With all these glancing before him, he, with commendable
prudence, resolved to continue his voyage, and trust to kind
Providence for the best.
"Captain," said the mate, as he stood viewing the prospect, with a
marlinespike in one hand and a piece of seizing in the other--"I
verily think, if that blow had stuck to us two hours longer, the old
tub would a' rolled her futtocks out. Ye don't know her as well as I
do. She's unlucky, anyhow; and always has been since she sot upon
the water. I've seen her top-sides open like a basket when we've
been trying to work her into port in heavy weather: and a craft that
won't look nearer than nine points close-hauled, with a stiff
breeze, ought to be sent into the Clyde for a coal-droger. An old
vessel's a perfect pickpocket to owners; and if this old thing
hasn't opened their purses as bad as her own seams, I'll miss my
reckonin'. I've had a strong foreknowledge that we wouldn't get
across in her. I saw the rats leaving in Jamaica--taking up their
line of march, like marines on the fore. It's a sure sign. And then
I'd a dream, which is as sure as a mainstay--never deceives me. I can
depend on its presentiment. I have dreamed it several times, and we
always had an awful passage. Twice we come within a bobstay of all
goin' to Old Davy's store-house. I once escaped it, after I'd had my
mysterious dream; but then I made the cook throw the cat overboard
just after we left port, and 'twas all that saved us.
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