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what she was。 I declare her to have been the completest and most exquisite
Beauty that ever I set my eyes upon。
We had inspected every timber in her； and had come back to the
gangway to go ashore from the dock…basin； when I put out my hand to my
friend。 〃Touch upon it；〃 says I； 〃and touch heartily。 I take command of this
ship； and I am hers and yours； if I can get John Steadiman for my chief
mate。〃
John Steadiman had sailed with me four voyages。 The first voyage
John was third mate out to China； and came home second。 The other three
voyages he was my first officer。 At this time of chartering the Golden
Mary； he was aged thirty…two。 A brisk； bright； blue…eyed fellow； a very
neat figure and rather under the middle size； never out of the way and
never in it； a face that pleased everybody and that all children took to； a
habit of going about singing as cheerily as a blackbird； and a perfect sailor。
We were in one of those Liverpool hackney…coaches in less than a
minute； and we cruised about in her upwards of three hours； looking for
John。 John had come home from Van Diemen's Land barely a month
before； and I had heard of him as taking a frisk in Liverpool。 We asked
after him； among many other places； at the two boarding…houses he was
fondest of； and we found he had had a week's spell at each of them； but； he
had gone here and gone there； and had set off 〃to lay out on the main…to'…
gallant…yard of the highest Welsh mountain〃 （so he had told the people of
the house）； and where he might be then； or when he might come back；
nobody could tell us。 But it was surprising； to be sure； to see how every
face brightened the moment there was mention made of the name of Mr。
Steadiman。
We were taken aback at meeting with no better luck； and we had wore
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ship and put her head for my friends； when as we were jogging through
the streets； I clap my eyes on John himself coming out of a toyshop！ He
was carrying a little boy； and conducting two uncommon pretty women to
their coach； and he told me afterwards that he had never in his life seen
one of the three before； but that he was so taken with them on looking in at
the toyshop while they were buying the child a cranky Noah's Ark； very
much down by the head； that he had gone in and asked the ladies'
permission to treat him to a tolerably correct Cutter there was in the
window； in order that such a handsome boy might not grow up with a
lubberly idea of naval architecture。
We stood off and on until the ladies' coachman began to give way； and
then we hailed John。 On his coming aboard of us； I told him； very gravely；
what I had said to my friend。 It struck him； as he said himself； amidships。
He was quite shaken by it。 〃Captain Ravender；〃 were John Steadiman's
words； 〃such an opinion from you is true commendation； and I'll sail
round the world with you for twenty years if you hoist the signal； and
stand by you for ever！〃 And now indeed I felt that it was done； and that the
Golden Mary was afloat。
Grass never grew yet under the feet of Smithick and Watersby。 The
riggers were out of that ship in a fortnight's time； and we had begun taking
in cargo。 John was always aboard； seeing everything stowed with his own
eyes； and whenever I went aboard myself early or late； whether he was
below in the hold； or on deck at the hatchway； or overhauling his cabin；
nailing up pictures in it of the Blush Roses of England； the Blue Belles of
Scotland； and the female Shamrock of Ireland： of a certainty I heard John
singing like a blackbird。
We had room for twenty passengers。 Our sailing advertisement was no
sooner out； than we might have taken these twenty times over。 In entering
our men； I and John （both together） picked them； and we entered none but
good handsas good as were to be found in that port。 And so； in a good
ship of the best build； well owned； well arranged； well officered； well
manned； well found in all respects； we parted with our pilot at a quarter
past four o'clock in the afternoon of the seventh of March； one thousand
eight hundred and fifty…one； and stood with a fair wind out to sea。
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It may be easily believed that up to that time I had had no leisure to be
intimate with my passengers。 The most of them were then in their berths
sea…sick； however； in going among them； telling them what was good for
them； persuading them not to be there； but to come up on deck and feel the
breeze； and in rousing them with a joke； or a comfortable word； I made
acquaintance with them； perhaps； in a more friendly and confidential way
from the first； than I might have done at the cabin table。
Of my passengers； I need only particularise； just at present； a bright…
eyed blooming young wife who was going out to join her husband in
California； taking with her their only child； a little girl of three years old；
whom he had never seen； a sedate young woman in black； some five years
older （about thirty as I should say）； who was going out to join a brother；
and an old gentleman； a good deal like a hawk if his eyes had been better
and not so red； who was always talking； morning； noon； and night； about
the gold discovery。 But； whether he was making the voyage； thinking his
old arms could dig for gold； or whether his speculation was to buy it； or to
barter for it； or to cheat for it； or to snatch it anyhow from other people；
was his secret。 He kept his secret。
These three and the child were the soonest well。 The child was a most
engaging child； to be sure； and very fond of me： though I am bound to
admit that John Steadiman and I were borne on her pretty little books in
reverse order； and that he was captain there； and I was mate。 It was
beautiful to watch her with John； and it was beautiful to watch John with
her。 Few would have thought it possible； to see John playing at bo…peep
round the mast； that he was the man who had caught up an iron bar and
struck a Malay and a Maltese dead； as they were gliding with their knives
down the cabin stair aboard the barque Old England； when the captain lay
ill in his cot； off Saugar Point。 But he was； and give him his back against a
bulwark； he would have done the same by half a dozen of them。 The name
of the young mother was Mrs。 Atherfield； the name of the young lady in
black was Miss Coleshaw； and the name of the old gentleman was Mr。
Rarx。
As the child had a quantity of shining fair hair； clustering in curls all
about her face； and as her name was Lucy； Steadiman gave her the name
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of the Golden Lucy。 So； we had the Golden Lucy and the Golden Mary；
and John kept up the idea to that extent as he and the child went playing
about the decks； that I believe she used to think the ship was alive
somehowa sister or companion； going to the same place as herself。 She
liked to be by the wheel； and in fine weather； I have often stood by the
man whose trick it was at the wheel； only to hear her； sitting near my feet；
talking to the ship。 Never had a child such a doll before； I suppose； but she
made a doll of the Golden Mary； and used to dress her up by tying ribbons
and little bits of finery to the belaying…pins； and nobody ever moved them；
unless it was to save them from being blown away。
Of course I took charge of the two young women； and I called them
〃my dear；〃 and they never minded； knowing that whatever I said was said
in a fatherly and protecting spirit。 I gave them their places on each side of
me at dinner； Mrs。 Atherfield on my right and Miss Coleshaw on my left；
and I directed the unmarried lady to serve out the breakfast； and the
married lady to serve out the tea。 Likewise I said to my black steward in
their presence； 〃Tom Snow； these two ladies are equally the mistresses of
this house； and do you obey their orders equally；〃 at which Tom laughed；
and they all laughed。
Old Mr。 Rarx was not a pleasant man to look at； nor yet to talk to； or to
be with； for no