CHAPTER TWO.
HEAVING UP THE ANCHOR.
As soon as the boys' names were entered, they were sent forward, undercharge of the ship's corporal, to obtain suits of sailor's clothing fromthe purser's steward, which clothing was charged to their respectiveaccounts.
The ship's corporal made them wash themselves before putting on theirfresh gear; and when they appeared in it, with their hair nicely combedout, it was soon seen which of the three was likely to prove thesmartest sea boy.
Bill, who had never had such neat clothing on before, felt himself adifferent being. Tom strutted about and tried to look big. Jack wasnot much changed, except that he had a round hat instead of a cap, cleanclothes, and lighter shoes than the thick ones in which he had come onboard.
As neither Tom nor Bill knew the stem from the stern of the ship, andeven Jack felt very strange, they were handed over to the charge of DickBrice, the biggest ship's boy, with orders to him to instruct them intheir respective duties.
Dick had great faith in a rope's-end, having found it efficacious in hisown case. He was fond of using it pretty frequently to enforce hisinstructions. Jack and Bill supposed that it was part of the regulardiscipline of the ship; but Tom had not bargained for such treatment,and informing Dick that he would not stand it, in consequence got adouble allowance.
He dared not venture to complain to his superiors, for he saw theboatswain and the boatswain's mate using their colts with similarfreedom, and so he had just to grin and bear it.
At night, when the hammocks were piped down, the three went to theirs inthe forepart of the ship. Bill thought he had never slept in a morecomfortable bed in his life. Jack did not think much about the matter;but Tom, who had always been accustomed to a well-made bed at home,grumbled dreadfully when he tried to get into his, and tumbled out threeor four times on the opposite side before he succeeded.
Had it not been for Dick Brice, who slung their hammocks for them, theywould have had to sleep on the bare deck.
The next morning the gruff voice of the boatswain's mate summoned allhands to turn out, and on going on deck they saw "Blue Peter" flying atthe fore, while shortly afterwards the Jews and all other visitors weremade to go down the side into the boats waiting for them. The captaincame on board, the sails were loosed, and while the fife was setting upa merry tune, the seamen tramped round at the capstan bars, and theanchor was hove up.
The wind being from the eastward, in the course of a few minutes thegallant frigate, under all sail, was gliding down through the smoothwaters of the Solent Sea towards the Needles.
Tom and Bill had something fresh to wonder at every minute. It dawnedupon them by degrees that the forepart of the ship went first, and thatthe wheel, at which two hands were always stationed, had something to dowith guiding her, and that the sails played an important part in drivingher on.
Jack had a great advantage over them, as he knew all this, and manyother things besides, and being a good-natured fellow, was always readyto impart his knowledge to them.
By the time they had been three or four weeks at sea, they had learned agreat deal more, and were able to go aloft.
Bill had caught up to Jack, and had left Tom far behind. The sametalent which had induced him to mend his ragged clothes, made him do,with rapidity and neatness, everything else he undertook, while heshowed a peculiar knack of being quick at understanding and executingthe orders he received.
Tom felt rather jealous that he should be surpassed by one he had atfirst looked down on as little better than a beggar boy.
It never entered into Jack's head to trouble himself about the matter,and if Bill was his superior, that was no business of his.
There were a good many other people on board, who looked down on allthree of them, considering that they were the youngest boys, and were ateverybody's beck and call.
As soon as the frigate got to sea the crew were exercised at their guns,and Jack, Tom, and Bill had to perform the duty of powder-monkeys. Thisconsisted in bringing up the powder from the magazine in small tubs, onwhich they had to sit in a row on deck, to prevent the sparks getting inwhile the men were working the guns, and to hand out the powder as itwas required.
"I don't see any fun in firing away when there is no enemy in sight,"observed Tom, as he sat on his tub at a little distance from Bill.
"There may not be much fun in it, but it's very necessary," answeredBill. "If the men were not to practise at the guns, how could they fireaway properly when we get alongside an enemy? See! some of the freshhands don't seem to know much what they are about, or the lieutenantwould not be growling at them in the way he is doing. I am keeping myeye on the old hands to learn how they manage, and before long, I think,if I was big enough, I could stand to my gun as well as they do."
Tom, who had not before thought of observing the crews of the guns, tookthe hint, and watched how each man was engaged.
By being constantly exercised, the crew in a few weeks were well able towork their guns; but hitherto they had fallen in with no enemy againstwhom to exhibit their prowess.
A bright look-out was kept from the mast-head from sunrise to sunset fora strange sail, and it was not probable that they would have to go longwithout falling in with one, for England had at that time pretty nearlyall the world in arms against her. She had managed to quarrel with theDutch, and was at war with the French and Spaniards, while she hadlately been engaged in a vain attempt to overcome the American colonies,which had thrown off their allegiance to the British Crown.
Happily for the country, her navy was staunch, and many of the mostgallant admirals whose names have been handed down to fame commanded herfleets; the captains, officers, and crews, down to the youngestship-boys, tried to imitate their example, and enabled her in theunequal struggle to come off victorious.
The _Foxhound_ had for some days been cruising in the Bay of Biscay, andwas one morning about the latitude of Ferrol. The watch was employed inwashing down decks, the men and boys paddling about with their trouserstucked up to their knees, some with buckets of water, which they wereheaving about in every direction, now and then giving a shipmate, whenthe first lieutenant's eye was off them, the benefit of a shower-bath:others were wielding huge swabs, slashing them down right and left, withloud thuds, and ill would it have fared with any incautious landsman whomight have got within their reach. The men were laughing and jokingwith each other, and the occupation seemed to afford amusement to allemployed.
Suddenly there came a shout from the look-out at the masthead of "Fivesail in sight."
"Where away?" asked Lieutenant Saltwell, who was on deck superintendingthe operations going forward.
"Dead to leeward, sir," was the answer.
The wind was at the time blowing from the north-west, and the frigatewas standing close hauled, on the starboard tack, to the westward.
The mate of the watch instantly went aloft, with his spy-glass hung athis back, to take a look at the strangers, while a midshipman was sentto inform Captain Waring, who, before many minutes had elapsed, made hisappearance, having hurriedly slipped into his clothes.
On receiving the report of the young officer, who had returned on deck,he immediately ordered the helm to be put up, and the ship to be keptaway in the direction of the strangers.
In a short time it was seen that most of them were large ships; one ofthem very considerably larger than the _Foxhound_.
The business of washing down the decks had been quickly concluded, andthe crew were sent to their breakfasts.
Many remarks of various sorts were made by the men. Some thought thatthe captain would never dream of engaging so superior a force; whileothers, who knew him well, declared that whatever the odds, he wouldfight.
As yet no order had been received to beat to quarters, and many were ofopinion that the captain would only stand on near enough to ascertainthe character of the strangers, and then, should they prove enemies,make all sail away from them.
Still the frigate st
ood on, and Bill, who was near one of the officerswho had a glass in his hand, heard him observe that one was aline-of-battle ship, two at least were frigates, while another was acorvette, and the fifth a large brig-of-war.
These were formidable odds, but still their plucky captain showed noinclination to escape from them, but, on the contrary, seemed as if hehad made up his mind to bring them to action.
The question was ere long decided. The drum beat to quarters, the menwent to their guns, powder and shot were handed up from below, givingample occupation to the powder-monkeys, and the ship was headed towardsthe nearest of the strangers. She was still some distance off when thecrew were summoned aft to hear what the captain had to say to them.
"My lads!" he said, "some of you have fought under me before now, andthough the odds were against us, we licked the enemy. We have gotsomewhat greater odds, perhaps, at present, but I want to take two orthree of those ships; they are not quite as powerful as they look, andif you will work your guns as I know you can work them, we'll do itbefore many hours have passed. We have a fine breeze to help us, andwill tackle one after the other. You'll support me, I know."
Three loud cheers were given as a response to this appeal, and the menwent back to their guns, where they stood stripped to their waists, withhandkerchiefs bound round their heads.
Notwithstanding the formidable array of the enemy, the frigate keptbearing down under plain sail towards them.
Our heroes, sitting on their tubs, could see but very little of what wasgoing forward, though now and then they got a glimpse of the enemythrough the ports; but they heard the remarks made by the men in theirneighbourhood, who were allowed to talk till the time for action hadarrived.
"Our skipper knows what he's about, but that chap ahead of the rest is amonster, and looks big enough to tackle us without the help of theothers," observed one of the crew of the gun nearest to which Tom wasseated.
"What's the odds if she carries twice as many teeth as we have! we'llwork ours twice as fast, and beat her before the frigates can come up togrin at us," answered Ned Green, the captain of the gun.
Tom did not quite like the remarks he heard. There was going to be asharp fight, of that there could be no doubt, and round shot would soonbe coming in through the sides, and taking off men's heads and legs andarms. It struck him that he would have been safer at school. Hethought of his father and mother, and brothers and sisters, who, if hewas killed, would never know what had become of him; not that Tom was acoward, but it was somewhat trying to the courage even of older hands,thus standing on slowly towards the enemy. When the fighting had oncebegun, Tom was likely to prove as brave as anybody else; at all events,he would have no time for thinking, and it is that which tries mostpeople.
The captain and most of the officers were on the quarter-deck, keepingtheir glasses on the enemy.
"The leading ship under French colours appears to me to carry sixty-fourguns," observed the first lieutenant to the captain; "and the next, alsoa Frenchmen, looks like a thirty-six gun frigate. The brig is American,and so is one of the sloops. The sternmost is French, and is a biggishship."
"Whatever they are, we'll fight them, and, I hope, take one or two atleast," answered the captain.
He looked at his watch. It was just ten o'clock. The next moment theheadmost ship opened her fire, and the shot came whizzing between theship's masts.
Captain Waring watched them as they flew through the air.
"I thought so," he observed. "There were not more than fifteen; she's astore-ship, and will be our prize before the day is over. Fire, mylads!" he shouted; and the eager crew poured a broadside into the enemy,rapidly running in their guns, and reloading them to be ready for thenext opponent.
The _Foxhound_ was standing along the enemy's line to windward, and asshe came abreast of each ship she fired with well-directed aim; andthough all the enemy's ships in succession discharged their guns at her,not a shot struck her hull, though their object evidently was to crippleher, so that they might surround her and have her at their mercy.
Tom, who had read about sea-fights, and had expected to have the shotcome rushing across the deck, felt much more comfortable on discoveringthis, and began to look upon the Frenchmen as very bad gunners.
The _Foxhound's_ guns were all this time thundering away as fast as thecrews could run them in and load them, the men warming to their work asthey saw the damage they were inflicting on the enemy.
Having passed the enemy's line to windward, Captain Waring ordered theship to be put about, and bore down on the sternmost French ship, which,with one of smaller size carrying the American pennant, was in a shorttime so severely treated that they both bore up out of the line. The_Foxhound_, however, followed, and the other French ships and theAmerican brig coming to the assistance of their consorts, the _Foxhound_had them on both sides of her.
This was just what her now thoroughly excited crew desired most, as theycould discharge their two broadsides at the same time; and rightgallantly did she fight her way through her numerous foes till she gotup with the American ship, which had been endeavouring to escape beforethe wind, and now, to avoid the broadside which the English ship wasabout to pour into her, she hauled down her colours.
On seeing this, the frigate's crew gave three hearty cheers; and as soonas they had ceased, the captain's voice was heard ordering two boatsaway under the command of the third lieutenant, who was directed to takecharge of the prize, and to send her crew on board the ship.
Not a moment was to be lost, as the rest of the enemy, under all sail,were endeavouring to make their escape.
The boats of the prize, which proved to be the _Alexander_, carryingtwenty-four guns and upwards of a hundred men, were then lowered, andemployed in conveying her crew to the ship.
The American captain and officers were inclined to grumble at first.
"Very sorry, gentlemen, to incommode you," said the English lieutenant,as he hurried them down the side; "but necessity has no law; my ordersare to send you all on board the frigate, as the captain is in a hurryto go in chase of your friends, of which we hope to have one or two morein our possession before long."
The lieutenant altered his tone when the Americans began to grumble."You must go at once, or take the consequences," he exclaimed; and theprisoners saw that it would be wise to obey.
They were received very politely on board the ship, Captain Waringoffering to accept their parole if they were ready to give it, andpromise not to attempt to interfere with the discipline and regulationsof the ship.
As soon as the prisoners were transferred to the _Foxhound_, she madeall sail in chase of the large ship, which Captain Waring now heard wasthe sixty-four gun ship _Menager_, laden with gunpowder, but nowmounting on her maindeck twenty-six long twelve-pounders, and on herquarter-deck four long six-pounders, with a crew of two hundred andtwenty men.
Her force was considerably greater than that of the English frigate, butCaptain Waring did not for a moment hesitate to continue in pursuit ofher. A stern chase, however, is a long chase. The day wore on, andstill the French ship kept ahead of the _Foxhound_.
The crew were piped to dinner to obtain fresh strength for renewing thefight.
"Well, lads," said Green, who was a bit of a wag in his way, as helooked at the powder-boys still seated on their tubs, "as you have stillgot your heads on your shoulders, you may put some food into yourmouths. Maybe you won't have another opportunity after we get up withthe big 'un we are chasing. I told you, mates," he added, turning tothe crew of his gun, "the captain knew what he was about, and would makethe Frenchmen haul down their flags before we hauled down ours. Ishould not be surprised if we got the whole lot of them."
The boys, having returned their powder to the magazine till it was againwanted, were glad enough to stretch their legs, and still more to followGreen's advice by swallowing the food which was served out to them.
The rest of the enemy's squadron were still in sight, scattered here an
dthere, and considerably ahead of the _Menager_; the frigate was,however, gaining on the latter, and if the wind held, would certainly beup with her some time in the afternoon.
Every stitch of canvas she could carry was set on board the _Foxhound_.
It was already five o'clock. The crew had returned to their quarters,and the powder-monkeys were seated on their tubs. Both the pursuer andpursued were on the larboard tack, going free.
"We have her now within range of our guns," cried Captain Waring. "Luffup, master, and we'll give her a broadside."
Just as he uttered the words a squall struck the frigate. Over sheheeled, the water rushing in through her lower deck ports, which wereunusually low, and washing over the deck.
The crews of the lee guns, as they stood up to their knees in water,fully believed that she was going over. In vain they endeavoured to runin their guns. More and more she heeled over, till the water was nearlyup to their waists. None flinched, however. The guns must be got in,and the ports shut, or the ship would be lost.
"What's going to happen?" cried Tom Fletcher. "We are going down! weare going down!"