"She's making no water, but I don't know what she may do when we go on
t'other tack."
"Clear the boats ready for lowering," exclaimed Murray.
That on the port side, however, was found to have been carried away,
with the davits, and now hung crushed to pieces, held by the falls. The
darkness prevented all the damage which had been done from being
discovered for some time. Adair had remained a minute behind his
friends, to quiet the alarm of the ladies, who were naturally somewhat
agitated at hearing the sound caused by the collision. He now sprang on
deck, just as Murray was ordering a boat to be lowered.
"Here, Desmond," he sang out, "lend me a hand at the after falls."
"Hold on!" cried Murray; "there's no necessity for lowering a boat.
There's no great damage done, after all, I hope; though it would have
been the same to that big fellow, for no one on board him even hailed to
know whether we required assistance."
The breeze was every instant freshening. The schooner heeled over to
starboard.
"Where are you, Desmond?" exclaimed Adair.
No one answered.
"Good Heavens! where's Saint Maur?" cried Jack. "Can he have gone
below?"
"That's not likely. Alick, where are you?" cried Captain Murray, the
fearful idea occurring to him that some accident might have happened to
his son.
"Here, sir," cried Alick, who had been forward talking to Ben
Snatchblock.
Murray uttered his thanks to Heaven. "Bring a light here, and look
round the deck," he exclaimed. "He may have been struck down."
The search was in vain. The man who had been at the helm seemed to have
been seriously injured, as he was found senseless close to the taffrail.
It became too sadly evident that the young lord had been carried
overboard.
He must have been struck on the head; for no cry had been heard, and,
owing to the pitchy darkness, no one had seen him. The crew, with the
exception of the helmsman, having been gathered forward, they were now
mustered to ascertain if any one else had been carried overboard, but
all answered to their names.
Murray and Jack blamed themselves bitterly for having left the deck when
they ought to have been on the look-out; but even had they remained, the
collision might not have been avoided, so suddenly had the stranger
appeared running down before the wind. Adair could scarcely restrain
his grief for the loss of his nephew. Murray immediately put the
schooner about, and then kept away, so as to pass over the spot where
the accident had occurred. Desmond might possibly have recovered his
senses, and kept himself afloat, either by swimming or holding on to the
fragments of the boat. Every eye was strained in looking ahead and on
both sides, in the possibility of discovering him; but no voice replied
to their repeated shouts, and nothing was seen floating on the water.
Hands were stationed at the falls to lower the boat, should it become
necessary. The schooner was frequently tacked, so that every inch of
water was explored; but the search was in vain.
Murray considered that it would be useless to attempt to overtake the
stranger, to ascertain who she was, and to demand reparation for the
damage inflicted. At length the search was abandoned as hopeless; and
the yacht once more hauled her wind. She was destined, to all
appearance, to have a long beat up Channel.
Jack undertook to convey the sad intelligence to his wife and Mrs
Murray, who had remained below, wondering what had occurred.
It was a sad event in the trip, which had otherwise been so agreeable.
The wind continued to increase, and Murray felt too anxious to go below.
The schooner had been put about and was now standing to the northward.
He had made up his mind to run into Falmouth to wait for a fair wind,
should the weather not improve. Ben Snatchblock came aft.
"I'm afraid, sir, that the craft's making more water than she should.
We'll man the pumps, if you please. She got more damage than I had
supposed. The chief injury seems to be amidships, and I should not be
surprised if the water wasn't coming in through one of the side berths."
Jack and Adair went below to examine into the state of affairs. One of
the berths on the port side had been occupied by Desmond. On entering
it, by the light from the main cabin, they saw the water gushing in
every time the schooner heeled over. The ladies naturally cried out
with alarm.
"It might have been far worse," said Jack. "We can soon stop this. We
must shorten sail and keep as much as possible on an even keel."
The carpenter came below with some tools and planks, and set to work to
try and stop the leak. The pumps were, in the mean time, kept actively
going, and Ben reported that the water was decreasing. Still, the
injury might be more serious than was at first apprehended, and no
little anxiety was felt by all on board. It might be many hours before
Falmouth could be reached.
The damage having been partially repaired, the yacht was put about. The
leak in the side was anxiously watched, to ascertain if the water still
came in. A small quantity was evidently forcing its way through the
seams, but Murray hoped that it would not prove of much consequence, and
that the pumps might easily keep the vessel clear. Still he was aware
that at any moment the plank nailed on might be forced in. It seemed a
wonder indeed that the yacht had not been sunk at once by the blow she
had received.
"The wind's coming a point or two more to the south'ard, sir," observed
Ben Snatchblock, who had been looking at the binnacle. "Half a point or
so more, and we shall weather the Lizard. There are the lights, sir. I
thought we should see them before long."
The mist clearing away, the fixed lights of the Lizard were seen on the
port bow. Gradually the wind allowed the vessel's head to be turned
more to the eastward, when they appeared broad on the bow. The
schooner, by keeping close to the wind, was able to steer a course
direct for Falmouth Harbour, and away she went slashing through the seas
at a great rate. Just before dawn it again grew unusually dark and
thick, so that even the bright lights of the Lizard could be seen but
dimly. They served, however, to show that she was at a sufficient
distance from the shore, but that shore was a lee one, and should any
accident happen, she would be placed in great peril.
"Luff all you can," said Murray to the helmsman, for he naturally
dreaded, should the wind increase, to find himself with a rocky coast
under his lee, though he had confidence in his craft.
Day dawned, and the Cornish land appeared stretching along from north to
south, and much nearer than had been supposed. Breakers were seen
dashing over the dangerous rocks of the Manacles, close under their lee.
Just then a heavy squall struck the yacht; over she heeled, and the
water rushed half up her deck, pouring in through crevices which had
hitherto not been discovered. To keep her away was impossible. By
luffing up she ran the risk of getting into the wind. To shorten sail
would have been equally hazardous. She must stand on at all risks. The
yacht flew through the water, plunging into the seas like a being
struggling for life. Falmouth Harbour appeared directly ahead, with
Saint Anthony's light-house on the east side of the entrance. In a
short time the vessel would be safe. She shot by close to the buoy of
the Manacles. Murray knew that it was placed some distance outside the
rocks. He drew his breath when he saw it astern; still no one looking
at him would have suspected the anxiety which had weighed on his heart.
By keeping the pumps going the water did not gain sufficiently to cause
much alarm, but the _Stella_ had already more in her hold than was
pleasant, and her stores, at all events, were likely to suffer. Murray
was infinitely relieved when he was able to let go the anchor, and the
yacht rode safely in the beautiful harbour of Falmouth, among numerous
other craft, of various rig and size. The vessel once at rest, the
water was soon pumped out, and, breakfast over, Murray and Adair went on
shore to obtain a carpenter capable of thoroughly repairing the damages
the vessel had received, as also to ascertain whether she had received
any injury below water. Meantime Ben was engaged in mending the
mainsail.
The ladies did not feel disposed to go on shore. They were,
fortunately, not fully aware of the danger in which the yacht had been
placed, and had as much confidence in her as ever. The carpenter and
his assistants set to work without delay, and, wonderful to relate,
undertook to have all damages repaired by the following day. A doctor
was also sent for to attend to poor Dick Stokes, who had remained
senseless since he was taken below. After some treatment, however, he
recovered sufficiently to speak and to give an account of what he
recollected from the moment he saw the stranger gliding stem on towards
the _Stella's_ beam.
"She seemed to be coming just as it were out of a fog, like a big ice
mountain, and I thought it was all over with us," he said. "I'd just
time to put the helm down, hoping to scrape clear of her, when I heard a
crash and saw her bowsprit come sweeping along over our deck, tearing
away the luff of the mainsail and knocking the port quarter-boat to
pieces. I thought I saw some one hanging on to her bobstay, and the
next moment that or something else struck me on the head and shoulders,
and I thought I was going overboard. It seemed as if I heard a cry, but
whether it was my own shout or some one else's is more than I can tell.
You see, sir, it was so dark I could not make out anything more, so
whether it was really a man I caught sight of or not I cannot tell. To
my mind, where the schooner was struck, she bounded off from the ship,
or we should have been sent to the bottom. That she was a sailing ship
and not a steamer I am pretty certain, for I had time to see her canvas
rising up above us."
Dick's statement, as far as the appearance of the ship was concerned,
was corroborated by the rest of the crew, but so dark was it that only
two had actually seen her before she was again clear of the schooner and
running past astern. Dick's statement slightly raised the hopes of
Adair and his friends, that Lord Saint Maur might have escaped, but why,
if he had got safely on board the ship, she did not heave to to allow
the yacht to speak with her was surprising. The only supposition was
that she was a foreigner, and that he could not make himself understood,
or that the officer of the watch, supposing that the schooner had sunk,
was afraid to heave to lest he might be made answerable for the
catastrophe.
Such utter disregard for human life had before been exhibited on more
than one occasion, and this might be another instance. However,
conjectures were useless. If Saint Maur had been saved they would hear
of him again. He would either get on board a homeward-bound vessel, or
land at the first port at which the ship touched. The sad subject was
discussed over and over again.
"I cannot believe that Lord Saint Maur is dead," said Miss Julia Rogers,
Jack's eldest daughter--who had looked the picture of woe since the
accident, although she had said nothing--when she heard Dick's
statement. "He was telling me of the numerous dangers he and Tom had
been in, and how they had got out of them all, and I don't see why he
should not have escaped from this one. Dick Stokes thinks he saw a
human being clinging on to the bowsprit rigging, and that must have been
Lord Saint Maur, and he being a sailor could easily have climbed up and
got on board. I have been picturing to myself his doing so, and how
astonished the sailors must have been when they saw him, though it was
very, very cruel of them not to heave to and wait for us to receive him
back again."
Stella smiled sadly at young Julia's remark. Murray was not so sanguine
as his friends. He suspected that Dick had been nodding at the helm,
and that had he had his eyes open, he would at all events have given the
alarm before the stranger had struck the yacht. The latter, it should
have been said, was sailing on a course diagonal to the ship, or she
would have been more severely damaged.
The bad weather being over, the _Stella_ once more sailed for the Isle
of Wight. Adair had written to Counsellor McMahon an account of the
accident. He had posted the letter before Dick had come to his senses,
and he then expressed no hopes that his nephew had escaped. As the
winds were light, the _Stella_ was three days getting up the Channel,
and it was not till late at night that she brought up off Ryde. The
party, therefore, did not go on shore until the following morning. His
aunt and young cousins were deeply grieved at hearing of Desmond's
possible fate.
"It will be a sad blow for Tom and Archie when they hear of it,"
observed Jack to Adair. "They have as great an affection for him as we
three had for each other."
Murray remained at Ryde some days longer, taking trips in various
directions, and then the captain and his family, bidding adieu to their
old friends, sailed, intending to go homewards along the east coast and
round the north of Scotland. Young Alick, who had not yet been
appointed to a ship, accompanied his father and mother.
Next morning, as Jack and Adair were seated at breakfast, Adair
remarked, as he was overlooking a new navy list, just sent in from the
library--
"I had no idea that Murray was so near his flag. I see that Sir
Benjamin Blowhard, old Grummet, poor Marlin, and Kelson, Lord Figgins,
as we used to call him, Dick Dotheboys, and Oakum, have gone the way of
all flesh. I saw by yesterday's paper that Bulkhead had died in the
West Indies, and two other captains senior to Murray are very ill."
"I shall rejoice at Murray's promotion," said Jack; "there is no man
better suited to command a fleet."
"I cannot say that I wish for such a responsibility," observed Adair,
"nor am I in any special hurry to become an admiral, though Lucy may
think it a very fine thing, especially if I am made a KCB, of which,
however, there is not the slightest probability. I'm much more likely
to be kicked off to sea and sent to the East Indies or West Coast of
Africa to sun myself."
While this conversation was going forward, two long official-looking
letters were received. Julia and Lucy looked at them suspiciously.
"Those very affectionate gentlemen, the Lords of the Admiralty, request
that I will do them the favour of taking command of the _Bellona_,
Murray's old ship," said Jack; "but whether to serve on the home station
or to go out to the Antipodes they do not explain."
He handed the letter to his wife, who put her hand to her heart, as if
she felt a sudden pain there.
"Oh, Jack, I did not think they would send you off again!" she said,
with a deep sigh.
"And what is your despatch about?" asked Lucy, in a trembling voice.
"Of the same tenor as Jack's. Those dear old fellows offer me the
command of the _Empress_, but leave me as much in the dark as Jack is as
to where I am to go."
Lucy always behaved better than her sister-in-law on such occasions,
although she certainly did not love her husband a bit the less.
"I hope if you are sent out to a foreign station where the children and
I can live, that you will let us go too," said Lucy; "either to North
America, or the Mediterranean, or Australia, or the Cape. I'm sure it
will be one of these."
Julia was equally pressing to be allowed to go out to any part of the
world to which the _Bellona_ might be sent, but Jack would wisely make
no promises.
"Well, we must go over to-morrow or the next day to commission the old
tubs, I suppose," said Adair, laughing, as if the appointment was
anything but satisfactory, although in reality he felt proud at being
again sent to sea.
This event almost banished poor Desmond for a short time from his mind,
until he received a letter from Counsellor McMahon:--"I cannot believe
that our young friend has gone, after all the efforts we made to obtain
his rights for him. I would rather suppose that he was even now
swimming about somewhere in the chops of the Channel, or was carried off
by the ship which so abominably attempted to run you down. I have
always heard that midshipmen have as many lives as a cat, and though he
had become a lieutenant, he had not abandoned the privilege he enjoyed
in his youth. I don't believe he is lost, and I do not intend to let
either of the other claimants get hold of the property, or assume his
title, until I have stronger evidence of his death than your letter
supplies. I remember only a short time ago, one of the Lords of the
Admiralty, or some high official in the Marine Department, was carried
off by a stranger running into the vessel he was on board, and it was
not until several days after that he was discovered, having clung to
what is called the dolphin striker--although to what part of a ship's
rigging that instrument belongs I do not know, but conclude that it must
be at the end of the bowsprit--and that his lordship was hooked up by
the breeks, from which disagreeable position he was rescued by the
sympathising crew of the vessel which had run into his."
The lawyer's confidence, although, perhaps, arising from insufficient
grounds, greatly restored Adair's spirits, and he and Jack the next day
went over to Portsmouth to assume command of their respective ships.
Jack applied for his brother, and the Lords of the Admiralty graciously
granted his request. He was very glad to obtain Archie Gordon as his
first lieutenant. He at once wrote to Murray, saying how delighted he
should be to have young Alick. His letter found the _Stella_ lying in
Leith Roads, she having put into the Firth of Forth to remain a few
days. In less than twenty-four hours young Alick appeared with a letter
from his father, requesting Jack to obtain the necessary articles for
his outfit. Orders were received to get both ships ready for sea with
all possible expedition, and the two captains found that they were to
proceed round the Cape of Good Hope to Aden, to which place further
orders were to be transmitted to them.