When we last mentioned Edward Templemore, we stated that he was a
lieutenant of the admiral's ship on the West India station, commanding
the tender. Now the name of the tender was the _Enterprise_: and it was
singular that she was one of two schooners built at Baltimore,
remarkable for their beauty and good qualities; yet how different were
their employments! Both had originally been built for the slave-trade;
now one hoisted the English pennant, and cruised as the _Enterprise_;
the other threw out the black flag, and scoured the seas as the
_Avenger_.
The _Enterprise_ was fitted much in the same way as we have already
described her sister vessel--that is, with one long brass gun amidships,
and smaller ones for her broadside. But in the numbers of their crew
there was a great disparity; the _Enterprise_ not being manned with more
than sixty-five English sailors, belonging to the admiral's ship. She
was employed, as most admirals' tenders usually _were_, sometimes
carrying a tender made for a supply of provisions, or a tender of
services, if required, from the admiral; or, if not particularly wanted,
with the important charge of a tender _billet-doux_ to some fair friend.
But this is a tender subject to touch upon. In the meantime it must be
understood that she had the same commission to sink, burn, and destroy,
as all other of his Majesty's vessels, if anything came in her way; but
as she usually carried despatches, the real importance of which were, of
course, unknown, she was not to go out of her way upon such service.
Edward Templemore did, however, occasionally go a little out of his way,
and had lately captured a very fine privateer after a smart action, for
which he anticipated his promotion; but the admiral thought him too
young, and therefore gave the next vacancy to his own nephew, who, the
admiral quite forgot, was much younger.
Edward laughed when he heard of it, upon his arrival at Port Royal; and
the admiral, who expected that he would make his appearance pouting with
disappointment, when he came up to the Penn to report himself, was so
pleased with his good humour that he made a vow that Templemore should
have the next vacancy; but this he also quite forgot, because Edward
happened to be, at the time it occurred, on a long cruise,--and "out of
sight out of mind" is a proverb so well established, that it may be
urged as an excuse for a person who had so many other things to think of
as the admiral entrusted with the command of the West India station.
Lieutenant Templemore had, in consequence, commanded the _Enterprise_
for nearly two years, and without grumbling; for he was of a happy
disposition, and passed a very happy sort of life. Mr Witherington was
very indulgent to him, and allowed him to draw liberally; he had plenty
of money for himself or for a friend who required it, and he had plenty
of amusement. Amongst other diversions, he had fallen most desperately
in love; for, in one of his trips to the Leeward Isles (so called from
their being to windward) he had succoured a Spanish vessel, which had on
board the new Governor of Porto Rico, with his family, and had taken
upon himself to land them on that island in safety; for which service
the English admiral received a handsome letter, concluding with the
moderate wish that his Excellency might live a thousand years, and
Edward Templemore an invitation to go and see them whenever he might
pass that way; which, like most general invitations, was as much a
compliment as the wish which wound up the letter to the admiral. It
did, however, so happen that the Spanish governor had a very beautiful
and only daughter, carefully guarded by a duenna, and a monk who was the
depository of all the sins of the governor's establishment; and it was
with this daughter that Edward Templemore fell into the heresy of love.
She was, indeed, very beautiful; and, like all her countrywomen, was
ardent in her affection. The few days that she was on board the
schooner with her father, during the time that the _Enterprise_ convoyed
the Spanish vessel into port, were quite sufficient to ignite two such
inflammable beings as Clara d'Alfarez and Edward Templemore. The monk
had been left on board of the leaky vessel; there was no accommodation
in the schooner for him or the duenna, and Don Felix de Maxos de Cobas
de Manilla d'Alfarez was too busy with his cigar to pay attention to his
daughter.
When they were landed, Edward Templemore was asked to their residence,
which was not in the town, but at a lovely bay on the south side of the
island. The town mansion was appropriated to business and the ceremony
of the court: it was too hot for a permanent abode, and the governor
only went there for a few hours each day.
Edward Templemore remained a short time at the island, and at his
departure received the afore-mentioned letter from the father to the
English admiral, and an assurance of unalterable fidelity from the
daughter to the English lieutenant. On his return he presented the
letter, and the admiral was satisfied with his conduct.
When ordered out to cruise, which he always was when there was nothing
else to do, he submitted to the admiral whether, if he should happen to
be near Porto Rico, he could not leave an answer to the Spanish
governor's letter; and the admiral, who knew the value of keeping up a
good understanding with foreign relations, took the hint, and gave him
one to deliver, if _convenient_. The second meeting was, as may be
supposed, more cordial than the first on the part of the young lady; not
so, however, on the part of the duenna and holy friar, who soon found
out that their charge was in danger from heretical opinions.
Caution became necessary; and as secrecy adds a charm to an amour, Clara
received a long letter and a telescope from Edward. The letter informed
her that, whenever he could, he would make his appearance in his
schooner off the south of the island, and await a signal made by her at
a certain window, acknowledging her recognition of his vessel. On the
night of that signal he would land in his boat and meet her at an
appointed spot. This was all very delightful; and it so happened that
Edward had four or five times contrived, during the last year, to meet
Clara without discovery, and again and again to exchange his vows. It
was agreed between them that when he quitted the station, she would quit
her father and her home, and trust her future happiness to an Englishman
and a heretic.
It may be a matter of surprise to some of our readers that the admiral
should not have discovered the frequent visits of the _Enterprise_ to
Porto Rico, as Edward was obliged to bring his log for examination every
time that he returned; but the admiral was satisfied with Edward's
conduct, and his anxiety to cruise when there was nothing else for him
to do. His logs were brought on shore to the admiral's secretary,
carefully rolled and sealed up. The admiral's secretary threw the
packages on one side, and thought no more of the matter, and Edward had
always a ready story to tell when he took his seat at the admiral's
dinner-table; besides, he is a very unfit person to command a vessel who
does not know how to write a log that will bear an investigation. A
certain latitude is always allowed in every degree of latitude as well
as longitude.
The Enterprise had been despatched to Antigua, and Edward thought this
an excellent opportunity to pay a visit to Clara d'Alfarez: he
therefore, upon his return, hove to off the usual headland, and soon
perceived the white curtain thrown out of the window.
"There it is, sir," said one of the midshipmen who was near him--for he
had been there so often that the whole crew of the Enterprise were aware
of his attachment--"She has shown her flag of truce."
"A truce to your nonsense, Mr Warren," replied Edward, laughing; "how
came you to know anything about it?"
"I only judge by cause and effect, sir; and I know that I shall have to
go on shore and wait for you tonight."
"That's not unlikely; but let draw the foresheet; we must now get behind
the headland."
The youngster was right: that evening, a little before dark, he attended
his commander on shore, the _Enterprise_ lying to with a lantern at her
peak.
"Once more, dearest Clara!" said Edward, as he threw off her long veil
and pressed her in his arms.
"Yes, Edward, once more--but I am afraid only once more; for my maid,
Inez, has been dangerously ill, and has confessed to Friar Ricardo. I
fear much that, in her fright (for she thought that she was dying), she
has told all. She is better now."
"Why should you imagine so, Clara?"
"Oh, you know not what a frightened fool that Inez is when she is ill!
Our religion is not like yours."
"No, dear, it is not; but I will teach you a better."
"Hush, Edward, you must not say that. Holy Virgin! if Friar Ricardo
should hear you! I think that Inez must have told him, for he fixes his
dark eyes upon me so earnestly. Yesterday he observed to me that I had
not confessed."
"Tell him to mind his own business."
"That is his business, and I was obliged to confess to him last night.
I told him a great many things, and then he asked if that was all. His
eyes went through me. I trembled as I uttered an untruth, for I said it
was."
"I confess my sins but to my Maker, Clara! and I confess my love but to
you. Follow my plan, dearest!"
"I will half obey you, Edward. I will not tell my love."
"And sins you have none, Clara; so you will obey me in all."
"Hush, Edward, you must not say that. We all have sins; and, oh! what a
grievous sin they say it is to love you, who are a heretic! Holy
Virgin, pardon me! but I could not help it."
"If that is your only sin, dearest, I can safely give you absolution."
"Nay, Edward, don't joke, but hear me. If Inez has confessed, they will
look for me here, and we must not meet again--at least not in this
place. You know the little bay behind the rock, it is not much farther
off, and there is a cave where I can wait: another time it must be
there."
"It shall be there, dearest; but is it not too near the beach? will you
not be afraid of the men in the boat, who must see you?"
"But we can leave the beach. It is Ricardo alone that I am in dread of,
and the Donna Maria. Merciful Heaven! should my father know all, we
should be lost--be separated for ever!" and Clara laid her forehead on
Edward's shoulder, as her tears fell fast.
"There is nought to fear, Clara. Hush! I heard a rustling in those
orange-trees. Listen!"
"Yes! yes!" whispered Clara, hastily; "there is some one. Away! dear
Edward, away!"
Clara sprang from his side, and hastened up the grove. Edward made his
retreat, and flying down the rocky and narrow path through the
underwood, was soon on the beach and into his boat. The _Enterprise_
arrived at head quarters, and Edward reported himself to the admiral.
"I have work for you, Mr Templemore," said the admiral; "you must be
ready to proceed on service immediately. We've found your match."
"I hope I may find her, sir," replied the lieutenant.
"I hope so, too; for, if you give a good account of her, it will put
another swab on your shoulder. The pirate schooner, which has so long
infested the Atlantic, has been seen and chased off Barbadoes by the
_Amelia_: but it appears that there is not a vessel in the squadron
which can come near her unless it be the _Enterprise_. She has since
captured two West Indiamen, and was seen steering with them towards the
coast of Guiana. Now, I am going to give you thirty additional hands,
and send you after her."
"Thank you, sir," replied Edward, his countenance beaming with delight.
"How soon will you be ready?" inquired the admiral.
"To-morrow morning, sir."
"Very good. Tell Mr Hadley to bring me the order for the men and your
sailing orders, and I will sign them; but recollect, Mr Templemore, you
will have an awkward customer. Be prudent--brave I know you to be."
Edward Templemore promised everything, as most people do in such cases;
and before the next evening the _Enterprise_ was well in the offing,
under a heavy press of sail.