DEFIANT LOOKS--THE SPIRIT OF ILL-WILL INCREASES--SOME "VERY KIND
INTENTIONS"--DICK'S PERSECUTORS--IN THE MIDSHIPMEN'S MESS--PADDY LOGAN
AND TOADY VOULES--THE LAST LOOK AT OLD ENGLAND--THE FIRST ENCOUNTER--MR
BITTS TO THE RESCUE--IDEAS OF REVENGE--A SAIL ON THE LEE BOW--PREPARING
FOR ACTION--A FIERCE BATTLE--THE WOLF VICTORIOUS--BRAVERY OF DICK--HARD
WORK TO KEEP THE PRIZE AFLOAT--BOUND FOR PLYMOUTH WITH THE PRIZE.
The frigate's sails were loose, the crew at the capstan tramped round to
the merry sound of the fife, the boatswain's pipe was heard shrilly
repeating the orders he received; the sails were sheeted home, the
anchor came to the bows, was catted and fished, and the _Wolf_, with
canvas widespread to the breeze, glided majestically through the waters
of the Solent. Dick wisely kept as much as possible out of the way of
Lord Reginald. When they occasionally came in sight of each other, he
did not fail to remark the angry look the young lord cast at him, while
he himself could not help glancing at the other's arm, still in a sling.
"That young ruffian's insolence is unbearable!" exclaimed Lord Reginald,
on one occasion, turning away and addressing Voules, whom he happened to
meet. "I wish that he had been caught on shore, when he would have been
sent off to prison, and we should not have been troubled with him here.
I was half inclined to denounce him as a fugitive from justice when I
first saw him on board; but as we wanted hands, I thought that the
captain would not thank me."
"We'll pay him off somehow or other," answered Voules. "I'll find the
means to do it, and he'll wish he had been sent to prison before he
stepped on the _Wolf's_ decks."
"I say, Oswald, what's happened to your arm?" asked Charles Ludlam, the
senior mate of the berth, in which most of the members of their mess
happened to be collected.
"A blow I received on it," answered Lord Reginald, not being willing to
explain matters.
"He got it while attempting in a very gallant way to seize a fellow who
was suspected of being a smuggler," observed Voules, coming to his
friend's rescue. "You may depend upon it that Oswald would have caught
him if it had not been for that."
"Faith! What business had he to be trying to seize a smuggler?" asked
Paddy Logan, who was no admirer of Lord Reginald, and still less of
Voules.
The latter was somewhat puzzled how to reply. "In support of the law
which you Irish fellows delight in breaking," he at length answered.
"Do you dare to cast reflections on the honour of Irishmen?" exclaimed
Logan, firing up. "Naval officers are not expected to be excisemen. Of
course the fellow had every right to defend himself."
"I cast no reflections on the honour of Irishmen, but you yourself show
your readiness to take the part of a lawless character," answered
Voules. "Besides, the young scoundrel had previously grossly insulted
Oswald and me."
"Then he was influenced by private motives rather than public spirit,"
observed Ludlam, who was fond of speaking the truth, even though it
might be unpalatable to his hearers. "Still, Oswald, I am sorry you are
hurt, and hope that you will be wiser in future."
"I shall always be found ready to defend my own rights whether against
my equals or plebeians," answered Lord Reginald, haughtily. "I consider
that I acted properly, and do not require to be pitied by you or any
other person, merely because I happen to get an inconvenient blow on the
arm."
"Mayn't any one else pity you?" asked Tommy Shackel, the smallest
midshipman on board, who was apt to take a malicious pleasure in seeing
his seniors have a scrimmage among each other.
"Hold your tongue, Master Jackanapes!" exclaimed Voules; "Oswald knows
best what he likes and dislikes."
"I only asked a question," said Tommy, in his squeaky voice; "and I put
it to Oswald, and not to you."
"How dare you speak to me in that fashion?" exclaimed Voules, about to
give the small midshipman a box on the ear.
"You'd better let him alone!" cried Paddy Logan, jumping up. "I appeal
to Ludlam, who allows no bullying in the berth. Because you have had
the honour of staying at Elverston Hall, you fancy you can exhibit your
airs to us, but you are mistaken, my boy, as much as Oswald was when he
first joined."
Voules retorted, and Paddy and he would soon have come to blows, had not
Ludlam interfered, and by the exercise of the authority he maintained in
the berth, restored order.
This scene took place on the first evening that the members of the berth
all met together.
The frigate was now standing down between the mainland and the wooded
shores of the Isle of Wight. Calshot Castle--then held as a fortress,
with a governor and a garrison--was seen on the right. On the left hand
was the little town of Cowes, surrounded by woods, among which, here and
there, a few cottages peeped out. Then Lymington became visible on the
Hampshire shore, and, beyond it, the long shingly beach of Hurst. Many
eyes on board were turned in that direction. Lord Reginald and Voules,
using their spy-glasses, thought that they could catch a distant view of
the hall, while forward, Dick Hargrave, Ben, and several other men were
turning their gaze on well-known spots. Dick felt more sad than he had
done since he came on board. He was thinking how anxious his father,
mother, and poor Janet would be about him; even should Mrs Simmons have
conveyed his message to them, they would only know that he had been
carried off in the tender, and would remain ignorant of the ship on
board which he had been sent. He had not written, for he possessed
neither pens, ink, nor paper, and would have found it a difficult matter
to indite an epistle with the uproar going on around him. Poor Dick
gazed on until the tears came to his eyes. Though it was greatly owing
to his own fault that he was being carried away from home and those he
loved, he was not the less to be commiserated. While he thus stood,
scarcely conscious of what was going on around him, Lord Reginald, who
had been sent forward with a message to the third lieutenant on some
duty, passed him.
"What makes you stand idling there, boy?" exclaimed the midshipman,
looking at him as if he had never seen him before, giving him a blow
with the end of a rope. "You have no business on deck; go and attend to
your duty below."
Dick's first impulse was to raise his arm to defend himself. It was
with difficulty he could refrain from retaliating.
"I have no duty that I know of to attend to, and I have a right to look
towards yonder shore, which neither you nor I may see for some time to
come," he answered. "What! You are a sea lawyer, are you?" exclaimed
Lord Reginald, angrily, Dick's words adding intensity to the vindictive
feelings he already entertained towards him.
"I'll report you to the first lieutenant, and he'll soon find means to
make you mend your manners."
Dick was going to reply, when he saw Voules coming along the deck, and
he had the discretion to hold his tongue, knowing that the worst
interpretation would be put on whatever he said. This was the
commencement of hostilities on board the frigate between the young lord
and the farmer's son. Scarcely a day passed that they did not come in
contact with each other, when Lord Reginald never lost an opportunity of
abusing the ship's boy, or striking him, if he had the least excuse,
with a rope's end. Dick bore the ill treatment manfully, and
endeavoured to the best of his power to do his duty. Though treated
kindly by the boatswain, with the ordinary feelings of a yeoman's son he
would not willingly have rendered menial service to any one, but as it
was his duty he did not complain, and did his utmost to please his
master. Mr Bitts had, by some means or other, discovered how Lord
Reginald behaved to Dick, but had not actually seen him struck. The
boatswain was not a man to allow any one to interfere with his
prerogatives. He at length, however, saw the young lord, who did not
observe him, strike Dick across the shoulders with a rope's end, and
order him off to perform some duty or other.
Mr Bitts immediately came forward and confronted the midshipman, with
an angry glare in his keen eyes, for although Mr Bitts was not a man of
many inches, he was a determined person, with huge whiskers, a firm
mouth, large forehead, and broad shoulders. "Are you aware, Lord
Reginald Oswald, that you are infringing the rules of the service? That
boy belongs to me, and I'll let you know that neither your lordship nor
any one else shall dare to ill-treat him."
Lord Reginald looked somewhat astonished at this unexpected address. He
was too proud to apologise, as he might have done and so settled the
matter. "The fellow was idling," he answered, haughtily, "and I am not
expected to know what boys you consider belonging to yourself. If I
find him or any one else neglecting his duty I shall see that he attends
to it."
"I shall report you, Lord Reginald Oswald, if I find you interfering
again with that boy, or any other over whom you have no authority,"
retorted the boatswain.
"You may stand well in the opinion of the captain and some of the
officers, but others, let me tell you, hold you at a much cheaper rate."
"This insolence is unbearable!" muttered Lord Reginald; but he
recollected that, although he was the son of a marquis, the boatswain
was his superior officer in the service, and that he should be guilty of
insubordination should he continue the dispute. He walked away,
therefore, with feelings more embittered than ever against Dick
Hargrave. Soon afterwards, meeting Voules, he told him what had
occurred.
"I don't know what will become of the discipline of the ship, if the
warrant officers venture to interfere in the way old Bitts has done,"
observed Voules. "We must pay him off some day; but as to that fellow
Hargrave, he is beneath your notice. I wish that we could have got him
as our mess boy; we would soon have tamed his spirit. However, I won't
let slip any opportunity of punishing him as he deserves."
Voules was as good as his word, every time the opportunity occurred,
though he took very good care that Mr Bitts should not see him
ill-treating Dick. He told Lord Reginald what he had done, apparently
taking a pleasure in nourishing the resentment the young lord felt
against the farmer's son. It was but natural that Dick himself should
feel ill-will towards his persecutors. He did not complain to Mr
Bitts, of whom he stood not a little in awe, but he frequently did so to
Ben Rudall, who ground his teeth and clenched his fists as he listened.
"We'll pay the chaps off one of these days," he muttered. "You've heard
tell, Dick, of the mutiny at the Nore, when the men rose and took the
whole fleet from their officers, and would not give in until the
Admiralty granted their terms. To be sure, a few of them were run up to
the yardarm, but the men won't stand bullying now any more than they did
in those days. If officers don't know how to behave themselves they
must be taught. I wouldn't advise you to give the young lord tit for
tat, or turn round when he next hits you, and use the rope's end on his
back, but I should be wonderfully inclined to try it on, and let them
hang me afterwards if they like."
Dick listened eagerly to what Ben said--the advice was too much in
accordance with his own feelings.
Voules had spoken of him to the first lieutenant and to some other
officers, and described him as a young ruffian who had been leagued with
smugglers, and was now the associate of men of the worst character on
board.
Dick was accordingly strictly, if not harshly treated, and though he had
at first been well-disposed to do his duty, he became every day more and
more discontented, and ready to retort upon those whom he looked upon as
tyrants.
The frigate had been ordered to cruise in the Channel off the French
coast, and a sharp look-out was kept night and day for an enemy.
"We shall soon see how these young gentlemen behave if we get alongside
of mounseer. They can hold their heads high enough now, but when the
Frenchman's shot come whizzing about their ears, they'll duck them fast
enough," said Ben.
"Is there a chance, then, of our having a battle?" inquired Dick. "I
should like to be in one, just to see how things are managed."
"If Captain Moubray is the sort of man I have heard him described, he'll
do his best to look out for an enemy," replied Ben.
Still, day after day passed by and no suspicious sail was met with. At
length, one evening, soon after dark, the _Wolf_ was standing in towards
the French coast. Having passed the Island of Groix, she continued on
until several shots were fired at her from a fort, which, however, did
no damage. She put about, and a short time afterwards, the wind being
East-North-East, the look-out aloft shouted--
"A sail on the lee bow!"
The stranger was now seen to be running west by south. The _Wolf_
immediately made all sail, and as she got nearer, two muskets were fired
towards the chase, which appeared to be a large ship, to bring her to.
Instead of so doing, however, the Frenchman, for such she undoubtedly
was, set all the sail she could carry, endeavouring to escape. This
seemed strange, for as far as could be judged, she was a larger ship
than the _Wolf_.
"Will she get away?" asked Dick, who was standing near Ben Rudall at one
of the bow-ports on the maindeck, through which they could dimly see the
chase rising like some phantom giant stalking over the deep.
"Not if we continue to overhaul her as we are now doing," answered Ben.
"Will she fight?" inquired Dick.
"Ay, and fight hard, too, just as a rat does when caught in a corner.
It's a way those Frenchmen have, though why she runs now is more than I
can tell. Maybe some of us will be losing the number of our mess. I
should not care if I was among them myself. It's a dog's life I lead on
board here; but I am thinking of poor Susan. If I am hit, it will be
hard lines with her; she and the young ones will have to bear up for the
work'us, for there's no one will care for the smuggler's wife, as they
call her."
"But I hope you won't be killed, Ben," said Dick; "there's no reason why
you should be more than any one else."
"Well, well, I'm not afraid," answered Ben; "the enemy's shot are in no
ways particular, and I should not be so very sorry if one of them was to
take off the head of that Lord Reginald or Toady Voules, as his
messmates call him."
"I could not bring myself to wish either one of them such a fate as
that," observed Dick, who had not altogether forgotten his mother's
instructions and Christian principles.
"I have no reason to love either the young lord or his toady, and I
should not weep my eyes out if they were to be killed--they'd only get
their deserts; and for my own part, I would like to see them both
knocked over by the same round shot," growled Ben, between his teeth.
The frigate was now approaching the chase. The drum beat to quarters,
and the crew hurried up from below, most of them stripped to the waist
with handkerchiefs round their heads and loins. The glare of the
fighting lanterns, hung up on the beams along the deck, cast a glow on
their muscular figures, the breaches of the guns and other salient
points, while all the rest were cast in the deepest gloom.
Ben went to his gun, and Dick was ordered below to the magazine to bring
up ammunition. Though much bigger than any of the other lads so
employed, as he had been only a short time at sea, he had to perform the
humble duty of a powder monkey. He would far rather have been engaged
in working one of the guns.
The _Wolf_ was carrying all the canvas which could be packed on her,
studding-sails on either side and royals aloft. The chase also, under
all sail, was still doing her utmost to keep ahead, but the _Wolf_,
being the fastest ship of the two, gained rapidly on her. The men stood
at their guns, waiting eagerly for the moment that the order to fire
should be given, laughing, however, and cracking their usual jokes. The
officers went their rounds, to see that all necessary preparations had
been made.
Dick was seated on his ammunition tub on the maindeck, when Lord
Reginald and Voules, who had each a certain number of guns to look
after, passed him.
"I say, Oswald, that young smuggler looks pale enough now," observed
Voules, in a voice sufficiently loud for Dick to hear him. "We must
keep a sharp look-out on him, or he'll be running below to stow himself
away in the hold."
"Trust me for that! those ruffians ashore are the greatest cowards
afloat," answered the young lord, as he passed on.
Dick heard him. "I'll show him that I am no coward," he said to
himself.
Ben also, who was stationed at one of the guns it was Dick's duty to
serve, heard the remark. "`Cowards!' does he call us?" he muttered.
"He and Mr Toady will be the first to show the white feather, I've a
notion."
Shortly afterwards the sounds of two guns were heard. One shot,
glancing along the _Wolf's_ bow, sent the splinters flying off it, while
the other was seen to ricochet over the smooth water. The enemy had
fired her stern chasers. The _Wolf_, without yawing, could not reply.
She stood on, therefore, eager to come up with the chase. The latter
was seen directly afterwards taking in her studdingsails and royals.
The British crew cheered as they saw this. There was no longer any
doubt that the enemy was ready to fight. The order was now given to
take in all the studdingsails. The royals were next handed; the crew,
who had left their quarters for the purpose, immediately hurrying back
to their guns. Both frigates were still rapidly running through the
water. Suddenly the chase put down her helm and luffed up on the
starboard tack, intending to rake the _Wolf_, which was now coming up on
her weather quarter.
"Hard a-starboard!" shouted Captain Moubray, and the _Wolf_ was brought
up on the opposite tack, thus avoiding the raking fire, and receiving
the enemy's shot on the starboard side. "Well done!" cried the captain.
"Now hard a-port!"
The ship once more came up to the wind, and just clearing the French
frigate's starboard quarter, shot up right abreast of her to windward.
Both thus in near proximity, poured their broadsides into each other,
and the battle became hot and furious. The British crew ran their guns
in and out, the frigate's shot dealing death and destruction along the
decks of her antagonist. It was just the position English sailors like
the best. Dick saw several of his shipmates knocked over, and one poor
boy, with whom he had just been talking, fell close to his side. He
knelt down to help him, but not a movement was perceptible. He took his
hand; it fell on the deck. The boy was dead.
Dick's tub was soon exhausted of its contents, and he hurried below to
the magazine to get it refilled. He lost not a moment, but was again at
his station.
"They shan't say I'm skulking," he muttered. "I wonder what Lord
Reginald is doing."
Dick might have seen the young lord, in spite of the shot crashing on
board and sending the splinters flying about in all directions, killing
or wounding several near him--the colour in his cheeks somewhat
heightened, perhaps--attending to his duty and cheering on his men, and
when the captain of a gun was killed, taking his place and laying hold
of the tackles to haul it in for reloading.
For some time the two frigates ran off before the wind; as tacks and
sheets and yards were shot away, gradually decreasing their speed. In
consequence of the injuries the French frigate had received, the _Wolf_
shot slightly ahead, when the former attempted to cross her stern, for
the purpose of raking her, or gaining the wind, but not having room for
this manoeuvre, she ran her jib-boom between the British ship's main and
mizzen rigging.
The third lieutenant, calling several of the men, attempted to lash it
there, while the _Wolf_ poured in a fire which swept across the
Frenchman's bows, but half those engaged in the effort, while hanging in
the rigging, were shot, and the lieutenant himself fell badly wounded to
the deck. Immediately afterwards the ships separated and stood on as
before, exchanging furious broadsides. Dick saw Ben still working away
at his grin, as eager as the rest of the crew, having evidently
forgotten all about his gloomy anticipations of losing the number of his
mess.
For upwards of two hours the ships had been engaged, and no perceptible
advantage had been gained by either. At length the _Wolf_ again forged
ahead. Captain Moubray did not neglect the much-wished-for opportunity,
but ordered the helm to be put hard a-starboard, and, while thus passing
across the hawse of the French frigate, poured in a broadside which
swept her decks fore and aft, killing and wounding many of her crew, and
inflicting serious damage on her masts and rigging. Again the _Wolf's_
helm was put hard a-port, which brought the enemy a little before her
starboard beam, when again the ships ran on with the wind about a point
on the starboard quarter. Still it remained doubtful which would gain
the victory. The British officers and crew had, however, made up their
minds not to give in while a stick was standing; but the most
indomitable bravery cannot always overcome the chances of war.
While Captain Moubray, with the master by his side, was eagerly watching
every movement of his antagonist, to take advantage of what might occur,
a shot from her struck the mizzenmast, already severely wounded. With a
fearful crash down it came on deck, inboard, killing one of the men at
the wheel, which it much damaged, and severely injuring many others,
while it encumbered the whole quarterdeck with its rigging, spars, and
sails. They could hear the crew of the French ship cheer as they saw
what had happened.
"You may `hulloo' as long as you like, mounseers, but we'll be giving
you as good before long," cried Ben; several of his shipmates echoing
his words.
They were right, for scarcely had the Frenchmen's cheers ceased, than
down also fell their mizzenmast with a tremendous crash, evidently doing
much damage. Almost immediately afterwards the mainmast followed,
though the foremast still stood, enabling her to continue the action.
The boatswain and his crew hurried to clear the wreck, while the
carpenter endeavoured to repair the damaged wheel. The two ships again
lay abreast of each other, though at a greater distance than before.
The _Wolf_, however, did not, in consequence of the accident, slacken
her fire, and she and her opponent were gradually sheering closer
together, when the latter was seen to put her helm hard a-starboard, so
as to lay the _Wolf_ on board. The order was now received from the
captain to load the maindeck guns with double shot and the carronades
with grape.
"She will strike us on the bow," observed Captain Moubray to the master,
"and as she is sure afterwards to rebound, the quarters of the two ships
will be brought together. She intends to board us. Boarders, be
prepared to repel boarders!" he shouted. At the same time the word was
passed along the decks, not again to fire until the order was received
from the captain.
The two ships drew closer and closer together, until the bows met with a
loud crash, and although the Frenchmen at the same time let fly a
broadside, the English gunners, obedient to their orders, refrained from
firing in return. As was expected, the bows rebounded from each other;
the quarters of the two ships almost immediately came together. The
quarter of the French ship was seen crowded with men, ready to spring on
board the _Wolf_.
"Now, my lads, give it them!" cried Captain Moubray, and his word was
passed along the decks.
The big guns sent their balls, and the carronades their showers of
grape, into the very midst of the Frenchmen. Fearful must have been the
effect among the crowded masses, and cries and groans resounded through
the night air.
Four guns only replied to the last broadside, showing the havoc and
confusion it had caused. At the same moment flames burst forth from the
Frenchman's deck. The English worked their guns with redoubled vigour.
Scarcely had the fire disappeared from one part of the French ship, than
it broke forth in another. Her shrouds and running rigging had been cut
away, and her remaining mast was tottering. Still the Frenchmen fought
on, though they could scarcely, it seemed, have hoped for victory.
Once more the ships separated, still continuing to exchange broadsides,
though many of the Frenchman's guns had been silenced. Still, from the
number of men seen on her decks, they might hope to gain the victory by
boarding. To guard against such a contingency was now Captain Moubray's
chief care. Again the bows of the two ships met, when the outer arm of
the _Wolf's_ best bower anchor, entering the foremost main-deck port of
the French frigate, held her fast.
Though the English continued to pour broadside after broadside into
their enemy, no signal of surrender was shown. Every moment it seemed
as if the foremast of the latter, already tottering, would go by the
board, and probably fall on the deck of the _Wolf_.
"We must put an end to this!" cried Captain Moubray. "Boarders, follow
me!"
He sprang forward, several of his officers and those to whom he had
given the word, pressing round him, all eager to be the first on the
enemy's deck. Among them was Lord Reginald, who, regardless of danger,
burned to distinguish himself. The gallant boatswain led another party,
hastily collected on the main-deck. Richard Hargrave, on hearing the
boatswain's summons, and finding that ammunition was no longer required
on his side, left his station and joined them. Two stout planks had
been thrust through the Frenchman's second bow port. By this means the
boatswain's party forced their way, for the gun which filled the port,
having been dismounted, allowed them ingress.
With cheers and shouts the British seamen, led by the captain, leaping
down on the Frenchman's deck, with pistols flashing and cutlasses hewing
and hacking, quickly drove their enemies aft. As they reached the main
hatchway, many of the latter, unable to resist the impetus of the
onslaught, sprang down below, where they were met by the boatswain's
party, who, sweeping along the fore part of the deck, quickly cleared
it. Still a determined band resisted. A marine was on the point of
running his bayonet into the breast of Lord Reginald, when the captain
cut down the man. In vain the Frenchmen attempted to resist. Foot by
foot they were driven back, until the cry rose from an officer on the
quarter-deck of "We surrender." At the same time he lifted a lantern
above his head, as a signal which all might understand.
"Lay down your arms, then!" cried Captain Moubray, "and no more blows
shall be struck."
The boatswain, with Richard Hargrave and others, were still using their
cutlasses with deadly effect, the shouts and cries of the Frenchmen, as
they endeavoured to withstand them, preventing all other sounds from
being heard.
Before advancing towards the French commanding officer, to receive his
sword, Captain Moubray sent Lord Reginald and a party of men below to
stop the slaughter. He sprang down in time to see Dick Hargrave and two
other men engaged in a fierce combat with three Frenchmen, who, ignorant
of what had taken place above, were still holding out.
"You mutinous rascals!" exclaimed Lord Reginald to Dick and his
companions; "didn't you hear the captain's orders to desist from
fighting? The frigate has struck, and is our prize."
Then shouting to the Frenchmen in their own language, he told them what
had occurred, when immediately dropping the points of their weapons,
they sprang back, to be out of reach of the British seamen's cutlasses.
"I am not a mutinous rascal," exclaimed Dick, turning to Lord Reginald;
"I didn't know that the Frenchmen had given in."
"How dare you speak to me in that way?" exclaimed the young lord, even
at that moment not forgetting his enmity towards Dick. "Look out for
the consequences!"
He then shouted to Mr Bitts, and in another minute the fighting, which
had gone on for so many hours, altogether ceased. Both decks presented
a terrible spectacle. In all directions lay the bodies of dead and
dying men. Many had already passed away, others were writhing in agony,
while the surgeon's attendants, regardless of what was going on around,
were employed in carrying below those to whom assistance might be of
use. One lieutenant alone stood on the quarter-deck. Captain Moubray,
advancing among the bodies of his late foes, inquired for the French
captain. The lieutenant pointed to a form which lay near the wheel,
covered with a flag.
"The captain of the _Thesbe_--the ship I yield to you--lies there," he
answered, presenting the hilt of his sword. "There lies the first
lieutenant, and there the second, and I, the third, am in command."
"I return your sword to as brave a man as I can ever hope to meet. You
have fought your ship with the greatest gallantry. Englishmen cannot
desire to encounter more noble foes," said Captain Moubray, returning
the sword, which the lieutenant, taking, sheathed with a deep sigh.
Indeed, out of a crew of between four and five hundred men, upwards of a
hundred had been killed, and nearly the same number wounded, while the
frigate's hull was fearfully shattered, her bulwarks were torn away--she
was a mere wreck.
Captain Moubray, returning to his ship, sent a prize crew on board under
the command of Mr Jager, the second lieutenant, who had with him Lord
Reginald, Voules, and Paddy Logan, and forty men, Richard Hargrave being
among the number.
It was no easy matter to clear the ships, so firmly had the _Wolf's_
anchor hooked on through the _Thesbe's_ port. It was at last, however,
freed. Scarcely had the two ships separated, than down came the
_Thesbe's_ foremast, narrowly escaping falling across the bows of the
_Wolf_.
In an action lasting the best part of six hours, the _Wolf_ herself had
suffered severe damage. The third lieutenant, the second lieutenant of
marines, a midshipman, and ten seamen were killed, and nearly fifty
officers and men wounded.
She had lost her mizzenmast, and her other masts and several of her
yards were injured. Her sails and rigging were cut to pieces. So
numerous were the shot-holes in her hull, that the carpenter and his
mates were unable to stop them until she had three and a half feet of
water in her hold. A portion of her diminished crew was sent to the
pumps, while every officer, man and boy, was employed in fishing the
masts and spars, knotting and splicing the rigging, and shifting the
sails. The two ships lay close together, drifting with the tide. The
prize was won, but it was a question whether she would be kept. They
were close in with the French coast; and should any other of the enemy's
ships be in the neighbourhood, it was certain that they would be sent to
look after the combatants. Mr Jager and his prize crew had work enough
to do to keep the _Thesbe_ afloat, to heave the dead overboard, to
attend to the wounded. The surgeons laboured away all night in
amputating arms and legs, and binding up the limbs of those most
injured. Not only was the cockpit crowded, but every cabin was full of
wounded men. The greater part of the prisoners were of course removed
on board the _Wolf_, but a few were retained to assist in working the
pumps and attending to the wounded.
While the carpenters were engaged in stopping the shot-holes--through
which the water was rushing with a rapidity sufficient in a short time
to carry the prize to the bottom--it was impossible to attempt repairing
other damages.
When morning broke, a shattered, blood-stained hull lay floating, with
her victor watching near her. An anxious look-out was kept for any sail
which might appear. Should a single frigate be seen, Captain Moubray
and his officers resolved to fight their ship and defend their prize to
the last.
No one thought of resting. Mr Bitts piped his call, until, as Paddy
Logan observed, "it seemed mighty curious that he had any wind left in
his body."
The frigate's crew laboured on, until many were ready to drop with
fatigue. All knew that not a moment was to be lost. Another
contingency might occur, besides the appearance of an enemy of superior
force; a northerly gale might spring up, and drive the disabled frigates
on the French coast. Happily, the masts of the _Wolf_ were secured, the
rigging repaired, and fresh sails bent, and the wind coming from the
southward, she took her prize in tow, and shaped a course across the
channel for Plymouth.