There had been a stark calm since the commencement of the middle watch.
The sails still hung up and down against the masts.
"What does she look like?" inquired Mr Bramston, the lieutenant of the
watch.
"A ship, sir," was the answer.
Nettleship, with his glass at his back, sprang up the rigging to take a
look at the stranger.
"She's a ship, sir, but appears to me to be a small one," he observed as
he came down. The chances are that it's all we shall know about her.
If she gets a breeze before us she'll soon be out of sight.
Soon after, some catspaws began to play across the water.
"Hurrah! we shall get the breeze before the stranger feels it," cried
Nettleship.
Now the canvas began to bulge out; now it again dropped. The royals and
topgallant sails filled, and the frigate moved slowly through the water.
Her speed soon increased, however, as the breeze freshened. At length
we could see the stranger from the decks, for, as she still lay
becalmed, we were quickly coming up with her. Nettleship again went
aloft, and I followed him.
"What do you think of her?" I asked.
"She's Spanish or French; I'm pretty certain of that. A flush-decked
ship, probably carrying twenty to six-and-twenty guns."
"If she can't escape, will she fight, do you think?" I inquired.
"If her captain has any pluck in him, he may hope to knock away some of
our spars, though he can't expect to take us," he said.
When we again came below, and Nettleship made his report, the drum beat
to quarters. Every stitch of canvas we could carry had been set, below
and aloft. We were carrying down the breeze as we glided on towards the
stranger. She also made all sail, though she still lay becalmed; but
every moment we expected to see her canvas blow out, when, if she was a
fast vessel, she might lead us a long chase before we could come up to
her. As our object was to get down to Barbadoes with all speed, the
captain might consider it his duty to let her go, rather than be led out
of his course. As we approached, our bow-chasers were got ready, to
send her an unmistakeable message that she must strike, or run for it.
Hitherto she had shown no colours. Presently the French ensign was run
up at her peak. Immediately afterwards a flash issued from her stern,
and a shot came bounding over the water towards us; but we were not yet
within range.
"That's a long gun," observed Nettleship. "If she keeps ahead, she may
do us some damage with it before we get alongside of her."
"Give her the starboard bow gun, Mr Saunders," cried the captain.
The gun being trained as far forward as possible, we yawed slightly to
port. We watched the shot as it flew across the water. It was well
aimed, for it struck the counter of the chase; but its force must have
been nearly expended, for it fell back into the sea.
All the sails of the chase were now drawing, and away she went before
the wind.
"She may still lead us a long dance, unless we can knock away some of
her spars," observed Nettleship. "She's evidently a fast craft, or her
commander would not attempt to escape. We are, however, as yet gaining
on her; and, if we can once get her under our broadside, we shall soon
bring down her colours."
While he was speaking, another shot was fired from the Frenchman's
stern. Ricochetting over the surface, it passed close to our side.
After this she continued firing shot after shot. Two went through our
canvas, others missed us. At last one came on board, and carried off a
man's head.
Captain Macnamara, anxious to get up to her, would not lose way by again
yawing to fire; and we had to receive her shot without returning the
compliment.
"It's very annoying to be bothered by a small craft like that," said
Tom. "However, we'll pay her off when we do get up with her."
Fast as she was, our wider spread of canvas enabled us before long to
bring our foremost guns to bear. They were fired in rapid succession.
The first discharge produced no apparent damage; but at the second, down
came her mizen-yard. On seeing this, our crew cheered lustily, and our
guns were quickly run in and reloaded. The enemy, however, showed no
intention of striking.
Just as we were again about to fire, putting her helm to starboard, she
brought the whole of her larboard broadside to bear on us, and a dozen
round shot came crashing aboard the frigate.
Three of our men fell, and several others were wounded, mostly by the
splinters which flew about the deck. None of our spars, however, were
shot away.
Before she could again keep before the wind the whole of our starboard
broadside was poured into her. It was better aimed even than hers. The
sound of the shrieks and cries rising from her deck told us of its
fearful effects. Still her colours were flying.
Again keeping before the wind, she stood on, blazing away at us from two
long guns in her stern. The loss of her mizen told on her sailing.
Slowly but surely we got nearer and nearer.
"Shall we not soon be up with her?" I asked Nettleship; for it was
trying work to be peppered at without being able to return more than a
single shot occasionally.
"As surely as the sun sets and rises again, unless she knocks away one
of our masts, or brings down our main or fore-yard; and then it's
possible that she may get off after all."
"I made sure we should have her before many minutes were over," I
observed.
I remarked the eager countenances of the men as they stood at their
guns, expecting every moment the order to fire. It came at last. Once
more we kept away.
"Give it them now!" cried the captain, and every gun sent forth a sheet
of flame.
Our shot told with fearful effect on the enemy's deck. There seemed to
be confusion on board, and then a man was seen to spring aft, and down
came the colours.
A cheer rose from our men at the sight. We stood on, however, till we
were close enough to hail, when the captain ordered through the
speaking-trumpet the Frenchman to heave to, threatening to fire another
broadside if he failed to do so. The order was obeyed; and we also
having hove-to, a boat was lowered to send on board and take possession.
Mr Bramston went in her, and I accompanied him.
On reaching the deck of the prize, a glance showed me the fearful damage
our guns had produced. In all directions lay numbers of dead seamen,
the deck slippery with gore. The bulwarks were shattered, two of the
boats knocked to pieces, and the ship was otherwise severely damaged.
A lieutenant stepped up to us.
"My captain lies there," he said, and he pointed to a body concealed
beneath a flag; "another of my brother officers is killed, the rest are
wounded, and I alone am unhurt."
Mr Bramston complimented him on his bravery, and told him to prepare
for going on board the frigate.
Meantime other boats came alongside and removed the crew of the prize,
which proved to be the _Soleil_ carrying eighteen guns and six
carronades, with a crew of one hundred and eighty men, upwards of thirty
of whom were killed or wounded.
Mr Bramston sent me back with this information. The captain at once
decided to remove the prisoners, and send the prize to Port Royal.
As no time was to be lost, the boats were lowered, and the prisoners
soon brought on board.
The captain at once sent for Nettleship, Tom, and me.
"I intend to send you in charge of the prize, Mr Nettleship," he said,
"and these two youngsters can accompany you. Fifteen men are all I can
spare you, so you must make the most of them. All the prisoners will be
removed, with the exception of about a dozen, who may volunteer to
assist in working the ship, so that you'll easily look after them."
"Thank you, sir, for the confidence you place in me," said Nettleship,
who would gladly have accepted the command, even if he had had but half
a dozen men.
Tom and I promised to do our best, and hurried below to get our traps
ready.
I took care to apply for Larry, and to remind him to bring his riddle
with him, but I didn't hear what other men were selected to form the
prize crew. Ten of the Frenchmen only could be induced to promise their
assistance. Tom and I, without loss of time, accompanied Nettleship on
board. As soon as the dead were put overboard, the decks washed down,
and the damages the prize had received were repaired, the men who had
come from the frigate to assist us returned to her. She stood to the
southward, and we made sail for Port Royal. Among the first men on whom
my eyes fell was Dan Hoolan, looking as sulky and morose as ever, though
he was going about his work with more activity than he generally
displayed. As I caught sight of the rest of the crew, I found that
three more of the Irishmen pressed with him were among them.
"I hope that by this time they are content with their lot, and will do
their duty like men," I thought to myself; "still I would rather have
had any others."
"We are terribly short-handed, I must confess," said Nettleship, as he
and I were seated at dinner in the captain's cabin, while Tom Pim was
acting as officer of the watch. "I know I can trust you two fellows,
however, and we must make the most of the men we've got. There are many
of them about the worst on board; but if we have fine weather, they
won't have much to do, and we may hope not to catch a Tartar on the way.
We must take to our heels if we see a suspicious stranger, and the
_Soleil_ appears to have a fast pair, at all events, so we may hope to
escape. Though I would rather be in a condition to fight than have to
run away."
"The Frenchmen only promised to assist in navigating the ship. We
mustn't trust them to man the guns," I said.
"We'll see what our own men can do without them, then," said Nettleship
in a cheery tone.
We hurried over our dinner to let Tom come down and take his, while
Nettleship and I went on deck. The weather looked favourable, and
Nettleship was in high spirits at finding himself in command of a fine
ship. Should he take her to Port Royal in safety, he might reasonably
expect to obtain his long waited-for promotion. Although the majority
of the men sent with us were the least reliable of the crew, we had an
old quartermaster, Ben Nash, and three other seamen, who were first-rate
hands, and we took care to put two of them into each watch. Of course
there was plenty of work to do in getting the ship to rights. As soon
as the men knocked off we heard Larry's riddle going. Stepping forward,
I found that he had set all the Frenchmen dancing, and some of our own
men, too, who were enjoying themselves to their hearts' content. "Larry
will take good care to keep the people in good temper," I thought to
myself, as I turned aft.
When night came on, Nettleship thought it prudent to shorten sail, as is
the custom of careful merchant skippers, who can't perform that
operation in a hurry. We lost nothing by so doing, as for some hours it
was a stark calm. Tom and Ben Nash were in one watch, Nettleship and I
in another. Night passed quickly away. Towards morning we got a
breeze, and were once more standing on our course. We kept a bright
look-out, not, as we should have liked, to watch for a prize, but to run
away should a suspicious sail be sighted. We kept no colours flying,
for should a Frenchman see us, we might have a better chance of avoiding
an encounter. At daylight, as we had a fair breeze, all sail was again
set, and we stood gaily on our course.
"If this weather holds, we shall be safe at anchor in a couple of days
in Port Royal," said Nettleship.
"A sail ahead!" shouted the look-out, from aloft.
"We must continue on our course till we see what she is," said
Nettleship.
Tom Pim, who went aloft to have a look at her, on his return said that
she was a brig, standing to the westward, but too far off at the time to
judge of her size. She appeared to be almost becalmed, while we,
carrying the breeze along with us, rapidly neared her. At length we
could see her clearly from the deck.
"She has hoisted her colours," observed Nettleship. "Though from the
cut of her canvas she's English, as far as I can make out, her flag is
French."
We had not yet hoisted our colours; indeed, as we were standing, the
Frenchman could not have seen them even if we had.
"There's no doubt about the flag," observed Tom, who had taken the
glass; "that is French, though she's an English merchantman, if I ever
saw one. The people on board her recognise this ship as one of their
own cruisers, and take us for a friend."
"I believe you're right, Tom," said Nettleship, "and we'll not undeceive
them."
The stranger, having now got a breeze, hove-to, apparently wishing to
speak us. We had to luff up a little to reach her.
"Hoist the French ensign," said Nettleship to me; and I ran it up to the
peak.
As we got nearer it became necessary to shorten sail, that we might
lower a boat to send on board and take possession, should it be found
that the brig had been captured by the French. Whether or not it was
from the slow way in which we performed the operation, the suspicions of
the Frenchmen were aroused, and putting up their helm, they filled their
sails and ran off before the wind. We immediately let fall our courses,
and hauling down the French flag and hoisting the English, stood away in
chase.
"Give her a shot, Tom," said Nettleship. "We mustn't let her lead us
out of our course."
Tom and I hurried forward, and, training the gun ourselves, fired. The
chase took no notice of the first shot, but we quickly again loaded, and
managed to send a second plump on board her. To our satisfaction, she
immediately rounded to, when we were soon up to her, we also heaving to
to windward.
"You shall board her, Paddy," said Nettleship. "Take care to let the
Frenchmen understand that it was fortunate for them we didn't sink the
brig."
Larry, Hoolan, and four other men, formed my boat's crew, all of us of
course being armed to the teeth. We found only ten men on board, three
of whom were blacks, the rest French, under the command of a young
French midshipman. He at once handed me his sword, with a polite bow.
As I understood French,--I forget if I before said so,--I learnt from
him that the brig was, as we supposed, English; that she had been
captured a week before by a French corvette; and that he was on his way
to Saint Domingo. He looked a little downcast on losing his command,
but shrugged his shoulders, and observed that it was "_la fortune de la
guerre_." I requested him and five of his white crew to accompany me on
board my ship. He replied that he was ready, and begged that he might
be allowed to carry his traps with him.
"Certainly, monsieur," I replied; and he dived down below, as he said,
to pack them up. As he was much longer in the cabin than I considered
necessary, I grew impatient, and followed him. I found him talking to a
person in bed in one of the side-berths.
"I ought, monsieur, to have told you that I have a brother aspirant, who
is very ill; and I fear that it might cause his death were he to be
removed. Your captain would be conferring a great favour on us both,
were he to allow me to remain with him, as no one else is so well able
to nurse him as I am."
"I'll ask him," I said, looking at the sick youth, who certainly
appeared very ill. I regret, however, that I cannot delay longer, so
you must come with me.
"I'll obey you, monsieur," said the midshipman; and exchanging a few
more words with his sick companion, he followed me on deck.
Leaving Larry and two other men on board, I made three of the Frenchmen
take their places in the boat, and returned to the _Soleil_ with the
young Frenchman. I told Nettleship of the request he had made.
"I don't like to refuse him, as what he says is no doubt true," said
Nettleship; "but we must take care that he plays us no tricks."
"Then am I to tell him that he may return on board the brig?" I asked.
"Yes, you may take him with you, for I intend to send you in charge of
the prize, as I can't spare Tom; but Nash shall go with you,--you
couldn't have a better man;--and so with five hands, and the help of the
blacks you speak of, and a couple of the Frenchmen, you'll be able to
work the vessel, and by keeping in our wake you'll easily find your way
to Port Royal." I was highly pleased at the confidence Nettleship
placed in me, especially as Tom was not a bit jealous.
"Nettleship thinks that as I'm a little chap I shouldn't inspire the
same respect among the Frenchmen that you will," he said, as we shook
hands before I went down the side.
The brig was the _Good Luck_, bound from Barbadoes to Halifax when she
had been captured. The French midshipman, who was profuse in his
expressions of gratitude for being allowed to return to look after his
sick messmate, told me that his name was La Touche.
As soon as the boat which had brought me on board had gone back to the
_Soleil_ she made sail, and I followed in her wake. I at once mustered
my crew. The two Frenchmen said that they were perfectly ready to do as
their officer wished.
"I desire you, then, to obey monsieur, who is in command of this
vessel," said La Touche.
"Certainly we will obey him," answered the Frenchmen, making flourishing
bows.
The blacks, two of whom spoke English, said also that they were ready to
obey me.
On looking at the men, I saw that not only Dan Hoolan, but two of the
men who had been pressed with him, had also been sent; but then I had
Ben and Larry, on whom I could thoroughly rely; and the others, while we
kept close to the _Soleil_, would not venture to attempt any treachery.
In less than an hour the wind fell very light. I saw, notwithstanding
this, by the way in which the brig slipped through the water, that she
was remarkably fast for an English merchant vessel. This was
satisfactory, as I felt sure that during the night I was not likely to
fall behind the _Soleil_.
As the day drew on the wind fell altogether, and we lay becalmed at a
short distance from each other. I divided my crew into two watches. I
took one with Larry, two of our own crew, a Frenchman, and a black. Ben
had charge of the other, with the remainder. I did not think it prudent
to let La Touche take a watch, though he politely offered to do so. The
night was excessively hot, and I felt more inclined to remain on deck
than below. After La Touche and I had had supper, he said he would
remain in the cabin to look after his sick friend. One of the Frenchmen
acted as steward, and the other as cook. The former frequently came
into the cabin to bring us our meals, and to take food to the sick
midshipman.
I kept the first watch, and Ben relieved me at midnight, when I lay down
on deck, on a mattress I had brought up from the cabin, under a small
awning rigged near the after-part of the vessel. I had been asleep for
a couple of hours or more, when I was awakened by feeling the vessel
heel suddenly over.
"All hands on deck! Shorten sail!" shouted Ben in a lusty voice.
I sprang to my feet. There was not a moment to lose. La Touche, who
had been awakened at the same time, rushed up on deck, followed by
another person, who appeared to be as active as any one. As rapidly as
we could, we let fly the topgallant sheets, lowered the peak, and
brailed up the foresail, while the helm was put up. The brig righted,
fortunately not carrying away the masts, and off we flew before the
wind. The Frenchmen and blacks behaved remarkably well, and ran aloft
to reef the topsails, and stow the lighter sails, which were flapping
loudly as they blew out with the wind.
The sky had become overcast; the scud flew rapidly along, just above our
heads, as it seemed, while the spoon-drift, blown off from rising seas,
covered the ocean with a sheet of white.
When all immediate danger was over, the stranger who had so mysteriously
shown himself slipped down the companion ladder, and I was too busy to
ask La Touche who he was. I naturally concluded that he was the sick
midshipman La Touche had been so tenderly nursing.
As soon as we had got the brig to rights, I looked out for the _Soleil_
but could nowhere distinguish her. Had she borne up? or having
shortened sail in time, was she still keeping her course? I hoped that
the latter was the case, and resolved to attempt hauling to the wind,
and steering for Port Royal. I told Ben of my intention, as he, I
considered, was the best seaman among my crew.
"It will be as much as we can do, sir, if we could do it at all," he
answered. "The brig is not particularly stiff, or she would not have
heeled over as sharply as she did just now."
"The French officer knows better than we can what sail the brig will
bear. I might ask his opinion," I remarked.
"Beg pardon, sir, but I would not ask him if I were you," said Ben.
"He'll of course say, `Keep before the wind; but he won't say that if we
do we shall chance to run right into the midst of a Spanish or French
fleet, or up to one of their cruisers, if so be this is only a passing
gale."
"I fear that it is not merely a passing gale; but still, if we can keep
the brig on a wind, we'll try and do it," I said.
I gave the order to man the braces, waiting for an opportunity to put
the helm down and bring the brig up to the wind. Scarcely was the order
given, however, than a blast more furious than before struck the brig,
and which, had I not delayed carrying out my intention, would either
have hove her on her beam-ends or carried away the masts. On we flew
before the wind, which was every moment increasing; while the seas rose
higher and higher, and came roaring up around us. Even now we had more
sail set than we could safely carry, and I at once ordered the hands
aloft to furl the main-topsail, and to closely reef the fore-topsail.
Yet even when this was done, the brig flew on at a tremendous pace.
"To my mind, we've got old Harry Cane on board, sir," said Ben; "and the
sooner we get our fore-topsail stowed the better, to save it from being
blown out of the bolt ropes, and the less likely we shall be to lose the
masts. If the foremast goes, the mainmast will be pretty sure to
follow."
"You're right, Ben," I answered, and I gave the order to furl the
fore-topsail.
Ben and Larry led the way aloft, and most of our own men followed; but
the two Frenchmen didn't seem to like the look of things, and remained
on deck. I ordered them up, but they stood holding on to the bulwarks
without moving, and I had no power to compel them. My own men, however,
were able to perform the operation without their aid, and at length,
having stowed the sail, they came down on deck.
Even now the brig dashed on at a furious rate, while the sea, roaring up
astern, threatened constantly to poop her. Fortunately, we had plenty
of sea-room, and unless the wind should suddenly shift round to the
opposite quarter, as I knew it might do, I hoped that we should keep
afloat till the hurricane had abated.
Consulting with Ben, I did everything he advised to secure the masts and
spars.
When La Touche saw how we were employed, he went to the Frenchmen and
blacks, and induced them to assist; indeed, without their help we could
scarcely have done what was necessary.
As soon as we had finished all that was required, I went into the cabin,
and asked La Touche to find me a chart, and calculating where we had
been when the hurricane first struck us, I marked down as well as I
could the course we had since run, that I might better be able to find
my way back to Port Royal. I was not a very experienced navigator,
still, having the exercise of my wits, I hoped to succeed, and I felt
not a little proud at the thought that I must trust to my own resources.
I could not expect assistance from La Touche, and no one else on board,
except the sick midshipman knew anything about navigation.
Expecting to follow close in the wake of the _Soleil_ I had not brought
a quadrant with me, but I found one in the cabin, as well as a French
nautical almanack; and I hoped, when the hurricane was over and the sky
had cleared, to be able to use them.
La Touche had hitherto occupied the state-room, but supposing that I
should turn him out, he had removed his things to a berth on the
opposite side, close to that of his messmate.
Having placed the chart and quadrant with the almanack in what was now
my cabin, I locked the door, and returned on deck.
The hurricane showed no signs of abating; but the brig, which was
fortunately not fully laden, behaved beautifully, and literally bounded
over the waves as she ran before the wind. The crew continued on deck,
holding fast on to the stanchions, belaying-pins, and the rigging, to
save themselves from being washed away; for every now and then a sea
tumbled on board, and swept along the deck, sometimes over one quarter,
sometimes over another, and frequently over the bows; but the hatches
had been battened down, and no water got below.
"We shall do well, I hope, and carry the brig safely into Port Royal," I
observed to La Touche.