ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT
The three vessels kept company until, on the third day after sailing,
they overtook the two merchantmen. Nat, supposing that the _Isis_ would
now leave them, went on board to thank the captain for the great
assistance that he had given him.
"I shall stay with you now, Mr. Glover. The news of the outbreak of war
will be known at Jamaica by this time, for the despatches were sent off
on the day before we sailed from home, by the _Fleetwing_, which is the
fastest corvette in the service. She was to touch at Antigua and then go
straight on to Port Royal. I was to carry the news to Barbados, so that
it does not make any difference whether I reach Kingston two hours
earlier or later. There is a possibility that the French may have sent
ships off even before they declared war with us, and as it is certain
that there are several war-ships of theirs out here, one of these might
fall in with you before you reach Jamaica. Therefore as my orders are
simply to report myself to the admiral at Kingston, I think it is quite
in accordance with my duty that I should continue to sail in company
with you."
"Thank you, sir. There certainly is at least one French frigate in the
bay of Hayti, and if she has received the news she is quite likely to
endeavour to pick up some prizes before it is generally known, just as
the _Spartane_ picked up those merchantmen, and though possibly we might
beat her off, I should very much prefer to be let alone."
"Yes, you have done enough for one trip, and I should much regret were
you to be deprived of any of your captures."
The _Agile_ was signalled to prepare to pick up her boat, and Nat was
soon on board his own craft again. He ran up to within speaking distance
of the _Spartane_, and shouted to Turnbull that the _Isis_ was going to
remain in company with them. Turnbull waved his hand, for although he
had not entertained any fear of their being attacked, he felt nervous at
his responsibility if a sudden gale should spring up and the temporary
rudder be carried away. It was a comfort to him to know that, should
this happen, the _Isis_ would doubtless take him in tow, for in anything
like a wind the _Agile_ would be of little use. However, the weather
continued fine, and in five days after leaving Barbados they entered
Kingston harbour. Three hours before, the _Isis_ had spread all sail,
and entered, dropping anchor half an hour before the _Agile_ sailed in
in charge of the three large ships. The brigantine was heartily cheered
by the crews of all the vessels in port, but it was naturally supposed
that it was the _Isis_ that had done the principal work in capturing the
_Spartane_. Her captain, however, had rowed to the flag-ship directly
they came in port, leaving Mr. Ferguson to see to the _Spartane_ being
anchored, and had given him a brief account of the nature of the
procession that was approaching three or four miles away.
"He is a most extraordinary young officer," the admiral said. "He first
distinguished himself nearly three years ago by rescuing the daughter of
a planter in Hayti, who was attacked by a fierce hound, and who would
have been killed had he not run up. He was very seriously hurt, but
managed to despatch the animal with his dirk. Since that time he has
been constantly engaged in different adventures. He was in that
desperate fight when the _Orpheus_ broke up a notorious horde of pirates
on the mainland, and distinguished himself greatly. He was up country in
Hayti when the negroes rose, and he there saved from the blacks a lady
and her daughter, the same girl that he had rescued from the dog, and
shot eight of the villains, but had one of his ribs broken by a ball. In
spite of that, he carried the lady, who was ill with fever, some thirty
miles across a rough country down to Cape Francois in a litter.
"Then I gave him the command of a little cockle-shell of a schooner
mounting four guns, carrying only twenty men. Hearing of a planter and
his family in the hands of the blacks, he landed the whole of his crew,
while expecting himself to be attacked by boats, and rescued the
planter, three ladies, and six white men, and got them down on board,
although opposed by three hundred negroes. Then he captured the
brigantine he now commands, and a valuable prize that she had taken, and
you say he has now captured a French thirty-six-gun frigate, after a
fight in which she lost in killed and wounded half her crew, and
recovered two Indiamen she had picked up on her way out."
They went out on the quarter-deck, where the admiral repeated to his
officers the story that he had just heard, and from them it soon
circulated round the ship. Some of the crew had just cleaned the guns
with which they had returned the salute fired by the _Isis_ as she
entered the port on arriving for the first time on the station, but they
were scarcely surprised when, as the brigantine approached, the first
lieutenant gave the order for ten more blank cartridges to be brought
up, and for the crew to prepare to man the yards. But the surprise of
those on board the other ships of war and the merchantmen was great when
they saw the sailors swarming up the ratlines and running out on the
yards.
"It is an unusual thing," the admiral remarked to the captains of the
_Isis_ and his own ship, "and possibly contrary to the rules of the
service, but I think the occasion excuses it."
The brigantine did not salute as she came into the port, as she was
considered to be on the station.
"What can they be doing on board the flag-ship?" Nat said to Lippincott.
"I think they are going to man the yards. It is not the king's birthday,
or anything of that sort, that I know of; but as it is just eight bells
it must be something of the kind."
As they came nearly abreast of the flag-ship, the signal, "Well done,
_Agile_!" was run up, and at the same moment there was a burst of white
smoke, and a thundering report, and a tremendous cheer rose from the
seamen on the yards.
"They are saluting us, sir," Lippincott exclaimed.
The ensign had been dipped in salute to the flag, and the salute had
been acknowledged by the admiral five minutes before. Lippincott now
sprang to the stern, and again lowered the ensign. The admiral and all
his officers were on their quarter-deck, and as he raised his cocked hat
the others stood bareheaded. Nat uncovered. He was so moved that he had
difficulty in keeping back his tears, and he felt a deep relief when the
last gun had fired, and the cheers given by his own handful of men and
by those on board the prizes had ceased. For the next quarter of an hour
he was occupied in seeing that the four vessels were anchored in safe
berths. Then, as the signal for him to go on board the flag-ship was
hoisted, he reluctantly took his place in the gig, and went to make his
report. The admiral saw by his pale face that he was completely
unnerved, and at once took him into his cabin.
"I see, Mr. Glover," he began kindly, "that you would much rather that I
did not say anything to you at present. The welcome that has been given
to you speaks more than any words could do of our appreciation of your
gallant feat. I do not say that you have taken the first prize since war
was declared, for it is probable that other captures have been made
nearer home, but at any rate, it is the first that has been made in
these waters. I was surprised indeed when Captain Talbot told me that he
had a hundred French prisoners on board, and some fifty wounded. As he
had not the mark of a shot either in his sails or in his hull, I could
not understand, until he gave me an outline of what had taken place--of
how he had become possessed of them. Is your prize much injured?"
"She has a good many shot-holes on each quarter, sir, and the stern
lights and fittings are all knocked away. She suffered no very serious
damage. She requires a new mizzen-mast; but there is not a hole in her
canvas, which is all new, for we fired only at the stern, and it was
just below the deck that her mast was damaged."
"You have, I hope, written a full report of the engagement?"
Nat handed in his report. It was very short, merely stating that, having
fallen in with the thirty-six-gun French frigate the _Spartane_,
convoying two prizes, he had engaged her, and after placing himself on
her quarter, had raked her until her mizzen-mast fell, and her rudder
was smashed; that, seeing that she could not get away, he had then
returned to the prizes, which turned out to be the _Jane_ of Liverpool,
of eight hundred tons burden, and the _Flora_ of London, of nine hundred
and thirty. The crew of the latter, on seeing that the _Spartane_ was
crippled, had risen and overpowered the prize crew. The other struck her
colours when he came up to her. He then returned to the _Spartane_,
which struck her flag without further resistance.
"I desire to bring to your notice the great assistance I received from
Lieutenant Turnbull, whom I afterwards placed in charge of the prize,
and from Mr. Lippincott. It is also my duty to mention that
assistant-surgeon Doyle has been indefatigable in his attentions to my
own wounded and those of the _Spartane_."
Then followed the list of his own casualties, and those of the
_Spartane_.
"A very official report, Mr. Glover," the admiral said with a smile,
when he had glanced through it. "However, the admiralty will wish to
know the details of an action of so exceptional a character, and I must
therefore ask you to send me in as complete an account of the affair as
possible, both for my own information and theirs. Now, I think you had
better take a glass of wine. I can see that you really need one, and you
will have to receive the congratulations of my officers. By the way, do
you know anything of the cargoes of the two ships you retook?"
"No, sir, I have really not had time to enquire. Till we left Barbados
I was constantly employed, and on my way out I have kept close to the
_Spartane_ in order to be able to assist at once if anything went wrong
with the steering-gear. I should wish to say, sir, that I feel under the
deepest obligations to Captain Talbot for the great assistance that he
and his crew have rendered me in getting up the jury-mast, and fitting
up the temporary rudder. Had it not been for that I might have been
detained for some time at Barbados."
Having drunk a glass of wine, Nat went out with the admiral on to the
quarter-deck. The officers pressed round, shook hands, and congratulated
him. It did not last long, for the admiral said kindly:
"The sound of our cannon, gentlemen, has had a much greater effect upon
Mr. Glover's nerves than had those of his prize, and I think we must let
him off without any further congratulations for to-day. Besides, he has
a long report to write for me, and a good many other things to see to."
Nat was glad indeed to take his place in the gig, and to return to the
_Agile_. He spent two hours in writing his report in duplicate. When he
had done this he went ashore to the prize agent to enquire what
formalities were needed with regard to the recaptured merchantmen; and
having signed some official papers, he went up to Monsieur Duchesne's.
Monsieur Pickard and his family had sailed months before for England,
but the Duchesnes were still in possession of the house they had hired.
They enjoyed, they said, so much the feeling of rest and security that
they were by no means anxious for a sea voyage; and indeed Madame
Duchesne was still far from well, and her husband was reluctant to take
her to the cold climate of England until summer had well set in.
"Ah, my dear Nat," Madame Duchesne said, "we were hoping that you would
be able to spare time to call to-day. My husband would have gone off to
see you, but he knew that you had a great deal to do. All the town is
talking of your capture of the French frigate, and the recapture of the
two prizes that she had taken. Several of our friends have come in to
tell us about it; but of course we were not surprised, for your
capturing the frigate with the _Agile_ was no more wonderful than your
taking the _Agile_ with the _Arrow_."
"It was a lucky affair altogether, Madame Duchesne."
"I knew that you would say so," Myra said indignantly. "Whatever you do
you always say it is luck, as if luck could do everything. I have no
patience with you."
"I will endeavour not to use the word again in your presence, Myra," Nat
laughed. "But I have no time for an argument to-day, I have only just
run in for a flying visit to see how you are. I have no end of things to
see to, and I suppose it will be some days before all the business of
the prizes is finished, the frigate formally handed over, and the value
of the Indiamen and their cargo estimated. However, as soon as I am at
all free I will come in for a long talk. You know that there is nowhere
that I feel so happy and at home as I do here."
It was indeed three days before he had time to pay another visit.
"It is too bad of you, not coming to dinner," Myra said as he entered.
"We really did expect you."
"I hoped that I should be able to get here in time, but ever since I saw
you I have been going backwards and forwards between the ships and the
shore, calling at the dockyard and prize court. To-day there has been a
regular survey of the Spartane. They were so long over it that I began
to think I should not be able to get away at all."
"You will be becoming quite a millionaire," Monsieur Duchesne said, "if
you go on like this."
"Well, you see, we were lucky--I beg your pardon, Myra--I mean we were
fortunate. We had a very small crew on board the _Arrow_, and as it was
an independent command, the whole of the prize-money for the capture of
the _Agile_ and her prize was divided among us, with the exception of
the flag share; and I found, to my surprise, that my share came to
L2500. Without knowing anything of the cargoes of the prizes that I
have recaptured now, and what will be paid for the _Spartane_, I should
think that my share would come to twice as much this time, so that I
shall be able before long to retire into private life--that is, if I
have any inclination to do so."
"But I suppose," Madame Duchesne said, "that if you marry you will want
to settle down."
"I am too young to think of such a matter, madame," Nat laughed. "Why, I
am only just nineteen, and it will be quite soon enough to think of that
in another eight or ten years. But there is no doubt that when the time
comes I shall give up the sea. I don't think it is fair to a wife to
leave her at home while you are running the risk of being shot. It is
bad enough for her in time of peace, but in war-time it must be terrible
for her, and it strikes me that this war is likely to be a long one. It
seems to me that it is a question for a man to ask himself, whether he
loves his profession or a woman better. If he cares more for the sea, he
should remain single; if he thinks more of the woman, let him settle
down with her."
"That sounds very wise," Monsieur Duchesne said with a smile, "but when
the time comes for the choice I fancy that most men do not accept either
alternative, but marry and still go to sea."
"That is all right when they have only their profession to depend upon,"
Nat said. "Then, if a woman, with her eyes open to the fact that he must
be away from her for months, is ready to take a man for better or for
worse, I suppose the temptation is too strong to be withstood. Happily
it won't be put in my way, for even if I never take another ship I shall
have enough to live on quietly ashore."
"Now, you must tell us the story of the fight," Myra said.
"The story is told in twenty words," he replied. "She did not suspect
that we were an enemy until we had passed her, and our broadside told
her what we were. As the _Agile_ is faster and much more handy than the
frigate, we managed to keep astern of her, and, sailing backwards and
forwards, poured our broadsides in her stern, while she could scarce get
a gun to bear on us. We managed to cripple her rudder, and after this
the fight was virtually over. However, she kept her flag flying till we
shot away her mizzen, after which, seeing that she was at our mercy, and
that her captain, two lieutenants, and more than half her crew were
killed or wounded, she lowered her colours. Now, really that is the
whole account of the fight. If I were telling a sailor, who would
understand the nautical terms, I could explain the matter more clearly,
but if I were to talk for an hour you would understand no more about it
than you do now."
An hour later, Nat went out with Monsieur Duchesne to smoke a cigar on
the verandah, Myra remaining indoors with her mother, who was afraid of
sitting out in the cool evening breeze.
"Going back to our conversation about marriage, Nat," Monsieur Duchesne
said, "it is a question which my wife and I feel some little interest
in. You see, it is now more than three years since you saved Myra's
life, after which you rendered her and my wife inestimable service. Now,
I know that in your country marriages are for the most part arranged
between the young people themselves. With us such an arrangement would
be considered indecent. If your father and mother were out here, the
usual course would be for your mother to approach my wife and talk the
matter over with her. My wife would consult with me, and finally, when
we old people had quite come to an understanding, your father would
speak to you on the subject. All this is impossible here. Now, it seems
to my wife and myself that, having rendered such inestimable services to
us, and having been thrown with my daughter a good deal--who, I may
say, without any undue vanity, is a very attractive young lady--you
could scarcely be indifferent to her.
"As you said, according to your British notions you are too young to
think of marrying; and, at any rate, my wife has sounded Myra, and the
girl has assured her that you have never said a word to her that would
lead her to believe you entertained other than what I may call a
brotherly affection for her. Now, I can tell you frankly, that one of
our reasons for remaining here for the past six months has been that we
desired that the matter should be arranged one way or the other. It has
struck us that it was not your youth only that prevented you from coming
to me and asking for Myra's hand, but a foolish idea that she is, as is
undoubtedly the case, a very rich heiress. Before I go farther, may I
ask if that is the case, and if you really entertain such an affection
for my daughter as would, putting aside all question of money and of
your youth, lead you to ask her hand?"
"That I can answer at once, sir. Ever since I first met her, and
especially since I saw how bravely she supported that terrible time when
she might fall into the hands of the blacks, I have thought of your
daughter as the most charming girl that I have ever met. Of course, I
was but a lad and she a young girl--no thought of marriage at that time
even entered my mind. During the past three years that feeling has
grown, until I have found that my happiness depends entirely upon her. I
felt, monsieur, that my lips were sealed, not only by the fact that she
was an heiress and I only a penniless lieutenant, but because it would
be most unfair and ungenerous were I, on the strength of any services I
may have rendered, to ask you for her hand."
"It is not on account of those services, much as we recognize them, that
I offer you her hand, but because both her mother and herself feel that
her happiness, which is the great object of our lives, is involved in
the matter. In most cases, a young lady well brought up does not give
her heart until her father presents to her an eligible suitor. This is
an exceptional case. I do think that any girl whose life had been saved,
as hers was, at the risk of that of her rescuer, and who, during a most
terrible time, came to look up to him as the protector of herself and
her mother, and who, moreover, was constantly hearing of his daring
actions, and to whom her dearest friends also owed their lives, could
not but make him her hero. I need not say that the subject has not been
mooted to her, and it was because I desired the matter to be settled
before we left for Europe that we have lingered here. I am glad indeed
that I now know your feeling in the matter. I am conscious that in
giving her to you we are securing her happiness. I have, of course, ever
since the day when you saved her from that dog, watched your character
very closely, and the result has been in all respects satisfactory. Now,
I will go in and tell her that I will take her place by her mother's
side, and that she may as well come out here and keep you company."
In a minute Myra stepped out on to the verandah.
"It is cool and nice here, Nat. I think it would do mother more good out
here than keeping in the house, where in the first place it is hot,
while in the second place it gives me the horrors to see the way the
moths and things fly into the lights and burn themselves to death."
"No doubt it is pleasanter here," Nat said, wondering how he ought to
begin.
"That was very soberly said, Nat," Myra laughed. "One would think that
it was a proposition that required a good deal of consideration."
"It was a proposition that received no consideration. In point of fact,
just at present, dear, my head is a little turned with a conversation
that I have just had with your father."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I mean that I see before me a great and unlooked-for happiness, a
happiness that I had hardly ventured even to hope for, but at present it
is incomplete; it is for you to crown it if you can do so. Your father
has given his consent to my telling you that I love you. I do love you
truly and earnestly, Myra, but I should not be content with anything
less than your love. I don't want it to be gratitude. I don't want any
thought of that business with the dog, or of the other business with the
blacks, to have anything to do with it."
"They must have something to do with it," she said softly, "for it was
owing to these that I first began to love you. It was at first, no
doubt, a girl's love for one who had done so much for her, but since
then it has become a woman's love for the one man that she should choose
out of all. I love you, Nat, I love you with all my heart."
Ten minutes later they went hand in hand into the house. Monsieur
Duchesne had told his wife what had occurred in the verandah, and as
they came in she rose and threw her arms round Myra's neck and kissed
her tenderly.
"You have chosen wisely, my child, and have made us both very happy. We
can give her to you, Monsieur Glover, without one misgiving; we know
that in your hands her life will be a happy one. And now," she went on
with a smile, "you will have to face that terrible problem you were
discussing an hour since. You will have to choose between a wife and the
sea."
"The problem may be settled at once, madame," Nat said with a smile.
"At any rate, there is no occasion to choose at present," Madame
Duchesne went on. "Myra is but just past sixteen, and her father and I
both think that it is as well that you should wait at least a couple of
years before there is any talk of marriage, both for her sake and yours.
After your brilliant services, especially in capturing the frigate, you
are sure of rapid promotion, and it would be a pity indeed for you to
give up your profession until you have obtained the rank of captain,
when you could honourably retire. We shall leave for England very
shortly, France is out of the question. As you said, you and my daughter
are both young, and can well afford to wait."
"That is so, madame, we quite acquiesce in your decision. As to your
going to England, it is likely that I may be going there myself very
shortly. The admiral hinted to-day that, as the dockyard people say that
the _Spartane_ can be ready for sea in ten days or so, he will probably
send me home in her. He very kindly kept back my report of the action,
and merely stated that the French frigate _Spartane_ had been brought in
in tow by his majesty's brigantine _Agile_, together with two
merchantmen she had captured on her way out, which had also been retaken
by the _Agile_, and said that he thought it was only fair that I should
carry back my own report and his full despatch on the subject. Of course
I may be sent out again, or I may be employed on other service. At any
rate I shall be able to get a short leave before I go to sea again. I
have been out here now six years, and feel entitled to a little rest. I
would certainly rather be employed in the Mediterranean than here, for
there is more chance of seeing real service."
The next day Nat received an order from the admiral to hand over the
command of the _Agile_ to Lieutenant Turnbull. Lippincott, who would
pass his examination and receive his step, was to act as first
lieutenant, and a midshipman from one of the ships on the station was to
be second officer. Nat himself was ordered to superintend the repairs
and fitting out for sea of the _Spartane._
"I am awfully sorry that you are going, Glover," Turnbull said. "Of
course it is a great pull for me being appointed to the command, but I
was very jolly and happy as I was. I don't think there ever was a
pleasanter party on board one of his majesty's ships. However, of course
it is a great lift for me. I shall try to keep things going as
comfortably as you did."
"I have no doubt that you will do that, Turnbull, and you have an able
ally in Doyle."
"Doyle was inconsolable when I came on board yesterday and told him that
you were going home in the _Spartane_, and that I was to have the
command."
"It is the worst news that I have heard for many a day," Doyle had said.
"You are very well, Turnbull, and I have no sort of complaint to make of
you, but I am afraid that the luck will go with Glover. It is his luck
and not the ship's; whatever he has put his hand to has turned out well.
I don't say that he has not done his work as well as it could be done,
but there is no doubt that luck is everything. If one of the _Agile's_
guns had knocked away a mast or spar from the _Arrow_ it would have been
all up with you; and again, had a shot from the frigate crippled us, she
would have been after taking the _Agile_ into a French port instead of
our bringing her in here."
"Yes, but then you see that upon both occasions Glover put his craft
where it was difficult to get their guns to bear on her."
"Yes, yes, I know that; but that does not alter it a bit. If there had
been only one shot fired, and had we been an unlucky boat, it would,
sure enough, have brought one of the spars about our ears."
"Well, Doyle, it may be that it was my luck, and not Glover's, that
pulled us through. You see, I should have been shot or had my throat cut
by the pirates if we had been taken by them, so possibly I am the good
genius of the boat; or it may be Lippincott."
"Botheration to you!" the Irishman said, as he saw by a twinkle in
Turnbull's eye that he was really chaffing him; "there is one thing
certain, if you get wounded and fall into my hands, you will not regard
that as a matter of luck."
"Well, at any rate, doctor, Glover told me half an hour ago of a piece
of luck in which none of us here can share. He is engaged to that very
pretty French girl whom he is always calling on when we are in port."
"I thought that was what would come of it, Turnbull," Lippincott said;
"it would be rum if she hadn't fallen in love with him after all that he
did for her."
"I was greatly taken with her myself," the doctor said, "the first time
she came on board, but I saw with half an eye that the race was lost
before I had time to enter. Besides, I could not afford to marry without
money, and one of these poor devils of planters, who have had to run
away from Hayti with, for the most part, just the clothes they stood up
in, would hardly make the father-in-law yours faithfully would desire. I
wonder myself how they manage to keep up such a fine establishment here,
but I suppose they had a little put away in an old stocking, and are
just running through it. They are shiftless people, are these planters,
and, having been always used to luxuries, don't know the value of
money."
Turnbull burst into a fit of laughter in which Lippincott joined, for in
the early days of the cruise on the _Arrow_ they had heard from Nat how
his friends had for generations laid by a portion of their revenues, and
allowed the interest to accumulate, so that, now that the time had come
for utilizing the reserve, they were really much richer people than
they had been when living on their fine plantation. Doyle looked
astonished at their laughter.
"My dear Doyle," Turnbull went on, "it is too comical to hear you
talking of a shiftless planter--you, belonging as you do to the most
happy-go-lucky race on the face of the earth. Now, I will ask you, did
you ever hear of a family of Irish squires who for generations put aside
a tenth part of their income, and allowed the interest to accumulate
without touching it, so that, when bad times came, they found that they
were twice as well off as they were before?"
"Begorra, you are right, Turnbull; never did I hear of such a thing, and
I don't believe it ever happened since the first Irish crossed the seas
from somewhere in the east."
"Well, at any rate, Doyle, that is what the Duchesnes have done, and I
should think, from what Glover says--though he did not mention any
precise sum, for he did not know himself--but I should say that it must
come to at least a hundred thousand pounds."
"Mother of Moses!" the doctor exclaimed; "it is a mighty bad turn you
have done me, Turnbull, that you never gave me as much as a hint of this
before. I should have been sorry for Glover, who is in all ways a good
fellow; still I should have deemed it my duty to my family, who once--as
you know, is the case of almost every other family in the ould
country--were Kings of Ireland. I should have restored the ancient
grandeur of my family, built a grand castle, and kept open house to all
comers--and to think that I never knew it!"
"Then you think, doctor," Lippincott said, with a laugh, "that you only
had to enter the lists to cut Glover out?"
"I don't go quite so far as that; but, of course, now the thing is
settled for good, it would be of no use trying to disturb it, and it
would hardly be fair on Glover. But, you see, as long as it was an open
matter, I might have well tried my luck. I should have had great
advantages. You see, I am a grown man, whereas Glover is still but a
lad. Then, though I say it myself, I could talk his head off, and am as
good as those who have kissed the Blarney stone at bewildering the dear
creatures."
"Those are great advantages, no doubt, Doyle; but, you see, Glover had
one advantage which, I have no doubt, counted with the lady more than
all those you have enumerated. He had saved her life at the risk of his
own, he had carried her, and her mother, through terrible dangers."
"Yes, yes, there is something in that," Doyle said, shaking his head;
"if the poor young fellow is satisfied with gratitude I have nothing
more to say. At any rate, I have lost my chance. Now, perhaps, as you
know all about this, you might put me up to some other lady in similar
circumstances, but with a heart free to bestow upon a deserving man."
"I should not be justified in doing so, Doyle. After what you have been
saying about building a baronial castle, and keeping open house, it is
clear that you would soon bring a fortune to an end, however great it
might be; and, therefore, I should not feel justified in aiding you in
any way in your matrimonial adventures."
"It's a poor heart that never rejoices," the doctor said. "The tumblers
are empty. Sam, you rascal, bring us another bottle of that old Jamaica,
fresh limes, and cold water. It is one of the drawbacks of this bastely
climate that there is no pleasure in taking your punch hot."
One of the negroes brought in the materials.
"Now, doctor," Turnbull said, "I know that in spite of this terrible
disappointment you will drink heartily the toast, 'Nat Glover and
Mademoiselle Duchesne, and may they live long and happily together!'"
"That is good," Doyle said as he emptied his tumbler at a draught;
"nothing short of a bumper would do justice to it. Hand me the bottle
again, Lippincott, and cut me a couple of slices off that lime. Yes, I
will take two pieces of sugar, please, Turnbull. Now I am going to
propose a toast, 'The new commander of the _Agile_, and may she, in his
hands, do as well as she did in those of Nat Glover.'"
Three days later the _Agile_ started on another cruise. Nat spent his
time in the dockyard, where he was so well known to all the officials
that they did everything in their power to aid him to push matters
forward, and a week after the brigantine had left the _Spartane_ was
ready for sea. Nat had seen the admiral several times, but had heard
nothing from him as to who were the officers who were to take the
_Spartane_ home, nor whether he was to sail as a passenger bearing
despatches or as one of the officers. When he went on board the
flag-ship to report that all was ready for sea, the admiral said:
"Mr. Winton, first lieutenant of the _Onyx_, is invalided home. He is a
good officer, but the climate has never agreed with him, and, as his
father has lately died and he has come into some property, he will, I
have no doubt, go on half-pay for a time until he is thoroughly set up
again. I shall therefore appoint him as first lieutenant of the
_Spartane_; Mr. Plumber, second lieutenant of the _Tiger_, will go
second.
"I have decided, Mr. Glover, to give you the rank of acting commander.
You captured the ship, and it is fair that you should take her to
England. Mind, I think it probable enough that the authorities at home
may not be willing to confirm your rank, as it is but little over two
years since you obtained your present grade. I feel that I am incurring
a certain responsibility in giving you the command of a thirty-six-gun
frigate, but you have had opportunities of showing that you are a
thorough seaman, and can fight as well as sail your ship."
"I am immensely obliged, sir," Nat said hesitatingly, "but I have never
for a moment thought of this, and it does seem a tremendous
responsibility. Besides, I shall be over two officers both many years
senior to myself."
"I have spoken to both of them," the admiral said, "and pointed out to
them that, after you had captured the frigate with the little brigantine
you commanded, I considered it almost your right to take her home. I put
it frankly to them that, if they had any objection to serving under one
so much their junior, I should by no means press the point, but that at
the same time I should naturally prefer having two experienced officers
with you instead of officering her entirely with young lieutenants
junior to yourself. I am glad to say that both of them agreed heartily,
and admitted the very great claim that you have to the command. Mr.
Winton is anxious to get home, and knows that he might have to wait some
time before a ship of war was going. Mr. Plumber is equally anxious for
a short run home, for, as he frankly stated to me, he has for three
years past been engaged to be married, and he has some ground for hope
that he may get appointed to a ship on the home station. So as these
gentlemen are perfectly willing to serve under you there need be no
difficulty on your part in the matter. We will therefore consider it as
settled.
"I have made out your appointment as acting commander. I sincerely hope
that you will be confirmed in the rank. At any rate, it will count for
you a good deal that you should have acted in that capacity. Here are
your instructions. You will be short-handed; I cannot spare enough men
from the ships on this station to make up a full complement. A hundred
and fifty are all that I can possibly let you have, but I have told the
masters of these two Indiamen that they will have to furnish a
contingent. I have been on board both the ships to-day. I addressed the
crews, and said that you were going to take home the _Spartane_ and
were short of hands. I said that I did not wish to press any men against
their will, but that I hoped that five-and-twenty from each ship would
come forward voluntarily; that number had aided to bring the _Spartane_
in here; they knew you, and might be sure that the ship would be a
comfortable one; and I told them that I would give them passes, saying
that they had voluntarily shipped for the voyage home on my guaranteeing
that they should, if they chose, be discharged from the service on their
arrival. More than the number required volunteered at once, but I asked
the captain to pick out for me the men who had before been on board the
_Spartane_, and of whose conduct you had spoken highly. Three
merchantmen will sail under your convoy."
Nat went ashore after leaving the admiral, and naturally went straight
to the Duchesnes.
"Who do you suppose is going to command the _Spartane_?" he asked as he
went in.
"I know who ought to command her. You took her, and you ought to command
her."
"Well, it seems absurd, but that is just what I am going to do."
Myra clapped her hands in delight.
"Have they made you a real captain, then?"
"No," he said with a laugh, "I shall be acting commander. That gives one
the honorary rank of captain, but it may be a long time before I get
appointed to that rank. The admiral has been awfully kind, but the
people at home are not likely to regard my age and appearance as in any
way suitable for such a position."
"I am happy to say, Nat, that we shall sail under your convoy. I have
been settling all my affairs and making my arrangements for leaving, and
have this morning definitely taken cabins in the _Myrtle_. As the
furniture is not ours, and we have not accumulated many belongings,
knowing that we might be sailing at any moment, we can get everything
packed by to-night and go on board to-morrow morning. The captain could
not tell me at what hour we should sail. He said that it would depend
upon the frigate."
"I should like to start at eight if I could, but I cannot say whether
everything will be quite ready. However, you had better be on board at
that hour. It will be jolly indeed having you all so close to me."
"Shall we be able to see each other sometimes?" Myra asked.
"Many times, I hope; but of course it must depend partly on the weather.
If we are becalmed at any time you might come on board and spend a whole
day, but if we are bowling along rapidly it would scarcely be the thing
to stop two ships in order that the passengers might go visiting."
It was twelve o'clock on the following day when the _Spartane_ fired a
gun, and at the signal the anchors, which had all been hove short, were
run up, the sails shaken out, and the _Spartane_ and the three vessels
under her charge started on their voyage.