The _Falcon_ sailed down Channel with her convoy of merchantmen. She
was to see them safe across the Atlantic to different ports in the West
Indies, and then to proceed on her voyage to the East.
Early in the morning, Ralph, with the other pressed men, had been sent
up on deck and their names duly entered in the ship's books. Still he
had a lingering hope that Captain Mudge would come off in time with the
protection. How cruelly that hope was disappointed has been seen. With
intense anxiety he had watched for the boat: he had seen her at length
approaching. Already the capstan had been manned, and the men were
tramping round against the pawls, the fifes playing merrily, to run the
anchor up to the bows. While stationed at the fore-topsail braces, as
he looked through a port he had recognised Jessie in the _Amity's_ boat.
The temptation to bid her farewell was greater than he could resist.
The brace was belayed: he sprang into the rigging that Jessie might see
him. A midshipman observing the boat, and thinking that he was about to
spring overboard to her, ordered him to be seized, and suddenly he found
himself dragged down on deck and placed under charge of the
master-at-arms for attempting to desert.
Ralph had now more reason than ever to be cast down. The offence with
which he was charged was a serious one, yet the consciousness that he
had no intention of committing it supported him. For long he was kept
in suspense, while the ship with her attendant merchantmen was making an
offing from the land before shaping a course down Channel. At length he
was conducted between two marines to the quarter-deck, where Captain
Shortland and his officers were standing and a large portion of the crew
were assembled.
"I must have you understand, my lads, that I intend to maintain strict
discipline on board this ship. I shall have an eye on those who do
their duty, and on those who neglect it. I never forgive an offence,
and shall severely punish drunkenness, insubordination, and desertion,
or attempt at desertion: and I intend to make an example of the man who
was, I am informed, about to try to desert from the ship." And the
captain looked at Ralph, who stood between his guards. All eyes were
turned towards him. "What is his name?" asked the captain of the first
lieutenant. On being told, he continued, "Ralph Michelmore, after
having entered as one of this ship's company, you were about to desert
to a boat which had come off to receive you, and I shall give you two
dozen lashes as a warning to yourself and others for the future."
"I had no intention of deserting, sir," answered Ralph, firmly. "The
boat brought off the master of the brig to which I belong, with my
protection, and I could easily have slipped through a port had I wished
it."
"And I can say, sir, that Ralph Michelmore speaks the truth. He's an
old shipmate of mine, and I never heard him tell the shadow of a lie,"
said Dick Bracewell, stepping aft and doffing his hat. "He could have
made his escape before he was brought aboard if he'd had a mind to do
it, but he wouldn't because he'd passed his word that he'd stay quiet,
and the officer who pressed us knows it and can say so if he likes."
The old mate who had commanded the press-gang, and was now attending to
his duties on the lower deck, was sent for, and at once corroborated
what Dick had said, explaining at the same time the circumstances of
Ralph's capture.
"I believe you, and you may return to your duty," said the captain,
looking at Ralph. "For your sake I am sorry that you were pressed,
though I am glad to have got so smart a seaman as you appear to be; and
if you turn out as I expect, you may have no reason to regret that you
were compelled to join this ship. Pipe down."
The men went below or forward to their respective duties.
"Well, my lad," said the old sailor who had spoken to Ralph in the boat,
coming up to him, "I'm right glad you've got out of that scrape, and, as
I said afore, if ever you want a friend you'll find Jacob Crane a
staunch one. I can feel for you, lad; I can feel for you."
"Thank you, Jacob," answered Ralph, putting out his hand to grasp that
of the speaker, who wrung his heartily.
"Have you ever before served in a King's ship?" asked Jacob.
"No, I have never so much as been on board one before," said Ralph.
"Then I can be of use to you in putting you up to a thing or two," said
old Jacob, and forthwith he began to explain the way in which the duty
was carried on.
Ralph listened attentively, and made such good use of the knowledge he
had gained that he was able from the first to do his duty as well as any
one. He was fortunately stationed at the gun of which Jacob was
captain, and the old sailor took pains to instruct him in handling it.
Naval gunnery not being in those days the art it has since become he was
soon a proficient.
"How, my lad, came you to say that you have never before served on board
a man-of-war?" asked the first lieutenant one day, observing his
activity.
"Nor have I, sir," answered Ralph, touching his hat. "I never handled a
gun before I joined this ship."
"You do very well, then, and may look out for a higher rating before
long," observed Mr Handsel, passing on.
This remark somewhat raised Ralph's spirits. The captain himself had
observed his activity and neat appearance, and the thorough way in which
he did everything to which he put his hand. One day the signalman was
on the sick-list. The post is a responsible one when a number of ships
are sailing in company, as a watch has to be kept on the whole fleet and
signals constantly made and answered. The captain sent for Ralph, and
after a few questions directed him to attend to the duty. He performed
it with his usual attention and intelligence. It kept him also on the
quarter-deck and under the eyes of the officers. As is customary, the
midshipmen assembled under the master each day at noon and at other
periods with their sextants or quadrants to take observations. Some of
the younger ones Ralph remarked handled their instruments rather
clumsily, and evidently did not understand their use.
"I say, Dickenson, for the life of me I cannot manage to shoot the old
sun with this thing, it only puts my eyes out; and yesterday again my
day's work was all wrong somehow or other," said Mr Paul Chandos, a
youngster who had just come to sea, to another midshipman who had also
not been many months in the Navy.
"I'm sure I can't help you," answered Dickenson, a gawky lad, with a
hopeless glance at his quadrant. "It seems a very useless expenditure
of our valuable eyesight when it's the proper business of the master,
and those fellows the master's assistants, to find out whereabouts the
ship is."
"Still, I should like to know how to use this thing properly, for the
captain is sure to find out if I don't; and besides, some day I may have
command of a vessel, and I should look very foolish if I didn't know how
to find my way in her," said young Chandos, putting the quadrant to his
eye and imitating the master, who with the rest of the midshipmen stood
at some distance off.
"It will be so long before either of us have that chance that I don't
intend to trouble myself about the matter," answered the other
midshipman, swinging his quadrant backwards and forwards as if he felt
inclined to throw it overboard. Still Chandos persevered.
"If you like, I shall be happy to show you how to take an observation,
and the way to work it out," said Ralph, touching his hat, though he
felt more compassion than respect for the youngster.
"I wish you would, Michelmore," answered young Chandos, in a grateful
tone; "I have been bothering away day after day and haven't liked to ask
any one."
Ralph took the quadrant, and having first placed it to his own eye, made
Chandos hold it while he showed him how to use it, and to watch for the
moment when the lower edge of the sun seemed to touch the horizon before
it rose again.
"There--there--I never saw it do that before," exclaimed the young
midshipman. "Thank you, Michelmore, you are a good fellow: and now just
work it out for me in this pocket-book, will you?"
Ralph, having in the meantime taken a glance round at the different
ships of the fleet, very rapidly in a few figures did as requested.
It happened that the captain had just before come on deck, and,
unnoticed, was an observer of the scene. He had remarked, too, the way
in which Ralph had assisted the youngster without neglecting his proper
duty. The master and his assistants, with the rest of the midshipmen,
had taken their instruments below when he went aft to where Ralph was
standing. "I see, Michelmore, you know how to take a meridional
observation," he observed. "Do you understand much of navigation?"
"I take an interest in the study, sir, and am considered a fair
navigator," answered Ralph, modestly.
"Have you made many voyages?" asked the captain.
"Several, sir, up the Mediterranean, to Lisbon, Madeira, and the Baltic,
as mate," said Ralph.
"You consider yourself competent, then, to navigate a vessel in any part
of the world," observed the captain, after a short pause.
"Yes, sir; I should have no fears as to the correctness of my
observations," answered Ralph, modestly, though he spoke with
confidence.
"I will consider what can be done, and will not lose sight of you,"
observed the captain, walking away.
There were grumblers and discontented men, as there are on board most
ships. Dick Bracewell was among them. He soon got tired of the strict
discipline, grumbled at being compelled to turn out neatly-dressed and
clean, and at being only allowed to smoke his pipe at certain times and
in one part of the ship, and more than all at having his grog stopped,
or being compelled to drink it mixed with nine parts of water when he
had neglected his duties or broken through any regulations, as was not
unfrequently the case. Having had a good deal of money in his pocket
when pressed, he was able to buy from others their allowance of grog.
At length, one evening when Ralph went below, to his sorrow he found his
old shipmate unusually uproarious, now singing and shouting, now ready
to quarrel and fight with any one who interfered with him. Ralph was
doing his best to get him to sit down quietly by himself, when the
hammocks were piped below and the men sprang up on deck to bring them
down from the hammock-nettings. "I'm off for mine," cried Dick, getting
on his legs and staggering along the deck. "I look as sober as a judge,
whatever I may be, though I feel very jolly." Ralph tried to stop him,
but Dick, breaking from his friend, scrambled up the ladder, shouting
out, "I'm a free man, and no one shall stop me from doing what I
choose." His shouts drew the attention of one of the officers towards
him. He was ordered aft with his hammock, carrying which, he went
staggering along till he rolled over with it on the deck. In vain he
tried to get on his feet, so he lay still, with just enough
consciousness left to know that he was in a sad scrape, without a chance
of getting out of it till his back and the cat had become acquainted.
The officer of the watch, knowing that it would be useless to speak to
him, sent for two marines, between whom he was taken below and forthwith
placed in irons, thus to remain till he had recovered his senses. The
inevitable consequence followed. The next morning Dick received two
dozen lashes as a punishment for drunkenness.
Dick, who had been one of the merriest fellows on board, now became
morose and surly, even to his best friends; and as the men were afraid
of selling him their liquor, he could not drown his care, as he would
have tried to do had he been able. "Don't talk to me, Ralph," he said
one day when his old shipmate was trying to arouse him to a better state
of mind. "I'm determined to take French leave, and you're not the man I
think you, if you try to stop me."
"I have always been your friend, Dick, and I should prove that I am so
still if I prevented you from doing a mad thing, which would be sure to
bring you into a worse condition than you are now. You would, most
probably, be retaken, or should you escape, you would to a certainty get
drunk, spend all your money, and be left a beggar in a strange land."
"I've a notion that I can take as good care of myself as you, or any
other man, though you have been mate of the _Amity_, and expect some day
to walk the quarter-deck of this ship," answered Dick, with a scornful
laugh, his old feeling of envy of Ralph reviving in his mind. "I shall
have to touch my hat and `sir' you, while you top the officer over me.
Ha! ha! ha!"
Ralph had some time before, while in friendly converse, somewhat
incautiously, perhaps, expressed his hopes to Dick, who then seemed
cordially to sympathise with him. He felt hurt at Dick's remark, though
not the less anxious to serve him. Before he could reply the
boatswain's whistle was heard, and the crew were piped on deck to muster
at divisions.
No one was allowed to be idle on board. The men were constantly
exercised at the guns, or in the use of the small arms, or in shortening
and making sail, the frigate sometimes dropping astern to whip up the
laggards, then crowding on again to recover her former position in the
van of the fleet. Ralph was now regularly employed as a signalman.
While he was thus constantly on the quarter-deck, not only young
Chandos, but several of the other midshipmen, were glad to get his
assistance in taking observations and in working out their day's work.
The master was glad to be relieved of the trouble of instructing them,
and the captain was pleased to encourage the young man and to give him
an opportunity of keeping up his knowledge.
Old Jacob Crane also congratulated him on his good prospects. "I'm glad
to think on't, lad," he said, in a hearty tone. "You've the right stuff
in you, and you've what's better than all, a firm trust in God, and a
wish to do your duty in His sight. You'll do well wherever you are.
I've never seen men like you fail."
"In saying that you unjustly condemn yourself, I suspect," observed
Ralph.
"No, not unjustly," answered Jacob. "I did not understand that truth in
my younger days, and only learned it of late years, when too late to do
much towards altering my condition among my fellow-men. Mind, I don't
say that I'm not much the better for it even now, for I'm happy and
contented and fear no evil; but I remember what the Bible says, `Honour
thy Creator in the days of thy youth.' Those who do not, have bitterly
to regret it when they grow old, even though they then learn to know and
serve Him. The sins of our youth find us out, there is no doubt about
that; and I envy you, Michelmore, who will not have to look back to the
many misspent years that I do."
It was now Ralph's part to direct his friend to the only sure source of
comfort--God's loving message to man, as found in His Word, "The blood
of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin," when by loving obedient faith
the sinner takes hold of the promises. Thus the one assisted the other.
Ralph indeed required support. Jessie was never out of his mind. Her
granny was old and infirm, and might soon be taken from her; and then,
should Captain Mudge be away, what would she do? "She has not, that I
know of, dear girl, a friend on whom she can depend," thought Ralph.
"Yes, she and I have one in heaven on Whom we both rely. To Him I will
pray for her, as she will, I know, for me." Earnestly and faithfully
Ralph did pray, and he did not fail to obtain that answer which true
prayer always receives. He was supported, and his heart comforted.
The fleet was now approaching Jamaica, and Ralph was more actively than
ever engaged in making and answering signals. Port-Royal, to which most
of the ships were bound, was reached at length, when another man-of-war
took charge of the rest to escort them to their destinations.
Dick had not concealed from those he could trust his intention of
deserting. Ralph had done his utmost to dissuade him from his foolish
intentions, and though he would not inform the officers, he determined
to keep a watch over his friend and stop him if he could. A boat, which
came alongside directly the frigate dropped anchor, brought the news
that the yellow fever was raging on shore, with orders that no one
should leave the ship.
"You have lost your chance, Dick, and I am glad of it," said Ralph.
"Not so sure of that," answered Dick; "I'm a pretty good swimmer, and
can make my way on shore if I've a mind for it."
"Don't be so mad, Dick, as even to think of such a thing," said Ralph.
"Haven't you heard of Port-Royal Jack, the big shark? He will be sure
to catch you if you make the attempt."
Dick looked incredulous, but the accounts he heard from his other
shipmates of the number of people Port-Royal Jack had swallowed made him
hesitate about putting his resolve into execution.
The next day the frigate, having taken in fresh provisions and water,
put to sea, and Ralph hoped that Dick would be in a better mind before
they again entered a port.