Bob's curiosity to hear my story was about equal to his appetite for
dinner, so while we proceeded with the demolition of the comestibles, I
related to him the various adventures which had befallen me since
leaving the old "Juno," demanding in return an explanation of the
circumstances which led to his turning up in the opportune manner
related in the last chapter.
"Oh!" replied he, "I can tell you that in half-a-dozen words. When the
boat returned from landing you, old Rawlings went at once to the cabin
to make his report, and soon afterwards we filled away and stood to the
nor'ard and east'ard under easy canvas. Then the wind fell light, and
by-and-by it dropped altogether, and when daylight began to appear we
found ourselves within about six miles of this brig. The skipper and
Mr Annesley both toddled up as far as the main-topsail-yard to take a
look at her. They were about a quarter of an hour up there, and when
they came down, the first and second cutters were sent away to see who
and what she was. Mr Flinn had charge of one boat, Percival and I went
in the other. We soon saw that she was French, and the lads gave a
cheer and laid themselves out to race for her. Our boat was rather the
lighter of the two, and Percival and I promised our people a bottle of
grog if we got alongside first, in consequence of which we beat Flinn
all to splinters. Seeing us walking ahead, he hailed us to keep back in
line with him, which was likely, wasn't it? Oh, yes! Didn't he wish he
might get it? By the time that we were within half a mile of her the
brig had got her boarding-netting all triced up, guns loaded and
depressed, and everything ready for a warm reception. She withheld her
fire until we were close to her, intending, I suppose, to utterly
demolish us just before we got alongside; but I was watching them with
my telescope, and as soon as they had got their broadside carefully
trained and were about to fire, we simply took a broad sheer to port,
and before they could lay their guns afresh, we were under her bows, and
into her head, from whence we at last managed to hew our way in upon
deck. This disheartened the Frenchmen, and they began to give way, and
at that moment in came Flinn and his lot over the starboard quarter,
laying about them right and left. That settled the business; the
Johnnies flung down their arms and cried for quarter, which of course we
gave them.
"She turned out to be the `Requin,' privateer, armed with eight long
nine-pounders, with a crew of forty men in her forecastle, and her hold
crammed with the choicest pickings of the cargoes of some five or six
prizes. So you see she proved to be a valuable prize herself. I was
put in charge, with a prize crew of eight men, to take her into Malta;
and I also carried a despatch for the admiral on the station. The old
boy was as pleased as Punch, when he read the skipper's letter, and
actually invited me to dine with him that night, which you may be sure I
did. He asked me a good many questions about the fight, and about the
brig herself, and next day he came on board us and gave the craft a
thorough overhaul. The result was, that we were ordered alongside the
arsenal wharf, where we discharged the entire cargo, took in a lot of
iron ballast, filled the magazine and water-casks, shipped a quantity of
shot and provisions for the fleet here, added seventeen more hands to
our books, and sailed again just a week ago to-day, with orders to join
the fleet at San Fiorenzo and report myself to Admiral Hood, for whom
also, by the way, I have a letter or despatch, or something of that
sort."
Such was the account which Mr Robert Summers gave of himself, and upon
its conclusion we adjourned to the deck.
We were by this time within three miles of the fleet, and within about
six miles of the two detached ships, which were still maintaining a
vigorous cannonade upon the shore battery. We brought our telescopes to
bear upon these two ships, and soon had the gratification of recognising
in one of them our own dear old craft, the "Juno." She did not appear
to have received very much damage, but the other, which we were unable
to identify, seemed to be very much cut up about her spars and rigging.
While still intently watching the progress of the fight, we observed a
thin column of greyish brown smoke curling up into the air from the
"Juno's" consort. That it was not the smoke from her guns we could see
at once by its peculiar colour. It rapidly increased in volume, and as
it did so the ship's fire slackened until it died away almost entirely.
Still watching the vessel, as the smoke from her guns drove away to
leeward, we saw three little tongues of flame darting out from her side.
"Tell you what, Chester!" exclaimed Summers; "those fellows ashore are
firing red-hot shot, and they've set the old barkie on fire."
Such was in fact the case, and in a few minutes we saw a signal run up
to the royal-mast-head of the "Victory," Lord Hood's flag-ship. The
seventy-four immediately replied, and at once ceased firing altogether,
the fire from the "Juno" also slackening somewhat. Then we saw the
rigging of the two ships blacken, as the hands went aloft to loose the
canvas. Rapidly, yet as steadily as though the crews were merely being
put through their sail drill, the heavy folds of canvas were let fall
from the yards, sheeted home, and hoisted, the head-yards were braced a-
back, and in another minute or two the bows of both craft paid off, and
they stood out from the land, close-hauled upon the larboard tack, to
rejoin the rest of the fleet, our old ship delivering her port
broadside, as the guns were brought to bear, by way of a parting salute.
We were by this time threading in and out among the transports on our
way to a vacant berth at no great distance from the "Victory," and in
about five minutes afterwards the "Requin" and her prizes came to an
anchor. It was amusing enough to see Master Bob strutting up and down
the diminutive quarter-deck of the brig, his telescope tucked under one
arm, and the cherished speaking-trumpet under the other, issuing his
orders as to the stowing of the canvas and the squaring of the yards,
etcetera; but after all it was only natural: it was his first command,
and he was anxious that everybody should see that he was fully qualified
for it. When at length everything had been done to his satisfaction, he
ordered the gig to be lowered, and, jumping into her, pulled away to the
admiral's ship to deliver his despatch.
Meanwhile I amused myself by watching the seventy-four and the "Juno,"
as they worked up to the anchorage, and was glad to perceive that the
fire which had broken out on board the "Juno's" consort had been
conquered.
By the time that they had reached their berths, Bob had returned, in
high feather at Lord Hood's commendations upon his conduct; and I then
joined him, leaving Francesca for the present on board the brig, while
we pulled away to the "Juno," to report ourselves to the skipper.
We were received very graciously by Captain Hood, and very cordially by
the rest of the officers; so much so, indeed, that as far as I was
concerned I was both gratified and moved to discover the high estimation
in which all appeared to hold me.
I had only time to glance hurriedly round the decks, and to notice that
the jolly old craft appeared to have suffered but slightly in her recent
engagement with the shore battery, when Captain Hood invited me into his
cabin, and forthwith led the way.
I had, on reporting myself, announced to him in general terms the fact
that I had accomplished my mission; now I had of course to enter into
full particulars, and give a detailed narrative of my adventures.
It was a sight to be remembered, to see the skipper open his eyes in
amazement, when I described to him the particulars of my flight from the
island with Count Lorenzo's daughter, winding up with a statement that
she was at that moment on board the brig. He was good enough to
compliment me very highly upon the zeal, courage, and discretion which I
had manifested in the performance of a most important duty, and he also
evinced some little concern respecting my damaged arm,--which, to speak
the truth, was none the better for my experiences on board the
"Mouette,"--sending word there and then for the surgeon to come aft and
give it an overhaul; but I could see that his curiosity was powerfully
excited with regard to Francesca, and, as soon as my disabled limb had
been dressed and made tolerably comfortable, he ordered his own gig to
be lowered, and, requesting my company in the boat, jumped into her and
was conveyed to the brig.
He evidently had as good an eye for a pretty woman as he had for a ship,
and seemed immensely struck with my lady-love, doing his best to render
himself agreeable, and placing the ship and all hands at her disposal.
Francesca, however, young as she was, had a perfect knowledge of "the
proprieties;" she felt out of place on board ship, and clearly
recognised the desirability of at once placing herself under her aunt's
care: she therefore thanked the skipper very gracefully for his generous
offer, and said she would merely trouble him so far as to avail herself
of his aid in making her way to the quarters of her uncle, General
Paoli.
This was a matter involving very little difficulty. The general had
established his head-quarters in a small fishing village, about four
miles from San Fiorenzo, situated on the shore of a tiny cove visible
from the brig's deck; we therefore proceeded in the gig, in the first
place, alongside the "Mouette," where we shipped Francesca's small
packet of personal belongings, and then, taking Giaccomo in the boat
with us, we stepped the mast, hoisted the lug, and ran merrily down
before the wind to the entrance of the cove, landing on the beach in
perfectly smooth water, after rather more than an hour's sail.
It was by this time growing dusk, and when we reached the cottage in
which General Paoli had established himself, we found that he was out
going the rounds, and seeing personally to the posting of the sentinels.
His wife, however, who had determined to share with, and if possible
mitigate for her husband the hardships of the campaign, was "at home,"
and from her we all received a most cordial welcome. She was of course
distressed to hear of the strait in which we had left her brother-in-
law, the count, but was quite decided in her opinion that he had done
right to send Francesca away to her, and believed that, once freed of
anxiety respecting his daughter, it would be found that he had been able
to defend himself so vigorously as to eventually beat off his
assailants. She pressed us very earnestly to remain until the general
should return, in order that he might have an opportunity personally to
thank us both--and me especially--for the important service rendered to
his niece; but Captain Hood was anxious to get back to his ship, so as
to go on board the admiral's ship, to take part in a council of war: we
were therefore reluctantly compelled to decline.
Before returning to the "Juno," however, we hunted up one or two
Corsican officers with whom the skipper had already become acquainted,
and learned from them that the Mortella Tower (the battery which had
been that day attacked by the two frigates) had, as far as they had been
able to ascertain, borne the storm of shot unscathed.
On the way back to the ship I learned from the skipper that the "Juno's"
consort in the action was called the "Fortitude," and that she had
suffered severely in the engagement, losing six men killed, and fifty-
six wounded, having three of her lower-deck guns dismounted, and also
being set on fire.
On reaching the "Juno" we found the decks cleared up, every sign of the
late combat effaced, and all hands below, but the anchor-watch. Mr
Annesley, however, was on deck, awaiting the skipper's return, and as I
followed the latter up the side, the first luff paused before following
him into the cabin, and said that, as soon as Captain Hood had left for
the admiral's ship, he should be glad to hear an account of my shore-
cruise. I accordingly watched the departure of the gig, and then made
my way to the poop, where all three of the lieutenants were awaiting me,
and to them I related in full detail all that had occurred to me from
the moment of leaving the ship to that of rejoining her. I will not
repeat the flattering encomiums which my narrative elicited; suffice it
to say that I was greatly gratified by the approval expressed by them
all, and particularly by Mr Annesley's assurance that I had only to go
on as I had begun to become an ornament to the service, and a credit to
all connected with me.
The next day or two passed in a state of comparative inactivity with the
fleet, Lord Hood having arrived at the conclusion, through his
experience of the effects of the engagement between the "Fortitude" and
"Juno" and the Mortella Tower, that a further sea-attack upon that
battery would be useless, and that its reduction would have to be
effected by the land forces. I use the words "comparative inactivity"
advisedly, for though the ships themselves were idle, as far as the
prosecution of the campaign was concerned, the admiral was indefatigable
in drilling and exercising the crews, and in accustoming those of the
different ships to act in concert. And in addition to this there was an
immense amount of passing to and fro between the fleet and the shore, in
the transmission of despatches and the landing of stores and ammunition;
and in these services the little "Mouette" came in very useful,
sometimes rushing backward and forward with bulky packets of official
documents, and at other times making the passage with a whole fleet of
deeply-laden boats in tow. As might be supposed, my experience of her
capabilities naturally led to the craft being entrusted to me while thus
engaged, so that I was kept in a state of constant activity. I must,
however, do Captain Hood the justice to record that, before detailing me
for this service, he gave me the option of remaining on board the
"Juno," and being excused from duty until my arm had become completely
healed. But as I could take as much care of my wounded limb on board
the cutter as I could on board the frigate, I gratefully declined, to
the gratification of the skipper, I could easily see; and I thus had
frequent opportunities of seeing Francesca, as well as of making the
acquaintance of her uncle, General Paoli.
At length, after the interchange of a vast amount of correspondence
between Lord Hood and Major-General Dundas, the officer in command of
the land forces, it was one evening announced that an attack would be
made on the following day upon the Mortella Tower from some batteries
thrown up on the adjacent heights, and accordingly, the moment that
there was light enough to sight the guns, the cannonade commenced. It
lasted for several hours, the fort replying with the utmost vigour to
the fire of our batteries, and doing a great deal of execution. By-and-
by some genius on our side proposed paying-off the French in their own
coin by trying the effect of a few red-hot shot upon them. A make-shift
furnace for heating the shot was accordingly hastily constructed, and
the shot were heated before being discharged at the fort. This sun had
the desired effect. The parapet of the tower was lined with mantlets
constructed of bass junk for the purpose of protecting the gunners from
splinters, and the red-hot shot striking these mantlets set them on
fire, whereupon the French flag was hauled down, and the garrison
surrendered.
We of the fleet witnessed this only from a distance, as it was thought
possible it might be necessary for some of the ships to approach and
engage the battery from the sea, thus distracting the enemy's attention,
and placing him between two fires. Everybody therefore remained at his
post on board ship in case of his services being required. Luckily,
however, for our reputation interference on the part of the fleet was
unnecessary, the land forces proving sufficient for the subjugation of
the battery, which mounted three guns only--two eighteens and one six-
pounder,--and was garrisoned by no more than thirty-three men.
So far, so good. But though we had taken the Mortella Tower, we were
still nearly as far off having San Fiorenzo as ever. The town was
commanded and completely defended by a formidable redoubt, which mounted
twenty-one heavy guns, and was moreover perched upon an eminence which
commanded every other accessible height in the neighbourhood, and the
possession of this redoubt really meant the possession of San Fiorenzo.
So the question of the hour became, how to find a way of getting into
this Convention Redoubt, as the place was called.
The first proposal was to storm the place. But on making a careful
reconnaissance it became evident that, from its strength and the
steepness of the acclivity leading up to it, a storming-party would be
annihilated before it could possibly reach the top. Its great elevation
above the sea-level rendered it equally hopeless to think of achieving
any good result by an attack on the part of the fleet. And so strict a
watch was maintained by its garrison, that our leaders soon became
convinced of the impossibility of effecting a surprise. Naturally the
subjugation of this redoubt became the all-absorbing topic of
conversation.
While the interest was at its highest, it happened that Mr Annesley had
occasion to go on shore, and he took a passage with me in the little
"Mouette." He had never landed on the island before, and so, as we ran
down toward the creek, I pointed out to him the various points of
interest in the landscape. He was very anxious to get a sight of the
Convention Redoubt, but this was not just then possible, a high rocky
acclivity close to the shore shutting out the view. I had often looked
at this rock, and had thought what a fine view of the redoubt might be
had from its summit, and how easily the place might be reduced, were it
only possible to plant guns there, and I mentioned something of this
while we were going ashore.
Our worthy "first" remained silent for a good ten minutes after I had
concluded my remarks, intently examining through his telescope the face
of the rock meanwhile. At last he said,--
"I should like to give that rock a bit of an overhaul, Chester. Are you
a good hand at climbing?"
"Pretty fair, sir, I believe," was my modest reply.
"Well, then, as soon as I have transacted my business, we will both go
and see what it looks like," said he.
Accordingly, as soon as he was at liberty, we made our way to the base
of the rock. I call it a rock, and so it certainly was; but there was a
considerable depth of soil in many places about its sides, which soil
was thickly covered with short close herbage, upon which a few goats
were browsing here and there, and it sent a thrill through us both to
see these active animals leaping from one projection to another, or
clinging like flies to the almost perpendicular faces of the thinly-
scattered grassy slopes. Looking up at them through our telescopes, it
frequently seemed that they had got themselves into such a position,
that it would be equally impossible for them to attempt either to go
forward or to return without precipitating themselves headlong to the
bottom of the precipice.
It was not an encouraging spectacle to two persons who entertained
serious thoughts of scaling such a cliff, especially as stones detached
by the feet of the scrambling goats above occasionally came plunging
down about our ears; but sailors are not easily, daunted when it comes
to a question of climbing, and accordingly after a careful examination,
with the view of selecting the most practicable path, we went resolutely
at it.
It was not quite so bad as it looked for about two-thirds of the way up;
but when we neared the top, the rocky face became so nearly
perpendicular--indeed, it actually overhung in places--that we had
serious thoughts of abandoning the enterprise altogether. However, we
did not like to be beaten after having achieved so much, so we
persevered, and at last, after a most perilous and laborious climb,
actually succeeded in reaching the summit.
The view from our exalted situation was superb. We were standing upon
the highest eminence for many miles round, and the air was so clear and
transparent that distant objects were as distinctly seen as though
viewed through a telescope. On our left the blue expanse of the
Mediterranean stretched far away to the northward and westward, dotted
here and there with the sails of a few tiny coasting or fishing craft.
Below us, and apparently near enough for us to have thrown a stone on
board any of them, lay the fleet of men-o'-war and transports, with
their sails loose to dry from a heavy shower of the previous night, and
the men about their decks reduced to mere moving specks. In front of,
and still below us, and so near that we could distinguish the
accoutrements of the men forming its garrison, was the redoubt, with its
twenty-one guns projecting their muzzles threateningly over the sod
parapet, and symmetrical little pyramidal piles of shot heaped up
alongside each gun. Beyond it lay San Fiorenzo, with its narrow
streets, red-tiled, white-washed houses, terraced gardens,
insignificant-looking churches, and the harbour beyond, with the cliffs
stretching away beyond it again as far as Cape Corso, and away out at
sea the small island of Capriaja. Upon our right a continuous chain of
hills reared themselves, thickly wooded to their very summits; while in
our rear Calvi, although something like thirty miles distant, was
clearly distinguishable.
But the redoubt was with us the chief point of interest. We examined it
with the utmost minuteness, and Mr Annesley, who possessed some skill
with the pencil, made an accurate sketch of it, indicating clearly what
seemed to us its weakest points. This done, we made a very careful
examination on all sides of the face of the rock upon which we stood,
finally coming to the conclusion that, though a difficult feat, it was
possible to raise a few 18-pounders to the summit.
That same evening Mr Annesley, accompanied by the skipper, proceeded on
board the "Victory," and reported to the admiral the fact of our having
scaled the rock, exhibited his sketch of the redoubt, and explained his
ideas as to the practicability of establishing a battery upon the
summit. The result was that, on the following morning, Lord Hood,
Commodore Linzee, Sir Hyde Parker, Captain (afterwards Lord) Nelson, the
skipper, and Mr Annesley took a passage ashore with me in the
"Mouette," and all hands of us shinned aloft--the first luff and I to
show the way, the rest to reconnoitre.
On reaching the foot of the cliff our superiors (with the exception of
Captain Nelson) rather threw cold water upon the proposed scheme of
raising guns to the top; Mr Annesley, however, with respectful firmness
maintained his belief in the practicability of his ideas; and after a
great deal of discussion they decided to at least attempt the ascent
themselves, and see how the project looked from the lofty stand-point of
the summit.
By the time that we had accomplished our climb their views had become
somewhat modified, Captain Nelson's quick eye having lighted upon
several spots, in the progress of his ascent, where it would be
practicable to erect sheers or to secure tackles. But it was the sight
of the redoubt itself, as seen from the top of the rock, and the
complete command of it which would be obtained by a battery planted at
the spot whereon they stood, which finally decided the admiral to make
the attempt.
The details of the plan were arranged there and then, the most
advantageous positions for sheers, etcetera, fixed upon during the
descent, the resources of the fleet discussed on the passage off, and,
immediately on our arrival alongside the "Victory," the preparations
were commenced. Anchors, chains, ropes, blocks, etcetera, were loaded
into the ships' boats, spare spars were launched overboard and formed
into a raft, and that same evening the "Mouette" left the fleet, with
fourteen boats and the raft in tow; and the wind happening to be dead
fair, and just a nice little breeze for the purpose, enabling us all to
crowd every stitch of canvas we could set, we ran gaily down before it,
and by dusk had everything ashore in readiness for the commencement of
our task the first thing on the following morning.
It is not necessary to describe in detail the operations which
eventually resulted in the planting of a battery of 18-pounder guns,
together with the necessary ammunition, upon the summit of that
precipitous rock, at a height of no less than 700 feet above the sea-
level; suffice it to briefly say that by the almost unparalleled skill
and perseverance of the officers in charge, and the equally
extraordinary exertions of the bluejackets, the feat was actually
accomplished, and by sunset on the 15th of February, 1794, everything
was ready for opening fire.
I had hoped that, as the idea might fairly be said to have originated
with me, I should be entrusted with the charge of one of the working
parties engaged in the task of establishing the battery; but, much to my
disappointment, I was left in charge of the cutter, which, during the
progress of the operations, was kept going between the fleet and the
shore literally day and night, in consequence of which Mr Robert
Summers was turned over to me as my first lieutenant. We grumbled
almost incessantly at our hard lot in not being allowed to render our
valuable assistance more directly to the work in hand, but the reward
for our enforced self-denial was nearer at hand than either of us
expected.
The morning of the 16th broke fair and clear, with scarcely a breath of
air to ruffle the surface of the water, and with the first streak of
dawn all hands were aroused by the roar of the cannonade from the Cliff
Battery, as we had named it. All day long without a moment's
intermission was the fire kept up, and on into the evening as long as
there was light enough to see. Then the fire slackened down somewhat,
the efforts of our gunners being merely directed through the night to
the prevention of all attempts on the part of the enemy to execute
repairs. On the following morning our guns again opened upon the
devoted redoubt, and shortly after midday a message was brought down to
me for conveyance to the admiral, the substance of which was that there
was every indication of a practicable breach being effected before
sunset.
There was a fresh breeze dead against us, but we crowded sail on the
cutter to such an extent, in our eagerness to get off to the fleet with
the welcome news, that it is the greatest wonder in the world we did not
carry the sticks out of her. Arrived under the lee of the "Victory,"
Bob and I jumped into our dinghy, and, rowing alongside the flag-ship,
sprang up her lofty sides, and, finding the admiral on the quarter-deck,
went up to him and delivered our message.
"I was wondering," said Sir Hyde Parker, who was also on the quarter-
deck, "what good news you young monkeys had to tell, that you were
carrying-on upon the boat in that unmerciful manner. If you are not
more careful, young gentlemen, that craft will turn the turtle with you
some day, and our friend Hood will lose two of his most promising
officers, eh?"
The admiral looked at us for a moment with just the ghost of a smile
flickering over his inscrutable features, and then ordered the signal to
be made for the captains of the various men-o'-war to rendezvous on
board the flag-ship.
"I have arranged with Dundas," he said, "to send a brigade on shore to
help make up the storming-party, and I think it will be best to let each
captain call for a certain number of volunteers."
Bob and I stepped forward with one accord, just as Sir Hyde whipped
round upon his heel and said sharply,--
"If you have no objection, sir, I should like to lead our bluejackets in
this affair. You will have to send some one with them; they will be
worse than useless in the hands of the soldier-officers, since they will
not understand each other, and I might as well go as another."
"Not to be thought of for a moment, sir," returned the admiral. "No,
no, no; give one or other of the captains a chance to distinguish
himself; you have already made your mark. Well, what can I do for you,
young gentlemen?" turning to us.
"We shall volunteer, sir," said I, as bold as brass; "and we should feel
_very_ much obliged if you will put in a word for us with the sk-- with
Captain Hood, sir, if you please."
"Have either of you ever been present at the storming of a fortress?"
asked the admiral.
"No, sir," cut in Bob, taking the words out of my mouth, "but we have
boarded an enemy's ship before now, sir, which is pretty much the same
thing."
"About as much like it as the musketry-fire of a squad of marines is to
the broadside of this ship," remarked the admiral. "No, my lads, take
my advice and remain on board your ship. I have no doubt your courage
is more than sufficient for such work, but you lack _strength. Men_ are
needed for a storming-party; you could be of no possible use, and by
going would only risk your lives needlessly. I am sorry to be obliged
to refuse you, but I should not be justified in acceding to your
request. You may retire, young gentlemen, but I shall not forget your
gallant behaviour."
We accordingly retreated down the side, very much crestfallen and
disappointed indeed, and, jumping into the dinghy, returned to the
"Mouette," just as the captains' gigs from the various ships were coming
up alongside.
Seating ourselves upon the companion-slide, and dangling our legs
disconsolately down the companion, we abandoned ourselves to the most
gloomy reflections, watching meanwhile the boats as they dashed up
alongside the flag-ship, and cynically criticising the stroke and action
of the several crews; and I am afraid the skippers themselves did not
altogether escape our disparaging remarks.
We had been sitting thus for about a quarter of an hour, giving
unrestrained vent to our feelings of dissatisfaction, when Bob's
countenance suddenly brightened, and, turning to me, he exclaimed in an
animated tone of voice,--
"I say, Chester, what fools we are! Let's go aboard the old `Juno' and
wait until the skipper returns, and when he calls for volunteers we'll
be the first to step to the front. Old Hood," (it was in this
unpardonably disrespectful manner he alluded to the admiral) "has
forgotten all about us by this time, and so he will never think of
mentioning to the skipper our request, and I don't see why we haven't a
good chance yet. Do you?"
No sooner said than done. We knew that the chiefs would at that moment
be seated in the admiral's cabin, so, filling upon the cutter, we bore
away and ran down under the lee of the "Juno," whose deck we gained just
as the captains' gigs were shoving off from the "Victory's"
accommodation-ladder.
Ten minutes afterwards Captain Hood came up the side, and immediately
gave orders for all hands to come aft. He then, accompanied by Mr
Annesley, went up on the poop, and stood there, watching the eager and
expectant faces of the men as they clustered thickly in the waist on
both sides of the deck. The officers were all grouped together upon the
quarter-deck.
Waiting until all hands were present, the skipper stepped forward to the
head of the poop-ladder, and, waving his hand for silence, said,--
"My lads, I have just weturned from a conference with the admiwal, at
which every captain in the fleet was pwesent. And I am--ah--charged by
Lord Hood to expwess to you all--officers and men alike--his thanks for
your wecent exertions in waising the guns to the top of yonder wock.
The battewy thus--er--ah--placed in position will, it is expected,
effect a--a pwacticable bweach in the wall of the Convention Wedoubt by
sunset this evening, and it is intended to storm the place as soon as--
ah--darkness sets in. The storming-party is to be made up of an equal
number of soldiers and bluejackets,"--here the speaker was interrupted
by an enthusiastic cheer from his audience, the repetition of which was
checked by the skipper's uplifted hand--"the storming-party," he
continued, "is to be composed equally, I say, of soldiers and
bluejackets, and the admiwal has authowized each captain to call for
fifty volunteers--keep steady, men; be silent and--ah--wait until I have
quite finished, if you please. I am authowized to call for fifty
volunteers; but I wish you all distinctly to understand that no man who
has in any way misconducted himself will be accepted. Now let those who
volunteer for the storming-party come abaft the mainmast."
Bob and I, knowing what was coming, had gradually edged to the front--we
were of course, with the rest of the officers, already abaft the
mainmast--and, directly the skipper ceased, we stepped smartly out and
posted ourselves at the foot of the poop-ladder, to show that we were
volunteering; and then faced round to witness the effect of Captain
Hood's speech upon the crew.
The scene was irresistibly comic. In the first place we found that the
group of officers had simply shifted position in a compact body, so that
we all stood pretty much as we were before. The front ranks of the men
had also advanced until they were well abaft the mainmast, when they
halted--that is, they _would_ have baited had it not been for the
pressure behind, which was pretty steady in the front portion of the
mass, but in the rear something very like a panic ensued, and almost
before one could count ten those unfortunates who had not already gained
the coveted position began to clamber over the booms, along the hammock-
rail, and actually out through the ports, along the main-channels, and
in again through the ports farther aft, in their eagerness to volunteer.
The struggling and elbowing increased until it became almost desperate,
when one of the boatswain's mates--a brawny, muscular, old sea-dog, with
a mahogany visage, a gigantic pig-tail, and his chest and arms
elaborately tattooed--stepped out, and, facing round, exclaimed in
stentorian tones,--
"Avast heaving there, ye unmannerly swabs; do you take his Majesty's
quarter-deck,"--lifting his hat--"for a playhouse-booth on Southsea
common? Belay all, and stand fast, every mother's son of ye, and let me
speak to the skipper for ye."
Then, facing the poop once more, he stepped forward out of the crowd,
and doffing his hat, while he made an elaborate sea-scrape with his
right foot and gave a tug at his forelock, he addressed the skipper
somewhat as follows,--
"I hope your honour'll kindly overlook this little bit of a scrimmage
that's just took place, and forgive our unperliteness, seeing as how a
many of us has never had a chance of larnin' how to behave ourselves in
delicate sitivations. Your honour doesn't need to be told--at least, we
hopes not--that we didn't mean nothing in any way unbecoming or
disrespectable to you or the rest of the hofficers--no, not by no manner
of means whatsomever. All we want to say is just this here: that all
hands on us, down to the powder-monkeys, begs most respectably to
wolunteer for this here boardin'-party; and we hopes as how you'll take
the whole kit of us, 'ceptin' of course the black-sheep as your honour
spoke of just now, and let them and the `jollies' look arter the old
barkie, who won't mind takin' care of herself for an hour or two--God
bless her!--while us, her precious hinfants, is havin' a little bit of a
lark with the Crapoos ashore there."
A loud murmur of approval greeted this effort on the part of the
boatswain's mate, and then everybody awaited in silence the reply.
A deep flush of gratification lighted up Captain Hood's features as he
said,--
"I thank you from my heart, men, for your--um--generous wesponse to my
call, and I am sincerely sowwy that I cannot take you--er--eh--at your
words. But the admiwal's instwuctions are impewative, and I have no
power to dwaw more than the specified number. As therefore you have
_all_ volunteered, the `Juno's' contingent shall be chosen by lot,
whereby all partiality or unfairness will be avoided, and I hope that
the awwangement will pwove satisfactowy."
The crew were accordingly arranged in a double rank, fore and aft the
deck, and lots drawn--each man choosing a folded slip of paper from a
bundle, fifty of which were marked, the remainder being blank.
Then came the question of selecting officers, a proper quota of which
were to go with the men. It came out at this stage of the proceedings
that our skipper had been chosen to command the naval brigade; Mr
Annesley therefore, much to his chagrin, found that he had no option but
to remain on board. The second and third lieutenants tossed up to
decide which of them should go, and the "second" was lucky enough to
win. One other officer was required, and the lot fell on Percival, the
master's-mate. The doctor was to go, as a matter of course, but he was
to be a non-combatant. Little Summers and I--poor Pilgarlic--were so
entirely consumed with disgust, that we could find no words sufficiently
powerful to express our feelings, and we simply stood glaring at each
other in moody silence.
Suddenly a brilliant idea flashed through my brain. Winking
encouragingly at the disconsolate Bob, I stepped boldly up to the
skipper, and, touching my cap, said,--
"I hope, sir, as the officers will doubtless go ashore in the cutter,
that you will allow Summers and me to land and join the storming-party.
We will try to make ourselves useful, sir, in the carrying of messages
and so on, and--and we have been looking forward so much to the affair
that--that we _hope_ you will not disappoint us, sir."
"Oh!" said the skipper; "you wish--you and Summers--to join the
storming-party, eh? Well, I weally don't know what to say about that;
it would scarcely be fair to the other young gentlemen, you know.
Still--um--ah--let me see. The admiwal and some of the officers, not
forming part of the stormers, are going on shore, and they will
doubtless use the cutter; and as they will stay until all is over, I
think you may venture to join us, and if you get into twouble over the
affair, I must do the best I can to make excuses for you."
"Hurrah, Bob!" I exclaimed, as I rejoined my despondent friend. "Faint
heart never won fair lady; the skipper has given us permission to slip
ashore and join the stormers, so off you go at once and get ready. And
don't be long, old chap, for the admiral and a lot more are going ashore
in the little `Mouette,' and we must be on hand directly our signal is
made."
"Never fear," joyously responded Bob. "I'll be ready in a brace of
shakes; I've only to get my `weepons' as our Scotch doctor calls them,
and I'll be on deck again as soon as you are."
Having already so successfully enacted the part of a petitioner, I
determined to try my luck once more, and accordingly hunted up the
Honourable Mortimer, who had retired to his cabin. One of the hobbies
of our somewhat eccentric "third" was the collection of choice weapons,
several valuable specimens of which adorned his state-room. If he ever
saw anything specially curious or choice in the shape of sword or
pistol, he never rested until he had made it his own; but when once the
coveted article had come into his possession he seemed to lose all
further interest in it, and accordingly, being also a good-natured
individual enough, he was always ready to lend from his stock, provided
an undertaking were entered into to take due care of the borrowed
article, and to faithfully return it.
To this accommodating friend I briefly stated my case, which was simply,
that as there was just a bare possibility--I did not like to put it any
stronger, remembering that he was one of the disappointed ones--of my
being present at the storming of the redoubt, I was anxious to be
provided with some more efficient weapon than my dirk, and that I would
feel very much obliged to him if he would lend me one of his swords.
This he at once did, bidding me take my choice, and I thereupon selected
a beautiful Turkish scimitar, the curved blade of which, inlaid with a
delicate scroll pattern in gold, was as keen as a razor. Tucking this
under my arm, and thanking him duly for his kindness, I next hurried
away to the armourer, and wheedled him out of a pair of ship's pistols,
together with the necessary ammunition; after which I returned to the
deck and awaited my ally, calm in the consciousness that I was now
prepared for any and every emergency. I was almost immediately
afterwards joined by Bob, whose face beamed with delight as he directed
my attention to a ship's cutlass which he had girded to his thigh, and a
pair of long-barrelled duelling-pistols which our fire-eating "second"
had entrusted to his care. We at once trundled down over the side into
our cockleshell of a boat, and, getting on board the "Mouette" with all
speed, roused up the anchor and dodged about well in view of the
admiral, keeping a sharp lookout for the "whiff" in the mizzen-rigging,
which was our especial signal for service.