Before long he found that it evidently meant to intercept him, and he
had the deck cleared for action and the men at quarters.
"They want the despatches they tricked me into carrying," cried Hilary;
"but they go overboard if I am beaten."
To secure this he placed them in the despatch-box, in company with a
couple of heavy shot, and placed all ready to heave overboard should
matters go wrong.
He knew what was his duty in such a case, though; and that was to run
for Portsmouth with the papers, fighting only on the defensive; and
this, to the great disappointment of his men, he kept to.
The schooner commenced the aggressive by sending a shot in front of the
cutter's bows, as an order to heave-to, but the cutter kept on, and the
next shot went through her mainsail.
"Now, Billy Waters," said Hilary, "train the long gun aft, and fire as
fast as you can; send every shot, mind, at her masts and yards; she is
twice as big as we are, and full of men."
"But we'd lick 'em, sir," said the gunner. "Let's get alongside and
board her."
"No," said Hilary sternly; "we must make Portsmouth before night."
Then the long gun began to speak, and Hilary kept up a steady running
fight, hour after hour, but in spite of his efforts to escape, the
schooner hung closely at his heels, gradually creeping up, and doing so
much mischief that at last the young commander began to feel that before
long it would be a case of repelling boarders, and he placed the
despatch-box ready to throw over the side.
Closer and closer came on the schooner, and man after man went down; but
still Billy Waters, aided by the boatswain, kept firing with more or
less success from the long gun, till at last the time came when the
schooner's crew were firing with small arms as well, and Hilary knew
that in another minute they would be grappled and the enemy on board.
He paused with the despatch-box in his hand, ready to sink it, while
Billy Waters was taking careful aim with the long gun. Then there was
the puff of smoke, the bellowing roar, and apparently no result, when
all at once there was a loud crack, a splash, and the cutter's crew
cheered like mad, for the schooner's mainmast went over the side with
its press of sail, and the foremast, that had been wounded before,
followed, leaving the swift vessel a helpless wreck upon the water.
She would have been easy of capture now, but under the circumstances
Hilary's duty was to risk no severe fight in boarding her, but to
continue his course, and this he did, passing a gunboat going in search
of him, the despatches he had left behind having gone by another boat.
Answering the hail, Hilary communicated with the commander, who in
another hour had captured the schooner, and the next morning she was
brought into Portsmouth harbour with her crew.
Meantime Hilary had reached Portsmouth and been rowed ashore, where he
went straight to the admiral's house. Captain Charteris was with the
admiral, and both looked very stern as he told his tale.
"A bad beginning, Lieutenant Leigh," said the admiral, "but it was a
clever ruse on the enemy's part. But you are wounded. Sit down."
"Only a scratch or two, sir," said Hilary piteously, for he felt very
weak and quite overcome as he handed his papers.
Just then he became aware of the presence of a plainly-dressed
gentleman, to whom the admiral, with great deference, handed the
captured despatches. He opened them--Hilary's first.
"Yes," he said, "a clear case; all blank. Now for the others."
As he opened the packet he uttered a cry of joy.
"This is news indeed. My young officer, you have done more than you
think for in capturing these. Captain Charteris, instantly--marines and
sailors, you can take them all."
"Yes, young man," continued the stranger, "this is a proud day for you.
It is a death-blow to the Pretender's cause. You have done great
things."
"In the King's name--hurrah!" cried Hilary feebly, as he waved his hat;
then he reeled and fell heavily upon the floor.