LORD CLAYMORE AND THE FIRE SHIPS--"PALLAS" ENGAGES BLACK FRIGATE--
COLONEL ARMYTAGE IN THE PENINSULA.
"Morton, we ought to be content with the prizes we have made; we must
now do something in the fighting way, or we shall be looked upon as mere
buccaneers, who think of nothing but making money."
This remark was made by Lord Claymore, after the frigate had been for
some time in commission--had been to America and back, and being now on
the French coast, had sent home a few more captures, though not of any
very great value.
"That may be very well for a captain who has made the best part of
eighty thousand pounds," thought Morton, "but for a poor lieutenant, who
has made not a twentieth part of that, yet wants it as much, it is a
very different affair."
Ronald had begun to find the value of money, and also that it has wings
with which to betake itself away. He acquiesced, however, in the
propriety of fighting. An opportunity was not long wanting.
Before many days had passed the frigate was off the Isle d'Aix, on the
French coast. She stood in; the captain and most of the officers with
glasses at their eyes watching for the appearance of a French fleet. At
length the masts and spars of several line-of-battle ships came in view.
Still the frigate stood on till a three-decker--an eighty-gun ship--
three seventy-fours, four frigates, and three brigs were counted. The
little English frigate paraded up and down before the roadstead, but
none ventured out to attack her. It was the French squadron under
Admiral Allemand.
"I have been thinking over a plan which may sound terrible to the ears
of some, but it is both feasible and right, I fully believe," said the
captain, after taking several turns on deck, and addressing his first
lieutenant. "We might set fire to or blow up into the air, one and all
of those ships. I only wish that there were more together. You see
they are deep in the water. They have stores on board, and are
evidently intended for some expedition or other; an attack on our West
India Islands, or to attack us in some other vulnerable part. They must
or should be got rid of: other plans might be adopted; but I hold to
that of the fire-ships. I should delight in conducting the enterprise.
With a few brave men under me, on whose coolness and judgment I could
rely, it would be certain to succeed. Morton, I would select you.
Would it not be a glorious work?"
"If you selected me, my lord, I would certainly follow you, and do my
utmost to carry out your directions," answered Morton; "but the idea of
employing fire-ships has never been congenial to my taste. I would
rather meet the enemy and destroy him in a general engagement."
"That sounds very right and chivalric," replied Lord Claymore, smiling;
"but observe the true state of the case. The object of going to war
with an enemy is to sink, burn, and destroy his ships at sea, and to do
him all the injury in our power on shore. In a general engagement you
attack his fleet with yours, at the cost of some of your ships, perhaps,
and the loss of many hundreds of your men. If a great victory is
gained, a tenth, or at all events a twentieth, part of the enemy are
killed and wounded. Now, by my plan the lives of very few of our own
people are risked; perhaps no one may be lost; while the ships of the
enemy are entirely destroyed; and though, of course, some of their
people are sacrificed, probably not more are lost than in a general
engagement, while the chances are that the war in consequence is more
speedily brought to a conclusion, and the lives of thousands saved, and
people able to return to their peaceful and useful occupations. Morton,
I look upon war as a terrible curse. The sooner it can be put an end to
the better, but I am very certain that in this instance it can only be
by humbling our proud foes to the very dust. Napoleon will bite till
every tooth in his head is drawn."
Although Morton's reason was convinced by the reasoning of his
enthusiastic captain, his feelings were not entirely satisfied. He,
however, promised to aid him as far as he had the power in carrying out
any project of that description which he might conceive.
The subject was again and again reverted to during the time the frigate
was on the coast, and while he was engaged in the most stirring and
often hazardous operations--such as cutting out vessels, armed and
unarmed, landing and destroying telegraph stations, and storming and
blowing up forts.
Once more the "Pallas" returned to L'Isle d'Aix. The French squadron
was still there.
"We must be at those fellows," exclaimed Lord Claymore, as he walked the
deck, looking towards the enemy with a greedy eye. "We must get them
out somehow or other, if we can. It would have a grand moral effect to
carry off a prize from before their very noses."
Morton was as eager as his chief. There was a soldier's wind, so that
the frigate could stand in or off shore at pleasure.
"This is an opportunity many would rejoice to have; don't let us throw
it away," continued the captain, watching the French ships through his
telescope. They lay at their anchors, seemingly determined not to move
in spite of the bold enemy proudly cruising before their eyes.
"Give them a shot or two, Morton," said the captain; "we'll try if that
does not excite them to bestir themselves."
In advance of the rest of the squadron was a large frigate, painted
black and heavily armed, and near her were three brigs. Still they were
all under shelter of the batteries on the island.
With a shout of satisfaction the British crew observed the topsails of
the black frigate and her three consorts let fall. It was a sign that
they were coming out. The sails were sheeted home. Out they all four
stood. The canvas of the "Pallas" was reduced, and she was hove-to, in
the most gallant way, to wait for them.
"We must have him, I am determined," exclaimed the captain, as the
enemy's frigate drew near. Everybody was as eager and sanguine as the
captain, except Lieutenant Hardman.
"We have had all the luck hitherto--we must not expect to keep it," he
remarked to Glover. "Remember what I often have said: There's many a--"
A shot from the enemy, which came whizzing close over his head, and the
loud shouts of "Fire!" from the captain, cut short his remarks.
The crew gave a hearty cheer, and obeyed the order by delivering a
rattling broadside at the advancing enemy.
More sail was now made on the frigate, so that she might be kept
completely under command. The brigs coming up also commenced firing, as
did the batteries on the island, but, boldly standing on, the English
frigate gallantly engaged them all. The crew required no words of
encouragement. Most of the men stood at their guns stripped to the
waist, with their handkerchiefs bound round their heads, labouring with
that determined energy which was the sure promise of victory. Now, as
they could bring their guns to bear, they aimed at the brigs, now again
at their larger opponent, the black frigate. As she drew near it was
seen that she was greatly superior to the "Pallas," both in size and as
to the number of her guns, while probably also her crew were much more
numerous, but that in no way daunted Lord Claymore. On the contrary, he
seemed the more eager not to part with her, but to carry her off as his
prize.
In spite, however, of this superiority, the black frigate, as well as
the brigs, showed a disposition to keep at a respectful distance.
Several times the "Pallas" had to tack to avoid the shoals surrounding
the island. Besides this, her captain's aim was, by manoeuvring, to get
to windward of the black frigate, and also between her and the
batteries, so that their shot would be likely to damage friends as well
as foes. The brigs, which showed signs of being much cut up in their
rigging, seemed inclined to keep at a respectful distance. The shots of
the "Pallas" were, however, aimed chiefly at her more worthy antagonist.
The guns were admirably served. Again the men cheered. The first step
towards victory had been gained. The mizen-mast of the black frigate
had been shot away, and over the side it went, with its yards and sails.
The "Pallas" ceased firing--so did the batteries, for they would have
hit the French ship had they continued to do so. Once more the British
frigate tacked. She had gained a position directly to windward of her
opponents. Once more she opened her fire; it was with dreadful effect.
She, however, was suffering much, both in spars and hull.
"This must be cut short," observed the captain, calmly. "Now, master,
up with the helm, and carry us alongside the enemy. My men, be ready to
board, the cutlass must decide the day."
In gallant style the small English frigate bore down upon an opponent
nearly twice her size. The "Pallas" poured a well-directed broadside
into the black frigate, and the instant afterwards there was a fearful
concussion. The main-deck guns were driven in by the sides of the
French ship, and at the same moment the maintopsail-yard was torn from
the mast, and much other damage was done aloft, while the bumpkin, chain
plates, cat heads, and bower anchor were carried away. In vain the
captain called to his men to aid in lashing the two frigates together.
Before they could assemble they had separated. Ronald, with a boarding
party, was about to spring on to the deck of the French frigate, but he
was too late to make the attempt.
Once more Lord Claymore was about to bear down on the French frigate,
when Hardman pointed out to him two more French frigates coming out
under all sail to the rescue of their friend. To have remained longer
would have been madness. Lord Claymore was not a man to do a foolish
rash thing. Waving his hat to the brave captain of the black frigate,
who kept his post on a gun watching their proceedings, he ordered the
tacks to be hauled aboard, and, without further injuring his opponent,
stood out to sea. The guns were run in and secured, and the crew were
sent aloft to repair damages. So severe, however, were they, that the
"Pallas" could scarcely have escaped from her pursuers, had not a sloop
of war hove in sight and taken her in tow. The enemy's frigates,
disappointed of their expected prey, returned to their anchorage.
"We must be back there some day, Morton, for if life and strength is
allowed me, I will not rest till I have carried out my plan for the
destruction of this remainder of the Frenchman's fleet." Lord Claymore
spoke, and faithfully he kept his word.
When the frigate rejoined the admiral she was found to be in so
shattered a condition from her engagement with the Frenchman, that he
sent her home to undergo repairs.
Morton was once more in England. He found a letter from his father,
saying that the "Lion" had not yet received orders to return home, but
he hoped that she soon would. He added, that this trip had satisfied
him; that if he was allowed once more to set foot on British ground he
had determined to take up his abode on shore, and that what with the
prize-money he had made, and the produce of his farm in Shetland, he
should be able to live on shore in a style suited to the rank his son
had gained, so that he should have a home to offer him whenever he was
not employed. This was satisfactory news to Ronald. Curiously enough,
his father did not once allude to Doull or Eagleshay. He seemed to have
forgotten all about the mystery of his birth, and that it might possibly
by their means be cleared up. The truth was, that he had always been
contented with his lot. He saw his son in the fair way of rising in his
profession, and he fancied that no advantage would be gained by
ascertaining the truth, even if it were possible to do so.
Soon after the letters had been brought on board, Glover came into
Ronald's cabin.
"Here, Morton, is news which will interest you!" he said, showing an
open letter. "It is from my cousin, Mrs Edmonstone--she and her
husband are in England; they arrived some time ago. She tells me that
they made the voyage with the Armytage family; Miss Armytage still
unmarried, her mamma as amiable as ever, and the colonel as much the
reverse as before; he is supposed to have gained very little advantage
by his visit to India; his extravagance and love of play have ruined
him: however, he has interest in high quarters, and soon after his
return home, he got an appointment in the army in the Peninsula, and he
has gone out there with his wife and daughter. In what part of Portugal
or Spain they are, she does not tell me, but I will write and ascertain.
There is a bare possibility of our being some day in the neighbourhood;
and, judging of your wishes by mine own, I am sure that you would like
to meet Mrs and Miss Armytage again, though you may wish to stand clear
of the colonel."
There is a happy familiarity among messmates which seldom exists between
other people.
Morton thanked Glover, and acknowledged, after a moment's thought, that
he should be delighted again to meet Miss Armytage.
"Am I bound to obey her father, who discards me simply because he
believes me to be of inferior birth to his daughter? I feel convinced
that I am her equal. I have at all events gained the rank of a
gentleman; I may some day obtain the fortune to support it, and to
maintain her as well as her father can do. No; I feel that I am bound
by no laws, divine or human, to yield to his unjust demands. If she
loves me still, and I can win her, I will."
Glover, who was fully acquainted with his friend's feelings, and to whom
part of these remarks were addressed, highly applauded his resolution,
and promised to afford him all the aid in his power.
The "Pallas" was found to have received so much injury that her repairs
would take a long time. Lord Claymore and his officers and crew were
accordingly turned over to another frigate, the "Imperious," and ordered
to proceed forthwith to the Mediterranean.