Chapter LII
Good sense in Swinburne--No man a hero to his valet de chambre, or aprophet in his own country--O'Brien takes a step by strategy--O'Brienparts with his friend, and Peter's star no longer in the ascendant.
O'Brien was sorry for the death of his father, but he could not feel asmost people would have done, as his father had certainly never been afather to him. He was sent to sea to be got rid of, and ever since hehad been there, had been the chief support of his family; his father wasvery fond of whiskey, and not very fond of exertion. He was too proud ofthe true Milesian blood in his veins to do anything to support himself,but not too proud to live upon his son's hard-earned gains. For hismother O'Brien felt very much; she had always been kind andaffectionate, and was very fond of him. Sailors, however, are soestranged from their families when they have been long in theirprofession and so accustomed to vicissitudes, that no grief for the lossof a relation lasts very long, and in a week O'Brien had recovered hisusual spirits, when a vessel brought us the intelligence that a Frenchsquadron had been seen off St Domingo. This put us all on the _quivive_. O'Brien was sent for by the admiral, and ordered to hasten hisbrig for sea with all possible despatch, as he was to proceed withdespatches to England forthwith. In three days we were reported ready,received our orders, and at eight o'clock in the evening made sail fromCarlisle Bay. "Well, Mr Swinburne," said I, "how do you like your newsituation?"
"Why, Mr Simple, I like it well enough; and it's not disagreeable to bean officer, and sit in your own cabin; but still I feel that I shouldget on better if I were in another ship. I've been hail-fellow well metwith the ship's company so long, that I can't top the officer over them,and we can't get the duty done as smart as I could wish: and then atnight I find it very lonely stuck up in my cabin like a parson's clerk,and nobody to talk to; for the other warrants are particular, and saythat I'm only acting, and may not be confirmed, so they hold aloof. Idon't much like being answerable for all that lot of gunpowder--it'squeer stuff to handle."
"Very true, Swinburne; but still, if there were no responsibility, weshould require no officers. You recollect that you are now provided forlife, and will have half-pay."
"That's what made me bite, Mr Simple. I thought of the old woman, andhow comfortable it would make her in her old age; and so, d'ye see, Isacrificed myself."
"How long have you been married, Swinburne?"
"Ever since Christmas '94. I wasn't going to be hooked carelessly, so Inibbled afore I took the bait. Had four years' trial of her first, and,finding that she had plenty of ballast, I sailed her as my own."
"How do you mean by plenty of ballast?"
"I don't mean, Mr Simple, a broad bow and square hulk. You know verywell that if a vessel has not ballast, she's bottom up in no time. Now,what keeps a woman stiff under her canvas is her modesty."
"Very true; but it's a rare commodity on the beach."
"And why, Mr Simple? because liquor is more valued. Many a good man hasfound it to be his bane; and as for a woman, when once she takes to it,she's like a ship without a rudder, and goes right before the wind tothe devil. Not that I think a man ought not to take a nor-wester or two,when he can get them. Rum was not given by God Almighty only to make theniggers dance, but to make all our hearts glad; neither do I see why awoman is to stand out neither; what's good for Jack can't hurt Poll;only there is a medium, as they say, in all things, and half-an-half isquite strong enough."
"I should think it was," replied I, laughing.
"But don't be letting me prevent you from keeping a look-out, MrSimple.--You, Hoskins, you're half a point off the wind. Luff you may.--I think, Mr Simple, that Captain O'Brien didn't pick out the best man,when he made Tom Alsop a quarter-master in my place."
"Why, he is a very steady, good man, Swinburne."
"Yes, so he is; but he has natural defects, which shouldn't beoverlooked. I doubt if he can see so far as the head of the mainsail."
"I was not aware of that."
"No, but I was. Alsop wants to sarve out his time for his pension, andwhen he has sarved, you see if, when the surgeons examine him, theydon't invalid him, as blind as a bat. I should like to have him asgunner's mate, and that's just what he's fit for. But, Mr Simple, Ithink we shall have some bad weather. The moon looks greasy, and thestars want snuffing. You'll have two reefs in the topsails aforemorning. There's five bells striking. Now I'll turn in; if I didn't keephalf the first, and half the morning watch, I shouldn't sleep all thenight. I miss my regular watch very much, Mr Simple--habit's everything--and I don't much fancy a standing bed-place, it's so large, and I feelso cold of my sides. Nothing like a hammock, after all. Good-night, MrSimple."
Our orders were to proceed with all _possible_ despatch; and O'Briencarried on day and night, generally remaining up himself till one or twoo'clock in the morning. We had very favourable weather, and in a littlemore than a month we passed the Lizard. The wind being fair, we passedPlymouth, ran up Channel, and anchored at Spithead.
After calling upon the admiral, O'Brien set off for town with hisdespatches, and left me in command of the ship. In three days I receiveda letter from him, informing me that he had seen the First Lord, who hadasked him a great many questions concerning the station he had quitted;that he had also complimented O'Brien on his services. "On that hint Ispake," continued O'Brien; "I ventured to insinuate to his lordship,that I had hoped I had earned my promotion; and as there is nothing like_quartering on the enemy_, I observed that I had not applied to LordPrivilege, as I considered my services would have been sufficient,without any application on his part. His lordship returned a verygracious answer: said that my Lord Privilege was a great ally of his,and very friendly to the government; and inquired when I was going tosee him. I replied, that I certainly should not pay my respects to hislordship at present, unless there was occasion for it, as I must take amore favourable opportunity. So I hope that good may come from the greatlord's error, which, of course, I shall not correct, as I feel I deservemy promotion--and you know, Peter, if you can't gain it by _hook_, youmust by _crook_." He then concluded his letter; but there was apostscript as follows:
"Wish me joy, my dear Peter. I have this moment received a letter fromthe private secretary, to say that I am _posted_, and appointed to the_Semiramis_ frigate, about to set sail for the East Indies. She is allready to start; and now I must try to get you with me, of which I haveno doubt; as, although her officers have been long appointed there willbe little difficulty of success, when I mention your relationship toLord Privilege, and while they remain in error as to his taking aninterest in my behalf." I rejoiced at O'Brien's good fortune. Hispromotion I had considered certain, as his services had entitled him toit; but the command of so fine a frigate must have been given upon thesupposition that it would be agreeable to my uncle, who was not only aprime supporter, but a very useful member, of the Tory Government. Icould not help laughing to myself, at the idea of O'Brien obtaining hiswishes from the influence of a person who probably detested him as muchas one man could detest another; and I impatiently waited for O'Brien'snext letter, by which I hoped to find myself appointed to the_Semiramis_; but a sad _contretemps_ took place.
O'Brien did not write; but came down two days afterwards, hastened onboard the _Semiramis_, read his commission, and assumed the commandbefore even he had seen me; he then sent his gig on board of the_Rattlesnake_ to desire me to come to him directly. I did so, and wewent down into the cabin of the frigate. "Peter," said he, "I wasobliged to hasten down and read myself captain of this ship, as I am infear that things are not going on well. I had called to pay my respectsat the Admiralty, previous to joining, and was kicking my heels in thewaiting-room, when who should walk up the passage, as if he were acaptain on his own quarter-deck, but your uncle, Lord Privilege. His eyemet mine--he recognised me immediately--and, if it did not flash fire,it did something very like it. He asked a few questions of one of theporters, and was giving his card, when my name was called for. I passedhim, and up I we
nt to the First Lord, thanked him for the frigate; andhaving received a great many compliments upon my exertions in the WestIndia station, made my bow and retired. I had intended to have requestedyour appointment, but I knew that your name would bring up LordPrivilege's; and, moreover, your uncle's card was brought up and laidupon the table while I was sitting there. The First Lord, I presume,thought that his lordship was come to thank him for his kindness to me,which only made him more civil. I made my bow and went down, when I metthe eye of Lord Privilege; who looked daggers at me as he walked upstairs--for, of course, he was admitted immediately after my audiencewas finished. Instead of waiting to hear the result of the explanation,I took a post-chaise, and have come down here as fast as four horses canbring me, and have read myself in--for, Peter, I feel sure, that if noton board, my commission will be cancelled; and I know that if once incommand, as I am now, I can call for a court-martial, to clear mycharacter if I am superseded. I know that the Admiralty _can_ doanything, but still they will be cautious in departing from the rules ofthe service, to please even Lord Privilege. I looked up at the sky assoon as I left the Admiralty portico, and was glad to see that theweather was so thick, and the telegraph not at work, or I might havebeen too late. Now I'll go on shore, and report myself to the admiral,as having taken the command of the _Semiramis_."
O'Brien went on shore to report himself, was well received by theadmiral, who informed him, that if he had any arrangements to make, hecould not be too soon, as he should not be surprised if his sailingorders came down the next morning. This was very annoying, as I couldnot see how I should be able to join O'Brien's ship, even if I couldeffect an exchange, in so short a time. I therefore hastened on board ofthe _Semiramis_, and applied to the officers to know if any of them werewilling to exchange into the _Rattlesnake_; but, although they did notmuch like going to the East Indies, they would not exchange into a brig,and I returned disappointed. The next morning, the admiral sent forO'Brien, and told him confidentially, for he was the same admiral whohad received O'Brien when he had escaped from prison with me, and wasvery kind to him, that there was some _hitch_ about his having the_Semiramis_, and that orders had come down to pay her off, all standing,and examine her bottom, if Captain O'Brien had not joined her. "Do youunderstand what this means?" said the admiral, who was anxious to knowthe reason.
O'Brien answered frankly, that Lord Privilege, by whose interest he hadobtained his former command, was displeased with him; and that, as hesaw him go up to the First Lord, he had no doubt but that his lordshiphad said something to his disadvantage, as he was a very vindictive man.
"Well," said the admiral, "it's lucky that you have taken the command,as they cannot well displace you, or send her into dock without asurvey, and upon your representation."
And so it proved; the First Lord, when he found that O'Brien had joined,took no further steps, but allowed the frigate to proceed to herintended destination. But all chance of my sailing with him was doneaway, and now, for the first time, I had to part with O'Brien. Iremained with him the whole time that I could be spared from my duties.O'Brien was very much annoyed, but there was no help. "Never mind,Peter," said he, "I've been thinking that perhaps it's all for the best.You will see more of the world, and be no longer in leading-strings. Youare now a fine man grown up, big enough and ugly enough, as they say, totake care of yourself. We shall meet again; and if we don't, why then,God bless you, my boy, and don't forget O'Brien."
Three days afterwards, O'Brien's orders came down. I accompanied him onboard; and it was not until the ship was under weigh, and runningtowards the Needles with a fair wind, that I shook hands with him, andshoved off. Parting with O'Brien was a heavy blow to me; but I littleknew how much I was to suffer before I saw him again.