CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
ACTION BETWEEN THE "THISBE" AND A FRENCH FRIGATE.
Rayner--for such he ought now to be called--who was in the middle watch,was standing forward on the look-out, and, as may be supposed, he didnot allow an eye to wink. Several times he thought that he could seetwo dark objects rising above the horizon, but his imagination mighthave deceived him, for they, at all events, grew no larger. When hiswatch was over, he came aft into the midshipmen's berth, where severalof his messmates were collected. He might have turned in, for the nightwas drawing on, but there were still two hours to daylight. He, as wellas others, dropped asleep with their heads on the table.
They were aroused from their uncomfortable slumbers by the boatswain'scall, piping the hammocks up, and on coming on deck the first thing theysaw were the two ships they had been chasing all night directly ahead,their topsails just rising above the water. Their hopes revived thatthey would come up with them before the day was many hours older; stillthe strangers were a long way out of range of their bow chasers.
As the sun rose and shone on their own canvas they knew that they mustbe clearly seen, and it was hoped that the two ships would, if theircaptains were inclined to fight, heave to and await their coming.
Such, however, it was evidently the intention of the Frenchman not todo, for it was seen that studding-sails were being set below and aloft.
"Still they may not have the heels of us," observed Captain Martin tothe first lieutenant; "and before they get into Cherbourg we may be upto them."
It was thought that as the day advanced the wind might increase, but inthis Captain Martin was disappointed. At length, towards evening, CapeLa Hogue and the coast of France, to the westward of Cherbourg, appearedin sight. In a few hours it was too probable that the French shipswould get safe into port.
Remarks not over complimentary to the valour of the Frenchmen were madeby the crews of the English frigates, when they saw that the enemy hadescaped them; but as Jack observed, "There's no use grumbling; themounseers have got away from us because they knew the tremendousdrubbing we would have given them."
"Perhaps we may see them again before long," said Tom, his couragereturning now that all danger of an encounter had passed. "Depend onit, our captain will do his best to give them a taste of our quality."
Tom was right; for although the _Thisbe_ and _Venus_ had to haul theirwind, and stand off shore, a bright look-out was kept, in the hopes thatthe French frigates might again put to sea.
Day after day passed, and at length the _Venus_ parted company from the_Thisbe_. The latter frigate was standing across Channel when a luggerwas sighted, to which she gave chase. The stranger at first made allsail, as if to escape. She was at length seen to heave to. On comingup with her, it was at first doubtful whether she was English or French,but as the frigate approached she hoisted English colours and lowered aboat, which in a short time came alongside, and a fine,intelligent-looking man stepping upon deck, announced himself as masterof the lugger. He had, he said, at first taken the _Thisbe_ for aFrench frigate which was in the habit of coming out of Cherbourg everyevening, picking up any prizes she could fall in with, and returningnext morning with them into port. He had, indeed, narrowly escaped oncebefore.
This was valuable information, and Captain Martin determined to act uponit, in the hopes of capturing the marauder. Being engaged in particularservice, the master of the lugger was allowed to proceed on his way, andthe _Thisbe_ stood back towards Cherbourg.
The day passed, and no enemy appeared. Next morning, however, a sailwas seen to the northward. Captain Martin immediately bore up toascertain her character. As the daylight increased, all felt confidentthat she was a frigate, and probably French. The stranger was seen tobe carrying a press of canvas, and apparently steering for Cherbourg.To re-enter that port she must encounter the _Thisbe_, on board whichpreparations were made for the expected engagement. The stranger, too,continuing her course, hauled her wind, and stood down Channel, as ifanxious to escape. Why she did so it was difficult to say, except onthe possibility that she had seen another English ship to the northward,and was unwilling to encounter two enemies at once.
It was the general opinion that she was a powerful frigate, considerablylarger than the _Thisbe_; but even if such were the case, Captain Martinwas not the man to be deterred from engaging her. The stranger sailedwell, and there appeared every probability that she would distance the_Thisbe_, and if she wished it, get back to port without coming toaction.
In a short time the weather became very thick, and, to thedisappointment of all, the stranger was lost sight of. Still the_Thisbe_ continued her course, and many a sharp pair of eyes wereemployed in looking out for the Frenchman, it being difficult to say,should the fog lift, in what direction she might next be seen. Shemight tack and run back to Cherbourg, or she might, trusting to hersuperior sailing, stand across the _Thisbe's_ bows to the southward.
A couple of hours passed. As at any moment the fog might clear away,and the stranger might appear close aboard her, the _Thisbe_ preparedfor immediate action. The men had been sent below to dinner, and theprospect of a fight did not damp their appetites.
The midshipmen had finished theirs, and Rayner, who had just relievedone of his messmates on deck, was on the look-out when he espied, awayon the larboard bow, a sail through the fog, which had somewhatdispersed in that quarter. A second glance convinced him that she was alarge ship. He instantly shouted out the welcome intelligence. Everyone hoped that she was the vessel they were in search of. The drum beatto quarters, and scarcely were the guns run out than the fog clearingstill more discovered a large frigate standing under all sail to theeastward, about half a mile away. If she were the one they had beforeseen, she had evidently acted as Captain Martin had supposed might bethe case, and having crossed the _Thisbe's_ course, had then kept away,hoping to get in shore of her and back to Cherbourg. At once the_Thisbe_ was put about, and then stood so as to cross the stranger'sbows. The latter, on seeing this, hoisting French colours, rapidlyshortened sail and hauled up to the northward, the two ships crossingeach other on contrary tacks. The _Thisbe_ fired her starboardbroadside, receiving one in return, and then going about, endeavoured toget to windward of her antagonist. This, however, she was unable to do,and was compelled to continue the engagement to leeward. Her crewfought with the usual courage of British seamen, but the enemy's shotwere making fearful havoc on her masts and rigging. Her three lowermasts and bowsprit were in a short time wounded in several places, mostof her stays were shot away, and much damage was done to the mainrigging.
At length her main-topsail yard was shot away in the slings by adouble-headed shot, and the yard-arms came down in front of themainyard, the leech ropes of the mainsail were cut to pieces and thesail riddled. All the time, also, whenever the ships were withinmusket-range, showers of bullets came rattling on board, and several ofthe men were laid low.
Still Captain Martin did not attempt to escape from his opponent, whichwas seen to have twenty guns on a side, besides quarter-deck guns, and anumber of men armed with muskets. He hoped, by perseverance, to knockaway her masts or inflict such other serious injury as might compel herto give in.
This was Rayner's first action since he had attained his present rank.He endeavoured to maintain his character, and though it was trying workto see his shipmates struck down on either side of him, he did not for amoment think of himself or the risk he ran of meeting the same fate.All the time spars, rigging, and blocks were falling from aloft, shotaway by the hot fire of the enemy. He endeavoured to keep himself cooland composed, and to execute the orders he received.
Jack and Tom were employed as powder-monkeys on the maindeck, whenRayner was sent by the captain to ascertain what was going on. As hewent along it he passed his two friends.
Jack was as active as ever, handing up the powder required; poor Tomlooked the picture of misery.
"Ain't the enemy going to strike yet,
Mr Rayner?" he asked, in amelancholy tone; "we've been a long time about it, and I thought theywould have given in long ago."
"I hope they soon will have enough of it and give in, and we must blazeaway at them until they do," answered the midshipman, hurrying on.
Just then a shot came crashing in through the side, passing just whereRayner had been standing, sending the splinters flying about in alldirections. He had not time to look round, but thought he heard a cryas if some one had been hit, and he hurried on to deliver his message tothe second lieutenant.
On his way back he took a glance to see how it fared with his twofriends. Tom was seated on his tub, but poor Jack lay stretched ondeck. Rayner, hastening to him, lifted him up.
"I'm only hit in the leg," answered Jack to his inquiries. "It hurt mevery much, and I fell, but I'll try to do my duty." How barbarous iswar!
Rayner, however, saw that this was impossible, as the blood was flowingrapidly from the wounded limb, and calling one of the people appointedto attend those who were hurt, he ordered him to carry Jack below."Tell the surgeons he's badly wounded, and get them to attend to him atonce," he said.
He longed to be able to go himself, but his duty compelled him to returnto the upper deck. Scarcely had he got there than he saw, to his grief,that the enemy had dropped under the stern, and the next instant,discharging her broadside, she raked the _Thisbe_ fore and aft. In vainthe latter tried to escape from her critical position; before she coulddo so she was a second time raked, the gaff being shot away, themizenmast injured, and the remaining rigging cut through and through.Fortunately, the _Thisbe_ still answered her helm, and the crew wereendeavouring to make sail, when the enemy ranged up on the starboardquarter, her forecastle being covered with men, evidently intending toboard.
Captain Martin, on seeing this, sent Rayner below with orders to doubleshot the after-maindeck guns, and to fire them as the enemy came closeup. The next he shouted the cry which British seamen are always readyto obey, "Boarders, repel boarders;" and every man not engaged at theguns hurried aft, cutlass in hand, ready to drive back the foe as soonas the ships should touch; but ere that moment arrived, an iron showerissued from the guns beneath their feet, crashing through theFrenchman's bows and tearing along her decks. Instead of coming on, shesuddenly threw all her sails aback, and hauled off out of gunshot. Onseeing this, the British crew uttered three hearty cheers, and Rayner,with others who had hurried from below, fully believed that the enemyhad hauled down her flag, but instead of that, under all the sail shecould carry, she continued standing away until she had got two milesoff. Here she hove-to, in order, it was evident, to repair damages.These must have been very severe, for many of her men were seen over thesides engaged in stopping shot-holes, while the water, which issuedforth in cascades, showed that the pumps were being worked with mightand main to keep her from sinking.
The _Thisbe_ was in too crippled a condition to follow. Several shothad passed between wind and water on both sides. One gun on thequarter-deck and two on the maindeck were dismounted, and almost all thetackles and breachings were cut away. The maindeck before the mainmastwas torn up from the waterway to the hatchways, and the bits were shotaway, as was the chief part of the gangways. Not an officer had beenkilled, but two midshipmen, the master, and gunner, were wounded.Twenty men were wounded and eleven lost the number of their mess.
The wind, which had been moderate when the action began, had now greatlyincreased. Not a moment was lost in commencing the repair of damages.The sky indicated the approach of bad weather, and a westerly orsouth-westerly gale might be expected. Before all the shot-holes couldbe stopped it came on to blow very hard. Plymouth being too far to thewestward, the nearest shelter the _Thisbe_ could reach was Portland,towards which she steered.
The moon coming forth, she had light sufficient to run in and anchor,protected by the projecting headland from the furious gale now blowing.
Many a brave man on board besides the captain breathed more freely thanthey had done for some hours when the anchor was dropped and the torncanvas furled. Still the _Thisbe_ would be in a critical positionshould the wind shift more to the southward, as she would be exposed tothe seas rolling into the bay.