Again the _Cynthia_ sailed on a cruise. She had to visit various parts
of the West Indies; sometimes cruising off the Leeward, and sometimes
off the Windward Islands. Now to convoy a fleet of merchant vessels
from one port to another, and occasionally to accompany them part of the
way across the Atlantic, till they were clear of the region infested by
the enemy's smaller privateers.
Several months were thus occupied in a somewhat tedious manner. Small
prizes had been taken; but these did not satisfy the ardent mind of the
gallant captain, who appeared to be longing to meet an enemy the size of
his own frigate, a more worthy competitor than any of the vessels he had
hitherto encountered. At length, Captain Falkner and his young
lieutenant were enabled once more to pay a visit to the Earl and his
family. Denham was received as kindly as before; and it was very
evident the affection existing between Lady Sophy and Captain Falkner
had in no way decreased. During the last day of his stay on shore,
however, a degree of melancholy seemed to weigh down his captain at
times. Occasionally he talked in his usual lively and animated manner,
and spoke hopefully of the future, when, the war being ended, he might
with honour sheath his sword and take up his abode on shore.
"At present, however," he remarked, "while my country demands my
services I am bound to remain afloat."
The frigate, however, was again ordered to sea, and the lovers parted,
hoping ere long to meet again. Captain Falkner was unusually silent
during his drive to the port, and when he arrived on board he retired to
his cabin, and it was not until the moment the ship had to get under
weigh he appeared on deck. He was then as full of life and activity as
usual, and issued his orders in that clear ringing voice by which he was
so well-known. As the frigate under all sail stood out to sea, Denham
more than once observed his captain turning his glass towards the
governor's house high up on the mountain side. In his mind's eye he
probably saw her who had so deservedly won his brave heart, though the
distance was in reality too great to have discovered any human being.
Denham felt very much inclined to imitate his commander's example; but
though he lifted his telescope, he quickly lowered it again.
"No, no; what folly in me to indulge in so idle a dream," he said to
himself, turning away. "I was received as Barry's friend, and treated
with kindness accordingly; but I should only deservedly bring down scorn
and ridicule on myself if I were ever to aspire to a greater intimacy
than that which has hitherto been allowed me."
"Well, Denham, we must not return without an enemy's frigate in tow,"
observed Captain Falkner, as he was one day walking the deck with his
young lieutenant. "The Frenchmen have several fine vessels out in these
seas at present, and we must try and diminish their numbers. Let us but
catch sight of one of them, and, unless she has a very fast pair of
heels, she shall be our prize before many hours are over."
"No doubt of that, sir," answered Denham, laughing. "We have now as
fine a ship's company as were ever collected together, having cleared
out the black sheep who were among them, and they are in as good temper
as men need be."
"A sail on the lee-bow," shouted the look-out from aloft.
"What is she like?" asked the captain.
"A full-rigged ship, sir," was the answer.
There was a fresh northerly breeze at the time, and the frigate was
under easy sail.
"Turn the hands up, Mr Hansom," observed the captain to the first
lieutenant. "Make all sail."
"All hands on deck," shouted the boatswain, piping his whistle at the
same time.
The crew speedily made their appearance, and in a few seconds were seen
clustering on the yards aloft. The ship was kept away, studding-sails
and royals were set; and the frigate, gliding rapidly over the water,
stood towards the stranger. The latter, though she must have seen her
coming, showed no inclination to avoid her; but, on the contrary, hauled
her wind, that they might the sooner meet. Every spy-glass was in
requisition on board the _Cynthia_, and most of the officers went aloft,
that they might take a better view of the stranger. In a short time she
was pronounced to be a frigate of equal size to their own. Some,
however, thought her larger. That she might be so, and under an enemy's
flag, was the wish of all. It is strange how eager men are to encounter
those they consider it lawful to engage with in fight, to wound and slay
each other. They think not of the pain and suffering they may inflict,
or may themselves have to undergo. They eagerly seek for the excitement
of the strife, the triumph of victory. They seem to forget entirely
what far greater triumphs await those who labour on in civil life to
advance the interests of humanity, to win the desert from barrenness, to
make it smile as a fruitful garden, and the glorious triumph which is
reserved for those who struggle on bravely in the service of their
Heavenly Lord and Master. Still, we are describing men as they are, not
as they should be; and probably on board that frigate there was not a
single man who had the slightest doubt that the sentiments which
animated his bosom were otherwise than right and noble, and superior to
all others.
A shout burst from the mouths of the crew of the _Cynthia_ when the
French flag was seen to be run up to the peak of the stranger. She was
standing on with all plain sail set, and was manoeuvring in order to
gain the weather-gauge. The _Cynthia's_ studding-sails and more lofty
canvas having been taken in, she also tacked in order not to let her
antagonist gain this advantage. At length they approached sufficiently
near each other to allow the bow guns of the _Cynthia_ to take effect.
"Mr Hansom, let us see if we cannot knock away some of her spars,"
observed the captain.
"Ay, ay, sir," answered Mr Hansom, going forward and taking the match
in his hands.
There was a good deal of sea running at the time, so that the aim, even
of the best marksman, was likely to prove uncertain. He waited his
opportunity however. As the bows of the frigate rose he applied the
match, and some white splinters were seen to fly from the enemy's
topmast. A cheer burst from the throats of the crew who saw the success
of the experiment. It was looked upon as a good omen for the future.
The cheer, however, was repressed by the officers. The men stood at
their quarters. The captains of guns, with their matches in their
hands, most of them stripped to the waist, to allow them the better to
work the tackles, and also, should they be wounded, to escape the injury
which any piece of clothing was sure to cause, should it be carried into
their bodies by the shot. It was a scene which a painter might have
delighted to copy, exhibiting the sturdy forms of the seamen, their
countenances determined and bold, and utterly devoid of any appearance
of fear. Many, indeed, were passing rough and coarse jokes one from the
other, and the slightest excuse gave cause to a hearty laugh. It would
have been difficult for a stranger to believe, that the men who were
before him were entering into a struggle for life and death, or that the
combat between the two beautiful frigates now sailing in sight of each
other, would probably end in the destruction of one of them. Each sail
was well set, every yard perfectly braced, and all the ropes taut and
uninjured. Thus they stood on, slowly nearing each other, till at
length the Frenchman attempted to haul across the _Cynthia's_ bows, for
the purpose of delivering a raking fire. This the latter avoided by
hauling up.
"Fire," cried the captain, as the broadside of the frigate bore upon
that of the enemy. A loud roar of artillery was the response. Several
shots seemed to take effect, some in the hull, others in the rigging.
The _Cynthia_ herself did not escape injury, and two of her crew were
seen struggling in their death agonies on the deck. The two frigates
now ran on side by side, firing their guns as rapidly as they could be
loaded. Again a shout burst from the throats of the English crew, as
the Frenchman's fore-topmast was seen to go over the side. It was
evident, too, that their shots were taking effect upon the Frenchman's
hull, for several were seen to strike him between wind and water, which
with the sea then running was very likely in a short time to reduce him
into a sinking state. Still the latter worked his guns with as much
determination as at first, aided by musketry whenever the ships
approached near enough for the bullets to take effect. By this means a
considerable number of the crew of the English frigate were struck down,
many of whom were killed, while others were carried bleeding below.
The superior strength and activity of the English seamen soon told
against that of the enemy, for while the latter was delivering two
broadsides the English managed to fire three, their shot, too, being
better directed. Still the French ensign flew out at the enemy's peak,
and there appeared to be no intention on his part of lowering it. The
contest was evidently to be a severe and protracted one. The _Cynthia_
had already lost nearly thirty of her crew, and in all probability the
Frenchman must have suffered in a far greater degree. At length they
drew so close that the muzzles of their guns almost touched, when the
enemy, putting down his helm, ran his bows into those of the British
ship, the bowsprit coming directly across the foremast. Captain
Falkner, calling to Denham and those who were near him at the time,
sprang forward and attempted to lash the bowsprit to the mast of his own
ship. Denham saw his faithful follower, Ned Davis, by his side. While
the captain was in the act of passing a rope round the mast, a bullet,
from the musket of a marine stationed in the Frenchman's top, struck him
on the breast. He fell back, and Denham had just time to catch him in
his arms to save him from falling heavily upon deck. Davis had at that
moment seized the rope which the captain had let go.
"Secure the bowsprit," cried the captain; "do not let the enemy sheer
off. Now place me on the deck; I fear that I am mortally wounded, but
do not let the people know it. In a few minutes the Frenchman's frigate
will be ours. See, they are attempting to board, but drive them back
and they will not long keep their flag flying. On! on! do not heed me."
Denham, calling to some of the crew, ordered them to take the captain
below, while he flew to obey his dying orders.
"Boarders, repel boarders," he shouted, drawing his own sword, and
springing towards the point where the Frenchmen were seen clustering in
their rigging about to spring on the deck of the _Cynthia_. The latter,
already disheartened by the loss of so many of their shipmates, were
quickly driven back, while the _Cynthia's_ guns continued pouring
broadside after broadside into the hull of their ship.
"See, see, down goes the French flag," cried the English crew, and
little knowing the loss they had sustained, they once more gave forth
that hearty British cheer which has so often sounded in the moment of
victory. The dying captain heard it as Denham reached his side.
"Tell her my last thoughts were about her," he murmured as the
lieutenant took his hand, and sinking back, his eyes were in another
moment closed by the hand of death.
The two ships had parted in consequence of the heavy sea which had now
got up. For the same reason the task of transferring the crew of the
prize to the victor was one of considerable difficulty. The first
lieutenant, now in command of the _Cynthia_, hailed the enemy to send a
boat on board; but his reply was that he had none which would swim, all
having been injured in the engagement. Fortunately most of the
_Cynthia's_ boats were in a better condition, and Denham, taking the
command, at once proceeded on board the prize. He found, though the
frigate was French, that a Dutch officer commanded her, who seemed much
down-hearted at the loss of his ship.
The young lieutenant had already been in several engagements, but never
had he seen a deck present a more sad spectacle than that of the
Frenchman. In all directions lay the bodies of the slain, and several
wounded men who had not yet been conveyed below. They were all of them
too much injured to be removed to the _Cynthia_, and they were therefore
carried below. The prisoners were at once ordered to get up their bags,
and to enter the boats, which immediately conveyed them on board their
captor.
Some time was occupied, however, in this work, as the heavy sea which
now ran prevented them from making a rapid passage. The Dutch officer
commanding the ship, had given up his sword to Lieutenant Denham, who
remained on board, ready to take charge of the prize. He himself had
not had time to go below, to observe the damages that the prize had
sustained, but from the report made to him by the late commander, he was
under the apprehension that they were very severe. Indeed, from the
peculiar way the ship rolled, he dreaded that she had taken in a large
amount of water. He accordingly requested the Dutchman, who spoke
English very well, to send his carpenter below, to make a report of her
condition. The man in a short time returned on deck with a pale face,
declaring he did not believe she would float for many hours longer. By
this time the wind had increased so much, and so heavy a sea was
running, that it was a matter of danger to pass between the two ships,
which were at some distance from each other. The boats, with the last
cargo of the prisoners, had left her, and were close alongside of the
_Cynthia_. Denham therefore ordered his own crew to make every effort
to stop the leaks, but they soon found, from the amount of water which
was pouring in, that this would be difficult, if not impossible.
"Well," he remarked to the Dutchman, after every effort had been made to
put a stop to the entrance of the water, "as soon as the boats return,
we must, I fear, abandon the ship. You have defended her nobly, and
perhaps have less cause to regret this occurrence than we have, who
hoped to carry her into port in triumph."
"You of course will return to your own ship as you please," answered the
Dutch officer; "but for my part I cannot desert my poor wounded fellows
below, and unless there is time to remove them, should the ship sink
beneath my feet, I must go down with her."