ARRIVAL OF THE CHAMPION--MR. FERRIS GOES ON BOARD--BRINGS BACK
LIEUTENANT FOLEY WOUNDED--GERALD JOINS THE CHAMPION AS MIDSHIPMAN--AN
ACCOUNT OF HIS SHIPMATES--THE CHAMPION SAILS--CAPTAIN TRACY AND NORAH AT
HOME--THE OUZEL GALLEY PREPARING FOR SEA--RETURN OF THE CHAMPION--SAILS
AGAIN--OWEN APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OF THE OUZEL GALLEY--MR. FERRIS AND
ELLEN GO TO DUBLIN--THE OUZEL GALLEY SAILS--NORAH'S LIFE AT HOME--MR.
FERRIS INTENDS TO GO TO JAMAICA--THE OUZEL GALLEY COMES BACK, AND
CAPTAIN TRACY RESOLVES TO GO ROUND IN HER TO DUBLIN.
"News, Norah! I bring you news, Miss Ellen," cried Gerald, rushing into
the drawing-room where his sister and her friend were seated. "I have
just heard that a man-of-war has brought up inside the harbour, with her
main-topmast gone and her sails riddled with shot. They say that she is
the _Champion_, and that she has had a desperate action with a French
ship, which she sent to the bottom, or which got away from her. Which
was the case, I can't exactly make out, but she has lost I don't know
how many officers and seamen, for there hasn't been such a bloody fight
since the war began. The wounded, I hear, are to be sent on shore, and
we shall thus, I suppose, know all about the matter."
Ellen turned pale as Gerald was speaking. "Have you heard who the
killed and wounded are?" she asked, in a trembling voice.
"No; I could only learn the name of the ship, and that there has been a
sharp action there can be no doubt," answered Gerald.
"Perhaps Gerald's account is exaggerated," remarked Norah, observing
Ellen's agitation. "If the ship is the _Champion_, Mr Ferris is sure
to go down and visit her; he will ascertain the truth of the report."
"I must--I must go and tell him what has happened, in case he should not
have heard it," said Ellen, rising. She found Mr Ferris in his
counting-house, on the ground-floor. He immediately ordered his boat,
and telling Ellen that, should he find any wounded officers who might
require to be cared for on shore, he would bring them up, he desired her
to make preparations for their reception. Gerald, who was on the
look-out for him, begged that he might accompany him on board. The
boat, with six stout hands, rapidly made her way down the river.
Ellen and Norah, like good housewives, lost no time in seeing the spare
rooms got ready for their expected guests. The occupation tended to
relieve Ellen's mind.
"Perhaps, after all, there may be no wounded officers," said Norah.
"Gerald's account was very vague--people nearly always exaggerate
disasters."
"But I saw the beginning of the battle, and heard the dreadful guns
firing--and some of those on board may have been killed," said Ellen,
scarcely able to restrain her feelings.
The young ladies had some time to wait after the rooms had been got
ready. Ellen was constantly going to the window, from which she could
see the river and watch for the return of the boat. Norah, like a
faithful friend, did not quit her.
"There comes the boat," exclaimed Ellen, at length. "Oh, see, Norah!
there is a person wrapped up in blankets lying in the stern-sheets; my
heart told me that he would be wounded."
"It is better so than had your heart told you he would be killed, and it
had proved a true prophet," said Norah, smiling and trying to cheer up
her friend. Ellen would have hurried down to the quay, but Norah
persuaded her to remain at home. "He may not be Lieutenant Foley,
remember," observed Norah, quietly; "and if he is, you are more likely
to agitate him than to do him any good by rushing down to the quay.
Think how odd it would look were you to exhibit your feelings in public,
or, still more so, should the wounded man prove to be a stranger."
Norah's sensible remarks prevailed in inducing Ellen to remain quiet
till the arrival of the party in the boat. Mr Ferris was the first
person who appeared.
"You must not be alarmed, my dear child," he said. "There has been a
fierce engagement, in which two officers and several men were killed--"
"Oh, father, who were they?" cried Ellen.
"A master's mate and a midshipman," answered Mr Ferris; "but I am sorry
to say that Mr Foley was among the most severely wounded, and he gladly
accepted my offer to take him on shore; so I brought him up here, and
you and Norah will, I am sure, do your best to look after him."
While Mr Ferris was speaking, the men bearing the wounded lieutenant
arrived. Ellen, restraining her feelings, received him with becoming
propriety, though his pale lips and wan cheek made her heart sink. He
was forthwith conveyed to the room which, had been prepared for him.
Dr Roach, who had been an army surgeon, and knew well how to treat
gunshot wounds of every description, was immediately sent for, and the
young officer was placed under his charge.
"We'll pull him through, young lady," he observed, after he had visited
his patient. "You will naturally wish to know what I think of the case
of this fine young officer, who has been bleeding for his country. You
need be under no serious apprehensions; he will be fit for duty again
shortly. You saw how quickly I doctored up Mr Massey, in whom, if I am
not wrongly informed, Miss Norah here takes an interest."
Norah looked conscious. "Young people have hearts, and small blame to
them if they fall in love now and then," remarked the doctor; "and now,
my pretty maidens, good-bye to you, for I want to hear more about the
battle. I could not let my patient tell me. Remember, I leave him
under your charge, but I must lay an embargo on your tongues; talking,
or listening to talking, isn't good for wounded men, though you may sing
him to sleep with your sweet voices."
Owen was well enough to accompany Mrs Massey when she returned Norah's
visit, and, moreover, to stroll with her into the garden. He now first
heard of O'Harrall's conduct; his brow flushed as she told him, but he
restrained his feelings, and did not let even her know that he had
assisted his rival's escape.
"Could the fellow have been aware that she was my betrothed wife, and
yet, after such conduct, ventured to claim my protection? I am thankful
I did not then know of his behaviour; I might have been tempted to
refuse him my aid." Such were the thoughts which passed through Owen's
mind. "However, bold as he is, he is not likely again to appear in this
neighbourhood."
Owen and Norah, having each other's society, forgot how the time went
by, till Gerald came hurrying up to call them into the house. He had
just returned from his visit to the _Champion_; he was full of what he
had heard of her engagement with the _Coquille_. Two officers had been
killed, and two, besides Mr Foley, wounded; three men had been killed,
and several wounded. The Frenchman, instead of being sent to the
bottom, having knocked away the _Champion's_ main-topmast and cut up her
rigging, had managed to get off and run out of sight before her damages
could be repaired. Captain Olding had chased in the direction the
_Coquille_ had last been seen, but had failed to come up with her, and
was compelled to steer for Waterford.
"And, do you know, Norah," continued Gerald, "I've made up my mind to go
on board a man-of-war. They all say that Captain Olding will take me,
and place me on the quarter-deck, if Mr Ferris introduces me and would
say a word in my favour; so if our father approves of it, I hope to go
at once, instead of waiting for the _Ouzel Galley_."
"If it would better promote your fortune to serve on board a man-of-war,
I will not hinder you," said Owen, as they walked towards the house.
"I would rather you should remain on board the dear old ship, to act as
Owen's mate," observed Norah; "but if our father allows you to go on
board the _Champion_, neither will I try to alter your determination."
Captain Olding had come up to the house to inquire after his lieutenant.
He and Captain Tracy had been shipmates in their younger days. He was
well pleased, he said, to be able to forward the views of his friend's
son. It was therefore settled that Gerald should join the _Champion_ at
once, and Norah was busy from morning till night in preparing his
outfit. Captain Tracy was now able to get about, and even to
superintend the repairs of the _Ouzel Galley_. He secretly was somewhat
proud of having a son belonging to the Royal Navy. It was the road to
honour and fame; Gerald might some day become one of England's admirals.
Still, had the captain intended to continue at sea himself, he would
have wished to keep his boy with him, and he would also gladly have had
him accompany Owen Massey. Gerald himself was in high glee; he made
frequent trips down to the _Champion_, and always came back with some
fresh account of what she had done, and of what his future messmates,
the midshipmen, fully expected she would do. He described them to Norah
as first-rate, jolly fellows, up to all sorts of fun.
"And you may tell Miss Ferris, if you like," he added, "that they all
say there isn't a more gallant officer in the service than Lieutenant
Foley, and they hope that he'll soon get well and rejoin the ship. They
don't speak quite so favourably of her first lieutenant, Jonah Tarwig,
who seems as if he had swallowed the mizen-royal-mast as he was looking
aloft one stormy night when the ship was taken aback and it was carried
away. He is six feet two in height--how he manages to stow himself in
his berth it is hard to say, but it is supposed that he doubles his legs
back, for as to coiling away his body, that would be impossible. The
master, old Billhook, is a rough diamond, but he understands navigation,
and spins tough yarns by the score; I'll tell you some of them one of
these days. The purser, Simon Cheeseparings--that isn't his real name--
was a slopseller in Wapping, but outran his creditors and had to come to
sea to escape from Newgate; and the doctor's a Scotchman whose name
begins with Mac, and for brevity's sake Mac he is always called. Now
you know all about the gun-room officers; but the best fellows, out and
out, are in our berth. We've got two old mates, Beater and Crowhurst--
at least, they are old compared to the rest of us, and they are always
complaining that they are not port-admirals. Their characters answer to
their names, for Beater is never without a cob in his hand, and he uses
it pretty freely; and Crowhurst is always boasting of his own mighty
deeds or those of his ancestors--and if you are to take his word for it,
they (his ancestors, I mean) came over with William the Conqueror, and
ought to be dukes at the least. However, putting their peculiarities
aside, they're capital fellows, and, if they have an opportunity, will
show that they have the true metal in them--so my chum, Nat Kiddle,
says. He doesn't pretend to be anybody, though I can tell you he's a
broth of a boy, and it's a pity he wasn't an Irishman, for he'd do
honour to the old country; but he happens to be the tenth son of an
English farmer, whose brother was a lieutenant in the navy, and took him
to sea, but his uncle having been killed at the end of the last war, Nat
has to shift for himself. Though he has tumbled into a good many
scrapes, he has always managed to fall on his feet. Then we've got a
young lord, Mountstephen; he is always called Molly, but he doesn't at
all mind, and declares that he'll some day show the Frenchmen what an
English Molly can do. In reality, he is the pet of the mess--not
because he's a lord, but because he's a very nice little fellow, who
looks as if he ought to be in the nursery instead of knocking about in a
sloop of war. But I don't know, Norah, whether you'll care to hear
about the rest of us."
"Oh yes," answered Norah; "I am very much interested, especially in the
little lord. I hope you'll help to take care of him."
"Yes, that you may depend on it I will," said Gerald; "if I get into
scrapes, I'll take care he doesn't--though I don't intend to get into
any myself, notwithstanding that they say Irishmen always do. They've
dubbed me Paddy already, but of course I'm proud of that, and shall
always stick up for old Ireland, and sing `Erin-go-bragh' on all
occasions. Well, I'll tell you about the rest of our mess another day,
and something about the warrant officers. We've three of them, the
gunner, boatswain, and carpenter--and as chance will have it, the first
is a Scotchman, the second an Englishman, and the third an Irishman; and
though they're mighty good friends, they are always wrangling about
their respective countries, each one declaring his own to be superior to
the others in every respect. Barney O'Rourke hailed me at once as a
countryman, and was mighty pleased to see one young gentleman, at least,
from the Emerald Isle who would stick up for our country's honour.
`And, by my faith, that's what I intend to do,' I answered--and we
became sworn friends. There now, Norah, I think you know a good deal
about our ship already, and when Lieutenant Foley gets about again,
which I hope he'll do in a few days, you will learn a good deal more;
and when we're away, you'll be able to fancy me on board among my
shipmates."
Norah sighed as she thought how soon her young brother, who had never
before been parted from her, would be away, with the chance of not
coming back for three or four years, for the _Champion_ had only lately
been commissioned, and might before long be sent to a foreign station.
At length Captain Olding, the _Champion_ being ready for sea, ordered
Gerald on board to perform, duty as a midshipman. He intended, however,
to return in the course of two or three weeks, expecting by that time
that his second lieutenant would be sufficiently recovered to resume his
duties. Norah accompanied her father and Owen down the river to wish
Gerald good-bye, and to see the ship sail. She felt rather sad as the
boat shoved off, when the anchor was apeak and the white canvas let
fall, and the ship began to glide majestically away through the calm
waters of the harbour--for, besides that she grieved to part with her
young brother, the thought occurred to her that the _Ouzel Galley_ would
be the next ship she should see taking her departure from port. Owen,
who was now able to be constantly with her, offered, not unsuccessfully,
all the consolation in his power. Captain Tracy, being now well enough
to go about, removed with her to their own cottage, situated a short
distance from Waterford, and within a mile of Mrs Massey's abode. It
was a pretty spot. The cottage, with its porch covered with clematis
and eglantine, stood in a good garden in which the captain delighted to
work during his leisure hours. From the windows could be seen the
broad, shining river and the shipping in the distance on one side, and
from the other the mountainous regions to the westward. Altogether, no
young lady could have desired a more romantic bower.
The captain, by his successful voyages, had been able to save a
sufficient sum to live in comfort, with a handmaiden, Biddy O'Halloran,
to attend on him and his daughter, and a gessoon to look after the cows
and pigs and to work in the garden. Still, notwithstanding her present
happiness, it was but natural that poor Norah should reflect that in a
short time Owen must sail away in command of the _Ouzel Galley_, and be
subject to all the dangers of the sea, increased in war time by the
chance of being captured by the enemy. He and her father were now
absent all day long, attending to the fitting out of the ship, which was
making rapid progress. Her owners had decided on sending her back to
the West Indies, and Owen assured Norah that, as he should probably find
a cargo waiting for him, he should not be long absent. She paid
frequent visits to Ellen, who could heartily sympathise with her.
Lieutenant Foley had entirely recovered from his wound, and would have
to rejoin the _Champion_ as soon as she arrived in the harbour, in which
she was every day expected. Norah thought that the lieutenant deserved
all the praises bestowed on him by Gerald, though of course he was not
equal, in her estimation, to Owen. Still, she could not be surprised
that her friend had given him her heart, especially as he had owned that
he had given his to Ellen; and they were now regularly betrothed with
the full approval of Mr Ferris, and were to marry as soon as Mr Foley
had obtained the rank of commander.
The days and weeks went rapidly by. Mr Ferris intended, as soon as
Lieutenant Foley had joined his ship, to return with his daughter to
Dublin. This would be a great loss to Norah, as she was acquainted with
but few other young ladies in the neighbourhood; indeed, from having
been at school with Ellen, they were more like sisters than ordinary
friends. Ellen had begged that she would visit her in Dublin, but she
could not leave her father, and still less did she wish to quit
Waterford till the _Ouzel Galley_ had sailed; after that, she felt that
she should have no spirit to enjoy the gay society of the metropolis,
even should her father insist on her accepting Ellen's invitation.
The arrival of the _Champion_ was announced at last by Gerald, who early
one morning rushed into the house.
"We came in last night, and are to sail again this evening, so I
obtained leave to run up to see you," cried Gerald. "I've got lots to
tell you," he continued, after he had exchanged greetings with his
father and sister, and was seated at the breakfast-table. "We haven't
had any actual fight, but we've taken several prizes, one of them, as
big as the _Champion_, cut out in gallant style. She was seen at anchor
in Saint Martin's Roads, and the captain determined to have her. We
stood away, and the Frenchman must have supposed we had gone; but at
night, when it was very dark, we stood back again. Three boats were
then lowered, and I had the good luck to be sent in one of them. We at
once pulled away for the roads with muffled oars. There lay the ship
right ahead of us; we could just see her masts against the sky. The
Frenchmen must have been all asleep, or keeping a very bad look-out, for
we were alongside and our fellows almost on her deck before we were
discovered. The Frenchmen, thus taken by surprise, made but a very
feeble resistance, and though a few of them were knocked over, we didn't
lose a man. The cable was cut and the topsails sheeted home before the
fort began to fire, and as the wind was off shore, we got out of range
with very little damage. We earned our prize into Plymouth, and our
captain, I believe, gained some credit for his exploit; though except
that he designed it, he took no part, for old Tarwig commanded one boat,
and the master, Billhook, another, and one of our mates and I went in
the third. Had half of us been killed, I suppose more would have been
thought of the affair. While at Plymouth we heard from the bumboat
women, who have always the most correct intelligence, that we were to be
sent to the West Indies, and we soon found that they were right; but the
captain got leave to come in here first, to take Lieutenant Foley on
board, and to obtain fresh provisions; so I shall be visiting the old
scenes again, and, I hope, fall in with Owen. That will be good fun;
perhaps we shall have to convoy him home, or maybe, should the _Ouzel
Galley_ fall into the hands of the enemy, retake the ship. Faith,
shouldn't I be delighted."
"Oh, don't talk of such a dreadful thing!" exclaimed Norah. "I hope
that you may have to convoy him home, and that we may see you both back
here in five or six months."
Gerald could stay but a very short time, as he had been ordered to
return on board with Lieutenant Foley. Norah and Captain Tracy
accompanied him into Waterford. They found the lieutenant ready to
start, and Norah remained with Ellen, who had just taken farewell of her
intended husband. Owen, having joined the captain and Norah, went down
to the quay to see Gerald off.
"We shall meet, I hope, soon, Owen," said the young midshipman. "I feel
half ashamed of myself for deserting you; but if you knew the life we
lead on board the _Champion_, you wouldn't be surprised at my preferring
her to the dear old _Galley_."
"The time may come when you may think differently. But good-bye, my
lad; I hope you will enjoy yourself and come back safe," answered Owen,
as Gerald sprang on board.
The lieutenant gazed with eager eyes towards the windows of the large
house overlooking the river, where he could see a white handkerchief
waving to him. Two or three more years might pass before he could again
press the hand lately clasped in his, and it was a hard matter for him
just then to keep up his spirits. Soon after the boat returned on
board, the anchor was hove up, and the _Champion_, under all sail, stood
to the south-west.
In the evening Mr Ferris desired to see Owen. "My partners and I have
given you charge of the _Ouzel Galley_, Captain Massey, and we trust
that you will be as devoted to our interests as your predecessor has
been," he said, giving Owen for the first time the title of captain.
"Having undergone a thorough refit, we hope that she will require no
fresh repairs for some time to come. We intend to insure her among our
friends in Dublin, and they, knowing her good qualities and your careful
character, would be ready to underwrite her at a moderate premium
considering the war risk."
"You may rely on my taking the best care I possibly can of the ship,"
answered Owen, "and, as she has (I may say it without fear) a fair pair
of heels, on my keeping clear of every enemy I may sight."
"That is what we wish, Mr Massey," said Mr Ferris. "We don't want men
who will run their noses into danger; and true courage and seamanship
will best be shown in your case by cleverly escaping from your foes.
You will get the ship ready for sea as soon as possible, and take your
cargo on board, and we will then send you further directions from
Dublin."
Owen took leave of his employer and returned home. The next day Mr
Ferris, accompanied by Ellen, proceeded to Dublin.
Norah's day of trial came at length. She ought not to have complained,
as she had enjoyed Owen's society for some months. The _Ouzel Galley_
having shipped her cargo, chiefly of salt provisions, and other produce
of the fertile south of Ireland, hauled out into the stream. Her old
captain, with Norah and Mrs Massey, went on board to bid farewell to
Owen, and proceeded down the river till she had crossed the bar, when
Captain Tracy took Owen by the hand.
"Heaven speed you, my boy!" he said. "May He who guarded me through the
many dangers of the ocean take care of you, and bring you back in safety
to those who will ever give you a loving welcome! And now, the shorter
you cut the parting with those two the better."
Mrs Massey saw that the time had come; she threw her amis round the
young captain's neck, and asked God again and again to protect him.
Then she let Norah take her place, while Captain Tracy helped her down
into the boat alongside, in which Owen soon afterwards placed Norah.
They had said their last words of farewell; Norah's had been whispered,
for her heart was too full to allow her to utter them aloud. Captain
Tracy took his seat in the stern-sheets. "Cast off!" he cried to the
bowman. The boat dropped astern; Owen was seen standing aft and looking
over the taffrail; the pilot, who had still the command, ordered the
courses to be let fall, and the _Ouzel Galley_ glided onward. As long
as the boat was in sight, there stood Owen gazing at Norah and his
mother, as again and again they waved. More than once the old captain
turned round to take another look at the ship whose keel he had seen
laid, each timber and plank of which he had carefully watched as the
shipwrights had fixed them in their destined positions--that ship on the
deck of which he had stood when she glided into the water for the first
time, and which he had since navigated with watchful care on every
voyage she had made, amid rocks and shoals, and over many a league of
ocean.
Mrs Massey had consented to spend a few days with Norah. Though her
own heart was heavy, she knew that she could console that of the young
girl, so unused to the trials of life; while the old captain himself,
she saw, required cheering, and thus in benefiting others she forgot her
own anxieties. The captain had out his chart: he had marked the way the
wind blew, and knew to a nicety the rate at which the ship was sailing,
and could thus calculate from hour to hour the exact spot on which she
floated--always provided, as he observed, if the wind holds as it did
when she quitted port.
At length Mrs Massey returned home, and Norah settled down to her daily
occupations. Norah was not free from some anxiety on her own account,
for she could not forget the attempt which had been made to carry her
off, or divest herself altogether of the fear that she might be
subjected to a similar outrage. She therefore never ventured abroad
without her father's escort, while he at home ever kept his firearms
ready for her defence. Still, as week after week went by, her hope that
O'Harrall had quitted the country, and that he would not again venture
to molest her, increased. She heard occasionally from Ellen, though
letters were long in coming, and more than once the mail had been
stopped on the road and plundered--a too frequent occurrence to be
thought much of in those days.
Norah, notwithstanding her fears, was unmolested. The captain had given
out that if any one should venture to run off with his daughter he would
not obtain a farthing of his property--a wise precaution, for it
probably prevented any of the squireens in the neighbourhood from making
the attempt--added to the fact, which was pretty generally known, that
she was engaged to marry Owen Massey.
Month after month went by. Ellen at first wrote her word that she was
going much into society--more, indeed, than she liked--while she had an
abundance of occupation at home in attending to her father's household.
Latterly, from her letters, she appeared to be living a more quiet life
than at first. She mentioned her father, who seemed to be much out of
spirits, though she could not divine the cause. She again invited Norah
to come up to Dublin and help to cheer him up.
"You are a great favourite of his, you know," she wrote. "He delights
in hearing you sing, and your merry laugh and conversation will do him
good."
But Norah could not be induced to leave her father; besides which, she
confessed to Ellen, she was looking forward in a short time to the
return of the _Ouzel Galley_, and she would be sorry if Owen should not
find her at home on his arrival. Ellen, in reply, told her that the
_Ouzel Galley_, after calling at Waterford, would probably have to come
on to Dublin, and she continued--"And my father, finding it necessary to
go out to Jamaica, intends taking a passage in her; and I have
determined to obtain leave to accompany him. I fear that he will object
to my doing so, on account of the danger to which I may be exposed; but,
you know, as I generally manage to have my own way, I hope to overcome
his objections. The ship also will form one of a large fleet of
merchantmen under convoy of two or three men-of-war, and as the _Ouzel
Galley_ sails well, even should the convoy be attacked by the enemy, we
shall have every chance of getting off. You must not be jealous of me,
my dear Norah; indeed, I heartily wish that your father could spare you
to bear me company; and I dare say that the young captain would wish the
same, did he know of the proposed plan. Pray tell him of it when he
comes into Waterford, and I have an idea that he will join his
persuasions with mine."
This letter made Norah's heart beat quickly. She was much surprised,
too, at hearing of the intention of Mr Ferris to go out to the West
Indies; but, much as she would have liked to accompany her friend, she
felt that it would be impossible to leave her father.
"I was afraid that things were not going on straight," observed Captain
Tracy, when she told him of the news she had received. "However, Mr
Ferris is the man to set them to rights, and he'll do it; but I wish
that Miss Ellen, instead of going out with him, would come and stay
here. She expects to meet the lieutenant, but he'll be here, there, and
everywhere, and she mayn't see him all the time she is there."
Norah, in reply, told Ellen what Captain Tracy had said; but Miss Ferris
had made up her mind to go if she could, and was not to be deterred from
her purpose. One evening Norah was seated at the open window with her
work before her, while her father occupied his usual armchair, smoking
his pipe, when a rapid step was heard approaching the house. Norah
uttered a cry of delight, and, hurrying to the door, the next moment was
in Owen Massey's arms.
"I am glad to see you back, my lad," cried the old captain, grasping his
hand; "you've made a quick voyage, and a prosperous one, I hope?"
"As prosperous as I could desire," answered Owen. "We have had two or
three narrow escapes from the enemy's cruisers, but the _Ouzel Galley_
is in good trim, and never sailed better. I heard in Waterford that I
am to proceed to Dublin," he continued; "so I paid my mother a visit,
and she bade me hurry on here. I can remain but a short time, for I
must be on board again early to-morrow."
"We'll make the most of you, then, my lad," said Captain Tracy, "and
Norah looks as if she intended to do so."
She was the first to tell Owen of the intention of Mr Ferris to go out
in the _Ouzel Galley_ to Jamaica, and that Ellen had made up her mind to
accompany him. "She has asked me to pay her a visit before she goes,"
she added, "and I should much like to do so could I leave my father, but
that I cannot do."
"Nor shall you, my girl, for I will go with you," said the captain, who
had overheard her remark. "We'll go in the _Ouzel Galley_--to my mind
there's less danger at sea than from those land pirates, the
highwaymen--and if you can pack up your traps in time, we'll go aboard
to-morrow morning. What say you, Owen? Will you take us as
passengers?"
Owen expressed his pleasure at the proposal, and Norah had no doubt that
she could pack up in time. Owen put aside all fears of capture by the
enemy; indeed, the Channel was so well guarded by British ships of war
that there was little danger, he thought, on that score. He had too
much confidence in his own seamanship to think of shipwreck. After all
arrangements had been made, he went back to spend the rest of the
evening with his mother, while Norah and the captain, with Biddy's help,
prepared for their departure.