"Why, Mr Merry, look you, I never anticipate evil," he answered, with
an expression of countenance very different to what he put on when
telling his wonderful yarns. "Time enough when it comes. `There's many
a slip between the cup and the lip,' as you've heard say, and you'll
find it through life. The Frenchmen out there think that they are going
to gulp us down, but they may find that they are mistaken."
Fortunately the Aigle was a remarkably fast vessel, and though she could
not carry all the canvas we did, we towed her along easily. The
Hercules acted nobly, and followed like a huge bull-dog at our heels,
ready to bear the brunt of the fight should the enemy come up with us.
Still, as we looked at the overpowering numbers of the Frenchmen, there
appeared but little prospect of our escaping. There were many
speculations as to what we should do. One thing was certain, that our
captain would not allow the Hercules to be taken without going to her
assistance. I asked Mr Johnson what he thought about the matter.
"Why, just this, young gentleman," he answered. "If the Frenchmen get
near us, they'll blow us out of the water, but they'll have reason to be
sorry that they ever made the attempt. They may have our bones, but
they'll get no flesh on them."
The boatswain's reply made me meditate a good deal. I wanted to enjoy,
midshipman fashion, all the honour and glory I had gained, and I did not
at all like the thoughts of being taken prisoner, and still less of
being sent to the bottom with our colours flying--a very fine thing to
do in theory, but practically excessively disagreeable. I hinted at my
feelings to Mr Johnson.
"Very natural, Mr Merry," he answered. "But, just think, if you were
taken prisoner, how satisfactory it would be to make your escape, and if
the ship were to go down or blow up, how pleasant it would be to find
yourself swimming away safely to land. Follow my example. Draw
nourishment from the toughest food. Did I ever tell you how I was once
blown up a hundred fathoms at least, right into the air? When I came
down again I plunged as deep into the sea, but I struck out and came to
the surface, for I knew that I must help myself, as there was nobody who
could help me. I got hold of six of my companions and towed them
ashore, a couple of miles or so. Very few others escaped. Now, if I
had given in, they and I would have been lost, and His Majesty's service
would have been deprived of one of the best bo'suns to be found in it.
I say this without vanity--because it's a fact."
I found it difficult sometimes to ascertain whether Mr Johnson was
really serious or joking.
The enemy were all this time chasing, and coming up rapidly with us.
Even Captain Collyer looked anxious. We, however, were all ready for
the fight we anticipated.
"If we can but keep well ahead of them till night comes on, we may give
them the slip," I heard the captain observe to Mr Bryan. "It may be
more prudent on the present occasion to fly than to fight, but I am sure
that every man will fight to the last if it comes to fighting."
"That they will, sir. I never saw the people in better spirit,"
answered the second lieutenant. "They are like a bull-dog with a
captured bone. They are not inclined to yield it without a desperate
tussle."
From all I heard I began to think whether I should not go and write a
letter home, to tell them that when they received it I should have
fallen fighting for my king and country; but then Spellman appeared on
deck. He looked so absurd with his lugubrious countenance, and the
plasters still on his cheeks, that I burst into a fit of laughter; and,
all my apprehensions vanishing, I was in a minute joking away with my
messmates as usual.