CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
THE POWDER MONKEY GETS HIS FIRST STEP UP THE RATLINES.
The British wounded, and the French prisoners captured in the prize,were forthwith taken on board the _Thisbe_, when both ships made sail toget a good offing from the coast before daylight. Mr Saltwell remainedin command of the prize with the crew which had so gallantly won her.The wounded Frenchmen were also allowed to continue on board undercharge of their surgeon, with an English assistant-surgeon to help him,for there were upwards of forty poor fellows who required his care.
Bill was glad to find that he had not to go back to his own ship, as hewanted to look after Pierre, and as soon as his duty would allow him hewent below to learn how his young French friend was getting on. When heasked for the man whom he had brought down, the doctor pointed to one ofthe officer's cabins in the gun-room, observing, "He is somewhat badlyhurt, but there are others still more cruelly knocked about who requiremy care, and I have not been able to attend to him for some time."
Bill hurried into the cabin. A faint voice replied to him.
"_Merci, merci_! It is very kind of you to come and see me, but I fearthat I shall not get over it," said Pierre. "Is there no chance of ourreturning to France? I should like to die under my father's roof, andsee my mother and Jeannette once more."
"There's no chance of your getting back for the present, but I hope youwill see your mother and sister notwithstanding," answered Bill. "Weare running across the Channel, and shall be in an English port in a dayor two, when you will be landed, and I will ask the captain to let metake care of you. I should like to prove how grateful I am for all yourkindness to me and Jack Peek, and I will tell Mr Saltwell, thelieutenant who commands this ship, how you and your family treated me.But I don't think you ought to talk; I came to see if I could doanything for you."
"My lips are parched; I am very thirsty; I should like something todrink," answered Pierre.
"I will see what I can find," said Bill; and making his way to thesteward's pantry outside the captain's cabin, he hunted about until hediscovered some lemons. He quickly squeezed out the juice of a coupleof them, and mixing it with water, brought the beverage to Pierre, whodrank it eagerly. It much revived him.
"I was very unfortunate to be on board the _Atlante_ when you capturedher, for I had no wish to fight the English," said Pierre. "Only tendays ago I was persuaded to come on board to see a friend, and the crewwould not let me return on shore. However, I was determined to make thebest of it, hoping before long to get back to my family, and be able toassist my father. And now to be cut down by my own countrymen, for itwas a shot from the battery on shore which wounded me. It is more thanI can bear!"
"Don't think about it," said Bill; "you are safe from further harm, andwill be well taken care of; and when you have recovered, and the war isover, you will be able to go back. I must leave you now, but I willcome and see you as often as I can. I have placed the jug of lemonadeclose to your head, where it cannot slip. When that is gone I will getsome more; it is the best thing you can take at present."
Saying this, Bill hurried back to attend to his duty on deck, for, youngas he was, as the prize was short-handed, he had plenty of work to do.Several times he passed Mr Saltwell, who gave him a kind look or said aword or two of encouragement, but did not allude to the service Bill haddone him.
"He probably has forgotten all about my having shot the Frenchboatswain," thought Bill. "I only did my duty, and if anybody else hadbeen in his place I should have done the same."
The frigate and her fresh prize were meantime making the best of theirway across the Channel. As the latter, a fast sailor, was notmaterially injured, all sail was made on her, and she kept good way withthe _Thisbe_. At the same time there was still the risk of either oneor both being taken by a French ship of superior force, though neitherwas likely to yield without making every effort to escape. A constantlook-out was kept from the mast-head, but as the ships got farther andfarther from the French coast, the hope of escaping without having againto fight increased.
Several sail were seen in the distance, but it was supposed that theywere either merchantmen, standing up or down Channel, in spite of theenemy's cruisers on the watch to pick them up, or privateers, and,seeing that the _Thisbe_ was a frigate, took good care to keep out ofher way.
At length the entrance to Plymouth Sound was descried, and the _Thisbe_and her prize stood up it triumphantly with colours flying, creatingconsiderable astonishment at her quick return with another capture.Both were soon moored in Hamoaze, when the _Atlante_, a fine littleship, carrying twenty guns on one deck, was handed over to the prizeagents with the full expectation that she would be bought into theservice. The prisoners were carried on shore, the wounded men weretaken to the hospital, and the prize crew returned on board their ownship.
Bill had been very anxious to accompany Pierre, that he might watch overhim with more care than strangers could do, but he had had noopportunity of asking leave of Mr Saltwell.
He had not been long on board the frigate, and was giving an account ofthe boarding expedition to Jack and Tom, when he heard his name calledalong the decks.
"Boy Rayner, the captain has sent for you into the cabin," said themaster-at-arms.
"What can you be wanted for!" exclaimed Tom. "Look out for squalls. Ishouldn't like to be in your shoes."
"No fear of that," said Jack. "Maybe the first lieutenant has told thecaptain how Bill saved his life. I wish that I had had a chance ofdoing something of the sort."
Bill, however, did not stop to hear the remarks of his two friends, buthurried aft, thinking that now would be the time to say something inpoor Pierre's favour.
The sentry, who knew that he had been sent for, allowed him to passwithout question, and he soon found himself in the presence of thecaptain and Mr Saltwell, who were seated at the table in the maincabin. Bill stood, hat in hand, ready to answer any questions whichmight be put to him.
"William Rayner," said the captain, "you have, I understand, behavedremarkably well on several occasions, twice especially, by saving MrSaltwell's life through your coolness and presence of mind. You arealso, I find, a fair French scholar, and the first lieutenant reportsfavourably of your conduct in your former ship. I wish to reward you.Let me know how I can best do so in a way satisfactory to yourself."
"I only did my duty without thinking of being rewarded," answered Bill;"but I have been wishing since we took the prize that something could bedone for a young Frenchman who was badly hurt on board her by a shotfrom the battery which fired at us. He and his father saved Jack Peekand me from drowning when we were blown up in the _Foxhound_, and hisfamily were afterwards very kind to us, and did their utmost to save usfrom being carried off to prison, and when we were hid away in a cave,his sister, at great risk, brought us food. He will now be amongststrangers, who do not understand his lingo, and the poor fellow will bevery sad and solitary; so I think he would like it, if I could get leaveto go and stay with him while the frigate remains in harbour. I'll takeit as a great favour, sir, since you ask me what reward I should like,if you can let me go and be with him at the hospital, or if that cannotbe, if he may be removed to some lodging where he can be well lookedafter until he recovers and is sent back to his own home."
"There may be some difficulty in doing as you propose," replied thecaptain. "Mr Saltwell will, however, I have no doubt, try to make asatisfactory arrangement, for a person behaving as the young Frenchmanhas done deserves to be rewarded; but that is not what I meant; I wantyou to choose some reward for yourself, and wish you to let me know howI can best serve you."
"Thank you, sir," answered Bill. "I cannot think just now of anything Irequire, though I should be very glad if I could get Pierre sent back tohis family."
"Your parents, perhaps, will be able to decide better than you can do,then. Your father or mother," observed the captain.
"I have neither father nor mother, sir," answered Bill. "They
are bothdead."
"Your relatives and friends might decide," said the captain.
"I have no relatives or friends, nor any one to care for me that I knowof," said Bill, in a quiet voice.
"Then Mr Saltwell and I must settle the matter," said Captain Martin."Should you like to be placed on the quarter-deck? If you go on as youhave begun, and let duty alone guide you on all occasions, you will, ifyou live, rise in the service and be an honour to it."
Bill almost gasped for breath as he heard this. He knew that thecaptain was in earnest, and he looked at him, and then at Mr Saltwell,but could not speak.
"Come, say what you wish, my lad," said Captain Martin, in anencouraging tone.
Still Bill was silent.
"You will have opportunities of improving your education, and you neednot fear about being well received by the young gentlemen in themidshipmen's berth," observed Mr Saltwell. "Captain Martin and I willmake arrangements for giving you an outfit and supplying you with suchfunds as you will require, besides which you will come in for amidshipman's share of prize-money."
The kind way in which the captain and first lieutenant spoke greatlyassisted Bill to find his tongue and to express himself appropriately.
"I am grateful, sirs, for your offer, and hope that I always shall begrateful. If you think that I am fit to become a midshipman, I will tryto do my duty as such, so I accept your offer with all my heart."
Bill, overpowered by his feelings, could say no more.
"The matter is settled, then," said the captain; and sending for thepurser, he at once entered the name of William Rayner as a midshipman onthe ship's books, the only formality requisite in those days, though hisrank would afterwards have to be confirmed at the Admiralty.
The purser observed that he had a suit of clothes belonging to one ofthe midshipmen killed in the action with the French frigate, whichwould, he thought, exactly fit Mr Rayner.
Bill felt very curious at hearing himself so spoken of.
The purser said that he would debit him with them at a moderate price.
The captain approving of this proposal, Bill, in the course of a fewminutes, found himself dressed in a midshipman's uniform. He couldscarcely believe his senses. It seemed to him as if by the power of anenchanter's wand he had been changed into some one else.
The first lieutenant then desired him to accompany him, and leading theway down to the berth, in which a number of the young gentlemen wereassembled for dinner, he stopped at the door.
"I wish, young gentlemen, to present a new messmate to you," he said,looking in. "Mr William Rayner! He has gained his position byexhibiting those qualities which I am sure you all admire, and you will,I have no doubt, treat him as a friend."
The members of the mess who were present rose and cordially put outtheir hands towards Bill, whom the first lieutenant, taking by the aim,drew into the berth.
Mr Saltwell then returned on deck.
Bill naturally felt very bashful, but his new messmates did their bestto set him at ease, and no one alluded to his former position. Theyspoke only of the late action, and begged him to give a description ofthe way in which he had saved Mr Saltwell's life, a vague account ofwhich they had heard.
Bill complied, modestly, not saying more about himself than wasnecessary. What he said gained him the applause of his new messmates,and raised him greatly in their estimation; he therefore found himselffar more at his ease than he had expected would be possible; no one byword or deed showing that they recollected that he had been just beforea ship's boy, but all treated him as an equal.
His only regret now was that he could no longer talk with Jack and Tomas he had been accustomed to do, though he hoped that he should still beable, without doing anything derogatory to his new position, to speak tothem in a friendly way. Thinking highly of Jack as he did, he regrettedmore than ever that his former messmate could neither read nor write.He felt sure that he would, should he have an opportunity, do somethingto merit promotion.
Bill commenced his new duties with a spirit and alacrity which wasremarked by his superior officers. He had narrowly observed the way themidshipmen conducted themselves, and was thus able to behave as well asthe best of them. He was a little puzzled at first at dinner, but byseeing what others did he soon got over the slight difficulty he had toencounter.
Next day Mr Saltwell called him up as he was walking the quarter-deck.
"I have been making inquiries as to what can be done for your friendPierre Turgot," he said. "As you told me he was not willingly on boardthe privateer, I was able to state that in his favour, and I haveobtained leave for him to be removed to a private house, where he canremain until he has recovered, and he will then, I hope, be allowed toreturn to France without waiting for an exchange of prisoners. Were heto be sent back with others, he would probably at once be compelled toserve afloat, and his great desire is, I understand, to return to hisown family, to follow his former occupation of a fisherman."
"Thank you, sir," exclaimed Bill, "I cannot be too grateful to you foryour kindness."
"Don't talk of that, my lad; if it hadn't been for your courage andcoolness I should not have been here. I am now going on shore, and wishyou to accompany me. I have seen the widow of an old shipmate of minewho is willing to receive Pierre into her house, and to attend to him.We will have him removed at once, so that when we sail you will know heis placed under good care."