Short Cruises Page 9

  DREAMS and warnings are things I don't believe in, said the nightwatchman. The only dream I ever 'ad that come anything like true wasonce when I dreamt I came in for a fortune, and next morning I foundhalf a crown in the street, which I sold to a man for fourpence. Andonce, two days arter my missis 'ad dreamt she 'ad spilt a cup of teadown the front of 'er Sunday dress, she spoilt a pot o' paint of mine bysitting in it.

  The only other dream I know of that come true happened to the cook of abark I was aboard of once, called the Southern Belle. He was a silly,pasty-faced sort o' chap, always giving hisself airs about eddication tosailormen who didn't believe in it, and one night, when we washomeward-bound from Sydney, he suddenly sat up in 'is bunk and laughedso loud that he woke us all up.

  "Wot's wrong, cookie?" ses one o' the chaps.

  "I was dreaming," ses the cook, "such a funny dream. I dreamt old BillFoster fell out o' the foretop and broke 'is leg."

  "Well, wot is there to laugh at in that?" ses old Bill, very sharp.

  "It was funny in my dream," ses the cook. "You looked so comic with yourleg doubled up under you, you can't think. It would ha' made a catlaugh."

  Bill Foster said he'd make 'im laugh the other side of his face if hewasn't careful, and then we went off to sleep agin and forgot all aboutit.

  If you'll believe me, on'y three days arterwards pore Bill did fall outo' the foretop and break his leg. He was surprised, but I never see aman so surprised as the cook was. His eyes was nearly starting out of'is head, but by the time the other chaps 'ad picked Bill up and asked'im whether he was hurt, cook 'ad pulled 'imself together agin and wasgiving himself such airs it was perfectly sickening.

  "My dreams always come true," he ses. "It's a kind o' second sight withme. It's a gift, and, being tender-'arted, it worries me terriblesometimes."

  He was going on like that, taking credit for a pure accident, when thesecond officer came up and told 'em to carry Bill below. He was inagony, of course, but he kept 'is presence of mind, and as they passedthe cook he gave 'im such a clip on the side of the 'ead as nearly brokeit.

  "That's for dreaming about me," he ses.

  The skipper and the fust officer and most of the hands set 'is legbetween them, and arter the skipper 'ad made him wot he calledcomfortable, but wot Bill called something that I won't soil my ears byrepeating, the officers went off and the cook came and sat down by theside o' Bill and talked about his gift.

  "I don't talk about it as a rule," he ses, "'cos it frightens people."

  "It's a wonderful gift, cookie," ses Charlie Epps.

  All of 'em thought the same, not knowing wot a fust-class liar the cookwas, and he sat there and lied to 'em till he couldn't 'ardly speak, hewas so 'oarse.

  "My grandmother was a gypsy," he ses, "and it's in the family. Thingsthat are going to 'appen to people I know come to me in dreams, same aspore Bill's did. It's curious to me sometimes when I look round at youchaps, seeing you going about 'appy and comfortable, and knowing all thetime 'orrible things that is going to 'appen to you. Sometimes it givesme the fair shivers."

  "Horrible things to us, slushy?" ses Charlie, staring.

  "Yes," ses the cook, nodding. "I never was on a ship afore with such alot of unfortunit men aboard. Never. There's two pore fellers wot'll bedead corpses inside o' six months, sitting 'ere laughing and talking asif they was going to live to ninety. Thank your stars you don't 'avesuch dreams."

  "Who--who are the two, cookie?" ses Charlie, arter a bit.

  "Never mind, Charlie," ses the cook, in a sad voice; "it would do nogood if I was to tell you. Nothing can alter it."

  "Give us a hint," ses Charlie.

  "Well, I'll tell you this much," ses the cook, arter sitting with his'ead in his 'ands, thinking; "one of 'em is nearly the ugliest man inthe fo'c's'le and the other ain't."

  O' course, that didn't 'elp 'em much, but it caused a lot of argufying,and the ugliest man aboard, instead o' being grateful, behaved more likea wild beast than a Christian when it was pointed out to him that he wassafe.

  Arter that dream about Bill, there was no keeping the cook in his place.He 'ad dreams pretty near every night, and talked little bits of 'em inhis sleep. Little bits that you couldn't make head nor tail of, and whenwe asked 'im next morning he'd always shake his 'ead and say, "Nevermind." Sometimes he'd mention a chap's name in 'is sleep and make 'imnervous for days.

  It was an unlucky v'y'ge that, for some of 'em. About a week arter poreBill's accident Ted Jones started playing catch-ball with another chapand a empty beer-bottle, and about the fifth chuck Ted caught it withhis face. We thought 'e was killed at fust--he made such a noise; butthey got 'im down below, and, arter they 'ad picked out as much brokenglass as Ted would let 'em, the second officer did 'im up insticking-plaster and told 'im to keep quiet for an hour or two.

  Ted was very proud of 'is looks, and the way he went on was alarming.Fust of all he found fault with the chap 'e was playing with, and thenhe turned on the cook.

  "It's a pity you didn't see that in a dream," he ses, tryin' to sneer,on'y the sticking-plaster was too strong for 'im.

  "But I did see it," ses the cook, drawin' 'imself up.

  "Wot?" ses Ted, starting.

  "I dreamt it night afore last, just exactly as it 'appened," ses thecook, in a offhand way.

  "Why didn't you tell me, then?" ses Ted choking.

  "It 'ud ha' been no good," ses the cook, smiling and shaking his 'ead."Wot I see must 'appen. I on'y see the future, and that must be."

  "But you stood there watching me chucking the bottle about," ses Ted,getting out of 'is bunk. "Why didn't you stop me?"

  "You don't understand," ses the cook. "If you'd 'ad more eddication--"

  He didn't 'ave time to say any more afore Ted was on him, and cookie,being no fighter, 'ad to cook with one eye for the next two or threedays. He kept quiet about 'is dreams for some time arter that, but itwas no good, because George Hall, wot was a firm believer, gave 'im alicking for not warning 'im of a sprained ankle he got skylarking, andBob Law took it out of 'im for not telling 'im that he was going to lose'is suit of shore-going togs at cards.

  The only chap that seemed to show any good feeling for the cook was ayoung feller named Joseph Meek, a steady young chap wot was goin' to bemarried to old Bill Foster's niece as soon as we got 'ome. Nobody elseknew it, but he told the cook all about it on the quiet. He said she wastoo good for 'im, but, do all he could, he couldn't get her to see it."My feelings 'ave changed," he ses.

  "P'r'aps they'll change agin," ses the cook, trying to comfort 'im.

  Joseph shook his 'ead. "No, I've made up my mind," he ses, very slow."I'm young yet, and, besides, I can't afford it; but 'ow to get out ofit I don't know. Couldn't you 'ave a dream agin it for me?"

  "Wot d'ye mean?" ses the cook, firing up. "Do you think I make my dreamsup?"

  "No, no; cert'inly not," ses Joseph, patting 'im on the shoulder; "butcouldn't you do it just for once? 'Ave a dream that me and Emily arekilled a few days arter the wedding. Don't say in wot way, 'cos shemight think we could avoid it; just dream we are killed. Bill's alwaysbeen a superstitious man, and since you dreamt about his leg he'dbelieve anything; and he's that fond of Emily I believe he'd 'ave thewedding put off, at any rate--if I put him up to it."

  It took 'im three days and a silver watch-chain to persuade the cook,but he did at last; and one arternoon, when old Bill, who was getting onfust-class, was resting 'is leg in 'is bunk, the cook went below andturned in for a quiet sleep.

  For ten minutes he was as peaceful as a lamb, and old Bill, who 'ad beenlaying in 'is bunk with an eye open watching 'im, was just dropping off'imself, when the cook began to talk in 'is sleep, and the very fustwords made Bill sit up as though something 'ad bit 'im.

  "There they go," ses the cook, "Emily Foster and Joseph Meek--andthere's old Bill, good old Bill, going to give the bride away. How 'appythey all look, especially Joseph!"

  Old Bill put his 'and to his ear and leaned out of h
is bunk.

  "There they go," ses the cook agin; "but wot is that 'orrible blackthing with claws that's 'anging over Bill?"

  Pore Bill nearly fell out of 'is bunk, but he saved 'imself at the lastmoment and lay there as pale as death, listening.

  "It must be meant for Bill," ses the cook, "Well, pore Bill; he won'tknow of it, that's one thing. Let's 'ope it'll be sudden."

  He lay quiet for some time and then he began again.

  "No," he ses, "it isn't Bill; it's Joseph and Emily, stark and stiff,and they've on'y been married a week. 'Ow awful they look! Pore things.Oh! oh! o-oh!"

  He woke up with a shiver and began to groan and then 'e sat up in hisbunk and saw old Bill leaning out and staring at 'im.

  "You've been dreaming, cook," ses Bill, in a trembling voice.

  "'Ave I?" ses the cook. "How do you know?"

  "About me and my niece," ses Bill; "you was talking in your sleep."

  "You oughtn't to 'ave listened," ses the cook, getting out of 'is bunkand going over to 'im. "I 'ope you didn't 'ear all I dreamt. 'Ow muchdid you hear?"

  Bill told 'im, and the cook sat there, shaking his 'ead. "Thankgoodness, you didn't 'ear the worst of it," he ses.

  "Worst!" ses Bill. "Wot, was there any more of it?"

  "Lot's more," ses the cook. "But promise me you won't tell Joseph, Bill.Let 'im be happy while he can; it would on'y make 'im miserable, and itwouldn't do any good."

  "I don't know so much about that," ses Bill, thinking about thearguments some of them had 'ad with Ted about the bottle. "Was it arterthey was married, cookie, that it 'appened? Are you sure?"

  "Certain sure. It was a week arter," ses the cook.

  "Very well, then," ses Bill, slapping 'is bad leg by mistake; "if theydidn't marry, it couldn't 'appen, could it?"

  "Don't talk foolish," ses the cook; "they must marry. I saw it in mydream."

  "Well, we'll see," ses Bill. "I'm going to 'ave a quiet talk with Josephabout it, and see wot he ses. I ain't a-going to 'ave my pore galmurdered just to please you and make your dreams come true."

  He 'ad a quiet talk with Joseph, but Joseph wouldn't 'ear of it at fust.He said it was all the cook's nonsense, though 'e owned up that it wasfunny that the cook should know about the wedding and Emily's name, andat last he said that they would put it afore Emily and let her decide.

  That was about the last dream the cook had that v'y'ge, although he toldold Bill one day that he had 'ad the same dream about Joseph and Emilyagin, so that he was quite certain they 'ad got to be married andkilled. He wouldn't tell Bill 'ow they was to be killed, because 'e saidit would make 'im an old man afore his time; but, of course, he 'ad tosay that if they wasn't married the other part couldn't come true. Hesaid that as he 'ad never told 'is dreams before--except in the case ofBill's leg--he couldn't say for certain that they couldn't be preventedby taking care, but p'r'aps, they could; and Bill pointed out to 'im wota useful man he would be if he could dream and warn people in time.

  By the time we got into the London river old Bill's leg was getting onfust-rate, and he got along splendid on a pair of crutches the carpenter'ad made for him. Him and Joseph and the cook had 'ad a good many talksabout the dream, and the old man 'ad invited the cook to come along 'omewith 'em, to be referred to when he told the tale.

  "I shall take my opportunity," he ses, "and break it to 'er gentle like.When I speak to you, you chip in, and not afore. D'ye understand?"

  We went into the East India Docks that v'y'ge, and got there early on alovely summer's evening. Everybody was 'arf crazy at the idea o' goingashore agin, and working as cheerful and as willing as if they liked it.There was a few people standing on the pier-head as we went in, andamong 'em several very nice-looking young wimmen.

  "My eye, Joseph," ses the cook, who 'ad been staring hard at one of 'em,"there's a fine gal--lively, too. Look 'ere!"

  He kissed 'is dirty paw--which is more than I should 'ave liked to 'avedone it if it 'ad been mine--and waved it, and the gal turned round andshook her 'ead at 'im.

  "Here, that'll do," ses Joseph, very cross, "That's my gal; that's myEmily."

  "Eh?" says the cook. "Well, 'ow was I to know? Besides, you're a-givingof her up."

  Joseph didn't answer 'im. He was staring at Emily, and the more hestared the better-looking she seemed to grow. She really was an uncommonnice-looking gal, and more than the cook was struck with her.

  "Who's that chap standing alongside of her?" ses the cook.

  "It's one o' Bill's sister's lodgers," ses Joseph, who was looking verybad-tempered. "I should like to know wot right he 'as to come 'ere towelcome me 'ome. I don't want 'im."

  "P'r'aps he's fond of 'er," ses the cook. "I could be, very easy."

  "I'll chuck 'im in the dock if he ain't careful," ses Joseph, turningred in the face.

  He waved his 'and to Emily, who didn't 'appen to be looking at themoment, but the lodger waved back in a careless sort of way and thenspoke to Emily, and they both waved to old Bill who was standing on hiscrutches further aft.

  By the time the ship was berthed and everything snug it was quite dark,and old Bill didn't know whether to take the cook 'ome with 'im andbreak the news that night, or wait a bit. He made up his mind at last toget it over and done with, and arter waiting till the cook 'ad cleaned'imself they got a cab and drove off.

  Bert Simmons, the lodger, 'ad to ride on the box, and Bill took up somuch room with 'is bad leg that Emily found it more comfortable to siton Joseph's knee; and by the time they got to the 'ouse he began to seewot a silly mistake he was making.

  "Keep that dream o' yours to yourself till I make up my mind," he ses tothe cook, while Bill and the cabman were calling each other names.

  "Bill's going to speak fust," whispers the cook.

  The lodger and Emily 'ad gone inside, and Joseph stood there, fidgeting,while the cabman asked Bill, as a friend, why he 'adn't paid twopencemore for his face, and Bill was wasting his time trying to think ofsomething to say to 'urt the cabman's feelings. Then he took Bill by thearm as the cab drove off and told 'im not to say nothing about thedream, because he was going to risk it.

  "Stuff and nonsense," ses Bill. "I'm going to tell Emily, It's my dooty.Wot's the good o' being married if you're going to be killed?"

  He stumped in on his crutches afore Joseph could say any more, and,arter letting his sister kiss 'im, went into the front room and satdown. There was cold beef and pickles on the table and two jugs o' beer,and arter just telling his sister 'ow he fell and broke 'is leg, theyall sat down to supper.

  Bert Simmons sat on one side of Emily and Joseph the other, and the cookcouldn't 'elp feeling sorry for 'er, seeing as he did that sometimes shewas 'aving both hands squeezed at once under the table and could 'ardlyget a bite in edgeways.

  Old Bill lit his pipe arter supper, and then, taking another glass o'beer, he told 'em about the cook dreaming of his accident three daysafore it happened. They couldn't 'ardly believe it at fust, but when hewent on to tell 'em the other things the cook 'ad dreamt, and thateverything 'ad 'appened just as he dreamt it, they all edged away fromthe cook and sat staring at him with their mouths open.

  "And that ain't the worst of it," ses Bill.

  "That's enough for one night, Bill," ses Joseph, who was staring at BertSimmons as though he could eat him. "Besides, I believe it was on'ychance. When cook told you 'is dream it made you nervous, and that's whyyou fell."

  "Nervous be blowed!" ses Bill; and then he told 'em about the dream he'ad heard while he was laying in 'is bunk.

  Bill's sister gave a scream when he 'ad finished, and Emily, wot wassitting next to Joseph, got up with a shiver and went and sat next toBert Simmons and squeezed his coat-sleeve.

  "It's all nonsense!" ses Joseph, starting up. "And if it wasn't, truelove would run the risk. I ain't afraid!"

  "It's too much to ask a gal," ses Bert Simmons, shaking his 'ead.

  "I couldn't dream of it," ses Emily. "Wot's the use of being married fora week? Look
at uncle's leg--that's enough for me!"

  They all talked at once then, and Joseph tried all he could to persuadeEmily to prove to the cook that 'is dreams didn't always come true; butit was no good. Emily said she wouldn't marry 'im if he 'ad a million ayear, and her aunt and uncle backed her up in it--to say nothing of BertSimmons.

  "I'll go up and get your presents, Joseph," she ses; and she ranupstairs afore anybody could stop her.

  Joseph sat there as if he was dazed, while everybody gave 'im goodadvice, and said 'ow thankful he ought to be that the cook 'ad saved himby 'is dreaming. And by and by Emily came downstairs agin with thepresents he 'ad given 'er and put them on the table in front of 'im.

  "There's everything there but that little silver brooch you gave me,Joseph," she ses, "and I lost that the other evening when I was outwith--with--for a walk."

  Joseph tried to speak, but couldn't.

  "It was six-and-six, 'cos I was with you when you bought it," ses Emily;"and as I've lost it, it's on'y fair I should pay for it."

  She put down 'arf a sovereign with the presents, and Joseph sat staringat it as if he 'ad never seen one afore.

  "And you needn't mind about the change, Joseph," ses Emily; "that'll'elp to make up for your disappointment."

  Old Bill tried to turn things off with a bit of a laugh. "Why, you'remade o' money, Emily," he ses.

  "Ah! I haven't told you yet," ses Emily, smiling at him; "that's alittle surprise I was keeping for you. Aunt Emma--pore Aunt Emma, Ishould say--died while you was away and left me all 'er furniture andtwo hundred pounds."

  Joseph made a choking noise in his throat and then 'e got up, leavingthe presents and the 'arf-sovereign on the table, and stood by the door,staring at them.

  "Good-night all," he ses. Then he went to the front door and opened it,and arter standing there a moment came back as though he 'ad forgottensomething.

  "Are you coming along now?" he ses to the cook.

  "Not just yet," ses the cook, very quick.

  "I'll wait outside for you, then," ses Joseph, grinding his teeth."Don't be long."

  ANGELS' VISITS