CHAPTER VII.
----"Somewhat we will do. And, look, when I am king, claim thou of me The earldom of Hereford, and all the moveables Whereof the king my brother was possessed."
RICHARD III.
Rear-Admiral Bluewater found Sir Gervaise Oakes pacing a largedressing-room, quarter-deck fashion, with as much zeal, as if justreleased from a long sitting, on official duty, in his own cabin. As thetwo officers were perfectly familiar with each other's personal habits,neither deviated from his particular mode of indulging his ease; but thelast comer quietly took his seat in a large chair, disposing of hisperson in a way to show he intended to consult his comfort, let whatwould happen.
"Bluewater," commenced Sir Gervaise, "this is a very foolish affair ofthe Pretender's son, and can only lead to his destruction. I look uponit as altogether unfortunate."
"That, as it may terminate. No man can tell what a day, or an hour, maybring forth. I am sure, such a rising was one of the last things _I_have been anticipating, down yonder, in the Bay of Biscay."
"I wish, with all my heart, we had never left it," muttered SirGervaise, so low that his companion did not hear him. Then he added, ina louder tone, "_Our_ duty, however, is very simple. We have only toobey orders; and it seems that the young man has no naval force tosustain him. We shall probably be sent to watch Brest, or l'Orient, orsome other port. Monsieur must be kept in, let what will happen."
"I rather think it would be better to let him out, our chances on thehigh seas being at least as good as his own. I am no friend toblockades, which strike me as an un-English mode of carrying on a war."
"You are right enough, Dick, in the main," returned Sir Gervaise,laughing.
"Ay, and _on_ the main, Oakes. I sincerely hope the First Lord will notsend a man like you, who are every way so capable of giving an accountof your enemy with plenty of sea-room, on duly so scurvy as a blockade."
"A man like _me_! Why a man like _me_ in particular? I trust I am tohave the pleasure of Admiral Bluewater's company, advice andassistance?"
"An inferior never can know, Sir Gervaise, where it may suit thepleasure of his superiors to order him."
"That distinction of superior and inferior, Bluewater, will one day leadyou into a confounded scrape, I fear. If you consider Charles Stuartyour sovereign, it is not probable that orders issued by a servant ofKing George will be much respected. I hope you will do nothing hastily,or without consulting your oldest and truest friend!"
"You know my sentiments, and there is little use in dwelling on them,now. So long as the quarrel was between my own country and a foreignland, I have been content to serve; but when my lawful prince, or hisson and heir, comes in this gallant and chivalrous manner, throwinghimself, as it might be, into the very arms of his subjects, confidingall to their loyalty and spirit; it makes such an appeal to every noblerfeeling, that the heart finds it difficult to repulse. I could havejoined Norris, with right good will, in dispersing and destroying thearmament that Louis XV. was sending against us, in this very cause; buthere every thing is English, and Englishmen have the quarrel entirely tothemselves. I do not see how, as a loyal subject of my hereditaryprince, I can well refrain from joining his standard."
"And would _you_, Dick Bluewater, who, to my certain knowledge, weresent on board ship at twelve years of age, and who, for more than fortyyears, have been a man-of-war's-man, body and soul; would you now stripyour old hulk of the sea-blue that has so long covered and become it,rig yourself out like a soldier, with a feather in your hat,--ay,d----e, and a camp-kettle on your arm, and follow a drummer, like one ofyour kinsmen, Lord Bluewater's fellows of the guards?--for of sailors,your lawful prince, as you call him, hasn't enough to stopper hisconscience, or to whip the tail of his coat, to keep it from being tornto tatters by the heather of Scotland. If you _do_ follow theadventurer, it must be in some such character, since I question if hecan muster a seaman, to tell him the bearings of London from Perth."
"When I join him, he will be better off."
"And what could even _you_ do alone, among a parcel of Scotchmen,running about their hills under bare poles? Your signals will notman[oe]uvre regiments, and as for man[oe]uvring in any other manner, youknow nothing. No--no; stay where you are, and help an old friend withknowledge that is useful to him.--I should be afraid to do a dashingthing, unless I felt the certainty of having you in my van, to strikethe first blow; or in my rear, to bring me off, handsomely.
"You would be afraid of nothing, Gervaise Oakes, whether I stood at yourelbow, or were off in Scotland. Fear is not your failing, thoughtemerity may be."
"Then I want your presence to keep me within the bounds of reason," saidSir Gervaise, stopping short in his walk, and looking his friendsmilingly in the face. "In some mode, or other, I always need your aid."
"I understand the meaning of your words, Sir Gervaise, and appreciatethe feeling that dictates them. You must have a perfect conviction thatI will do nothing hastily, and that I will betray no trust. When I turnmy back on King George, it will be loyalty, in one sense, whatever hemay think of it in another; and when I join Prince Charles Edward, itwill be with a conscience that he need not be ashamed to probe. Whatnames he bears! They are the designations of ancient English sovereigns,and ought of themselves, to awaken the sensibilities of Englishmen."
"Ay, Charles in particular," returned the vice-admiral, with somethinglike a sneer. "There's the second Charles, for instance--St. Charles, asour good host, Sir Wycherly, might call him--he is a pattern prince forEnglishmen to admire. Then his father was of the school of theStar-Chamber martyrs!"
"Both were lineal descendants of the Conqueror, and of the Saxonprinces; and both united the double titles to the throne, in theirsacred persons. I have always considered Charles II. as the victim ofthe rebellious conduct of his subjects, rather than vicious. He wasdriven abroad into a most corrupt state of society, and was perverted byour wickedness. As to the father, he was the real St. Charles, and amartyred saint he was; dying for true religion, as well as for his legalrights. Then the Edwards--glorious fellows!--remember that they were allbut one Plantagenets; a name, of itself, to rouse an Englishman's fire!"
"And yet the only difference between the right of these veryPlantagenets to the throne, and that of the reigning prince, is, thatone produced a revolution by the strong hand, and the other was producedby a revolution that came from the nation. I do not know that yourPlantagenets ever did any thing for a navy; the only real source ofEngland's power and glory. D----e, Dick, if I think so much of yourPlantagenets, after all!"
"And yet the name of Oakes is to be met with among their bravestknights, and most faithful followers."
"The Oakes, like the pines, have been timbers in every ship that hasfloated," returned the vice-admiral, half-unconscious himself, of thepun he was making.
For more than a minute Sir Gervaise continued his walk, his head alittle inclined forward, like a man who pondered deeply on some matterof interest. Then, suddenly stopping, he turned towards his friend, whomhe regarded for near another minute, ere he resumed the discourse.
"I wish I could fairly get you to exercise your excellent reason on thismatter, Dick," he said, after the pause; "then I should be certain ofhaving secured you on the side of liberty."
Admiral Bluewater merely shook his head, but he continued silent, as ifhe deemed discussion altogether supererogatory. During this pause, agentle tap at the door announced a visiter; and, at the request toenter, Atwood made his appearance. He held in his hand a large package,which bore on the envelope the usual stamp that indicated it was sent onpublic service.
"I beg pardon, Sir Gervaise," commenced the secretary, who alwaysproceeded at once to business, when business was to be done; "but HisMajesty's service will not admit of delay. This packet has just come tohand, by the arrival of an express, which left the admiralty onlyyesterday noon."
"And how the devil did he know where to find me!" exclaimed thevice-admiral, holding out
a hand to receive the communication.
"It is all owing to this young lieutenant's forethought in following upthe Jacobite intelligence to a market-town. The courier was bound toFalmouth, as fast as post-horses could carry him, when he heard,luckily, that the fleet lay at anchor, under Wychecombe Head; and, quiteas luckily, he is an officer who had the intelligence to know that youwould sooner get the despatches, if he turned aside, and came hither byland, than if he went on to Falmouth, got aboard the sloop that was tosail with him, for the Bay of Biscay, and came round here by water."
Sir Gervaise smiled at this sally, which was one in keeping with allAtwood's feelings; for the secretary had matured a system of expresses,which, to his great mortification, his patron laughed at, and theadmiralty entirely overlooked. No time was lost, however, in the way ofbusiness; the secretary having placed the candles on a table, where SirGervaise took a chair, and had already broken a seal. The process ofreading, nevertheless, was suddenly interrupted by the vice-admiral'slooking up, and exclaiming--
"Why, you are not about to leave us, Bluewater?"
"You may have private business with Mr. Atwood, Sir Gervaise, andperhaps I had better retire."
Now, it so happened that while Sir Gervaise Oakes had never, by look orsyllable, as he confidently believed, betrayed the secret of hisfriend's Jacobite propensities, Atwood was perfectly aware of theirexistence. Nor had the latter obtained his knowledge by any unworthymeans. He had been neither an eavesdropper, nor an inquirer into privatecommunications, as so often happens around the persons of men in hightrusts; all his knowledge having been obtained through native sagacityand unavoidable opportunities. On the present occasion, the secretary,with the tact of a man of experience, felt that his presence might bedispensed with; and he cut short the discussion between the twoadmirals, by a very timely remark of his own.
"I have left the letters uncopied, Sir Gervaise," he said, "and will goand finish them. A message by Locker"--this was Sir Gervaise'sbody-servant--"will bring me back at a moment's notice, should you needme again to-night."
"That Atwood has a surprising instinct, for a Scotchman!" exclaimed thevice-admiral, as soon as the door was closed on the secretary. "He notonly knows when he _is_ wanted, but when he is _not_ wanted. The last isan extraordinary attainment, for one of his nation."
"And one that an Englishman may do well to emulate," returned Bluewater."It is possible my company may be dispensed with, also, just at thisimportant moment."
"You are not so much afraid of the Hanoverians, Dick, as to run awayfrom their hand-writing, are ye? Ha--what's this?--As I live, a packetfor yourself, and directed to 'Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bluewater, K.B.'By the Lord, my old boy, they've given you the red riband at last! Thisis an honour well earned, and which may be fitly worn."
"'Tis rather unexpected, I must own. The letter, however, cannot beaddressed to me, as I am not a Knight of the Bath."
"This is rank nonsense. Open the packet, at once, or I will do it foryou. Are there two Dick Bluewaters in the world, or another rear-admiralof the same name?"
"I would rather not receive a letter that does not strictly bear myaddress," returned the other, coldly.
"As I'll be sworn this does. But hand it to me, since you are soscrupulous, and I will do that small service for you."
As this was said, Sir Gervaise tore aside the seals; and, as heproceeded rather summarily, a red riband was soon uncased and fell uponthe carpet. The other usual insignia of the Bath made their appearance,and a letter was found among them, to explain the meaning of all. Everything was in due form, and went to acquaint Rear-Admiral Bluewater, thatHis Majesty had been graciously pleased to confer on him one of thevacant red ribands of the day, as a reward for his eminent services ondifferent occasions. There was even a short communication from thepremier, expressing the great satisfaction of the ministry in thus beingable to second the royal pleasure with hearty good will.
"Well, what do you think of that, Richard Bluewater?" asked SirGervaise, triumphantly. "Did I not always tell you, that sooner orlater, it _must_ come?"
"It has come too late, then," coldly returned the other, laying theriband, jewels, and letters, quietly on the table. "This is an honour, Ican receive, _now_, only from my rightful prince. None other can legallycreate a knight of the Bath."
"And pray, Mr. Richard Bluewater, who made you a captain, a commander, arear-admiral? Do you believe me an impostor, because I wear this ribandon authority no better than that of the house of Hanover? Am I, or am Inot, in your judgment, a vice-admiral of the red?"
"I make a great distinction, Oakes, between rank in the navy, and a merepersonal dignity. In the one case, you serve your country, and givequite as much as you receive; whereas, in the other, it is a grace toconfer consideration on the person honoured, without such an equivalentas can find an apology for accepting a rank illegally conferred."
"The devil take your distinctions, which would unsettle every thing, andrender the service a Babel. If I am a vice-admiral of the red, I am aknight of the Bath; and, if you are a rear-admiral of the white, you arealso a knight of that honourable order. All comes from the same sourceof authority, and the same fountain of honour."
"I do not view it thus. Our commissions are from the admiralty, whichrepresents the country; but dignities come from the prince who happensto reign, let _his_ title be what it may."
"Do you happen to think Richard III. a usurper, or a lawful prince?"
"A usurper, out of all question; and a murderer to boot. His name shouldbe struck from the list of English kings. I never hear it, withoutexecrating him, and his deeds."
"Pooh--pooh, Dick, this is talking more like a poet than a seaman. Ifonly one-half the sovereigns who deserve to be execrated had their nameserased, the list of even our English kings would be rather short; andsome countries would be without historical kings at all. However muchRichard III. may deserve cashiering in this summary manner, his peersand laws are just as good as any other prince's peers and laws. Witnessthe Duke of Norfolk, for instance."
"Ay, that cannot be helped by me; but it _is_ in my power to preventRichard Bluewater's being made a knight or the Bath, by George II.; andthe power shall be used."
"It would seem not, as he is already created; and I dare to say,gazetted."
"The oaths are not yet taken, and it is, at least, an Englishman'sbirth-right, to decline an honour; if, indeed, this can be esteemed anhonour, at all."
"Upon my word, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Bluewater, you are disposed tobe complimentary, to-night! The unworthy knight present, and all therest of the order, are infinitely indebted to you!"
"Your case and mine, Oakes, are essentially different," returned theother, with some emotion in his voice and manner. "Your riband wasfairly won, fighting the battles of England, and can be worn with creditto yourself and to your country; but these baubles are sent to me, at amoment when a rising was foreseen, and as a sop to keep me ingood-humour, as well as to propitiate the whole Bluewater interest."
"That is pure conjecture, and I dare say will prove to be altogether amistake. Here are the despatches to speak for themselves; and, as it isscarcely possible that the ministry should have known of this rashmovement of the Pretender's son, more than a few days, my life on it,the dates will show that your riband was bestowed before the enterprisewas even suspected."
As Sir Gervaise commenced, with his constitutional ardour, to turn overthe letters, as soon as his mind was directed to this particular object,Admiral Bluewater resumed his seat, awaiting the result, with not alittle curiosity; though, at the same time, with a smile of incredulity.The examination disappointed Sir Gervaise Oakes. The dates proved thatthe ministers were better informed than he had supposed; for it appearedthey had been apprised about the time he was himself of the intendedmovement. His orders were to bring the fleet north, and in substance todo the very thing his own sagacity had dictated. So far every thing waswell; and he could not entertain a doubt about receiving the heartyapprobation o
f his superiors, for the course he had taken. But here hisgratification ended; for, on looking at the dates of the differentcommunications, it was evident that the red riband was bestowed afterthe intelligence of the Pretender's movement had reached London. Aprivate letter, from a friend at the Board of Admiralty, too, spoke ofhis own probable promotion to the rank of admiral of the blue; andmentioned several other similar preferments, in a way to show that thegovernment was fortifying itself, in the present crisis, as much aspossible, by favours. This was a politic mode of procedure, withordinary men, it is true; but with officers of the elevation of mind,and of the independence of character of our two admirals, it was mostlikely to produce disgust.
"D--n 'em, Dick," cried Sir Gervaise, as he threw down the last letterof the package, with no little sign of feeling; "you might take St.Paul, or even Wychecombe's dead brother, St. James the Less, and put himat court, and he would come out a thorough blackguard, in a week!"
"That is not the common opinion concerning a court education," quietlyreplied the friend; "most people fancying that the place givesrefinement of manners, if not of sentiment."
"Poh--poh--you and I have no need of a dictionary to understand eachother. I call a man who never trusts to a generous motive--who thinks italways necessary to bribe or cajole--who has no idea of any thing'sbeing done without its direct _quid pro quo_, a scurvy blackguard,though he has the airs and graces of Phil. Stanhope, or Chesterfield, ashe is now. What do you think those chaps at the Board, talk of doing, byway of clinching my loyalty, at this blessed juncture?"
"No doubt to get you raised to the peerage. I see nothing so much out ofthe way in the thing. You are of one of the oldest families of England,and the sixth baronet by inheritance, and have a noble landed estate,which is none the worse for prize-money. Sir Gervaise Oakes of Bowldero,would make a very suitable Lord Bowldero."
"If it were only that, I shouldn't mind it; for nothing is easier thanto refuse a peerage. I've done _that_ twice already, and can do it athird time, at need. But one can't very well refuse promotion in hisregular profession; and, here, just as a true gentleman would depend onthe principles of an officer, the hackneyed consciences of yourcourtiers have suggested the expediency of making Gervaise Oakes anadmiral of the blue, by way of sop!--me, who was made vice-admiral ofthe red, only six months since, and who take an honest pride in boastingthat every commission, from the lowest to the highest, has been fairlyearned in battle!"
"They think it a more delicate service, perhaps, for a gentleman to betrue to the reigning house, when so loud an appeal is made to hisnatural loyalty; and therefore class the self-conquest with a victory atsea!"
"They are so many court-lubbers, and I should like to have anopportunity of speaking my mind to them. I'll not take the newcommission; for every one must see, Dick, that it is a sop."
"Ay, that's just my notion, too, about the red riband; and I'll not take_that_. You have had the riband these ten years, have declined thepeerage twice, and their only chance is the promotion. Take it youought, and must, however, as it will be the means of pushing on somefour or five poor devils, who have been wedged up to honours, in thismanner, ever since they were captains. I am glad they do not talk ofpromoting _me_, for I should hardly know how to refuse such a grace.There is great virtue in parchment, with all us military men."
"Still it must be parchment fairly won. I think you are wrong,notwithstanding, Bluewater, in talking of refusing the riband, which isso justly your due, for a dozen different acts. There is not a man inthe service, who has been less rewarded for what he has done, thanyourself."
"I am sorry to hear you give this as your opinion; for just at thismoment, I would rather think that I have no cause of complaint, in thisway, against the reigning family, or its ministers. I'm sure I wasposted when quite a young man, and since that time, no one has beenlifted over my head."
The vice-admiral looked intently at his friend; for never before had hedetected a feeling which betrayed, as he fancied, so settled adetermination in him to quit the service of the powers that were.Acquainted from boyhood with all the workings of the other's mind, heperceived that the rear-admiral had been endeavouring to persuadehimself that no selfish or unworthy motive could be assigned to an actwhich he felt to proceed from disinterested chivalry, just as he himselfbroke out with his expression of an opinion that no officer had beenless liberally rewarded for his professional services than his friend.While there is no greater mystery to a selfish manager, than a man ofdisinterested temperament, they who feel and submit to generousimpulses, understand each other with an instinctive facility. When anyparticular individual is prone to believe that there is a predominanceof good over evil in the world he inhabits, it is a sign ofinexperience, or of imbecility; but when one acts and reasons as if_all_ honour and virtue are extinct, he furnishes the best possibleargument against his own tendencies and character. It has often beenremarked that stronger friendships are made between those who havedifferent personal peculiarities, than between those whose sameness offeeling and impulses would be less likely to keep interest alive; but,in all cases of intimacies, there must be great identity of principles,and even of tastes in matters at all connected with motives, in order toensure respect, among those whose standard of opinion is higher thancommon, or sympathy among those with whom it is lower. Such was thefact, as respected Admirals Oakes and Bluewater. No two men could beless alike in temperament, or character, physically, and in some senses,morally considered; but, when it came to principles, or all those tastesor feelings that are allied to principles, there was a strong native, aswell as acquired affinity. This union of sentiment was increased bycommon habits, and professional careers so long and so closely united,as to be almost identical. Nothing was easier, consequently, than forSir Gervaise Oakes to comprehend the workings of Admiral Bluewater'smind, as the latter endeavoured to believe he had been fairly treated bythe existing government. Of course, the reasoning which passed throughthe thoughts of Sir Gervaise, on this occasion, required much less timethan we have taken to explain its nature; and, after regarding hisfriend intently, as already related, for a few seconds, he answered asfollows; a good deal influenced, unwittingly to himself, with the wishto check the other's Jacobite propensities.
"I am sorry not to be able to agree with you, Dick," he said, with somewarmth. "So far from thinking you _well_ treated, by any ministry, thesetwenty years, I think you have been very _ill_ treated. Your rank youhave, beyond a question; for of that no brave officer can well bedeprived in a regulated service; but, have you had the _commands_ towhich you are entitled?--I was a commander-in-chief when only arear-admiral of the blue; and then how long did I wear a broad pennant,before I got a flag at all!"
"You forget how much I have been with you. When two serve together, onemust command, and the other must obey. So far from complaining of theseHanoverian Boards, and First Lords, it seems to me that they have alwayskept in view the hollowness of their claims to the throne, and have felta desire to purchase honest men by their favours."
"You are the strangest fellow, Dick Bluewater, it has ever been my lotto fall in with! D----e me, if I believe you know always, when you _are_ill treated. There are a dozen men in service, who have had separatecommands, and who are not half as well entitled to them, as you areyourself."
"Come, come, Oakes, this is getting to be puerile, for two old fellows,turned of fifty. You very well know that I was offered just as good afleet, as this of your own, with a choice of the whole list offlag-officers below me, to pick a junior from; and, so, we'll say nomore about it. As respects their red riband, however, it may goa-begging for me."
Sir Gervaise was about to answer in his former vein, when a tap at thedoor announced the presence of another visiter. This time the dooropened on the person of Galleygo, who had been included in SirWycherly's hospitable plan of entertaining every soul who immediatelybelonged to the suite of Sir Gervaise.
"What the d----l has brought _you_ here!" exclaimed the vice-admiral, alittl
e warmly; for he did not relish an interruption just at thismoment. "Recollect you're not on board the Plantagenet, but in thedwelling of a gentleman, where there are both butler and housekeeper,and who have no occasion for your advice, or authority, to keep thingsin order."
"Well, there, Sir Gervaise I doesn't agree with you the least bit; for Ithinks as a ship's steward--I mean a _cabin_ steward, and a good 'un ofthe quality--might do a great deal of improvement in this very house.The cook and I has had a partic'lar dialogue on them matters, already;and I mentioned to her the names of seven different dishes, every one ofwhich she quite as good as admitted to me, was just the same as so muchgospel to _her_."
"I shall have to quarantine this fellow, in the long run, Bluewater! Ido believe if I were to take him to Lambeth Palace, or even to St.James's, he'd thrust his oar into the archbishop's benedictions, or thequeen's caudle-cup!"
"Well, Sir Gervaise, where would be the great harm, if I did? A man asknows the use of an oar, may be trusted with one, even in a church, oran abbey. When your honour comes to hear what the dishes was, as SirWycherly's cook had never heard on, you'll think it as great a cur'osityas I do myself. If I had just leave to name 'em over, I think as bothyou gentlemen would look at it as remarkable."
"What are they, Galleygo?" inquired Bluewater, putting one of his longlegs over an arm of the adjoining chair, in order to indulge himself ina yarn with his friend's steward, with greater freedom; for he greatlydelighted in Galleygo's peculiarities; seeing just enough of the fellowto find amusement, without annoyance in them. "I'll answer for SirGervaise, who is always a little diffident about boasting of thesuperiority of a ship, over a house."
"Yes, your honour, that he is--that is just one of Sir Jarvy's weakp'ints, as a body might say. Now, I never goes ashore, without trimmingsharp up, and luffing athwart every person's hawse, I fall in with;which is as much as to tell 'em, I belongs to a flag-ship, and a racer,and a craft as hasn't her equal on salt-water; no disparagement to thebit of bunting at the mizzen-topgallant-mast-head of the Caesar, or tothe ship that carries it. I hopes, as we are so well acquainted, AdmiralBluewater, no offence will be taken."
"Where none is meant, none ought to be taken, my friend. Now let us hearyour bill-of-fare."
"Well, sir, the very first dish I mentioned to Mrs. Larder, SirWycherly's cook, was lobscous; and, would you believe it, gentlemen, thepoor woman had never heard of it! I began with a light hand, as it mightbe, just not to overwhelm her with knowledge, at a blow, as Sir Jarvycaptivated the French frigate with the upper tier of guns, that he mighttake her alive, like."
"And the lady knew nothing of a lobscous--neither of its essence, nornature?"
"There's no essences as is ever put in a lobscous, besides potaties,Admiral Bluewater; thof we make 'em in the old Planter"--_nautice_ forPlantagenet--"in so liquorish a fashion, you might well think they evenhad Jamaiky, in 'em. No, potaties is the essence of lobscous; and a verygood thing is a potatie, Sir Jarvy, when a ship's company has been onsalted oakum for a few months."
"Well, what was the next dish the good woman broke down under?" askedthe rear-admiral, fearful the master might order the servant to quit theroom; while he, himself, was anxious to get rid of any further politicaldiscussion.
"Well, sir, she knowed no more of a chowder, than if the sea wern't inthe neighbourhood, and there wern't such a thing as a fish in allEngland. When I talked to her of a chowder, she gave in, like a Spaniardat the fourth or fifth broadside."
"Such ignorance is disgraceful, and betokens a decline in civilization!But, you hoisted out more knowledge for her benefit, Galleygo--smalldoses of learning are poor things."
"Yes, your honour; just like weak grog--burning the priming, withoutstarting the shot. To be sure, I did, Admiral Blue. I just named to herburgoo, and then I mentioned duff (_anglice_ dough) to her, but shedenied that there was any such things in the cookery-book. Do you know,Sir Jarvy, as these here shore craft get their dinners, as our mastergets the sun; all out of a book as it might be. Awful tidings, too,gentlemen, about the Pretender's son; and I s'pose we shall have to takethe fleet up into Scotland, as I fancy them 'ere sogers will not makemuch of a hand in settling law?"
"And have you honoured us with a visit, just to give us an essay ondishes, and to tell us what you intend to do with the fleet?" demandedSir Gervaise, a little more sternly than he was accustomed to speak tothe steward.
"Lord bless you, Sir Jarvy, I didn't dream of one or t'other! As fortelling you, or Admiral Blue, (so the seamen used to call the second inrank,) here, any thing about lobscous, or chowder, why, it would becarrying coals to New Market. I've fed ye both with all such articles,when ye was nothing but young gentlemen; and when you was no longeryoung gentlemen, too, but a couple of sprightly luffs, of nineteen. Andas for moving the fleet, I know, well enough, that will never happen,without our talking it over in the old Planter's cabin; which is a muchmore nat'ral place for such a discourse, than any house in England!"
"May I take the liberty of inquiring, then, what _did_ bring you here?"
"That you may, with all my heart, Sir Jarvy, for I likes to answer yourquestions. My errand is not to your honour this time, though you are mymaster. It's no great matter, after all, being just to hand this bit ofa letter over to Admiral Blue."
"And where did this letter come from, and how did it happen to fall intoyour hands?" demanded Bluewater, looking at the superscription, thewriting of which he appeared to recognise.
"It hails from Lun'nun, I hear; and they tell me it's to be a greatsecret that you've got it, at all. The history of the matter is justthis. An officer got in to-night, with orders for us, carrying sail ashard as his shay would bear. It seems he fell in with Master Atwood, ashe made his land-fall, and being acquainted with that gentleman, he justwhipped out his orders, and sent 'em off to the right man. Then he laidhis course for the landing, wishing to get aboard of the Dublin, towhich he is ordered; but falling in with our barge, as I landed, hewanted to know the where-away of Admiral Blue, here; believing him to beafloat. Some 'un telling him as I was a friend and servant of bothadmirals, as it might be, he turned himself over to me for advice. So Ipromised to deliver the letter, as I had a thousand afore, and knowedthe way of doing such things; and he gives me the letter, under specialorders, like; that is to say, it was to be handed to the rear-admiral asit might be under the lee of the mizzen-stay-sail, or in a privatefashion. Well, gentlemen, you both knows I understand that, too, and soI undertook the job."
"And I have got to be so insignificant a person that I pass for no one,in your discriminating mind, Master Galleygo!" exclaimed thevice-admiral, sharply. "I have suspected as much, these five-and-twentyyears."
"Lord bless you, Sir Jarvy, how flag-officers will make mistakessometimes! They're mortal, I says to the people of the galley, and havetheir appetites false, just like the young gentlemen, when they getathwart-hawse of a body, I says. Now, I count Admiral Blue and yourselfpretty much as one man, seeing that you keep few, or no secrets fromeach other. I know'd ye both as young gentlemen, and then you loved oneanother like twins; and then I know'd ye as luffs, when ye'd walk thedeck the whole watch, spinning yarns; and then I know'd ye as Pillardeesand Arrestee, though one pillow might have answered for both; and as forArrest, I never know'd either of ye to got into that scrape. As fortelling a secret to one, I've always looked upon it as pretty muchtelling it to t'other."
The two admirals exchanged glances, and the look of kindness that eachmet in the eyes of his friend removed every shadow that had been castathwart their feelings, by the previous discourse.
"That will do, Galleygo," returned Sir Gervaise, mildly. "You're a goodfellow in the main, though a villanously rough one--"
"A little of old Boreus, Sir Jarvy," interrupted the steward, with agrim smile: "but it blows harder at sea than it does ashore. These chapson land, ar'n't battened down, and caulked for such weather, as we sonsof Neptun' is obligated to face."
"Quite true, and so good-ni
ght. Admiral Bluewater and myself wish toconfer together, for half an hour; all that it is proper for you toknow, shall be communicated another time."
"Good-night, and God bless your honour. Good-night, Admiral Blue: wethree is the men as can keep any secret as ever floated, let it draw asmuch water as it pleases."
Sir Gervaise Oakes stopped in his walk, and gazed at his friend withmanifest interest, as he perceived that Admiral Bluewater was runningover his letter for the third time. Being now without a witness, he didnot hesitate to express his apprehensions.
"'Tis as I feared, Dick!" he cried. "That letter is from some prominentpartisan of Edward Stuart?"
The rear-admiral turned his eyes on the face of his friend, with anexpression that was difficult to read; and then he ran over the contentsof the epistle, for the fourth time.
"A set of precious rascals they are, Gervaise!" at length therear-admiral exclaimed. "If the whole court was culled, I question ifenough honesty could be found to leaven one puritan scoundrel. Tell meif you know this hand, Oakes? I question if you ever saw it before."
The superscription of the letter was held out to Sir Gervaise, who,after a close examination, declared himself unacquainted with thewriting.
"I thought as much," resumed Bluewater, carefully tearing the signaturefrom the bottom of the page, and burning it in a candle; "let thisdisgraceful part of the secret die, at least. The fellow who wrote this,has put 'confidential' at the top of his miserable scrawl: and a mostconfident scoundrel he is, for his pains. However, no man has a right tothrust himself, in this rude manner, between me and my oldest friend;and least of all will I consent to keep this piece of treachery fromyour knowledge. I do more than the rascal merits in concealing his name;nevertheless, I shall not deny myself the pleasure of sending him suchan answer as he deserves. Read that, Oakes, and then say if keelhaulingwould be too good for the writer."
Sir Gervaise took the letter in silence, though not without greatsurprise, and began to peruse it. As he proceeded, the colour mounted tohis temples, and once he dropped his hand, to cast a look of wonder andindignation towards his companion. That the reader may see how muchoccasion there was for both these feelings, we shall give thecommunication entire. It was couched in the following words:
"DEAR ADMIRAL BLUEWATER:
"Our ancient friendship, and I am proud to add, affinity of blood, unite in inducing me to write a line, at this interesting moment. Of the result of this rash experiment of the Pretender's son, no prudent man can entertain a doubt. Still, the boy may give us some trouble, before he is disposed of altogether. We look to all our friends, therefore, for their most efficient exertions, and most prudent co-operation. On _you_, every reliance is placed; and I wish I could say as much for _every flag-officer afloat_. Some distrust--unmerited, I sincerely hope--exists in a very high quarter, touching the loyalty of a certain commander-in-chief, who is so completely under your observation, that it is felt enough is done in hinting the fact to one of your political tendencies. The king said, this morning, 'Vell, dere isht Bluevater; of _him_ we are shure asht of ter sun.' You stand excellently well _there_, to my great delight; and I need only say, be watchful and prompt.
"Yours, with the most sincere faith and attachment, my dear Bluewater, &c., &c.
"REAR-ADMIRAL BLUEWATER.
"P. S.--I have just heard that they have sent you the red riband. The king himself, was in this."
When Sir Gervaise had perused this precious epistle to himself, he readit slowly, and in a steady, clear voice, aloud. When he had ended, hedropped the paper, and stood gazing at his friend.
"One would think the fellow some exquisite satirist," said Bluewater,laughing. "_I_ am to be vigilant, and see that _you_ do not mutiny, andrun away with the fleet to the Highlands, one of these foggy mornings!Carry it up into Scotland, as Galleygo has it! Now, what is your opinionof that letter?"
"That all courtiers are knaves, and all princes ungrateful. I shouldthink my loyalty to the good _cause_, if not to the _man_, the last inEngland to be suspected."
"Nor is it suspected, in the smallest degree. My life on it, neither thereigning monarch, nor his confidential servants, are such arrant dunces,as to be guilty of so much weakness. No, this masterly move is intendedto secure _me_, by creating a confidence that they think nogenerous-minded man would betray. It is a hook, delicately baited tocatch a gudgeon, and not an order to watch a whale."
"Can the scoundrels be so mean--nay, dare they be so bold! They musthave known you would show me the letter."
"Not they--they have reasoned on my course, as they would on their own.Nothing catches a weak man sooner than a pretended confidence of thisnature; and I dare say this blackguard rates me just high enough tofancy I may be duped in this flimsy manner. Put your mind at rest; KingGeorge knows he may confide in _you_, while I think it probable _I_ amdistrusted."
"I hope, Dick, you do not suspect _my_ discretion! My own secret wouldnot be half so sacred to me."
"I know that, full well. Of _you_, I entertain no distrust, either inheart or head; of myself, I am not quite so certain. When we _feel_, wedo not always _reason_; and there is as much feeling, as any thing else,in this matter."
"Not a line is there, in all my despatches, that go to betray theslightest distrust of me, or any one else. You are spoken of, but it isin a manner to gratify you, rather than to alarm. Take, and read themall; I intended to show them to you, as soon as we had got through withthat cursed discussion"
As Sir Gervaise concluded, he threw the whole package of letters on thetable, before his friend.
"It will be time enough, when you summon me regularly to a council ofwar," returned Bluewater, laying the letters gently aside. "Perhaps wehad better sleep on this affair; in the morning we shall meet withcooler heads, and just as warm hearts."
"Good-night, Dick," said Sir Gervaise, holding out both hands for theother to shake as he passed him, in quitting the room.
"Good-night, Gervaise; let this miserable devil go overboard, and thinkno more of him. I have half a mind to ask you for a leave, to-morrow,just to run up to London, and cut off his ears."
Sir Gervaise laughed and nodded his head, and the two friends parted,with feelings as kind as ever had distinguished their remarkable career.