CHAPTER VI
When Archy came to himself he was lying in a comfortable berth in acabin on board ship. This much he dimly realized when he waked as iffrom a long and dreamless sleep. It took him a little while tounderstand this. At first it seemed quite natural; he thought he was onthe old _Bon Homme Richard_; and when the faint memories of BellinghamCastle and his grandfather and Colonel Baskerville floated into hismind, he thought it was a half-forgotten dream. But by degrees hisclouded intelligence grew clear, he remembered everything--the fight inthe tavern, the blow that deprived him of consciousness--and, suddenlyraising himself in his berth, he began to bawl, "Halloo, there! Halloo!"
A quiet man who had been sitting just outside the cabin door came in atthis.
"I wish to be put ashore instantly," said Archy, angrily. "I was carriedoff by a lot of villains in a press-gang last night, and I demand tosee the captain and to be sent ashore immediately--immediately, do youhear?"
The quiet man grinned exasperatingly. "I reckons, sir, 'twill be a goodwhile afore your foot touches dry land. We are now in the Bay of Biscay,latitude 47 degrees, longitude 3 east from Greenwich, as I hearn thesailing-master tell the cap'n just now--and he'd be mighty willin' tooblige you, but I hardly thinks as he'll be able to set you ashoreimmediate."
"Where am I?" asked Archy, in a dazed way. "What ship is this?"
"This here ship, sir, is the _Royal George_, flag-ship of Rear-AdmiralDigby, Cap'n Fulke, and we are carryin' all the sail that dratted convoywill let us for Gibralty, with the rest o' Sir George Rodney'sfleet--good luck to 'em."
It took several minutes for Archy to digest this. He was too staggeredby what he had heard to make any further inquiries, but his quiet friendproved communicative enough.
"You're in the sick-bay of the _Royal George_, sir, and I'm the sick-baynurse. It seems as how the officers thought as they'd git a good pressat the York Assizes. We was layin' off the mouth of the Humber, waitin'for the rest o' the convoy from Ireland, and some o' the men deserted,though we had left Plymouth o' purpose, as soon as we got ourcomplement, to keep the men aboard. But they got away in spite o' ourkeepin' a sharp lookout, and the officers, as I say, went to look aftersome others to fill their places. You took a hand in a scrimmage, sir,in a tavern, and the officers wanted to nab you just to git even withyou; but that blow on the head was unexpected sharp. Just as you droppedthey heard the constables coming. York ain't no seaport town, and theconstables don't know enough to let a press-gang alone while it ismindin' its own business; so our men had to cut and run, and theybrought you off with 'em, sir, thinkin' you'd peach on 'em if they leftyou behind. But they meant, as soon as daylight come, to leave you atsome village on the road and let you make your way back to York, forthey see you was a gentleman, sir. When daylight come, though, you wasstill layin' like a log, and they was right at the place where the boatwas to meet 'em; and when they got down to the mouth o' the Humber therelay the _Royal George_ with the bluepeter flying, so they just had tohustle you on board and turn you over to the surgeon, or else leave youto die on the shore. So they brought you off, and that's six days ago,and this is the first time, sir, you have opened your peepers since,and I must go and tell the surgeon."
Archy lay there alone for a few moments, feeling strangely weak. Thereaction of his first awakening was upon him. Presently, a tall,raw-boned, red-headed surgeon entered, and introduced himself in amanner not unkind.
"I am Dr. MacBean--at your service, sir. Glad to see you so much better.You have had a close shave in more ways than one"--Archy put his hand tohis head to find that every hair had been shaved off, and his head wasas bare as a peeled onion--"but we have pulled you through. I supposeyou remember the circumstances of your finding yourself with our men."
"I remember the fight with the press-gang, but I got a blow that stunnedme, and don't recollect anything more."
"We saw that you were a gentleman, sir, as soon as you were broughtaboard, and we regretted the anxiety your family and friends must feelon your account. No doubt Admiral Digby will take the first opportunityof acquainting them with your situation, and if we meet a ship homewardbound, you will be transferred."
"But England is not my home," explained Archy, in a troubled voice. "Iam an American midshipman on parole. I was merely visiting mygrandfather, Lord Bellingham, when I went to York--and--my name isArchibald Baskerville, and--" Archy stopped through weakness.
"There, there; you have talked enough," said Dr. MacBean, thinking hispatient was off again into vagaries.
But when he went to report to the captain, who happened to be on deckconversing with the Admiral, he had reason to know that Archy wasentirely sane in the account he had given of himself. Admiral Digby hadheard of the young rebel, grandson of Lord Bellingham, and brought homeby Admiral Kempenfelt in the _Thunderer_. He knew that Lord Bellingham'sseat was in Yorkshire, and that, as Lord-lieutenant of the East Riding,he would be present at the York Assizes, and he had no doubt that Archywas just what he represented himself to be.
"I'll go below and see the youngster myself," said the Admiral, and offhe marched. As he entered the little cabin Archy opened his eyeslanguidly, but the very sight of Admiral Digby was interesting andinspiring. A perfect type of the British sailor, his kind though firmglance and his cheery manner were like a breath of the strong salt air.
"Well, Mr. Baskerville, you have had ill-luck," began the Admiral,cordially; "but never fear, sir; you will be sent home by the firstchance, and meanwhile we will have the pleasure of your company. Iunderstand you were with my old friend Kempenfelt?"
"Yes, sir," replied Archy, now feeling quite bright and strong, andevery inch Archy Baskerville, "the Admiral was very kind to me. He knewmy grandfather, and he lent me some money--oh, Jupiter!" exclaimedArchy, suddenly, "how will I ever return that money!"
Admiral Digby roared out laughing at this. "No doubt Lord Bellinghamwill see to that; but when we lend money to midshipmen in our service wefeel that it is casting our bread upon the waters."
"I dare say it is the same with us, sir," replied Archy. "But there isnobody to lend us any on this side of the water. Even Commodore Joneshas often wanted money for a dinner, and that, too, in France, wherethey profess to be our allies."
"Mr. Baskerville," said the Admiral, seating himself on the one stoolin the cabin, "I should like, when you are able, to hear the story ofthat remarkable man. I do not share the prejudices of my countrymentowards him."
"Then you can understand, sir," replied Archy, "the devotion that hisown officers feel for him."
"Perfectly. Now tell me if anything has been done towards your exchange,for you are indebted to Jones for a system of exchange."
"Nothing has been done, sir. I was reported to the Admiralty when I wascaptured, and when I landed at Portsmouth from the _Thunderer_ I went upto London and reported myself. Then I went to my grandfather's,Bellingham Castle, and expected to hear pretty soon from the Admiralty.I know that exchanges have been made, but my name has not been amongthem."
Something like a smile flitted over Admiral Digby's face at this, andArchy's sharp wits interpreted it.
"I have been thinking, sir," he continued, "that my grandfather, insteadof helping forward my exchange so I can return to France, is ratherpreventing it."
"I understand that you are Lord Bellingham's heir," responded theAdmiral.
"No, sir. Heir only to the title I can't use. The entail is cut."
"Your grandfather, no doubt, is anxious for you to live in England withhim. In that case you would have a splendid future before you."
"If you had tried living with Lord Bellingham--" began Archy; thenstopped. His grandfather had certainly been very kind to him, and theshovel and tongs and boot-jacks and other impedimenta which LordBellingham so freely distributed in his rages had never flown in Archy'sdirection. Admiral Digby laughed outright.
"There are very few persons in England or Scotland who don't know aboutLord Bellingham," he said. "But to return to yourself.
As soon as youare able to leave your berth you will become the guest of the gunroommess, and then I shall hope to have the pleasure of your companyoccasionally in the great cabin. As soon as we meet a homeward-boundvessel you shall be put aboard of her, whether it be before or after wereach Gibraltar. And now good-day to you, and may you soon be on deckagain."
After the Admiral left him Archy lay there a little time longer, when itsuddenly occurred to him that he was hungry. He bawled for the sick-baynurse, and when the man came ordered him to bring him some of everythingthat was served in the galley. The man followed these directions, andArchy, finding his midshipman's appetite returning in full force,devoured everything in sight. Just as the last scrap of puddingdisappeared Dr. MacBean entered.
"It is just time, my young friend," blandly remarked the surgeon, "thatyou may have a light meal of gruel served you, but nothingsolid--nothing whatever of that kind."
"Much obliged, sir," answered Archy, "but I have just finished aglorious meal--pea-soup, salt horse, potatoes, and pudding--and I feelabout a hundred times better."
"Very well," said the surgeon, dryly, in his broad Scotch accent. "Ihave always said that the only way to kill a midshipman is to cut offhis head and throw the head away; otherwise he will come to life, sure.There is a young man on board now who was shipwrecked, had an arm andthree ribs broken, survived a Spanish doctor, and is apparently as goodas new. You two must be first cousins."
Dr. MacBean did not know he was a prophet. When the doctor left himArchy got up quietly, and, dressing himself as fast as he could, madefor the deck. He found himself weaker than he expected, and as hereached the top of the main-hatch he sat down awhile to rest himself. Itwas a sunny afternoon, mild for the season, and the vast deck of thegreat ship of the line was alive with men as she ploughed her waymajestically over the waters. As far as the eye could reach the sea wasflecked with sails. The "dratted convoy," as the sick-bay nurse calledit, consisted of a great number of store-ships containing relief for thestarving but indomitable garrison at Gibraltar, under General Sir GeorgeEliot. A huge fleet, under Sir George Rodney, escorted it, and themen-of-war, compelled to carry reduced sail, so as to keep up with theslow supply-ships, were formed in double column in the rear of theconvoy. The _Royal George_ led the left wing.
Presently, in the bright afternoon, they saw a ship approaching them onthe opposite tack. The _Royal George_ was in advance of the rest of thesquadron, and as the stranger neared them it was plain, from thesquareness of her rig, that she was a ship of war and she flew the UnionJack. When she was nearly abeam of the _Royal George_ she kept hertopsails shaking and broke out a signal flag. The first lieutenant, whowas on the bridge, then called out to a young officer who was runningup the ladder:
"Mr. Langton, stand by for signals!"
Every eye was fixed on the advancing ship except Archy's. The name,called out in the lieutenant's clear voice, had thrilled him, and whenhe looked up there was Langton, risen from the dead, as it were,standing in full sight and hearing of him--Langton, whom he had seendrowned before his eyes, as he thought.
The shock and surprise of it, in his weak state, stunned Archy. Hisbrain reeled, he instinctively threw out his arms to keep from fallingover, and for a few minutes lay, rather than sat, on the step of thecompanion-way, only half conscious of his surroundings. But joy isexhilarating, and suddenly a great wave of life and happiness seemed toflow upon him. Not only was he deeply attached to Langton, but the joythat would be given to so many persons--to Langton's heartbroken motherand sisters, to Lord Bellingham, to Colonel Baskerville--when they knewthat he was alive, was like the breath of life.
After the first few moments Archy became preternaturally alert to whatwas going on. The two ships moving slowly, all the signals of thenew-comer could be easily read, and in the perfect silence, the windbeing in the right direction, every word that Langton uttered as hespoke to the Admiral and captain could be heard.
"The garrison at Gibraltar is in a very critical state. The Spaniardshave besieged it hotly since the 12th of September. The Rock isimpregnable, but the garrison is near starvation. It has heard of therelief on the way, but if it does not come soon it will be too late."
The stranger then signalled "Good-bye," filled her sails, and proceededon her way. On board the _Royal George_ the painful impression made bythe news they had just heard was obvious. The officers collected ingroups about the quarter-deck, while forward the men talked over whatthey had seen, as several of them could make a shift to read thesignals.
In a few moments Langton came stepping briskly and gracefully along thedeck amidships. As he approached Archy rose to his feet and steadiedhimself. When they were not more than a yard apart their eyes met.
They stood staring at each other for a full minute, and then Archy--thegay, the debonair, the impetuous--was the first to show weakness. Hetrembled like a girl, and when Langton put both hands on his shouldershe almost had to hold Archy up.
"I thought you were drowned!" gasped Archy.
"So I thought myself, and a great many other persons too. But you--youare as white as a sheet; and where is your hair? and how, in Heaven'sname, came you on the _Royal George_?"
"I am the fellow that was carried off by the press-gang. No one knew myname until an hour or two ago. I have many things to tell you--thingsthat will surprise you. But do you tell me first how you came to life,for I swear I saw you dead."
"I was very near it when I came to myself, thrown high and dry on therocks where the poor _Seahorse_ went to pieces. Some fishermen in thetunny fisheries found me, and I was a month between life and death in ahut near those very rocks, with a Spanish doctor who spoke no English orFrench, and I spoke no Spanish. I suppose, as Dr. MacBean would say, ifit were possible to kill a midshipman by ordinary means I should not behere now; but I escaped with my life, in spite of the doctor. It is along story how I got to Barcelona and from thence to England; and withina week from the time I landed at Plymouth I was ordered to this ship. Asthere is fighting before us, I could not ask for leave, even to see mydear mother; but I wrote her, and I hope she knows by this time that Iam still alive to love her and plague her."
"Can you come below with me? I have something important to tell you."
"My watch is up, but I must go below on an errand. I am as anxious tohear as you are to tell. I will be with you in five minutes."
And Langton ran below, leaving Archy almost doubting whether, after all,he had really seen his friend in the flesh.