CONTINUATION OF THE GALE--A SHIPWRECK--TO THE RESCUE--DICK SAVES LORD
REGINALD'S LIFE--NEARLY DROWNED--IN THE CAVE--INCREASED NUMBERS--CAUSE
FOR ALARM--THE RETURN TO THE HUT--THINGS THROWN ON SHORE--PREPARATIONS
FOR QUITTING THE ISLAND--INCREASED STORES NECESSARY--COMMOTION OF THE
ISLAND--A HASTY EMBARKATION--VOYAGE OF THE JANET--THE PIRATE FLEET--A
CHASE--ALONGSIDE THE WOLF--GOING ON BOARD--DICK MADE AN OFFICER--MR
BITTS GIVES GOOD ADVICE--THE RETURN TO ENGLAND--AN UNLOOKED-FOR MEETING
AT ELVERSTON HALL--HOME--BEN RUDALL'S WIFE--CONCLUSION.
The gale raged through the livelong night. The roaring of the breakers
on the shore, the howling of the wind amidst the rocks and trees, kept
the two Crusoes awake for many hours. They heartily hoped that the wind
might not change and drive the ship they had seen in the evening on the
island, to share the fate of the _Marie_.
Sleep at last overtook them. They were awakened at length by a
tremendous crash. They both leapt out of bed, and hurried on their
clothes. The hut, shaken violently by the force of the wind, seemed
every moment as if about to be carried away. It was with difficulty
that they could force open the door to ascertain what had occurred. It
was already broad daylight. Several tall trees near them had fallen.
They looked anxiously in the direction of the boat. The tree to which
she was secured stood firm, and the additional ropes, which they had
wisely used, had kept her in her position. The wind had shifted, and
the sea was rolling into the bay, and dashing up almost close to her
stern. Their next glance was at the volcano--that was still in a state
of eruption, sending up smoke and flame, but if any ashes or stones were
cast forth they were forced by the wind to the other side of the island.
The young men earnestly prayed that they might not be sent in the
direction of the hut, for while the storm raged their boat would be
useless, as they could not venture off in her. Their next look was
seaward in search of the ship. She was nowhere visible; indeed, the
thick masses of spray thrown up high into the air shrouded all objects
at a distance.
"Can she have gone on shore at the other end of the island?" exclaimed
Lord Reginald. "If so we may still be in time to save some of her
people."
Dick agreed with him, though fearing that, should the ship have struck
on the rocky coast, all hands must have perished.
"If we save any of them, they may be glad of food," said Lord Reginald,
and putting up such provisions as they had cooked, they hurried off,
each armed with a long stick, followed by Neptune, who, although he
seemed to have an instinctive dread of approaching the burning mountain,
was yet willing to follow his master. Instead, however, of bounding on
before, as was his usual custom, he kept close at Lord Reginald's heels.
They took the most direct route along the broad valley, intending then
to turn to the left down the narrow valley which led to the bay near
which the _Marie_ had been lost.
For some time they were protected by the high ground on the southern
side of the broad valley, but on opening the smaller one they met the
full force of the gale, and it was with difficulty that they could make
progress against it. The tall trees twisted and bent, and quantities of
nuts came tumbling down, which they often had difficulty in avoiding.
To the right was the burning mountain, towards which they cast many an
anxious glance, for at any moment it might send forth a shower of stones
and ashes, which might overwhelm them. As they reached the sea-shore,
near the cave, they saw that their worst anticipations had been
fulfilled. At the further end of the reef lay the wreck of a fine ship.
The larger portion had been torn away by the fury of the seas. The
masts, bowsprit, and upper works had all gone. Not a human being could
be discovered on board, while the foam-covered masses of water which
raged around her must have carried off any who might have attempted to
reach the shore. The waves, surging through the bay, rolled high up on
the beach, rendering it dangerous even to approach them. Masses of
timber and plank, of casks and cases, everywhere covered the space
between the wreck and the beach.
"There's not a living man to be seen. I fear all must have perished!"
exclaimed Lord Reginald.
"I am afraid that you are right," answered Dick. "No, no. I see two
clinging to a spar in the middle of the bay. One, at all events, is
alive. He must have caught sight of us, for he waved his hand. If the
spar is driven in here we may save him."
Together they hastened down to the edge of the water. Lord Reginald, in
his eagerness, dashed forward, when a sea, rolling in, took him off his
legs. In another instant he would have been carried away, had not Dick,
at the risk of his own life, dashed forward and grasped him, struggling
back with the greatest difficulty. Scarcely had they regained their
feet, when the spar came so close that Neptune, making a spring, caught
a rope which was hanging to it, and dragged it up towards them. Lord
Reginald seized it and held on, while Dick prevented the spar from being
rolled over on the two men clinging to it, for their strength was almost
too far gone to enable them to help themselves. Dick, getting out his
knife, first liberated one of the men, and assisted him up the beach out
of the reach of the water. He then hurried down to render the same
service to the other.
"Thank you, my friends!" said the man first rescued. "You have saved my
life when I had well-nigh given up all hope."
The other was too far gone to utter a word.
"What! are you an Englishman?" inquired Lord Reginald, on hearing the
first speak.
"Yes, but my companion is a Frenchman, and yonder wreck is that of a
French ship, on board which I was a prisoner."
"Whether French or English, this poor fellow wants looking after,"
observed Lord Reginald. "Come, lend a hand, Hargrave, and we will carry
him into the cave; it is the most sheltered spot hereabouts. Can you
walk, my friend?" he asked of the Englishman.
"I'll try, sir," was the answer.
While Lord Reginald and Dick carried up the Frenchman to the cave, the
other man crawled, rather than walked after them, unwilling longer than
possible to remain exposed to the force of the fierce wind. On reaching
the cave they found a pile of sticks which Lord Reginald had formerly
collected. Dick having a flint and steel with him, they soon made up a
blazing fire.
Their first care was then to strip the Frenchman and chafe his limbs and
chest. Under such treatment he soon revived. Though both the
shipwrecked men were severely bruised, none of their limbs were broken.
The Englishman, whose appearance was that of a mate of a merchantman,
said that his name was Robson, that he had been captured three weeks
before by the French ship--a large privateer--and that his companion was
one of her crew. He had been somewhat roughly dealt with on board, but
that the man saved with him was the only one who had treated him kindly.
As neither had eaten anything since the previous day, they were very
thankful for the provisions their rescuers had brought, and leaving the
two men to finish their meal and recover their strength, Lord Reginald
and Dick again set out to search for any other persons who might be
thrown on shore.
On leaving the cave they found that the gale had already begun to abate.
They thus made their way with greater ease than they had expected along
the beach, which was strewn with pieces of wreck. They met with several
dead bodies, but not a single living being could they discover, either
on shore or floating on the pieces of limber still tossing about.
They were returning along the beach to the cave, when they saw the two
men they had left there running towards them, their countenances, as
they approached, exhibiting the greatest alarm.
"There's something dreadful going to occur, sir," exclaimed Robson. "We
were just about to lie down, when we heard the most fearful rumbling
noise, and the rocks about us trembled as if they would come down on our
heads. Let us get away from this place as fast as we can, or we shall
have been only saved from drowning to suffer a worse death."
The dashing of the seas on the beach had prevented Lord Reginald and
Dick from feeling the commotion which had so frightened the strangers,
but Neptune showed that he was as anxious as they were to escape.
"You are right, my friend," said Lord Reginald, looking up at the
mountain. "We have a disagreeable neighbour up there, and it will be
wise to get as far away from him as we can. Whatever happens, we may
hope to be safe at the other end of the island."
As no time was to be lost, they returned along the valley by the way
they had come, glancing back every now and then to ascertain the state
of the volcano. It was still throwing up volumes of smoke and flame,
but no stones or ashes fell where they were. At any moment, however,
should the wind change, they might be carried in their direction. The
two strangers were much alarmed, and had their strength been greater
would have hurried on faster. Lord Reginald kindly took Robson's arm to
help him along, while Dick supported the Frenchman. Robson was much
relieved on hearing that his preservers had a boat to carry them away
from the island.
"I only hope, sir, that the mountain won't get worse until the weather
moderates, and we are able to put to sea," he observed.
"We are pretty well accustomed to it now," said Lord Reginald, "and I
hope that we shall run into no real danger. We shall be glad, I own, to
get off, if we can find our way to Batavia or any other place in the
hands of the British."
"I have been cruising in these seas for some years, and though the
Frenchmen didn't let us know whereabouts we were, if I could once get
sight of Bali or Lombok, or for that matter any of the islands to the
eastward of Java, I should soon find my way," answered Robson.
"One thing is certain, that we must steer to the northward to get into
the Java sea, and as we have a compass we shall have no difficulty in
doing that," said Lord Reginald.
"Then, sir, I hope you'll put off without delay. I don't like the looks
of that mountain blazing away there," exclaimed Robson, casting an
alarmed glance over his shoulder.
"We will not stay longer than is necessary," said Lord Reginald. "We
are thankful that we did not sail yesterday, or our craft would have
been lost to a certainty."
The mate, before entering the hut, was anxious to see the boat, and Lord
Reginald and Dick, with some little pride, led the strangers up to her.
The mate opened his eyes.
"You are right, sir, in being thankful that you were not at sea last
night," he observed. "She may do very well in smooth water, but in a
sea way she would prove a curious craft to manage."
Dick felt somewhat indignant at this remark, though Lord Reginald only
laughed.
"I agree with you, my friend; but we have to choose between being
smothered or burned by the volcano, or making a voyage in her, and I
prefer the latter alternative." On entering the hut, the mate, having
complimented Dick on its comfortable appearance, assured him that he
considered the boat a wonderful structure, and such as he himself would
never have thought of building.
Pierre Didot, the Frenchman, was equally complimentary.
The two shipwrecked men were thankful to lie down and go to sleep, while
Lord Reginald and Dick went along the shore to try and pick up anything
of value which might be cast on the beach. They were rewarded by
discovering another cask of flour and an officer's chest, which among
other things contained a chart of those seas. Had they known their true
position, this would have been of great value, but as they were unable
to ascertain this, the chart would be of little service, till they
reached some land which the mate might recognise.
They possessed, it is true, some nautical instruments, but as they had
no chronometer and no almanac, Lord Reginald had been unable to work out
his observations correctly, though he had instructed Dick in their use.
The chest also contained a flask of gunpowder and a pistol. Some way
further along the beach they picked up three muskets, which had been
jammed into the rack in which they had been fixed, and the whole
together had been washed ashore.
"They are too much injured to be of use, I fear," observed Lord
Reginald.
"Perhaps we can manage to put them straight; at all events we will try,"
answered Dick.
Several other articles, however, were found, two of them being empty
water-casks, which were likely to be of more use than anything else.
They returned to the hut, well laden with their treasures. They found
the two new-comers sitting up, having just awakened, much refreshed by
their sleep.
As soon as Pierre heard of the muskets, he said that he had belonged to
the armourer's crew, and was certain that he could repair them.
Dick having prepared dinner, as soon as it was discussed the whole party
set off to bring in the stores.
"I say, that mate of yours works like a good one," observed Robson to
Dick. "If I ever get the command of a craft, I should like to have you
and him with me."
"Thank you," said Dick, laughing. "I'll tell him what you say; I am
sure that he'll be pleased to hear it."
As they had a long way to go, it was late before they had brought in all
the articles collected. There were more than sufficient completely to
fill Dick's store.
The next morning, Pierre set to work on the firearms, and was busily
employed the whole day, singing merrily while at work, as if he had
entirely forgotten the loss of his companions. The rest of the party
were engaged in filling the water-casks, as well as a large number of
cocoanut shells. They also collected a quantity of fresh nuts, and all
the fruit and vegetables likely to keep during the voyage. Robson,
however, was in no hurry to put off; the sea, indeed, continued too
heavy to enable them to launch the boat. He examined her over and over
again, evidently unwilling, except compelled to do so, to make a voyage
in her. He suggested strengthening the outriggers, by carrying ropes
from the two ends under her bottom. He also advised that she should be
covered in more completely with canvas, which being laced down the
centre, spaces only being left here and there for her crew, would
prevent her filling should a sea break on board.
The first use Lord Reginald made of one of the muskets, when completed,
was to kill four deer and a couple of hogs. These Dick dried and
salted, that they might have sufficient provisions for their increased
numbers. He formed also two additional oars, that, should they meet
with calms, they might be able to pull, or enter an unknown harbour,
with less risk of running on a rock or reef.
Many months had passed away. To Dick they had been the happiest in his
life. Though ready enough to trust the _Janet_, he was in no hurry to
leave the island. Lord Reginald, perhaps, was the most anxious to
leave; still he did not shut his eyes to the danger of a voyage in so
frail a craft. Everything had been got ready for a start, when one
morning the party in the hut were awakened by a more violent upheaving
of the earth beneath them than they had yet experienced. On rushing out
of doors, they saw the whole island moved in a fearful manner, tall
trees waving to and fro, and masses of rock falling into the valleys
below.
"To the boat, to the boat!" cried Lord Reginald. "My friends, there is
not a moment to be lost. Should the volcano not burst forth, the sea
may recede and leave our craft far inland. The first thing we have to
do is to get her afloat."
They hurried to the boat, and the tackles being got ready and the
rollers placed under her keel, they commenced launching her. With four
hands this was a more easy operation than when undertaken only by two.
Scarcely had the after part reached the water than the fearful rumbling
noises increased, and the volcano begun to spout forth its contents, in
a far more terrific manner than had hitherto been witnessed, while the
atmosphere grew lurid with flame. Streams of lava were also seen
descending on every side of the hill.
The crew of the _Janet_ worked with redoubled vigour, and by hauling on
the rope attached to the moorings, she was quickly got afloat. While
her stern still touched the beach, all hands were engaged in lifting on
board the cargo, which, owing to Lord Reginald's forethought, had
previously been arranged, water, fuel, and provisions, and besides other
stores, several of the most useful of the carpenter's tools. Pierre had
ingeniously contrived a cooking stove, which was placed just abaft the
foremast. As the boat was loaded, she was hauled off from the beach.
All the party were on board, with the exception of Lord Reginald, who,
followed by Neptune, ran back to the hut, to ascertain that nothing of
consequence was left behind. He discovered that the compass had been
forgotten. He was just taking it up, and was looking round to see if
there was anything else, when Nep, giving a peculiar bark, pulled his
trousers, and he heard Dick's voice frantically calling upon him to
return. He hurried out, and made towards the boat. As he did so, he
saw that the volcano was in a state of violent eruption. He did not
stop to take a second look, but climbing up over the quarter, and
hauling up Neptune after him, he shouted to Dick to haul off. The
_Janet_ was quickly run out to her moorings. The wind was from the
westward. The warp being hauled in, sail was made, and Robson and
Pierre, getting out the oars, pulled with all their might. They had
good cause for doing so. A vast umbrella-shaped cloud hung over the
mountain, extending on every side, and already ashes had begun to fall
into the water close astern, while as they got further off, they could
see huge stones, sufficient to have sunk the boat, falling into the bay
where they had lately floated. The breeze freshened; still that
threatening cloud grew larger and larger, the sun, which had risen,
appearing like a huge globe of fire through it. They would have been
thankful for a gale of wind to carry them to a safe distance. Lord
Reginald got out another oar aft, and Dick one forward.
The young lord considered that it would be safer to keep the boat's head
to the eastward, and then haul up to the northward, the course they
intended to steer. As they watched the island through the dense cloud
by which it was surrounded, it appeared one mass of flame; while the
volcano itself, with the hills beneath it, appeared melting away.
"It's only to be hoped that they may sink to the bottom, and not break
up any more stout ships!" cried Robson. "However, as I have gained my
liberty, I have no cause to complain."
The wind freshened, and the _Janet_ under all sail making good way, by
nightfall the burning island appeared like a bonfire, far over the
larboard quarter. As it was necessary to keep a bright look-out, Lord
Reginald and Pierre took one watch, Robson and Dick the other.
"Well, I never did think she would go along in this style," observed
Robson, looking over the side, and noting the way the _Janet_ moved
through the water.
Among the articles picked up had been a half-minute glass, and a long
line having been fitted, her speed could be ascertained. With the wind
on her quarter she was found to be making seven knots an hour, which was
considered by all to be wonderfully good going.
For two days the _Janet_ stood on without any land appearing in sight.
At length, on the evening of the third day, an indistinct outline was
discovered right ahead. A calm came on, and all night she lay without
advancing on her course. Although Dick and the other men offered to get
out the oars, Lord Reginald would not permit them to exert themselves,
knowing that they might require their strength for an emergency.
As the sun rose a breeze sprang up, and again they were skimming along
over the smooth sea, at the rate of five knots an hour. At length, the
land became more and more distinct. It was of considerable height, but
the mate acknowledged that he could not tell what it was. At last he
declared it to be the island of Sumbawa, and by steering to the west an
opening was discovered. As no one knew the character of the
inhabitants, it was agreed that it would be wiser not to land, and the
little craft keeping in mid-channel, was not likely to be observed from
either shore.
For some hours they were becalmed, and it was not until nearly daylight
that they approached the entrance of the straits. Running on all day
with a fair breeze, before nightfall they had entered the Java sea.
Here, however, the chart showed islands innumerable, and dangers of all
sorts. During the night, to avoid the risk of running on them, the
_Janet_ was kept under easy sail. For several days they sailed on,
steering to the north-west, Lord Reginald determining not to touch at
any place until Batavia was reached, unless compelled to do so from want
of water or fresh provisions. They were in the longitude of Madura, a
large island lying off the north coast of Java, when a numerous fleet of
small vessels was seen in the north-east, standing towards them. Robson
having taken a look at the strangers through his glass, cried out that
they were piratical craft, which infested Borneo and the neighbouring
coasts, and were wont to show no mercy to any falling into their hands.
"We must try and keep ahead of them, then," answered Lord Reginald, "and
if they come up with us, fight to the last. With these three muskets
and a pistol, we can do a little, and must make the best use we can of
our boat-hook and oars."
"The best thing we can do with our oars is to keep ahead of them,"
answered the mate. "They are big craft, and would run this lugger down
without ceremony."
"And we will keep ahead of them," was the answer. "We will get out the
oars, and try and make the _Janet_ walk along."
In spite, however, of the strenuous efforts made by the _Janet's_ crew,
it was too evident that the pirates, if such they were, were overhauling
her, having a stronger breeze than she had got to send them through the
water. A small island appeared on the starboard bow. The mate
suggested that by landing there, they might escape into the interior,
and save their lives.
"Or be murdered by its inhabitants," said Lord Reginald, laughing. "We
will trust to our own little craft. We shall get the breeze before
long, and we will then see if we cannot distance our pursuers."
There appeared, however, too much probability that his hopes would prove
vain. The pirate fleet, of thirty vessels or more, each manned by some
fifty or sixty cut-throats, was approaching nearer and nearer. Lord
Reginald having had the muskets handed to him, loaded them carefully,
and placed them by his side.
"We will keep pulling to the last, and when they come within
musket-shot, I'll pick off some of the fellows in the leading vessel.
That will make them fancy we are better armed than we are, and they may
not think it worth while to attempt capturing us."
They were at this time passing to the southward of the island before
mentioned. The breeze freshened, and the _Janet_ made better way than
she had hitherto been doing. However, the pirates had already got
almost within musket-shot, but Lord Reginald was unwilling to throw a
charge away. At length, turning round and seeing that the leading
pirate was within range, he fired. He quickly took up the next musket,
and as he did so, he called to Dick to come aft and reload them. By the
time the third musket was fired, Dick had loaded the first. A dozen
shots had been fired, though it was difficult to ascertain the effect
produced. By this time the _Janet_ had opened out the west end of the
island, when Dick, looking up, just as he was handing a musket to Lord
Reginald, exclaimed--
"A sail, a sail! and a man-of-war, too, standing down towards us, under
every stitch of canvas she can carry."
"She'll be up to us in twenty minutes more, and all we need do is to
keep ahead of our pursuers," answered Lord Reginald, taking a glance at
her, before firing the musket he had received from Dick. That glance,
however, was sufficient to convince him that she was the _Wolf_.
He was again about to fire, when the pirate craft were seen in a state
of confusion, putting about. As fast as they could, lowering their
sails and getting out their oars, they pulled away for their lives in
the wind's eye. They had an advantage by keeping closer in shore than
the frigate could venture; besides which, the wind was light, and thus
gave them a better chance of escape. They had, however, been seen from
the frigate, which stood on after them, and at first appeared as if
about to pass the _Janet_. In a few minutes, however, the British
ensign was seen flying from the lugger's mainyard; at the same time it
was perceived that the frigate would have little chance of overtaking
the pirate proas.
Lord Reginald stood up and waved his hat, while all hands shouted at the
top of their voices.
"They've made us out. She's about to heave to, sir. Hurrah! hurrah!"
shouted Dick.
The frigate, coming up with the wind, hove her maintop-sail aback. The
lugger stood on for a short time, then hauling her wind, ran up under
the _Wolf's_ lee.
"What craft is that?" asked a voice from the frigate's gangway.
"The private yacht _Janet_, bound from we don't know exactly where, for
Batavia, or for any British man-of-war we can fall in with, especially
the _Wolf_," answered Lord Reginald.
"You've fallen in with the very frigate you're in search of," answered
Mr Curling, the first lieutenant, who had before spoken. "Come
alongside, and let's hear more about you."
"That's more than we can do with these outriggers," said Lord Reginald.
"Lower a boat, and we will step into her."
This was speedily done, and Lord Reginald, in another minute, was
ascending the sides of the frigate.
Dick hesitated about going on board. The moment he had been dreading
had arrived; he must now be separated by an immeasurable distance from
the man he had learned to love and respect.
Lord Reginald received a warm welcome from Captain Moubray and his
brother officers. Great, indeed, was their astonishment at seeing him.
It was fully believed that either the _Marie_ had been captured, or that
she had been lost in the hurricane which came on soon after the convoy
reached Batavia.
"And now we must either drop your craft astern or hoist her up, for we
must continue the chase of yonder piratical fleet," said the captain.
"I doubt very much whether we shall be able to tow her without the risk
of tearing out her bows," said Lord Reginald, "it will be safer to hoist
her up, though to do so we must first unship her outriggers. Her
builder is on board, and as soon as he has completed his task I should
wish to introduce him to you, as he is a young man of talent to whom I
am most deeply indebted."
"I shall be happy to make his acquaintance," answered the captain, not
dreaming of whom Lord Reginald spoke.
The carpenter, with three or four hands, under Dick's superintendence,
quickly unshipped the outriggers, and all wondered, when they saw how
narrow and frail she looked, that she should have come without accident
so great a distance.
As she touched the deck out jumped Neptune, leaping and barking with
delight at seeing his old shipmates, who patted his head and stroked him
as he rushed in and out among them. The boat being hoisted in, and the
mainyard being braced round, the frigate was steered as close as the
wind would allow in the direction taken by the pirate fleet.
Dick, who had not as yet been recognised by any of his old shipmates,
busied himself in stowing away the _Janet's_ masts and sails, until Lord
Reginald, coming along the deck, took him by the arm and led him aft to
the captain.
"Now let me introduce my friend, Mr Richard Hargrave. I can especially
recommend him to you, sir, as a young man of sterling worth, possessed
of talents of no ordinary kind, and he has twice saved my life."
The captain, to Dick's great surprise, shook him cordially by the hand.
"I shall be happy, Lord Reginald, to do my best to serve him," he said,
not recognising Dick as one of his crew.
"The greatest favour you can do me would be to place him on the
quarter-deck, and I can answer for it that he will prove an ornament to
the service," answered Lord Reginald.
Perhaps no one was more astonished than was Mr Curling, who remembered
Dick, though the others did not, and also the ill feeling shown towards
him by Lord Reginald, but he kept his counsel, waiting to hear the
captain's reply.
"He is rather old to enter the service, but as I am glad to do anything
you wish, and to reward him for saving your life, I cannot refuse your
request," answered the captain; "and as we have several vacancies which
I can fill up, I will appoint Mr Hargrave as one of the midshipmen of
this ship."
Lord Reginald expressed his gratitude to the captain, and, shaking Dick
by the hand, heartily congratulated him on his promotion. "I ought to
have said, sir, that he has served on board this ship, and I think the
officers who observed him will acknowledge that he always did his duty."
"I can answer for that," said the first lieutenant. "I am truly glad to
find that I was not mistaken in the opinion I long ago formed of him."
"Now, my dear Hargrave," said Lord Reginald, "I must introduce you to
the other midshipmen. They will all be eager to hear an account of our
adventures on the island, and I am sure you need have no fear as to the
way they will receive you."
Before, however, Lord Reginald took him into the berth he got him rigged
out in a uniform supplied by the purser, which, with other articles of
clothing belonging to Voules, made up his outfit.
The midshipmen received Dick in a friendly manner, no allusion being
made to his former rating. He took the first opportunity of paying a
visit to the cabin of Mr Bitts the boatswain.
"I thought I knew you when you came on board, but was not certain enough
to go up and speak to you," said Mr Bitts. "And now, Mr Hargrave,
pray understand that though I did use my rattan now and then pretty
sharply, I did it for your good, but as I had then a sincere wish to
make a first-rate sailor of you, so I shall consider it a favour, if you
ever want instruction in seamanship, if you'll come and ask me, and I
shall be proud of affording it. There's many a wrinkle I can give you
which the quarterdeck officers might not think of. Some day, and I hope
it will not be long hence, you'll be my superior in the service, and it
will be my boast to be able to say, `I taught him; I knew he'd turn out
an honour to the navy.'"
Dick thanked Mr Bitts, and promised faithfully to take advantage of his
offer.
In the mean time, the frigate under all sail had been chasing the
pirates. Though she went much faster through the water than they did,
she had to make frequent tacks to keep them in sight. They were still a
long way ahead of her when darkness came on, and in the morning no sign
of them could be seen.
After spending some time fruitlessly looking about for them, and after
visiting several of the Dutch settlements lately taken possession of by
England, the _Wolf_ returned to Batavia, where the _Janet_ was landed,
and Dick, had he been so disposed, might have exhibited her as a
curiosity in naval architecture. Here also Robson and Pierre went on
shore, the former to obtain a berth as mate of an English merchantman,
the latter to return at liberty to his native country on the first
opportunity. From Batavia the _Wolf_ sailed for Madras, then, after
cruising for some time in the Indian seas, and capturing several prizes,
she was at length ordered home. She had made during the time she was on
the East Indian station a considerable amount of prize-money, and though
a midshipman's share is not very large compared to that of the captain,
Dick's was not only sufficient to obtain a good outfit, but he had
besides a well-filled purse in his pocket.
"I want you to make me your banker," said Lord Reginald, as they were
one day walking the deck together, and talking of home, "and that you
may make such presents to your father and mother and blind sister as you
choose, you must draw on me for your future requirements. I will ask my
father to get you on board the next ship to which I am appointed, and I
hope that by the time I am made a commander you will have become a
lieutenant, and that we shall still serve together."
Lord Reginald was somewhat surprised, though Dick thanked him heartily,
when he declined the first part of his offer.
"My wants are not likely to be great, and I hope that the cash I now
have and such prize-money as we may gain in future, will be ample to
supply them," he added.
"Well, well," said Lord Reginald, fully appreciating Dick's feelings on
the subject, "you are very unlike poor Voules, who did not scruple to
borrow what he had no intention to repay; but we will not talk of his
faults, poor fellow! I understand him now better than I did, but I have
more reason to blame myself for having been toadied by such a man, than
to find fault with him for paying court to me."
The _Wolf_ reached Portsmouth after a somewhat long voyage, and going
into harbour, was at once paid off.
Lord Reginald invited Dick to accompany him to Elverston. "Don't say
who you are, and they'll suppose that I have got another Voules in tow,"
he said, laughing.
Dick thought it would appear ungrateful not to accept the invitation.
Lord Reginald was received as one from the dead, as the news of his
disappearance had reached home, and nothing had been heard of him since.
After his mother and sisters had somewhat recovered from the agitation
into which they had been thrown by his reappearance, and he had received
the congratulations of his father and his elder brothers, Viscount
Elverston and Lord John, he took Dick by the arm and introduced him as
his friend and late shipmate, without mentioning his name. The whole
party then entered the drawing-room. There were several persons,
including three young ladies, engaged in various feminine occupations.
One of them, a bright-eyed blooming girl, Dick thought resembled greatly
in features his sister Janet. He was describing to Lady Julia, who, now
married, was staying with her husband in the house, their adventures on
the island, when, turning round, he saw the last-mentioned young lady
trembling violently, and gazing earnestly at him.
"Oh, my brother, my dear brother!" she exclaimed, suddenly rising and
throwing herself into his arms, quite forgetting the company present.
"Have you really come back? I know you, Dick, though I never saw your
face before. I know you by your voice and your likeness to our father."
Dick, giving vent to his feelings in a way midshipmen are not wont to
do, pressed her to his heart.
"You are quite right, Miss Hargrave, it is your brother Richard, and my
dearest and best friend," said Lord Reginald, coming forward.
Matters were soon explained, and Dick received the heartfelt thanks of
the marquis and Lady Elverston as the preserver of their son, and
compliments innumerable flowed in upon him from all the company present.
As soon as he could he seated himself near Janet, who told him of the
welfare of their father and mother, and how she had been restored to
sight by the removal of the cataract from her eyes by a skilful oculist
to whom Lady Elverston had taken her.
Dick and Janet set off the next day for their father's farm. Dick's
stay on shore, however, consisted but of a few weeks, some of which were
spent at Elverston in company with Lord Reginald. He paid poor Susan
Rudall and her children a visit, when he performed the painful duty of
giving them an account of Ben's death. Lord Reginald, however, cheered
her up somewhat, by assuring her that she should not come to want, a
promise which he faithfully fulfilled, the marquis making her an
allowance, while Lady Elverston obtained employment for her in the
neighbourhood.
At length, Lord Reginald and Dick joined a fine frigate, to which the
former had been appointed as second lieutenant.
The marquis as speedily as possible obtained Dick's promotion. Both he
and Lord Reginald rose to the top of their profession, and few more
gallant officers have served their country than Admirals Lord Reginald
Oswald and Richard Hargrave.