"Yet weep not thou--the struggle is not o'er,
O victors of Philippi! many a field
Hath yielded palms to us:--one effort more,
By one stern conflict must our fate be sealed."
MRS. HEMANS.
As soon as the people of the Plantagenet, who had so far trespassed on
discipline, when they perceived a man hanging at the end of the
studding-sail-boom, as to appear in the rigging, on the booms, and on
the guns, to watch the result, saw the stranger safely landed on the
poop, they lifted their hats and caps, and, as one voice, greeted him
with three cheers. The officers smiled at this outbreak of feeling, and
the violation of usage was forgotten; the rigid discipline of a
man-of-war even, giving way occasionally to the sudden impulses of
natural feeling.
As the Druid approached the flag-ship, Captain Blewet had appeared in
her weather mizzen-rigging, conning his vessel in person; and the order
to luff, or keep off, had been given by his own voice, or by a gesture
of his own hand. As soon as he saw Wycherly's feet on the poop of the
Plantagenet, and his active form freed from the double-bowline, in which
it had been seated, the captain made a wide sweep of the arm, to denote
his desire to edge away; the helm of the frigate was borne up hard, and,
as the two-decker surged ahead on the bosom of a sea, the Druid's bows
were knocked off to leeward, leaving a space of about a hundred feet, or
more, between the two ships, as it might be, in an instant. The same
causes continuing to operate, the Plantagenet drove still farther ahead,
while the frigate soon came to the wind again, a cable's-length to
leeward, and abreast of the space between the admiral and his second,
astern. Here, Captain Blewet seemed disposed to wait for further orders.
Sir Gervaise Oakes was not accustomed to betray any surprise he might
feel at little events that occurred on duty. He returned the bow of
Wycherly, coolly, and then, without question or play of feature, turned
his eyes on the further movements of the Druid. Satisfied that all was
right with the frigate, he directed the messenger to follow him, and
went below himself, leaving Wycherly to obey as fast as the many
inquiries he had to answer as he descended the ladders would allow.
Atwood, an interested observer of what had passed, noted that Captain
Greenly, of all present, was the only person who seemed indifferent to
the nature of the communication the stranger might bring, though perhaps
the only one entitled by rank to put an interrogatory.
"You have come aboard of us in a novel and extraordinary mode, Sir
Wycherly Wychecombe!" observed the vice-admiral, a little severely, as
soon as he found himself in his own cabin, alone with the lieutenant.
"It was the plan of Captain Blewet, sir, and was really the only one
that seemed likely to succeed, for a boat could scarcely live. I trust
the success of the experiment, and the nature of the communications I
may bring, will be thought sufficient excuses for the want of ceremony."
"It is the first time, since the days of the Conqueror, I fancy, that an
English vice-admiral's ship has been boarded so cavalierly; but, as you
say, the circumstances may justify the innovation. What is your errand,
sir?"
"This letter, I presume, Sir Gervaise, will explain itself. I have
little to say in addition, except to report that the Druid has sprung
her foremast in carrying sail to close with you, and that we have not
lost a moment since Admiral Bluewater ordered us to part company with
himself."
"You sailed on board the Cæsar, then?" asked Sir Gervaise, a great deal
mollified by the zeal for service in a youth, situated ashore, as he
knew Wycherly to be. "You left her, with this letter?"
"I did, Sir Gervaise, at Admiral Bluewater's command."
"Did you go aboard the Druid boom-fashion, or was that peculiar style
reserved for the commander-in-chief?"
"I left the Cæsar in a boat, Sir Gervaise; and though we were much
nearer in with the coast, where the wind has not the rake it has here,
and the strength of the gale had not then come, we were nearly swamped."
"If a true Virginian, you would not have drowned, Wychecombe," answered
the vice-admiral, in better humour. "You Americans swim like cork.
Excuse me, while I read what Admiral Bluewater has to say."
Sir Gervaise had received Wycherly in the great cabin, standing at the
table which was lashed in its centre. He would have been puzzled
himself, perhaps, to have given the real reason why he motioned to the
young man to take a chair, while he went into what he called his
"drawing-room;" or the beautiful little apartment between the two
state-rooms, aft, which was fitted with an elegance that might have been
admired in a more permanent dwelling, and whither he always withdrew
when disposed to reflection. It was probably connected, however, with a
latent apprehension of the rear-admiral's political bias, for, when by
himself, he paused fully a minute before he opened the letter.
Condemning this hesitation as unmanly, he broke the seal, however, and
read the contents of a letter, which was couched in the following terms:
"My dear Oakes:--Since we parted, my mind has undergone some
violent misgivings as to the course duty requires of me, in this
great crisis. One hand--one heart--one voice even, may decide the
fate of England! In such circumstances, all should listen to the
voice of conscience, and endeavour to foresee the consequences of
their own acts. Confidential agents are in the west of England, and
one of them I have seen. By his communications I find more depends
on myself than I could have imagined, and more on the movements of
M. de Vervillin. Do not be too sanguine--take time for your own
decisions, and grant _me_ time; for I feel like a wretch whose fate
must soon be sealed. On no account engage, because you think this
division near enough to sustain you, but at least keep off until
you hear from me more positively, or we can meet. I find it equally
hard to strike a blow against my rightful prince, or to desert my
friend. For God's sake act prudently, and depend on seeing me in
the course of the next twenty-four hours. I shall keep well to the
eastward, in the hope of falling in with you, as I feel satisfied
de Vervillin has nothing to do very far west. I may send some
verbal message by the bearer, for my thoughts come sluggishly, and
with great reluctance.
"Ever _yours_,
"RICHARD BLUEWATER."
Sir Gervaise Oakes read this letter twice with great deliberation; then
he crushed it in his hand, as one would strangle a deadly serpent. Not
satisfied with this manifestation of distaste, he tore the letter into
pieces so small as to render it impossible to imagine its contents,
opened a cabin-window, and threw the fragments into the ocean. When he
fancied that every sign of his friend's weakness had thus been
destroyed, he began to pace the cabin in his usual manner. Wycherly
heard his step, and wondered at the delay; but his duty compelled him to
pass an uncomfortable half-hour in silence, ere the door opened, and Sir
Gervaise appeared. The latter had suppressed the signs of distress,
though the lieutenant could perceive he was unusually anxious.
"Did the rear-admiral send any message, Sir Wycherly?" inquired Sir
Gervaise; "in his letter he would seem to refer me to some verbal
explanations from yourself."
"I am ashamed to say, sir, none that I can render very intelligible.
Admiral Bluewater, certainly, did make a few communications that I was
to repeat, but when we had parted, by some extraordinary dullness of my
own I fear, I find it is out of my power to give them any very great
distinctness or connection."
"Perhaps the fault is less your own, sir, than his. Bluewater is
addicted to fits of absence of mind, and then he has no reason to
complain that others do not understand him, for he does not always
understand himself."
Sir Gervaise said this with a little glee, delighted at finding his
friend had not committed himself to his messenger. The latter, however,
was less disposed to excuse himself by such a process, inasmuch as he
felt certain that the rear-admiral's feelings were in the matter he
communicated, let the manner have been what it might.
"I do not think we can attribute any thing to Admiral Bluewater's
absence of mind, on this occasion, sir," answered Wycherly, with
generous frankness. "His feelings appeared to be strongly enlisted in
what he said. It might have been owing to the strength of these feelings
that he was a little obscure, but it could not have been owing to
indifference."
"I shall best understand the matter, then, by hearing what he did say,
sir."
Wycherly paused, and endeavoured to recall what had passed, in a way to
make it intelligible.
"I was frequently told to caution you not to engage the French, sir,
until the other division had closed, and was ready to assist. But,
really, whether this was owing to some secret information that the
rear-admiral had obtained, or to a natural desire to have a share in the
battle, is more than I can say."
"Each may have had its influence. Was any allusion made to secret
intelligence, that you name it?"
"I never felt more cause to be ashamed of my own dullness, than at this
present moment, Sir Gervaise Oakes," exclaimed Wycherly, who almost
writhed under the awkwardness of his situation; for he really began to
suspect that his own personal grounds of unhappiness had induced him to
forget some material part of his message;--"recent events ashore, had
perhaps disqualified me for this duty."
"It is natural it should be so, my young friend; and as I am acquainted
with them all, you can rest satisfied with my indulgence."
"All! no--Sir Gervaise, you know not half--but, I forget myself, sir,
and beg your pardon."
"I have no wish to pry into your secrets, Sir Wycherly Wychecombe, and
we will drop the subject. You may say, however, if the rear-admiral was
in good spirits--as an English seaman is apt to be, with the prospect of
a great battle before him."
"I thought not, Sir Gervaise. Admiral Bluewater to me seemed sad, if I
may presume to mention it--almost to tears, I thought, sir, one or
twice."
"Poor Dick!" mentally ejaculated the vice-admiral; "he never could have
made up his mind to desert _me_ without great anguish of soul. Was there
any thing said," speaking aloud, "about the fleet of M. de Vervillin?"
"Certainly a good deal, sir; and yet am I ashamed to say, I scarce know
what! Admiral Bluewater appeared to think the Comte de Vervillin had no
intention to strike a blow at any of our colonies, and with this he
seemed to connect the idea that there would be less necessity for our
engaging him. At all events, I cannot be mistaken in his wish that you
would keep off, sir, until he could close."
"Ay, and you see how instinctively I have answered to his wishes!" said
Sir Gervaise, smiling a little bitterly. "Nevertheless, had the rear of
the fleet been up this morning, Sir Wycherly, it might have been a
glorious day for England!"
"It _has_ been a glorious day, as it is, sir. We, in the Druid, saw it
all; and there was not one among us that did not exult in the name of
Englishman!"
"What, even to the Virginian, Wychecombe!" rejoined Sir Gervaise,
greatly gratified with the natural commendation conveyed in the manner
and words of the other, and looking in a smiling, friendly manner, at
the young man. "I was afraid the hits you got in Devonshire might have
induced you to separate your nationality from that of old England."
"Even to the Virginian, Sir Gervaise. You have been in the colonies,
sir, and must know we do not merit all that we sometimes receive, on
this side of the Atlantic. The king has no subjects more loyal than
those of America."
"I am fully aware of it, my noble lad, and have told the king as much,
with my own mouth. But think no more of this. If your old uncle did give
you an occasional specimen of true John Bullism, he has left you an
honourable title and a valuable estate. I shall see that Greenly finds a
berth for you, and you will consent to mess with me, I hope. I trust
some time to see you at Bowldero. At present we will go on deck; and if
any thing that Admiral Bluewater has said _should_ recur to your mind
more distinctly, you will not forget to let me know it."
Wycherly now bowed and left the cabin, while Sir Gervaise sat down and
wrote a note to Greenly to request that he would look a little after the
comfort of the young man. The latter then went on deck, in person.
Although he endeavoured to shake off the painful doubts that beset him,
and to appear as cheerful as became an officer who had just performed a
brilliant exploit, the vice-admiral found it difficult to conceal the
shock he had received from Bluewater's communication. Certain as he felt
of striking a decisive blow at the enemy, could he be reinforced with
the five ships of the rear division, he would cheerfully forego the
triumph of such additional success, to be certain his friend did not
intend to carry his disaffection to overt acts. He found it hard to
believe that a man like Bluewater could really contemplate carrying off
with him the ships he commanded; yet he knew the authority his friend
wielded over his captains, and the possibility of such a step would
painfully obtrude itself on his mind, at moments. "When a man can
persuade himself into all the nonsense connected with the _jus
divinum_," thought Sir Gervaise, "it is doing no great violence to
common sense to persuade himself into all its usually admitted
consequences." Then, again, would interpose his recollections of
Bluewater's integrity and simplicity of character, to reassure him, and
give him more cheering hopes for the result. Finding himself thus
vacillating between hope and dread, the commander-in-chief determined to
drive the matter temporarily from his mind, by bestowing his attention
on the part of the fleet he had with him. Just as this wise resolution
was formed, both Greenly and Wycherly appeared on the poop.
"I am glad to see you with a hungry look, Greenly," cried Sir Gervaise,
cheerfully; "here has Galleygo just been to report his breakfast, and,
as I know your cabin has not been put in order since the people left the
guns, I hope for the pleasure of your company. Sir Wycherly, my gallant
young Virginian, here, will take the third chair, I trust, and then our
party will be complete."
The two gentlemen assenting, the vice-admiral was about to lead the way
below, when suddenly arresting his footsteps, on the poop-ladder, he
said--
"Did you not tell me, Wychecombe, that the Druid had sprung her
foremast?"
"Badly, I believe, Sir Gervaise, in the hounds. Captain Blewet carried
on his ship fearfully, all night."
"Ay, he's a fearful fellow with spars, that Tom Blewet. I never felt
certain of finding all the sticks in their places, on turning out of a
morning, when he was with you as a lieutenant, Greenly. How many
jib-booms and top-gallant yards did he cost us, in that cruise off the
Cape of Good Hope? By George, it must have been a dozen, at least!"
"Not quite as bad as that, Sir Gervaise, though he did expend two
jib-booms and three top-gallant yards, for me. Captain Blewet has a fast
ship, and he wishes people to know it."
"And he has sprung his foremast and he shall see _I_ know it! Harkee,
Bunting, make the Druid's number to lie by the prize; and when that's
answered, tell him to take charge of the Frenchman, and to wait for
further orders. I'll send him to Plymouth to get a new foremast, and to
see the stranger in. By the way, does any body know the name of the
Frenchman--hey! Greenly?"
"I cannot tell you, Sir Gervaise, though some of our gentlemen think it
is the ship that was the admiral's second ahead, in our brush off Cape
Finisterre. I am not of the same opinion, however; for that vessel had a
billet-head, and this has a woman figure-head, that looks a little like
a Minerva. The French have a _la Minerve_, I think."
"Not now, Greenly, if this be she, for she is _ours_." Here Sir Gervaise
laughed heartily at his own humour, and all near him joined in, as a
matter of course. "But la Minerve has been a frigate time out of mind.
The Goddess of Wisdom has never been fool enough to get into a line of
battle when she has had it in her power to prevent it."
"_We_ thought the figure-head of the prize a Venus, as we passed her in
the Druid," Wycherly modestly observed.
"There is a way of knowing, and it shall be tried. When you've done with
the Druid, Bunting, make the prize's signal to repeat her name by
telegraph. You know how to make a prize's number, I suppose, when she
has none."
"I confess I do not, Sir Gervaise," answered Bunting, who had shown by
his manner that he was at a loss. "Having no number in our books, one
would be at a stand how to get at her, sir."
"How would _you_ do it, young man?" asked Sir Gervaise, who all this
time was hanging on to the man-rope of the poop-ladder. "Let us see how
well you've been taught, sir."
"I believe it may be done in different modes, Sir Gervaise," Wycherly
answered, without any appearance of triumph at his superior readiness,
"but the simplest I know is to hoist the French flag under the English,
by way of saying for whom the signal is intended."
"Do it, Bunting," continued Sir Gervaise, nodding his head as he
descended the ladder, "and I warrant you, Daly will answer. What sort of
work he will make with the Frenchman's flags, is another matter. I
doubt, too, if he had the wit to carry one of our books with him, in
which case he will be at a loss to read our signal. Try him, however,
Bunting; an Irishman always has _something_ to say, though it be a
bull."
This order given, Sir Gervaise descended to his cabin. In half an hour
the party was seated at table, as quietly as if nothing unusual had
occurred that day.
"The worst of these little brushes which lead to nothing, is that they
leave as strong a smell of gunpowder in your cabin, Greenly, as if a
whole fleet had been destroyed," observed the vice-admiral
good-humouredly, as he began to help his guests. "I hope the odour we
have here will not disturb your appetites, gentlemen."
"You do this day's success injustice, Sir Gervaise, in calling it only a
brush," answered the captain, who, to say the truth, had fallen to as
heartily upon the delicacies of Galleygo, as if he had not eaten in
twenty-four hours. "At any rate, it has brushed the spars out of two of
king Louis's ships, and one of them into our hands; ay, and in a certain
sense into our pockets."
"Quite true, Greenly--quite true; but what would it have been if--"
The sudden manner in which the commander-in-chief ceased speaking,
induced his companions to think that he had met with some accident in
eating or drinking; both looked earnestly at him, as if to offer
assistance. He _was_ pale in the face, but he smiled, and otherwise
appeared at his ease.
"It is over, gentlemen," said Sir Gervaise, gently--"we'll think no more
of it."
"I sincerely hope you've not been hit, sir?" said Greenly. "I've known
men hit, who did not discover that they were hurt until some sudden
weakness has betrayed it."
"I believe the French have let me off this time, my good friend--yes, I
think Magrath will be plugging no shot-holes in my hull for this affair.
Sir Wycherly, those eggs are from your own estate, Galleygo having laid
the manor under contribution for all sorts of good things. Try them,
Greenly, as coming from our friend's property."
"Sir Wycherly is a lucky fellow in _having_ an estate," said the
captain. "Few officers of his rank can boast of such an advantage;
though, now and then, an old one is better off."
"That is true enough--hey! Greenly? The army fetches up most of the
fortunes; for your rich fellows like good county quarters and county
balls. I was a younger brother when they sent _me_ to sea, but I became
a baronet, and a pretty warm one too, while yet a reefer. Poor Josselin
died when I was only sixteen, and at seventeen they made me an officer."
"Ay, and we like you all the better, Sir Gervaise, for not giving us up
when the money came. Now Lord Morganic was a captain when _he_
succeeded, and we think much less of that."
"Morganic remains in service, to teach us how to stay top-masts and
paint figure-heads;" observed Sir Gervaise, a little drily. "And yet the
fellow handled his ship well to-day; making much better weather of it
than I feared he would be able to do."
"I hear we are likely to get another duke in the navy, sir; it's not
often we catch one of that high rank."
Sir Gervaise cared much less for things of this sort than Bluewater, but
he naturally cast a glance at the speaker, as this was said, as much as
to ask whom he meant.
"They tell me, sir, that Lord Montresor, the elder brother of the boy in
the Cæsar, is in a bad way, and Lord Geoffrey stands next to the
succession. I think there is too much stuff in _him_ to quit us now he
is almost fit to get his commission."
"True, Bluewater has that boy of high hopes and promise with him, too;"
answered Sir Gervaise in a musing manner, unconscious of what he said.
"God send he may not forget _that_, among other things!"
"I don't think rank makes any difference with Admiral Bluewater, or
Captain Stowel. The nobles are worked up in their ship, as well as the
humblest reefer of them all. Here is Bunting, sir, to tell us
something."'
Sir Gervaise started from a fit of abstraction, and, turning, he saw his
signal-officer ready to report.
"The Druid has answered properly, Sir Gervaise, and has already hauled
up so close that I think she will luff through the line, though it may
be astern of the Carnatic."
"And the prize, Bunting? Have you signalled the prize, as I told you to
do?"
"Yes, sir; and she has answered so properly that I make no question the
prize-officer took a book with him. The telegraphic signal was answered
like the other."
"Well, what does he say? Have you found out the name of the Frenchman?"
"That's the difficulty, sir; _we_ are understood, but Mr. Daly has shown
something aboard the prize that the quarter-master swears is a paddy."
"A paddy!--What, he hasn't had himself run up at a yard-arm, or
stun'sail-boom end, has he--hey! Wychecombe? Daly's an Irishman, and has
only to show _himself_ to show a paddy."
"But this is a sort of an image of some kind or other, Sir Gervaise, and
yet it isn't Mr. Daly. I rather think he hasn't the flags necessary for
our words, and has rigged out a sort of a woman, to let us know his
ship's name; for she _has_ a woman figure-head, you know, sir."
"The devil he has! Well, that will form an era in signals. Galleygo,
look out at the cabin window and let me know if you can see the prize
from them--well, sir, what's the news?"
"I sees her, Sir Jarvy," answered the steward, "and I sees her where no
French ship as sails in company with British vessels has a right to be.
If she's a fathom, your honour, she's fifty to windward of our line!
Quite out of her place, as a body might say, and onreasonable."
"That's owing to our having felled the forests of her masts, Mr.
Galleygo; every spar that is left helping to put her where she is. That
prize must be a weatherly ship, though, hey! Greenly? She and her
consort were well to windward of their own line, or we could never have
got 'em as we did. These Frenchmen _do_ turn off a weatherly vessel now
and then, that we must all admit."
"Yes, Sir Jarvy," put in Galleygo, who never let the conversation flag
when he was invited to take a part in it; "yes, Sir Jarvy, and when
they've turned 'em off the stocks they turns 'em over to us, commonly,
to sail 'em. Building a craft is one piece of knowledge, and sailing her
_well_ is another."
"Enough of your philosophy, sirrah; look and ascertain if there is any
thing unusual to be seen hanging in the rigging of the prize. Unless you
show more readiness, I'll send one of the Bowlderos to help you."
These Bowlderos were the servants that Sir Gervaise brought with him
from his house, having been born on his estate, and educated as
domestics in his own, or his father's family; and though long accustomed
to a man-of-war, as their ambition never rose above their ordinary
service, the steward held them exceedingly cheap. A severer punishment
could not be offered him, than to threaten to direct one of these common
menials to do any duty that, in the least, pertained to the profession.
The present menace had the desired effect, Galleygo losing no time in
critically examining the prize's rigging.
"I calls nothing extr'ornary in a Frenchman's rigging, Sir Jarvy,"
answered the steward, as soon as he felt sure of his fact; "their
dock-men have idees of their own, as to such things. Now there is
sum'mat hanging at the lee fore-yard-arm of that chap, that looks as if
it might be a top-gallant-stun'sail made up to be sent aloft and set,
but which stopped when it got as high as it is, on finding out that
there's no hamper over-head to spread it to."
"That's it, sir," put in Bunting. "Mr. Daly has run his woman up to the
fore-yard-arm, like a pirate."
"Woman!" repeated Galleygo--"do you call that 'ere thing-um-mee a woman,
Mr. Buntin'? I calls it a bundle of flags, made up to set, if there was
any thing to set 'em to."
"It's nothing but an Irish woman, Master Galleygo, as you'll see for
yourself, if you'll level this glass at it."
"I'll do that office myself," cried Sir Gervaise. "Have you any
curiosity, gentlemen, to read Mr. Daly's signal? Galleygo, open that
weather window, and clear away the books and writing-desk, that we may
have a look."
The orders were immediately obeyed, and the vice-admiral was soon seated
examining the odd figure that was certainly hanging at the lee
fore-yard-arm of the prize; a perfect nondescript as regarded all
nautical experience.
"Hang me, if I can make any thing of it. Greenly," said Sir Gervaise,
after a long look. "Do _you_ take this seat, and try your hand at an
observation. It resembles a sort of a woman, sure enough."
"Yes, sir," observed Bunting, with the earnestness of a man who felt his
reputation involved in the issue, "I was certain that Mr. Daly has run
up the figure to let us know the name of the prize, and that for want of
a telegraph-book to signal the letters; and so I made sure of what I was
about, before I took the liberty to come below and report."
"And pray what do you make of it, Bunting? The figure-head might tell us
better, but that seems to be imperfect."
"The figure-head has lost all its bust, and one arm, by a shot," said
Greenly, turning the glass to the object named; "and I can tell Mr. Daly
that a part of the gammoning of his bowsprit is gone, too! That ship
requires looking to, Sir Gervaise; she'll have no foremast to-morrow
morning, if this wind stand! Another shot has raked the lower side of
her fore-top, and carried away half the frame. Yes, and there's been a
fellow at work, too--"
"Never mind the shot--never mind the shot, Greenly," interrupted the
vice-admiral. "A poor devil like him, couldn't have six of us at him, at
once, and expect to go 'shot free.' Tell us something of the woman."
"Well, Sir Gervaise, no doubt Daly has hoisted her as a symbol. Ay, no
doubt the ship is the Minerva, after all, for there's something on the
head like a helmet."
"It never can be the Minerva," said the vice-admiral, positively, "for
_she_, I feel certain, is a frigate. Hand me the little book with a red
cover, Bunting; that near your hand; it has a list of the enemy's navy.
Here it is, '_la Minerve_, 32, _le capitaine de frégate, Mondon_. Built
in 1733, old and dull.' That settles the Minerva, for this list is the
last sent us by the admiralty."
"Then it must be the Pallas," rejoined Greenly, "for she wears a helmet,
too, and I am certain there is not only a cap to resemble a helmet, but
a Guernsey frock on the body to represent armour. Both Minerva and
Pallas, if I remember right, wore armour."
"This is coming nearer to the point,--hey! Greenly!" the vice-admiral
innocently chimed in; "let us look and see if the Pallas is a two-decker
or not. By George, there's no such name on the list. That's odd, now,
that the French should have one of these goddesses and not the other!"
"They never has any thing right, Sir Jarvy," Galleygo thrust in, by way
of commentary on the vice-admiral's and the captain's classical lore;
"and it's surprising to me that they should have any goddess at all,
seeing that they has so little respect for religion, in general."
Wycherly fidgeted, but respect for his superiors kept him silent. As for
Bunting, 'twas all the same to him, his father having been a purser in
the navy, and he himself educated altogether on board ship, and this,
too, a century since.
"It might not be amiss, Sir Gervaise," observed the captain, "to work
this rule backwards, and just look over the list until we find a
two-decked ship that _ought_ to have a woman figure-head, which will
greatly simplify the matter. I've known difficult problems solved in
that mode."
The idea struck Sir Gervaise as a good one, and he set about the
execution of the project in good earnest. Just as he came to _l'Hécate_,
64, an exclamation from Greenly caught his attention, and he inquired
its cause.
"Look for yourself, Sir Gervaise; unless my eyes are good for nothing,
Daly is running a kedge up alongside of his woman."
"What, a kedge?--Ay, that is intended for an anchor, and it means Hope.
Every body knows that Hope carries an anchor,--hey! Wychecombe? Upon my
word, Daly shows ingenuity. Look for the Hope, in that list,
Bunting,--you will find the English names printed first, in the end of
the book."
"'The Hope, or _l' Esperance_,'" read the signal-officer; "'36, _lee
capitang dee frigate dee Courtraii_.'"
"A single-decked ship after all! This affair is as bad as the d----d
_nullus_, ashore, there. I'll not be beaten in learning, however, by any
Frenchman who ever floated. Go below, Locker, and desire Doctor Magrath
to step up here, if he is not occupied with the wounded. He knows more
Latin than any man in the ship."
"Yes, Sir Jarvy, but this is French, you knows, your honour, and is'nt
as Latin, at all. I expects she'll turn out to have some name as no
modest person wishes to use, and we shall have to halter it."
"Ay, he's catted his anchor, sure enough; if the figure be not Hope, it
must be Faith, or Charity."
"No fear of them, Sir Jarvy; the French has no faith, nor no charity,
no, nor no bowels, as any poor fellow knows as has ever been wrecked on
their coast, as once happened to me, when a b'y. I looks upon 'em as no
better than so many heatheners, and perhaps that's the name of the ship.
I've seed heatheners, a hundred times, Sir Jarvy, in that sort of
toggery."
"What, man, did you ever see a heathen with an anchor?--one that will
weigh three hundred, if it will weigh a pound?"
"Perhaps not, your honour, with a downright hanchor, but with sum'mat
like a killog. But, that's no hanchor, a'ter all, but only a kedge,
catted hanchor-fashion, sir."
"Here comes Magrath, to help us out of the difficulty; and we'll
propound the matter to him."
The vice-admiral now explained the whole affair to the surgeon, frankly
admitting that the classics of the cabin were at fault, and throwing
himself on the gun-room for assistance. Magrath was not a little amused,
as he listened, for this was one of his triumphs, and he chuckled not a
little at the dilemma of his superiors.
"Well, Sir Jairvis," he answered, "ye might do warse than call a council
o' war on the matter; but if it's the name ye'll be wanting, I can help
ye to that, without the aids of symbols, and signs, and hyeroglyphics of
any sort. As we crossed the vessel's wake, a couple of hours since, I
read it on her stern, in letters of gold. It's _la Victoire_, or the
Victory; a most unfortunate cognomen for an unlucky ship. She's a French
victory, however, ye'll remember, gentlemen!"
"That must be a mistake, Magrath; for Daly has shown an anchor, yonder;
and Victory carries no anchor."
"It's hard to say, veece-admiral, one man's victory being another man's
defeat. As for Mr. Daly's image, it's just an _Irish_ goddess; and
allowances must be made for the country."
Sir Gervaise laughed, invited the gentlemen to help demolish the
breakfast, and sent orders on deck to hoist the answering flag. At a
later day, Daly, when called on for an explanation, asserted that the
armour and helmet belonged to Victory, as a matter of course; though he
admitted that he had at first forgotten the anchor; "but, when I _did_
run it up, they read it aboard the ould Planter, as if it had been just
so much primmer."