THE "GLAMORGAN CASTLE" ON HER VOYAGE TO INDIA--HER PASSENGERS--OUR
HERO--COMBINED EFFECTS OF A KICK AND A ROLL--VIOLET ROSS--CUPID AT
WORK--OUR HERO'S GALLANT EXPLOIT--THE SHIP REACHES THE HOOGHLY--PARTING
OF REGINALD AND VIOLET.
The stout old _Glamorgan Castle_, with studding-sails on either side,
was running before the trade-wind on her course to India. The
passengers were lounging about on the poop, sheltered by an awning from
the burning rays of the sun, which struck down with no inconsiderable
force, making even the well-seasoned Indians grumble and incline to be
quarrelsome. Of passengers the ship had her full complement, for all
the cabins were full. There were among them generals, and judges, and
officers of all ranks; as well as married dames returning to their
husbands, and young ladies committed to their care; but few of them need
be noticed. There were Colonel Ross, with his sweet, blooming daughter
Violet; and Major Molony and his pretty little round wife, to whom he
had lately been married; and Captain Hawkesford, going out to rejoin his
regiment,--a handsome-looking man, but with a countenance not altogether
prepossessing, for it betokened selfishness and want of feeling, or the
lines about his firm set mouth, and large grey eyes, belied him.
The commander, Captain Lyford, was a fine specimen of a sailor. He made
himself agreeable to his passengers, and kept his ship's company in good
order. When nothing occurred to excite him, his face was calm and
unimpassioned; but it lighted up in a moment, and his clear, ringing
voice when issuing an order to the crew showed that there was no lack of
courage and determination in his composition.
There were the usual disputes and misunderstandings on board, which gave
the good skipper, who always acted as peacemaker, no little trouble to
settle. The ladies not infrequently fell out; and their quarrels, he
confessed, were the hardest matters to put to rights, especially when
jealousy set them by the ears. Mrs Brigadier Bomanjoy considered that
she did not receive the same attention which was paid to Mrs Lexicon,
the wife of the judge; and Miss Martha Pelican, who was making her
second expedition to the East, complained that the officers neglected
her, while they devoted themselves to silly Miss Prettyman, who had no
other qualifications than her pink cheeks and blue eyes to recommend
her. The "griffins" not infrequently had warm disputes; but the captain
quickly managed to settle their more noisy quarrels, and restore them to
good-humour.
"Come, come, lads," he used to say, "let's hear what it's all about, and
then we will get the whole matter into a nut-shell. It can be stowed
away in less space than that, I've no doubt; and when it's there, we'll
heave it overboard. Now then, shake hands, and forget all about it."
He did not, however, venture to interfere when husband and wife fell
out, considering that a third person would only make matters worse; and
more especially did he avoid interfering in the everlasting squabbles of
Major and Mrs Molony--which were indeed rather amusing than otherwise,
the object of the little lady being apparently to bring her lord and
master under the complete subjection of her imperious will, to which he,
good-tempered as he was, had no intention of yielding.
There were several very nice girls, of whom Miss Violet Ross was
universally considered the most charming. She was young, and very
pretty; fair as a lily, with blue eyes and rich auburn hair. But she
had a good deal more than her beauty to recommend her. She was
sweet-tempered, gentle, and high principled. Mrs Brigadier Bomanjoy
declared that she was puritanical and prudish; but she was in reality
truly religious and modest, without a particle of nonsense in her
composition. Captain Hawkesford, generally supposed to be indifferent
to female charms,--at least, to those of his own countrywomen,--paid her
more attention than he did to any one else, although she evidently
offered him no encouragement.
There was another person on board who must now be mentioned. Many
inquiries had been made of the captain who he was, but no satisfactory
answer had been given. His costume was that of a seaman, but no one
could suppose that he was a common sailor. His manner was
distinguished, his good looks remarkable, and the tone of his voice and
language refined. He was still very young, being scarcely more than
eighteen or nineteen years of age. He was on familiar terms with the
officers of the ship, and mingled with the passengers without any
objection being made by the captain. He spoke Hindostanee fluently, and
addressed the Lascars in their own tongue; while he showed an intimate
acquaintance with Indian manners and customs, as well as with those of
China and the East generally. The hot suns of Eastern seas had tanned
his cheeks and given him almost the appearance of an Oriental. The only
account the captain gave of him was that his name was Reginald Hamerton,
and that he had come home with him from India on his last voyage, and
had, during a heavy gale, exhibited much courage and nautical knowledge.
Many thought, from his dark skin, classical features, and flashing eye,
that there was Indian blood in his veins; and it was whispered that he
was the son of a resident at the court of some native prince, and that
his mother was the rajah's daughter: but of this the captain said he
knew nothing. He spoke English perfectly, was well educated, and had
the manners of a young man accustomed to the best society. He conversed
freely with every one, but it was observed that he was extremely
reticent about himself, never alluding to his past life or his future
prospects. Still he seemed perfectly at his ease about them; nor did he
speak like a person who had any doubts as to what he should do on his
arrival in India.
Altogether, there was a perfect mystery about him, which increased the
interest his personal appearance was calculated to excite,--at all
events, among the fairer portion of the passengers. He was courteous
and attentive to all the ladies; but it was remarked at length that he
was more frequently seen in conversation with Violet Ross than with any
one else. If her eye brightened when he came near, that was but
natural; as also that she should prefer talking to him to listening to
the remarks made to her by the cynical Captain Hawkesford,--who
evidently regarded young Hamerton with a feeling of dislike, which he
exhibited whenever he had an opportunity by a haughty and contemptuous
manner towards him. Colonel Ross, on the contrary, treated Reginald in
a kind and friendly way, and appeared to have no objection to his
conversing with Violet on deck, or to any of the attentions he paid her.
The third officer being ill, young Hamerton, as he was generally
called, took his place; and few could have failed to remark the
officer-like style in which he carried on duty, or the clear, ringing
voice in which he issued his orders,--displaying to advantage his
well-knit figure as he walked the deck with telescope under his arm, or
with his hand to his mouth, his fine head thrown back, shouting to the
crew. Violet's eye was wont to watch him as he moved about the deck,
and a gentle flush mounted on her cheek whenever he came near and bent
down to speak to her.
Captain Hawkesford scarcely concealed his jealousy, and expressed it in
remarks which he seemed to wish should reach Reginald's ear. "As the
young sailor was to all appearance working his passage, he should not
venture to make himself so familiar with those who were above him in
rank and position. For his part, he was surprised that Captain Lyford
allowed him to dine in the cabin, when he ought to mess with the other
junior officers."
If Reginald did hear what was said, he took no notice of Captain
Hawkesford's remarks, but appeared to be quite as much at his ease as at
first.
One day while he was attending to some duty forward, Captain Hawkesford
took a seat near Violet, and endeavoured to make himself agreeable to
the best of his power. She listened, for without rudeness she could not
avoid doing so; but no smile played around her mouth, while her answers
were mostly in monosyllables. Colonel Ross at length coming near, she
jumped up and took his arm, saying that she should like to enjoy a walk
for a few minutes. Captain Hawkesford looked excessively annoyed, but
did not attempt to accompany her. After a short time Reginald came aft,
when the gong sounded for dinner. She said a few words to him as she
went below; upon which he followed with a haste he seldom exhibited,
and, as the passengers took their seats, slipped into a chair on one
side of Violet, while her father sat on the other. Captain Hawkesford,
on returning from his cabin, found the place he had intended to occupy
already filled, and with an angry frown on his brow he went to the
further end of the table. Most of the passengers had collected, when
some one remarked that the chairs of Major and Mrs Molony were vacant.
"Why did they not come down?" asked Mrs Brigadier Bomanjoy.
"The little lady is in one of her tantrums," answered Miss Pelican.
"The gallant major is endeavouring to bring her round, but she won't
because she won't."
Just then the voice of the little lady was heard, mingled with the
expostulations of her liege lord, coming down the open skylight, on the
coamings of which she was seated, directly over the head of the table.
"Come, ladies and gentlemen, we must commence operations or the meat
will get cold," observed the captain; and having said grace, he was
about to begin carving a leg of mutton swimming in gravy placed before
him, when there came a wild scream and a shout from the major,--"Arrah,
my darling, where are you after going to?" though, before the words were
well out of the speaker's mouth, down came flop on the top of the leg of
mutton the rotund form of Mrs Major Molony, fortunately head uppermost,
in a semi-sitting posture,--the joint of meat serving as a cushion to
that part of her body which is usually thus accommodated, while one of
her feet stuck into a dish of potatoes and the other into one of curry
and rice, the gravy flying on all sides like the contents of a bursting
bomb.
"Oh, where have I got to?" cried the little lady, panting and screaming
with terror, though she was sufficiently aware of what had happened to
make an endeavour to cover up her little round legs, which were more
exposed than her modesty would have allowed.
Captain Lyford, with all the delicacy imaginable, though his sides were
splitting with laughter, placed his arms under the little lady, and
lifted her up ready to present to the major, who came rushing down wild
with alarm, under the belief that she must have either broken her neck,
or have been spitted on the carving knife and fork.
"Arrah now, my darling, is it killed you are entirely?" he exclaimed, as
he caught sight of her.
The shouts of laughter proceeding from all sides, and in which even
Violet and Reginald could not help joining, prevented her answer from
being heard, as the major, taking her in his arms, bore her off to her
cabin, that she might put a fresh skirt on in lieu of her
gravy-bespattered dress.
The steward had in the meantime picked up the leg of mutton, which had
been sent spinning out of the dish; and its tenderness was accounted for
by the unusual pressure to which it had been subjected by the fair
little dame.
It appeared, from the conversation of the major, who soon returned to
the table, that at the moment his wife was kicking at him pettishly with
her foot the ship gave a roll, and she, losing her balance, the
catastrophe lately witnessed had occurred; a lesson, as he observed with
a wink, by which he piously hoped she would in future profit.
"I congratulate you, my dear, that it did not happen to you," observed
the brigadier to his better half.
"I never kick at my husband," answered the lady.
For the sake of the feelings of Mrs Molony the conversation was
changed, when she at length appeared, considerably crestfallen, and took
her seat meekly by her husband's side. Dinner was proceeded with; but
every now and then some of the young ensigns burst out into
uncontrollable fits of laughter, joined in by the rest like the fire of
skirmishers, as one of them happened to recall the incident to mind,--
the only one hitherto worth noting during the voyage, which promised to
terminate without the occurrence of any of greater importance.
Some days had passed after this event, when, as the ship was still
running before the wind, making eight or nine knots an hour, with a
somewhat heavy sea on, a fine young lad--going out to join his father
and mother, who had obtained some employment for him in the uncovenanted
service--was skylarking aloft with some other youngsters, when, losing
his hold, he fell into the foaming sea.
"Man overboard!" was the cry.
Captain Lyford was on deck in a moment, issuing orders to shorten sail
and bring the ship to, that a boat might be lowered. The lad could
swim, but suddenly finding himself plunged amid the foaming seas, he
lost his presence of mind, and it appeared doubtful whether he would
keep afloat. A couple of chairs and a hen-coop had been hove to him,
but not till he had been left some way astern. Reginald, on hearing the
cry, ran aft, and without waiting to take off even his hat, lowered
himself into the water and struck out towards the wellnigh drowning lad.
It was evening, and darkness was rapidly coming on. Intense was the
excitement of all on board. Violet Ross did not exhibit her feelings,
as some of the other ladies did, by shrieking and crying out, but she
was seen standing on the poop, her gaze fixed on the two young swimmers.
Running at the rate the ship was going, they were soon lost to sight;
for though the crew were under good discipline, it was not to be
expected that sail could be shortened as rapidly as on board a
man-of-war.
Opinions of all sorts were being hazarded. Some gave them up for lost,
declaring that the best of swimmers could not keep afloat in such a sea.
"The young fellow may drown, for what I care," muttered Captain
Hawkesford, as he turned forward, away from the rest of the lookers-on.
The captain and officers were too busy to answer the questions put to
them on the subject.
At length the ship was hove-to, and a boat with the first mate and a
crew of volunteers was lowered. Away she pulled in the direction in
which the swimmers had been last seen, the thick gathering gloom and the
foaming seas surrounding her, and quickly hiding her from sight. The
excitement on board was intense, even the captain could scarcely retain
his composure. It would have been great had Jack Andrews, the lad who
had fallen overboard, been alone; but young Hamerton had excited the
interest of all, and even the stern old brigadier declared that he would
be ready to give up all the loot he had bagged at the taking of Mooltan
for the sake of recovering the lad; and those who knew the old soldier
best, were aware that his feelings must have been highly excited to
induce him to say so. Poor little Violet! Her father could not fail to
remark her agitation, but believed that she would have felt the same if
any other among her fellow-creatures had been placed in the fearful
peril to which young Hamerton was exposed.
The moments seemed minutes, the minutes hours, as those on board watched
anxiously for the return of the boat. At length the captain began to
fear for her safety, as well as for that of the swimmers.
"Silence on deck," he cried. "Does any one see her?"
No reply was made. The ship had for some time been hove-to. The wind
whistled through her rigging, and the seas washed up her sides as she
surged slowly forward.
"Burn a blue light, Mr Timmins," he shouted to the boatswain, who had
got one all ready; and as the bright fire burst forth it cast a lurid
glare on the masts and rigging, and the countenances of the lookers-on,
giving them the hue of death.
Colonel Ross, forgetting for a moment the effect always produced by the
light, thought that his daughter was going off into a swoon. But her
trembling voice reassured him.
"I am thankful to see that signal," she observed. "It will surely
enable them to find their way to the ship."
"I hope that they will bring back our young friend, and the lad he has
so gallantly hazarded his own life to save," said the colonel; "but the
difficulty of finding them in the dark must be very great, unless they
retain strength sufficient to make their position known by their
voices."
"They will come! They will come!" exclaimed Violet. "Oh, father, it is
very dreadful!" She could say no more.
The time went on. More blue lights were burned. Again and again the
captain shouted, "Does any one see the boat?"
At length a seaman exclaimed, "There she is! There she is!" and others
declared that they saw her. A cheer arose, joined in by most on board,
but it was silenced by the captain. He now himself observed the boat
approaching slowly, tossing up and down on the heaving seas. Oh, the
horrible suspense to be endured till it could be got alongside, for it
was impossible to see who was in her!
"Have you got them safe?" asked the captain, unable longer to restrain
his anxiety. No answer came. Possibly the dashing of the seas drowned
his voice. The boat came nearer and nearer, and willing hands stood
ready to lift on board those she brought back. On she came. The oars
were thrown in. The bowman caught the rope hove to him. Eager faces
peered down into her to ascertain if the lads had been saved.
"All right; we have them safe!" at length cried a voice from the boat.
"They are saved! They are saved!" was echoed along the deck; and even
the most phlegmatic of the passengers shook each other's hands, and
expressed their satisfaction; while several of the ladies burst into
tears,--as did one of the officers, as gallant a young fellow as ever
lived. Violet darted forward, followed by the colonel, as Reginald was
hoisted on deck. Though evidently exhausted, he was able to stand
leaning on the shoulder of honest Dick Thuddichum, a seaman who had gone
off in the boat, and had assisted him up the side. (Dick ought before
to have been introduced. He was a fine specimen of a sailor, with his
broad shoulders and big bushy beard and whiskers. He had come on board
with the young officer, and, judging by the eager way in which he had
leaped into the boat going off to his rescue, was attached to him with
no ordinary attachment.) Violet stopped short as she got close to
Reginald, for already he was surrounded by most of the officers and
passengers, eager to shake him by the hand and compliment him on his
intrepidity. Reginald saw her, and would have sprung forward, when,
just as she had faintly murmured an expression of thankfulness, her
father came up in time to save her, overcome by her feelings, from
sinking on the deck. He then, after heartily congratulating Reginald,
led his daughter into the cabin.
"Though I am thankful that the young man has been saved, I may have
cause to regret that we have met him, if you allow too great an
admiration of his gallantry and personal qualities to take possession of
your heart," remarked the colonel. "Be cautious in future. We know
nothing of his birth or position; and, attractive as are his manners, he
may be merely an unprincipled adventurer--though I hope I should wrong
him by thinking so. Now lie down and rest, for it may be better not to
appear at the tea-table."
Violet promised to do as her father advised; but before throwing herself
on her bed, she knelt down and poured out her grateful thanks to Heaven
for Reginald's preservation.
The latter, meanwhile, nearly overwhelmed with compliments and
congratulations, had been led by the doctor to his berth.
"Come, come, Mr Hamerton," said the medico; "I have looked after young
Andrews, and I must now see to you. You may think yourself made of
iron, but the human frame cannot endure the strain you have put on it
without reaction; and we shall have you on the sick-list to-morrow,
unless you take due precautions."
An unwonted sensation of weakness warned Reginald that the doctor was
right; and following his advice, he turned in--inclined to be obedient
also for the sake of avoiding the further compliments he felt sure the
ladies would be disposed to pay him. The only gentleman who had not
spoken to him was Captain Hawkesford, who had turned away when he saw
that he was safe, uttering an expression of bitter ill-feeling.
"She will think more of the fellow than ever," he muttered. "Would that
he were fathoms deep beneath the water!"
Thanks to the doctor's care, Reginald by the next morning was quite
himself again; and as soon as he appeared on deck, young Andrews, who
had also recovered, came to him and thanked him with hearty expressions
of gratitude for saving his life.
"If it had not been for you, I should very soon have gone down. My
great wish now is to serve you as long as I live; and I only hope that I
may have the opportunity of doing so," he exclaimed.
"I only did for you what I would have done for any other man or boy,"
said Reginald; "but at the same time I shall be glad of your friendship,
for, whatever our respective positions, we may be able to help each
other."
Reginald, it must be confessed, looked with more than usual eagerness
for the appearance of Violet, who had not yet come on deck--scarcely
heeding the compliments he received from the other ladies, or being able
to give any very clear answers to the numerous questions put to him
about his gallant exploit, as they were pleased to call it. He did his
best, however, to explain how, after having succeeded in reaching young
Andrews, he had towed him to the hen-coop, to which he held him fast
till the arrival of the boat.
"Yes, it _was_ trying," he added; "but I never lost hope. My great fear
was that the lad would sink from exhaustion, though I felt capable of
holding on till the morning. I was sure, too, that the captain would
not leave the spot till he had searched for us by daylight."
Violet at length came on deck. A blush rose to her cheek as she put out
her hand to welcome Reginald. She said but little, however, her eyes
speaking more eloquently than words. Her father remained by her side,
and took an opportunity, as soon as he could do so without making his
object too evident, of leading her to the other side among the ladies on
deck. The gallant young officer was naturally the subject of
conversation, and she heard with inward satisfaction his praises
repeated by all around her. Much as Colonel Ross liked Reginald, he
could not help regretting that Violet had ever met him. He could not be
blind to his personal appearance and manners, but he naturally disliked
the thought of his daughter marrying a man of whose birth and fortune he
knew nothing; and he resolved to break off all connection with the young
stranger as soon as they landed at Calcutta. Reginald, he supposed, was
not likely to remain long in that city, and would be either again going
to sea, or proceeding up the country; at least he fancied, from some
remarks the young man let drop, such would be the case. Violet, too,
was not likely to remain long without receiving an eligible offer, which
he trusted she would have the sense to accept--although he was not the
man to force her to do so against her inclination.
During the remainder of the voyage Reginald enjoyed frequent
opportunities of conversing with Violet, though, by the colonel's
management, they were but seldom left alone. They perfectly understood
each other, however; and the day before the ship was off the
Sunderbunds, Reginald told Violet that he loved her better than life;
and although he confessed there was a mystery about his birth, he said
he hoped ere long to clear it up, and to be in a position to offer her
his hand.
"If I succeed, as I have every reason to hope I may, your father will
have no cause to refuse me on account of my birth and fortune. More I
may not tell you; but you will confide in my honour, dearest Violet: I
know you will!" He took her hand, which she did not withdraw.
"I trust you implicitly. I know my kind father has a sincere regard for
you, and he is only at present unwilling to sanction our engagement
because he believes that it would not conduce to my happiness," she
answered.
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The following day the _Glamorgan Castle_ dropped her anchor in the
Hooghly. Shortly afterwards a man-of-war steamer hove in sight, and
brought-to at a short distance from the ship. A boat from her came
alongside, when Reginald came up to Colonel and Miss Ross.
"I must bid you farewell; but I hope that I may be allowed to call on
you in Calcutta," he said with tolerable calmness.
The colonel hesitated in his reply.
"I cannot say where my duty will call me; but you may be assured, Mr
Hamerton, that I shall not forget you," he at length answered evasively.
"Farewell! I see your attendant at the gangway waiting for you."
Violet, pained at her father's manner, said but little. Reginald,
however, understood her look and manner; and paying a hurried adieu to
the rest of the passengers, he went towards the gangway, passing, as he
did so, Captain Hawkesford, who cast at him a supercilious and angry
glance, without returning his salute. Followed by Dick Thuddichum, he
descended to the boat, which pulled towards the steamer.
Violet watched the vessel as she glided up the river, and observed
Reginald, after shaking hands with the officers, standing on the
paddle-box, with his eyes fixed on the _Glamorgan Castle_. She little
thought at the time how long it would be before they would again meet!