The morning after the day they landed in Spain, Rayner had gone down to
the beach with Mr Saltwell, who wanted, he said, to have another look
at the remains of the old barkie. The midshipman was examining the
black ribs of the wreck appearing above water through the telescope
which the lieutenant had lent him, when the latter exclaimed, "Do you
see a sail away to the south-east?"
The sun glanced for a moment on her canvas.
"Yes, sir," answered Rayner. "She's a large craft, too, for I can only
just see her royals rising above the horizon. She's standing in this
direction."
"Hand me the glass," said Mr Saltwell. "You are right, youngster," he
continued, looking through it. "I only hope that she may be one of our
own cruisers, but it will be some time before that point can be
decided."
After watching the approaching stranger for some time the lieutenant and
midshipman returned with the intelligence to the farm-house where the
captain and several of the other officers were quartered.
Hoping that she might be the _Ione_, Captain Martin ordered the first
yawl to be got ready to go off to her. The crew were then mustered.
Eight did not answer to their names. It was known how five had died,
but what had become of the other three? At length it was whispered
among the men that they had managed to get drinking the previous night,
and had fallen below, stupefied by the smoke.
The men having breakfasted, the greater number hurried down to the shore
to have a look at the stranger, now approaching under all sail.
Three cheers were uttered as the flag of England flew out at her peak.
The captain immediately ordered Mr Sterling to pull off to her, and to
request that his officers and ship's company might be received on board.
"You will make sure before you get near that she is English," he
whispered. "The Frenchman may have a fancy to take some Spaniards
prisoners, and would be better pleased to get hold of you."
Rayner went as midshipman of the boat, which made good way towards the
frigate now lying hove-to about three miles from the shore.
"What do you think of her, Noakes?" asked the lieutenant of the
coxswain, as they got nearer.
The old seaman took a steady glance at the stranger, surveying her from
truck to water-line.
"If she doesn't carry a British crew, the Frenchmen must have got hold
of her since we parted company three days ago, and I don't think that's
likely, or there would be not a few shot-holes in her canvas, and a
pretty good sprinkling in her hull, too," he answered, in a confident
tone. "She's the _Ione_, sir, or I don't know a frigate from a Dutch
dogger."
Now certain that there was no mistake, Mr Sterling steered for the
frigate. Pulling alongside, he and Rayner stepped on board. Captain
Dickson, with most of his officers, were on deck.
"Where is your ship?" was the first question the captain asked of the
lieutenant.
"There is all that remains of her," answered Mr Sterling, pointing to
the blackened ribs of the ship, which could be distinguished through a
telescope near the shore; and he gave an account of what had happened.
Due regrets at the occurrence having been expressed, Captain Dickson
saying that he had been induced to stand into the bay in consequence of
hearing the sound of the explosion, at once ordered out all the boats,
and in a few minutes they were pulling for the shore, accompanied by the
yawl.
The _Ione_, meantime, was standing in somewhat nearer, to be ready to
receive the crew of the store-ship on board.
No time was lost in embarking, and it was with intense satisfaction that
Captain Martin and those under him found themselves again on the deck of
an English frigate.
Sail was at once made for Gibraltar, Malta not having at that time been
taken possession of by the English. As the two ships' companies had to
be stowed away below, they were compelled to pack pretty closely, but no
one minded that, as they expected a speedy passage to the Rock, while
the officers and crew of the store-ship hoped immediately to be sent
back to England.
It is too true a saying that "There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the
lip." The _Ione_ was about midway between the Spanish coast and
Majorca, when, as morning broke, a number of ships were seen standing
out from the direction of Minorca. At first it was supposed that they
were part of the English fleet, but after two of the lieutenants had
taken a careful survey of them from aloft, it was decided that they were
French.
"They have seen us, and guess what we are," observed Captain Dickson to
his brother captain. "See, here come two frigates in chase. Turn the
hands up and make sail!" he added, addressing the first lieutenant.
The crew were quickly aloft, and every stitch of canvas the _Ione_ could
set was packed upon her. There was no disgrace in running from so
superior a force. The _Ione_ was considered a good sailer, but the
Frenchmen showed that they were still faster. Captain Dickson, however,
had no intention of yielding his ship as long as he had a stick standing
to escape with. Full of men as he now was, he hoped to beat off both
his foes, though he could not expect to capture them in sight of an
enemy's squadron. As they got nearer, a couple of guns were trained aft
to serve as stern chasers, and every preparation was made to fight for
life and liberty.
Another frigate and two line-of-battle ships were seen standing after
the first, but they were so far astern, that should the _Ione_ keep
ahead, without having her masts and spars shot away, there might still
be hopes of her escaping.
British seamen seldom wish to avoid a fight, but on the present occasion
few on board were such fire-eaters as not to hope that they might keep
well ahead of their foes.
The two frigates were rapidly gaining on the _Ione_; another half-hour,
or even less, and she would be within range of their guns. To hit her,
however, they would have to yaw, and this would enable her to gain on
them, while she could fire without altering her course.
Jack and Tom every now and then got a glimpse of the enemy through the
ports.
"I say, Jack, it isn't fair of those two fellows out there to be chasing
us after all we have gone through. I was hoping to go home and see my
father, and ask him to get me placed on the quarter-deck. I shouldn't
like to be killed till I've been made a midshipman--not that I should
like it then."
"Don't you be talking nonsense about being made a midshipman. You've
about as much chance as you have of being made port-admiral off-hand,"
answered Jack, with more temper than he generally showed. "Of course
you don't want to be killed--no more do I; but we must both be ready
should it be God's will to call us in the way of duty."
At length the drum beat to quarters, by which the men knew that the
captain expected before long to be engaged in a fierce fight.
Rayner was at his station forward, but he could still see what was
taking place astern. Presently the frigates yawed. Two flashes were
seen, and the low, booming sound of a couple of guns came across the
ocean.
"We're not quite within range of the mounseers' popguns yet," observed
the boatswain, with a laugh. "They must come closer before they can
harm us."
"Do you think we can beat them off?" asked Rayner.
"You may be very sure that we'll try pretty hard to do so," answered the
boatswain, in a confident tone. "I've heard of your doings aboard the
_Thisbe_. We'll show you that the crew of the _Ione_ are made of the
same stuff."
As the two Frenchmen drew nearer, the desire of the British sailors to
fight increased, and it was with a feeling of almost bitter
disappointment, just as the _Ione_ had fired her stern chasers, that the
enemy were seen to haul their tacks aboard, in answer, apparently, to
the signals made by the ships astern.
The general opinion was that the British fleet had appeared to the
eastward. Whether or not this was the case it was impossible to say.
The _Ione_ continued her course, and in a short time ran the enemy out
of sight. On her arrival at Gibraltar, the first intelligence Mr
Saltwell received was that he had been promoted to the rank of
commander.
The very next day two ships came in from the fleet with despatches,
which the _Ione_ was directed to carry immediately to England.
As they were both short of hands, much to Captain Martin's annoyance, a
considerable number of his men were drafted on board them. Had other
ships come in, he would probably have lost many more. The _Ione_ sailed
immediately with the remainder, and he hoped that they would form the
nucleus of a new crew for the _Thisbe_.
The _Ione_ had a quick passage to Plymouth. On his arrival there, much
to his disappointment, Captain Martin found that the _Thisbe_ was not
yet ready for sea.
Rayner was considering how to dispose of himself during the intermediate
time. He did not expect that Mrs Crofton would offer him a room, but
he wished, at all events, to pay her and Mary a visit, as they had
always shown so friendly a feeling towards him. When, however, she
heard how he was situated, she insisted that he should take up his
quarters with them.
"I do not require any payment, as I have no other lodger at present, and
I am only too glad to have you," she said, in a kind tone.
Rayner thanked her very warmly, and accepted her offer.
"I daresay Captain Saltwell will come and see us as soon as he has time.
I was delighted to hear that he had obtained his promotion, and I hope,
Mr Rayner, that you will soon get yours. You have surely served long
enough to pass for a mate, and I would advise you to apply at once, that
you may be ready for your lieutenancy."
"I am afraid that I should have but little chance of passing, but I'll
try," said Rayner. "I am told the examinations are very stiff. If a
midshipman doesn't answer every question put to him, he is turned back
immediately."
"At all events, go in and try, and take a testimonial from Captain
Saltwell," said Mrs Crofton, who had heard something of the way
examinations were conducted in those days.
Rayner found, on inquiry, that, fortunately, a board was to sit the very
next day, and, meeting Captain Saltwell, he mentioned his intention.
"The very thing I was going to advise," was the answer. "I'll write a
letter to Captain Cranston, and you can take it with you."
Next morning Rayner presented himself on board the flagship, where he
found several other midshipmen ready to go up. First one, and then
another, was sent for, and came back with smiling faces. At last one,
who certainly did not look as if he would set the Thames on fire, went
in. In a short time he reappeared, grumbling and complaining that it
was very hard a fellow who had been at sea six years should be turned
back.
Rayner's turn came next. Comparatively but a few questions were asked
in navigation. He had no difficulty in answering those put to him in
seamanship. At last, Captain Cranston, knitting his brow, and looking
very serious, said--
"Now, Mr Rayner, supposing the ship you are in charge of is caught on a
lee shore with a hurricane blowing, and you find yourself embayed; what
would you do?"
"If there was holding ground, I should let go the best bower, and make
all snug aloft."
"But suppose the best bower is carried away?"
"I should let go the second bower, sir."
"But suppose you lose that?" asked the captain, looking still more
serious.
"I should cut away the masts and bring up with my sheet anchor."
"But in the event of losing that, Mr Rayner, how would you next
proceed?"
"I should have done all that a man can do, and should look out for the
most suitable place for running the ship ashore."
"But, suppose you could find no suitable place, Mr Rayner?"
"Then, sir, I should let her find one for herself, and make the best
preparations time would allow for saving the lives of her people, when
she struck."
"I have the pleasure to inform you, Mr Rayner, that you have passed
your examination very creditably," said Captain Cranston, handing him
his papers.
Rayner, thanking the captain, and bowing, made his exit. On afterwards
comparing notes with the midshipman who had been turned back, he
mentioned the question which had been put to him.
"Why, that's the very one he asked me," said his companion. "I told him
I would club-haul the ship, and try all sorts of manoeuvres to beat out
of the bay, and would not on any account let her go ashore."
"I'm not surprised that you were turned back, old fellow," observed
Rayner, with a laugh.
On returning on shore he met Commander Saltwell. "I congratulate you,
Rayner," he said. "I have just received orders to commission the _Lily_
sloop-of-war, and I will apply to have you with me. By-the-bye, where
are you going to put up?"
"Mrs Crofton has asked me to go to her house, and as I thought that you
would have no objection, I accepted her offer, sir," answered Rayner.
"I am glad to hear it; the very best thing you could do," said Commander
Saltwell. "Though many would prefer the freedom of an inn, I admire
your good taste in taking advantage of the opportunity offered you to
pass your time in the society of refined, right-minded persons like Mrs
Crofton and her daughter."
Our hero spent a few happy days with the kind widow and Mary, who both
evidently took a warm interest in his welfare. It was the first time he
had been living on shore, except during his sojourn in France, since he
first went to sea. He was introduced to some of the few friends they
possessed, and he made several pleasant excursions with them to visit
some of the beautiful scenery in the neighbourhood of Plymouth. His
observation, unknown to himself, enabled him rapidly to adapt himself to
the manners of people of education, and no one would have recognised in
the gentlemanly young midshipman the powder monkey of a short time back.
It was with more regret than he supposed he could possibly have felt
that he received a summons to join the _Lily_, now fitting out with all
despatch for the West Indies. Though he no longer belonged to the
_Thisbe_, it was with much sorrow that he heard she was pronounced unfit
for sea, and that her crew had been dispersed. He made inquiries for
Jack and Tom. The former, he discovered, had gone to pay his mother a
visit; but, though he searched for Tom, he could nowhere hear of him.
The day after he had joined the _Lily_, he was well pleased to see Jack
come on board.
"I found out, sir, that you belonged to the corvette, as I thought you
would when I heard that Mr Saltwell was appointed to command her," said
Jack; "so, sir, I made up my mind to volunteer for her, if I could
escape being pressed before I got back to Plymouth."
"I am glad to see you, Peek," said our hero. "Have you heard anything
of Tom Fletcher?"
"Well, sir, I'm sorry to say I have," answered Jack. "He has been
knocking about Plymouth, hiding away from the press-gangs in all sorts
of places, instead of going home to his father, as he said he would. I
only found him last night, and tried to persuade him to join the _Lily_
with me, but he'd still a shiner or two in his locker, and he couldn't
make up his mind to come till the last had gone. I know where to find
him, and I'll try again after I have entered on board the _Lily_."
"Do so," said Rayner. "He may be better off with a friend like you to
look after him than left to himself."
Rayner had the satisfaction of seeing Jack rated as an A.B. Several of
the _Thisbe's_ crew had joined the _Lily_, and besides them Ben Twinch,
who, owing to Captain Martin's recommendation, had been raised to the
rank of warrant officer, was appointed to her as boatswain.
"Very glad to be with you again, Mr Rayner," said honest Ben; "and I
hope before the ship is paid off to see you one of her lieutenants. We
are likely to have a good ship's company; and I am glad to say my
brother warrant officers, Mr Coles the gunner, and Mr Jenks the
carpenter, are men who can be trusted."
Rayner's own messmates were all strangers. The first lieutenant, Mr
Horrocks, a red-faced man, with curly whiskers, and as stiff as a poker,
had not much the cut of a naval officer; while the second lieutenant,
Mr Lascelles, who was delicate, refined, young, and good-looking,
offered a great contrast to him.
They were both not only civil but kind to Rayner, of whom Commander
Saltwell had spoken highly to them.
Jack had been twice on shore to look out for Tom, and had returned
saying that he could not persuade him to come on board.
At last, when the ship was almost ready for sea, being still some hands
short of her complement, Rayner obtained leave for Jack, with two other
men who could be trusted to try and bring him off, and any others they
could pick up.
Late in the evening a shore boat came off with several men in her, and
Jack made his appearance on deck, where Rayner was doing duty as mate of
the watch.
"I have brought him, sir, though he does not exactly know where he is
coming to," said Jack.
"I found him with his pockets emptied and the landlady of the house
where he was lodging about to turn him out of doors. We managed to
bring him along, sir, however, and to-morrow morning, when he comes to
his senses, I have no doubt he'll be thankful to enter."
"I'm glad to hear you've got him safe at last, and I know you'll look
after him," said Rayner.
Next morning Tom, not knowing that Rayner was on board, or how he
himself came there, entered as an ordinary seaman, which placed him in
an inferior position to Jack Peek, who might soon, from his activity and
good conduct, be raised to the rank of a petty officer.
Our hero paid a last visit to Mrs Crofton and Mary, promising, as they
asked him to do, to write whenever he could obtain an opportunity.
At length the _Lily_, a fine corvette, carrying twenty guns on a flush
deck and a complement of one hundred and twenty men, was ready for sea.
On going down the Sound she found the _Latona_, which ship she was to
assist in convoying a fleet of merchantmen brought up in Cawsand Bay.
As the men-of-war approached, the merchant vessels, to the number of
nearly fifty, got under way and stood down Channel. It was pretty hard
work to keep them together, and the corvette was employed in continually
firing signals to urge on the laggers, or to prevent the faster craft
from running out of sight. What with shortening and making sail and
signalling, together with getting a newly commissioned ship into trim,
the time of all on board was pretty well occupied, and Rayner had no
opportunity of learning anything about Tom Fletcher. A bright look-out
was kept on every side, for an enemy might at any moment appear,
especially at night, when it was possible some daring privateer might
pounce down and attempt to carry off one of the merchantmen, just as a
hawk picks off a hapless chicken from a brood watched over so carefully
by the hen.
The wind was fair, the sea calm, and the traders bound for Jamaica
safely reached Port Royal harbour, the remainder being convoyed to the
other islands by the _Latona_ and _Lily_, which were afterwards to be
sent to cruise in search of the enemy's privateers. Our hero had not
forgotten Tom Fletcher, but watched in the hopes of doing him a service
Jack's report of him had not been favourable. He had talked of going
home to his father, and had plenty of money in his pocket to do so, but
instead of that he had gone to dancing-houses and similar places
resorted to by seamen, where his money rapidly disappeared. He might
have fallen into the docks, or died in the streets, had not Jack found
him and brought him on board the _Lily_. For some neglect of duty his
leave had been stopped, and, fortunately for himself, he was not allowed
to go on shore at Port Royal when the ship put in there. Tom, however,
still avoided Rayner, who had no opportunity, unless he expressly sent
to speak to him, to give him a word of advice or encouragement.
Jack, who was really the best friend he had in the ship, did his utmost
to keep him out of mischief.
"It's all very fine for you to talk that way," answered Tom, when one
day Jack had been giving him a lecture. "You got rated as an able
seaman, and now have been made captain of the mizen-top, too, and will,
I suppose, before long, get another step; and here am I sticking where I
was. It's no fault of mine, that I can see. I'll cut and run if I have
the chance, for I cannot bear to see others placed over my head, as you
and Bill Rayner have been, and to see him walking the quarter-deck in a
brand new uniform, and talking to the officers as friendly and easy as
if he had been born among them, while I, a gentleman's son, remain a
foremast man, with every chance of being one to the end of my days."
"There's no use grumbling, Tom; all you have to think about is to do
your duty with smartness, keep sober, and to avoid doing anything wrong,
and with your education, which I wish I had, you are sure to get on."
There is an old saying that it is useless to try and make a silk purse
out of a sow's ear. It is to be seen whether Tom Fletcher was like the
sow's ear.
Soon after the _Lily_ left Jamaica she fell in with the _Ariel_. As a
calm came on while they were in company, the officers of the two ships
paid visits to each other. Rayner, recollecting that Mary Crofton's
brother Oliver was serving in her, got leave to go on board, for the
purpose of making his acquaintance. He was much disappointed, on
inquiring for him, to learn that he had been sent away a few days
before, in charge of a prize, a brig called the _Clerie_, with orders to
take her to Jamaica.
"She ought to have arrived before you left there," observed the
midshipman who told him this.
"How provoking that I should have missed him, though I do not think any
such vessel came in while we were there," answered Rayner. "His mother
and sister are great friends of mine."
"They must be nice people if they are like him, for Oliver Crofton is a
capital fellow. He is as kind-hearted and even-tempered as he is brave
and good-looking, and he is a favourite with all on board."
"I am glad to hear that, though it makes me the more sorry that we
should have missed each other, but I hope before long to fall in with
him," observed Rayner.
A breeze springing up, the officers retired to their respective vessels,
and the _Lily_ and _Ariel_ parted company, the former rejoining the
frigate. While off Antigua, the wind being from the eastward, the
frigate made the signal of three strange sail to the south-west, and
directly afterwards to give chase.
All the canvas they could carry was set. In a short time one of the
strangers was seen to haul up to the northward, and the _Lily_ was
ordered to go in pursuit of her. She was apparently the smallest of the
three, but was still likely to prove no mean antagonist. As the _Lily_
appeared to be gaining on her, the commander gave the order to prepare
for action. The frigate meantime was standing after the other two
vessels. Before long her topsails, and finally her royals, disappeared
beneath the horizon.
"We shall have her all to ourselves, and we'll see how soon we can take
her," observed Mr Horrocks to the second lieutenant. "It is some time
since you smelt powder, Lascelles."
"Last time I smelt a good deal of it, when we were beating off a ship
twice our size, and should have taken her, too, had she not gone down in
the night," answered the second lieutenant, in his usual quiet tone. "I
got my promotion in consequence."
"And wrote an ode to victory, eh?" said Mr Horrocks, who was fond of
bantering his brother lieutenant on his fondness for poetry.
"And it was considered good," responded the young officer.
"You will have an opportunity of exercising your poetical talents before
long on the same subject, I hope," observed the first lieutenant. "We
are gaining fast on the chase."
Just then the look-out from the mast-head shouted, "Sail on the
starboard bow!"
"Go and see what she is like," said the commander to Rayner.
Our hero hurried aloft, his telescope hanging by a strap at his back.
He was quickly joined by the second lieutenant. They were of opinion
that she was a large craft, and that the object of the chase was to draw
the _Lily_ away from the frigate, so that the corvette might have two
opponents to contend with.
"We must manage to take her before she reaches the other, then we shall
have time to prepare for a second action," observed Mr Lascelles.
"Can she be the _Ariel_?" asked Rayner. "She's very likely to be
cruising hereabouts."
Mr Lascelles took another look at her through his glass.
"I think not," he answered. "The chase must have seen her, and must
know her to be a friend, or she would not keep on as she is at present
standing."
The two officers descended to make their report.
The _Lily_ was a fast craft, and now rapidly gained on the chase, which,
as she drew within range, fired a couple of shot.
Captain Saltwell ordered the two foremost guns to be fired in return.
The second lieutenant took charge of one and Rayner of the other. Both,
looking along the sights, gave them the proper elevation, and fired at
the same moment. The effect of the shot was beyond all expectation.
Down came the foreyard, shot away in the slings, causing, it was very
evident, considerable confusion on board.
"Bravo, Rayner! you did it!" cried Mr Lascelles. "My shot went through
the mainsail."
The enemy now opened fire from a broadside of ten guns, but not a shot
damaged the _Lily_, which, ranging up on the weather side of her
opponent, began blazing away as fast as the crews could run in and load
their guns.
The stranger was a large flush-decked vessel, crowded with men, many of
whom, stripped to the waist, were working away desperately at their
guns, while others opened a heavy fire of musketry.
As Rayner, who had charge of the foremost guns, was watching her, he
caught sight of a young man in the uniform of a midshipman, who sprang
suddenly up through the companion-hatch, and, making his way aft, seemed
to be addressing the captain with energetic action. Rayner got but a
glimpse of him, for the next moment there came a fearful roaring sound.
The deck of the enemy's ship rose in the air, rent into a thousand
fragments. Her masts and yards and sails shot upwards, and her dark
hull seemed suddenly to melt away.
The _Lily_ reeled with the shock, and the crew, astounded by the awful
catastrophe, for a moment forgot their discipline. Several of the men
were knocked down; indeed, it seemed surprising that any should have
escaped. Rayner remained at his station, and although several pieces of
burning plank fell close to him, he was uninjured.
The voice of the commander was soon heard recalling the men to their
duty, and ordering them to fill the buckets with water, to prevent the
blazing fragments which strewed the deck from setting the ship on fire.