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e more or less superstitious； and men are creatures of habit； even in their courage。 Now David had never gone to sea with a lot of money on him before。 As he was a stout…hearted man； these vague forebodings would； perhaps； have cleared away with the bustle； when the _Agra_ set her studding sails off Macao； but for a piece of positive intelligence he had picked up at Lin…Tin。 The Chinese admiral had warned him of a pirate； a daring pirate； who had been lately cruising in these waters： first heard of south the line； but had since taken a Russian ship at the very mouth of the Canton river； murdered the crew in sight of land； and sold the women for slaves； or worse。 Dodd asked for particulars： was he a Ladroner； a Malay； a Bornese？ In what latitude was he to be looked for？ The admiral on this examined his memoranda： by these it appeared little was known as yet about the miscreant； except that he never cruised long on one ground； the crew was a mixed one： the captain was believed to be a Portuguese； and to have a consort commanded by his brother： but this was doubtful； at all events； the pair had never been seen at work together。
The gunner arrived and saluted the quarter…deck； the captain on this saluted him； and beckoned him to the weather side。 On this the other officers kept religiously to leeward。
〃Mr。 Monk；〃 said Dodd； 〃you will clean and prepare all the small arms directly。〃
〃Ay； ay； sir；〃 said the old Niler； with a gleam of satisfaction。
〃How many of your deck…guns are serviceable？〃
This simple question stirred up in one moment all the bile in the poor old gentleman's nature。
〃My deck…guns serviceable！ how the _can_ they when that son of a sea…cook your third mate has been and lashed the water butts to their breechings； and jammed his gear in between their nozzles； till they can't breathe； poor things； far less bark。 I wish _he_ was lashed between the devil's hind…hocks with a red hot cable as tight as he has jammed my guns。
〃Be so good as not to swear； Mr。 Monk；〃 said Dodd。 〃At your age sir； I look to you to set an example to the petty officers。〃
〃Well； I won't swear no more； sir； dd if I do！〃 He added very loudly； and with a seeming access of ire； 〃And I ax your pardon； captain； and the deck's。〃
When a man has a deep anxiety； some human midge or mosquito buzzes at him。 It is a rule。 To Dodd； heavy with responsibility； and a dark misgiving he must not communicate； came delicately； and by degrees； and with a semigenuflexion every three steps； one like a magpie； and； putting his hands together； as our children do to approach the Almighty； delivered himself thus； in modulated tones； and good Hindostanee。 〃The Daughter of light； in whose beams I； Ramgolam； bask； glows with an amicable desire to see the lord commander of the ship resembling a mountain； and to make a communication。〃
Taught by sad experience how weighty are the communications the daughters of light pour into nautical commanders at sea； Dodd hailed Mr。 Tickell； a midshipman； and sent him down to the lady's cabin。 Mr。 Tickell soon came back reddish； but grinning； to say that nothing less than the captain would do。
Dodd sighed； and dismissed Monk with a promise to inspect the gun…deck himself； then went down to Mrs。 Beresford and found her indignant。 Why had he stopped the ship miles and miles from Macao； and given her the trouble and annoyance of a voyage in that nasty little boat？ Dodd opened his great brown eyes； 〃Why； madam； it is shoal water off Macao； we dare not come in。〃
〃No evasion； sir。 What have I to do with your shoal water？ It was laziness； and want of consideration for a lady who has rented half your ship。〃
〃Nothing of the kind； madam； I assure you。〃
〃Are you the person they call Gentleman Dodd？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then don't contradict a lady； or I shall take the liberty to dispute your title。〃
Dodd took no notice of this； and with a patience few nautical commanders would have shown； endeavoured to make her see that he was obliged to give Macao shoals a wide berth； or cast away the ship。 She would not see it。 When Dodd saw she wanted； not an explanation； but a grievance； he ceased to thwart her。 〃I am neglecting my duties to no purpose；〃 said he； and left her without ceremony。 This was a fresh offence； and； as he went out； she declared open war。 And she made it too from that hour： a war of pins and needles。
Dodd went on the gun…deck and found that the defence of the ship had； as usual in these peaceful days； been sacrificed to the cargo。 Out of twenty eighteen…pounders she carried on that deck； he cleared three； and that with difficulty。 To clear any more he must have sacrificed either merchandise or water： and he was not the man to do either on the mere chance of a danger so unusual as an encounter with a pirate。 He was a merchant captain； not a warrior。
Meantime the _Agra_ had already shown him great sailing qualities： the log was hove at sundown and gave eleven knots； so that with a good breeze abaft； few fore…and…aft rigged pirates could overhaul her。 And this wind carried her swiftly past one nest of them； at all events： the Ladrone isles。 At nine P。M。； all the lights were ordered out。 Mrs。 Beresford had brought a novel on board； and refused to comply； the master…at…arms insisted； she threatened him with the vengeance of the Company； the premier； and the nobility and gentry of the British realm。 The master…at…arms； finding he had no chance in argument； doused the glimpitiable resource of a weak disputantthen basely fled the rhetorical consequences。
The northerly breeze died out； and light variable winds baffled the ship。 It was the 6th April ere she passed the Macclesfield Bank in latitude 16。 And now they sailed for many days out of sight of land。 Dodd's chest expanded： his main anxiety at this part of the voyage lay in the state cabin； of all the perils of the sea； none shakes a sailor like fire。 He set a watch day and night on that spoiled child。
On the 1st May they passed the great Nantuna； and got among the Bornese and Malay islands： at which the captain's glass began to sweep the horizon again； and night and day at the dizzy foretop gallant mast…head he perched an Eye。
They crossed the line in longitude 107； with a slight breeze； but soon fell into the Doldrums。 A dead calm； and nothing to do but kill time。 Dodd had put down Neptune： that old blackguard could no longer row out on the ship's port side and board her on the starboard； pretending to come from ocean's depths； and shave the novices with a rusty hoop and dab a soapy brush in their mouths。 But champagne popped； the sexes flirted； and the sailors span fathomless yarns； and danced rattling hornpipes； fiddled to by the grave Fullalove。 〃 If there is a thing I _can_ dew； it's fiddle；〃 said he。 He and his friend； as he systematically called Vespasian； taught the crew Yankee steps； and were beloved。 One honest saltatory British tar offered that Western pair his grog for a week。 Even Mrs。 Beresford emerged； and walked the deck； quenching her austere regards with a familiar smile on Colonel Kenealy； her escort。 This gallant good…natured soldier flattered her to the nine； and； finding her sweeten with his treacle； tried to reconcile