The men had been witnesses of all that took place, and had heard the
officer's angry words, respecting which they talked in a low tone, Billy
Waters more than once saying that he didn't like the lookout forrard--
the "forrard" being the future, and not the sea beyond the cutter's
bows.
As the night wore on the officer had become very friendly. "I was
wrong, Mr Leigh. Put it down, please, to my anxiety. I beg your
pardon."
"Granted," said Hilary frankly. "I would not oppose you, sir, if I did
not feel that I was right."
"I am glad I am in the company of so clever a young officer," the other
replied. "Now about rest. I am too anxious to lie down to sleep. I
will take charge of the deck while you go and get a few hours' rest."
"Thank you, no," said Hilary quietly; "I, too, am anxious, and I shall
not be able to sleep till we are in port and the despatches are
delivered."
"But there is no need for both of us to watch, my dear sir," said the
other blandly.
"Then pray go below, sir," said Hilary. "You may depend on me."
The officer did not reply, but took a turn or two up and down, and as
the time glided on he tried again and again to persuade Hilary to go
below, which, in his capacity of chief officer, holding his first
command on a dark night and upon an important mission, he absolutely
refused to do.
Towards morning on two occasions the officer brought him glasses of
spirits and water, which Hilary refused to take; and at last, fearing to
make him suspicious, the officer desisted and stood leaning with his
back against the side, wrapped in a cloak, for it was very cold.
The light in front of the wheel shone faintly upon him as Hilary walked
slowly fore and aft, visiting the lookout man at the bows and the man at
the wheel; and at last, in the gloomy darkness of the winter's morning,
Hilary saw the Dunkerque lights.
"We're in sight of port, Mr Anderson," he said as he walked aft.
"Indeed!" said the other starting, and the wind gave his cloak a puff,
showing for a moment what Hilary saw was the butt of a pistol.
"What does he want with pistols?" said Hilary to himself; and after a
short conversation he again went forward, feeling curiously suspicious,
though there seemed to be no pegs upon which his suspicions could hang.
But he was not long kept in suspense and doubt. When they were about a
couple of miles from the entrance to the port a boat manned by eight
rowers came towards them, and Hilary noticed it directly.
"What does that boat mean?" he said sharply.
"Don't know. Can't say," the officer replied. "Perhaps a man-o'-war's
boat coming to meet us for the despatches."
Hilary was not satisfied, but he said nothing. He merely resumed his
walk to and fro.
"Now then, bosun," he said, "have your men up ready. It will be down
sails directly."
"Not yet awhile, Mr Leigh," said the officer. "The _Kestrel_ does not
fly--she crawls."
"Waters," said Hilary as he passed out of his companion's sight, "make
no sign, but lay a bar or two and some pikes about handy for use if
wanted, and give the men a hint to be ready if there's anything wrong.
Quietly, mind."
Billy Waters nodded, and as Hilary walked back to where the officer was
standing he became aware that the gunner had taken his hint, but it was
all done so quietly that it did not catch the officer's attention.
"That boat means to board us," said Hilary, as their proximity to the
land sheltered them from the wind and their progress became slow.
"Offer to pilot us, perhaps," said the officer. "No; it is as I said."
"Ahoy, there! Heave-to!" shouted the officer in command of the boat.
"What boat's that?" cried Hilary.
"The _Royal Mary's_. Have you despatches on board?"
"My orders were to deliver my despatches myself at a certain address,"
thought Hilary; "this may be a trick."
"On special business," cried Hilary back.
"Nonsense, Mr Leigh!" cried the assumed Lieutenant Anderson.
"Heave-to, sir. I order you! Hi, my lads there, down with the sails."
"No sails don't go down for no orders like that," growled the boatswain;
but by skilful management the boat was already alongside and the bowman
had caught the bulwark with his hook.
"Keep back!" cried Hilary sharply.
"Are you mad?" cried the man by his side, now throwing off his cloak,
and with it his disguise, for he caught Hilary by the collar and
presented a pistol at his head. "Quick, there, up with you!"
Hilary struck up the pistol, but the next instant he received a heavy
blow on the forehead and staggered back as, to his horror, the crew of
the boat, well-armed and headed by Sir Henry Norland, leaped aboard and
drove back the two or three of the crew who were near.
"At last!" cried Sir Henry to the false lieutenant. "I thought you
would never come, Hartland. Have you the papers?"
"Yes, all right," said the gentleman addressed, "and all's right.
Here."
He had thrust his hand into his breast when there was a shout and a
cheer as the stout crew of the _Kestrel_, headed by the gunner and armed
with pikes and capstan-bars, charged down upon them.
There was a shot or two. Hilary was knocked down by his own men as he
had struggled up; the false lieutenant was driven headlong down the
companion hatch, and in less than a minute Sir Henry Norland and his men
were, with two exceptions, who lay stunned upon the deck, driven over
the side, to get to their boat as best they could. Then as Hilary once
more gained his feet the assailing boat was a quarter of a mile astern.
"The treacherous scoundrel!" cried Hilary. "Oh, my lads, my lads,
you've saved the cutter. But tell me, did that fellow get away?"
"What! him as I hit down the hatchway for hysting your honour?" said Tom
Tully. "He's down below."
Hilary and a couple of men ran to the hatchway, to find the false
lieutenant lying below by the cabin door, with one arm broken, and his
head so injured that he lay insensible, with the end of a packet of
papers standing out of his breast.
Hilary seized them at once, and then, as a light broke in upon his
breast, he ran to the locker, opened it and the despatch-box, and longed
to open the papers he held.
But they were close in to the port, and, resolving to deliver the
despatches, he left the false lieutenant well guarded, leaped into one
of the boats, and was rowed ashore to the consul, to whom he told his
tale.
"It has been a trick," said that gentleman; "there is no such street in
the town as that on the despatch, and no such officer known."
"What should you do?" cried Hilary. Then, without waiting to be
answered, he cried, "I know," and, hurrying back to his boat, he was
soon on board, and with the sails once more spread he was on his way
back to Portsmouth with the despatches, and three prisoners in the hold.
Before he had gone many miles he became aware of a swift schooner
sailing across his track; and though, of course, he could not recognise
her, he had a strong suspicion that it was the one that had nearly run
them down.