The stranger, which had apparently been beating down Channel, now put up
her helm, and setting studden sails stood to the eastward before the
wind. She failed also to answer the private signal; no doubt,
therefore, remained that she was French, and wished to avoid an action,
though, as she appeared to be as large as the English frigate, if not
larger, this was somewhat surprising.
"Perhaps she has some consorts to the eastward, and wishes to lead us
into their midst during the night," observed Mr Saltwell.
"She will find that she's mistaken. We will keep too bright a look-out
to be so caught," said the captain.
The first lieutenant, as he was walking forward, caught sight of Bill
and Jack.
"Why, lads, where do you come from?" he asked.
As he spoke he recognised Bill.
"Are you not the lad who gave notice of the plot of the American captain
to capture our ship?" he asked.
Bill acknowledged that such was the case.
"I am truly glad that you have escaped. I promised our late captain
that I would keep an eye on you," he continued, "and I shall now have
the opportunity. I thought you, with the rest of our poor fellows, had
been lost when our ship blew up."
Bill briefly described their adventures, and the lieutenant seemed much
interested. He said he would have them at once entered on the ship's
books, for as they were likely soon to be engaged with the enemy, it
might be of importance to them.
He accordingly sent for the purser, to whom he gave the proper
directions. Bill and Jack then made their way below.
On passing the galley they saw a boy busily employed, assisting the
cook's mate in cleaning pots and pans. He looked up at them and
started, letting drop the pot at which he was scrubbing.
"What! Bill! Jack! I thought you had gone to Davy Jones's locker," he
exclaimed. "Are you really yourselves?"
"No doubt about it, Tom," answered Bill and in a few words they again
told their adventures.
Tom soon recovered from his astonishment. He appeared somewhat ashamed
of his present occupation. He had got into a scrape, he acknowledged,
and had been ordered to assist the cook's mate.
"I wish you would tell him, Tom, that we are very hungry, as we have had
a long pull, and that if he would give us something to eat we should be
very much obliged to him. If he's a good-natured fellow, I daresay he
will."
Tom undertook to plead for them with the cook himself, who just then put
his head out of the galley. The cook, without hesitation, on hearing
their story, gave them each a basin of broth and a handful of biscuit.
While they were eating they asked Tom to tell them how he had escaped.
"I've no very clear notion about the matter," he answered; "I must have
been in the water, for I found myself lying at the bottom of a boat wet
to the skin, and more dead than alive. There were a dozen or more of
our fellows in her, and Mr Saltwell, our first lieutenant, who had been
picked up, I supposed, as I had been. They thought I was done for, and,
as the boat was overloaded, they were about to heave me overboard, when
I opened my eyes, and sang out, `Don't;' so they let me remain, and
after some time pulled alongside a cutter, on board which we were taken
and looked after below. Shortly afterwards we went in chase of a French
craft of the same rig as ours, but she got away, and we then steered for
Plymouth. We were at first taken on board the guardship, where we
remained some time, and then I was transferred with others to this
frigate, the _Thisbe_, of which, to my great satisfaction, I found that
Mr Saltwell had been appointed first lieutenant. Thinking that, as we
had shared a common misfortune, he would stand my friend, I went up to
him, and telling him that I was a gentleman's son, begged he would have
me put on the quarter-deck. He told me that if I did my duty I should
have as good a chance as others; but here I am set to scrape potatoes
and clean pots and pans. It's a shame, a great shame, and I can't stand
it."
Bill and Jack had a tolerably correct notion why Tom was not better off,
but they did not say so, as they did not wish to hurt his feelings, and
were grateful to him for having obtained for them the broth and
biscuits.
They had scarcely finished their meal when the order came to extinguish
the galley fire.
A short time afterwards the drum beat to quarters, and every one was
employed in getting the ship ready for action.
Jack and Bill expected that they would be employed in their former
occupation of powder-monkeys, though, having been awake all the previous
night, and in active exertion the whole of the day, notwithstanding the
expectation of a battle, they could with difficulty keep their eyes
open. They were going with the rest of the boys to the powder-magazine,
when they heard their names called out, and the ship's corporal
appearing, told them that the first lieutenant had directed that they
should turn in below and take some sleep.
A couple of hammocks were slung for them forward, and they very gladly
obeyed the order.
Bill made an effort to keep awake, that he might turn out again should
the ship go into action, but in less than two minutes drowsiness
overtook him, and he went fast asleep.
He dreamed, however, that he heard the guns firing, and the crew
shouting, and that he got up and found that the frigate had taken the
Frenchman.
Meantime, however, the wind falling light, the frigate made but slow
progress, though she still kept the enemy in sight.
When Bill really awoke, the light was streaming down through the
fore-hatchway. He roused up Jack, as there was no one below to call
them, and on going on deck they discovered the crew at their quarters,
and the French frigate almost within range of their guns.
She was to leeward, for the wind was still in its former quarter, and
she had just then hauled up and backed her main-topsail to await their
coming.
She was now seen to carry four more guns than the _Thisbe_, and to be
apparently considerably larger, her bright, polished sides showing that
she had not been long out of harbour.
When a ship goes into action, sail is generally shortened, but Captain
Martin kept all the _Thisbe's_ set, and stood on, bearing down directly
for the enemy.
Jack had been sent to join the other boys, who were employed in bringing
up the powder as required from the magazine, but the first lieutenant
directed Bill to remain near him.
Jack took his seat as a matter of course on his tub, and, as it
happened, next to Tom.
"How are you feeling?" asked Tom, who looked rather pale.
"Much as I generally do, only I am rather peckish," answered Jack. "I
wish we had had time for breakfast before thrashing the mounseers, but I
hope that won't take us very long."
"I hope not," said Tom; "only they say that the French ship is the
bigger of the two."
"What's the odds of that, provided we can work our guns twice as fast as
they can?" observed Jack; "that's the way we licked the Frenchmen
before, and, of course, we shall lick them again; but I say, Tom, what
makes you look so melancholy?"
"Do I? Well, if you want to know, I was thinking of home, and wishing I
had not run off to sea. I've had a miserable life of it since I came on
board this frigate. It was my own fault that I did not go back when I
was last on shore. I had the chance, but was ashamed to show my face."
"There's no use thinking about that sort of thing now," said Jack. "We
shall be fighting the Frenchmen in a few minutes, and the round and
grape shot and bullets will be flying about our ears."
"That's what I don't quite like the thoughts of," replied Tom. "I hope
neither you nor I will be hit, Jack."
"Of course not," said Jack; "it wouldn't be pleasant, though we must do
our duty, and trust to chance, or rather trust in Providence, like the
rest."
"I don't envy Bill up on deck there," remarked Tom. "I wonder what the
first lieutenant wants with him."
"Perhaps he intends to turn him into a midshipman," suggested Jack.
"Into a midshipman! a London street boy, who scarcely knows who his
father was," ejaculated Tom. "I should think he would have made me one
before him."
"The first lieutenant doesn't care a rap what he or his father was. He
remembers only the way Bill saved the ship from being taken by the
American skipper, and he seemed highly pleased at our having escaped
from France. I tell you I shouldn't be at all surprised if Bill is
placed on the quarter-deck," said Jack.
Tom gave a grunt of dissatisfaction. The conversation had a good
effect, as far as he was concerned, as it made him forget the fears he
had entertained about his personal safety.
In the meantime Bill remained on deck watching what was going forward.
He heard Captain Martin tell the first lieutenant that he intended to
engage the enemy to leeward, in order to prevent her escape; but as the
_Thisbe_ approached the French ship, the latter, suspecting his
intention, so as to frustrate it, wore round on the starboard tack.
After much skilful seamanship on both sides, Captain Martin, finding
that he could not succeed, ranged up to windward of the enemy within
pistol shot, both ships being on the larboard tack, two or three points
off the wind.
They now simultaneously opened their broadsides, the shot of the
_Thisbe_ telling with considerable effect, while not a few of those of
the enemy came on board in return, cutting up her rigging, and laying
low three or four of her men.
The French ship now passed under the stern of the _Thisbe_, firing her
larboard broadside with great precision. A second time she attempted to
repeat the manoeuvre, but the crew of the _Thisbe_, having quickly rove
new braces, her sails were thrown aback, and gathering sternway, her
starboard quarter took the larboard bow of the French frigate.
The French on this made several attempts to board, but the marines, who
were drawn up on deck, opened so warm a fire that they were driven back
with considerable loss.
The _Thisbe_ had now her enemy fast to her quarter. In order to keep
her there, Captain Martin and some of his crew endeavoured to lash her
bowsprit to his mizenmast; while others were engaged in bringing a gun
to bear, out of a port which the carpenters quickly cut through the
stern windows and quarter gallery.
While they were thus engaged, the enemy kept up a hot fire on them,
several men being killed and wounded; but the gun was at length brought
into position.
"Now fire, my lads!" cried the second lieutenant, who was superintending
the operation.
After the first, discharge, no sooner had the smoke cleared away, than
full twenty Frenchmen were seen stretched on the deck.
Bill had been standing near the first lieutenant. A marine had just
loaded his musket, but was knocked over before he had time to fire it.
Bill at that moment saw a French seaman run along the bowsprit with a
musket in his hand. Bill, springing forward, seized that of the marine,
and, as he did so, he observed the Frenchman taking aim at the head of
Mr Saltwell, whose eyes were turned in a different direction.
There was not a moment for deliberation. Without ceremony pushing the
lieutenant aside, he fired at the Frenchman, who, as he did so,
discharged his musket, but immediately fell overboard, the ball tearing
away the rim of Mr Saltwell's hat, but without hurting him.
The first lieutenant, turning round, perceived the way by which his life
had been saved.
"Thank you, my lad," he said, "I see how you did it, and I'll not forget
the service you have rendered me."
There was no time just then for saying more, for a party of Frenchmen
were attempting to fire a carronade on their forecastle. Before they
could succeed, the marines had picked off the greater number. Others
took their places, but every man of them was treated in the same manner.
At last the attempt to fire the gun was abandoned.
The French ship now getting a breeze, began to forge ahead. This
enabled the _Thisbe's_ crew to bring their aftermost gun on the
starboard side to bear, the first discharge from which cut away the
gammoning of the French frigate's bowsprit.
The two ships now separated, but were soon again abreast of each other
exchanging broadsides; but so rapidly did the English crew work their
guns that they managed to fire three to the Frenchman's two.
A loud cheer burst from their throats as they saw the enemy's
maintopmast go over the side. The _Thisbe_ now forged ahead clear of
her adversary, and the breeze dying away, the firing ceased on both
sides. Still the Frenchmen kept their colours flying.
The English crew were busily employed in knotting and splicing the
rigging which had been cut away, and repairing other damages.
"I hope they've had enough of it, and that the fighting is over,"
exclaimed Tom.
"Not so sure of that," said Jack. "The French take a good deal of
drubbing, and don't always know when they are beaten."
Tom felt, at all events, that he had had enough of it, as he looked
along the deck and saw numbers of the men who had been slightly hurt
binding up each other's wounds. Several lay stiff and stark, whose
bodies were dragged on one side, while not a few, severely hurt, had
been carried below to the cockpit, where the surgeon and his mates had
ample employment.
Among the killed was the second lieutenant, a master's mate, and two
young midshipmen; altogether of the two hundred and fifty men who that
morning were in health and strength, forty were either killed outright
or were severely wounded.
Just then, however, the survivors were too much occupied to think about
the matter; every man and boy was wanted to get the ship to rights, and
all were eagerly looking out for a breeze that they might again attack
the enemy. Bill was as eager as any one for the fight. He felt that he
was somebody, as he could not help reflecting that he had done good
service in saving the life of the first lieutenant, though he did not
exactly expect any reward in consequence. It seemed to him that he had
grown suddenly from a powder monkey into a man. Still the calm
continued, and the two ships lay with their sails against the masts, the
water shining like a polished mirror.
The calm was to the advantage of the French, who had thus longer time to
repair their damages. The English were soon ready to renew the action.
What, however, might not happen in the meantime?
Both the captain and Mr Saltwell thought it possible that the French
squadron might be to the eastward, and should the firing have been
heard, and a breeze spring up from that direction, which it was very
likely to do, the Frenchmen in overwhelming force might be down upon
them.
The captain walked the deck, looking anxiously out in every direction
for signs of a breeze. Occasionally reports were brought to him of the
way the wounded men were getting on. The surgeons had as much work as
they could get through, cutting off arms and legs, setting broken limbs,
and binding up flesh wounds. Such are the horrors of war! How many
might be added ere long to the number of the killed and wounded!
It was nearly noon when the captain exclaimed, "Here comes a breeze!
Trim sails, my lads!" The men flew to the braces. The canvas blew out,
and the frigate began slowly to move towards her antagonist.