bearing a hand.” Didn’t I have amiable feelings towards that man for a long time afterwards!