Part 47 (1/2)

The coachman smacked his whip, and off galloped the horses, the men cheering and waving their hats at the same time, and throwing showers of silver among the boys in the street, who had gathered to look on, and who were soon engaged in a pretty scrimmage to pick up the coins thus profusely bestowed on them. Tom and I could with difficulty refrain from joining in the scramble.

The junior officers were at a paying-off dinner at the ”Blue Posts,” to which Tom and I, and Nettles.h.i.+p, who afterwards joined us, were invited.

The wine of course flowed freely. Before the feast was over, the larger number of the party scarcely knew what they were about.

At last it was proposed that we should sally forth, and out we went, arm-in-arm, in good humour with ourselves, and ready for anything that might turn up. One of the party commenced a sea-song, in the chorus of which we all joined at the top of our voices, awaking the sleeping inhabitants, who, however, were not unaccustomed to such interruptions to their slumbers. We were becoming more and more uproarious, when we encountered a party of watchmen in greatcoats, carrying lanterns and rattles. Having been lately reprimanded for allowing disturbances in the streets, they took it into their heads to disperse us, telling us in no very courteous manner to return on board our s.h.i.+ps. They were received with shouts of laughter, and, as they still persisted in interfering, our leader cried out--

”Charge them, lads.”

At the word we rushed forward, scattering the old gentlemen right and left.

”Chase them, boys! chase them!” cried our leader.

As they went up one street, and then down another, this was no easy matter, and we became quickly dispersed.

”I say, Paddy, this sort of thing doesn't do,” said Tom. ”It may be all very well for those fellows who are paid off, and are going home, but we shall be getting into a row before long, and it would look foolish to return on board with broken heads and black eyes.”

Just then we met Nettles.h.i.+p, who had been looking for us, and who, being perfectly sober, fully agreed with Tom. We accordingly directed our course to the Point, where we knew we should find a boat to take us off.

Just as we were turning out of the High Street, however, we encountered three of the guardians of the night who had been a.s.sailed by our party.

They instantly accused us of attacking them, and I fully expected that we should be carried off into durance vile.

”How dare you say anything of that sort?” said Nettles.h.i.+p. ”We belong to the _Jason_, Lord Robert Altamont, and his lords.h.i.+p will take very good care to bring you to justice should you venture to detain us. Make way there. Let us pa.s.s.”

The watchmen were overawed by his manner, and we walked steadily on.

Seeing that we were perfectly sober, they supposed that we did not belong to the party, as they had at first fancied, and we reached the water's edge without further interruption.

”You see the dangerous consequences of being in bad company,” observed Nettles.h.i.+p. ”We might have been kept locked up all night, and had our leave stopped for a month when we returned on board.”

”But you joined us,” said Tom.

”I know I did,” said Nettles.h.i.+p, ”and I am more to blame than you are, in consequence of setting you so bad an example; but that does not prevent me from reading you a lecture. It's easier to preach than to practise.”

”You are right, I see,” said Tom; ”and I am very glad we haven't lost our senses, as most of the other fellows have done.”

We roused up a waterman who was sleeping in the bottom of his boat, and got on board the frigate in time to keep the middle watch.

Lord Robert Altamont being fond of amusing himself on sh.o.r.e, was willing to allow his officers the same liberty, provided a sufficient number remained on board to maintain the discipline of the s.h.i.+p, for which he was at all times a great stickler.

”You have never been in London, Paddy,” said Nettles.h.i.+p to me one day.

”I have some business that calls me up there. It's a legal affair, and if I am successful it will add some fifty pounds or more a year to my mother's income. I have obtained leave, and if you like to accompany me, I'll ask leave for you to go, and promise to take charge of you.”

It was not likely that I should refuse such an offer, and, leave being obtained, we set off by the coach as Nettles.h.i.+p intended. We had inside places, for there was only room outside for four persons besides the coachman, and on the hinder part, on a little box of his own, sat the guard, arrayed in a scarlet coat, a three-cornered hat, a brace of pistols in his belt, a hanger by his side suspended by a sash over his shoulder, while a couple of blunderbusses were stuck into cases on either side of him ready to his hand.

”Why does the man carry all these arms?” Tasked.

”If he didn't, the chances are that the coach, when pa.s.sing over Hounslow Heath, would be attacked by highwaymen or footpads, and the pa.s.sengers robbed, if not murdered,” answered Nettles.h.i.+p. ”As it is, occasionally some bold fellows stop the coach and cry, 'Your money or your lives,' and the guard is either shot down or thinks it wise not to interfere, and the pa.s.sengers have to deliver up their purses.”

”I hope that sort of thing won't happen to us,” I said.