A RASH EXPERIMENT
The hands on the wharf had been working all Saturday night and well intothe Sunday morning to finish the _Foam_, and now, at ten o'clock, withhatches down and freshly-scrubbed decks, the skipper and mate stoodwatching the tide as it rose slowly over the smooth Thames mud.
"What time's she coming?" inquired the skipper, turning a lazy eye up atthe wharf.
"About ha'-past ten, she said," replied the mate. "It's very good o' youto turn out and let her have your state-room."
"Don't say another word about that," said the skipper impressively."I've met your wife once or twice, George, an' I must say that a nicerspoken woman, an' a more well-be'aved one, I've seldom seen."
"Same to you," said the mate; "your wife I mean."
"Any man," continued the skipper, "'s would lay in a comfortablestate-room, George, and leave a lady a-trying to turn and to dress andondress herself in a pokey little locker ought to be ashamed ofhimself."
"You see, it's the luggage they bring," said the mate, slowly refillinghis pipe. "What they want with it all I can't think. As soon as my oldwoman makes up her mind to come for a trip, tomorrow being Bank Holiday,an' she being in the mind for a outing, what does she do? Goes downCommercial Road and buys a bonnet far beyond her station."
"They're all like it," said the skipper; "mine's just as bad. What doesthat boy want?"
The boy approached the edge of the jetty, and, peering down at them,answered for himself.
"Who's Captain Bunnett?" he demanded, shrilly.
"That's me, my lad," said the skipper, looking up.
"I've got a letter for yer," said the boy, holding it out.
The skipper held out his hands and caught it; and, after reading thecontents, felt his beard and looked at the mate.
"It never rains but it pours," he said figuratively.
"What's up?" inquired the other.
"Ere's my old woman coming now," said the skipper. "Sent a note tosay she's getting ready as fast as she can, an' I'm not to sail on anyaccount till she comes."
"That's awkward," said the mate, who felt that he was expected to saysomething.
"It never struck me to tell her your wife was coming," said the skipper."Where we're to put 'em both I don't know. I s'pose it's quite certainyour wife'll come?"
"Certain," said the mate.
"No chance of 'er changing 'er mind?" suggested the skipper, lookingaway from him.
"Not now she's got that bonnet," replied the mate. "I s'pose there's nochance of your wife changing hers?"
The skipper shook his head. "There's one thing," he said hopefully,"they'll be nice company for each other. They'll have to 'ave thestate-room between 'em. It's a good job my wife ain't as big as yours."
"We'll be able to play four 'anded wist sometimes," said the mate, as hefollowed the skipper below to see what further room could be made.
"Crowded but jolly," said the other.
The two cabs drove up almost at the same moment while they were below,and Mrs. Bunnett's cabman had no sooner staggered on to the jetty withher luggage than Mrs. Fillson's arrived with hers. The two ladies, whowere entire strangers, stood regarding each other curiously as theylooked down at the bare deck of the _Foam_.
"George!" cried Mrs. Fillson, who was a fine woman, raising her voicealmost to a scream in the effort to make herself heard above the winchof a neighbouring steamer.
It was unfortunate perhaps that both officers of the schooner bore thesame highly-respectable Christian name.
"_George!_" cried Mrs. Bunnett, glancing indignantly at the other lady.
"_Ge-orge!_" cried Mrs. Fillson, returning her looks with interest.
"Hussey," said Mrs. Bunnett under her breath, but not very much under.
"George!"
There was no response.
"_George!_" cried both ladies together.
Still no response, and they made a louder effort.
There was yet another George on board, in the fo'c'sle, and, in responseto pushes from curious friends below, he came up, and regarded the fairduettists open-mouthed.
"What d'yer want?" he said, at length sheepishly.
"Will you tell Captain Bunnett that his wife, Mrs. Bunnett, is here?"said that lady, a thin, little woman with bright black eyes.
"Yes, mum," said the seaman, and was hurrying off when Mrs. Fillsoncalled him back.
"Will you tell Mr. Fillson that his wife, Mrs. Fillson, is up here?" shesaid politely.
"All right, mum," said the other, and went be-low to communicate thepleasing tidings. Both husbands came up on deck hastily, and a glanceserved to show them how their wives stood.
"How do you do, Cap'n Bunnett," said Mrs. Fillson, with a fascinatingsmile.
"Good-morning, marm," said the skipper, trying to avoid his wife's eyes;"that's my wife, Mrs. Bunnett."
"Good-morning, ma'am," said Mrs. Fillson, adjusting the new bonnet withthe tips of her fingers.
"Good-morning to you," said Mrs. Bunnett in a cold voice, butpatronising. "You have come to bring your husband some of his things, Isuppose?"
"She's coming with us," said the skipper, in a hurry to have it over."Wait half a moment, and I'll help you down."
He got up on to the side and helped them both to the deck, and, with agreat attempt at cheery conversation, led the way below, where, in themidst of an impressive silence, he explained that the ladies would haveto share the state-room between them.
"That's the only way out of it," said the mate, after waiting in vainfor them to say something.
"It's a fairish size when you come to look at it," said the skipper,putting his head on one side to see whether the bunk looked larger thatway.
"Pack three in there at a pinch," said the mate hardily.
Still the ladies said nothing, but there was a storm-signal hoisted inMrs. Bunnett's cheek, which boded no good to her husband. There was roomonly for one trunk in the state-room, and by prompt generalship Mrs.Fillson got hers in first. Having seen it safe she went up on deck for alook round.
"George," said Mrs. Bunnett fiercely, as soon as they were alone.
"Yes, my dear," said her husband.
"Pack that woman off home," said Mrs. Bunnett sharply.
"I couldn't do that," said the skipper firmly. "It's your own fault; youshould have said you was coming."
"Oh, I know you didn't want me to come," said Mrs. Bunnett, the roses onher bonnet trembling. "The mate can think of a little pleasure for _his_wife, but I can stay at home and do your mending and keep the houseclean. Oh, I know; don't tell me."
"Well, it's too late to alter it," said her husband. "I must get upabove now; you'd better come too."
Mrs. Bunnett followed him on deck, and, getting as far from the mate'swife as possible, watched with a superior air of part ownership themovements of the seamen as they got under way. A favorable westerlybreeze was blowing, and the canvas once set she stood by her husbandas he pointed out the various objects of interest on the banks of theriver.
They were still in the thick of the traffic at dinner time, so that theskipper was able, to his secret relief, to send the mate below to do thehonours of the table. He came up from it pale and scared, and, catchingthe skipper's eye, hunched his shoulders significantly.
"No words?" inquired the latter anxiously, in a half-whisper.
"Not exactly words," replied the mate. "What you might call snacks."
"I know," said the other with a groan.
"If you don't now," said the mate, "you will at tea time. I'm not goingto sit down there with them again alone. You needn't think it. If youwas to ask me what I've been eating I couldn't tell you."
He moved off a bit as his table companions came up on deck, and themaster of the _Foam_ deciding to take the bull by the horns, calledboth of them to him, and pointed out the beauties of the various passingcraft. In the midst of his dis-course his wife moved off, leaving theunhappy man conversing alone with Mrs. Fillson, her face containing anexpression such a
s is seen in the prints of the very best of martyrs asshe watched them.
At tea time the men sat in misery, Mrs. Bunnett passed Mrs. Fillson hertea without looking at her, an example which Mrs. Fillson followed inhanding her the cut bread and butter. When she took the plate back itwas empty, and Mrs. Bunnett, convulsed with rage, was picking the slicesout of her lap.
"Oh, I _am_ sorry," said Mrs. Fillson.
"You're not, ma'am," said Mrs. Bunnett fiercely. "You did it a purpose."
"There, there!" said both men feebly.
"Of course my husband'll sit quite calm and see me insulted," said Mrs.Bunnett, rising angrily from her seat.
"And my husband'll sit still drinking tea while I'm given the lie," saidMrs. Fillson, bending an indignant look upon the mate.
"If you think I'm going to share the state-room with that woman, George,you're mistaken," said Mrs. Bunnett in a terrible voice. "I'd soonersleep on a doorstep."
"And I'd sooner sleep on the scraper," said Mrs. Fillson, regarding herfoe's scanty proportions.
"Very well, me an' the mate'll sleep there," said the skipper wearily."You can have the mate's bunk and Mrs. Fillson can have the locker. Youdon't mind, George?"
"Oh, George don't mind," said Mrs. Bunnett mimickingly; "anything'lldo for George. If you'd got the spirit of a man, you wouldn't let me beinsulted like this."
"And if you'd got the spirit of a man," said Mrs. Fillson, turning onher husband, "you wouldn't let them talk to me like this. You neverstick up for me."
She flounced up on deck where Mrs. Bunnett, after a vain attempt tofinish her tea, shortly followed her. The two men continued their mealfor some time in silence.
"We'll have to 'ave a quarrel just to oblige them, George," said theskipper at length, as he put down his cup. "Nothing else'll satisfy'em."
"It couldn't be done," said the mate, reaching over and clapping him onthe back.
"Just pretend, I mean," said the other.
"It couldn't be done proper," said the mate; "they'd see through it.We've sailed together five years now, an' never 'ad what I could call areally nasty word."
"Well, if you can think o' anything," said the skipper, "say so. Thissort o' thing is worrying."
"See how we get on at breakfast," said the mate, as he lit his pipe. "Ifthat's as bad as this, we'll have a bit of a row to please 'em."
Breakfast next morning was, if anything, worse, each lady directlyinciting her lord to acts of open hostility. In this they wereunsuccessful, but in the course of the morning the husbands arrangedmatters to their own satisfaction, and at the next meal the storm brokewith violence.
"I don't wish to complain or hurt anybody's feelings," said the skipper,after a side-wink at the mate, "but if you could eat your wittles with alittle less noise, George, I'd take it as a favour."
"Would you?" said the mate, as his wife stiffened suddenly in her seat."Oh!"
Both belligerents, eyeing each other ferociously, tried hard to think offurther insults.
"Like a pig," continued the skipper grumblingly.
The mate hesitated so long for a crushing rejoinder that his wife lostall patience and rose to her feet crimson with wrath.
"How dare you talk to my husband like that?" she demanded fiercely."George, come up on deck this instant!"
"I don't mind what he says," said the mate, who had only just begun hisdinner.
"You come away at once," said his wife, pushing his plate from him.
The mate got up with a sigh, and, meeting the look of horror-strickencommiseration in his captain's eye, returned it with one of impotentrage.
"Use a larger knife, cap'n," he said savagely, "You'll swallow thatlittle 'un one of these days."
The skipper, with the weapon in question gripped in his fist, turnedround and stared at him in petrified amazement.
"If I wasn't the cap'n o' this ship, George," he said huskily, "an'bound to set a good example to the men, I'd whop you for them words."
"It's all for your good, Captain Bunnett," said Mrs. Fillson mincingly."There was a poor old workhouse man I used to give a penny to sometimes, who would eat with his knife, and he choked himself with it."
"Ay, he did that, and he hadn't got a mouth half the size o' yours,"said the mate warningly.
"Cap'n or no cap'n, crew or no crew," said the skipper in a suffocatingvoice, "I can't stand this. Come up on deck, George, and repeat themwords."
"Before the mate could accept the invitation, he was dragged back by hiswife, while at the same time Mrs. Bunnett, with a frantic scream, threwher arms round her husband's neck, and dared him to move.
"You wait till I get you ashore, my lad," said the skipperthreateningly.
"I'll have to bring the ship home after I've done with you," retortedthe mate as he passed up on deck with his wife.
During the afternoon the couples exchanged not a word, though the twohusbands exchanged glances of fiery import, and later on, their spousesbeing below, gradually drew near to each other. The mate, however, hadbeen thinking, and as they came together met his foe with a pleasantsmile.
"Bravo, old man," he said heartily.
"What d'yer mean?" demanded the skipper in gruff astonishment.
"I mean the way you pretended to row me," said the mate. "Splendid youdid it. I tried to back you up, but lor! I wasn't in it with you."
"What, d'yer mean to say you didn't mean what you said?" inquired theother.
"Why, o' course," said the mate with an appearance of great surprise."You didn't, did you?"
"No," said the skipper, swallowing something in his throat. "No, o'course not. But you did it well too, George. Uncommon well, you did."
"Not half so well as you did," said the mate. "Well, I s'pose we've gotto keep it up now."
"I s'pose so," said the skipper; "but we mustn't keep it up on the samethings, George. Swallerin' knives an' that sort o' thing, I mean."
"No, no," said the mate hastily.
"An' if you could get your missus to go home by train from Summercove,George, we might have a little peace and quietness," added the other.
"She'd never forgive me if I asked her," said the mate: "you'll have toorder it, cap'n."
"I won't do that, George," said the skipper firmly. "I'd never treat alady like that aboard my ship. I 'ope I know 'ow to behave myself if Ido eat with my knife."
"Stow that," said the mate, reddening. "We'll wait an' see what turnsup," he added hopefully.
For the next three days nothing fresh transpired, and the bickeringbetween the couples, assumed on the part of the men and virulent on thepart of their wives, went from bad to worse.
It was evident that the ladies preferred it to any other amusement lifeon ship-board could offer, and, after a combined burst of hysterics ontheir part, in which the whole ship's company took a strong interest,the husbands met to discuss heroic remedies.
"It's getting worse and worse," said the skipper ruefully. "We'll bethe laughing stock o' the crew even afore they're done with us. There'sanother day afore we reach Summercove, there's five or six days there,an' at least five back again."
"There'll be murder afore then," said the mate, shaking his head.
"If we could only pack 'em _both_ 'ome by train," continued the skipper.
"That's an expense," said the mate.
"It 'ud be worth it," said the other.
"An' they wouldn't do it," said the mate, "neither of 'em."
"I've seen women having rows afore," said the skipper, "but then theycould get away from each other. It's being boxed up in this little craftas does the mischief."
"S'pose we pretend the ship's not seaworthy," said the mate.
"Then they'd stand by us," said the skipper, "closer than ever."
"I b'leeve they would," said the mate. "They'd go fast enough if we'dgot a case o' small-pox or anything like that aboard, though."
The skipper grunted assent.
"It 'ud be worth trying," said the mate. "We've pretended to have aquarrel. No
w just as we're going into port let one of the hands, the boyif you like, pretend he's sickening for small-pox."
"How's he going to do it?" inquired the skipper derisively.
"You leave it to me," replied the other. "I've got an idea how it's tobe done."
Against his better judgment the skipper, after some demur, consented,and the following day, when the passengers were on deck gazing at thesmall port of Summercove as they slowly approached it, the cook came upexcitedly and made a communication to the skipper.
"What?" cried the latter. "Nonsense."
"What's the matter?" demanded Mrs. Bunnett, turning round.
"Cook, here, has got it into his head that the boy's got the smallpox,"said the skipper.
Both women gave a faint scream.
"Nonsense," said Mrs. Bunnett, with a pale face.
"Rubbish," said Mrs. Fillson, clasping her hands nervously.
"Very good, mum," said the cook calmly. "You know best, o' course, butI was on a barque once what got it aboard bad, and I think I _ought_ toknow it when I see it."
"Yes; and now you think everything's the small-pox," said Mrs. Bunnettuneasily.
"Very well, mum," said the cook, spreading out his hands. "Will you comedown an' 'ave a _look_ at'im?"
"No," snapped Mrs. Bunnett, retreating a pace or two.
"Will you come down an' 'ave a look at 'im, sir," inquired the cook.
"You stay where you are, George," said Mrs. Bunnett shrilly, as herhusband moved forward. "Go farther off, cook."
"And keep your tongue still when we get to port," said the mate. "Don'tgo blabbing it all over the place, mind, or we sha'n't get nobody towork us out."
"Ay, ay," said the cook, moving off. "I ain't afraid of it--I've givenit to people, but I've never took it myself yet."
"I'm sure I wish I was off this dreadful ship," said Mrs. Fillsonnervously. "Nothing but unpleasantness. How long before we get toSummercove, Cap'n Bunnett?"
"'Bout a 'our an' a 'arf ought to do it," said the skipper.
Both ladies sighed anxiously, and, going as far aft as possible, gazedeagerly at the harbour as it opened out slowly before them.
"I shall go back by train," said Mrs. Bunnett "It's a shame, having myholiday spoilt like this."
"It's one o' them things what can't be helped," said her husbandpiously.
"You'd had better give me a little money," continued his wife, "I shallget lodgings in the town for a day or two, till I see how things aregoing."
"It 'ud be better for you to get straight back home," said the skipper.
"Nonsense," said his wife, sharply. "Suppose you take it yourself,I should have to be here to see you were looked after. I'm sure Mrs.Fillson isn't going home."
Mrs. Fillson, holding out her hand to Mr. Fillson, said she was sure shewasn't.
"It'd be a load of our minds if you did go," said the mate speaking forboth.
"Well, we're not going for a day or two at any rate," said Mrs. Bunnett,glancing almost amiably at Mrs. Fillson.
In face of this declaration, and in view of the the persistent demandsof the ladies, both men, with a very ill grace furnished them with somemoney.
"Don't say a word about it ashore mind," said the mate, avoiding hischief's indignant gaze.
"But you must have a doctor," said Mrs. Bunnett.
"I know of a doctor here," said the mate; "that's all arranged for."
He moved away for a little private talk with the skipper, but thatgentleman was not in a conversational mood, and a sombre silence fellupon all until they were snugly berthed at Summercove, and the ladies,preceded by their luggage on a trolly, went off to look for lodgings.They sent down an hour later to say that they had found them, and thatthey were very clean and comfortable, but a little more than theyhad intended to give. They implored their husbands not to run anyunnecessary risks, and sent some disinfectant soap for them to washwith.
For three days they kept their lodgings and became fast friends, going,despite their anxiety, for various trips in the neighbourhood. Twicea day at least they sent down beef-tea and other delicacies for theinvalid, which never got farther than the cabin, communication beingkept up by a small boy who had strict injunctions not to go aboard. Onthe fourth day in the early morning they came down as close to the shipas they dared to bid farewell.
"Write if there's any change for the worse," cried Mrs. Bunnett.
"Or if you get it, George," cried Mrs. Fillson anxiously.
"It's all right, he's going on beautiful," said the mate.
The two wives appeared to be satisfied, and with a final adieu went offto the railway station, turning at every few yards to wave farewellsuntil they were out of sight.
"If ever I have another woman aboard my ship, George," said the skipper,"I'll run into something. Who's the old gentleman?"
He nodded in the direction of an elderly man with white side whiskerswho, with a black bag in his hand, was making straight for the schooner.
"Captain Bunnett?" he inquired sharply.
"That's me, sir," said the skipper.
"Your wife sent me," said the tall man briskly, "My name's Thompson--Dr.Thompson. She says you've got a case of small-pox on board which shewants me to see."
"We've got a doctor," said the skipper and mate together.
"So your wife said, but she wished me particularly to see the case,"said Dr. Thompson. "It's also my duty as the medical officer of theport."
"You've done it, George, you've done it," moaned the panic-strickenskipper reproachfully.
"Well, anybody can make a mistake,", whispered the mate back; "an' hecan't touch us, as it _ain't_ small-pox. Let him come, and we'll lay iton to the cook. Say he made a mistake."
"That's the ticket," said the skipper, and turned to assist the doctorto the deck as the mate hurried below to persuade the indignant boy tostrip and go bed.
In the midst of a breathless silence the doctor examined the patient;then, to the surprise of all, he turned to the crew and examined themone after the other.
"How long has this boy been ill?" he demanded.
"About four days," said the puzzled skipper.
"You see what comes of trying to hush this kind of thing up," said thedoctor sternly. "You keep the patient down here instead of havinghim taken away and the ship disinfected, and now all these other poorfellows have got it."
"_What?_" screamed the skipper, as the crew broke into profaneexpressions of astonishment and self-pity. "Got what?"
"Why, the small-pox," said the doctor. "Got it in its worst form too.Suppressed. There's not one of them got a mark on him. It's all inside."
"Well, I'm damned," said the skipper, as the crew groaned despairingly.
"What else did you expect?" inquired the doctor wrathfully. "Well, theycan't be moved now; they must all go to bed, and you and the mate mustnurse them."
"And s'pose we catch it?" said the mate feelingly.
"You must take your chance," said the doctor; then he relented a little."I'll try and send a couple of nurses down this afternoon," he added."In the mean time you must do what you can for them."
"Very good, sir," said the skipper brokenly.
"All you can do at present," said the doctor as he slowly mountedthe steps, "is to sponge them all over with cold water. Do it everyhalf-hour till the rash comes out."
"Very good," said the skipper again. "But you'll hurry up with thenurses, sir!"
He stood in a state of bewilderment until the doctor was out of sight,and then, with a heavy sigh, took his coat off and set to work.
He and the mate, after warning off the men who had come down to work,spent all the morning in sponging their crew, waiting with an impatienceborn of fatigue for the rash to come out. This impatience was shared bythe crew, the state of mind of the cook after the fifth sponging callingfor severe rebuke on the part of the skipper.
"I wish the nurses 'ud come, George," he said, as they sat on the deckpanting after their exertions; "this is a pretty mess
if you like."
"Seems like a judgment," said the mate wearily.
"Hulloa, there," came a voice from the quay.
Both men turned and looked up at the speaker.
"Hulloa," said the skipper dully.
"What's all this about small-pox?" demanded the newcomer abruptly.
The skipper waved his hand languidly towards the fo'c'sle.
"Five of 'em down with it," he said quietly. "Are you another doctor,sir?"
Without troubling to reply their visitor jumped on board and went nimblybelow, followed by the other two.
"Stand out of the light," he said brusquely. "Now, my lads, let's have alook at you."
He examined them in a state of bewilderment, grunting strangely as thewashed-out men submitted to his scrutiny.
"They've had the best of cold sponging," said the skipper, not without alittle pride.
"Best of what?" demanded the other.
The skipper told him, drawing back indignantly as the doctor suddenlysat down and burst into a hoarse roar of laughter. The unfeeling noisegrated harshly on the sensitive ears of the sick men, and Joe Burrows,raising himself in his bunk, made a feeble attempt to hit him.
"You've been sold," said the doctor, wiping his eyes.
"I don't take your meaning," said the skipper, with dignity.
"Somebody's been having a joke with you," said the doctor. "Get up, youfools, you've got about as much small-pox as I have."
"Do you mean to tell me----" began the skipper.
"Somebody's been having a joke with you, I tell you," repeated thedoctor, as the men, with sundry oaths, half of relief, half of dudgeon,got out of bed and began groping for their clothes. "Who is it, do youthink?"
The skipper shook his head, and the mate, following his lead, in dutybound, shook his; but a little while after, as they sat by the wheelsmoking and waiting for the men to return to work the cargo out, theywere more confidential. The skipper removed his pipe from his mouth,and, having eyed the mate for some time in silence, jerked his thumb inthe direction of the railway station. The mate, with a woe-begone nod,assented.