The _Falcon_ had got some way to the south of the Line. Ralph was now a
quartermaster, a position in which only seamen of merit and experience
are placed.
It was night, and unusually dark for that latitude. A gentle breeze
filled the frigate's canvas as she glided over the calm ocean with the
wind on the larboard quarter. Ralph was in the watch on deck, stationed
near the man at the helm. Now he glanced his eyes aloft to ascertain
that the sails drew properly, now at the binnacle to see that the proper
course was kept; then he took a look on either side round the horizon.
Ralph had turned his eyes to the south-east, when he observed a vivid
flash. It looked like lightning. Another and another flash followed in
quick succession. He made his report to the officer of the watch. The
flashes continued. There could be no doubt about the matter, an action
was taking place. A midshipman was sent to inform the captain. As soon
as he came on deck all hands were called and the yards braced up, a
course was steered which would carry the frigate to windward of the
combatants. There could be no doubt one of them was English and if the
smaller of the two, the appearance of the _Falcon_ would probably turn
the tables. In the meantime the drums beat to quarters and the usual
preparations were rapidly made for battle. Till near enough for the
night-signals to be distinguished it was important that their approach
should not be discovered, as it was as likely to discourage a friend as
to overawe a foe, or what was of more consequence, might induce a foe to
try and escape. All lights on board were therefore carefully shaded as
the frigate stood on towards the combatants. Suddenly the flashes
ceased: still, as the bearing of the strangers had been taken, there
would be no difficulty in discovering them. The crew of the _Falcon_
waited in vain for a renewal of the flashes. The fight was over. Which
was the victor was the question. Ralph heard the subject discussed by
the officers on the quarter-deck. They expressed their fears that there
would be no fighting.
"An English ship would not have given in so soon," observed the first
lieutenant.
"Not unless she is the smallest," answered the purser, who was addicted
to croaking.
"Then we shall have the satisfaction of retaking her and thrashing her
captor into the bargain," said Mr Handsel.
"But what if her captor is bigger than we are?" asked the purser.
"Thrash him notwithstanding," said the first lieutenant, laughing.
"It is possible that more than two vessels were engaged," remarked the
captain. "We shall know, however, before long. Have the night-signals
ready, Mr Handsel. We must take care not to fire into a friend."
The excitement on board increased as the frigate, moving at the rate of
two or three knots an hour, drew near the spot where it was expected
that the strangers would be discovered. The men stood at their guns
prepared to open the ports and run them out when the order should be
given. The magazines were open and powder and shot passed up. The
surgeon and his assistants were below in the cockpit, making their
arrangements for the duties they might have to perform; looking to their
instruments, their bandages and styptics, and rigging their
amputation-table.
"How do you feel, Paul?" asked Dickenson of young Chandos. "If we could
see the enemy I shouldn't mind; but, for my part, I don't like this sort
of work in the dark, I confess."
"I was thinking of home and my mother and sisters," answered Chandos.
"I used to long to be in a battle, and I should be sorry to miss it, but
I wish it was over. I would rather have to look back at it than
forward."
"So would I, provided I hadn't lost an arm or a leg or been killed
outright," said Dickenson, in a dolorous tone.
"I haven't thought about being killed, and I hope that neither you nor I
will be," answered Chandos; adding, "I shouldn't mind, perhaps, a bullet
through my arm or leg for the honour and glory of the thing, and to talk
about when we get home."
"I'm sure I don't want any such honour and glory, and I wish you
wouldn't speak about such things," groaned out Dickenson. "Perhaps we
shan't have a fight after all."
"I hope we shall, though," exclaimed his more plucky messmate; "that is
to say if it does not last too long. I could hold out for an hour or
so, but then I think I should begin to wish it was over."
"Beg pardon, young gentlemen; you'd hold out better after the first hour
than for the first five minutes," observed old Jacob Crane, who had
overheard the conversation. "Just let us exchange a couple of
broadsides and you'd think no more about the matter than if you were
snowballing each other. I know the stuff you're made of too well to
doubt that."
"Thank you, Crane, for the compliment," said Chandos; "but do you think
we shall have a fight?"
"Sure on't," answered the old man; "just look out over the larboard bow
and you'll see three ships hove to, and some bright lights in the stern
of the biggest of them. She's a lumping frigate if she isn't something
larger, and though our signal has been hoisted some time she hasn't
answered it."
The midshipmen, whose eyes were not so well accustomed to pierce the
gloom of night as were old Jacob's, had at first some difficulty in
distinguishing the three ships, though they saw the bright lights he
pointed out. Gradually the frigate drew near, and the tall masts and
widespread canvas of the strangers appeared clearly enough against the
sky, like large phantoms stalking across the waters. Still the private
signal remained unanswered. There could be no longer any doubt that the
largest ship was an enemy, and that she had captured one or both of the
others. Notwithstanding her apparent superiority, Captain Shortland did
not hesitate about attacking her. Sail was shortened, and the frigate
stood on with topsails, jib, and spanker set, so as to be thoroughly
under command. It was no longer necessary to keep the ports closed.
The order to open them and to run out the guns was given, and at the
same time the crews of the guns were cautioned not to fire a shot till
they heard the word of command. The hearts of the coolest beat quicker
than usual when about midnight the _Falcon_ drew within a mile of the
enemy. The lights from the fighting lanterns of the latter, which
exhibited two rows of ports, with only a small space between them, gave
her a most formidable appearance. She evidently carried many more guns
than the English frigate.
"What's the odds, lads," cried old Jacob, when some of the men near him
remarked this. "It isn't the number of guns a ship carries will give
her the victory, it's the way they are fought, and we'll soon show the
mounseers how we can handle ours."
In a short time the enemy filled his sails, the two ships thus nearing
each other more rapidly; then suddenly he hove in stays when on the lee
bow of the _Falcon_, and his guns thundering forth, sent their shot
flying through her rigging, the only serious effect, however, of which
was to bring down her jib. The _Falcon_ crew stood ready, the captains
of the guns with lanyards in hand eager to fire in return, but no order
came. Captain Shortland knew that he could depend on the steadiness of
his crew, and was reserving their fire for a shorter and more effective
distance. Several more shots hurtled through the air around them.
"The weathermost of the smaller ships Is firing at us, sir," observed
the first lieutenant to the captain.
"Never mind that, we can settle with her by-and-by," was the answer.
Thus the _Falcon_ stood majestically on as if not a foe were near.
Though Ralph had never before seen a shot fired in anger, he stood at
his post close to the wheel as calm and collected as the oldest seaman.
The eager crew had not much time to wait, before, by a clever manoeuvre,
the frigate had been brought with her starboard broadside to bear
directly on the stern of the French ship at less than pistol-shot
distance. At the same moment the order to fire was passed along the
decks and rapidly obeyed. Every shot went crashing into the French
ship, raking her fore and aft, and probably killing the men at the
wheel; for before she had time to alter her position the _Falcon_ luffed
into the wind, just scraping clear of her spanker-boom, and shooting up
to leeward, let fly the whole of her other broadside with terrible
effect into her opponent. So rapidly had this manoeuvre of the English
frigate been performed, that several of the Frenchman's weather guns
went off after she had passed to leeward. The action was now carried on
broadside to broadside, the position in which British seamen most
delight.
"Aim low, my lads! aim low!" was the oft repeated order of the officers
in charge of the guns, as they moved along the decks; not that there was
much necessity for it, as the men had got a good mark before them, and
were pounding away at it as fast as they could load and run out their
guns. The Frenchmen were at the same time vigorously returning their
fire, but as if intent on crippling their foe and then taking her at a
disadvantage, they sent most of their shot flying through her rigging,
bringing blocks and spars and ropes in thick showers down on deck.
Though most of the enemy's shot flew high, others came whizzing between
the men's heads, crashing into the sides of the frigate, or knocking
away her bulwarks. Several of the crew had been wounded and carried
below, but as yet two only had been killed, their bodies being drawn
aside, when it was found that they were really dead, out of the way of
their shipmates at the guns. Hitherto Ralph had escaped unhurt, though
the head of one of the men at the wheel close to him had been taken off
by a round shot, and an officer near him had been struck to the deck.
By the lurid glare from the quick succeeding flashes and the light of
the lanterns, he caught a glimpse of Dick working away manfully at one
of the upper deck guns, he, like most of the crew, stripped to the
waist, with a handkerchief tied round his head. Now he was visible, now
he was concealed by the clouds of smoke which, circling round and then
rising in the air, formed a dark canopy over the combatants. Young
Chandos was not far off. Whatever might have been his sensations at
first, he was collected enough now to attend steadily to his duty, and
the work going on was a pretty severe trial to young nerves. The
midnight battle raged fiercer and fiercer. A shot came flying by.
Ralph felt that he was hit severely in the arm, and was compelled to
summon another man to the wheel; but binding up his wounded limb, he
stood as before at his post. Not many minutes afterwards a round shot
struck the bulwarks, sending splinters flying in every direction. At
the same moment Ralph, who had his eye on the captain, saw him stagger,
and springing forward, caught him with his unwounded arm just as he was
falling to the deck. Others gathered round. It was evident that he had
been most seriously wounded. In vain he endeavoured to speak, but
becoming senseless was carried below. Lieutenant Handsel at once took
the command, making his clear voice, as he issued his orders, heard amid
the wild din of battle. For an hour and a half the engagement had raged
on and yet was as furious as ever. The lieutenant of marines, a tall,
handsome young man, was cut almost in two by a round shot soon after the
captain had fallen, and several more men were hit. Aloft, however, the
damage was far more severe than on deck; the running rigging hung in
festoons, the standing rigging was cut to pieces, every sail was riddled
through and through, and the masts and yards were badly wounded in many
places. Judging by the crashing sound which came back from the French
ship after each broadside fired by the _Falcon_, and the white splinters
which flew from every part of her upper works, she was in a still worse
plight. Still her crew kept up a hot fire. The young midshipmen, and
even others, might possibly have begun to wish that the battle was over.
"Keep at it, my lads!" was the cry passed along the decks; "she'll soon
give in."
Broadsides had been exchanged: another proceeded from the _Falcon_; but
none came in return.
"Cease firing!" cried Lieutenant Handsel; and as soon as all was silent
he hailed the enemy and asked if she had struck. No reply was made.
Again the _Falcon_ opened fire; but as the Frenchmen did not return it,
she at once ceased, and a second time the lieutenant hailed, but no
answer was made.
"We must give them more of it!" he shouted.
At that instant, the smoke clearing away, it was seen that the rigging
of the French ship was swarming with men, who were endeavouring to loose
their topgallant sails, apparently with the intention of escaping. Some
of the crew of the _Falcon_ were ordered aloft to set theirs while the
rest let fly another thundering broadside. Before the Frenchmen had
time to descend, the mizenmast of their ship fell over the side, and
several must have been plunged into the water; not a minute afterwards
the main-mast, fore-mast, and bowsprit followed, and she lay a helpless
wreck on the ocean.
Loud cheers burst from the throats of the British crew, and hearty
shakes of the hand were exchanged among them. Before the question was
asked, a voice came from the French ship, crying out that she had
struck, and entreating that the English frigate would not again fire.
"No fear of that," was the answer; "what ship is she?"
"The French frigate _Concorde_," replied the officer who spoke. "Send a
boat, I pray, for we have none left."
Three boats which had escaped injury were instantly lowered, and Mr
Handsel, not aware that Ralph was wounded, ordered him to go in one of
them. When he reached the deck of the prize, such a scene of horror as
he had scarcely imagined met his sight. The boats, booms, the wheel,
capstern, binnacle, and indeed all the upper portions of the ship, were
cut to pieces; the bulwarks were destroyed and the starboard side almost
beaten in, while the decks, slippery with gore, were literally strewn
with the dead and badly wounded. The French captain, two lieutenants,
several junior officers, and fully sixty men were killed, and two other
lieutenants and eighty men were wounded. A young officer with his arm
in a sling, who by the death of his superior had succeeded to the
command, presented his sword in token of submission to the third
lieutenant of the _Falcon_. It was at once returned to him with a
compliment to his bravery and an expression of sympathy, and an
assistant-surgeon was sent for from the _Falcon_ to attend to the
sufferers. Ralph was the first person the young man spoke to on coming
on board.
"You are hurt, Michelmore," he said, in a friendly tone; "I must look to
you at once;" and by the light of a lantern he dressed Ralph's arm,
which greatly needed care. "I fear that our good captain is mortally
wounded; but he has not forgotten you, for as soon as he came to himself
he ordered his clerk to make out your appointment as a midshipman and
signed it, though he could scarcely hold a pen. You'll come in for your
share of prize-money as such, and be placed on the quarter-deck; so I'll
congratulate you, my lad. There, now you'll do; but I must get you sent
on board again, you're not fit for work here."
Ralph very unwillingly obeyed the order he received to return to the
_Falcon_. When he had reached her he would not even then go below; but
though he was unable to handle a rope, having reported himself to Mr
Handsel, he received directions to superintend a party of men in
refitting the rigging. There was work indeed for every one; for though
the _Falcon_ had suffered less than her antagonist, her masts and spars,
wounded in various places, required to be fished and the standing
rigging to be spliced, to enable her to make sail and go in chase of the
two other ships just before captured by the _Concorde_. Happily it fell
perfectly calm; and thus, while the prizes could not escape, time was
obtained for repairing damages. There was not a moment to be lost, for
every one knew that should a breeze spring up before the rigging had
been set to rights, the tottering masts would to a certainty go over the
side.