romptly and sagaciously, but anything new tended to
disarrange his mind. When steamers were first ordered to carry red and
green side-lights with a high white light hung forward, an old captain
saw the mysterious coloured circles coming down on him. He did not
understand this new thing, and his faculties became confused. He shouted
"Hard a-starboard. We'll be into a chemist's shop." This momentary
infirmity of purpose was the source of much fun among more advanced
mariners in his town. Another master who happened to have a leisure
evening went to hear a popular astronomical lecture. He was much
troubled by what he heard, and he explained his perplexity with great
feeling to his friends. He said: "The man told the lot of us that the
world turned round and round; but I cannot see how that can be. The
Hatter's Rock's been there ever since I can mind." It sometimes happened
that a captain more than usually competent was sent over seas to strange
regions. One gentleman who could read and use a chart was despatched to
Rotterdam. After getting over the bar and well away to the east, he
produced his charts and made a learned inspection; but the charts had
been a long time in the lockers, and circumstances combined to alarm him
extremely. He went up on deck and called to his mate, "Put her about,
the rats has eaten Holland." One of the most remarkable of the old
school was a man who could actually take his ship about and find his
place on the chart without being able to read the names himself. He
always became very shortsighted on longish voyages. Towards the end of
his time the new race of apprentices who had learned to read began to go
to sea: before that period he had only been used to coasting trips, and
the learned youths were a godsend to him when his owners sent him far
afield. He would call his lad down below, and, assuming a tender air,
would give the seasoned youngster a glass of rum. He would then point to
the chart and say, "We're there. What is that place, my man? I can't see
very well." On receiving his answer, he would remark, gravely, "I
thought it was that." This innocent device gave the greatest
entertainment to his irreverent pupils. Sometimes this kind of ignorance
led to complications. One old gentleman bored away through a fog for
several days under the pleasing impression that he was going north about
from Liverpool. After a long time a vessel came past and the lost
captain inquired, "Are we going right for