CHAPTER XIX.
"O'er the glad waters of the dark-blue sea. Our thoughts as boundless, and our souls as free. Far as the breeze can bear, the billows foam, Survey our empire and behold our home."
THE CORSAIR.
One is never fully aware of the extent of the movement that agitates thebosom of the ocean until fairly subject to its action himself, whenindeed we all feel its power and reason closely on its dangers. Thefirst pitch of his boat told Bluewater that the night threatened to beserious. As the lusty oarsmen bent to their stroke, the barge rose on aswell, dividing the foam that glanced past it like a marine AuroraBorealis, and then plunged into the trough as if descending to thebottom. It required several united and vigorous efforts to force thelittle craft from its dangerous vicinity to the rocks, and to get it inperfect command. This once done, however, the well-practised crew urgedthe barge slowly but steadily ahead.
"A dirty night!--a dirty night!" muttered Bluewater, unconsciously tohimself; "we should have had a wild berth, had we rode out this blow, atanchor. Oakes will have a heavy time of it out yonder in the very chopsof the channel, with a westerly swell heaving in against this ebb."
"Yes, sir," answered Wycherly; "the vice-admiral will be looking out forus all, anxiously enough, in the morning."
Not another syllable did Bluewater utter until his boat had touched theside of the Caesar. He reflected deeply on his situation, and those whoknow his feelings will easily understand that his reflections were notaltogether free from pain. Such as they were, he kept them to himself,however, and in a man-of-war's boat, when a flag-officer chooses to besilent, it is a matter of course for his inferiors to imitate hisexample.
The barge was about a quarter of a mile from the landing, when the heavyflap of the Caesar's main-top-sail was heard, as, close-reefed, itstruggled for freedom, while her crew drew its sheets down to the blockson the lower yard-arms. A minute later, the Gnat, under the head of herfore-and-aft-main-sail, was seen standing slowly off from the land,looking in the darkness like some half-equipped shadow of herself. Thesloop of war, too, was seen bending low to the force of the wind, withher mere apology of a top-sail thrown aback, in waiting for the flag-shipto cast.
The surface of the waters was a sheet of glancing foam, while the airwas filled with the blended sounds of the wash of the element, and theroar of the winds. Still there was nothing chilling or repulsive in thetemperature of the air, which was charged with the freshness of the sea,and was bracing and animating, bringing with it the flavour that aseaman loves. After fully fifteen minutes' severe tugging at the oars,the barge drew near enough to permit the black mass of the Caesar to beseen. For some time, Lord Geoffrey, who had seated himself at thetiller,--yoke-lines were not used a century since,--steered by thetop-light of the rear-admiral; but now the maze of hamper was seenwaving slowly to and fro in the lurid heavens, and the huge hull becamevisible, heaving and setting, as if the ocean groaned with the labour oflifting such a pile of wood and iron. A light gleamed from thecabin-windows, and ever and anon, one glanced athwart an open gun-roomport. In all other respects, the ship presented but one hue ofblackness. Nor was it an easy undertaking, even after the barge wasunder the lee of the ship, for those in it, to quit its uneasy supportand get a firm footing on the cleets that lined the vessel's side like aladder. This was done, however, and all ascended to the deck but two ofthe crew, who remained to hook-on the yard and stay-tackles. Thiseffected, the shrill whistle gave the word, and that large boat, builtto carry at need some twenty souls, was raised from the raging water, asit were by some gigantic effort of the ship herself, and safelydeposited in her bosom.
"We are none too soon, sir," said Stowel, the moment he had received therear-admiral with the customary etiquette of the hour. "It's a cap-fullof wind already, and it promises to blow harder before morning. We arecatted and fished, sir, and the forecastle-men are passing theshank-painter at this moment."
"Fill, sir, and stretch off, on an easy bowline," was the answer; "whena league in the offing, let me know it. Mr. Cornet, I have need of you,in my cabin."
As this was said, Bluewater went below, followed by his signal-officer.At the same instant the first lieutenant called out to man themain-braces, and to fill the top-sail. As soon as this command wasobeyed, the Caesar started ahead. Her movement was slow, but it had amajesty in it, that set at naught the turbulence of the elements.
Bluewater had paced to and fro in his cabin no less than six times, withhis head drooping, in a thoughtful attitude, ere his attention wascalled to any external object.
"Do you wish my presence, Admiral Bluewater?" the signal-officer atlength inquired.
"I ask your pardon, Mr. Cornet; I was really unconscious that you werein the cabin. Let me see--ay--our last signal was, 'division come withinhail of rear-admiral.' They must get close to us, to be able to do_that_ to-night, Cornet! The winds and waves have begun their song inearnest."
"And yet, sir, I'll venture a month's pay that Captain Drinkwater bringsthe Dover so near us, as to put the officer of the watch and thequarter-master at the wheel in a fever. We once made that signal, in agale of wind, and he passed his jib-boom-end over our taffrail."
"He is certainly a most literal gentleman, that Captain Drinkwater, buthe knows how to take care of his ship. Look for the number of 'followthe rear-admiral's motions.' 'Tis 211, I think."
"No, sir; but 212. Blue, red, and white, with the flags. With thelanterns, 'tis one of the simplest signals we have."
"We will make it, at once. When that is done, show 'the rear-admiral;keep in his wake, in the general order of sailing.' That I am sure is204."
"Yes, sir; you are quite right. Shall I show the second signal as soonas all the vessels have answered the first, sir?"
"That is my intention, Cornet. When all have answered, let me know it."
Mr. Cornet now left the cabin, and Bluewater took a seat in anarm-chair, in deep meditation. For quite half an hour the former wasbusy on the poop, with his two quarter-masters, going through the slowand far from easy duty of making night-signals, as they were thenpractised at sea. It was some time before the most distant vessel, theDover, gave any evidence of comprehending the first order, and then thesame tardy operation had to be gone through with for the second. Atlength the sentinel threw open the cabin-door, and Cornet re-appeared.During the whole of his absence on deck, Bluewater had not stirred;scarce seemed to breathe. His thoughts were away from his ships, and forthe first time, in the ten years he had worn a flag, he had forgottenthe order he had given.
"The signals are made and answered, sir," said Cornet, as soon as he hadadvanced to the edge of the table, on which the rear-admiral's elbow wasleaning. "The Dublin is already in our wake, and the Elizabeth isbearing down fast on our weather-quarter; she will bring herself intoher station in ten minutes."
"What news of the York and Dover, Cornet?" asked Bluewater, rousinghimself from a fit of deep abstraction.
"The York's light nears us, quite evidently; though that of the Dover isstill a fixed star, sir," answered the lieutenant, chuckling a little athis own humour; "it seems no larger than it did when we first made it."
"It is something to have made it at all. I was not aware it could beseen from deck?"
"Nor can it, sir; but, by going up half-a-dozen ratlins we get a look atit. Captain Drinkwater bowses up his lights to the gaff-end, and I cansee him always ten minutes sooner than any other ship in the fleet,under the same circumstances."
"Drinkwater is a careful officer; do the bearings of his light alterenough to tell the course he is steering?"
"I think they do, sir, though our standing out athwart his line ofsailing would make the change slow, of course. Every foot we get to thesouthward, you know, sir, would throw his bearings farther west; whileevery foot he comes east, would counteract that change and throw hisbearings further south."
"That's very clear; but, as he must go three fathoms to our one, runningoff with square yards be
fore such a breeze, I think we should beconstantly altering his bearings to the southward."
"No doubt of it, in the world, sir; and that is just what we _are_doing. I think I can see a difference of half a point, already; but,when we get his light fairly in view from the poop, we shall be able totell with perfect accuracy."
"All very well, Cornet. Do me the favour to desire Captain Stowel tostep into the cabin and keep a bright look-out for the ships of thedivision. Stay, for a single instant; what particularly sharp-eyedyoungster happens to belong to the watch on deck?"
"I know none keener in that way than Lord Geoffrey Cleveland, sir; hecan see all the roguery that is going on in the whole fleet, at anyrate, and ought to see other things."
"He will do perfectly well; send the young gentleman to me, sir; but,first inform the officer of the watch that I have need of him."
Bluewater was unusually fastidious in exercising his authority overthose who had temporary superiors on the assigned duty of the ship; andhe never sent an order to any of the watch, without causing it to passthrough the officer of that watch. He waited but a minute before the boyappeared.
"Have you a good gripe to-night, boy?" asked the rear-admiral, smiling;"or will it be both hands for yourself and none for the king? I want youon the fore-top-gallant-yard, for eight or ten minutes."
"Well, sir, it's a plain road there, and one I've often travelled,"returned the lad, cheerfully.
"That I well know; you are certainly no skulk when duty is to be done.Go aloft then, and ascertain if the lights of any of Sir Gervaise'ssquadron are to be seen. You will remember that the Dover bearssomewhere about south-west from us, and that she is still a long way toseaward. I should think all of Sir Gervaise's ships must be quite as farto windward as that point would bring them, but much further off. Bylooking sharp a point or half a point to windward of the Dover, you maypossibly see the light of the Warspite, and then we shall get a correctidea of the bearings of all the rest of the division--"
"Ay-ay-sir," interrupted the boy; "I think I understand exactly what youwish to know, Admiral Bluewater."
"That is a natural gift at sixteen, my lord," returned the admiral,smiling; "but it may be improved a little, perhaps, by the experience offifty. Now, it is possible Sir Gervaise may have gone about, as soon asthe flood made; in which case he ought to bear nearly west of us, andyou will also look in that direction. On the other hand, Sir Gervaisemay have stretched so far over towards the French coast before nightshut in, as to feel satisfied Monsieur de Vervillin is still to theeastward of him; in which case he would keep off a little, and may, atthis moment, be nearly ahead of us. So that, under all thecircumstances, you will sweep the horizon, from the weather-beam to thelee-bow, ranging forward. Am I understood, now, my lord?"
"Yes, sir, I think you are," answered the boy, blushing at his ownimpetuosity. "You will excuse my indiscretion, Admiral Bluewater; but I_thought_ I understood all you desired, when I spoke so hastily."
"No doubt you did, Geoffrey, but you perceive you did not. Nature hasmade you quick of apprehension, but not quick enough to _foresee_ all anold man's gossip. Come nearer, now, and let us shake hands. So go aloft,and hold on well, for it is a windy night, and I do not desire to loseyou overboard."
The boy did as told, squeezed Bluewater's hand, and dashed out of thecabin to conceal his tears. As for the rear-admiral, he immediatelyrelapsed into his fit of forgetfulness, waiting for the arrival ofStowel.
A summons to a captain does not as immediately produce a visit, on boarda vessel of war, as a summons to a midshipman. Captain Stowel was busyin looking at the manner in which his boats were stowed, when Cornettold him of the rear-admiral's request; and then he had to give someorders to the first lieutenant concerning the fresh meat that had beengot off, and one or two other similar little things, before he was atleisure to comply.
"See me, do you say, Mr. Cornet; in his own cabin, as soon as it isconvenient?" he at length remarked, when all these several offices hadbeen duly performed.
The signal-officer repeated the request, word for word as he had heardit, when he turned to take another look at the light of the Dover. Asfor Stowel, he cared no more for the Dover, windy and dark as the nightpromised to be, than the burgher is apt to care for his neighbour'shouse when the whole street is threatened with destruction. To him theCaesar was the great centre of attraction, and Cornet paid him off inkind; for, of all the vessels in the fleet, the Caesar was precisely theone to which he gave the least attention; and this for the simple reasonthat she was the only ship to which he never gave, or from which henever received, a signal.
"Well, Mr. Bluff," said Stowel to the first lieutenant; "one of us willhave to be on deck most of the night, and I'll take a slant below, forhalf an hour first, and see what the admiral wishes."
Thus saying, the captain left the deck, in order to ascertain hissuperior's pleasure. Captain Stowel was several years the senior ofBluewater, having actually been a lieutenant in one of the frigates inwhich the rear-admiral had served as a midshipman; a circumstance towhich he occasionally alluded in their present intercourse. The changein the relative positions was the result of the family influence of thejunior, who had passed his senior in the grade of master and commander;a rank that then brought many an honest man up for life, in the Englishmarine. At the age of five-and-forty, that at which Bluewater firsthoisted his flag, Stowell was posted; and soon after he was invited byhis old shipmate, who had once had him under him as his first lieutenantin a sloop of war, to take the command of his flag-ship. From that daydown to the present moment, the two officers had sailed together,whenever they sailed at all, perfectly good friends; though the captainnever appeared entirely to forget the time when they were in theaforesaid frigate; one a gun-room officer, and the other only a"youngster."
Stowel must now have been about sixty-five; a square, hard-featured,red-faced seaman, who knew all about his ship, from her truck to herlimber-rope, but who troubled himself very little about any thing else.He had married a widow when he was posted, but was childless, and hadlong since permitted his affections to wander back into their formerchannels; from the domestic hearth to his ship. He seldom spoke ofmatrimony, but the little he saw fit to say on the subject wascomprehensive and to the point. A perfectly sober man, he consumed largequantities of both wine and brandy, as well as of tobacco, and neverseemed to be the worse for either. Loyal he was by political faith, andhe looked upon a revolution, let its object be what it might, as hewould have regarded a mutiny in the Caesar. He was exceedinglypertinacious of his rights as "captain of his own ship," both ashore andafloat; a disposition that produced less trouble with the mild andgentlemanly rear-admiral, than with Mrs. Stowel. If we add that thisplain sailor never looked into a book, his proper scientific worksexcepted, we shall have said all of him that his connection with ourtale demands.
"Good-evening, Admiral Bluewater," said this true tar, saluting therear-admiral, as one neighbour would greet another, on dropping in of anevening, for they occupied different cabins. "Mr. Cornet told me youwould like to say a word to me, before I turned in; if, indeed, turn inat all, I do this blessed night."
"Take a seat, Stowel, and a glass of this sherry, in the bargain,"Bluewater answered, kindly, showing how well he understood his man, bythe manner in which he shoved both bottle and glass within reach of hishand. "How goes the night?--and is this wind likely to stand?"
"I'm of opinion, sir--we'll drink His Majesty, if you've no objection,Admiral Bluewater,--I'm of opinion, we shall stretch the threads of thatnew main-top-sail, before we've done with the breeze, sir. I believeI've not told you, yet, that I've had the new sail bent, since we lastspoke together on the subject. It's a good fit, sir; and, close-reefed,the sails stands like the side of a house."
"I'm glad to hear it, Stowel; though I think all your canvass usuallyappears to be in its place."
"Why you know, Admiral Bluewater, that I've been long enough at it, tounderstand something about the matter. It is
now more than forty yearssince we were in the Calypso together, and ever since that time I'veborne the commission of an officer. You were then a youngster, andthought more of your joke, than of bending sails, or of seeing how theywould stand."
"There wasn't much of me, certainly, forty years ago, Stowel; but I wellremember the knack you had of making every robin, sheet, bowline, andthread do its duty, then, as you do to-day. By the way, can you tell meany thing of the Dover, this evening?"
"Not I, sir; she came out with the rest of us I suppose, and must besomewhere in the fleet; though I dare say the log will have it all, ifshe has been anywhere near us, lately. I am sorry we did not go into oneof the watering-ports, instead of this open roadstead, for we must be atleast twenty-seven hundred gallons short of what we ought to have, by mycalculation; and then we want a new set of light spars, pretty much allround; and the lower hold hasn't as many barrels of provisions in it, bythirty-odd, as I could wish to see there."
"I leave these things to you, entirely, Stowel; you will report in timeto keep the ship efficient."
"No fear of the Caesar, sir; for, between Mr. Bluff, the master, andmyself, we know pretty much all about _her_, though I dare say there aremen in the fleet who can tell you more about the Dublin, or the Dover,or the York. We will drink the queen, and all the royal family, if youplease, sir."
As usual, Bluewater merely bowed, for his companion required no furtheracquiescence in his toasts. Just at that moment, too, it would haveneeded a general order, at least, to induce him to drink any of thefamily of the reigning house.
"Oakes must be well off, mid-channel, by this time, Captain Stowel?"
"I should think he might be, sir; though I can't say I took particularnotice of the time he sailed. I dare say it's all in the log. ThePlantagenet is a fast ship, sir, and Captain Greenly understands hertrim, and what she can do on all tacks; and, yet, I do think His Majestyhas one ship in this fleet that can find a Frenchman quite as soon, anddeal with him, when found, quite as much to the purpose."
"Of course you mean the Caesar;--well, I'm quite of your way of thinking,though Sir Gervaise manages never to be in a slow ship. I suppose youknow, Stowel, that Monsieur de Vervillin is out, and that we may expectto see or hear something of him, to-morrow."
"Yes, sir, there is some such conversation in the ship, I know; but thequantity of galley-news is so great in this squadron, that I neverattend much to what is said. One of the officers brought off a rumour, Ibelieve, that there was a sort of a row in Scotland. By the way, sir,there is a supernumerary lieutenant on board, and as he has joinedentirely without orders, I'm at a loss how to berth or to provision him.We can treat the gentleman hospitably to-night; but in the morning Ishall be obliged to get him regularly on paper."
"You mean Sir Wycherly Wychecombe; he shall come into my mess, ratherthan give you any trouble."
"I shall not presume to meddle with any gentleman you may please toinvite into your cabin, sir," answered Stowel, with a stiff bow, in theway of apology. "That's what I always tell Mrs. Stowel, sir;--that my_cabin_ is my _own_, and even a wife has no right to shake a broom init."
"Which is a great advantage to us seamen; for it gives us a citadel toretreat to, when the outworks are pressed. You appear to take but littleinterest in this civil war, Stowel!"
"Then it's true, is it, sir? I didn't know but it might turn out to begalley-news. Pray what is the rumpus all about, Admiral Bluewater? for,I never could get that story fidded properly, so as to set up therigging, and have the spar well stayed in its place."
"It is merely a war to decide who shall be king of England; nothingelse, I do assure you, sir."
"They're an uneasy set ashore, sir, if the truth must be said of them!We've got one king, already; and on what principle does any man wish formore? Now, there was Captain Blakely, from the Elizabeth, on board of methis afternoon; and we talked the matter over a little, and both of usconcluded that they got these things up much as a matter of profit amongthe army contractors, and the dealers in warlike stores."
Bluewater listened with intense interest, for here was proof howcompletely two of his captains, at least, would be at his own command,and how little they would be likely, for a time, at least, to disputeany of his orders. He thought of Sir Reginald, and of the rapture withwhich _he_ would have received this trait of nautical character.
"There are people who set their hearts on the result, notwithstanding,"carelessly observed the rear-admiral; "and some who see their fortunesmarred or promoted, by the success or downfall of the parties. Theythink de Vervillin is out on some errand connected with this rising inthe north."
"Well, I don't see what _he_ has got to do with the matter at all; for,I don't suppose that King Louis is such a fool as to expect to be kingof England as well as king of France!"
"The dignity would be too much for one pair of shoulders to bear. Aswell might one admiral wish to command all the divisions of his ownfleet, though they were fifty leagues asunder."
"Or one captain two ships; or what is more to the purpose, sir, one shipto keep two captains. We'll drink to discipline, if you've no objection,sir. 'Tis the soul of order and quiet, ashore or afloat. For my part, Iwant no _co-equal_--I believe that's the cant word they use on suchoccasions--but I want no co-equal, in the Caesar, and I am unwilling tohave one in the house at Greenwich; though Mrs. Stowel thinksdifferently. Here's my ship; she's in her place in the line; it's mybusiness to see she is fit for any service that a first-class two-deckercan undertake, and that duty I endeavour to perform; and I make no doubtit is all the better performed because there's no wife or co-equalaboard here. _Where_ the ship is to _go_, and _what_ she is to _do_, areother matters, which I take from general orders, special orders, orsignals. Let them act up to this principle in London, and we should hearno more of disturbances, north or south."
"Certainly, Stowel, your doctrine would make a quiet nation, as well asa quiet ship. I hope you do me the justice to think there is no co-equalin my commands!"
"That there is not, sir--and I have the honour to drink yourhealth--that there is not. When we were in the Calypso together, I hadthe advantage; and I must say that I never had a youngster under me whoever did his duty more cheerfully. Since that day we've shifted places;end for end, as one might say; and I endeavour to pay you, in your owncoin. There is no man whose orders I obey more willingly or more to myown advantage; always excepting those of Admiral Oakes, who, beingcommander-in-chief, overlays us all with his anchor. We must dowse ourpeaks to his signals, though we _can_ maintain, without mutinying, thatthe Caesar is as good a boat on or off a wind, as the Plantagenet, thebest day Sir Jarvy ever saw."
"There is no manner of doubt of that. You have all the notions of a truesailor, I find, Stowel; obey orders before all other things. I amcurious to know how our captains, generally, stand affected to thisclaim which the Pretender has set up to the throne."
"Can't tell you, on my soul, sir; though I fancy few of them givethemselves any great anxiety in the matter. When the wind is fair we canrun off large, and when it is foul we must haul upon a bowline, let whowill reign. I was a youngster under Queen Anne, and she was a Stuart, Ibelieve; and I have served under the German family ever since; and to befrank with you, Admiral Bluewater, I see but little difference in theduty, the pay, or the rations. My maxim is to obey orders, and then Iknow the blame will fall on them that give them, if any thing goeswrong."
"We have many Scotchmen in the fleet, Stowel," observed therear-admiral, in a musing manner, like one who rather thought aloud thanspoke. "Several of the captains are from the north of Tweed."
"Ay, sir, one is pretty certain of meeting gentlemen from that part ofthe island, in almost all situations in life. I never have understoodthat Scotland had much of a navy in ancient times, and yet the momentold England has to pay for it, the lairds are willing enough to sendtheir children to sea."
"Nevertheless it must be owned that they make gallant and usefulofficers, Stowel."
"
No doubt they do, sir; but gallant and useful men are not scarceanywhere. You and I are too old and too experienced, Admiral Bluewater,to put any faith in the notion that courage belongs to any particularpart of the world, or usefulness either. I never fought a Frenchman yetthat I thought a coward; and, in my judgment, there are brave men enoughin England, to command all her ships, and to fight them too."
"Let this be so, Stowel, still we must take things as they come. What doyou think of the night?"
"Dirty enough before morning, I should think, sir, though it is a littleout of rule, that it does not rain with this wind, already. The nexttime we come-to, Admiral Bluewater, I intend to anchor with a shorterscope of cable than we have been doing lately; for, I begin to thinkthere is no use in wetting so many yarns in the summer months. They tellme the York brings up always on forty fathoms."
"That's a short range, I should think, for a heavy ship. But here is avisiter."
The sentinel opened the cabin-door, and Lord Geoffrey, with his capfastened to his head by a pocket-handkerchief, and his face red withexposure to the wind, entered the cabin.
"Well," said Bluewater, quietly; "what is the report from aloft?"
"The Dover is running down athwart our forefoot, and nearing us fast,sir," returned the midshipman. "The York is close on our weather-beam,edging in to her station; but I can make out nothing ahead of us, thoughI was on the yard twenty minutes."
"Did you look well on the weather-beam, and thence forward to thelee-bow?"
"I did, sir; if any light is in view, better eyes than mine must findit."
Stowel looked from one to the other, as this short conversation washeld; but, as soon as there was a pause, he put in a word in behalf ofthe ship.
"You've been up forward, my lord?" he said.
"Yes, I have, Captain Stowel."
"And did you think of seeing how the heel of the top-gallant-mast stoodit, in this sea? Bluff tells me 'tis too loose to be fit for very heavyweather."
"I did not, sir. I was sent aloft to look out for the ships of thecommander-in-chief's division, and didn't think of the heel of thetop-gallant-mast's being too loose, at all."
"Ay, that's the way with all the youngsters, now-a-days. In my time, oreven in _yours_, Admiral Bluewater, we never put our feet on a ratlin,but hands and eyes were at work, until we reached the halting place,even though it should be the truck. That is the manner to know what aship is made of!"
"I kept my hands and eyes at work, too, Captain Stowel; but it was tohold on well, and to look out well."
"That will never do--that will never do, if you wish to make yourself asailor. Begin with your own ship first; learn all about _her_, then,when you get to be an admiral, as your father's son, my lord, will becertain to become, it will be time enough to be inquiring about the restof the fleet."
"You forget, Captain Stowel--"
"That will do, Lord Geoffrey," Bluewater soothingly interposed, for heknew that the Captain preached no more than he literally practised; "if_I_ am satisfied with your report, no one else has a right to complain.Desire Sir Wycherly Wychecombe to meet me on deck, where we will now go,Stowel, and take a look at the weather for ourselves."
"With all my heart, Admiral Bluewater, though I'll just drink the FirstLord's health before we quit this excellent liquor. That youngster hasstuff in him, in spite of his nobility, and by fetching him up, withround turns, occasionally, I hope to make a man of him, yet."
"If he do not grow into that character, physically and morally, withinthe next few years, sir, he will be the first person of his family whohas ever failed of it."
As Bluewater said this, he and the captain left his cabin, and ascendedto the quarter-deck. Here Stowel stopped to hold a consultation with hisfirst lieutenant, while the admiral went up the poop-ladder, and joinedCornet. The last had nothing new to communicate, and as he was permittedto go below, he was desired to send Wycherly up to the poop, where theyoung man would be expected by the rear-admiral.
Some little time elapsed before the Virginian could be found; no soonerwas this effected, however, than he joined Bluewater. They had a privateconversation of fully half an hour, pacing the poop the whole time, andthen Cornet was summoned back, again, to his usual station. The latterimmediately received an order to acquaint Captain Stowel therear-admiral desired that the Caesar might be hove-to, and to make asignal for the Druid 36, to come under the flag-ship's lee, and back hermain-top-sail. No sooner did this order reach the quarter-deck than thewatch was sent to the braces, and the main-yard was rounded in, untilthe portion of sail that was still set lay against the mast. Thisdeadened the way of the huge body, which rose and fell heavily in theseas, as they washed under her, scarcely large enough to lift theburthen it imposed upon them. Just at this instant, the signal was made.
The sudden check to the movement of the Caesar brought the Dublin boomingup in the darkness, when putting her helm up, that ship surged slowlypast to leeward, resembling a black mountain moving by in the gloom. Shewas hailed and directed to heave-to, also, as soon as far enough ahead.The Elizabeth followed, clearing the flag-ship by merely twenty fathoms,and receiving a similar order. The Druid had been on the admiral'sweather-quarter, but she now came gliding down, with the wind abeam,taking room to back her top-sail under the Caesar's lee-bow. By this timea cutter was in the water, rising six or eight feet up the black side ofthe ship, and sinking as low apparently beneath her bottom. Next,Wycherly reported himself ready to proceed.
"You will not forget, sir," said Bluewater, "any part of my commission;but inform the commander-in-chief of the _whole_. It may be importantthat we understand each other fully. You will also hand him this letterwhich I have hastily written while the boat was getting ready."
"I think I understand your wishes, sir;--at least, I _hope_ so;--and Iwill endeavour to execute them."
"God bless you, Sir Wycherly Wychecombe," added Bluewater, with emotion."We may never meet again; we sailors carry uncertain lives; and we maybe said to carry them in our hands."
Wycherly took his leave of the admiral, and he ran down the poop-ladderto descend into the boat. Twice he paused on the quarter-deck, however,in the manner of one who felt disposed to return and ask someexplanation; but each time he moved on, decided to proceed.
It needed all the agility of our young sailor to get safely into theboat. This done, the oars fell and the cutter was driven swiftly away toleeward. In a few minutes, it shot beneath the lee of the frigate, anddischarged its freight. Wycherly could not have been three minutes onthe deck of the Druid, ere her yards were braced up, and her top-sailfilled with a heavy flap. This caused her to draw slowly ahead. Fiveminutes later, however, a white cloud was seen dimly fluttering over herhull, and the reefed main-sail was distended to the wind. The effect wasso instantaneous that the frigate seemed to glide away from theflag-ship, and in a quarter of an hour, under her three top-sailsdouble-reefed, and her courses, she was a mile distant on herweather-bow. Those who watched her movements without understanding them,observed that she lowered her light, and appeared to detach herself fromthe rest of the division.
It was some time before the Caesar's boat was enabled to pull up againstthe tide, wind, and sea. When this hard task was successfullyaccomplished, the ship filled, passed the Dublin and Elizabeth, andresumed her place in the line.
Bluewater paced the poop an hour longer, having dismissed hissignal-officer and the quarter-masters to their hammocks. Even Stowelhad turned in, nor did Mr. Bluff deem it necessary to remain on deck anylonger. At the end of the hour, the rear-admiral bethought him ofretiring too. Before he quitted the poop, however, he stood at theweather-ladder, holding on to the mizzen-rigging, and gazing at thescene.
The wind had increased, as had the sea, but it was not yet a gale. TheYork had long before hauled up in her station, a cable's length ahead ofthe Caesar, and was standing on, under the same canvass as the flag-ship,looking stately and black. The Dover was just shooting into her berth,under the standing sailing-ord
ers, at the same distance ahead of theYork; visible, but much less distinct and imposing. The sloop and thecutter were running along, under the lee of the heavy snips, a quarterof a mile distant, each vessel keeping her relative position, by closeattention to her canvass. Further than this, nothing was in sight. Thesea had that wild mixture of brightness and gloom, which belongs to theelement when much agitated in a dark night, while the heavens were murkyand threatening.
Within the ship, all was still. Here and there a lantern threw itswavering light around, but the shadows of the masts and guns, and otherobjects, rendered this relief to the night trifling. The lieutenant ofthe watch paced the weather side of the quarter-deck, silent butattentive. Occasionally he hailed the look-outs, and admonished them tobe vigilant, also, and at each turn he glanced upward to see how thetop-sail stood. Four or five old and thoughtful seamen walked the waistand forecastle, but most of the watch were stowed between the guns, orin the best places they could find, under the lee of the bulwarks,catching cat's naps. This was an indulgence denied the young gentlemen,of whom one was on the forecastle, leaning against the mast, dreaming ofhome, one in the waist, supporting the nettings, and one walking thelee-side of the quarter-deck, his eyes shut, his thoughts confused, andhis footing uncertain. As Bluewater stepped on the quarter-deck-ladder,to descend to his own cabin, the youngster hit his foot against aneye-bolt, and fetched way plump up against his superior. Bluewatercaught the lad in his arms, and saved him from a fall, setting himfairly on his feet before he let him go.
"'Tis seven bells, Geoffrey," said the admiral, in an under tone. "Holdon for half an hour longer, and then go dream of your dear mother."
Before the boy could recover himself to thank his superior, the latterhad disappeared.