"He doesn't talk much, Mr Terence, but he looks as sulky as ever, and I
wouldn't trust him more than before," was the reply.
"He can harm no one, at all events," I observed; "and I don't think he
has much chance of making his escape, even if he still thinks of
attempting it."
"Faith, I don't fancy he could hide himself among the black fellows; and
no merchant skipper would like to have him aboard his craft," said
Larry.
Going aft, I met Tom Pim, for he and I were in the first watch. We were
pacing the deck together, when we were joined by one of our passengers,
Ensign Duffy.
"Can't sleep, my dear fellows," he said in a melancholy tone, which made
Tom and me laugh. "My thoughts are running on a charming little girl I
met at Kingston. I was making prodigious way with her when we were
ordered off to the out-of-the-way corner of the world to which you are
carrying us, and the chances are we shall not meet again."
"What's her name, Duffy?" I asked.
"Lucy Talboys," he answered promptly. "I don't mind telling you young
fellows, as you are not likely to prove rivals; but I say, if either of
you meet her I wish you'd put in a word about me. Say how miserable I
looked, and that you are sure I had left my heart at Kingston."
"I will gladly say anything you wish; but perhaps she will think you
left it with some other lady," I observed.
"Say I was always sighing and uttering `Lucy! Lucy!' in my sleep."
"I'll not say anything of the sort," exclaimed Tom. "I never heard you
utter her name till now, and I don't believe she cares the snuff of a
candle for you."
Just as we were about to go below, at eight bells, we made out Portland
Point broad on our starboard beam, so that we hoped, should the wind not
fail us before morning, to be well to the westward of it. We were just
turning into our hammocks, the other watch having been called, when we
heard the canvas flap loudly against the masts, and were summoned on
deck again to take in studding-sails. Still the land wind favoured us,
the sails once more bulged out, and before we went below we had brought
Portland Point on the quarter. When we went on deck again in the
morning the frigate lay nearly becalmed off Carlisle Bay, thence we had
a westerly course to Pedro Bluff. The sun, as it rose higher and higher
in the cloudless sky, beat down hot and strong upon our heads, while
officers and men, as they paced the deck, whistled perseveringly for a
breeze. At length a dark blue line was seen extending in the south-east
across the shining waters. It approached rapidly. Presently the canvas
blew out, and with tacks on board we stood along the coast. Our speed
increased with the rising breeze. We were not long in getting round
Pedro Bluff, when we stood directly for Savannah-le-Mer, then a pretty
flourishing little town at the south-west end of the island. Here we
were to land some of the redcoats, and were to take the rest round to
Montego Bay, at the north-west end of Jamaica. We came off it on the
following morning.
As the harbour is intricate, we hove-to outside, while the soldiers were
landed in the boats. I went in one, and Tom Pim in another, the second
lieutenant having the command of the whole. We had a long and a hot
pull, and Ensign Duffy, who was in my boat, declared that if it was
proportionately hot on shore to what it was on the water, he should
expect to be turned into baked meat before he had been there long.
Larry was pulling bow-oar, and very well he pulled by this time, for
though he was a perfect greenhorn when he came to sea, he had been
accustomed to row on the Shannon.
The frigate, I should have said, was to call on her way back for some of
the soldiers whom those we took out had come to relieve. Our approach
had been seen by the officers at the barracks, which were situated about
a mile from the town; and they came down to welcome their comrades in
arms. Leaping on shore, the rocks which formed the landing-place being
slippery, I fell, and came down on my knees with great force. I felt
that I was severely hurt, and on attempting to rise, found it impossible
to do so, even with the assistance of Larry, who sprang to my side,
uttering an exclamation of sorrow. On this, one of the officers, whom I
perceived by his dress to be a surgeon, came up to me, and at once
examined my hurt.
"It requires to be instantly attended to," he said, "or inflammation may
set in, and in this climate the consequences may be serious."
My friend Duffy proposed that I should be carried to the barracks,
though my lieutenant at first objected to letting me go, declaring that
he should not be long in getting back to the ship.
"Long enough to allow of the young gentleman losing his leg, or perhaps
his life," remarked the surgeon. "I'll have him at once taken to a
house in the town, and when your frigate comes back, I hope he'll be in
a condition to embark."
Hearing this, the lieutenant not only gave me leave to remain, but
allowed Larry to stay and attend on me. Tom Pim took my hand as Duffy
and some of his men were placing me upon a door, which had been procured
to carry me into the town.
"I wish that I was going to stay with you, Paddy," he said; "but it's of
no use to ask leave, though I'd give a great deal if I could. We shall
be very dull without you."
"Thank you, Tom," I answered. "If I had my will I'd rather go off. I
suppose the doctor is right; and it's safer to let him attend to me at
once."
I was carried immediately to a house which I found belonged to a Mr
Hans Ringer, an attorney, who had charge of several plantations in that
flourishing neighbourhood. The doctor and he, it was evident, were on
most intimate terms, for on our arrival, without any circumlocution, the
latter at once said--
"I have brought a young midshipman who requires to be looked after, and
I'd be obliged to you if you'd order your people to get a room ready for
him immediately."
I could scarcely have supposed that so serious an injury could have been
so easily inflicted. Soon after my arrival I nearly fainted with the
pain, but the doctor's treatment at length soothed it, and he was able
to set the injured bones.