CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
A NARROW ESCAPE--HOME--AN ACTION SUDDENLY ENDED.
The morning after the day they landed in Spain, Rayner had gone down tothe beach with Mr Saltwell, who wanted, he said, to have another lookat the remains of the old barkie. The midshipman was examining theblack ribs of the wreck appearing above water through the telescopewhich the lieutenant had lent him, when the latter exclaimed, "Do yousee a sail away to the south-east?"
The sun glanced for a moment on her canvas.
"Yes, sir," answered Rayner. "She's a large craft, too, for I can onlyjust see her royals rising above the horizon. She's standing in thisdirection."
"Hand me the glass," said Mr Saltwell. "You are right, youngster," hecontinued, looking through it. "I only hope that she may be one of ourown cruisers, but it will be some time before that point can bedecided."
After watching the approaching stranger for some time the lieutenant andmidshipman returned with the intelligence to the farm-house where thecaptain and several of the other officers were quartered.
Hoping that she might be the _Ione_, Captain Martin ordered the firstyawl to be got ready to go off to her. The crew were then mustered.Eight did not answer to their names. It was known how five had died,but what had become of the other three? At length it was whisperedamong the men that they had managed to get drinking the previous night,and had fallen below, stupefied by the smoke.
The men having breakfasted, the greater number hurried down to the shoreto have a look at the stranger, now approaching under all sail.
Three cheers were uttered as the flag of England flew out at her peak.The captain immediately ordered Mr Sterling to pull off to her, and torequest that his officers and ship's company might be received on board.
"You will make sure before you get near that she is English," hewhispered. "The Frenchman may have a fancy to take some Spaniardsprisoners, and would be better pleased to get hold of you."
Rayner went as midshipman of the boat, which made good way towards thefrigate now lying hove-to about three miles from the shore.
"What do you think of her, Noakes?" asked the lieutenant of thecoxswain, as they got nearer.
The old seaman took a steady glance at the stranger, surveying her fromtruck to water-line.
"If she doesn't carry a British crew, the Frenchmen must have got holdof her since we parted company three days ago, and I don't think that'slikely, or there would be not a few shot-holes in her canvas, and apretty good sprinkling in her hull, too," he answered, in a confidenttone. "She's the _Ione_, sir, or I don't know a frigate from a Dutchdogger."
Now certain that there was no mistake, Mr Sterling steered for thefrigate. Pulling alongside, he and Rayner stepped on board. CaptainDickson, with most of his officers, were on deck.
"Where is your ship?" was the first question the captain asked of thelieutenant.
"There is all that remains of her," answered Mr Sterling, pointing tothe blackened ribs of the ship, which could be distinguished through atelescope near the shore; and he gave an account of what had happened.
Due regrets at the occurrence having been expressed, Captain Dicksonsaying that he had been induced to stand into the bay in consequence ofhearing the sound of the explosion, at once ordered out all the boats,and in a few minutes they were pulling for the shore, accompanied by theyawl.
The _Ione_, meantime, was standing in somewhat nearer, to be ready toreceive the crew of the store-ship on board.
No time was lost in embarking, and it was with intense satisfaction thatCaptain Martin and those under him found themselves again on the deck ofan English frigate.
Sail was at once made for Gibraltar, Malta not having at that time beentaken possession of by the English. As the two ships' companies had tobe stowed away below, they were compelled to pack pretty closely, but noone minded that, as they expected a speedy passage to the Rock, whilethe officers and crew of the store-ship hoped immediately to be sentback to England.
It is too true a saying that "There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and thelip." The _Ione_ was about midway between the Spanish coast andMajorca, when, as morning broke, a number of ships were seen standingout from the direction of Minorca. At first it was supposed that theywere part of the English fleet, but after two of the lieutenants hadtaken a careful survey of them from aloft, it was decided that they wereFrench.
"They have seen us, and guess what we are," observed Captain Dickson tohis brother captain. "See, here come two frigates in chase. Turn thehands up and make sail!" he added, addressing the first lieutenant.
The crew were quickly aloft, and every stitch of canvas the _Ione_ couldset was packed upon her. There was no disgrace in running from sosuperior a force. The _Ione_ was considered a good sailer, but theFrenchmen showed that they were still faster. Captain Dickson, however,had no intention of yielding his ship as long as he had a stick standingto escape with. Full of men as he now was, he hoped to beat off bothhis foes, though he could not expect to capture them in sight of anenemy's squadron. As they got nearer, a couple of guns were trained aftto serve as stern chasers, and every preparation was made to fight forlife and liberty.
Another frigate and two line-of-battle ships were seen standing afterthe first, but they were so far astern, that should the _Ione_ keepahead, without having her masts and spars shot away, there might stillbe hopes of her escaping.
British seamen seldom wish to avoid a fight, but on the present occasionfew on board were such fire-eaters as not to hope that they might keepwell ahead of their foes.
The two frigates were rapidly gaining on the _Ione_; another half-hour,or even less, and she would be within range of their guns. To hit her,however, they would have to yaw, and this would enable her to gain onthem, while she could fire without altering her course.
Jack and Tom every now and then got a glimpse of the enemy through theports.
"I say, Jack, it isn't fair of those two fellows out there to be chasingus after all we have gone through. I was hoping to go home and see myfather, and ask him to get me placed on the quarter-deck. I shouldn'tlike to be killed till I've been made a midshipman--not that I shouldlike it then."
"Don't you be talking nonsense about being made a midshipman. You'veabout as much chance as you have of being made port-admiral off-hand,"answered Jack, with more temper than he generally showed. "Of courseyou don't want to be killed--no more do I; but we must both be readyshould it be God's will to call us in the way of duty."
At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that thecaptain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what wastaking place astern. Presently the frigates yawed. Two flashes wereseen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across theocean.
"We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observedthe boatswain, with a laugh. "They must come closer before they canharm us."
"Do you think we can beat them off?" asked Rayner.
"You may be very sure that we'll try pretty hard to do so," answered theboatswain, in a confident tone. "I've heard of your doings aboard the_Thisbe_. We'll show you that the crew of the _Ione_ are made of thesame stuff."
As the two Frenchmen drew nearer, the desire of the British sailors tofight increased, and it was with a feeling of almost bitterdisappointment, just as the _Ione_ had fired her stern chasers, that theenemy were seen to haul their tacks aboard, in answer, apparently, tothe signals made by the ships astern.
The general opinion was that the British fleet had appeared to theeastward. Whether or not this was the case it was impossible to say.
The _Ione_ continued her course, and in a short time ran the enemy outof sight. On her arrival at Gibraltar, the first intelligence MrSaltwell received was that he had been promoted to the rank ofcommander.
The very next day two ships came in from the fleet with despatches,which the _Ione_ was directed to carry imm
ediately to England.
As they were both short of hands, much to Captain Martin's annoyance, aconsiderable number of his men were drafted on board them. Had otherships come in, he would probably have lost many more. The _Ione_ sailedimmediately with the remainder, and he hoped that they would form thenucleus of a new crew for the _Thisbe_.
The _Ione_ had a quick passage to Plymouth. On his arrival there, muchto his disappointment, Captain Martin found that the _Thisbe_ was notyet ready for sea.
Rayner was considering how to dispose of himself during the intermediatetime. He did not expect that Mrs Crofton would offer him a room, buthe wished, at all events, to pay her and Mary a visit, as they hadalways shown so friendly a feeling towards him. When, however, sheheard how he was situated, she insisted that he should take up hisquarters with them.
"I do not require any payment, as I have no other lodger at present, andI am only too glad to have you," she said, in a kind tone.
Rayner thanked her very warmly, and accepted her offer.
"I daresay Captain Saltwell will come and see us as soon as he has time.I was delighted to hear that he had obtained his promotion, and I hope,Mr Rayner, that you will soon get yours. You have surely served longenough to pass for a mate, and I would advise you to apply at once, thatyou may be ready for your lieutenancy."
"I am afraid that I should have but little chance of passing, but I'lltry," said Rayner. "I am told the examinations are very stiff. If amidshipman doesn't answer every question put to him, he is turned backimmediately."
"At all events, go in and try, and take a testimonial from CaptainSaltwell," said Mrs Crofton, who had heard something of the wayexaminations were conducted in those days.
Rayner found, on inquiry, that, fortunately, a board was to sit the verynext day, and, meeting Captain Saltwell, he mentioned his intention.
"The very thing I was going to advise," was the answer. "I'll write aletter to Captain Cranston, and you can take it with you."
Next morning Rayner presented himself on board the flagship, where hefound several other midshipmen ready to go up. First one, and thenanother, was sent for, and came back with smiling faces. At last one,who certainly did not look as if he would set the Thames on fire, wentin. In a short time he reappeared, grumbling and complaining that itwas very hard a fellow who had been at sea six years should be turnedback.
Rayner's turn came next. Comparatively but a few questions were askedin navigation. He had no difficulty in answering those put to him inseamanship. At last, Captain Cranston, knitting his brow, and lookingvery serious, said--
"Now, Mr Rayner, supposing the ship you are in charge of is caught on alee shore with a hurricane blowing, and you find yourself embayed; whatwould you do?"
"If there was holding ground, I should let go the best bower, and makeall snug aloft."
"But suppose the best bower is carried away?"
"I should let go the second bower, sir."
"But suppose you lose that?" asked the captain, looking still moreserious.
"I should cut away the masts and bring up with my sheet anchor."
"But in the event of losing that, Mr Rayner, how would you nextproceed?"
"I should have done all that a man can do, and should look out for themost suitable place for running the ship ashore."
"But, suppose you could find no suitable place, Mr Rayner?"
"Then, sir, I should let her find one for herself, and make the bestpreparations time would allow for saving the lives of her people, whenshe struck."
"I have the pleasure to inform you, Mr Rayner, that you have passedyour examination very creditably," said Captain Cranston, handing himhis papers.
Rayner, thanking the captain, and bowing, made his exit. On afterwardscomparing notes with the midshipman who had been turned back, hementioned the question which had been put to him.
"Why, that's the very one he asked me," said his companion. "I told himI would club-haul the ship, and try all sorts of manoeuvres to beat outof the bay, and would not on any account let her go ashore."
"I'm not surprised that you were turned back, old fellow," observedRayner, with a laugh.
On returning on shore he met Commander Saltwell. "I congratulate you,Rayner," he said. "I have just received orders to commission the _Lily_sloop-of-war, and I will apply to have you with me. By-the-bye, whereare you going to put up?"
"Mrs Crofton has asked me to go to her house, and as I thought that youwould have no objection, I accepted her offer, sir," answered Rayner.
"I am glad to hear it; the very best thing you could do," said CommanderSaltwell. "Though many would prefer the freedom of an inn, I admireyour good taste in taking advantage of the opportunity offered you topass your time in the society of refined, right-minded persons like MrsCrofton and her daughter."
Our hero spent a few happy days with the kind widow and Mary, who bothevidently took a warm interest in his welfare. It was the first time hehad been living on shore, except during his sojourn in France, since hefirst went to sea. He was introduced to some of the few friends theypossessed, and he made several pleasant excursions with them to visitsome of the beautiful scenery in the neighbourhood of Plymouth. Hisobservation, unknown to himself, enabled him rapidly to adapt himself tothe manners of people of education, and no one would have recognised inthe gentlemanly young midshipman the powder monkey of a short time back.It was with more regret than he supposed he could possibly have feltthat he received a summons to join the _Lily_, now fitting out with alldespatch for the West Indies. Though he no longer belonged to the_Thisbe_, it was with much sorrow that he heard she was pronounced unfitfor sea, and that her crew had been dispersed. He made inquiries forJack and Tom. The former, he discovered, had gone to pay his mother avisit; but, though he searched for Tom, he could nowhere hear of him.
The day after he had joined the _Lily_, he was well pleased to see Jackcome on board.
"I found out, sir, that you belonged to the corvette, as I thought youwould when I heard that Mr Saltwell was appointed to command her," saidJack; "so, sir, I made up my mind to volunteer for her, if I couldescape being pressed before I got back to Plymouth."
"I am glad to see you, Peek," said our hero. "Have you heard anythingof Tom Fletcher?"
"Well, sir, I'm sorry to say I have," answered Jack. "He has beenknocking about Plymouth, hiding away from the press-gangs in all sortsof places, instead of going home to his father, as he said he would. Ionly found him last night, and tried to persuade him to join the _Lily_with me, but he'd still a shiner or two in his locker, and he couldn'tmake up his mind to come till the last had gone. I know where to findhim, and I'll try again after I have entered on board the _Lily_."
"Do so," said Rayner. "He may be better off with a friend like you tolook after him than left to himself."
Rayner had the satisfaction of seeing Jack rated as an A.B. Several ofthe _Thisbe's_ crew had joined the _Lily_, and besides them Ben Twinch,who, owing to Captain Martin's recommendation, had been raised to therank of warrant officer, was appointed to her as boatswain.
"Very glad to be with you again, Mr Rayner," said honest Ben; "and Ihope before the ship is paid off to see you one of her lieutenants. Weare likely to have a good ship's company; and I am glad to say mybrother warrant officers, Mr Coles the gunner, and Mr Jenks thecarpenter, are men who can be trusted."
Rayner's own messmates were all strangers. The first lieutenant, MrHorrocks, a red-faced man, with curly whiskers, and as stiff as a poker,had not much the cut of a naval officer; while the second lieutenant,Mr Lascelles, who was delicate, refined, young, and good-looking,offered a great contrast to him.
They were both not only civil but kind to Rayner, of whom CommanderSaltwell had spoken highly to them.
Jack had been twice on shore to look out for Tom, and had returnedsaying that he could not persuade him to come on board.
At last, when the ship was almost ready for sea, being still some handsshort of her comple
ment, Rayner obtained leave for Jack, with two othermen who could be trusted to try and bring him off, and any others theycould pick up.
Late in the evening a shore boat came off with several men in her, andJack made his appearance on deck, where Rayner was doing duty as mate ofthe watch.
"I have brought him, sir, though he does not exactly know where he iscoming to," said Jack.
"I found him with his pockets emptied and the landlady of the housewhere he was lodging about to turn him out of doors. We managed tobring him along, sir, however, and to-morrow morning, when he comes tohis senses, I have no doubt he'll be thankful to enter."
"I'm glad to hear you've got him safe at last, and I know you'll lookafter him," said Rayner.
Next morning Tom, not knowing that Rayner was on board, or how hehimself came there, entered as an ordinary seaman, which placed him inan inferior position to Jack Peek, who might soon, from his activity andgood conduct, be raised to the rank of a petty officer.
Our hero paid a last visit to Mrs Crofton and Mary, promising, as theyasked him to do, to write whenever he could obtain an opportunity.
At length the _Lily_, a fine corvette, carrying twenty guns on a flushdeck and a complement of one hundred and twenty men, was ready for sea.
On going down the Sound she found the _Latona_, which ship she was toassist in convoying a fleet of merchantmen brought up in Cawsand Bay.
As the men-of-war approached, the merchant vessels, to the number ofnearly fifty, got under way and stood down Channel. It was pretty hardwork to keep them together, and the corvette was employed in continuallyfiring signals to urge on the laggers, or to prevent the faster craftfrom running out of sight. What with shortening and making sail andsignalling, together with getting a newly commissioned ship into trim,the time of all on board was pretty well occupied, and Rayner had noopportunity of learning anything about Tom Fletcher. A bright look-outwas kept on every side, for an enemy might at any moment appear,especially at night, when it was possible some daring privateer mightpounce down and attempt to carry off one of the merchantmen, just as ahawk picks off a hapless chicken from a brood watched over so carefullyby the hen.
The wind was fair, the sea calm, and the traders bound for Jamaicasafely reached Port Royal harbour, the remainder being convoyed to theother islands by the _Latona_ and _Lily_, which were afterwards to besent to cruise in search of the enemy's privateers. Our hero had notforgotten Tom Fletcher, but watched in the hopes of doing him a serviceJack's report of him had not been favourable. He had talked of goinghome to his father, and had plenty of money in his pocket to do so, butinstead of that he had gone to dancing-houses and similar placesresorted to by seamen, where his money rapidly disappeared. He mighthave fallen into the docks, or died in the streets, had not Jack foundhim and brought him on board the _Lily_. For some neglect of duty hisleave had been stopped, and, fortunately for himself, he was not allowedto go on shore at Port Royal when the ship put in there. Tom, however,still avoided Rayner, who had no opportunity, unless he expressly sentto speak to him, to give him a word of advice or encouragement.
Jack, who was really the best friend he had in the ship, did his utmostto keep him out of mischief.
"It's all very fine for you to talk that way," answered Tom, when oneday Jack had been giving him a lecture. "You got rated as an ableseaman, and now have been made captain of the mizen-top, too, and will,I suppose, before long, get another step; and here am I sticking where Iwas. It's no fault of mine, that I can see. I'll cut and run if I havethe chance, for I cannot bear to see others placed over my head, as youand Bill Rayner have been, and to see him walking the quarter-deck in abrand new uniform, and talking to the officers as friendly and easy asif he had been born among them, while I, a gentleman's son, remain aforemast man, with every chance of being one to the end of my days."
"There's no use grumbling, Tom; all you have to think about is to doyour duty with smartness, keep sober, and to avoid doing anything wrong,and with your education, which I wish I had, you are sure to get on."
There is an old saying that it is useless to try and make a silk purseout of a sow's ear. It is to be seen whether Tom Fletcher was like thesow's ear.
Soon after the _Lily_ left Jamaica she fell in with the _Ariel_. As acalm came on while they were in company, the officers of the two shipspaid visits to each other. Rayner, recollecting that Mary Crofton'sbrother Oliver was serving in her, got leave to go on board, for thepurpose of making his acquaintance. He was much disappointed, oninquiring for him, to learn that he had been sent away a few daysbefore, in charge of a prize, a brig called the _Clerie_, with orders totake her to Jamaica.
"She ought to have arrived before you left there," observed themidshipman who told him this.
"How provoking that I should have missed him, though I do not think anysuch vessel came in while we were there," answered Rayner. "His motherand sister are great friends of mine."
"They must be nice people if they are like him, for Oliver Crofton is acapital fellow. He is as kind-hearted and even-tempered as he is braveand good-looking, and he is a favourite with all on board."
"I am glad to hear that, though it makes me the more sorry that weshould have missed each other, but I hope before long to fall in withhim," observed Rayner.
A breeze springing up, the officers retired to their respective vessels,and the _Lily_ and _Ariel_ parted company, the former rejoining thefrigate. While off Antigua, the wind being from the eastward, thefrigate made the signal of three strange sail to the south-west, anddirectly afterwards to give chase.
All the canvas they could carry was set. In a short time one of thestrangers was seen to haul up to the northward, and the _Lily_ wasordered to go in pursuit of her. She was apparently the smallest of thethree, but was still likely to prove no mean antagonist. As the _Lily_appeared to be gaining on her, the commander gave the order to preparefor action. The frigate meantime was standing after the other twovessels. Before long her topsails, and finally her royals, disappearedbeneath the horizon.
"We shall have her all to ourselves, and we'll see how soon we can takeher," observed Mr Horrocks to the second lieutenant. "It is some timesince you smelt powder, Lascelles."
"Last time I smelt a good deal of it, when we were beating off a shiptwice our size, and should have taken her, too, had she not gone down inthe night," answered the second lieutenant, in his usual quiet tone. "Igot my promotion in consequence."
"And wrote an ode to victory, eh?" said Mr Horrocks, who was fond ofbantering his brother lieutenant on his fondness for poetry.
"And it was considered good," responded the young officer.
"You will have an opportunity of exercising your poetical talents beforelong on the same subject, I hope," observed the first lieutenant. "Weare gaining fast on the chase."
Just then the look-out from the mast-head shouted, "Sail on thestarboard bow!"
"Go and see what she is like," said the commander to Rayner.
Our hero hurried aloft, his telescope hanging by a strap at his back.He was quickly joined by the second lieutenant. They were of opinionthat she was a large craft, and that the object of the chase was to drawthe _Lily_ away from the frigate, so that the corvette might have twoopponents to contend with.
"We must manage to take her before she reaches the other, then we shallhave time to prepare for a second action," observed Mr Lascelles.
"Can she be the _Ariel_?" asked Rayner. "She's very likely to becruising hereabouts."
Mr Lascelles took another look at her through his glass.
"I think not," he answered. "The chase must have seen her, and mustknow her to be a friend, or she would not keep on as she is at presentstanding."
The two officers descended to make their report.
The _Lily_ was a fast craft, and now rapidly gained on the chase, which,as she drew within range, fired a couple of shot.
Captain Saltwell ordered the two foremost guns to be fired in return.The second
lieutenant took charge of one and Rayner of the other. Both,looking along the sights, gave them the proper elevation, and fired atthe same moment. The effect of the shot was beyond all expectation.Down came the foreyard, shot away in the slings, causing, it was veryevident, considerable confusion on board.
"Bravo, Rayner! you did it!" cried Mr Lascelles. "My shot went throughthe mainsail."
The enemy now opened fire from a broadside of ten guns, but not a shotdamaged the _Lily_, which, ranging up on the weather side of heropponent, began blazing away as fast as the crews could run in and loadtheir guns.
The stranger was a large flush-decked vessel, crowded with men, many ofwhom, stripped to the waist, were working away desperately at theirguns, while others opened a heavy fire of musketry.
As Rayner, who had charge of the foremost guns, was watching her, hecaught sight of a young man in the uniform of a midshipman, who sprangsuddenly up through the companion-hatch, and, making his way aft, seemedto be addressing the captain with energetic action. Rayner got but aglimpse of him, for the next moment there came a fearful roaring sound.The deck of the enemy's ship rose in the air, rent into a thousandfragments. Her masts and yards and sails shot upwards, and her darkhull seemed suddenly to melt away.
The _Lily_ reeled with the shock, and the crew, astounded by the awfulcatastrophe, for a moment forgot their discipline. Several of the menwere knocked down; indeed, it seemed surprising that any should haveescaped. Rayner remained at his station, and although several pieces ofburning plank fell close to him, he was uninjured.
The voice of the commander was soon heard recalling the men to theirduty, and ordering them to fill the buckets with water, to prevent theblazing fragments which strewed the deck from setting the ship on fire.