III.

The person who is constantly keeping his eye on the reward he aims at is

very likely to stumble and fall, and never to reach it. He, on the

contrary, who thinks only how he can best perform his duty will be

upheld and encouraged, and very probably obtain a higher reward than any

at which he might have aspired. Pearce Ripley found this to be true in

his case. Duty was his leading star. It never occurred to him to say,

"Will this please my captain?" "Will this advance me in the service?"

The "Blanche" was soon refitted and at sea again. Several prizes were

made, and, greatly to his satisfaction, he was appointed to the command

of one of them, with Bonham as his mate, and Dick Rogers as boatswain.

She was a richly-laden West Indiaman, recaptured from the enemy. He was

ordered to take her to England, where, on his arrival, he found his

commission waiting for him.

Pearce received a right hearty welcome from his father, and intense was

the satisfaction of the brave seaman when his son showed him his

commission and appointment as second lieutenant to the "Vestal," an

eighteen gun sloop of war, commanded by Captain Gale, and destined for

the North American station.

"You have got your first step up the ratlins, Pearce. Go on as you have

begun, and Heaven preserving your life, there is no reason why you

shouldn't reach the highest," said the proud father, as he once more

parted from his son.

Those were days of pressgangs, and Dick Rogers took good care to hide

away till he ascertained the craft Pearce was to join, when he at once

volunteered for her. Bonham, who had still a year to serve, was

appointed to the same ship. The "Vestal" had a quick run across the

Atlantic till within about five days' sail of Halifax, Nova Scotia, when

a heavy gale sprang up, which tried to the utmost her seaworthy

qualities. The sloop behaved beautifully, hove to, and rode buoyantly

over the raging seas. Well indeed was it for her that she was properly

handled, for the gale went on increasing till the oldest seamen on board

declared that they had never met with such another. It continued for a

week, each day the wind blowing harder and harder, or if there was a

lull it seemed to come only that the gale might gain greater strength.

For days not a glimpse of sun, or moon, or stars had been obtained. It

was the morning watch; the grey cold dawn had just broke. Pearce was on

deck, when sweeping his eye round the horizon as the sloop rose to the

summit of a sea he perceived on the lee beam the hull of a ship, rising

and sinking amid the tumultuous waters. At first he thought she was

keel up, but as the light increased he saw that she was a large ship

with the stump of the foremast alone remaining. That she was in a bad

plight was very clear. She was remarkably low in the water he fancied,

and who could say how long even she might keep afloat.

The captain, being summoned, soon came on deck. To bear sway for the

stranger would be a work of danger to the "Vestal." Still who could

tell how many human beings might be on board that sinking ship! With

hatches battened down and men lashed to the helm, the captain resolved

to go to the rescue.

The seas came roaring up with furious rage, as the sloop flew before

them, some breaking aboard; and rounding to under the stern of the ship,

she again hove to. Many people appeared on the deck of the stranger

who, stretching out their arms, implored assistance. How was it to be

afforded? Would a boat live in such a sea? Such appeals to British

seamen are never made in vain. Pearce Ripley offered to make the

experiment if men were found ready to go with him. There was no want of

volunteers. A boat was lowered. It seemed as if she must be engulfed

before she left the sloop's side. Ripley's progress was watched by

eager eyes from both ships. Now he is in the trough of the sea, a

watery mountain about to overwhelm him; now he is on the summit

surrounded by driving foam. A shout is raised as he neared the sinking

ship, but to get alongside was even more dangerous than the passage from

one to the other. As the ship rolled and her deck was exposed to view,

he saw that there were women on board, and other people besides the

crew. Ropes were hove to him. He seized one, and sprang up the side.

A few hurried words told him what had occurred. The ship was conveying

troops and stores to Halifax, the master and first mate had been washed

overboard, the second lay wounded by the falling of a spar. Many of the

crew had been lost with the captain. There was no sea officer who could

enforce orders; the men were mutinous. Ripley instantly assumed the

command. There were several ladies. "They must first be placed in

safety before a man enters the boat," he cried out, presenting a pistol

at some seamen who showed an intention of leaping into her.

Some entreated that their husbands might accompany them. "Oh, father,

father, come with me," exclaimed a fair girl, who was being conveyed to

the side to be lowered into the boat; "I cannot, I will not leave you."

She looked towards a fine, soldier-like man, who stood with several

officers around him. "Impossible! Heaven protect you, dearest. Even

for your sake I cannot desert my post. It is here with my men," was the

answer. The boat had already nearly as many persons in her as it would

be safe to carry. This was no time for delay. Pearce lifted the young

lady in his arms, and lowered himself with her into the boat. The boat

returned to the "Vestal," and all those who had been rescued were put on

board. The young lady again and again entreated him to save her father,

Pearce promised to make every effort to bring off the colonel. "But

unless his men are rescued, I doubt that he will leave the ship," he

added, as he returned to his boat.

Two other boats were now lowered, but it was too evident that they could

only save a part of the people from the foundering ship. Those on her

deck were now seen forming a raft. It was their last hope of life

should the boats not take them off. Though several of the people made a

rush to the side, they were driven back by the officers and soldiers who

remained firm, and the men were told off in order to allow of them to

embark as arranged by Pearce. Twice the boat returned without an

accident to the "Vestal." The young lady cast a reproachful look at

Ripley, when she saw that her father was not among the saved. "He would

not come, lady, but I will make another effort," he exclaimed, as he

prepared once more to leave the corvette's side. Just then arose the

fearful cry, "She is sinking! she is sinking!"

"Oh, save him! save him!" shrieked the poor girl in an agony of terror,

stretching out her hands towards the spot where she fancied that she saw

her beloved father struggling in the waves. Pearce and his brave

companions needed not such an appeal to make them use every effort to

reach their drowning fellow-creatures. Some had leaped on the

half-finished raft as the ship sunk beneath them, but many of these were

speedily washed off. Others were clinging to spars, and oars, and

gratings, Pearce was soon in the midst of the hapless beings, many with

despair on their countenances, unable to reach the boat, sinking as he

neared them. He looked round for the colonel. He could not distinguish

him among the rest. Three people had been hauled in, when as the boat

rose to the summit of a sea he saw below him a person clinging to a

grating. A hand was waved towards him. "Give way, lads," he shouted,

and in another minute he had the satisfaction of hauling on board the

brave officer for whom he was searching.

The other boats took off the people from the raft. He picked up several

more, and returned in safety on board. The meeting of the father and

his daughter need not be described. They were, he found, a colonel and

Miss Verner. He was struck by the name as that of his former unamiable

messmate. When the weather moderated, and the colonel was sufficiently

recovered to appear on deck, he warmly expressed his gratitude to

Pearce, and his admiration of the gallantry he had displayed. His

daughter Alice was not less grateful. A calm succeeded the gale, and

Pearce had frequent opportunities of seeing her. He did not mention

Harry Verner to her, and indeed so great was the contrast he perceived

between the two in manners and behaviour, that he could not suppose they

were nearly related. Still there was at times an expression in Colonel

Verner's countenance when he was annoyed which reminded him strongly of

Harry.

There was a frank heartiness and sincerity about the young lieutenant

which at once gained Miss Verner's regard. It was very different to

what she had been accustomed, still his manner towards her was gentle

and deferential, as if he in no way presumed on the service he had

rendered her. Indeed, it never entered his head that he had rendered

her any especial service, or that he had the slightest claim on her

regard. He felt, as he wrote to his father, "that he had had the good

fortune to command the boat which saved a colonel and Miss Verner; that

they were very nice people; that the colonel was to be stationed at

Halifax, and had invited him to his house whenever he could get leave on

shore." He added, "That will not be very often during these stirring

times, but I shall thoroughly enjoy it when I do go, for Miss Alice

Verner is the most beautiful and amiable girl I have ever seen or expect

to meet; without a bit of pride about her, and she talks to me as if I

were an old friend."

At length the "Vestal" dropped her anchor in the fine harbour of

Halifax, and with a regret which surprised him, Pearce saw the

passengers depart for the shore.

"Remember, my dear Mr Ripley, Miss Verner and I shall at all times be

glad to see you," said Colonel Verner as he was about to leave the ship.

Alice did not say as much as her father, but Pearce believed from the

expression of her countenance that she willingly seconded her father's

invitation. Still he knew that the familiar intercourse which had been

so delightful to him on board must come to an end. "What can she ever

be to me more than she is at present?" he exclaimed to himself. "She

says that I saved her life and her father's life; but then I saved the

lives of many other people. To be sure I have got one step up the

ratlins, but it may be very long before I get another. No, no, I'll not

think about it."

The next day a special invitation to the governor's table, where he met

Colonel and Miss Verner, and where all the gentlemen from the governor

downwards drank wine with him, considerably altered his feelings. This

was the first of many attentions which he received from the military

officers and the principal inhabitants of Halifax. His time on shore

was indeed fully occupied in making morning calls and in attending the

parties to which he was invited. A portion of every morning he spent in

the society of Miss Verner. It was very delightful, and he felt sure

that he was welcome.

At length the "Vestal" was suddenly ordered to sea. Pearce had the

greatest difficulty in getting on shore to wish his friends good-bye.

Alice turned pale when he told her that the ship was to sail that

evening. "You will come back here surely, Mr Ripley," she said, in a

trembling voice; "you have been every thing to us since that awful day

when you saved our lives from the sinking ship; we shall miss you,

indeed we shall, very much."

Pearce could not frame a reply, at least, satisfactory to himself. He

scarcely knew what he said, as he hurried away. The words might have

made a vainer man than he was much happier than they did him.

The "Vestal" was bound for the West Indies. She cruised for some time,

making several rich prizes, which she sent into Port Royal, Jamaica, and

which filled the purses of her officers and men in a very satisfactory

manner. Still, no honour or promotion was to be obtained by the capture

of honest merchantmen. At length, however, there appeared a chance of

falling in with an antagonist worthy of her. One morning at dawn a

stranger was discovered on the lee beam. The "Vestal" was kept away,

and all sail made in chase. As the "Vestal" gained on the chase, she

was discovered to be a large ship, and pronounced to be flush-decked.

"Then we'll tackle her; never mind how many guns she carries," exclaimed

the captain--a sentiment to which his officers and men responded

heartily.

The chase was accordingly continued, and as the vessel came up with her

on the weather quarter, it was seen that she was a large flush-decked

ship, carrying twenty-two guns. The ensign of France flew out from the

stranger's peak, and was saluted by a shot from one of the corvette's

bow guns. The battle thus begun, the "Vestal" keeping the weather

gauge, was continued for half-an-hour with great fury, till the

Frenchman's foremast went by the board. The enemy's guns were well

handled, and the corvette began to suffer accordingly. The first

lieutenant and five men were killed, and the captain, a midshipman, and

several men wounded. The captain was carried below, and the command

devolved on Pearce. The young lieutenant's heart beat high. "Bonham,"

he said, addressing his friend who was standing near him, "we'll take

that ship, or go down with our colours flying." The breeze which had

fallen returned, and as the corvette was still under perfect command, he

was able at length to obtain a position by which he could pour several

raking broadsides into the bows of the enemy. Her main-top mast was

shot away; her mizen-mast followed. The ensign of France was again

hoisted, but did not long remain flying. Pearce poured in another

broadside, and down it came, the cheers of the British crew giving

notice of what had occurred to their wounded shipmates below. The

prize, which proved to be the "Desiree," had lost a considerable number

of her crew, most of them killed during the latter part of the action.

Bonham was sent on board to take command, and in two days the "Vestal"

and her prize entered in triumph the harbour of Port Royal. Here the

admiral with part of the fleet were at anchor. Pearce went on board the

flag-ship to make his report. He was warmly received, and highly

complimented on his conduct. The next day he found that he was to be

first lieutenant of the corvette, and Bonham received an acting order as

second lieutenant. The "Vestal" had received so much damage, that she

was obliged to refit at Port Royal. This took several weeks, and

Captain Gale considered himself sufficiently recovered, when she was

ready, to go to sea in her. Pearce had, however, virtually the command.

Several more prizes were taken. "That's young Ripley's doing,"

exclaimed the admiral, "he deserves his promotion, and he shall have

it."