Page:The New Monthly Magazine - Volume 094.djvu/86

76 they described the size of the monster. Reasoning, indeed, from analogy á la Cuvier, who, when Buffon gave him a hair of the dog that bit hum, pronounced at once as to the sanity of the animal, I at once inferred, from the appearance of my wound, that the conger must have been at least forty feet in length, and that one of its teeth must have projected a great deal beyond the rest. These are facts which I intend shortly to lay before the Royal Geographical Society.

But a few days' repose in the tranquillity of Ocean Cottage brought back my natural energy, and my thoughts once more returned to the perils of the deep, which I felt a wild, buccaneering pleasure in braving. Capstan and the usual crew accompanied me again on various fishing excursions; but though we were successful enough in catching small fry, it was very singular that we never could manage to get even a glimpse of the conger. I am of opinion that the creature's instinct must have made him aware whenever I was on the water in search of him, and he had had too narrow an escape when we came into contact to wish to renew the struggle with so formidable a foe as I had proved. Indeed, this opinion was fully confirmed by Capstan and the mate.

In the mean time, while I was thus dallying with the deep, sterner purposes were working in my mind, and The Tub was getting ready for sea. How little the busy workmen, or even Smirker—old sea-dog as he was—divined my thoughts as I used to sit on one of the groins, apparently intent on watching them, as they tarred and feathered the lugger, though all the time I was planning schemes of midnight daring that should one day astonish the coast of S—ss—x, much as my former rival, L—s N—p—l—n, has lately astonished a n—ghb—r—ng country.

Like him, I kept my project to myself till I was ready for action, and did not, in the first instance, admit even Capstan to my counsel. It was only by degrees that I prepared him for the coup d'état I meditated. I began by desiring him to look out for ten or a dozen hardy, determined fellows, who, for liberal pay, were willing to sail under my flag. He looked rather blank when first I spoke on this subject, conceiving that it was my intention to turn him and his yellow-headed cousin adrift; but when I told him that he was to be my first-lieutenant, and that the "mate" might act in whatever capacity he thought fit, his spirits rose again, and he swore on the spot to nail his colours to the mast. He then asked me what was my motive for wishing to hire so many more men?

"To man The Tub," I replied, calmly.

"Why, sir," he replied, "she’s manned a'ready; leastways, if me and the mate and the boy, Jack, ain’t to be turned off."

"How do you mean?" I inquired.

"We three's quite enough to navigate that 'ere craft," said he,—"we could take her anywheres. Another hand, p'r'aps, mightn't be too many—and I've a brother-in-law who'd be quite willing to devote a portion of his time—he's a lobster-pot maker by trade, but a excellent seaman—but more ud be in the way, the wessel couldn't hold 'em."

"You surprise me," I returned; "I fancied that her war complement" (laying a strong accent on the belligerent substantive) "would be at least, twenty. Listen to me attentively," I continued; "first of all—can I trust you?" "Trust me, sir!" he exclaimed, throwing his hat on the shingly beach