CHAPTER XVIII
ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT
The three vessels kept company until, on the third day after sailing,they overtook the two merchantmen. Nat, supposing that the _Isis_ wouldnow leave them, went on board to thank the captain for the greatassistance that he had given him.
"I shall stay with you now, Mr. Glover. The news of the outbreak of warwill be known at Jamaica by this time, for the despatches were sent offon the day before we sailed from home, by the _Fleetwing_, which is thefastest corvette in the service. She was to touch at Antigua and then gostraight on to Port Royal. I was to carry the news to Barbados, so thatit does not make any difference whether I reach Kingston two hoursearlier or later. There is a possibility that the French may have sentships off even before they declared war with us, and as it is certainthat there are several war-ships of theirs out here, one of these mightfall in with you before you reach Jamaica. Therefore as my orders aresimply to report myself to the admiral at Kingston, I think it is quitein accordance with my duty that I should continue to sail in companywith you."
"Thank you, sir. There certainly is at least one French frigate in thebay of Hayti, and if she has received the news she is quite likely toendeavour to pick up some prizes before it is generally known, just asthe _Spartane_ picked up those merchantmen, and though possibly we mightbeat her off, I should very much prefer to be let alone."
"Yes, you have done enough for one trip, and I should much regret wereyou to be deprived of any of your captures."
The _Agile_ was signalled to prepare to pick up her boat, and Nat wassoon on board his own craft again. He ran up to within speaking distanceof the _Spartane_, and shouted to Turnbull that the _Isis_ was going toremain in company with them. Turnbull waved his hand, for although hehad not entertained any fear of their being attacked, he felt nervous athis responsibility if a sudden gale should spring up and the temporaryrudder be carried away. It was a comfort to him to know that, shouldthis happen, the _Isis_ would doubtless take him in tow, for in anythinglike a wind the _Agile_ would be of little use. However, the weathercontinued fine, and in five days after leaving Barbados they enteredKingston harbour. Three hours before, the _Isis_ had spread all sail,and entered, dropping anchor half an hour before the _Agile_ sailed inin charge of the three large ships. The brigantine was heartily cheeredby the crews of all the vessels in port, but it was naturally supposedthat it was the _Isis_ that had done the principal work in capturing the_Spartane_. Her captain, however, had rowed to the flag-ship directlythey came in port, leaving Mr. Ferguson to see to the _Spartane_ beinganchored, and had given him a brief account of the nature of theprocession that was approaching three or four miles away.
"He is a most extraordinary young officer," the admiral said. "He firstdistinguished himself nearly three years ago by rescuing the daughter ofa planter in Hayti, who was attacked by a fierce hound, and who wouldhave been killed had he not run up. He was very seriously hurt, butmanaged to despatch the animal with his dirk. Since that time he hasbeen constantly engaged in different adventures. He was in thatdesperate fight when the _Orpheus_ broke up a notorious horde of pirateson the mainland, and distinguished himself greatly. He was up country inHayti when the negroes rose, and he there saved from the blacks a ladyand her daughter, the same girl that he had rescued from the dog, andshot eight of the villains, but had one of his ribs broken by a ball. Inspite of that, he carried the lady, who was ill with fever, some thirtymiles across a rough country down to Cape Francois in a litter.
"Then I gave him the command of a little cockle-shell of a schoonermounting four guns, carrying only twenty men. Hearing of a planter andhis family in the hands of the blacks, he landed the whole of his crew,while expecting himself to be attacked by boats, and rescued theplanter, three ladies, and six white men, and got them down on board,although opposed by three hundred negroes. Then he captured thebrigantine he now commands, and a valuable prize that she had taken, andyou say he has now captured a French thirty-six-gun frigate, after afight in which she lost in killed and wounded half her crew, andrecovered two Indiamen she had picked up on her way out."
They went out on the quarter-deck, where the admiral repeated to hisofficers the story that he had just heard, and from them it sooncirculated round the ship. Some of the crew had just cleaned the gunswith which they had returned the salute fired by the _Isis_ as sheentered the port on arriving for the first time on the station, but theywere scarcely surprised when, as the brigantine approached, the firstlieutenant gave the order for ten more blank cartridges to be broughtup, and for the crew to prepare to man the yards. But the surprise ofthose on board the other ships of war and the merchantmen was great whenthey saw the sailors swarming up the ratlines and running out on theyards.
"It is an unusual thing," the admiral remarked to the captains of the_Isis_ and his own ship, "and possibly contrary to the rules of theservice, but I think the occasion excuses it."
The brigantine did not salute as she came into the port, as she wasconsidered to be on the station.
"What can they be doing on board the flag-ship?" Nat said to Lippincott.
"I think they are going to man the yards. It is not the king's birthday,or anything of that sort, that I know of; but as it is just eight bellsit must be something of the kind."
As they came nearly abreast of the flag-ship, the signal, "Well done,_Agile_!" was run up, and at the same moment there was a burst of whitesmoke, and a thundering report, and a tremendous cheer rose from theseamen on the yards.
"They are saluting us, sir," Lippincott exclaimed.
The ensign had been dipped in salute to the flag, and the salute hadbeen acknowledged by the admiral five minutes before. Lippincott nowsprang to the stern, and again lowered the ensign. The admiral and allhis officers were on their quarter-deck, and as he raised his cocked hatthe others stood bareheaded. Nat uncovered. He was so moved that he haddifficulty in keeping back his tears, and he felt a deep relief when thelast gun had fired, and the cheers given by his own handful of men andby those on board the prizes had ceased. For the next quarter of an hourhe was occupied in seeing that the four vessels were anchored in safeberths. Then, as the signal for him to go on board the flag-ship washoisted, he reluctantly took his place in the gig, and went to make hisreport. The admiral saw by his pale face that he was completelyunnerved, and at once took him into his cabin.
"I see, Mr. Glover," he began kindly, "that you would much rather that Idid not say anything to you at present. The welcome that has been givento you speaks more than any words could do of our appreciation of yourgallant feat. I do not say that you have taken the first prize since warwas declared, for it is probable that other captures have been madenearer home, but at any rate, it is the first that has been made inthese waters. I was surprised indeed when Captain Talbot told me that hehad a hundred French prisoners on board, and some fifty wounded. As hehad not the mark of a shot either in his sails or in his hull, I couldnot understand, until he gave me an outline of what had taken place--ofhow he had become possessed of them. Is your prize much injured?"
"She has a good many shot-holes on each quarter, sir, and the sternlights and fittings are all knocked away. She suffered no very seriousdamage. She requires a new mizzen-mast; but there is not a hole in hercanvas, which is all new, for we fired only at the stern, and it wasjust below the deck that her mast was damaged."
"You have, I hope, written a full report of the engagement?"
Nat handed in his report. It was very short, merely stating that, havingfallen in with the thirty-six-gun French frigate the _Spartane_,convoying two prizes, he had engaged her, and after placing himself onher quarter, had raked her until her mizzen-mast fell, and her rudderwas smashed; that, seeing that she could not get away, he had thenreturned to the prizes, which turned out to be the _Jane_ of Liverpool,of eight hundred tons burden, and the _Flora_ of London, of nine hundredand thirty. The crew of the latter, on seeing that the _Spartane_ wascrippled, had risen and overpowered the prize crew. T
he other struck hercolours when he came up to her. He then returned to the _Spartane_,which struck her flag without further resistance.
"I desire to bring to your notice the great assistance I received fromLieutenant Turnbull, whom I afterwards placed in charge of the prize,and from Mr. Lippincott. It is also my duty to mention thatassistant-surgeon Doyle has been indefatigable in his attentions to myown wounded and those of the _Spartane_."
Then followed the list of his own casualties, and those of the_Spartane_.
"A very official report, Mr. Glover," the admiral said with a smile,when he had glanced through it. "However, the admiralty will wish toknow the details of an action of so exceptional a character, and I musttherefore ask you to send me in as complete an account of the affair aspossible, both for my own information and theirs. Now, I think you hadbetter take a glass of wine. I can see that you really need one, and youwill have to receive the congratulations of my officers. By the way, doyou know anything of the cargoes of the two ships you retook?"
"No, sir, I have really not had time to enquire. Till we left BarbadosI was constantly employed, and on my way out I have kept close to the_Spartane_ in order to be able to assist at once if anything went wrongwith the steering-gear. I should wish to say, sir, that I feel under thedeepest obligations to Captain Talbot for the great assistance that heand his crew have rendered me in getting up the jury-mast, and fittingup the temporary rudder. Had it not been for that I might have beendetained for some time at Barbados."
Having drunk a glass of wine, Nat went out with the admiral on to thequarter-deck. The officers pressed round, shook hands, and congratulatedhim. It did not last long, for the admiral said kindly:
"The sound of our cannon, gentlemen, has had a much greater effect uponMr. Glover's nerves than had those of his prize, and I think we must lethim off without any further congratulations for to-day. Besides, he hasa long report to write for me, and a good many other things to see to."
Nat was glad indeed to take his place in the gig, and to return to the_Agile_. He spent two hours in writing his report in duplicate. When hehad done this he went ashore to the prize agent to enquire whatformalities were needed with regard to the recaptured merchantmen; andhaving signed some official papers, he went up to Monsieur Duchesne's.Monsieur Pickard and his family had sailed months before for England,but the Duchesnes were still in possession of the house they had hired.They enjoyed, they said, so much the feeling of rest and security thatthey were by no means anxious for a sea voyage; and indeed MadameDuchesne was still far from well, and her husband was reluctant to takeher to the cold climate of England until summer had well set in.
"Ah, my dear Nat," Madame Duchesne said, "we were hoping that you wouldbe able to spare time to call to-day. My husband would have gone off tosee you, but he knew that you had a great deal to do. All the town istalking of your capture of the French frigate, and the recapture of thetwo prizes that she had taken. Several of our friends have come in totell us about it; but of course we were not surprised, for yourcapturing the frigate with the _Agile_ was no more wonderful than yourtaking the _Agile_ with the _Arrow_."
"It was a lucky affair altogether, Madame Duchesne."
"I knew that you would say so," Myra said indignantly. "Whatever you doyou always say it is luck, as if luck could do everything. I have nopatience with you."
"I will endeavour not to use the word again in your presence, Myra," Natlaughed. "But I have no time for an argument to-day, I have only justrun in for a flying visit to see how you are. I have no end of things tosee to, and I suppose it will be some days before all the business ofthe prizes is finished, the frigate formally handed over, and the valueof the Indiamen and their cargo estimated. However, as soon as I am atall free I will come in for a long talk. You know that there is nowherethat I feel so happy and at home as I do here."
It was indeed three days before he had time to pay another visit.
"It is too bad of you, not coming to dinner," Myra said as he entered."We really did expect you."
"I hoped that I should be able to get here in time, but ever since I sawyou I have been going backwards and forwards between the ships and theshore, calling at the dockyard and prize court. To-day there has been aregular survey of the Spartane. They were so long over it that I beganto think I should not be able to get away at all."
"You will be becoming quite a millionaire," Monsieur Duchesne said, "ifyou go on like this."
"Well, you see, we were lucky--I beg your pardon, Myra--I mean we werefortunate. We had a very small crew on board the _Arrow_, and as it wasan independent command, the whole of the prize-money for the capture ofthe _Agile_ and her prize was divided among us, with the exception ofthe flag share; and I found, to my surprise, that my share came toL2500. Without knowing anything of the cargoes of the prizes that Ihave recaptured now, and what will be paid for the _Spartane_, I shouldthink that my share would come to twice as much this time, so that Ishall be able before long to retire into private life--that is, if Ihave any inclination to do so."
"But I suppose," Madame Duchesne said, "that if you marry you will wantto settle down."
"I am too young to think of such a matter, madame," Nat laughed. "Why, Iam only just nineteen, and it will be quite soon enough to think of thatin another eight or ten years. But there is no doubt that when the timecomes I shall give up the sea. I don't think it is fair to a wife toleave her at home while you are running the risk of being shot. It isbad enough for her in time of peace, but in war-time it must be terriblefor her, and it strikes me that this war is likely to be a long one. Itseems to me that it is a question for a man to ask himself, whether heloves his profession or a woman better. If he cares more for the sea, heshould remain single; if he thinks more of the woman, let him settledown with her."
"That sounds very wise," Monsieur Duchesne said with a smile, "but whenthe time comes for the choice I fancy that most men do not accept eitheralternative, but marry and still go to sea."
"That is all right when they have only their profession to depend upon,"Nat said. "Then, if a woman, with her eyes open to the fact that he mustbe away from her for months, is ready to take a man for better or forworse, I suppose the temptation is too strong to be withstood. Happilyit won't be put in my way, for even if I never take another ship I shallhave enough to live on quietly ashore."
"Now, you must tell us the story of the fight," Myra said.
"The story is told in twenty words," he replied. "She did not suspectthat we were an enemy until we had passed her, and our broadside toldher what we were. As the _Agile_ is faster and much more handy than thefrigate, we managed to keep astern of her, and, sailing backwards andforwards, poured our broadsides in her stern, while she could scarce geta gun to bear on us. We managed to cripple her rudder, and after thisthe fight was virtually over. However, she kept her flag flying till weshot away her mizzen, after which, seeing that she was at our mercy, andthat her captain, two lieutenants, and more than half her crew werekilled or wounded, she lowered her colours. Now, really that is thewhole account of the fight. If I were telling a sailor, who wouldunderstand the nautical terms, I could explain the matter more clearly,but if I were to talk for an hour you would understand no more about itthan you do now."
An hour later, Nat went out with Monsieur Duchesne to smoke a cigar onthe verandah, Myra remaining indoors with her mother, who was afraid ofsitting out in the cool evening breeze.
"Going back to our conversation about marriage, Nat," Monsieur Duchesnesaid, "it is a question which my wife and I feel some little interestin. You see, it is now more than three years since you saved Myra'slife, after which you rendered her and my wife inestimable service. Now,I know that in your country marriages are for the most part arrangedbetween the young people themselves. With us such an arrangement wouldbe considered indecent. If your father and mother were out here, theusual course would be for your mother to approach my wife and talk thematter over with her. My wife would consult with me, and finally, whenwe old p
eople had quite come to an understanding, your father wouldspeak to you on the subject. All this is impossible here. Now, it seemsto my wife and myself that, having rendered such inestimable services tous, and having been thrown with my daughter a good deal--who, I maysay, without any undue vanity, is a very attractive young lady--youcould scarcely be indifferent to her.
"As you said, according to your British notions you are too young tothink of marrying; and, at any rate, my wife has sounded Myra, and thegirl has assured her that you have never said a word to her that wouldlead her to believe you entertained other than what I may call abrotherly affection for her. Now, I can tell you frankly, that one ofour reasons for remaining here for the past six months has been that wedesired that the matter should be arranged one way or the other. It hasstruck us that it was not your youth only that prevented you from comingto me and asking for Myra's hand, but a foolish idea that she is, as isundoubtedly the case, a very rich heiress. Before I go farther, may Iask if that is the case, and if you really entertain such an affectionfor my daughter as would, putting aside all question of money and ofyour youth, lead you to ask her hand?"
"That I can answer at once, sir. Ever since I first met her, andespecially since I saw how bravely she supported that terrible time whenshe might fall into the hands of the blacks, I have thought of yourdaughter as the most charming girl that I have ever met. Of course, Iwas but a lad and she a young girl--no thought of marriage at that timeeven entered my mind. During the past three years that feeling hasgrown, until I have found that my happiness depends entirely upon her. Ifelt, monsieur, that my lips were sealed, not only by the fact that shewas an heiress and I only a penniless lieutenant, but because it wouldbe most unfair and ungenerous were I, on the strength of any services Imay have rendered, to ask you for her hand."
"It is not on account of those services, much as we recognize them, thatI offer you her hand, but because both her mother and herself feel thather happiness, which is the great object of our lives, is involved inthe matter. In most cases, a young lady well brought up does not giveher heart until her father presents to her an eligible suitor. This isan exceptional case. I do think that any girl whose life had been saved,as hers was, at the risk of that of her rescuer, and who, during a mostterrible time, came to look up to him as the protector of herself andher mother, and who, moreover, was constantly hearing of his daringactions, and to whom her dearest friends also owed their lives, couldnot but make him her hero. I need not say that the subject has not beenmooted to her, and it was because I desired the matter to be settledbefore we left for Europe that we have lingered here. I am glad indeedthat I now know your feeling in the matter. I am conscious that ingiving her to you we are securing her happiness. I have, of course, eversince the day when you saved her from that dog, watched your charactervery closely, and the result has been in all respects satisfactory. Now,I will go in and tell her that I will take her place by her mother'sside, and that she may as well come out here and keep you company."
In a minute Myra stepped out on to the verandah.
"It is cool and nice here, Nat. I think it would do mother more good outhere than keeping in the house, where in the first place it is hot,while in the second place it gives me the horrors to see the way themoths and things fly into the lights and burn themselves to death."
"No doubt it is pleasanter here," Nat said, wondering how he ought tobegin.
"That was very soberly said, Nat," Myra laughed. "One would think thatit was a proposition that required a good deal of consideration."
"It was a proposition that received no consideration. In point of fact,just at present, dear, my head is a little turned with a conversationthat I have just had with your father."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I mean that I see before me a great and unlooked-for happiness, ahappiness that I had hardly ventured even to hope for, but at present itis incomplete; it is for you to crown it if you can do so. Your fatherhas given his consent to my telling you that I love you. I do love youtruly and earnestly, Myra, but I should not be content with anythingless than your love. I don't want it to be gratitude. I don't want anythought of that business with the dog, or of the other business with theblacks, to have anything to do with it."
"They must have something to do with it," she said softly, "for it wasowing to these that I first began to love you. It was at first, nodoubt, a girl's love for one who had done so much for her, but sincethen it has become a woman's love for the one man that she should chooseout of all. I love you, Nat, I love you with all my heart."
Ten minutes later they went hand in hand into the house. MonsieurDuchesne had told his wife what had occurred in the verandah, and asthey came in she rose and threw her arms round Myra's neck and kissedher tenderly.
"You have chosen wisely, my child, and have made us both very happy. Wecan give her to you, Monsieur Glover, without one misgiving; we knowthat in your hands her life will be a happy one. And now," she went onwith a smile, "you will have to face that terrible problem you werediscussing an hour since. You will have to choose between a wife and thesea."
"The problem may be settled at once, madame," Nat said with a smile.
"At any rate, there is no occasion to choose at present," MadameDuchesne went on. "Myra is but just past sixteen, and her father and Iboth think that it is as well that you should wait at least a couple ofyears before there is any talk of marriage, both for her sake and yours.After your brilliant services, especially in capturing the frigate, youare sure of rapid promotion, and it would be a pity indeed for you togive up your profession until you have obtained the rank of captain,when you could honourably retire. We shall leave for England veryshortly, France is out of the question. As you said, you and my daughterare both young, and can well afford to wait."
"That is so, madame, we quite acquiesce in your decision. As to yourgoing to England, it is likely that I may be going there myself veryshortly. The admiral hinted to-day that, as the dockyard people say thatthe _Spartane_ can be ready for sea in ten days or so, he will probablysend me home in her. He very kindly kept back my report of the action,and merely stated that the French frigate _Spartane_ had been brought inin tow by his majesty's brigantine _Agile_, together with twomerchantmen she had captured on her way out, which had also been retakenby the _Agile_, and said that he thought it was only fair that I shouldcarry back my own report and his full despatch on the subject. Of courseI may be sent out again, or I may be employed on other service. At anyrate I shall be able to get a short leave before I go to sea again. Ihave been out here now six years, and feel entitled to a little rest. Iwould certainly rather be employed in the Mediterranean than here, forthere is more chance of seeing real service."
The next day Nat received an order from the admiral to hand over thecommand of the _Agile_ to Lieutenant Turnbull. Lippincott, who wouldpass his examination and receive his step, was to act as firstlieutenant, and a midshipman from one of the ships on the station was tobe second officer. Nat himself was ordered to superintend the repairsand fitting out for sea of the _Spartane._
"I am awfully sorry that you are going, Glover," Turnbull said. "Ofcourse it is a great pull for me being appointed to the command, but Iwas very jolly and happy as I was. I don't think there ever was apleasanter party on board one of his majesty's ships. However, of courseit is a great lift for me. I shall try to keep things going ascomfortably as you did."
"I have no doubt that you will do that, Turnbull, and you have an ableally in Doyle."
"Doyle was inconsolable when I came on board yesterday and told him thatyou were going home in the _Spartane_, and that I was to have thecommand."
"It is the worst news that I have heard for many a day," Doyle had said."You are very well, Turnbull, and I have no sort of complaint to make ofyou, but I am afraid that the luck will go with Glover. It is his luckand not the ship's; whatever he has put his hand to has turned out well.I don't say that he has not done his work as well as it could be done,but there is no dou
bt that luck is everything. If one of the _Agile's_guns had knocked away a mast or spar from the _Arrow_ it would have beenall up with you; and again, had a shot from the frigate crippled us, shewould have been after taking the _Agile_ into a French port instead ofour bringing her in here."
"Yes, but then you see that upon both occasions Glover put his craftwhere it was difficult to get their guns to bear on her."
"Yes, yes, I know that; but that does not alter it a bit. If there hadbeen only one shot fired, and had we been an unlucky boat, it would,sure enough, have brought one of the spars about our ears."
"Well, Doyle, it may be that it was my luck, and not Glover's, thatpulled us through. You see, I should have been shot or had my throat cutby the pirates if we had been taken by them, so possibly I am the goodgenius of the boat; or it may be Lippincott."
"Botheration to you!" the Irishman said, as he saw by a twinkle inTurnbull's eye that he was really chaffing him; "there is one thingcertain, if you get wounded and fall into my hands, you will not regardthat as a matter of luck."
"Well, at any rate, doctor, Glover told me half an hour ago of a pieceof luck in which none of us here can share. He is engaged to that verypretty French girl whom he is always calling on when we are in port."
"I thought that was what would come of it, Turnbull," Lippincott said;"it would be rum if she hadn't fallen in love with him after all that hedid for her."
"I was greatly taken with her myself," the doctor said, "the first timeshe came on board, but I saw with half an eye that the race was lostbefore I had time to enter. Besides, I could not afford to marry withoutmoney, and one of these poor devils of planters, who have had to runaway from Hayti with, for the most part, just the clothes they stood upin, would hardly make the father-in-law yours faithfully would desire. Iwonder myself how they manage to keep up such a fine establishment here,but I suppose they had a little put away in an old stocking, and arejust running through it. They are shiftless people, are these planters,and, having been always used to luxuries, don't know the value ofmoney."
Turnbull burst into a fit of laughter in which Lippincott joined, for inthe early days of the cruise on the _Arrow_ they had heard from Nat howhis friends had for generations laid by a portion of their revenues, andallowed the interest to accumulate, so that, now that the time had comefor utilizing the reserve, they were really much richer people thanthey had been when living on their fine plantation. Doyle lookedastonished at their laughter.
"My dear Doyle," Turnbull went on, "it is too comical to hear youtalking of a shiftless planter--you, belonging as you do to the mosthappy-go-lucky race on the face of the earth. Now, I will ask you, didyou ever hear of a family of Irish squires who for generations put asidea tenth part of their income, and allowed the interest to accumulatewithout touching it, so that, when bad times came, they found that theywere twice as well off as they were before?"
"Begorra, you are right, Turnbull; never did I hear of such a thing, andI don't believe it ever happened since the first Irish crossed the seasfrom somewhere in the east."
"Well, at any rate, Doyle, that is what the Duchesnes have done, and Ishould think, from what Glover says--though he did not mention anyprecise sum, for he did not know himself--but I should say that it mustcome to at least a hundred thousand pounds."
"Mother of Moses!" the doctor exclaimed; "it is a mighty bad turn youhave done me, Turnbull, that you never gave me as much as a hint of thisbefore. I should have been sorry for Glover, who is in all ways a goodfellow; still I should have deemed it my duty to my family, who once--asyou know, is the case of almost every other family in the ouldcountry--were Kings of Ireland. I should have restored the ancientgrandeur of my family, built a grand castle, and kept open house to allcomers--and to think that I never knew it!"
"Then you think, doctor," Lippincott said, with a laugh, "that you onlyhad to enter the lists to cut Glover out?"
"I don't go quite so far as that; but, of course, now the thing issettled for good, it would be of no use trying to disturb it, and itwould hardly be fair on Glover. But, you see, as long as it was an openmatter, I might have well tried my luck. I should have had greatadvantages. You see, I am a grown man, whereas Glover is still but alad. Then, though I say it myself, I could talk his head off, and am asgood as those who have kissed the Blarney stone at bewildering the dearcreatures."
"Those are great advantages, no doubt, Doyle; but, you see, Glover hadone advantage which, I have no doubt, counted with the lady more thanall those you have enumerated. He had saved her life at the risk of hisown, he had carried her, and her mother, through terrible dangers."
"Yes, yes, there is something in that," Doyle said, shaking his head;"if the poor young fellow is satisfied with gratitude I have nothingmore to say. At any rate, I have lost my chance. Now, perhaps, as youknow all about this, you might put me up to some other lady in similarcircumstances, but with a heart free to bestow upon a deserving man."
"I should not be justified in doing so, Doyle. After what you have beensaying about building a baronial castle, and keeping open house, it isclear that you would soon bring a fortune to an end, however great itmight be; and, therefore, I should not feel justified in aiding you inany way in your matrimonial adventures."
"It's a poor heart that never rejoices," the doctor said. "The tumblersare empty. Sam, you rascal, bring us another bottle of that old Jamaica,fresh limes, and cold water. It is one of the drawbacks of this bastelyclimate that there is no pleasure in taking your punch hot."
One of the negroes brought in the materials.
"Now, doctor," Turnbull said, "I know that in spite of this terribledisappointment you will drink heartily the toast, 'Nat Glover andMademoiselle Duchesne, and may they live long and happily together!'"
"That is good," Doyle said as he emptied his tumbler at a draught;"nothing short of a bumper would do justice to it. Hand me the bottleagain, Lippincott, and cut me a couple of slices off that lime. Yes, Iwill take two pieces of sugar, please, Turnbull. Now I am going topropose a toast, 'The new commander of the _Agile_, and may she, in hishands, do as well as she did in those of Nat Glover.'"
Three days later the _Agile_ started on another cruise. Nat spent histime in the dockyard, where he was so well known to all the officialsthat they did everything in their power to aid him to push mattersforward, and a week after the brigantine had left the _Spartane_ wasready for sea. Nat had seen the admiral several times, but had heardnothing from him as to who were the officers who were to take the_Spartane_ home, nor whether he was to sail as a passenger bearingdespatches or as one of the officers. When he went on board theflag-ship to report that all was ready for sea, the admiral said:
"Mr. Winton, first lieutenant of the _Onyx_, is invalided home. He is agood officer, but the climate has never agreed with him, and, as hisfather has lately died and he has come into some property, he will, Ihave no doubt, go on half-pay for a time until he is thoroughly set upagain. I shall therefore appoint him as first lieutenant of the_Spartane_; Mr. Plumber, second lieutenant of the _Tiger_, will gosecond.
"I have decided, Mr. Glover, to give you the rank of acting commander.You captured the ship, and it is fair that you should take her toEngland. Mind, I think it probable enough that the authorities at homemay not be willing to confirm your rank, as it is but little over twoyears since you obtained your present grade. I feel that I am incurringa certain responsibility in giving you the command of a thirty-six-gunfrigate, but you have had opportunities of showing that you are athorough seaman, and can fight as well as sail your ship."
"I am immensely obliged, sir," Nat said hesitatingly, "but I have neverfor a moment thought of this, and it does seem a tremendousresponsibility. Besides, I shall be over two officers both many yearssenior to myself."
"I have spoken to both of them," the admiral said, "and pointed out tothem that, after you had captured the frigate with the little brigantineyou commanded, I considered it almost your right to take her home. I putit frankly to them t
hat, if they had any objection to serving under oneso much their junior, I should by no means press the point, but that atthe same time I should naturally prefer having two experienced officerswith you instead of officering her entirely with young lieutenantsjunior to yourself. I am glad to say that both of them agreed heartily,and admitted the very great claim that you have to the command. Mr.Winton is anxious to get home, and knows that he might have to wait sometime before a ship of war was going. Mr. Plumber is equally anxious fora short run home, for, as he frankly stated to me, he has for threeyears past been engaged to be married, and he has some ground for hopethat he may get appointed to a ship on the home station. So as thesegentlemen are perfectly willing to serve under you there need be nodifficulty on your part in the matter. We will therefore consider it assettled.
"I have made out your appointment as acting commander. I sincerely hopethat you will be confirmed in the rank. At any rate, it will count foryou a good deal that you should have acted in that capacity. Here areyour instructions. You will be short-handed; I cannot spare enough menfrom the ships on this station to make up a full complement. A hundredand fifty are all that I can possibly let you have, but I have told themasters of these two Indiamen that they will have to furnish acontingent. I have been on board both the ships to-day. I addressed thecrews, and said that you were going to take home the _Spartane_ andwere short of hands. I said that I did not wish to press any men againsttheir will, but that I hoped that five-and-twenty from each ship wouldcome forward voluntarily; that number had aided to bring the _Spartane_in here; they knew you, and might be sure that the ship would be acomfortable one; and I told them that I would give them passes, sayingthat they had voluntarily shipped for the voyage home on my guaranteeingthat they should, if they chose, be discharged from the service on theirarrival. More than the number required volunteered at once, but I askedthe captain to pick out for me the men who had before been on board the_Spartane_, and of whose conduct you had spoken highly. Threemerchantmen will sail under your convoy."
Nat went ashore after leaving the admiral, and naturally went straightto the Duchesnes.
"Who do you suppose is going to command the _Spartane_?" he asked as hewent in.
"I know who ought to command her. You took her, and you ought to commandher."
"Well, it seems absurd, but that is just what I am going to do."
Myra clapped her hands in delight.
"Have they made you a real captain, then?"
"No," he said with a laugh, "I shall be acting commander. That gives onethe honorary rank of captain, but it may be a long time before I getappointed to that rank. The admiral has been awfully kind, but thepeople at home are not likely to regard my age and appearance as in anyway suitable for such a position."
"I am happy to say, Nat, that we shall sail under your convoy. I havebeen settling all my affairs and making my arrangements for leaving, andhave this morning definitely taken cabins in the _Myrtle_. As thefurniture is not ours, and we have not accumulated many belongings,knowing that we might be sailing at any moment, we can get everythingpacked by to-night and go on board to-morrow morning. The captain couldnot tell me at what hour we should sail. He said that it would dependupon the frigate."
"I should like to start at eight if I could, but I cannot say whethereverything will be quite ready. However, you had better be on board atthat hour. It will be jolly indeed having you all so close to me."
"Shall we be able to see each other sometimes?" Myra asked.
"Many times, I hope; but of course it must depend partly on the weather.If we are becalmed at any time you might come on board and spend a wholeday, but if we are bowling along rapidly it would scarcely be the thingto stop two ships in order that the passengers might go visiting."
It was twelve o'clock on the following day when the _Spartane_ fired agun, and at the signal the anchors, which had all been hove short, wererun up, the sails shaken out, and the _Spartane_ and the three vesselsunder her charge started on their voyage.