CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
Again the _Cynthia_ sailed on a cruise. She had to visit various partsof the West Indies; sometimes cruising off the Leeward, and sometimesoff the Windward Islands. Now to convoy a fleet of merchant vesselsfrom one port to another, and occasionally to accompany them part of theway across the Atlantic, till they were clear of the region infested bythe enemy's smaller privateers.
Several months were thus occupied in a somewhat tedious manner. Smallprizes had been taken; but these did not satisfy the ardent mind of thegallant captain, who appeared to be longing to meet an enemy the size ofhis own frigate, a more worthy competitor than any of the vessels he hadhitherto encountered. At length, Captain Falkner and his younglieutenant were enabled once more to pay a visit to the Earl and hisfamily. Denham was received as kindly as before; and it was veryevident the affection existing between Lady Sophy and Captain Falknerhad in no way decreased. During the last day of his stay on shore,however, a degree of melancholy seemed to weigh down his captain attimes. Occasionally he talked in his usual lively and animated manner,and spoke hopefully of the future, when, the war being ended, he mightwith honour sheath his sword and take up his abode on shore.
"At present, however," he remarked, "while my country demands myservices 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 silentduring his drive to the port, and when he arrived on board he retired tohis cabin, and it was not until the moment the ship had to get underweigh he appeared on deck. He was then as full of life and activity asusual, and issued his orders in that clear ringing voice by which he wasso well-known. As the frigate under all sail stood out to sea, Denhammore than once observed his captain turning his glass towards thegovernor's house high up on the mountain side. In his mind's eye heprobably saw her who had so deservedly won his brave heart, though thedistance was in reality too great to have discovered any human being.Denham felt very much inclined to imitate his commander's example; butthough he lifted his telescope, he quickly lowered it again.
"No, no; what folly in me to indulge in so idle a dream," he said tohimself, turning away. "I was received as Barry's friend, and treatedwith kindness accordingly; but I should only deservedly bring down scornand ridicule on myself if I were ever to aspire to a greater intimacythan 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 hisyoung lieutenant. "The Frenchmen have several fine vessels out in theseseas at present, and we must try and diminish their numbers. Let us butcatch sight of one of them, and, unless she has a very fast pair ofheels, she shall be our prize before many hours are over."
"No doubt of that, sir," answered Denham, laughing. "We have now asfine a ship's company as were ever collected together, having clearedout the black sheep who were among them, and they are in as good temperas 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 wasunder easy sail.
"Turn the hands up, Mr Hansom," observed the captain to the firstlieutenant. "Make all sail."
"All hands on deck," shouted the boatswain, piping his whistle at thesame time.
The crew speedily made their appearance, and in a few seconds were seenclustering on the yards aloft. The ship was kept away, studding-sailsand royals were set; and the frigate, gliding rapidly over the water,stood towards the stranger. The latter, though she must have seen hercoming, showed no inclination to avoid her; but, on the contrary, hauledher wind, that they might the sooner meet. Every spy-glass was inrequisition 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 shewas 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'sflag, was the wish of all. It is strange how eager men are to encounterthose they consider it lawful to engage with in fight, to wound and slayeach other. They think not of the pain and suffering they may inflict,or may themselves have to undergo. They eagerly seek for the excitementof the strife, the triumph of victory. They seem to forget entirelywhat far greater triumphs await those who labour on in civil life toadvance the interests of humanity, to win the desert from barrenness, tomake it smile as a fruitful garden, and the glorious triumph which isreserved for those who struggle on bravely in the service of theirHeavenly Lord and Master. Still, we are describing men as they are, notas they should be; and probably on board that frigate there was not asingle man who had the slightest doubt that the sentiments whichanimated his bosom were otherwise than right and noble, and superior toall others.
A shout burst from the mouths of the crew of the _Cynthia_ when theFrench flag was seen to be run up to the peak of the stranger. She wasstanding on with all plain sail set, and was manoeuvring in order togain the weather-gauge. The _Cynthia's_ studding-sails and more loftycanvas having been taken in, she also tacked in order not to let herantagonist gain this advantage. At length they approached sufficientlynear 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 matchin his hands.
There was a good deal of sea running at the time, so that the aim, evenof the best marksman, was likely to prove uncertain. He waited hisopportunity however. As the bows of the frigate rose he applied thematch, and some white splinters were seen to fly from the enemy'stopmast. A cheer burst from the throats of the crew who saw the successof the experiment. It was looked upon as a good omen for the future.The cheer, however, was repressed by the officers. The men stood attheir quarters. The captains of guns, with their matches in theirhands, most of them stripped to the waist, to allow them the better towork the tackles, and also, should they be wounded, to escape the injurywhich any piece of clothing was sure to cause, should it be carried intotheir bodies by the shot. It was a scene which a painter might havedelighted to copy, exhibiting the sturdy forms of the seamen, theircountenances determined and bold, and utterly devoid of any appearanceof fear. Many, indeed, were passing rough and coarse jokes one from theother, and the slightest excuse gave cause to a hearty laugh. It wouldhave been difficult for a stranger to believe, that the men who werebefore him were entering into a struggle for life and death, or that thecombat between the two beautiful frigates now sailing in sight of eachother, would probably end in the destruction of one of them. Each sailwas well set, every yard perfectly braced, and all the ropes taut anduninjured. Thus they stood on, slowly nearing each other, till atlength the Frenchman attempted to haul across the _Cynthia's_ bows, forthe purpose of delivering a raking fire. This the latter avoided byhauling up.
"Fire," cried the captain, as the broadside of the frigate bore uponthat of the enemy. A loud roar of artillery was the response. Severalshots seemed to take effect, some in the hull, others in the rigging.The _Cynthia_ herself did not escape injury, and two of her crew wereseen struggling in their death agonies on the deck. The two frigatesnow ran on side by side, firing their guns as rapidly as they could beloaded. Again a shout burst from the throats of the English crew, asthe Frenchman's fore-topmast was seen to go over the side. It wasevident, too, that their shots were taking effect upon the Frenchman'shull, for several were seen to strike him between wind and water, whichwith the sea then running was very likely in a short time to reduce himinto a sinking state. Still the latter worked his guns with as muchdetermination as at first, aided by musketry whenever the shipsapproached near enough for the bullets to take effect. By this means aconsiderable number of the crew of the English frigate were str
uck down,many of whom were killed, while others were carried bleeding below.
The superior strength and activity of the English seamen soon toldagainst that of the enemy, for while the latter was delivering twobroadsides the English managed to fire three, their shot, too, beingbetter 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. Thecontest was evidently to be a severe and protracted one. The _Cynthia_had already lost nearly thirty of her crew, and in all probability theFrenchman must have suffered in a far greater degree. At length theydrew so close that the muzzles of their guns almost touched, when theenemy, putting down his helm, ran his bows into those of the Britishship, the bowsprit coming directly across the foremast. CaptainFalkner, 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 ownship. Denham saw his faithful follower, Ned Davis, by his side. Whilethe 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 himon the breast. He fell back, and Denham had just time to catch him inhis arms to save him from falling heavily upon deck. Davis had at thatmoment seized the rope which the captain had let go.
"Secure the bowsprit," cried the captain; "do not let the enemy sheeroff. Now place me on the deck; I fear that I am mortally wounded, butdo not let the people know it. In a few minutes the Frenchman's frigatewill be ours. See, they are attempting to board, but drive them backand 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 captainbelow, while he flew to obey his dying orders.
"Boarders, repel boarders," he shouted, drawing his own sword, andspringing towards the point where the Frenchmen were seen clustering intheir rigging about to spring on the deck of the _Cynthia_. The latter,already disheartened by the loss of so many of their shipmates, werequickly driven back, while the _Cynthia's_ guns continued pouringbroadside after broadside into the hull of their ship.
"See, see, down goes the French flag," cried the English crew, andlittle knowing the loss they had sustained, they once more gave forththat hearty British cheer which has so often sounded in the moment ofvictory. The dying captain heard it as Denham reached his side.
"Tell her my last thoughts were about her," he murmured as thelieutenant took his hand, and sinking back, his eyes were in anothermoment closed by the hand of death.
The two ships had parted in consequence of the heavy sea which had nowgot up. For the same reason the task of transferring the crew of theprize to the victor was one of considerable difficulty. The firstlieutenant, now in command of the _Cynthia_, hailed the enemy to send aboat on board; but his reply was that he had none which would swim, allhaving been injured in the engagement. Fortunately most of the_Cynthia's_ boats were in a better condition, and Denham, taking thecommand, at once proceeded on board the prize. He found, though thefrigate was French, that a Dutch officer commanded her, who seemed muchdown-hearted at the loss of his ship.
The young lieutenant had already been in several engagements, but neverhad he seen a deck present a more sad spectacle than that of theFrenchman. In all directions lay the bodies of the slain, and severalwounded men who had not yet been conveyed below. They were all of themtoo much injured to be removed to the _Cynthia_, and they were thereforecarried below. The prisoners were at once ordered to get up their bags,and to enter the boats, which immediately conveyed them on board theircaptor.
Some time was occupied, however, in this work, as the heavy sea whichnow ran prevented them from making a rapid passage. The Dutch officercommanding the ship, had given up his sword to Lieutenant Denham, whoremained on board, ready to take charge of the prize. He himself hadnot had time to go below, to observe the damages that the prize hadsustained, but from the report made to him by the late commander, he wasunder the apprehension that they were very severe. Indeed, from thepeculiar way the ship rolled, he dreaded that she had taken in a largeamount of water. He accordingly requested the Dutchman, who spokeEnglish very well, to send his carpenter below, to make a report of hercondition. 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. Bythis time the wind had increased so much, and so heavy a sea wasrunning, 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 lastcargo of the prisoners, had left her, and were close alongside of the_Cynthia_. Denham therefore ordered his own crew to make every effortto stop the leaks, but they soon found, from the amount of water whichwas pouring in, that this would be difficult, if not impossible.
"Well," he remarked to the Dutchman, after every effort had been made toput 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, andperhaps have less cause to regret this occurrence than we have, whohoped to carry her into port in triumph."
"You of course will return to your own ship as you please," answered theDutch officer; "but for my part I cannot desert my poor wounded fellowsbelow, and unless there is time to remove them, should the ship sinkbeneath my feet, I must go down with her."