Chapter 9: The Antelope.
On the 3rd of July, a hundred and eighty volunteers from theinfantry joined the artillery, who were not numerous enough to workall the guns of the batteries; and two days later a Spanishsquadron of two men-of-war, five frigates, and eleven smallervessels hove in sight from the west, and lay to off the entrance tothe bay. Three privateers came in, and one of the Spanish schoonersstood across to reconnoitre them; and a shot was fired at her fromthe batteries on Europa Point.
The Enterprise, frigate, had gone across to Tetuan to bring Mr.Logie over again. On her return, she was chased by the enemy'ssquadron; but succeeded in giving them the slip, in the dark. Asshe neared the Rock the captain, fearing to be discovered by theenemy, did not show the usual lights; and several shots were firedat the ship, but fortunately without effect.
On the following day letters were received from England, with theofficial news that hostilities had commenced between Great Britainand Spain; and the same evening a proclamation was publishedauthorizing the capture of Spanish vessels, and letters of marquewere given to the privateers in the bay, permitting them to captureSpanish as well as French vessels.
Among the privateers was the Antelope, which was one of those thathad come in on the previous afternoon. Bob had not heard of herarrival, when he ran against Captain Lockett in the town, nextmorning. They had not met since Bob had landed, six months before.
"Well, Master Repton," the captain said, after they had shakenhands, "I was coming up to see you, after I had managed mybusiness. I have letters, from Mr. Bale, for you and Mrs.O'Halloran."
"You are all well on board, I hope, captain?"
"Joe is well. He is first mate, now. Poor Probert is on his back inhospital, at Portsmouth. We had a sharp brush with a Frenchprivateer, but we beat her off. We had five men killed, and Proberthad his leg taken off by an eighteen pound shot. We clapped on atourniquet, but he had a very narrow escape of bleeding to death.Fortunately it was off Ushant and, the wind being favourable, wegot into Portsmouth on the following morning; and the doctors thinkthat they will pull him round.
"You have grown a good bit, since I saw you last."
"Not much, I am afraid," Bob replied dolefully, for his height wasrather a sore point with him. "I get wider, but I don't think Ihave grown half an inch, since I came here."
"And how goes on the Spanish?"
"First rate. I can get on in it almost as well as in English."
"So you are in for some more fighting!"
"So they say," Bob replied, "but I don't think I am likely to haveas close a shave, of a Spanish prison, as I had of a French onecoming out here."
"No; we had a narrow squeak of it, that time."
"Was war declared when you came away?"
"No; the negotiations were broken off, and everyone knew that warwas certain, and that the proclamation might be issued at any hour.I have not had a very fast run, and expected to have learned thenews when I got here; but you are sure to hear it, in a day or two.That was why I came here. Freights were short for, with the portsof France and Spain both closed, there was little enough doing; sothe owners agreed to let me drop trading and make straight forGibraltar, so as to be ready to put out as soon as we get thedeclaration of war.
"There ought to be some first-rate pickings, along the coast. Itisn't, here, as it is with France; where they have learned to beprecious cautious, and where one daren't risk running in close totheir coast on the chance of picking up a prize, for the watersswarm with their privateers. The Spaniards are a very slow set, andthere is not much fear of their fitting out many privateers, formonths to come; and the coasters will be a long time before theywake up to the fact that Spain is at war with us, and will golumbering along from port to port, without the least fear of beingcaptured. So it is a rare chance of making prize money.
"If you like a cruise, I shall be very happy to take you with me. Ihave seen you under fire, you know, and know that you are to bedepended upon."
"I should like to go, above all things," Bob said; "but I don'tknow what my sister would say. I must get at her husband, first. IfI can get him on my side, I think I shall be able to manage it withher.
"Well, will you come up to dinner?"
"No, I shall be busy all day. Here are the letters I was speakingof."
"Well, we have supper at seven. Will you come then?"
"With pleasure."
"Will Joe be able to come, too?"
"No; it wouldn't do for us both to leave the brig. The Spanishfleet may be sending in their boats, to try and cut some of ourvessels out, and I should not feel comfortable if we were bothashore; but he will be very glad to see you, on board. We areanchored a cable length from the Water Port. You are pretty sure tosee one of our boats alongside.
"The steward came off with me, to buy some soft tack and freshmeat. I saw him just before I met you. He told me he had got somebread, but that meat was at a ruinous price. I told him that hemust get it, whatever price it was, and I expect by this time hehas done so; so if you look sharp, you will get to the boat beforeit puts off with him."
The steward was in the act of getting into the boat, as Bob randown.
"Glad to see you, Mister Repton," the man said, touching his hat."Have you seen the captain, sir?"
"Yes, I have just left him. He told me I should catch you here."
"Thinking of having another cruise with us, sir?"
"I am thinking about it, Parker, but I don't know whether I shallbe able to manage it."
They were soon alongside the Antelope.
"I thought it was you, Mister Repton, when I saw you run down tothe boat," Joe Lockett said, as he shook hands with Bob.
"I am glad to see you again, Joe, and I am glad to hear you arefirst mate now; though of course, I am sorry for Mr. Probert."
"Yes, a bad job for him, a very bad job; but it won't be so bad, inhis case, as in some. He has been talking, for the last two orthree voyages, of retiring. An old uncle of his died, and left hima few acres of land down in Essex; and he has saved a bit of moneyout of his pay, and his share of the prizes we have made; and hetalked about giving up the sea, and settling down on shore. So now,he will do it. He said as much as that, the night he was wounded.
"'Well,' he said, 'there won't be any more trouble about making upmy mind, Joe. If I do get over this job, I have got to lay up as adismantled hulk, for the rest of my life. I have been talking of itto you, but I doubt whether I should ever have brought myself toit, if it had not been for them Frenchmen's shot.'
"Well, will you come into the cabin, and take something?"
"No, thank you, Joe."
"Have they got the news about the declaration of war yet, MisterRepton?"
"No, it hasn't arrived yet."
"I expect we shall get some good pickings along the coast, directlyit comes. We have been trading regularly, this last year; and weall of us want the chance of earning a bit of prize money. So I cantell you, we were very glad when we heard that we were going totake to that again, for a bit."
"Yes, the captain was telling me about it, and he has asked me togo for a trip with you."
"Well, I hope that you will be able to come, Mister Repton."
"I hope so, Joe. But there is one thing--if I do come, you mustcall me Bob. I hate being called Mister Repton."
"Well, it would be different if you come with us like that," theyoung mate said. "You see, you were a passenger, before; but if youcame like this, you will be here as a friend, like. So it will comenatural to call you Bob.
"And how do you like the place?"
"Oh, I like it well enough! I have been working very hard--atleast, pretty hard--so I haven't had time to feel it dull; and ofcourse I know all the officers in my brother-in-law's regiment. ButI shall be very glad, indeed, of a cruise; especially as we arelikely presently, by all they say, to be cut off here--some say formonths, some say for years."
"But still, I expect there will be some lively work," the matesaid, "if the Span
iards really mean to try and take this place."
"They will never take it," Bob said, "unless they are able tostarve us out; and they ought not to be able to do that. Shipsought to be able to run in from the east, at any time; for theSpaniards dare not come across within range of the guns and, if thewind was strong, they could not get out from their side of thebay."
"That is true enough, and I expect you will find fast-sailingcraft--privateers, and such like--will dodge in and out; but amerchantman won't like to venture over this side of the Straits,but will keep along the Moorish coasts. You see, they can't keepalong the Spanish side without the risk of being picked up, by thegunboats and galleys with the blockading fleet. There are a dozensmall craft lying over there, now, with the men-of-war.
"Still, I don't say none of them will make their way in here,because I daresay they will. They well know they will get bigprices for their goods, if they can manage to run the blockade. Weare safe to pick up some of the native craft, and bring them in;and so will the other privateers. I expect there will be a goodmany down here, before long. The worst of it is, there won't be anysale for the craft we capture."
"Except for firewood, Joe. That is one of the things I have heardwe are sure to run very short of, if there is a long siege."
"Well, that will be something and, of course, any prizes we takeladen with things likely to be useful, and sell here, we shallbring in; but the rest we shall have to send over to the otherside, so as to be out of sight of their fleet, and then take themstraight back to England.
"You see, we have shipped twice as many hands as we had on thevoyage when you were with us. We had only a trader's crew, then;now we have a privateer's.
"Look there! There is a craft making in from the south. It is likeenough she has got the despatches on board. There are two or threeof those small Spanish craft getting under sail, to cut her off;but they won't do it. They could not head her, without gettingunder the fire of the guns of those batteries, on the point."
"Well, I will go ashore now, Joe, if you will let me have the boat.The captain is going to have supper with us, tonight. I wanted youto come too, but he said you could not both come on shore,together. I hope we shall see you tomorrow."
On landing, Bob made his way to the barrack, so as to interceptGerald when he came off duty.
"Look here, Gerald," he said, when Captain O'Halloran came out ofthe orderly room, "I want you to back me up."
"Oh, you do? Then I am quite sure that you are up to some mischiefor other, Bob, or you wouldn't want me to help you with Carrie."
"It is not mischief at all, Gerald. The Antelope came in lastnight, and I saw Captain Lockett this morning, and I have asked himto come to supper."
"Well, that is all right, Bob. We have plenty of food, at present."
"Yes, but that is not it, Gerald. He has invited me to go for acruise with him. He is going to pick up some prizes, along theSpanish coast."
"Oh, that is it, is it? Well, you know very well Carrie won't letyou go."
"Well, why shouldn't I, Gerald? You know that I have been workingvery well, here; and I am sure I have learnt as much Spanish, insix months, as uncle expected me to learn in two years--besideslots of Latin, and other things, from the doctor. Now, I do thinkthat I have earned a holiday. A fellow at school always has aholiday. I am sure I have worked as hard as I did at school. Ithink it only fair that I should have a holiday. Besides, you see,I am past sixteen now and, being out here, I think I ought to havethe chance of any fun there is; especially as we may be shut uphere for ever so long."
"Well, there may be something in that, Bob. You certainly havestuck at it well; and you have not got into a single scrape sinceyou came out, which is a deal more than I expected of you."
"Besides, you see, Gerald, if I had not made up my mind to stick touncle's business, I might have been on board the Brilliant now,with Jim Sankey; and I think, after my giving up that chance, itwould be only fair that I should be allowed to have a cruise, nowthat there is such a splendid opportunity."
"Well, Bob, I will do my best to persuade Carrie to let you go; butas far as you are concerned, you know, she is commanding officer."
Bob laughed, for he knew well enough that, not only in that but inall other matters, his sister generally had her own way.
"Well, I am very much obliged to you, Gerald. I am sure I shouldenjoy it, awfully."
"Don't thank me too soon, Bob. You have your sister to manage yet."
"Oh, we ought to be able to manage her, between us!" Bob said,confidently. "Look how you managed to have Dr. Burke for me, andyou know how well that turned out."
"Yes, that was a triumph, Bob. Well, we will do our best."
"Why, Bob, where have you been all the morning?" his sister said."The professor came at ten o'clock. He said he had arranged withyou that he should be an hour later than usual, as he had anotherengagement, early."
"I forgot all about him, Carrie. He never came into my mind once,since breakfast. I met Captain Lockett down in the town, as soon asI went out, and I wanted him to come here to dinner. I knew youwould be glad to see him, for you said you liked him very much; buthe said he should be too busy, but he is coming up to supper, atseven. Then I went on board the Antelope and had a chat with hiscousin Joe, who is first mate now."
When dinner was finished, Bob said:
"Don't you think, Carrie, I am looking pale? What with the heat,and what with my sticking in and working so many hours a day, Ibegin to feel that it is too much for me."
His sister looked anxiously at him.
"Well, Bob, you are looking a little pale, but so is everybodyelse; and no wonder, with this heat. But I have not been noticingyou, particularly. What do you feel, Bob?"
"I think Bob feels as if he wants a holiday," Captain O'Halloranput in.
"Well, then, we must tell the professor that we don't want him tocome, for a bit. Of course, Teddy Burke has given up coming,already.
"But if you have a holiday, Bob, what will you do with yourself?"
"I don't think I shall get any better here, Carrie. I think I wantchange of air."
"Nonsense, Bob! You can't be as bad as all that; and you never saidanything about it, before.
"If he is not well, you must ask Teddy Burke to come up to see him,Gerald. Besides, how can he have change of air? The only place hecould go to would be Tetuan, and it would be hotter there than itis here."
"I think, Carrie," Captain O'Halloran said, "I can prescribe forhim without calling Teddy Burke in. I fancy the very thing thatwould get Bob set up would be a sea voyage."
"A sea voyage!" his wife repeated. "Do you mean that he should goback to England? I don't see anything serious the matter with him.Surely there cannot be anything serious enough for that."
"No, not so serious as that, Carrie. Just a cruise for a bit--onboard the Antelope, for example."
Mrs. O'Halloran looked from one to the other; and then, catching atwinkle in Bob's eye, the truth flashed across her.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Gerald," she said, laughingin spite of herself. "You have quite frightened me. I see now.Captain Locket has invited Bob to go for a cruise with him, and allthis about his being ill is nonsense, from beginning to end. Youdon't mean to say that you have been encouraging Bob in thisridiculous idea!"
"I don't know about encouraging, Carrie; but when he put it to methat he had been working very steadily, for the last six months;and that he had got into no scrapes; and that he had really earneda holiday, and that this would be a very jolly one; I did not seeany particular reason why he shouldn't have it."
"No particular reason! Why, the Antelope is a privateer; and if sheis going to cruise about, that means that she is going to fight,and he may get shot."
"So he may here, Carrie, if a ball happens to come the right way.
"I think Bob certainly deserves a reward for the way he has stuckto his lessons. You know you never expected he would do as he hasdone; and I am sure his uncle would be delighted,
if he heard howwell he speaks Spanish.
"As to his health, the boy is well enough; but there is no denyingthat this hot weather we are having takes it out of us all, andthat it would be a mighty good thing if every soul on the Rock hadthe chance of a month's cruise at sea, to set him up.
"But seriously, Carrie, I don't see any reason, whatever, why heshould not go. We didn't bring the boy out here to make amollycoddle of him. He has got to settle down, some day, in a mustyold office; and it seems to me that he ought to have his share inany fun and diversion that he has a chance of getting at, now. Asto danger, sure you are a soldier's wife; and why shouldn't he havea share of it, just the same as if he had gone into the navy? Youwouldn't have made any hullabaloo about it, if he had done that.
"This is Bob's good time, let him enjoy it. You are not going tokeep a lad of his age tied to your apron strings. He has just gotthe chance of having two or three years of fighting, and adventure.It will be something for him to talk about, all his life; and myopinion is, that you had best let him go his own way. There arehundreds and hundreds of lads his age knocking about the world, andrunning all sorts of risks, without having elder sisters worryingover them."
"Very well, Gerald, if you and Bob have made up your minds aboutit, it is no use my saying no. I am sure I don't want to make amollycoddle, as you call it, of him. Of course, uncle will blameme, if any harm comes of it."
"No, he won't, Carrie. Your uncle wants the boy to be a gentleman,and a man of the world. If you had said that a year ago, I wouldhave agreed with you; but we know him better, now, and I will bebound he will like him to see as much life as he can, during thistime. He has sent him out into the world.
"I will write to your uncle, myself, and tell him it is my doingentirely; and that I think it is a good thing Bob should take everychance he gets, and that I will answer for it that he won't be anythe less ready, when the time comes, for buckling to at business."
"Well, if you really think that, Gerald, I have nothing more tosay. You know I should like Bob to enjoy himself, as much as hecan; only I seem to have the responsibility of him."
"I don't see why you worry about that, Carrie. If he had gone outto Cadiz or Oporto, as your uncle intended, you don't suppose thepeople there would have troubled themselves about him. He wouldjust have gone his own way. You went your own way, didn't you? Andit is mighty little you troubled yourself about what your uncle waslikely to say, when you took up with an Irishman in a marchingregiment; and I don't see why you should trouble now.
"The old gentleman means well with the boy but, after all, he isnot either his father or his mother. You are his nearest relationand, though you are a married woman, you are not old enough, yet,to expect that a boy of Bob's age is going to treat you as if youwere his mother, instead of his sister. There is not one boy infifty would have minded us as he has done."
"Well, Bob, there is nothing more for me to say, after that,"Carrie said, half laughing--though there were tears in her eyes.
"No, no, Carrie; I won't go, if you don't like," Bob said,impetuously.
"Yes, you shall go, Bob. Gerald is quite right. It is better youshould begin to think for yourself; and I am sure I should like youto see things, and to enjoy yourself as much as you can. I don'tknow why I should fidget about you, for you showed you had muchmore good sense than I credited you with, when you gave up yourchance of going to sea and went into uncle's office.
"I am sure I am the last person who ought to lecture you, afterchoosing to run about all over the world, and to take the risk ofbeing starved here," and she smiled at her husband.
"You do as you like, Bob," she went on. "I won't worry about you,in future--only if you have to go back to England without a leg, oran arm, don't blame me; and be sure you tell uncle that I made asgood a fight against it as I could."
And so it was settled.
"By the way," Bob exclaimed, presently, "I have got a letter fromuncle to you, in my pocket; and one for myself, also. CaptainLockett gave them to me this morning, but I forgot all about them."
"Well, you are a boy!" his sister exclaimed.
"This is a nice sample, Gerald, of Bob's thoughtfulness.
"Well, give me the letter. Perhaps he writes saying you had betterbe sent home, by the first chance that offers itself."
Bob's face fell. He had, indeed, himself had some misgiving, eversince the troubles began, that his uncle might be writing to thateffect.
"Well, look here, Carrie," he said, "here is the letter; but Ithink you had better not open it, till I have started on thiscruise. Of course, if he says I must go back, I must; but I may aswell have this trip, first."
Carrie laughed.
"What do you think, Gerald, shall I leave it till Bob has gone?"
"No, open it at once, Carrie. If he does say, 'send Bob on by thefirst vessel,' there is not likely to be one before he goes in theAntelope. Besides, that is all the more reason why he should go fora cruise, before he starts back for that grimy old place in PhilpotLane. We may as well see what the old gentleman says."
"I won't open mine till you have read yours, Carrie," Bob said. "Imean to go the cruise, anyhow; but if he says I must go after that,I will go. If he had been the old bear I used to think him, I wouldnot mind it a snap; but he has been so kind that I shall certainlydo what he wants."
Bob sat, with his hands deep in his pockets, watching his sister'sface with the deepest anxiety as she glanced through the letter;Gerald standing by, and looking over her shoulder.
Illustration: 'The old gentleman is a brick,' exclaimed Gerald.
"The old gentleman is a brick!" Gerald, who was the first to arriveat the end, exclaimed. "I wish I had had such a sensible oldrelative, myself, but--barring an aunt who kept three parrots and acat, and who put more store on the smallest of them than she did onme--never a relative did I have, in the world."
"Oh, tell me that afterwards!" Bob broke in.
"Do tell me what uncle says, Carrie."
His sister turned to the beginning again and read aloud:
"My dear niece--"
"Where does he write from?" Bob interrupted. "Is it from PhilpotLane, or from somewhere else?"
"He writes from Matlock, Derbyshire."
"That is all right," Bob said. "I thought, by what Gerald said, hecould not have written from Philpot Lane."
"My dear niece," Carrie began again, "I duly received your letter,saying that Bob had arrived out safely; and also his more lengthyepistle, giving an account of the incidents of the voyage. I shouldbe glad if you would impress upon him the necessity of being moreparticular in his punctuation, as also in the crossing of his t'sand the dotting of his i's. I have also received your letterbearing date June 1st; and note, with great satisfaction, yourstatement that he has been most assiduous in his studies, and thathe is already able to converse with some fluency in Spanish.
"Since that time the state of affairs between the two countries hasmuch occupied my attention--both from its commercial aspect, whichis serious, and in connection with Bob. As the issue of adeclaration of war is hourly expected, as I write, the period ofuncertainty may be considered as over, and the two countries may belooked upon as at war. I have reason to congratulate myself uponhaving followed the advice of my correspondent, and of having laidin a very large supply of Spanish wine; from which I shall, underthe circumstances, reap considerable profits. I have naturally beendebating, with myself, whether to send for Bob to return toEngland; or to proceed to Lisbon, and thence to Oporto, to the careof my correspondent there. I have consulted in this matter myjunior partner, Mr. Medlin, who is staying with me here for a fewdays; and I am glad to say that his opinion coincides with that atwhich I had finally arrived--namely, to allow him to remain withyou.
"His conduct when with me, and the perseverance with which--as youreport--he is pursuing his studies, has shown me that he will notbe found wanting in business qualities, when he enters the firm. Iam, therefore, all the more willing that he should use theintervening
time in qualifying himself, generally, for a goodposition in the city of London; especially for that of the head ofa firm in the wine trade, in which an acquaintance with the world,and the manners of a gentleman, if not of a man of fashion--amatter in which my firm has been very deficient, heretofore--arespecially valuable. It is probable, from what I hear, thatGibraltar will be besieged; and the event is likely to be amemorable one. It will be of advantage to him, and give him acertain standing, to have been present on such an occasion.
"And if he evinces any desire to place any services he is able torender, either as a volunteer or otherwise, at the disposal of themilitary authorities--and I learn, from Mr. Medlin, that it is byno means unusual for the civil inhabitants of a besieged town to becalled upon, to aid in its defence--I should recommend that youshould place no obstacle in his way. As a lad of spirit, he wouldnaturally be glad of any opportunity to distinguish himself. Igathered, from him, that one of his schoolfellows was serving as amidshipman in a ship of war that would, not improbably, bestationed at Gibraltar; and Bob would naturally dislike remaininginactive, when his schoolfellow, and many other lads of the sameage, were playing men's parts in an historical event of suchimportance. Therefore you will fully understand that you have mysanction, beforehand, to agree with any desire he should express inthis direction, if it seems reasonable and proper to you andCaptain O'Halloran.
"As it is probable that the prices of food, and other articles,will be extremely high during the siege, I have written, by thismail, to Messieurs James and William Johnston, merchants ofGibraltar--with whom I have had several transactions--authorizingthem to honour drafts duly drawn by Captain O'Halloran, upon me, tothe extent of 500 pounds; such sum being, of course, additional tothe allowance agreed upon between us for the maintenance andeducation of your brother.
"I remain, my dear niece, your affectionate uncle, John Bale."
"Now I call that being a jewel of an uncle," Captain O'Halloransaid, while Bob was loud in his exclamations of pleasure.
"Now you see what you brought on yourself, Bob, by yourforgetfulness. Here we have had all the trouble in life to getCarrie to agree to your going while, had she read this letterfirst, she would not have had a leg to stand upon--at least,metaphorically speaking; practically, no one would doubt it, for aminute."
"Practically, you are a goose, Gerald; metaphorically, uncle is anangel. But I am very, very glad. That has relieved me from theresponsibility, altogether; and you know, at heart, I am just aswilling that Bob should enjoy himself as you are.
"Now, what does your uncle say to you, Bob?"
Bob opened and read his uncle's letter, and then handed it to hissister.
"It is just the same sort of thing, Carrie. I can see Mr. Medlin'shand in it, everywhere. He says that, for the time, I must regardmy connection with the firm as of secondary importance; and takeany opportunity that offers to show the spirit of an Englishgentleman, by doing all in my power to uphold the dignity of theBritish flag; and taking any becoming part that may offer, in thedefence of the town. Of course he says he has heard, with pleasure,of my progress in Spanish; and that he and his junior partner lookforward, with satisfaction, to the time when I shall enter thefirm.'
"My dear Carrie," Captain O'Halloran said, "I will get a bottle ofchampagne from the mess; and this evening, at supper, we will drinkyour excellent uncle's health, with all the honours. I will askTeddy Burke to come up and join us."
"Then I think, Gerald," his wife said, smiling, "that as CaptainLockett will be here, too, one bottle of champagne will not go veryfar."
"I put it tentatively, my dear; We will say two bottles, and wewill make the first inroad on our poultry yard. We had twenty eggs,this morning; and the woman downstairs reports that two of the henswant to sit, though how they explained the matter to her is morethan I know; anyhow, we can afford a couple of chickens."
It was a very jovial supper, especially as it was known that thenews of the proclamation of war had been brought in, by the shipthat had arrived that morning.
"By the way, Mrs. O'Halloran," Captain Lockett said, "I have aconsignment for you. I will land it, the first thing in themorning, for I shall sail in the evening. We are to get our lettersof marque, authorizing the capture of Spanish vessels, at teno'clock in the morning."
"What is the consignment, captain?"
"It is from Mr. Bale, madam. I saw him in town, a week before Isailed, and told him I was likely to come on here, direct; and hesent off at once three cases of champagne, and six dozen of port,directed to you; and an eighteen gallon cask of Irish whisky, forCaptain O'Halloran."
"My dear," Captain O'Halloran said solemnly, "I believe that youexpressed, today, the opinion that your uncle was, metaphorically,an angel. I beg that the word metaphorically be omitted. If therewas ever an angel in a pigtail, and a stiff cravat, that angel isMr. John Bale, of Philpot Lane."
"It is very good of him," Carrie agreed. "We could have done verywell without the whisky, but the port wine and the champagne may bevery useful, if this siege is going to be the terrible thing youall seem to fancy."
"A drop of the craytur is not to be despised, Mrs. O'Halloran," Dr.Burke said; "taken with plenty of water it is a fine digestive and,when we run short of wine and beer, you will not be despising it,yourself."
"I did not know, Teddy Burke, that you had any experience,whatever, of whisky mixed with plenty of water."
"You are too hard on me, altogether," the doctor laughed. "There isno soberer man in the regiment than your humble servant."
"Well, it will do you all good, if you get on short allowance ofwine, for a time. I can't think why men want to sit, after dinner,and drink bottle after bottle of port wine. It is all very well tosay that everyone does it, but that is a very poor excuse. Whyshould they do it? Women don't do it, and I don't see why menshould. I hope the time will come when it is considered just asdisgraceful, for a man to drink, as it is for a woman.
"And now, Captain Lockett, about Bob. What time must he be onboard?"
"He must be on board before gunfire, Mrs. O'Halloran, unless youget a special order from the town major. I was obliged to get one,myself, for this evening. The orders are strict, now; all the gatesare closed at gunfire."
"Yes, and mighty strict they are," Captain O'Halloran said. "Therewas Major Corcoran, of the 72nd, and the doctor of the regimentwere out fishing yesterday; and the wind fell, and the gun wentjust as they were landing, and divil a bit could they get in. Themajor is a peppery little man, and I would have given anything tohave seen him. One of the Hanoverian regiments furnished the guard,at the water batteries; and the sentry told him, if he came a footnearer in the boat they would fire and, in the end, he and thedoctor had to cover themselves up with a sail, and lie there allnight. I hear the major went to lodge a complaint, when he landed;but of course the men were only doing their duty, and I hear Eliottgave him a wigging, for endeavouring to make them disobey orders."
"I will be on board before gunfire, Captain Lockett. There is nofear of my missing it."
"How long do you expect to be away, Captain Lockett?" Mrs.O'Halloran asked.
"That depends on how we get on. If we are lucky, and pick up anumber of prizes, we may bring them in in a week; if not we may bethree weeks, especially if this calm weather lasts."
"I am sure I hope you won't be too lucky, at first, captain," Bobput in. "I don't want the cruise to finish in a week."
"Oh, I sha'n't consider the cruise is finished, merely because wecome in, Bob!" the captain said. "We shall be going out again, andonly put in here to bring in our prizes. The cruise will last aslong as Captain O'Halloran and your sister will allow you to remainon board.
"I expect that I shall be able to make you very useful. I shall putyou down in the ship's books as third mate. You won't be able todraw prize money, as an officer, because the number of officersentitled to prize money was entered when the crew signed articles;but if I put you down as supercargo you will share, with the men,in any prizes we
take while you are away with us."
"That will be jolly, captain; not because of the money, you know,but because it will give one more interest in the cruise. Besides,I shall like something to do."
"Oh, I will give you something to do! I shall put you in Joe'swatch, and then you will learn something. It is always as well topick up knowledge, when you get a chance; and if we do take anyprizes it will be your duty, as supercargo, to take an inventory ofwhat they have on board."
The next morning Bob packed his trunks, the first thing; then hewent round to the professor's, and told him that he was going away,for a fortnight or so, for a cruise; then he went down to the port,and met Joe Lockett when he landed, and brought him up tobreakfast, as had been arranged with the captain the night before.After that, he went with him up the Rock to look at theSpaniards--whose tents were a good deal more numerous than they hadbeen, and who were still at work, arming the forts.
"If I were the general," Joe said, "I would go out at night, withtwo or three regiments, and spike all those guns, and blow up theforts. The Dons wouldn't be expecting it; and it would be a goodbeginning, and would put the men in high spirits.
"Do you see, the Spanish fleet has drifted away almost out ofsight, to the east. I thought what it would be, at sunsetyesterday, when I saw that they did not enter the bay; for thecurrent would be sure to drive them away, if the wind didn't springup.
"Well, I hope we shall get a little, this evening. And now I mustbe going down, for there is a good deal to do, before we sail."