Snarleyyow, or, the Dog Fiend

by Frederick Marryat

  Chapter II

  Showing what became of the red-herring.

  Smallbones soon made his re-appearance, informing Mr Vanslyperken thathis breakfast was ready for him, and Mr Vanslyperken, feeling himselfquite ready for his breakfast, went down below. A minute after he haddisappeared, another man came up to relieve the one at the wheel, who,as soon as he had surrendered up the spokes, commenced warming himselfafter the most approved method, by flapping his arms round his body.

  "The skipper's out o' sorts again this morning," said Obadiah, after atime. "I heard him muttering about the woman at the Lust Haus."

  "Then, by Got, we will have de breeze," replied Jansen, who was a Dutchseaman of huge proportions, rendered still more preposterous by themultiplicity of his nether clothing.

  "Yes, as sure as Mother Carey's chickens raise the gale, so does thename of the Frau Vandersloosh. I'll be down and get my breakfast, theremay be keel-hauling before noon."

  "Mein Got--dat is de tyfel."

  "Keep her nor-east, Jansen, and keep a sharp look out for the boats."

  "Got for dam--how must I steer the chip and look for de boats at de sametime?--not possible."

  "That's no consarn o' mine. Those are the orders, and I passes them--youmust get over the unpossibility how you can." So saying, Obadiah Coblewalked below.

  We must do the same, and introduce the reader to the cabin of LieutenantVanslyperken, which was not very splendid in its furniture. One smalltable, one chair, a mattress in a standing bed-place, with curtains madeof bunting, an open cupboard, containing three plates, one tea-cup andsaucer, two drinking glasses, and two knives. More was not required, asMr Vanslyperken never indulged in company. There was another cupboard,but it was carefully locked. On the table before the lieutenant was awhite wash-hand basin, nearly half full of burgoo, a composition ofboiled oatmeal and water, very wholesome, and very hot. It was theallowance, from the ship's coppers, of Mr Vanslyperken and his servantSmallbones. Mr Vanslyperken was busy stirring it about to cool it alittle, with a leaden spoon. Snarleyyow sat close to him, waiting forhis share, and Smallbones stood by, waiting for orders.

  "Smallbones," said the lieutenant, after trying the hot mess before him,and finding that he was still in danger of burning his mouth, "bring methe red-herring."

  "Red-herring, sir?" stammered Smallbones.

  "Yes," replied his master, fixing his little grey eye sternly on him,"the red-herring."

  "It's gone, sir!" replied Smallbones, with alarm.

  "Gone!--gone where?"

  "If you please, sir, I didn't a-think that you would have touched itafter the dog had had it in his nasty mouth; and so, sir--if youplease, sir--"

  "And so what?" said Vanslyperken, compressing his thin lips.

  "I ate it myself--if you please--O dear--O dear!"

  "You did, did you--you gluttonous scarecrow--you did, did you? Are youaware that you have committed a theft--and are you aware of thepunishment attending it?"

  "O sir--it was a mistake--dear sir," cried Smallbones, whimpering.

  "In the first place, I will cut you to ribbons with the cat."

  "Mercy, sir--O sir!" cried the lad, the tears streaming from his eyes.

  "The thief's cat, with three knots in each tail."

  Smallbones raised up his thin arms, and clasped his hands, pleading formercy.

  "And after the flogging--you shall be keel-hauled."

  "O God!" screamed Smallbones, falling down on his knees, "mercy--mercy!"

  But there was none. Snarleyyow, when he saw the lad go down on hisknees, flew at him, and threw him on his back, growling over him, andoccasionally looking at his master.

  "Come here, Snarleyyow," said Mr Vanslyperken. "Come here, sir, and liedown." But Snarleyyow had not forgotten the red-herring; so in revenge,he first bit Smallbones in the thigh, and then obeyed his master.

  "Get up, sir," cried the lieutenant.

  Smallbones rose, but his temper now rose also; he forgot all that he wasto suffer, from indignation against the dog: with flashing eyes, andwhimpering with rage, he cried out, as the tears fell, and his armsswung round, "I'll not stand this--I'll jump overboard--that I will:fourteen times has that ere dog a-bitten me this week. I'd sooner die atonce, than be made dog's-meat of in this here way."

  "Silence, you mutinous rascal, or I'll put you in irons."

  "I wish you would--irons don't bite, if they hold fast. I'll run away--Idon't mind being hung--that I don't--starved to death, bitten to deathin this here way--"

  "Silence, sir. It's over-feeding that makes you saucy."

  "The Lord forgive you'" cried Smallbones, with surprise; "I've not had afull meal"

  "A full meal, you rascal! there's no filling a thing like you--hollowfrom top to bottom, like a bamboo."

  "And what I does get," continued Smallbones, with energy, "I pays dearfor; that ere dog flies at me, if I takes a bit o' biscuit. I never hasa bite without getting a bite, and it's all my own allowance."

  "A proof of his fidelity, and an example to you, you wretch," repliedthe lieutenant, fondly patting the dog on the head.

  "Well, I wish you'd discharge me--or hang me, I don't care which. Youeats so hearty, and the dog eats so hearty, that I gets nothing. We areonly victualled for two."

  "You insolent fellow! recollect the thief's cat."

  "It's very hard," continued Smallbones, unmindful of the threat, "thatthat ere beast is to eat my allowance, and be allowed to half eatme too."

  "You forget the keel-hauling, you scarecrow."

  "Well, I hope I may never come up again, that's all."

  "Leave the cabin, sir."

  This order Smallbones obeyed.

  "Snarleyyow," said the lieutenant, "you are hungry, my poor beast."Snarleyyow put his forepaw up on his master's knee. "You shall have yourbreakfast soon," continued his master, eating the burgoo between hisaddresses to the animal. "Yes, Snarleyyow, you have done wrong thismorning--you ought to have no breakfast." Snarleyyow growled. "We areonly four years acquainted, and how many scrapes you have got me into,Snarleyyow!" Snarleyyow here put both his paws upon his master's knee."Well, you are sorry, my poor dog, and you shall have some breakfast;"and Mr Vanslyperken put the basin of burgoo on the floor, which the dogtumbled down his throat most rapidly. "Nay, my dog, not so fast; youmust leave some for Smallbones, he will require some breakfast beforehis punishment. There, that will do;" and Mr Vanslyperken wished toremove the basin with a little of the burgoo remaining in it. Snarleyyowgrowled, would have snapped at his master, but Mr Vanslyperken shovedhim away with the bell mouth of his speaking-trumpet, and recovering aportion of the mess, put it on the table for the use of poor Smallbones."Now then, my dog, we will go on deck." Mr Vanslyperken left the cabin,followed by Snarleyyow; but as soon as his master was half way up theladder, Snarleyyow turned back, leaped on the chair, from the chair tothe table, and then finished the whole of the breakfast appropriated forSmallbones. Having effected this, the dog followed his master.