Once more the "Vestal" was at anchor in Port Royal harbour. In vain her
brave captain had striven against the effects of his wounds. He must
return home if he would save his life, he was told, so he applied to be
superseded. The admiral came on board the "Vestal" to inspect her. The
next day he sent for Ripley, and put a paper into his hand. Pearce's
heart beat quick with proud satisfaction. The document was an order to
take the acting command of the corvette. "I have written home by this
post to ask for your commission, and to recommend that you should be
confirmed in the command of the `Vestal,'" added the admiral. "I am
sure that you will take care she does as good service as she performed
under Captain Gale." Bonham, who had received his commission a few
months before, became first lieutenant, and a young _protege_ of the
admiral's received an acting order as second; so that the united ages of
the three principal officers of the ship amounted to little more than
fifty-five years. Old heads were worn then on young shoulders. Many
prizes had been taken, and the time approached for their return to Port
Royal. The corvette lay becalmed. A French store-ship was expected,
which had been separated from her convoy. The "Vestal" lay disguised,
as was usual in those days, looking very unlike the smart sloop she was.
A blue line was seen in the horizon, the sign of an approaching breeze,
and in the midst of it a sail. The breeze brought up the stranger, a
fine brig, to within about a mile, when it died away. She was an armed
vessel, and showed by her colours that she was French. Before long, two
boats were seen to put off from her. Three boats were instantly lowered
from the opposite side of the "Vestal," and manned. The Frenchmen
pulled rapidly on, expecting to make an easy prize of the "Vestal."
Their look of consternation was very great when they first perceived the
painted canvas which concealed the corvette's guns. Pearce had
carefully watched for the first sign of their wavering, and now ordered
the three boats to make chase. The Frenchmen, taken by surprise, made
but a slight show of resistance, and in ten minutes the whole party
found themselves prisoners on the deck of the corvette. The "Vestal"
was now towed up towards the brig, which opened her fire at the boats,
but this did not deter them from placing the corvette on her quarter,
when a few rapidly delivered and almost raking broadsides compelled her
to haul down her colours, having had the chief officers left on board
and ten of her crew killed or wounded. The privateer, which mounted
fourteen guns, was on her way to France, having a large amount of specie
and valuable goods on board, the result of a successful cruise.
It was with no little pride that Captain Ripley returned to Port Royal
from his first cruise, with the fine brig in company, the British ensign
flying over that of France. The admiral congratulated him on his
success, and at the same time put his commission and appointment into
his hand.
"You must be ready for sea again very soon though," said the admiral; "I
have dispatches to send to Halifax, and unless another cruiser comes in,
I must send you."
Pearce, rather to the admiral's surprise, replied with animation, that
he should be ready to sail that evening if required, provided he could
get water, fuel, and fresh provisions on board. The admiral gave him
permission to make everybody exert themselves.
By noon the next day the young commander had got his ship ready for sea,
and receiving his dispatches with a joyous heart, he shaped a course for
Halifax. A bright look-out was kept, but on this occasion it was to
avoid strange sails. He was only to fight for the purpose of escaping
capture. Halifax was reached, and Pearce having delivered his
dispatches, hurried up to Colonel Verner's house.
Miss Verner was at home. She started, and the colour rose to her cheeks
when Captain Ripley was announced. She put out her hand, and did not
withdraw it, for Pearce forgot to let it go.
"Are you really a captain already?" she asked.
"Yes; that is, a commander. I am captain of the `Vestal,'" he answered,
and he told her how Captain Gale had been compelled to go home, and that
he had been appointed in his stead. He mentioned also the number of
prizes he had taken--a matter which interested Colonel Verner more than
it did her.
"That young Ripley is a very fine fellow," observed the colonel to a
brother officer. "Why, in one cruise he must have made not far short of
ten thousand pounds as his own share of prize-money. A capital haul for
the admiral. Those naval men have better chances than we have of
filling their purses."
If Pearce had received attentions when only a young lieutenant, he was
doubly courted now that he was a commander, with an established name for
gallantry and energy. Alice Verner no longer hesitated acknowledging to
herself that she had given him her entire heart. She felt honoured by
his preference, and proud of it among so many others who seemed anxious
to obtain it. Halifax was always a lively place. There were a great
number of resident families with young people, and dances were therefore
much in vogue. Consequently naval officers were always welcome,
lieutenants and passed midshipmen were acceptable, but young commanders
were treated with especial favour. A more experienced man than Pearce
might have had his head turned with the attentions he received. While,
however, he was grateful for them, he enjoyed to the full the society in
which he found himself, and became neither conceited nor vain. He had
also the opportunity of comparing Alice Verner with other girls, and he
became more than ever convinced of her superiority to them all. His
stay at Halifax was likely to be short. He naturally wished to spend as
much of his time as possible in her society. She invariably received
him so frankly and cordially that all restraint was thrown aside. He
felt almost sure that she loved him; so he took her hand and told her
how much he loved her, and that he believed he had made enough
prize-money already to enable her to live as she had been accustomed to;
that he hoped to make more, and that he had good reason to believe he
should before long be a post-captain, when he should be her father's
equal in rank. Alice was not very much surprised nor agitated, because
she was before sure that he loved her. Still it was very pleasant to
hear him say so. Pearce also felt supremely happy, and did not for a
moment contemplate the clouds and storms which might be ahead. Alice
herself might possibly have seen difficulties which he did not. She
loved her father, but she knew that he was a proud man and weak on
certain points, and that few men thought more of family and connections.
It had always surprised her that he had not inquired more particularly
about Pearce's parentage, but she concluded that he was acquainted with
the circumstances of the case, and was satisfied. It was, at all
events, her duty to tell her father that Captain Ripley had declared
himself. Pearce was to dine with them that day. In the meantime he had
to go on board. He returned some time before the dinner hour. Colonel
Verner had not come in, so that Alice had not had an opportunity of
speaking to her father. Pearce told her that a frigate had arrived that
morning direct from England. Everybody was eager to hear the news she
brought. Probably that kept the colonel from home. While seated
together, and interested more in themselves than in the world at large,
the door was suddenly opened, and Lieutenant Harry Verner was announced.
"Why, Cousin Harry, where have you dropped from?" said Alice, rising to
welcome him, "I did not even know that you were a lieutenant. You have
grown up out of a little midshipman since I saw you last."
"I've dropped from His Britannic Majesty's Frigate `Hecate,' of which I
have the honour of being third lieutenant," announced the young man.
"And as for changes, though you are lovely as ever, I shall not know
soon whether I am standing on my head or my feet;" he looked fixedly at
Pearce as he spoke.
"I beg your pardon, Captain Ripley," said Alice, recovering herself from
the slight confusion into which she had been thrown; "I should have
introduced my cousin to you."
"Harry Verner and I are old shipmates I suspect, unless there are two of
the name very much like each other," said Pearce, rising and putting out
his hand.
"Yes, as midshipmen we were together, I believe," answered Harry,
superciliously; "but really it is difficult to remember all one's old
shipmates."
Pearce under some circumstances would have been inclined to laugh at
Harry Verner's impudence, but it was very evident that the lieutenant
wished to pick a quarrel with him, which was by all means to be avoided.
Alice had thought her cousin a tiresome boy; he now appeared to have
grown more disagreeable than before. Colonel Verner came in and
welcomed his nephew, who was the only son of his elder brother; other
guests arrived, and the conversation became general. Hairy at once
assumed to be the person of most importance in the house, and though he
was laughing and talking with every one, Alice discovered that he was
constantly watching her and Captain Ripley whenever they spoke. Captain
Ripley had to return on board. He never slept out of his ship if he
could avoid it.
"I suppose, colonel, that you can give me a shake down," said Harry; "I
have got leave to remain on shore."
Her cousin's remaining prevented Alice from speaking to her father that
night. Harry showed no intention of going to bed till Pearce had taken
his leave, and Alice had retired. He then, jumping up from the sofa on
which he had thrown himself, exclaimed, "My dear uncle, where did you
pick up that man?"
"Whom do you mean, Harry?" asked the colonel, rather astonished at his
nephew's somewhat impertinent manner.
"Why, Captain Ripley, who has just left this," answered the lieutenant.
"He seems as much at home with Alice as if he were engaged to her.
Indeed, I am half expecting you to tell me that he is."
"Really, Harry, you are speaking too fast," said the colonel; "Captain
Ripley is one of the finest officers in the navy, and having rendered
the greatest possible service to my daughter and me, I feel bound to
treat him with every consideration and kindness."
"Which he repays by aspiring to my cousin's hand," answered Harry.
"Were he a man of family I should say nothing, of course; but he is,
sir, a mere adventurer. His father is a common boatswain--a warrant
officer--not a gentleman even by courtesy, and his mother, for what I
know to the contrary, might have been a bum-boat woman, and his
relations, if he had any, are probably all of the lowest order."
The colonel walked up and down the room very much annoyed. "Though what
you say may be true, Harry, that cannot detract from Captain Ripley's
fine qualities nor relieve me of the obligations I owe him," he observed
after a time. "Of course, were he to dream of marrying Alice, that
would alter the case, and I should be compelled to put a stop to our
present friendly intercourse; but I do not believe that such an idea
enters his head. He is like you sailors generally, here to-day and gone
to-morrow. Probably when he leaves this we may not see him again for
years to come."
"Not so sure of that," said Harry; "Ripley was always very determined
when he made up his mind to do a thing, and you will pardon me, uncle,
but the way in which he was speaking to her when I came into the room
was anything but that of an ordinary acquaintance."
"I'll see about it, I'll see about it," exclaimed the colonel, now more
than ever annoyed. "It is impossible that a man of such low extraction
should aspire to the hand of my daughter. The idea is too absurd!"
Harry Verner retired to rest that night under the comfortable belief
that he had revenged himself on the man whom he had always disliked, and
now envied, for his rapid promotion and success.