"Before makin' any sic a promise, I'll just bide a wee and speir a few
particulars anent the nature o' the said expedition, laddie. If it's o'
a nature to prove benefecial to your health--why then I'm no saying but
what I may be induced to do what I can to forward your views; but no'
itherwise."
I watched him into the cabin, and then "stood off and on" outside upon
the quarter-deck, awaiting his reappearance.
I had not long to wait. In less than five minutes he came out upon the
quarter-deck, and seeing me, beckoned me to approach.
"It's a' right, laddie," said he, "just gang ben til him,"--pointing to
the cabin--"and tak' your instructions. It's just the vera thing I wad
hae prescribed for you had it been possible to hae had the prescription
mad' up. But ye'll no gang oot o' the ship until ye hae been to me for
a wee drappie pheesic ye maun tak' along wi' ye, d'ye mind?"
I promised the kind-hearted old fellow I would be sure to do his bidding
and then joyously entered the cabin.
"Sit down, Mr Chester," said the skipper, when I made my appearance. I
took the chair which he had indicated, and he then proceeded,--
"The admiral has some important despatches to send away, which he is
anxious should reach England as speedily as possible. The `Vigilant'
will take them hence to Gibraltar, and the admiral there will be
requested to despatch a frigate with them for the rest of the journey,
as Lord Hood thinks the `Vigilant' scarcely fit to cross the Bay of
Biscay. The only question has been who to send with them, as there is
still a great deal to be done before the fleet can leave the island, and
there are no officers to spare. Lord Hood mentioned the matter to me,
and I immediately thought of you. You will have nothing to do but
simply navigate the craft to Gibraltar, which, I learn, you are quite
able to do; and it will be a pleasant change for you--beneficial, too,
Malcolm says. There is only one thing I feel called upon to suggest to
you, and that is--_caution_. Recollect that you are a despatch-boat,
not a cruiser; and let _nothing_ which you can possibly avoid tempt you
to delay the delivery of the despatches or endanger their safety. You
are very young for such a trust, I know; but you seem to have as much
tact and discretion as a good many of your seniors, and I see no reason
why you should not execute the service satisfactorily. At all events I
have answered for you, and I trust you will do all you can to justify my
good opinion of you. You had better shift your traps over to the
`Vigilant' at once, and then proceed on board the admiral's ship for the
despatches and your instructions, as he is anxious for you to sail at
once."
I thanked the skipper heartily both for the thoughtfulness and
consideration which had procured for me the change of air which seemed
needed for my complete recovery, and also for the confidence in me which
such a commission argued; and I promised him most earnestly that the
safe delivery of the despatches should be my paramount care.
"That's right, Mr Chester," said he, as I rose to leave the cabin.
"Before I say good-bye, I may as well mention that I have been greatly
pleased with your conduct ever since you first joined the ship. I
consider you a most promising young officer; you have conducted yourself
extremely well on more than one trying occasion, and I have procured
this little commission for you in the hope that it will afford you still
another opportunity of acquiring credit and advancing your interests. I
wish you a quick and prosperous passage, and shall be glad to see your
safe return. And as long as you continue to conduct yourself well, you
may count upon me as a friend, willing to do all that is possible to aid
you. Now--good-bye! and take care of yourself."
So saying, he shook hands heartily with me, and then, flinging himself
back once more in his chair, he turned to a number of papers which
littered his table; while I made my way out upon deck, scarcely knowing
whether I stood upon my head or my heels, so overjoyed was I at the
prospect of the trip.
In less than an hour afterwards I was on board the "Vigilant," with the
despatch-box safely stowed away in the most secret hiding-place I could
find, and my instructions in my breast-pocket.
The night was lovely, not the faintest breath of air ruffled the surface
of the glassy waters, in whose dark mysterious depths glittered a
perfect reflection of every star which beamed in the blue-black vault
overhead. So perfect was the stillness of nature that we could hear,
with the utmost distinctness, the songs of the men on board the
different ships, and even the talking and laughing on board those in our
more immediate vicinity; and when we rigged out our sweeps to sweep the
craft into the offing, where I hoped we might the sooner catch a breeze,
their roll and rattle seemed almost unbearably loud in contrast with the
quiet which prevailed around us.
Having a good strong crew on board, I kept them at the sweeps for a
couple of hours, by which time we had gained an offing of about eight
miles, when I ordered the sweeps to be laid in and the canvas to be set.
Shortly afterwards the moon rose, and, bringing up a nice little
southerly breeze with her, we were soon slipping through the water,
close-hauled on the port tack, and laying well up on our course for old
Gib.
The skipper had been considerate enough to send with me another
midshipman, a quiet, steady, and gentlemanly lad named Harold Smellie, a
year younger than myself, and a boatswain's mate named Tom Hardy, a very
superior and well-educated man for his position, a prime seaman, and
thoroughly reliable in every way. These two I put in charge of the
watches, and then, having seen that everything was satisfactory on deck
and in the look of the weather, I went below and tumbled into my
hammock, leaving of course the stereotyped charge to be called in the
event of anything "turning up" out of the usual way.
On awaking next morning, I found that the breeze had freshened very
considerably during the night, so much so indeed that when I went on
deck the "Vigilant" was tearing through it with her lee-rail under,
although the lateens were reefed to their utmost capacity. There was a
very awkward jump of a sea on already, and it was fast increasing; but
the light beamy little craft, although she tossed the spray in blinding
showers from her weather-bow right aft and out over her lee quarter,
never shipped a drop of green water, and I was highly delighted at her
excellent sea-going qualities. I thought, however, that she would take
the seas much more easily if she were relieved of the strain and
leverage aloft of her long heavy swaying yards; I therefore had the
lateens taken in and the lugs substituted for them, and was rewarded for
my trouble by finding my anticipations amply realised.
The wind continued to increase all through the morning, and by noon it
was blowing quite a fresh gale, with a correspondingly heavy sea.
At five p.m. the lookout reported a sail about two points on our
weather-bow.
"What do you make her out to be?" demanded I.
"She looks large enough for a frigate," replied the man; "but I shall
have a better sight of her in a few minutes, sir; she is steering this
way."
"I say, Chester, suppose it's a frigate from Gibraltar with despatches
for the admiral; what will you do?" exclaimed young Smellie, as we stood
together by the weather-bulwarks, hanging on to the main-rigging.
"There is only one thing that we _can_ do, and that is, exchange
despatches, and each return as quickly as possible to our respective
starting-points. It will be a great bore if we are obliged to cut short
our cruise; but our despatches are urgent, and our duty plainly is to
forward them with all possible speed; and as this vessel, if she prove
to be a frigate, will almost certainly be a much faster craft than
ourselves, we shall be in duty bound to put our despatch-box on board of
her."
"How will you get them on board?" inquired my companion. "It would be a
very ticklish business to launch a boat in this sea."
"We must get near enough, if possible, to effect the exchange without
the aid of a boat," returned I. "With care on both sides I think it
might be safely managed. What does the stranger look like by this
time?" I continued to the lookout.
"Seems to me that he has a very Frenchified look about him, sir,"
replied he.
"Phew! I hope not," said I to Smellie. "Lend me your glass a moment,
will you? Mine is down below. I think I'll take a trip aloft and see
what I can make out about him."
I accordingly went aloft to the fore-yard, and sitting astride it, close
to the parrals, took as good a look at the fast-approaching craft as the
swaying of the yard and the lively motion of the little "Vigilant" would
permit.
I remained there for quite ten minutes, and by the end of that time felt
perfectly satisfied as to her nationality. She was French, from her
truck downwards, without a doubt.
This was an extremely awkward _rencontre_, and one which I scarcely
expected. Indeed, our own frigates were at that time so thoroughly
scouring the Mediterranean, particularly that portion of it lying
between Gibraltar and Malta, that an enemy's ship was almost the last
object we might expect to see.
"I'm afraid we're in a mess here," said I to Smellie, as I joined him
aft, by the companion. "That fellow is a Frenchman, and he has the
weather-gage, to say nothing of his ability to sail round and round us
in this weather, if we took to our heels. Now, the question is, how can
we hoodwink him and slip through his fingers?"
"Perhaps we could personate some other craft of about our size and rig,"
suggested little Smellie doubtfully.
"Um! possibly. Let's get the French navy list, and just run through it.
If there's anything at all like ourselves we shall soon find it."
My companion dived down below, and in less than a minute afterwards
returned with the list and the French signal-book.
We turned it over together, and presently came upon a craft named the
"Vidette," which seemed, from her description, to be almost a sister-
ship to the "Vigilant." We accordingly determined to assume her name
during the communications which would soon pass between us and the
frigate. The French ensign was bent on, and we then turned up the
"Vidette's" number, and bent these flags also on the halliards, after
which we could do nothing but wait.
Suddenly a thought struck me. There were several old red nightcaps
still on board, which had been found when the vessel fell into our
hands. These I at once routed out, and made each man on deck don one
instead of his sou'-wester; we were then effectually disguised, as the
rest of our clothing was concealed by the oilskins which we were wearing
to protect ourselves from the drenching spray.
We had scarcely finished our preparations when Smellie, who was watching
the frigate through his telescope, reported that our unwelcome neighbour
had hoisted the tricolour, which was of course a polite request that we
would show the colour of _our_ bunting.
"Run up the ensign and number," said I to the men who were stationed at
the signal-halliards; and away went the bunting fluttering aloft, the
flags all abroad, in the lubberly fashion which prevailed at that time
in the French navy.
In a few seconds our signal was read; and, in response, up went the
frigate's number, which little Smellie read out as it was going aloft.
"Private signal pennant. Eight, two, seven, four."
"Run up the answering pennant," said I to the signal-man, as I turned up
the number in the signal-book.
"Le Narcisse" was the name corresponding to this number; and I was about
to turn up the navy list, to learn what particulars I could respecting
the craft, when my companion exclaimed, "More bunting. White flag with
blue cross, diagonal. Three, nine, nought, one."
We acknowledged the signal, and, on turning it up, found that it was a
request to "Round-to under my lee: wish to communicate with you."
This brought the signalling to a close; and in about a quarter of an
hour afterwards, we rounded-to on the frigate's lee beam, while that
craft laid her main-topsail to the mast.
As soon as the two craft were within hailing distance a dapper little
figure, dressed in the full uniform of a French naval captain, leaped
into the mizzen-rigging with all the activity of a monkey, and, raising
his hat slightly in salute (which I of course scrupulously returned),
gave a preliminary flourish or two with a speaking-trumpet almost as big
as himself, and then, applying it to his lips squeaked out, in French of
course, in a shrill falsetto which set all our people on the broad
grin,--
"`Vidette ahoy!' Are you the guarda-costa of that name?"
"Ay, ay, monsieur," I briefly replied.
"Oh! very well," said he. "I am Citizen Alphonse Latour, captain of `Le
Narcisse' frigate, in the service of the French Republic. Whither are
you bound?"
"We are cruising to the southward and eastward on the lookout for an
English fleet which is reported to be somewhere hereabouts," I replied,
with a mischievous desire to see what effect the mention of an English
fleet would have upon him.
"An English fleet! _Hereabouts_!! diable!!!" he exclaimed. "I should
like to fall in with them. I hope, however, _they_ will not fall in
with my prize. Ah! Good!! Listen, monsieur, I fell in with and
captured an English merchantman yesterday, with a valuable cargo on
board. You shall oblige me by going on until you fall in with him--he
is only about one hundred miles south-east of us--and you shall escort
him into Toulon; while as for `Le Narcisse'--_parbleu_, she will remain
here in waiting for the accursed English fleet, and fight them all when
they shall arrive. Is it not so?"
"Your orders shall have my best attention, monsieur," I replied; "and I
trust you will not have to wait long for the English. I have the honour
to wish you a very good day."
We raised our hats and bowed simultaneously; the little French captain
scrambled down out of the rigging; I sprang off the low rail on to the
deck; and we filled away upon our course once more, leaving the fire-
eating Frenchman with his topsail still to the mast, waiting for "the
accursed English."
Little Smellie and I enjoyed a good laugh over the _rencontre_, now that
it was past and we had escaped undetected; and we united in a cordial
hope that the gallant little skipper of "Le Narcisse" would have his
wish for a meeting with the English speedily gratified.
_He had_, as we subsequently found out, but the result could scarcely
have been satisfactory to him; for when next I saw Malta "Le Narcisse"
was in harbour there, a prize.
At six o'clock next morning we were fortunate enough to fall in with the
prize--a barque of about 800 tons, loaded with various products of the
East, forming, as Captain Alphonse Latour had truly remarked, a very
valuable cargo--she had been steering a course which threw her fairly
into our arms, so to speak; and, as the weather had moderated, and the
sea gone down a good deal we simply ran her on board, drove the
astonished French prize crew below, and took possession.
On instituting a search, we found that the astute skipper of "Le
Narcisse" had taken out the entire crew except the second mate and three
hands--whom he had left on board to assist in working the ship--so as to
prevent all possibility of a rising and a recapture. We transferred the
Frenchmen to the "Vigilant;" put eight of our own men on board, in
charge of young Smellie; and then made sail in company for Gibraltar.
As, however, the "Vigilant" sailed two feet to the barque's one, we had
run her completely out of sight by noon; and we could only hope that she
would reach the Rock in safety--which she luckily did, and we of the
"Vigilant" ultimately netted a good round sum in the shape of prize-
money on her account.
About three p.m. on the same day as that on which we took our prize, we
made another sail dead to windward, steering the same way as ourselves,
but rather edging down upon us. We must have sighted each other
simultaneously; for, while still examining him with my telescope, I saw
him bear up upon a course evidently intended to cut us off. The
"Vigilant," however, continued to steer the same course as before; my
intention being to try the same trick with him--in the event of his
being a Frenchman--which had succeeded so well with "Le Narcisse"; and
if he was an Englishman, I had of course nothing to fear.
In about another hour we had neared each other sufficiently to permit of
our colours being seen; and no sooner was this the case than the
stranger flew her ensign--the English--and fired a gun for us to heave-
to. I at once obeyed; and in about twenty minutes afterwards she
rounded-to within pistol-shot to windward of us and lowered a boat.
The day being fine I was of course in my ordinary uniform; and I could
not wholly conceal a smile at the look of disappointment and disgust
which overspread the features of the officer in charge, as the boat
approached sufficiently near to permit of his seeing that, whatever the
ship might be, the crew were English.
I awaited him at the lee gangway; and on his stepping up out of the
boat, raised my hat in due form, a salute which he very gracefully
returned.
"Well, young gentleman," said he, "what craft have you here, pray, and
where are you bound to?"
I told him briefly what we were, and so on; and in reply to his
questions, gave him a short account of the way in which the "Vigilant"
had come into our hands, at which he seemed much interested.
"Well," said he, when I had finished the story, "I must say I am sorry
you are not French; for we should then have had an opportunity of making
a prize of some sort, even though you would have been but very small
fry; but _anything_ will be fish which comes to our net now. We have
been knocking about here for nearly a month, and never a sign of a
Frenchman have we seen during the whole time."
"Indeed!" said I, "you _have_ been unlucky; but I hope your luck has now
changed at last. Though you cannot make a prize of us, I think I can
put you on the track of one."
"Ah! do you indeed? Come, that's a great deal better," said he, in a
very different tone from that which had characterised his conversation
hitherto. "My dear boy, pray let us have your news without further
ado."
I accordingly described to him our meeting with "Le Narcisse," and
mentioned Captain Alphonse Latour's enthusiastic and patriotic
determination to await on that spot the approach of the "accursed
English;" concluding my story by giving the exact latitude and longitude
of the place where our meeting with "Le Narcisse" took place.
When I had given him all particulars he rose to take his leave.
"Good-bye," said he, "and accept, through me, the thanks of Captain
Lacey, the officers, and the whole ship's company of the `Diamond' for
the very valuable information you have afforded us. I only hope
Monsieur Latour was sincere in his resolve; we will not keep him waiting
very long. A pleasant passage to you and I hope your prize will get
safely in. Lucky young dog, you are, and no mistake."
"Good-bye," I returned. "I wish you a speedy and pleasant meeting with
Monsieur Latour."
And with another shake of the hand we parted. Poor fellow! he little
knew what lay before him. The "Diamond" actually found "Le Narcisse"
cruising about the spot I had indicated, and one of the shot of the
Frenchman's first broadside took his head off.
Four days afterwards we anchored at Gibraltar just in time to hear the
evening gun, having been favoured, during the entire passage, with a
wind which permitted us to lay our course with every thread of canvas
drawing to its utmost.