EFFORTS MADE TO RECOVER THE MIDSHIPMEN--MURRAY SAILS FOR ENGLAND--AN
OFFER FROM A NATIVE TO RECOVER THE MIDSHIPMEN--THE FLEET ASCENDS THE
PARANA--THE SUPPLEJACK SENT IN SEARCH OF THE ENEMY'S VESSELS--CHASES A
SCHOONER UP A RIVER--NEEDHAM CAUGHT IN A TRAP--BOAT EXPEDITION--SCHOONER
BLOWS UP, AND JACK IS BLOWN UP WITH HER--RETURN--NO NEWS OF THE
MIDSHIPMEN--THE SUPPLEJACK COMMENCES VOYAGE UP THE PARANA.
Jack keenly felt the loss of his brother Tom. What might be his and
Desmond's fate it was impossible to say, though he could not suppose
that the gauchos, savage as they were supposed to be, would put the two
young midshipmen to death. He and Adair had for several days made vain
attempts to gain information about them.
Their captors might by this time be hundreds of miles away. All they
could learn was that the troops of Rosas, having entirely abandoned Fort
Obligado, had retreated to a distance. Jack, too, heard that Murray was
certainly to be sent home in the _Tudor_, and for the sake of his friend
he was glad of this, but he then should lose the assistance of Adair in
his endeavours to recover Tom and Desmond.
He was seated in his cabin one evening after the work of the day was
over, with his head resting on his hands--a very unusual position for
him--when Lieutenant Adair was announced.
"Beg him to come below," answered Jack, and Adair entered the cabin.
"I am glad to say, my dear Jack, that I am to remain out here instead of
taking the corvette home, which, for Murray's sake as well as my own, I
should have naturally wished to do; but besides wishing to see the end
of this affair with Rosas, I should have been excessively unwilling to
leave the country till we can get back our young scapegraces. I wish we
could see Murray looking as if he was in a fair way to recover. Still
the doctors say he will do well, and the thought of again meeting with
his lady-love will, I hope, assist to bring him round. He expects to
find her in England, though I fancy that he has not heard from her since
we came out here."
"I am indeed glad that you are to remain," said Jack. "What ship are
you to join?"
"I am appointed to the commodore's ship, but I have received directions
to serve under your orders on board the _Supplejack_, which I assure you
gives me infinite satisfaction, as I have hopes that you and I, by
putting our heads together, may devise some plan for the recovery of the
youngsters."
Jack of course said how glad he was.
"When does the _Tudor_ sail?" he asked.
"As soon as the wind will allow her," said Adair.
"At all events, I will go on board early to-morrow morning to see
Murray," said Jack. "The worst of it is that I must, of course, send a
letter by him; and yet I scarcely like to write home with the
unsatisfactory intelligence I have to give. However, they will be more
anxious and alarmed if they do not hear, so I must tell the whole truth,
and express my hopes that we shall recover the youngsters before long."
"I must write the same to my poor sister Nora," observed Terence. "I
was half inclined to say nothing at all about the matter; but as it is
certain to get into the papers, the poor woman will see it and be
troubling herself about her boy, and fancying that she is never to see
him again. For my part, I feel sure, however, that the youngsters will
turn up somewhere or other; as it is my firm conviction, from
experience, that a midshipman has as many lives as a cat, or,
considering the immense trouble most youngsters take to expend
themselves, there would be no superior officers in the service."
"What is the squadron to do next? have you heard?" asked Jack.
"To proceed up the Parana to Santa Fe de Baxadar, and to convoy down a
fleet of merchantmen which Rosas has shut up there," answered Adair.
"Whether or not he will let us pass peaceably up is the question. He
has still got plenty of light artillery, which will prove excessively
troublesome to us, as they can fire from the top of the cliffs right
down on our decks, and, as we may probably be peppered pretty severely
for the greater part of the way, it will not be altogether an amusing
expedition, though we may get plenty `of the bubble reputation, e'en at
the cannon's mouth.' Anything, however, is better than idleness."
"We are not likely out here to meet with much besides fighting to amuse
us," observed Jack. "However, I am thankful to find that you are to
join the brig, and am much obliged to the commodore for it."
The two old shipmates sat talking for some time, and as soon as Terence
returned to the corvette, Jack took out his writing materials and
indited his letter for home. He made as light of Tom's capture as
possible, and spoke as if it was certain that he and Desmond would find
their way back again before many days were over. He begged that his
father would find out Murray through Admiral Triton, and from him learn
where the Bradshaws, with Miss O'Regan, were staying, that his family
might pay them any attention in their power; he expressed a hope that,
after the Parana business was over, he himself should be sent home, and
bring back Tom safe and sound.
He tried to make his letter appear cheerful, but in reality he never in
his life before felt so much out of spirits.
Next morning he took it on board the _Tudor_ and wished Murray farewell.
"You will do well, depend on it, Alick," he said. "You already look
better, and we shall meet again before long in old England."
Murray smiled faintly; his wound was painful, though the surgeon assured
him that it was going on favourably. The officer who was to supersede
Adair having come on board the corvette, the latter accompanied Jack
back to the brig.
He received an order directly afterwards to proceed in search of a
schooner, supposed to be in one of the numerous passages which carries
the waters of the Parana into the River Plate.
"It is very well to say go, but we must get a breeze first," said Jack.
A breeze soon afterwards got up, but it came from the wrong direction;
it was, however, favourable for the _Tudor_, and Jack and Terence
watched her as her sails were let fall, and she glided away down the
river. They would for many reasons have liked to have been on board
her. Few men, after having spent several years on a foreign station,
can look without concern on a homeward-bound ship, which carries away
friends and acquaintances, while they themselves are left behind.
Their chief regret was, however, that Tom and Gerald had not been
recovered before she sailed.
Previous to this, numerous merchantmen had been for some time collecting
at the mouth of the river, awaiting the convoy of the men-of-war up the
Parana. They now lay at anchor together, forming a large fleet, with
the flags of all nations flying from their peaks, while fresh arrivals
came gliding up to an anchorage, and boats were pulling about in all
directions.
Jack and Terence employed the interval in visiting the shore, for the
purpose of finding some one who would undertake to search for the
midshipmen, and endeavour to obtain their liberation or assist them to
escape.
They could not, however, be long absent from the brig, as a breeze might
spring up, and not a moment was to be lost in looking after the Buenos
Ayrian schooner.
They ran some risk in going on shore of being cut off by the enemy, who
might possibly pounce upon them. The country people, however, very
frequently came down to the beach with their provisions, for which they
were sure to obtain a good price, and the two lieutenants hoped that
through their means they might find some person willing to undertake the
task about which they were so anxious.
At length, one evening after the market-people had taken their
departure, just as they were about to step into their boat, a
dark-skinned man, with a coloured poncho over his shoulder, leathern
leggings, and a broad-brimmed hat, made his appearance from behind a
bank, and fearlessly came up to them. Though both Jack and Terence by
this time spoke a little Spanish, they could not clearly understand him;
they made out, however, that he wished to accompany them on board the
ship, and that he had some information of importance to give.
"Well, step in, my friend," said Jack. "We will hear what you have got
to say as we pull on board."
By degrees they made out that he had heard of their inquiries about the
two young midshipmen, and that he was willing to try and recover them,
provided he was sufficiently rewarded; he confessed that he had lost his
last real in gambling, and, being a ruined man, he set but little value
on his life, or that he certainly would not have offered to undertake
the task. As he only demanded a hundred dollars, they very willingly
promised him the sum.
"And who have we the honour of addressing?" asked Jack.
"Jose Gonzalves, an hidalgo of pure blood," answered the fellow, drawing
himself up with an attempted exhibition of dignity. "Circumstances have
brought me into my present condition."
"Your purity of blood does not much matter to us, Don Jose Gonzalves,
provided you bring back these young officers," answered Jack. "What
means have you for carrying out your plan?"
"My own talent and perseverance," replied the Don, in a self-satisfied
tone.
"Well, we must trust to that," remarked Jack. "How soon can you
commence the undertaking?"
"When I can be landed at a spot some miles higher up the river. I must
depend on you for carrying me there."
This was a disappointment to Jack and Terence, who thought that the man
would at once have set out; but he explained that General Rosas had
moved away to the northward, and that the young officers would have
certainly been carried in that direction.
Just as they reached the deck of the brig, the long-wished-for breeze
setting in, Jack gave the order to make sail.
The anchor had not left the ground, when a boat from the commodore's
ship came alongside, with a despatch for him. His directions were to
hunt down any of the enemy's vessels he could hear of, and then to
follow the squadron, which was on the point of proceeding up the river.
The signal for the fleet to weigh was already flying from the
commodore's masthead, the steamers were getting up their steam, dense
volumes of smoke issuing from their funnels, from the yards of the
sailing-vessels folds upon folds of snowy canvas were being let fall in
all directions, while the boats which had been absent were hurrying back
to their respective ships. Two or three men-of-war alone were left at
the mouth of the river, to prevent any of the enemy's vessels from
escaping, and to keep up the communication with the admiral at Monte
Video.
"Come, this is something like work; I wish we were among them,"
exclaimed Terence; "they will have rare fun going up the river."
"Our turn will come, depend on that," answered Jack; "Rosas is not
likely to let us pass without giving us a taste of his flying
artillery."
The _Supplejack_ was some hours in reaching the mouth of the river, in
which it was reported that one of the enemy's vessels, a schooner, had
taken refuge. Darkness soon coming on, Jack was obliged to anchor, and
await for daylight to proceed up it. A sharp lookout was kept, however,
to prevent any vessel from passing down during the night, without his
knowledge.
Two boats were in the water alongside, and their crews, with cutlasses
in their hands, and pistols in their belts, were ready to start at a
moment's notice. The night was calm and clear, and the shores on either
hand could be distinguished with the dark line of the forest, which
extended down to the water. Silence reigned over the scene, though it
was occasionally broken by strange cries which came out from among the
tall trees, probably the death-shriek of some animal, seized by a
prowling jaguar or puma.
Jack and Terence got all the information they could out of Jose
Gonzalves, who had been frequently up the river, and felt pretty certain
as to the locality where the schooner was likely to be found.
The brig was brought up in a bay or bend of the river, a point running
out ahead, and concealing her from any vessel coming down the stream
till close upon her. This was a disadvantage in one respect, as an
approaching enemy could not, for the same cause, be seen from the
_Supplejack_, and only a short time, therefore, could be allowed for
getting under weigh. Jack had given orders that the bell should not be
struck, lest, should the schooner, or any other vessel, attempt to slip
out, it might give notice of the vicinity of the brig.
Jack and Terence had turned in just about the commencement of the
morning watch. Needham, who was on the lookout, observed beyond the
point above the trees a white spot, on which the light of the moon, just
then emerging from behind a cloud, shone brightly. Guessing at once,
that it was the head of the schooner's fore-topgallant-sail, he sent to
call the commander. Jack and Terence were on deck in an instant; the
latter jumped into one of the boats and pulled across the stream to
intercept the stranger, while Jack ordered the anchor to be got up, and
sail to be made. The wind came off from the shore on the starboard
side, so that though the schooner might manage to get out, the brig
could also make her way up the stream.
"We shall catch her now, at all events--she is trapped," said Jack to
Needham. The schooner's jib was seen coming round the point, which she
was compelled to hug closely. Jack might have done better by remaining
at anchor, as the schooner would not have so soon discovered the foe
lying in wait for her. Directly the brig was perceived she put up her
helm, and, quickly easing off her mainsheet, ran again up the river with
the wind on her starboard quarter. Jack had to wait some time to pick
up his boat, when making all sail, he stood after the schooner, with no
little risk of getting on shore, though Jose Gonzalves affirmed that he
knew every inch of ground. The lead, however, was kept going, and Jack
hoped by keeping as much as possible in the middle of the stream to
avoid such a catastrophe.
The chase had had a good start, and now getting into a reach where the
wind blew right aft, she was able to set studding-sails, when being very
light, she ran through the water even faster than before. She was too
directly ahead to enable Jack to fire "Long Tom" at her, unless he yawed
considerably. He got, however, at last to the end of a reach, which
brought the schooner on his port bow. Needham had been eagerly on the
watch for the opportunity. The shot flew through the lower sails of the
chase, but no spars were carried away, and she stood on, rapidly
increasing her distance from her pursuer.
There was great risk, however, that at any moment the brig might take
the ground. Still Jack felt that it would not do to let the prize,
almost within his grasp, escape; the wind might draw ahead or drop, and
he might take her with the boats. But instead of falling, the breeze
rather freshened and continued to favour the chase.
Dawn at length appeared, and as the light increased, the dangers of the
navigation somewhat lessened. Three more shots were fired from "Long
Tom." The first struck the chase, but what damage it did could not be
ascertained, while the second scarcely touched her, and the third fell
considerably short. It was evidently of no use to fire again. Still as
long as the chase could be kept in sight Jack had hopes of coming up
with her, or at all events of discovering into what creek or passage she
might run. Having the advantage of being able to make short cuts by
channels through which the brig could not venture, she got farther and
farther ahead, till she could only just be discerned in the far distance
up the river, the dark trees appearing almost to close her in. As the
sun rose the wind began to die away, the channel became narrower and
narrower. At last it became perfectly calm, the brig was brought to an
anchor.
"We must not let her escape," cried Jack. "Out boats, and as the wind
will no longer help her we shall find her before long."
Three boats were at once manned, Jack, Terence, and Needham going in
them while Bevan remained in charge of the brig.
Jose Gonzalves declined accompanying the expedition, on the plea that
should a reverse be met with, he would be knocked on the head by his
countrymen, which would have undoubtedly been the case, so Jack was
obliged to dispense with his services. The men gave way with a will,
hoping soon to overtake the chase. They pulled on, however, for some
time without again catching sight of her.
Although the shore offered abundant shelter to an enemy they were
allowed to pass without opposition, and concluded therefore that no
force of armed men was in the neighbourhood. A sharp lookout was kept
on either hand for any opening into which the schooner might have made
her way.
At last they reached the mouth of a narrow channel which, perhaps,
connected the river they were on with some other stream, or it might,
they thought, possibly be a river falling into the first. It was a
question whether the schooner had gone up it, and on the chance of her
having done so, Needham volunteered to explore it, while the other two
boats pulled up the main stream. Jack was at first unwilling to let him
go, lest he might be overpowered. At last, however, he consented,
ordering him not to attack the schooner, but should he catch sight of
her to return immediately and follow the other boats with the
information. Jack and Terence accordingly continued their course, while
Needham pulled up the channel.
Jack did not believe that the schooner would have ventured into so
narrow a place, and he fully hoped before long to catch sight of her.
The two boats pulled on for nearly half an hour; the channel, as they
advanced, narrowing, till the lieutenants became convinced that the
schooner could not without wind have got so far ahead. They accordingly
pulled round, being now satisfied that she must have gone up the channel
into which Needham had entered. They had almost reached the mouth of it
when distant shots were heard; the next instant there came the sound of
regular volleys, fired in quick succession.
"Needham must have fallen into a trap, I fear," said Jack, "we must
hurry to his assistance. Give way, my lads!"
The men needed no urging, and in a few minutes they were entering the
channel. Though narrower at the mouth, after they had gone some way up
it widened, and on sounding, they found that there was water enough for
a far larger vessel than the schooner. The sound of the firing now
became more distinct; then it ceased. It was too probable that Needham
had been cut off, and he and his boat's crew destroyed.
Still Jack and Terence, though they might be exposed to a similar
danger, felt it was their duty to go on and ascertain the fact. Jack
was standing up in the sternsheets, so that he might obtain as far a
view as possible up the river, when he caught sight of a boat in the
distance.
On she came towards them.
"Hurrah! that must be Needham," he said.
"No doubt about it," answered Terence.
In a short time Needham's boat reached them. The splintered oars, and
the white marks along the gunwales and sides, showed the danger to which
they had been exposed; though of all her crew, only two had been
wounded. Needham said that he had pulled on, not meeting with a human
being, and had begun to doubt that the schooner had gone up the channel,
when he suddenly saw her, her sails furled, and close in with the shore,
apparently being towed, either by men or horses, along the bank. He had
gone on some little way further to ascertain this, when several shots
were fired at him, and as there was no object to gain by going farther,
he had pulled round and began to make the best of his way down the
river. Immediately he did so, a whole volley was fired at him from one
side, and directly after a second came peppering him from the other. He
now discovered that he had been caught in an ambush, but as yet, no one
having been killed, he hoped to get out of it. The men at the oars
pulled away lustily, while the others returned the fire, and, as they
believed, knocked over several fellows who incautiously showed
themselves. After running the gauntlet for five or six minutes, they
got out of range of the enemy's muskets, and had since been unmolested,
neither had they seen any one on the banks. Jack and Terence were
unwilling to lose the chase, now that she appeared almost within their
grasp, and yet they felt that it would be imprudent to expose their men
and themselves to the fire of the numerous enemies posted under cover.
"It will not do to give her up, though!" exclaimed Terence; "let us ask
Needham what he thinks." Jack put the question.
"Well, sir, to my mind, we may have her, and yet run no risk," was the
answer. "I know the way up the river, and it's not likely that she has
got very far from where I saw her. Now, if we wait till dark, we may
pull up with muffled oars, and as I do not think the enemy will expect
us, we may be up to her before they find us out. The moon won't rise
for the next four hours, and we shall have time to board, and get her
under weigh before then. The breeze, you see, is setting down the
channel, and if it holds as at present, we shall have an easy job, or if
she should take the ground, and we find that we cannot get her off, we
can but set her on fire, and so have done with her."
Jack and Terence thought Needham's plan a good one, and resolved to
carry it out, trusting to his sagacity to pilot them up to where they
hoped to find the schooner.
A short distance off was a high bank which projected some way into the
channel. As the trees which grew on it hung over the water it would
afford shelter to the boats, and the men while there might take some
refreshment, and snatch a couple of hours' sleep. They accordingly
pulled in, and found that the place fully answered their expectations.
Jack was too wise, however, not to take precaution against surprise. He
and Terence having landed, fixed on four spots at which they posted
sentries, armed with muskets and cutlasses, leaving orders with them to
fire should the enemy appear, and then to retreat to the boats. They
had been so carefully concealed among the boughs, that even should any
one pass up or down the channel, Jack felt sure that they were not
likely to be discovered. Biscuit and beef, with grog, having been
served out, the rest of the men lay down along the thwarts or at the
bottom of the boats, to enjoy such rest as could be found. Jack and
Terence, however, sat up; they were too anxious about the success of the
expedition to sleep, indeed they rather doubted whether they were wise
in venturing up the narrow channel, through which they might possibly
have to run the gauntlet on their return, between two fires from a
vastly superior number of foes.
"We have often had to encounter far greater dangers," observed Terence.
"Yes, but then we did not knowingly run into them," said Jack, "and that
makes all the difference."
Still neither of them liked to abandon the enterprise, they calculated
that half an hour would carry them up to the schooner, and little more
than that time, supposing the breeze should hold, would enable them to
get clear of the channel.
"It won't take us many minutes to capture her, so we need not allow much
time for that," observed Jack. "We may give the men, at all events,
nearly three hours' rest."
Three hours went slowly by; at last they roused up the crew, called in
the sentries, and shoved off. The oars were muffled as proposed, and by
keeping in the centre of the channel they hoped not to be heard by the
enemy, though, of course, they ran the risk of being seen should any one
be on the lookout. No lights were, however, observed on the shore, or
anything to indicate that the banks were inhabited; indeed, the
brushwood came close down to the water. Needham, acting as pilot, led
the way, Jack's boat came next, and Terence brought up the rear.
Except the usual cry of the nightbirds and the quacking of frogs, which
issued from the forest, no sound broke the silence which brooded over
the water. The current was very slight, and scarcely impeded their
progress. Never did a half-hour appear so long. Jack strained his
eyes, hoping every instant to catch sight of the schooner, but Needham
pulled on steadily, as if he knew that she was still some way ahead. At
length Jack observed that his oars ceased to move, and he accordingly
pulled up alongside his boat.
"There she is, sir," he whispered. "I can just catch sight of her
fore-topgallant-mast against the sky, over the trees." Jack
communicated the information to Terence, and then, silently as before,
they pulled on. Were the crew of the schooner asleep, or had they
abandoned her? In either case her capture would be easy. Closer and
closer they got, till they could all see her with perfect distinctness,
her yards across, and her sails bent. For a moment or two Jack expected
to receive her broadside, or to have a volley of musketry opened on the
boats. No movement, however, was perceived on board. He now took the
lead, directing Adair to pull for the bow, and Needham for the quarter,
while he intended to board her by the main chains.
It was evident that they were not expected. The boats' crews gave way
altogether. Jack was the first alongside; he quickly sprang on deck,
followed by his men; Adair and Needham were a few seconds behind him.
Scarcely had he gained the deck, than, looking down the main hatchway,
he observed a bright light, a stilling column of smoke issuing
immediately afterwards.
"Back, all of you! Back to the boats!" he shouted, and was in the act
of springing after his men, who were jumping over the sides, when he
felt his feet lifted up, and an instant afterwards he found himself in
the water, amid fragments of wreck, several fathoms from the vessel,
from every part of which bright flames were fiercely bursting forth. A
few strokes carried him alongside his boat, and, his voice being heard
by his men, he was speedily hauled on hoard.
"Is any one hurt?" was his first question.
"No, sir, only a little scratch or two," was the satisfactory answer.
The part of the deck blown up had fortunately been carried right over
the boat. The explosion had probably been produced by a small quantity
of gunpowder. "Had there been more of it my career would have been cut
short," thought Jack. He heard Adair and Needham inquiring for him.
"All right," he answered. "The rascals intended to play us a scurvy
trick; but they have been disappointed, though we shall lose our prize."
The schooner was now burning fiercely from stem to stern; the flames
wreathing like snakes round her masts, having already reached her spars,
compelled the boats to pull to a distance to avoid the risk of being
crushed by them should they fall.
The instant they got beyond the shelter of the vessel, a volley of
musketry was fired at them from the shore, the flames casting a bright
light around, exposing them to view; the glare, however, at the same
time, showing them their enemies, standing on an open space at the top
of a bank, they apparently forgetting that they could be seen as well as
see.
Jack's boat, which carried a six-pounder in her bow, pulling round, he
fired with good effect into their midst, while the other boats opened
with musketry. Several of the enemy were knocked over, and the rest
scampered off under cover, a few of them firing, however, as soon as
they could reload from behind their shelter.
"There is very little honour or glory to be obtained by stopping to be
peppered by these fellows," observed Adair.
Jack agreed with him, and, giving the order to pull round, he setting
the example, away went the boats down the channel. A few shots whistled
by them as long as they remained within the glare of the blazing vessel.
As she was already so much burnt, that even had the Spaniards succeeded
in putting out the flames she would have been utterly useless, Jack did
not think it worth while to remain to see what became of her. Even
after they had got a considerable way down the passage they could see a
bright glare in the sky, which showed them that she was still burning,
and must inevitably be destroyed.
Adair congratulated his messmate on his escape. "Faith! my dear Jack, I
thought for a moment that you had been shot into the other world, and
that I should have had to take command of the _Supplejack_," he
exclaimed. "Believe me, however, it would have been the most
unsatisfactory event in my life."
"I am very sure of that," answered Jack. "It's a mercy, however, that
no one was killed, though some of the men, I fear, have been severely
hurt."
"Yes, two or three were struck by splinters when the schooner blew up,
and twice as many have been wounded by the bullets," said Adair. "The
sooner the poor fellows' hurts can be looked to the better."
Jack agreed with him, and the boats were accordingly steered for the
bank under which they had before brought up.
Jack, recollecting that he was in an enemy's country, did not neglect to
place sentries on shore as before. The lanterns were then lit, and the
hurts of the people as carefully bound up as circumstances would allow.
Two men in Needham's boat were suffering from wounds, while four in
Jack's had been more or less hurt. One man had his hat carried off and
his hair singed by the explosion, though he had otherwise escaped.
As it was important to get back to the brig as soon as possible after
provisions and grog had been served out, the boats recommenced their
downward passage. The current being in their favour, and daylight soon
appearing, the work was much easier, as they had no difficulty in
finding their way. Jack, however, could not help feeling some anxiety
lest the brig, left with so few hands on board, might have been attacked
during his absence, though he was very sure, should such have been the
case, that Bevan would make a good fight of it. His mind was relieved
when he came in sight of her, and saw the British ensign flying at her
peak; the boats were soon alongside, and the wounded placed under the
care of McTavish.
Bevan informed him that Jose Gonzalves had gone on shore to obtain
information, and that he expected him off every instant. This provoked
Jack not a little, as the wind was fair, and though pretty well knocked
up, he was anxious to get under weigh immediately. He was unwilling,
however, to go without the man, as he hoped that he might be of use in
recovering Tom and Gerald, though he sometimes doubted how far he could
carry out his promises; indeed, he had his suspicions that Mr Jose
might be a spy, and was as likely to carry information to Rosas as to
help the midshipmen to escape.
"If we lose the breeze, we cannot tell how long we may be detained
here," he exclaimed, as he impatiently walked the deck. "We will give
him another hour, however; if he does not then appear we must sail
without him."
The cable, in the meantime, was hove short, the topsails loosed and
every preparation made for getting under weigh.
The hour had nearly passed, when Bevan exclaimed, "I see him, sir, at
the end of the point. He is waving his handkerchief, as agreed on."
A boat was accordingly despatched, and Jose came on board.
He excused himself by saying that he had fallen in with some people whom
he took to be enemies, and that he had to conceal himself till they
passed by.
"And what information do you bring us?" asked Jack.
"That another schooner and two gunboats have been destroyed, to prevent
them from falling into the hands of your countrymen, and that not
another vessel belonging to General Rosas remains afloat," answered
Jose.
This was satisfactory news, as Jack now considered that he might carry
out the second part of his instructions and proceed up the Parana, to
rejoin the squadron already some way ahead, searching for Tom and Gerald
as he went along. The anchor was hove up, sail was made, and with a
fair breeze he ran out of the river. He had not got far when he fell in
with her Majesty's sloop of war, _Dashaway_, which had just come from
Monte Video, and from her he received despatches from the commodore.
He was still some distance below the place where Jose had desired to be
put on shore. His patience was to be tried still further. After he had
run on about twenty miles it fell calm, and he was compelled to bring up
not far from Punta Obligado.
Completely knocked up, he and Terence at last turned in, desiring to be
called should the wind change, or any occurrence of importance take
place.
"At all events, Rosas must have had fighting enough for the present, and
his people will not venture to attack us," observed Terence, as they
went below. "If they do, we must let Long Tom speak to them in return,"
answered Jack, as he threw himself on his bed. In half a minute he was
fast asleep.