As soon as the boys' names were entered, they were sent forward, under
charge of the ship's corporal, to obtain suits of sailor's clothing from
the purser's steward, which clothing was charged to their respective
accounts.
The ship's corporal made them wash themselves before putting on their
fresh gear; and when they appeared in it, with their hair nicely combed
out, it was soon seen which of the three was likely to prove the
smartest sea boy.
Bill, who had never had such neat clothing on before, felt himself a
different being. Tom strutted about and tried to look big. Jack was
not much changed, except that he had a round hat instead of a cap, clean
clothes, and lighter shoes than the thick ones in which he had come on
board.
As neither Tom nor Bill knew the stem from the stern of the ship, and
even Jack felt very strange, they were handed over to the charge of Dick
Brice, the biggest ship's boy, with orders to him to instruct them in
their respective duties.
Dick had great faith in a rope's-end, having found it efficacious in his
own case. He was fond of using it pretty frequently to enforce his
instructions. Jack and Bill supposed that it was part of the regular
discipline of the ship; but Tom had not bargained for such treatment,
and informing Dick that he would not stand it, in consequence got a
double allowance.
He dared not venture to complain to his superiors, for he saw the
boatswain and the boatswain's mate using their colts with similar
freedom, and so he had just to grin and bear it.
At night, when the hammocks were piped down, the three went to theirs in
the forepart of the ship. Bill thought he had never slept in a more
comfortable bed in his life. Jack did not think much about the matter;
but Tom, who had always been accustomed to a well-made bed at home,
grumbled dreadfully when he tried to get into his, and tumbled out three
or four times on the opposite side before he succeeded.
Had it not been for Dick Brice, who slung their hammocks for them, they
would have had to sleep on the bare deck.
The next morning the gruff voice of the boatswain's mate summoned all
hands to turn out, and on going on deck they saw "Blue Peter" flying at
the fore, while shortly afterwards the Jews and all other visitors were
made to go down the side into the boats waiting for them. The captain
came on board, the sails were loosed, and while the fife was setting up
a merry tune, the seamen tramped round at the capstan bars, and the
anchor was hove up.
The wind being from the eastward, in the course of a few minutes the
gallant frigate, under all sail, was gliding down through the smooth
waters of the Solent Sea towards the Needles.
Tom and Bill had something fresh to wonder at every minute. It dawned
upon them by degrees that the forepart of the ship went first, and that
the wheel, at which two hands were always stationed, had something to do
with guiding her, and that the sails played an important part in driving
her on.
Jack had a great advantage over them, as he knew all this, and many
other things besides, and being a good-natured fellow, was always ready
to impart his knowledge to them.
By the time they had been three or four weeks at sea, they had learned a
great deal more, and were able to go aloft.
Bill had caught up to Jack, and had left Tom far behind. The same
talent which had induced him to mend his ragged clothes, made him do,
with rapidity and neatness, everything else he undertook, while he
showed a peculiar knack of being quick at understanding and executing
the orders he received.
Tom felt rather jealous that he should be surpassed by one he had at
first looked down on as little better than a beggar boy.
It never entered into Jack's head to trouble himself about the matter,
and if Bill was his superior, that was no business of his.
There were a good many other people on board, who looked down on all
three of them, considering that they were the youngest boys, and were at
everybody's beck and call.
As soon as the frigate got to sea the crew were exercised at their guns,
and Jack, Tom, and Bill had to perform the duty of powder-monkeys. This
consisted in bringing up the powder from the magazine in small tubs, on
which they had to sit in a row on deck, to prevent the sparks getting in
while the men were working the guns, and to hand out the powder as it
was required.
"I don't see any fun in firing away when there is no enemy in sight,"
observed Tom, as he sat on his tub at a little distance from Bill.
"There may not be much fun in it, but it's very necessary," answered
Bill. "If the men were not to practise at the guns, how could they fire
away properly when we get alongside an enemy? See! some of the fresh
hands don't seem to know much what they are about, or the lieutenant
would not be growling at them in the way he is doing. I am keeping my
eye on the old hands to learn how they manage, and before long, I think,
if I was big enough, I could stand to my gun as well as they do."
Tom, who had not before thought of observing the crews of the guns, took
the hint, and watched how each man was engaged.
By being constantly exercised, the crew in a few weeks were well able to
work their guns; but hitherto they had fallen in with no enemy against
whom to exhibit their prowess.
A bright look-out was kept from the mast-head from sunrise to sunset for
a strange sail, and it was not probable that they would have to go long
without falling in with one, for England had at that time pretty nearly
all the world in arms against her. She had managed to quarrel with the
Dutch, and was at war with the French and Spaniards, while she had
lately been engaged in a vain attempt to overcome the American colonies,
which had thrown off their allegiance to the British Crown.
Happily for the country, her navy was staunch, and many of the most
gallant admirals whose names have been handed down to fame commanded her
fleets; the captains, officers, and crews, down to the youngest
ship-boys, tried to imitate their example, and enabled her in the
unequal struggle to come off victorious.
The _Foxhound_ had for some days been cruising in the Bay of Biscay, and
was one morning about the latitude of Ferrol. The watch was employed in
washing down decks, the men and boys paddling about with their trousers
tucked up to their knees, some with buckets of water, which they were
heaving about in every direction, now and then giving a shipmate, when
the first lieutenant's eye was off them, the benefit of a shower-bath:
others were wielding huge swabs, slashing them down right and left, with
loud thuds, and ill would it have fared with any incautious landsman who
might have got within their reach. The men were laughing and joking
with each other, and the occupation seemed to afford amusement to all
employed.
Suddenly there came a shout from the look-out at the masthead of "Five
sail in sight."
"Where away?" asked Lieutenant Saltwell, who was on deck superintending
the operations going forward.
"Dead to leeward, sir," was the answer.
The wind was at the time blowing from the north-west, and the frigate
was standing close hauled, on the starboard tack, to the westward.
The mate of the watch instantly went aloft, with his spy-glass hung at
his back, to take a look at the strangers, while a midshipman was sent
to inform Captain Waring, who, before many minutes had elapsed, made his
appearance, having hurriedly slipped into his clothes.
On receiving the report of the young officer, who had returned on deck,
he immediately ordered the helm to be put up, and the ship to be kept
away in the direction of the strangers.
In a short time it was seen that most of them were large ships; one of
them very considerably larger than the _Foxhound_.
The business of washing down the decks had been quickly concluded, and
the crew were sent to their breakfasts.
Many remarks of various sorts were made by the men. Some thought that
the captain would never dream of engaging so superior a force; while
others, who knew him well, declared that whatever the odds, he would
fight.
As yet no order had been received to beat to quarters, and many were of
opinion that the captain would only stand on near enough to ascertain
the character of the strangers, and then, should they prove enemies,
make all sail away from them.
Still the frigate stood on, and Bill, who was near one of the officers
who had a glass in his hand, heard him observe that one was a
line-of-battle ship, two at least were frigates, while another was a
corvette, and the fifth a large brig-of-war.
These were formidable odds, but still their plucky captain showed no
inclination to escape from them, but, on the contrary, seemed as if he
had made up his mind to bring them to action.
The question was ere long decided. The drum beat to quarters, the men
went to their guns, powder and shot were handed up from below, giving
ample occupation to the powder-monkeys, and the ship was headed towards
the nearest of the strangers. She was still some distance off when the
crew were summoned aft to hear what the captain had to say to them.
"My lads!" he said, "some of you have fought under me before now, and
though the odds were against us, we licked the enemy. We have got
somewhat greater odds, perhaps, at present, but I want to take two or
three of those ships; they are not quite as powerful as they look, and
if you will work your guns as I know you can work them, we'll do it
before many hours have passed. We have a fine breeze to help us, and
will tackle one after the other. You'll support me, I know."
Three loud cheers were given as a response to this appeal, and the men
went back to their guns, where they stood stripped to their waists, with
handkerchiefs bound round their heads.
Notwithstanding the formidable array of the enemy, the frigate kept
bearing down under plain sail towards them.
Our heroes, sitting on their tubs, could see but very little of what was
going forward, though now and then they got a glimpse of the enemy
through the ports; but they heard the remarks made by the men in their
neighbourhood, who were allowed to talk till the time for action had
arrived.
"Our skipper knows what he's about, but that chap ahead of the rest is a
monster, and looks big enough to tackle us without the help of the
others," observed one of the crew of the gun nearest to which Tom was
seated.
"What's the odds if she carries twice as many teeth as we have! we'll
work ours twice as fast, and beat her before the frigates can come up to
grin at us," answered Ned Green, the captain of the gun.
Tom did not quite like the remarks he heard. There was going to be a
sharp fight, of that there could be no doubt, and round shot would soon
be coming in through the sides, and taking off men's heads and legs and
arms. It struck him that he would have been safer at school. He
thought of his father and mother, and brothers and sisters, who, if he
was killed, would never know what had become of him; not that Tom was a
coward, but it was somewhat trying to the courage even of older hands,
thus standing on slowly towards the enemy. When the fighting had once
begun, Tom was likely to prove as brave as anybody else; at all events,
he would have no time for thinking, and it is that which tries most
people.
The captain and most of the officers were on the quarter-deck, keeping
their glasses on the enemy.
"The leading ship under French colours appears to me to carry sixty-four
guns," observed the first lieutenant to the captain; "and the next, also
a Frenchmen, looks like a thirty-six gun frigate. The brig is American,
and so is one of the sloops. The sternmost is French, and is a biggish
ship."
"Whatever they are, we'll fight them, and, I hope, take one or two at
least," answered the captain.
He looked at his watch. It was just ten o'clock. The next moment the
headmost ship opened her fire, and the shot came whizzing between the
ship's masts.
Captain Waring watched them as they flew through the air.
"I thought so," he observed. "There were not more than fifteen; she's a
store-ship, and will be our prize before the day is over. Fire, my
lads!" he shouted; and the eager crew poured a broadside into the enemy,
rapidly running in their guns, and reloading them to be ready for the
next opponent.
The _Foxhound_ was standing along the enemy's line to windward, and as
she came abreast of each ship she fired with well-directed aim; and
though all the enemy's ships in succession discharged their guns at her,
not a shot struck her hull, though their object evidently was to cripple
her, so that they might surround her and have her at their mercy.
Tom, who had read about sea-fights, and had expected to have the shot
come rushing across the deck, felt much more comfortable on discovering
this, and began to look upon the Frenchmen as very bad gunners.
The _Foxhound's_ guns were all this time thundering away as fast as the
crews could run them in and load them, the men warming to their work as
they saw the damage they were inflicting on the enemy.
Having passed the enemy's line to windward, Captain Waring ordered the
ship to be put about, and bore down on the sternmost French ship, which,
with one of smaller size carrying the American pennant, was in a short
time so severely treated that they both bore up out of the line. The
_Foxhound_, however, followed, and the other French ships and the
American brig coming to the assistance of their consorts, the _Foxhound_
had them on both sides of her.
This was just what her now thoroughly excited crew desired most, as they
could discharge their two broadsides at the same time; and right
gallantly did she fight her way through her numerous foes till she got
up with the American ship, which had been endeavouring to escape before
the wind, and now, to avoid the broadside which the English ship was
about to pour into her, she hauled down her colours.
On seeing this, the frigate's crew gave three hearty cheers; and as soon
as they had ceased, the captain's voice was heard ordering two boats
away under the command of the third lieutenant, who was directed to take
charge of the prize, and to send her crew on board the ship.
Not a moment was to be lost, as the rest of the enemy, under all sail,
were endeavouring to make their escape.
The boats of the prize, which proved to be the _Alexander_, carrying
twenty-four guns and upwards of a hundred men, were then lowered, and
employed in conveying her crew to the ship.
The American captain and officers were inclined to grumble at first.
"Very sorry, gentlemen, to incommode you," said the English lieutenant,
as he hurried them down the side; "but necessity has no law; my orders
are to send you all on board the frigate, as the captain is in a hurry
to go in chase of your friends, of which we hope to have one or two more
in our possession before long."
The lieutenant altered his tone when the Americans began to grumble.
"You must go at once, or take the consequences," he exclaimed; and the
prisoners saw that it would be wise to obey.
They were received very politely on board the ship, Captain Waring
offering to accept their parole if they were ready to give it, and
promise not to attempt to interfere with the discipline and regulations
of the ship.
As soon as the prisoners were transferred to the _Foxhound_, she made
all sail in chase of the large ship, which Captain Waring now heard was
the sixty-four gun ship _Menager_, laden with gunpowder, but now
mounting on her maindeck twenty-six long twelve-pounders, and on her
quarter-deck four long six-pounders, with a crew of two hundred and
twenty men.
Her force was considerably greater than that of the English frigate, but
Captain Waring did not for a moment hesitate to continue in pursuit of
her. A stern chase, however, is a long chase. The day wore on, and
still the French ship kept ahead of the _Foxhound_.
The crew were piped to dinner to obtain fresh strength for renewing the
fight.
"Well, lads," said Green, who was a bit of a wag in his way, as he
looked at the powder-boys still seated on their tubs, "as you have still
got your heads on your shoulders, you may put some food into your
mouths. Maybe you won't have another opportunity after we get up with
the big 'un we are chasing. I told you, mates," he added, turning to
the crew of his gun, "the captain knew what he was about, and would make
the Frenchmen haul down their flags before we hauled down ours. I
should not be surprised if we got the whole lot of them."
The boys, having returned their powder to the magazine till it was again
wanted, were glad enough to stretch their legs, and still more to follow
Green's advice by swallowing the food which was served out to them.
The rest of the enemy's squadron were still in sight, scattered here and
there, and considerably ahead of the _Menager_; the frigate was,
however, gaining on the latter, and if the wind held, would certainly be
up with her some time in the afternoon.
Every stitch of canvas she could carry was set on board the _Foxhound_.
It was already five o'clock. The crew had returned to their quarters,
and the powder-monkeys were seated on their tubs. Both the pursuer and
pursued were on the larboard tack, going free.
"We have her now within range of our guns," cried Captain Waring. "Luff
up, master, and we'll give her a broadside."
Just as he uttered the words a squall struck the frigate. Over she
heeled, the water rushing in through her lower deck ports, which were
unusually low, and washing over the deck.
The crews of the lee guns, as they stood up to their knees in water,
fully believed that she was going over. In vain they endeavoured to run
in their guns. More and more she heeled over, till the water was nearly
up to their waists. None flinched, however. The guns must be got in,
and the ports shut, or the ship would be lost.
"What's going to happen?" cried Tom Fletcher. "We are going down! we
are going down!"