ADMIRAL TRITON AT PORTSMOUTH--THE THREE OLD MESSMATES MEET EACH OTHER,
AND THEIR THREE YOUNG RELATIVES BECOME ACQUAINTED--THE DINNER AT THE
"GEORGE" WITH ADMIRAL TRITON--ANECDOTES--AN ECCENTRIC COMMANDER--THE
FRIGATE AND CORVETTE SAIL FOR THE WEST INDIES--A PHILOSOPHICAL
BOATSWAIN--JOLLY TIME WITH FINE WEATHER--A HEAVY GALE--TIMES CHANGE--
MARINES AND MIDSHIPMEN ON THEIR BEAM ENDS--MEN LOST--THE MIDSHIPMEN
REGAIN THEIR APPETITES.
The Admiral and his two young friends were soon at Portsmouth. The
former took up his quarters at the "George," while Jack, who had
remained at home to the last day allowable, accompanied by Tom, at once
went on board the _Plantagenet_, lying alongside a hulk off the
dockyard. He was warmly welcomed by Captain Hemming, and, much to his
satisfaction, he found that the newly appointed first-lieutenant of the
frigate was his old acquaintance Nat Cherry, lately second of the
_Dugong_ in the China Seas, from whence he had only just arrived. "The
authorities give us but little time to enjoy the comforts and quiet of
home," he observed, "but it's flattering to one's vanity to discover
that one's services are considered of value; and so when Hemming applied
for me I could not decline, on the plea that my health required
recruiting after the hard work I went through in China, although my
friends declare that I have become as thin as a lath, and have no more
colour than a piece of brown leather. I cannot say that of you, Rogers,
however."
"Really, Cherry, you look to me as well filled out and as blooming as
ever," answered Jack, surveying the rotund figure and rosy cheeks of his
new messmate; "you and I afford proof that hard work seldom does people
harm. Idleness is the greatest foe to health of the two. And who is to
be third of the frigate?"
"No one has as yet been appointed. The master and purser have joined--
very good fellows in their way--with an assistant-surgeon, and three or
four youngsters; among them young Harry Bevan, who was with us in the
_Dugong_."
"I am very glad of that," said Jack; "Bevan is the style of lad I should
wish as a companion for my young brother Tom."
"Your brother, the youngster who came on board with you. I was sure of
it; you are as like as two peas," said Mr Cherry. "I hope that he'll
imitate you in all respects. It's a satisfaction to have steady
youngsters on board who keep out of scrapes and don't give trouble."
Tom--who had already made himself known to Harry Bevan--was called aft,
and introduced by Jack to Mr Cherry, and felt very happy and proud as
he looked along the deck of the fine frigate to which he belonged. It
was no dream; there he was in reality, walking about and talking to
Bevan and other fellows dressed like himself in midshipmen's uniforms;
and then he went into the berth, and took his seat among the others at
dinner. It was just as Jack had described it; not very large, but, till
the rest of the mess had joined, with just sufficient elbow-room. They
had plenty of good things, for the caterer, old Higson, was something of
an epicure; and Tom tasted grog for the first time, which he thought
very nasty stuff, though he did not say so, as he knew that sailors
liked it; and besides it would not be polite to express his opinion to
Higson, who had evidently no objection to its taste. Altogether Tom was
convinced that midshipmen, as he had always supposed, must lead very
jolly lives. That very night, too, he was to sleep in a hammock, which
he thought would be rare fun. He and his new messmates soon returned on
deck, when the men who had been at dinner came tumbling up from below,
and set to swaying up yards and hoisting in stores, the boatswain
sounding his shrill pipe amidst the hubbub of noises--the officers, from
Mr Cherry downwards, shouting at the top of their voices, and the men
bawling and rushing in gangs here and there at headlong speed, hauling
away at ropes till Tom felt more bewildered than he had ever before been
in his life, and narrowly escaped being knocked over several times in
spite of the efforts he made to keep out of the way. However, his
experiences were only those of midshipmen in general when they first
join a ship.
Tom had been advised by Jack to learn all about the masts and rigging as
soon as possible, and he accordingly set to work without delay, asking
questions of every one whom he for a moment saw standing quiet, and was
likely to answer him. Harry Bevan told him a good deal, as did the
other midshipmen, no one showing a disposition to humbug him, possibly
on Jack's account, who would have found them out if they had. Before
night Tom began to fancy that he really knew something about a ship,
though it might be some time before he could consider himself a thorough
sailor.
Though the captain lived on shore, the first lieutenant had taken up his
quarters on board; Jack finding plenty to do, and being economically
inclined followed his example. A fine-looking corvette, the _Tudor_,
was fitting out a little way higher up the harbour. Jack scanned her
with a seaman's eye, and thought that had he not been appointed to the
frigate he should like to belong to her. It was still uncertain to what
station the _Plantagenet_ would be sent. No great difficulty, however,
was found in getting men to enter for her. Sailors look more to the
captain and officers than to the part of the world to which they are to
go. One clime to them is much the same as another. They are as ready
to go to the North Pole as to the coast of Africa, if they like the ship
and the commander. Captain Hemming bore a good character, as did
Lieutenants Cherry and Rogers, among those who had ever sailed with
them. No persons are more thoroughly discussed than are naval officers
by seamen; the wheat is completely sifted from the chaff, the gold from
the alloy; and many who pass for very fine fellows on shore are looked
upon as arrant pretenders afloat. Jack was making his way towards the
shop of Mr Woodward the bookseller, when two seamen in a happy state of
indifferentism to all sublunary affairs came rolling out of the street
which debouches on the Common Hard near the Dockyard gates.
"I say, Dick, if that bean't Jack Rogers, say I never broke biscuit!"
exclaimed one of the men, pointing ahead with out-stretched arm.
"No doubt about it, Ben," answered his companion, "I'd a known him a
mile off, and I see'd last night in the paper that he's appointed to the
_Plantagenet_ along with Captain Hemming. (Dick pronounced all the
syllables long.) What say you? my pockets are pretty well cleaned out,
and so, I've a notion, are yours. Shall we go and enter at once? It
must come to that afore long."
"I'm agreeable, Dick--when a thing's to be done, it's best to do it like
men," said Ben, just as they arrived in front of the bookseller's shop,
where they waited the reappearance of the lieutenant, Jack soon came
out, and at once recognising two former shipmates in the _Dugong_, Dick
Needham and Ben Snatchblock asked them if they were willing to join the
_Plantagenet_. An affirmative being given, he begged them to pick up
any other prime hands they could come across. By the evening, when he
returned on board, he had, much to his satisfaction, obtained ten good
men.
The next day Jack went on shore for the same purpose, accompanied by
Tom, with the intention of calling on Admiral Triton before returning on
board. They had just passed through the Dockyard gates when Jack saw
approaching from the left, accompanied by a young midshipman, a
lieutenant, whom it did not take him many seconds to recognise as his
old messmate, Alick Murray. They did not exactly rush into each other's
arms as Frenchmen or Spaniards would have done, but they shook hands
with honest warmth, and Jack exclaimed, "I thought you were in Scotland.
Where have you sprung from, Alick?"
Murray then told him that he had been appointed as second lieutenant to
the _Tudor_, Commander Babbicome, with orders to join immediately, which
he had done the previous evening but having the outfit of a youngster to
look after, and letters to write, he had been unable to get on board the
_Plantagenet_. He turned round and introduced his companion, a tall,
slight lad, as his cousin Archy Gordon, who had also been appointed to
the corvette. Thereon Jack introduced Tom, and the two midshipmen, who
had before been eyeing each other askance, shook hands, and of course at
once fraternised. Tom felt very proud of being able to speak in an
authoritative tone about the frigate to Archy, who had not as yet been
on board the corvette, and had not even seen a ship of war except at a
distance.
"We do things as smart as lightning aboard our frigate, I can tell you,"
continued Tom. "Our first lieutenant is a very good fellow, and our
second is my brother Jack, and there are not many like him. I've been
twice up to the main truck, and ever so often into the mizen-top, and
we've a capital mess, and shall be a jolly set when all hands join. Are
you going to belong to us?"
"I dinna think so," answered Archy, in a broad Scotch accent. "My
cousin, that is my father's sister's son, Alick Murray there, is
lieutenant of a ship they call the _Tudor_, and I'm to go alang wi'
him."
"Oh, that's the small craft fitting out ahead of us. She's a fine
little ship of her class though, so my brother Jack says, and so I may
congratulate you, but of course she's not to be compared to our frigate.
I say, you must come and pay us a visit on board, and I'll put you up
to all sorts of things."
Archy expressed himself much obliged, but cautiously refrained from
accepting the invitation till he knew what his cousin Alick might say on
the subject.
Meantime Jack and Alick Murray were talking eagerly together.
"And where are you bound for?" asked Jack.
"I heard through a friend at the Admiralty that the _Tudor_ is to be
sent to the same station as the _Plantagenet_, which, as you may
suppose, gave me no slight satisfaction," answered Murray.
"That is capital news," cried Jack. "It will be curious if we keep
together as lieutenants as much as we did as midshipmen, and go through
as many more adventures as we have already fallen in with. I only wish
that by some wonderful chance Paddy Adair could be with us."
"And that same wonderful chance has brought him here," exclaimed a voice
from behind, and while a hand was placed on the shoulders of each, on
looking round they caught sight of the merry countenance of Paddy
himself, now smiling into the face of one, now into that of the other.
"It's dropped from the clouds you are after thinking I am now," he
continued, laughing, "only they don't as a rule rain such big fish as
myself. Well then, to satisfy your curiosity you are indebted for the
satisfaction of seeing me here this morning, to a peremptory missive
from my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, directing me to hasten
over from Ireland to join the _Plantagenet_ as third lieutenant, and I
needn't tell you I never obeyed an order with more willing alacrity."
"And I don't think anything next to being made commander-in-chief right
off could have given me greater satisfaction," said Jack, who seldom
indulged in anything so nearly approaching a sentimental speech.
Murray said something of the same sort.
While the three old school-fellows were carrying on an animated
conversation, a third midshipman had joined Tom and Archy.
"Will ye be after telling me, if ye plase, who are those two leetenants
my Uncle Terence is talking to?" he said, as he stepped up to them and
made them a polite bow with his cap. Archy returned it, but Tom, who
had discovered that it was not the fashion for midshipmen to bow to each
other, only laughed, and asked as he pointed with his chin at the three
lieutenants--
"Do you mean that merry-looking fellow between those two?"
"That same sure," was the answer.
Tom explained who they were, adding, "And who are you, and what ship do
you belong to?"
"Sure I don't belong to one at all at all, but my Uncle, Terence Adair,
is to be third lieutenant of the _Plantagenet_ frigate, and I'm to be a
midshipman with him; and in the matter of my name, I'm Gerald Desmond,
of Ballymacree Castle, in County Clare, Ireland."
"Well, Mr Gerald Desmond, of Bally--what do you call it, County Clare,
Ireland? I have the pleasure of informing you that you are to be a
messmate of mine, and as I've heard a good deal of your uncle, Paddy
Adair, from my brother Jack, I shall be very happy to welcome you on
board and to introduce you to the other fellows."
Gerald expressed himself much obliged to Tom for the intended favour.
"But ye'll not be after calling my Uncle Terence, Paddy, if ye plase,"
he added, his Irish blood rising with the idea that some disrespect was
shown to his relative.
"Don't trouble yourself about that, my dear fellow," said Tom, who never
wished to quarrel with any one. "My brother Jack always calls him so,
and the Paddy slipped out by mistake; but you may be very sure that
you'll be Paddy Desmond from the hour you step on board, and for ever
after unless there's another Irishman to deprive you of the title,
though, probably, there'll then be a brace of Paddies."
"Faith, I'm not ashamed of my country, and I am perfectly happy to be
Paddy Desmond if you and the other boys like to call me so," answered
Gerald, laughing.
Adair finding that it was not necessary to go on board the frigate
immediately, accompanied his two friends into Portsmouth, the three
young midshipmen following in their wake, Gerald having first been
introduced to Jack and Alick. The youngsters were fast friends from
that moment, laughing and rattling away, and playing each other all
sorts of tricks. No one would have supposed that they had only just met
for the first time in their lives. As they turned into the High Street
the lieutenants encountered Admiral Triton stumping along in his
flushing coat and weather-beaten hat. He recognised Murray and Adair at
once, and invited them and Jack, with Tom and his two friends to dine
with him at the "George" at six.
"I shall then hear how you like being a sailor. It isn't too late to
give it up," said the Admiral, looking at Tom.
"Wouldn't change if they would make me a judge or Archbishop of York,"
answered Tom, in a positive tone.
"Just like Jack," observed the Admiral, smiling, "I hope at the end of
your cruise you'll have no reason to repent your resolution."
Jack during the day picked up several more men, and returned early on
board; when Tom, with no little pride, introduced his new friend to the
mess, as Mr Gerald Desmond, of Ballymacree Castle, County Clare,
Ireland.
"Mr Gerald Desmond be hanged!" exclaimed old Higson, who had come down
tired, after having worked hard all day, and was out of humour. "Call
him Paddy Desmond at once. We have no misters in this berth."
"And sure, so I am Paddy Desmond, and if it's to show that I come from
old Ireland, I'm proud of the title," said Gerald, taking his seat, and
looking about him with an air of unconcern.
"I told you so," whispered Tom. "I knew from the first that they would
call you Paddy."
Gerald quickly made himself at home, and took in good part all the
quizzing his messmates chose to bestow on him.
The dinner at the "George" went off capitally. The Admiral put his
young guests at their ease, and let them talk and laugh away to their
hearts' content, telling them all sorts of amusing anecdotes, and though
he took good care not to allow them to drink more wine than their heads
could carry, they unanimously declared that he was the jolliest old
fellow they had ever met. Of course, he did not forget to tell all the
company boxy Adair had made him carry his portmanteau, and to chuckle
over the story for five minutes at least.
"A pretty pass the service has come to when midshipmen take such
liberties with their superiors, eh, Captain Sourcrout?" he exclaimed,
giving a poke in the ribs with his elbow to a stiff, old, martinet style
of post-captain, who sat next to him, and had looked utterly horrified
at his story.
"The world's turned upside down, isn't it? We shall have the youngsters
mast-heading us next, if we don't exactly please them, eh?"
Captain Sourcrout, unable to speak from indignation, could only shake
his head and frown terribly, at which the midshipmen, as he was not
their captain, laughed the more heartily. The Admiral had heard, too,
of the trick Jack and his messmates had played with Quirk, the monkey,
on Lieutenant Spry, of the marines, and while he told the story as he
had received it from Jack, with a few amplifications of his own, the
tears ran down his eyes, till Captain Sourcrout, boiling over with
indignation, exclaimed:
"The navy has indeed come to a pretty pass when such things are allowed.
Instead of being mast-headed, the three midshipmen should have been
brought to a court-martial, and dismissed the service."
"But, my dear Captain Sourcrout, the affair happened a good many years
ago, remember," interrupted the Admiral, wishing to tranquillise him,
"and had not leniency been shown to the culprits, the service would have
lost three promising young officers likely to prove ornaments to it.
However, I would advise other youngsters not to imitate them. Such
tricks don't bear repetition, I'll allow. By-the-bye, Captain
Sourcrout, are you acquainted with my old shipmate, Jerry Hazledine? He
served under me as a youngster, and I have kept an eye on him ever
since. He hailed from Ireland, and as all his ways and doings savoured
strongly of the Emerald Isle, he was known as Paddy throughout the
service."
The Admiral went on, without wailing to hear whether Captain Sourcrout
was or was not personally acquainted with the officer in question.
"Paddy Hazledine was possessed of prodigious strength, though he seldom
put it forth, except in what he considered the side of right and
justice. His notions, to be sure, on these points, were occasionally
like himself, somewhat eccentric; ha! ha! ha! I remember it as if it
were yesterday. Coming up High Street one night, I saw a crowd
collected round a lamp-post, not one of your modern iron affairs, but a
stout, honest one of timber, with a cross-bar at the top as long as a
sloop's cross-jack-yard. Seated with his legs over it was Paddy
Hazledine in full rig, cocked hat and sword--he was a lieutenant then as
composed as possible, smoking a cigar, which, it appeared, he had got up
there for the purpose of lighting at the huge glass lamp, as big as a
seventy-four's poop-lantern. While he held on with one hand, in the
other he flourished a formidable shillaly, which he usually carried, as
he declared, in order to keep the peace when more warlike weapons could
not be used. Below him stood half-a-dozen watchmen, who, in angry
tones, were ordering him to come down, while he, in eloquent language,
was asserting his right to be where he was, and proclaiming his
intention of remaining there as long as suited his pleasure. Every now
and then the watchmen made a rush at him with their cudgels, the blows
from which his faithful shillaly enabled him to ward off, and
occasionally to bestow a pretty heavy tap on the heads of the most
daring of his assailants.
"`Is it breaking the peace I am, do ye say?' he exclaimed. `Not at all
at all. It's you are doing the same, and running the risk of getting
your on heads broken as the consequence. Now be off wid you, and lave a
quietly-disposed citizen to his meditations.'
"I kept out of sight to see what would happen next. At length the
watchmen lost patience. While three of their number remained at a
respectful distance from the heavy end of the shillaly to prevent Paddy
from escaping, the others went off, as I supposed, for a ladder and
further assistance. Hazledine, fearless of consequences, sat smoking
his cigar with perfect composure. Presently a dozen watchmen came
trooping up, some armed with sticks and others with crow-bars and
pick-axes and spades. Their object was evident. While one party began
digging away round the lamp-post, the others defended them by fierce
assaults with their sticks on the gallant lieutenant's legs, giving him
enough to do for their defence, and thus preventing him from bringing
down his weapon on the heads of their comrades. Still he showed every
intention of keeping his seat, and notwithstanding the violent shaking
which the working party gave the post as they got near the heel, he held
on. At length, several stout fellows putting their shoulders to it, up
it came, but instead of toppling it over, away they marched, carrying
off Paddy in triumph, as they thought, to the watch-house; but they
little knew the man they had got hold of. He seemed to enjoy the fun,
and sat smoking as before, and occasionally indulging in a quiet laugh.
Suddenly uttering a wild Irish shout, he sprang over the heads of his
bearers, and with a whirl of his shillaly, scattering those who
attempted to stop him, he darted down a narrow lane, the end of which
they were passing at the time, and disappeared from sight. As his ship
sailed the next morning, the police of Portsmouth searched in vain for
the culprit, who, getting undiscovered on board, did not fail to amuse
his messmates with a full account of his exploit; ha! ha! ha!"
The Admiral laughed heartily at his story, as, of course, did everybody
else, with the exception of Captain Sourcrout, who, grimly smiling,
observed--
"I should have brought that harum-scarum lieutenant to a court-martial
pretty sharply."
"What for--smoking a cigar on the top of a lamp-post?" asked the
Admiral. "It is not against the articles of war."
"No, Admiral Triton, but for conduct unworthy the character of an
officer and a gentleman," answered Captain Sourcrout gruffly.
"Well, as to that, people may be allowed to have their opinion. It's
not a usual proceeding, I grant you, but the act was beyond the
jurisdiction of his captain, and as Paddy was as gallant a fellow as
ever stepped and never failed in his duty, I don't think he would have
been willing to act as you suggest. We must not forget that we were
once upon a time youngsters ourselves, and we may possibly recall to
mind some of the tricks we played in those days, ay, and after we had
mounted a swab, or maybe two, on our shoulders. You remember the
sentry-box which stood at the inner end of the landing-place on the
Common Hard, with a comfortable seat inside it, rather tempting, it must
be confessed, to a drowsily-disposed sentry to take a quiet snooze. Our
fore-fathers had more consideration for the legs and feet of soldiers
than the martinets of our times. To be sure, it a sentry was found
asleep he ought have been flogged or shot, but he could sit down and
rest himself, and if he did so it was at his own risk.
"One night several young commanders, there may have been a post-captain
among them, coming down to the Common Hard, after a dinner-party on
shore, to go on board their ships, found the sentry fast asleep in his
sentry-box. They, of course, were as sober as judges; he, evidently,
drunk as a fiddler. They thereon held a consultation, and came to the
unanimous conclusion that it was meet and fit that a man guilty of so
flagrant an infraction of military discipline should receive condign
punishment, and constituting themselves the executioners as well as the
judges of the law, forthwith set about carrying out the sentence they
had pronounced. Calling up the strongest men of their boats' crews,
they ordered them to shoulder the sentry-box and its sentry within, and
to carry it down to one of the boats as gently as possible, not to awake
the occupant. There, however, was little chance of that. Safe on
board,--there being no witnesses but themselves to the operation,--the
boat containing it was towed across to the Gosport shore, on which,
being carefully landed, it was set up in its proper position, facing the
harbour. Great, as may be supposed, was the consternation of the
`Relief' when it arrived at the post, to find sentry-box and sentry
gone. The soldier could not have walked off with it as a snail does its
shell on its back. A rigid search was instituted, but no sign of sentry
or box could be discovered, and the sentry at the Dockyard gates, having
also been snoozing at the time, had neither seen nor heard anything
unusual. The captain of the guard, unable, even by a conjecture, to
solve the mystery, considered it of sufficient importance to report
without delay to the major, who, jumping to the conclusion, as he heard
it when awakened from his first sleep, that the French had made their
way into the harbour, and were about to assault the town, turned out the
guard, ordered the draw-bridge to be hauled up, and, like a wise
soldier, took every precaution to avoid surprise. Not till the next
morning was his mind set at rest, when a report came from across the
harbour that a sentry-box had been found on the Gosport shore, where one
had not stood the night before, with a sentry in front of it, who could
give no account of how he got there. The sentry, on awaking at
daybreak, had in vain looked for the objects he expected to see around
him, but deemed it prudent to maintain his post. When questioned, he
roundly asserted that he had been broad awake all night, and the only
conclusion to which he or any one else could come, was that he had been
the victim of some trick of witchcraft."
"Were you, admiral, among those who played it?" asked Captain Sourcrout
"because then the less I say on the subject the better."
"A man is not compelled by law to give evidence against himself,"
answered the admiral, laughing. "I give the tale current at the time,
and happened to have been informed of the facts which solved the
mystery. I should say that Jerry Hazledine had nothing to do with it,
as it was before his day. He has a good many things set down to his
account."
"Some of them were true bills, however," observed another post-captain.
"I was a midshipman under him when he commanded the old _Turk_. Though
good-natured he was somewhat hot-tempered. One of our marines had been
bred a barber, and Jerry, discovering this, made the man come in every
morning to shave him, the steward following with a jug of warm water.
It had just been placed on the table as the barber had finished
lathering the captain's face, but instead of being only warm was
scalding hot. The marine, not reflecting on this, dipped in his razor,
and intending to commence operations on the captain's upper lip, touched
the tip of his nose with the back. As Jerry felt the pain, on the
impulse of the moment up went his fist, which he planted with a
knock-down blow between the eyes of the unfortunate jolly, who rolled
over, half-stunned, on the deck. I, at that moment, went into the
cabin, having been sent on some duty or other, and heard Jerry shout out
in a voice of thunder:--
"`Take that, ye spalpeen, and think yourself fortunate to get it instead
of the three dozen you would have had as sure as you're alive for
burning your captain's nose.' The captain, in half a minute, sitting
down as if nothing had happened, the jolly picked himself up and went on
with the operation, taking very good care, you may be certain, not to
burn Jerry's nose again. Some time after this, our captain received an
intimation from the Admiralty, as did other captains, that flogging was
as much as possible to be avoided, and other punishments substituted.
On this, Jerry, who was possessed of an inventive turn of mind, set
himself to work to devise such as would to a certainty be so hated by
the men that they would answer the purpose of maintaining discipline
fully as much as flogging. The ship's cook was a one-legged negro, a
jolly, fat fellow with a comical expression of countenance, Sambo
Lillywhite by name, generally known as Sam Lilly. Sam had a white mate
called Tim Dippings, an incorrigibly idle rascal. One day Tim--not for
the first time--had neglected to clean the galley, and on being
reported, both he and Sam Lilly were put in the black list. Jerry,
exercising his inventive genius, ordered Tim to walk the deck the whole
of the afternoon watch, with a cauldron slung round his neck half full
of slush; while the black cook, with a huge frying-pan held at arm's
length in each hand, had to pace up and down for the same period. As
each bell struck Tim had to sing out, `Here am I for not cleaning the
galley,' which was responded to by Sambo, in the most dolorous tone,
with, `I here for no see 'um do it,' his peculiar voice and the comical
expression of his countenance eliciting roars of laughter from his
shipmates. Thus at every half-hour the words went sounding along the
deck, `Here am I for not cleaning the galley!' `I here for no see 'um
do it.' Jerry, however, on another occasion, surpassed even himself, he
caught a man smuggling a bottle of rum on board. The opportunity for
exhibiting his inventive genius was not to be lost. The bottle was
captured and the man put in the black list. The captain, after due
consideration, ordered a cock to be fixed in a seven-gallon beaker, into
which, being more than half-filled with water, the rum was emptied. It
was then secured by a rope yarn round the neck of the culprit, who
appeared thus at the commencement of the watch with a tumbler in his
hand, and as the bell struck he had to fill his glass and drink the
contents, shouting out at the top of his voice each time, `Here am I, a
smuggler bold!' He was never again caught smuggling spirits on board.
Some captains with less inventive genius are much more cruel than was
our friend Jerry in their black list punishments."
"That is not a subject I wish to bear spoken of," observed Captain
Sourcrout, in an angry tone.
"Come, come, we'll change it then, gentlemen," exclaimed the
good-natured admiral.
"I forgot," whispered Jack's neighbour to him. "Old Sourcrout is said
to have had a man's head shaved, and to have made him carry a kettle of
boiling water on the top of it for two hours during every day-watch for
a week, but that may be scandal."
"As to the shaving I fancy so, but with regard to the water it is true
enough, only it was not boiling," answered Jack. "He got hauled up for
it, notwithstanding, and no wonder that he does not like the subject of
black-listing spoken of."
Notwithstanding the grumpy remarks Captain Sourcrout occasionally let
drop, the party went off very pleasantly, and Desmond and Gordon assured
Tom that he had not overpraised the admiral, and that they had no notion
there were such jolly old fellows in the navy. He, at all events, was
worthy of all the patronage they could bestow.
Murray came on board the frigate the next day to see Jack and Terence.
He was pleased with the corvette as far as she herself was concerned.
"She is as fine a little craft as I could wish for, but," he added, "the
commander is one of the oddest fish I ever fell in with. He has not
been to sea for a number of years, and having, as he says, turned his
sword into a ploughshare, has devoted his mind to farming and rural
sports. Unwilling to tear himself altogether from his beloved beeves
and sheep, and pigs and poultry, he has brought them along with him, and
has converted the little ship into a regular Noah's ark. The boats are
turned into sheep-pens and hen-coops, and the decks cumbered with
ox-stalls and hay-stacks. If the latter, in the meantime, do not catch
fire, the admiral, when he comes to inspect us, will order them and the
greater portion of the live-stock to be landed, and we shall probably
benefit by the remainder, as they must be killed for want of food, so we
have said nothing to him as yet on the subject; but Haultaut, our first,
grumbles and looks askance at the beasts every time he goes along the
deck, and declares that the ship is more like a Thames barge than a
man-of-war, while Grummet, the boatswain, grins ominously at them, and
tells the butcher to keep his knife sharp, as he will have work enough
on his hands before long. Old Babbicome is afflicted, it seems, with
absence of mind. The day after he joined the ship he sang out to a
midshipman, `Let my cab be brought round to the door.' The youngster
stared. `Do you hear? What did I say?' `You desired to have your cab
brought round to the door, sir,' answered the midshipman, trying to
stifle his laughter. `Ah! did I?' exclaimed the commander. `Well,
possibly. It's no easy matter to change one's mode of expression on a
sudden. I mean, man my gig; I am going on shore.' The first day he
attempted to carry on duty, he threw all the crew into convulsions by
shouting out, `Wo-ho! wo-ho, there! I mean, avast hauling, you
lubbers!' and he swore and stamped with rage when he saw the men
tittering near him, and wanted to know what they were laughing at."
Probably, we shall hear more of Commander Babbicome. Murray's account
highly amused his friends.
"Well, Alick, you may possibly pick up a few wrinkles which may be of
use to you when your time comes, and you settle down on the Highland
farm you used to talk about," said Jack, laughing.
"I would sacrifice so remote a benefit for the sake of having the ship
look rather more like a man-of-war than she does at present," answered
Murray.
Two days after this a lighter was seen alongside the corvette, when
truss after truss of hay was lowered into her. Then came two fat oxen
and lastly, nearly a dozen sheep.
"Any more coming?" asked the master of the lighter.
"No, no," exclaimed the commander, who had been looking on with ruthful
countenance, adding, as he turned aft, clenching his fist, and pulling
at his hair, "I'd sooner throw up my command than part with them."
The frigate and corvette were ready for sea at the same time, and went
out together to Spithead. Still their destination was unknown. The
tailors, the Jews, and even the bumboat-women were unable to solve the
mystery, the fact being that the Lords of the Admiralty had not decided
themselves. Ships were wanted at three different stations, but economy
being the order of the day, all three could not be supplied. The West
Indies, the South American station and the Pacific were spoken of. At
length Captain Hemming announced that he had received orders to proceed
to Jamaica, and that the _Tudor_ was to accompany the _Plantagenet_.
More stores and provisions were received on board, till every locker and
cranny in the two ships was filled, as Adair remarked, to bursting.
Admiral Triton came on board the frigate to wish his young friends
good-bye.
"I cannot say that I hope you'll come back crowned with glory and your
pockets filled with prize-money, for such things are not to be picked up
now-a-days," he said, shaking Jack's hand, "but may you enjoy health and
happiness and have many a long yarn to spin about your adventures in the
West Indies or wherever you may be sent to, and I suspect that your
captain has got orders to proceed rather farther than you at present
expect."
As the kind old admiral went down the side, the anchor was run up to the
bows, to the sound of the merry fife, the topsails were sheeted home,
and the two ships glided westward over the smooth waters of the Solent.
It was a lovely morning, a few fine weather clouds were to be seen here
and there in the sky, but there were not enough of them to obscure the
noon-day splendour of the sun. The duck trousers and shirts of the
crews looked clean and summerish; the new gold lace on the uniforms of
the officers glittered brightly as they paced the deck, or hurried here
and there as duty called; the sentries with gleaming arms and white
belts; the fresh paint, the light-coloured copper, the snowy canvas, all
indicated that the ships were just out of harbour, to many an admiring
eye from Ryde pier, and from yachts large and small, as the frigate
followed by the corvette, with a leading wind, ran past the shores of
the Isle of Wight, towards the Needles passage. Numberless yachts
skimmed by them; those fairy-like fabrics which Englishmen alone know
how thoroughly to enjoy, varying in size from Lord Yarborough's superb
_Falcon_, to the tiny craft whose owner is probably proud of her in
inverse ratio to her tonnage. All is not gold that glitters, and the
fair admirers of the graceful frigate and corvette would have been
somewhat horrified, could they have witnessed the various scenes taking
place within the dark recesses of the ships, and had they heard the
language, neither refined nor pious, uttered by their sturdy crews, and
it must be confessed by some of the officers also--not by Jack Rogers
though--for neither oath nor unbecoming phrase ever issued from his
honest hips. The mate of the lower deck, with the purser's clerks and
assistants, had provisions and articles innumerable to stow away; the
gunner, boatswain, and carpenter, their respective stores to look to;
indeed, in every department order had to commence its reign, where chaos
had hitherto seemed to prevail, operations not to be performed without
their due allowance of shouting and swearing. On deck all went
smoothly, and under the pleasantest of auspices the two ships ran
through the Needles, and stood down channel.
Tom and Paddy Desmond (for, of course he was so called, as Tom said he
would be) were as jolly as possible, and laughed at sea-sickness, or any
of the ills landsmen are subject to; they were not going to be ill, not
they. Already they began to consider themselves first-rate sailors, for
they could go aloft and skylark as fearlessly as young monkeys, and box
the compass; and had some notion when the helm was a-lee, and the
head-sails backed against the mast, that the ship would come about. As
yet, to be sure, they had had only light winds and smooth water, but
even a heavy gale would make no difference to them, of that they were
very sure. Old Higson grinned sarcastically when he heard them say so.
"Oh, of course, sucking Nelsons like you are above such weaknesses; we
shall see, though, when the time comes. The proof of the pudding is in
the eating."
"Faith, I hope to have some better pudding to eat than this hard duff,"
answered Paddy, who seldom understood the meaning of the proverbs Higson
was in the habit of quoting. The old mate only laughed; though he had a
colt, to keep the turbulent in order, he seldom used it, treating the
two youngsters with more consideration than he might have done under
other circumstances, out of respect to Rogers and Adair, though they
were under the impression that it was owing to their own merits, and
were apt accordingly to take liberties with him. He behaved to them as
a good-natured bear might towards a couple of playful children whom he
could munch up in a moment.
"I say, Tom, couldn't we be after playing some trick like that the
admiral told us of, which your brother and my uncle Terence played off
on Lieutenant Spry, with Quaco, the monkey," said Gerald, one day to his
messmate, when they were alone together; "it would be mighty good fun."
"I should like to do something of the sort amazingly, but once when Jack
was telling me some of the tricks of his midshipman-days, he gave me a
strong hint not to imitate them, as he would certainly be down upon me,"
answered Tom; "for all he is so good-natured, he can be wonderfully
strict, I can tell you. He was saying that tricks are very well in
their way if they are original and have fun in them, but that those who
play them must look out for the consequences."
"I shouldn't have supposed that of him," said Gerald; "I'm after
thinking now that my uncle Terence would be as ready for any fun as he
ever was in his life."
"Very likely, but he mightn't approve of our indulging in it
notwithstanding," answered Tom; "however, if you can think of anything,
I'm willing enough to lend a hand. We can't play Lieutenant Jennings
such a trick as they did old Spry, because he's too wide awake and
wouldn't stand it; besides, we've no Quaco to dress up in his uniform.
By-the-bye, I hope that we shall be able to get a jolly monkey before
long, at Jamaica or elsewhere. I don't know if they run wild in the
woods there, indeed it might be as well to have a civilised one who
knows how to behave himself, and then I think we might manage to play
old Scrofton, the boatswain, a trick."
"How?" asked Gerald eagerly.
"Don't you know that he has got a notion in his head that men are
descended, or rather, I should say, ascended from apes, which he
declares has been proved by a Lord Monboddo, or some other wiseacre, and
if we had a monkey, we might somehow or other put his theory to the
test, and, at all events, have some fun with the old fellow."
"Capital; I'll think over what can be done," exclaimed Gerald, rubbing
his hands with glee; "do the gunner and carpenter agree with him?"
"No; the three are constantly disputing on the subject. I heard them
yesterday, and they are probably at it again to-day. Come below; it
will be good fun to hear them."
The midshipmen found the three warrant officers in the boatswain's
cabin. He was seated; the others standing at the door, leaning against
the bulkheads. They took up a position, so as not to be seen within
earshot. The gunner was arguing that if men have grown out of monkeys,
there would be none of the latter left, as they would all have turned
into men; and the carpenter declared that though he had wandered all the
world over, he had never met with one half-way between a man and a
monkey, which he should have done if any change does take place.
"Have you ever seen apes without tails?" asked old Scrofton
triumphantly.
"Yes," answered Gimlett, "with blue faces and hinder-ends of the same
colour, but they moved on all fours, and though we had one aboard, and
did our best to teach him to speak, and light a fire, and make himself
useful, he could never do anything, and remained as great a beast as
ever to the cud of his clays."
"Of course," said Blake, the gunner; "a man's a man, and a beast's a
beast; and there are no greater beasts than apes; that's my opinion,
whatever Lord What-do-ye-call-him, or any other of your philosophers
says to the contrary."
"I tell you it's all down in my book as clear as a pikestaff, and it's
my Lord Monboddo says it," exclaimed Mr Scrofton indignantly. "He, I
should think, would know more about the matter than any warrant officer
in her Majesty's service, or any captain or commander to boot."
The midshipmen's laughter made the gunner pop his head out, when they,
feeling ashamed of acting longer the part of eaves-droppers, moved off.
"Old Scrofton is fair game anyhow," said Desmond. "I wonder a man can
be such a fool."
"He is a very good boatswain, notwithstanding, my brother Jack says,"
observed Tom.
Mr Scrofton was a character, as are many other warrant officers. They
must, indeed, besides being sober and steady and good seamen, be
somewhat above the average as to intellect to obtain their appointments,
while their eccentricities and peculiarities have generally not till
then been noticed. Possessing but a limited amount of education, the
boatswain of the _Plantagenet_ endeavoured, on attaining his present
rank, to instruct himself; and having no one to advise him, he had
purchased some books at haphazard, the contents of which he respected
the more that they were totally beyond his comprehension. The work
mentioned was among them, and as he thought that he understood it best
it was his chief favourite. He was a short, spare man, with a red face
tanned by tropical suns, ferrety eyes, sharp as needles, and huge black
whiskers which stuck out like studding-sails on either side of his
countenance. Once upon a time it was reported a Russian admiral, on
visiting the ship to which he belonged, was much astonished when
Scrofton was pointed out to him as the boatswain. "What, so small a
fellow as that?" he exclaimed; "we always select our boatswains from men
six feet high and upwards, who can use their rattans with good effect."
Small as he was the boatswain of the _Plantagenet_ had a voice which
could be heard amid the loudest strife of the elements; and being a
thorough seaman he was respected by the crew in spite of his
philosophical notions, about which they cared nothing. He was extremely
loath to get the men punished if he could help it, and never swore at
them in the way they called swearing--not that they would have minded it
much if he had--though he occasionally seasoned his remarks with
expressions gleaned from his books, which had the more force that their
meaning was utterly incomprehensible. He entertained a friendly feeling
for the two young midshipmen, whom he took great pains to instruct in
their nautical duties; and under his tuition they soon gained a fair
knowledge of the arts of knotting, splicing, and other practical details
of their profession; nor did he entertain a suspicion that they held his
philosophical opinions otherwise than in profound respect. Jack and
Adair gave them lessons in navigation, so that they had advantages not
generally possessed by youngsters in those days who had not been to the
Naval College. Tom, having got the start, though only of a few days,
kept steadily ahead of his companion. He had had the advantage of
better training at school, as far as navigation was concerned. Dick
Needham, also, who had been rated as boatswain's-mate, was another of
their instructors; and as he was always in good humour, and took the
greatest possible pains to teach them all he knew, they gained as much
from him as from any one else.
The frigate and corvette sailed forward on their course across the
Atlantic, with every stitch of canvas they could carry set slow and
aloft. Two or three times they were totally becalmed, when the officers
of the two ships paid visits to each other. Murray, with Archy Gordon,
had come on board the _Plantagenet_.
"Well, Gordon, how do you get on aboard the corvette?" was the natural
question put by Tom.
"Vary weel, but we've much the same sort of thing to do every day;
washing and holy-stoning decks in the morning, and exercising at the
guns and mail arms in the forenoon, and studying navigation and
seamanship, and sic like," answered Archy.
"Faith, that's what we've to do here," said Gerald. "I came to sea to
enjoy some fun; but we've not had much of it yet, though, to be sure, we
lead a jolly life, take it all in all."
"The fun will come in time," observed Tom. "We never can tell what will
turn up--perhaps before long--who knows?"
Murray was with Jack and Terence in the gun-room.
"Well, and how does old Babbicome get on?" asked Jack.
"He is amusing enough, but not altogether satisfactory as a commander,"
answered Murray. "He and Haultaut are continually disputing, and he
never comes on deck without finding fault, at which Haultaut very
naturally sets up his back, and generally finishes by going below. The
commander seldom attempts to carry on duty, and that only in fine
weather, without making some egregious blunder, and he always excuses
himself by observing, `I don't admire the new-fangled ways you young men
have of doing things. We managed matters very differently on board the
old _Orion_, I can tell you,' or, as he walks up and down the deck
examining everything not in existence when he was last at sea, he
exclaims, `We'll change all this presently--it doesn't come up to my
notions; never saw thingumbobs fitted in this way before.' We have
eaten most of his sheep, as it was necessary to kill them for want of
provender; but if the rest live till we reach Madeira, he will, I
conclude, lay in a fresh supply. His pigs are, however, his great
delight. He gloats over them, and spends an hour every day in currying
them as he would a horse. They do him credit, for they are as sleek and
fat as poodles. Though he avows that he is fond of pork, I suspect that
he will never bring himself to order one of them to be slaughtered. To
his credit I must say that he does not swear at the men; he is not,
however, liked by them. When a lieutenant he got the name of
`Jib-and-Foresail Jack,' and it sticks to him still. When he had the
watch at night he would be always bothering them to alter sails, and it
was, they say, `Up jib,' and `Down jib,' and `Up foresail' and `Down
foresail' every minute. He carries on much in the same way at present,
and seldom comes on deck without shaking his head as he looks aloft, and
shouting out `Another pull at the lee-braces, Mr Haultaut;--we always
trimmed sails properly on board the old _Orion_, sir,' or some such
complimentary remark to our much-enduring first. The boatswain has a
dog--a favourite with the men--which goes by the no uncommon name of
Shakings. The commander detests Shakings, who he unjustly declares
worries his sheep. One evening poor Shakings fell overboard. The men
were in despair, knowing that the commander would not dream of
heaving-to to pick him up. I saw what had occurred, and was going to
intercede for the dog when I heard a voice from forward sing out, `One
of the captain's pigs overboard--there he goes astern.' The commander
ran to the taffrail. Just then there was a splash, and as I looked over
the side I saw one of his sleek pigs swimming as fast it could away from
the ship. The commander soon caught sight of his favourite. The ship
was hove-to, a boat lowered, and the boatswain, who jumped into her and
managed to pick up the dog before he reached the other animal, avowed
roundly that Shakings had jumped overboard to save the pig."
Jack and Terence laughed heartily at Murray's account of his commander,
given as it was with all the gravity imaginable.
"Well, we bear with him as best we can," he added, "and only hope that
he may ere long return to the bosom of his family, and to the congenial
pursuits which occupy his thoughts."
A light breeze springing up compelled Murray and his companions to
return to their ship. That night during the middle watch Tom and
Gerald, who were fast asleep in their hammocks, were aroused by the
boatswain's shrill pipe and gruff voice bawling, "All hands on deck--
shorten sail!" They turned out with the rest; most of the officers and
crew were on deck before they reached it. The frigate, caught in a
squall, was heeling over till her lee-scuppers were under water, while
dark, foam-crested seas came rolling up, deluging her deck fore and aft.
The fore-topgallant-mast had been carried away, and was striking
against the fore-topsail, ready to sweep to destruction the hands who
were swarming on the yard; the main and mizen-topgallant-sheets had been
let fly, and the sails were flapping wildly in the gale; while the wind
whistling through the rigging--ropes slashing about--the seas dashing--
the bulkheads creaking--the masts and spars groaning, created a
perfectly deafening uproar. Then came a clap like thunder--the foretack
had parted, and the block striking a seaman had carried him overboard.
To attempt to pick him up was useless--he must have been killed
instantaneously. For a moment there was confusion; but the voice of the
captain, heard above all other sounds, quickly restored order. While
the topmen were clearing away the wreck of the fore-topgallant-mast, the
most dangerous task, handing the main and mizen-topgallant-sails, and
reefing topsails, the courses were hauled up, and the frigate righting
flew forward on her course. The sudden movement threw Tom and Gerald,
who had been holding on to the capstan, off their legs, and the next
moment, as she again heeled over to the gale sent them rolling into the
lee-scuppers, where they lay sprawling in the mass of water washing
across the deck--Gerald striking out with arms and legs under the belief
that he was overboard.
"Help! help! Heave us a rope. Where is it you are, Tom? Don't be
after giving up--swim away," he cried out, as he got his head above the
water still rushing round him.
Tom was striking out lustily, as Gerald soon discovered by a kick he
received from his foot, of which he caught hold, supposing it to be the
end of a rope. Tom struggled the more to release himself, having found
out that he was safe on deck.
"Let go, I say, or I shall never get on my legs," he exclaimed, kicking
away with all his might.
"Arrah now, I'll be drowned entirely," bawled Gerald, as the water again
washed over him. His shouts fortunately at this juncture attracted the
attention of Jack, who, setting him and Tom on their legs, told them to
go below and turn into their hammocks, as they were not of the slightest
use on deck.
Drenched to the skin and crest-fallen, after holding on to each other
for half a minute and gazing round them at the dark tumultuous billows,
they did as they were bid, glad to strip off their wet clothes and
endeavour to get between the blankets.
"Sure I'm after feeling mighty quare," said Gerald, as he was trying to
scramble into his hammock, but it would not remain quiet as it was
accustomed to do.
"So do I," groaned Tom, "I didn't think anything could upset me, but
this is awful."
"Faith there's but little fun in it at all at all," cried Gerald, who
had succeeded in getting in and covering himself up. "Will we all be
drowned, do you think?"
"I hope not; my brother Jack seems to consider that there's nothing in
it, and of course he's right--oh!"
The frigate gave a pitch, which made Tom feel as if he was going to be
shot feet foremost along the deck.
"Arrah, now, where will we be after going to?" cried Paddy, from his
hammock.
"Belay the slack of your jaws, youngsters," growled out old Higson, who
had just turned in after his watch, and being perfectly indifferent to
all the rolling and pitching, and the wild uproar of the elements,
wanted to go to sleep.
"If you make such a row, my colt and your backs will become acquainted
with each other before long."
"Why, man alive, it isn't we are making the row, sure it's the wind and
the big waves outside the ship," exclaimed Paddy.
The midshipmen's small voices were, however, much more disturbing to the
old mate than the sounds of the gale. A threatening growl was the only
answer he condescended to make, as he had no intention to take the
trouble of turning out of his hammock to execute the vengeance he
promised.
Tom also by this time was dropping off to sleep, and Gerald shortly
after followed his example. They ought properly to have kept the
morning watch, but they were not called till the hammocks were piped up.
They had then to turn out, feeling utterly unable to do anything but
sit on their chests and languidly clutch their wet clothes. The two
marines acting as their servants at length came aft, looking as pale and
miserable as they were, and suggested that it would be wiser to get out
some dry things. Dressing, after several pauses, was accomplished, and
washing having been dispensed with, they managed to reel into the berth.
There sat Higson, with coffee-pot in hand, and most of the other
oldsters holding on to cups and plates, the biscuit-boat and more
substantial viands being secured by puddings on the table.
"I've ordered some fat bacon especially for you fellows," said the
former, looking at Tom and Gerald; "it's the best thing for you."
"Oh, don't," they groaned in chorus. "Horrible!"
"Why don't? You'll never become sailors till you've eaten half a pound
apiece every morning, for at least a week."
The fat bacon was brought. Tom tried to lift a piece to his mouth at
the end of his fork, but his hips curled, he could not have done it to
save his life. Gerald essayed to do likewise with the same result.
They were not alone in their misery. The assistant-surgeon, two clerks,
and another midshipman looked equally pale and miserable.
"Come, come, youngsters, munch away," said Hickson; "it's time to finish
breakfast."
"I wish to be a sailor," cried Tom, again manfully lifting the piece of
pork towards his loathing lips, but though his spirit was high his
feelings overcame him, and he bolted out of the berth, followed by
Gerald and several others, amid the laughter of the seasoned hands.
Tom's misfortunes did not end here, for the frigate giving a violent
roll he butted head foremost right between the legs of Mr Jennings, the
tall lieutenant of marines, who not being especially firm on them just
then, was upset in a moment. The rest of the party, including McTavish,
the assistant-surgeon, escaping from the berth now came tumbling over
them, and there the whole lay stretched on the deck, kicking
frantically, as if knocked over by a dose of canister fired into their
midst.
The prostrate officer, utterly unable to rise, shouted for some time in
vain for assistance; at length his cries were heard by the corporal of
marines and two of his men, who hurrying aft to his rescue, hauled off
the superincumbent midshipmen and McTavish, and set Lieutenant Jennings,
foaming with indignation, on his legs.
"Beg pardon, sir, I didn't intend it," cried Tom; "I won't do it again."
But Tom was counting without his host, for at that instant the ship,
giving another roll, threw him once more against the luckless
lieutenant, who grasping at the corporal, over they all went, McTavish
and Gerald, who had been thrown against the other jollies, bringing them
again right over Lieutenant Jennings to the deck.
"This is unbearable," he spluttered out, "I'll have you youngsters put
under arrest. Marines, can't you keep your legs? Help me up. Get off
me, all you, I say."
But as the marines could not help themselves, it could scarcely be
expected that they could assist their officer, still less could the
medico and the midshipmen. The serjeant, however, hearing the uproar,
followed by a couple of his men, with a faint idea that a mutiny of some
sort had broken out, hurried aft, and with the assistance of Higson amid
the other oldsters who came out of the berth to see what was the matter,
quickly got the mass of struggling humanity disentangled and placed in
as upright position as circumstances would allow. The lieutenant ought
really to have been much obliged to Tom, for his anger completely
overcame the nausea from which he had been suffering; but ungrateful,
like too many others, as Higson observed, he went back into the gunroom
demanding condign punishment on the head of his benefactor and his
messmates. He was saved thereby from witnessing the effect of that
leveller of mankind, sea-sickness, on nearly half his men, who lay about
the deck unable to move, and only wishing that the ship would go down
and bring their misery to an end. Jack soon soothed the temper of his
brother officer, who was a brave and really a good-natured man, and then
went to look after Tom and Gerald. He advised them to lie down with
their eyes shut in the berth which was now vacated, the occupants being
called off to their respective duties, and the assistant-surgeon having
retired into the dispensary to concoct a specific against sea-sickness
of his own invention, which made him and those he persuaded to take it
ten times worse.
Soon afterwards all hands were piped on deck, and the sea-sick had to
appear as well as the rest. The report had been made to the captain
that a man had been knocked overboard, but who was the sufferer was
uncertain. The frigate was bravely breasting the foaming billows under
close-reefed topsails, ever and anon a hissing sea striking her bows and
its crest sweeping across the deck, the spray in dense showers coming
right aft, and rendering flushing coats and tarpaulins necessary to
those who desired dry skins. Overhead the dark clouds flew rapidly by,
showing no abatement of the gale. Far astern was the _Tudor_ with no
fore-topsail set, showing that either the mast or yard had been sprung
while it was impossible to say what other damage she might have
received, if caught unprepared as the frigate had been. The muster-roll
was now called over. A third of the crew had answered to their names.
"Richard Jenkins" was called. It was the name of a fine young topman.
No Richard Jenkins replied; but he must have been aloft at the time the
fore-tack parted, and then two other topmen acknowledged that they had
been afraid some one had been knocked from the fore-topsail-yard; but
the thick darkness, and the wild flapping of the sail, had made them
uncertain. The other names were called over. No one answered to that
of Daniel Bacon. He was rated as a landsman, and would have been
forward at the time. Two, then, in the darkness of night had been cast
unnoticed into their ocean grave. "Poor fellows! poor fellows!" uttered
by their messmates, was the only requiem they received--the contents of
their bags were sold; the purser wrote D against their names, which
before the gale was over had ceased to be mentioned.
The slight excitement and the fresh air on deck had kept the midshipmen
up, but on going below they felt more miserable than ever. Utterly
unable to stand they threw themselves on their chests, half wishing that
they had gone overboard instead of poor Jenkins and Bacon. More than
once they were hove off, but they managed to crawl on again, and cling
to the lids in a way sick midshipmen alone could have done. Adair, on
going round the lower deck, found them in this condition.
"Uncle Terence, dear, when is it all going to be over?" groaned out
Gerald. "There's mighty little fun in this same."
"Only the ordinary seasoning youngsters have to go through," answered
Adair; "however, we'll see what can be done for you."
Tom, whose head hung over the end of his chest, with a kid which had
been brought him under his nose, was past speaking. Adair ordered their
hammocks to be slung, and being assisted in, they lay helpless till the
gale was over. Let no one despise the two midshipmen, although their
messmates might have laughed at them. Their experiences were those of
many other brave officers, Nelson included; and they had not a few
companions in their misery among those unaccustomed to the
tumblifications of the ocean. At length, the wind going down, the sea
became tolerably smooth, and turning out, they went on deck by Adair's
advice to enjoy a few mouthfuls of fresh air. The effect on their
appetites was such as to astonish even old Higson by the way in which
they devoured the pea-soup and boiled beef and potatoes, a junk of fat
pork even not coming amiss, washed down by stiff glasses of grog, which,
in consideration of their recent sufferings, he allowed them to take.
"Well, youngsters, you are filling up your lockers with a vengeance," he
remarked.
"Faith, it's no wonder when they were cleaned out three days ago, and
not a scrap the size of a sixpenny-piece stowed away in them since,"
answered Gerald, who with Tom was eyeing lovingly a huge suet dumpling
just placed smoking hot on the table.
"Any duff, Rogers?" asked Higson; "I doubt if you've room for much."
"I think I could just manage a slice to begin with, and then I'll try
what more I can do," answered Tom.
A huge slice was handed to him, and another to Gerald. "You shall have
your next helping from the left side, youngsters," said the caterer,
with a wink at the rest, who all thereon begged for plenty. Tom and
Gerald applied themselves to the duff, which they found rather
appetising than otherwise; but when they looked up expecting to get
their second slices, an empty dish with Higson's face grinning beyond
it, alone met their view. However, they agreed that they had dined very
well considering, and from that moment, though others occasionally
knocked up, they were never off duty from sea-sickness.