Richard Galbraith, Mariner; Or, Life among the Kaffirs — Inside the Classic

Hardly had I acquired the great age of five, than the fishermen began to accept very willingly little Dick Galbraith's services in hanging out their nets to dry, in swabbing the boats, or in any other minor capacity to which they found me ever ready to lend a hand, though a baby one.

It is a true saying that "let an energetic nature once get his foot on the world's ladder, he will never lose it again." So with me. The willing child was found the willing boy, which soon raised me to the dignity of going on fishing expeditions with the fishermen, who out of the great kindliness of heart to be found with these people, seemed each to adopt me--an orphan and a waif--for his own. The old men, some of whom had been sailors, were never tired of talking and telling yarns, while I--as if conscious of the future before me, and of what importance the information I was drinking in would hereafter be--was never tired of listening and asking questions.

So had years passed over my head, when, on my eighteenth birthday, as Jack Brunscombe with his family and I were seated in the little cabin-like parlour, after a long and thoughtful pause, I suddenly broke silence upon a subject which for months I had been turning over in my mind.

"Brunscombe," I said, "you have frequently told me that there is a bit of money I can lay claim to, when old enough to know what to do with it."

"Right Dick, my bo'," replied the old man, removing his pipe from one side of his mouth to the other, having on its passage rubbed his bristly beard with the stem, "its what yer father's fects realised arter his death bo', with compund interest."

"But, Brunscombe," I interrupted, "I don't consider that mine at all. Have I not lived here with you ever since? That money is fairly yours."

"If yer mean mine, to pay for your board and lodgin' bo', yer had better take and chuck it to the rocks and pools, for them alone 'as pervided for yer."

I laughed, but persisted, on which he rejoined.

"No, lad, the money's yours. Never a penny will Jack Brunscombe touch. If when a little 'un yer were any expense, you've more than repaid it now you've growed up, for you've been a mort o' help to me. But come bo', let's to the point. What made yer put that question about the bit o' money to-night? You'd some reason--so all fair and above board--fire your broadside. I'm prepared. What is it?"

"Why, Brunscombe, I was thinking," I began, "that if I really had a little money I would like to carry out a plan I have been turning about in my head."

"Why, to go over to Liverpool or London, and enter the merchant service."

"You find this here place then, too circumcised for your talents," he rejoined, with a wink at Katie.

"I certainly think it too circumscribed for a young man beginning life," I replied. "You, yourself, Brunscombe, did not pass all your existence here, though _your_ native place as mine."

"Quite right, bo', quite; and joking apart, I think what you propose is the correct thing to do. So you may go into the town to-morrow, draw out the money, and then up to Liverpool. First of all, my old woman will write yer a list of things necessary for your kit, and you've been your own master long enough to know how to lay out the twenty punds, for that's about the sum it is, judiciously."

Thus things were arranged quite to my satisfaction, and any of my readers possessed with so eager a desire after adventure as held me captive, will not wonder that I got little sleep that night. I tossed and turned, my brain busy with plans for the future; and no sooner did the faintest glimmer of light show in at the little dormer window in the roof, than I was up, dressed, and taking farewell of the dear old beach, the rugged friendly rocks, and clear silver pools, natural aquaria, bright with the beautiful delicate green _ulva latissima_ and _Porphyra laciniata_, whose splendid fronds hanging in graceful festoons, formed caves and grottos where lurked the sea _anemones_ or _actinias_, with their tentacles tipped with rosy red--the more splendid crass, the sly hermit crab in search for periwinkles, and the _uraster rubens_, or five-fingered fish.

To each and all I bade a fervent, though silent adieu, and then, though the sun was still not very much above the horizon, turned back to the cottage, feeling certain that breakfast _must_ be ready, notwithstanding that it yet wanted over half-an-hour to the time.