In the Yellow Sea. Frith Henry

had been caused by my own wilfulness and obstinacy; and, I then confessed, my disobedience! Yes, they had advised and guided me, while I, in my conceit, fancied I knew best, and consequently came to grief at last. Punishments came at times, and I rebelled, got punished again, and sulked. I perceived then that my parents had been just, and I regretted now that I had been so rude, and had parted from my mother so brusquely and unkindly.

      My melancholy reflections were disturbed by the entrance of the steward. I was pleased to see him.

      "Good-morning," he said. "Sleep well?"

      "Splendidly! Where are we, steward?"

      "Off Ushant. We shall get a tossing presently."

      "What do you call this?" I asked, as the waves came rushing past the bulwarks. I could see great mountains rising and sinking outside, and white foam dashing up. The air was cool too, and raw.

      "That's nothing at all; wait a while. The wind's rising fast, and we'll have a fine sea presently. Are you getting up?"

      "What's the time, please? I feel better now."

      "It's seven bells in the morning watch – half-past seven, you know."

      "Yes, I know that," I replied. "Can I have breakfast?"

      "Of course; whatever you like – in reason."

      "Where will you reach port and land me?"

      "I can't say; maybe at Gib – or Malta. We're in the Bay now. It's all the Bay between Ushant and Cape Finisterre."

      "It's awful rough, I think I had better lie still," I said.

      "As you like. The swell comes in here from the west, you see. But it isn't any rougher than the Atlantic between Ireland and America."

      "I suppose you have sailed all around England, and also abroad?"

      "Yes, I've been in a few places in my time. I was a schoolmaster once."

      "You – a schoolmaster!" I exclaimed, sitting up with a jerk.

      "Yes. Then I left the business, and went to sea as a purser's mate in the American trade. I saw a bit, and learned more geography than I could teach. I suppose you know all the celebrated sea places?"

      "Oh yes; Trafalgar, and all those, of course."

      "And Dungeness, Beachy Head, Harfleur, and Ushant close here, on the great first of June. I could tell boys all about them better now. Ay, ay; but let's not think of them. You want breakfast – all right."

      He disappeared, and in a few minutes another man entered with a tray of good things, including marmalade and jam, toast, and hot rolls. What a splendid breakfast I made. I almost forgot my home then. But the reaction came, and I felt miserable once more.

      At half-past eight – I mean one bell in the forenoon watch – I said I would get up. I received some assistance from the steward, who had dried my clothes, but they had shrunk sadly. I made inquiries for Tim.

      "He's forward all right, – you mean the fisherman, don't you?"

      "Yes, Tim Murry. I should like to see him."

      "You can see him on the forecastle, if you like. You can walk forward when you've found your legs. Gently does it."

      I was greatly amused by being advised to take care. Why, I had been out in vessels in very rough seas often! The idea of the steamer being so bad was ridiculous. So I stepped out on deck, and was just about to gaze around when I was thrown forcibly against the port (lee) bulwarks, and the breath knocked out of my body.

      Wildly I grasped at the shrouds and halyards within reach. I gasped, turned blue and pale, and felt as if I was dying.

      "Hold up!" cried the steward, who had come out behind me. "Don't try to kill yourself, young fellow! You're too venturesome. Here, let me lead you to the companion, and sit there by the steps."

      He assisted me to the companion stair, and placed me in safety by the entrance to the little saloon.

      The captain was on the bridge close by, over the chart-house. The ship was flush-decked, broken only by the commander's cabin, the charthouse, and the skylights, masts, and funnel. Forward was the men's berth and hatch. I could only observe these points when the captain hailed me.

      "Hallo, my lad, are ye practisin' for the slack-wire? Would ye like a sling for yer legs?"

      I blushed because the mate and steward laughed. The sailor at the wheel grinned silently.

      "All right, captain," I replied, "I'll have a sling, please. Hoist away!"

      The mate – I thought him the mate – on the deck laughed again, but in a different key. The captain spoke to him in a low tone. The officer came aft and beckoned to me to approach the bulwarks.

      I staggered up as bidden, and in a moment he had secured me with a rope to a belaying pin amidships, beneath the bridge. The rope hurt me, and pressed hard upon my waist in front.

      "Let me go," I cried, struggling to reach the deck, from which I was just lifted by the rope; "I can't breathe."

      "You can shout, anyhow," replied the mate. "You'll find your level presently. Then you'll walk circumspectly."

      "Can you spell it?" I sneered. I was annoyed then by the laughter.

      "I T," was the answer. "And you'll spell 'rope's end' if you're impudent, my lad. So put that in your pipe!"

      "I don't smoke," I retorted. "Let me go, please."

      "Presently. Keep quiet, as the captain says. You'll be glad presently. How do you feel now, eh?".

      "None the better for seeing you," I said rudely. "Let me go!"

      "No, no; you must feel better first. You see this rope's end, you'll feel it presently. Just a little pleasant warming. See?"

      He then suddenly laid the rope across my shoulders sharply, and on my back a few times.

      "That will keep you," he concluded, stepping forward and leaving me to my reflections. "Now you know the ropes," he cried jeeringly.

      I was angry, and made up my mind to fight the mate when I got released. The captain did not interfere at all, though he saw all that had occurred. However, I suspected he would have said something had he disapproved. I was very savage, though not really hurt – except in my inmost feelings. I wriggled, and kicked, and yelled aloud, but no one took any notice of me whatever. At length I subsided, – I felt rather sick and faint.

      "Cut him down," said the captain to one of the hands; "he's had enough. He'll lie quiet now."

      The man at once untied the knot which I could not reach; I fell on deck, and felt terribly ill.

      "Come along o' me," said the sailor. "Just stand here to leeward! You'll be all spry in a few minutes now. Hold up, matey! Why, you're a greenhorn, and no mistake! Shave my cat's whiskers, but you are!"

      I felt too unwell to dispute the question. I considered that I had been most unkindly treated; that the captain and crew, including the mate most particularly, had been almost brutal! I longed to quit the ship and to return home. Even Granding and Smith's, I believed, would be more pleasant than the steamer. I began to hate the sea, the waves, the voyage! Was this the beautiful Ocean on which I had sailed so joyfully so often? What a mercy it was that I had been plucked in eyesight!

      My eyes were open now, long before the usual nine days. I could see things in a different light. No doubt the Royal Navy was different from this "tramp" steamer, but it was all the same feeling at sea! Oh, my head! my head!

      CHAPTER IV

      BOUND TO CHINA – THE VOYAGE AND MY EXPERIENCES —

      CASH IN HONG KONG – RUMOUR OF WAR

      "I've been thinking about ye," said the skipper, two days later, when my head and legs became more easy, and obedient to my will. "When we reach Gib ye must make yer choice – and I think ye'd better stay with me."

      "Yes, sir," I replied doubtfully; "I suppose I must."

      "There's no must in it,