Part 9 (1/2)
”Come, come, Captain,” said Doctor Franklin, soothingly, ”tell me now, what would you do with her, if you had her?”
”I would teach the British that Paul Jones, though born in Britain, is no subject to the British King, but an untrammelled citizen and sailor of the universe; and I would teach them, too, that if they ruthlessly ravage the American coasts, their own coasts are vulnerable as New Holland's. Give me the _Indien_, and I will rain down on wicked England like fire on Sodom.”
These words of bravado were not spoken in the tone of a bravo, but a prophet. Erect upon his chair, like an Iroquois, the speaker's look was like that of an unflickering torch.
His air seemed slightly to disturb the old sage's philosophic repose, who, while not seeking to disguise his admiration of the unmistakable spirit of the man, seemed but illy to relish his apparent measureless boasting.
As if both to change the subject a little, as well as put his visitor in better mood--though indeed it might have been but covertly to play with his enthusiasm--the man of wisdom now drew his chair confidentially nearer to the stranger's, and putting one hand in a very friendly, conciliatory way upon his visitor's knee, and rubbing it gently to and fro there, much as a lion-tamer might soothingly manipulate the aggravated king of beasts, said in a winning manner:--”Never mind at present, Captain, about the '_Indien_' affair. Let that sleep a moment.
See now, the Jersey privateers do us a great deal of mischief by intercepting our supplies. It has been mentioned to me, that if you had a small vessel--say, even your present s.h.i.+p, the 'Amphitrite,'--then, by your singular bravery, you might render great service, by following those privateers where larger s.h.i.+ps durst not venture their bottoms; or, if but supported by some frigates from Brest at a proper distance, might draw them out, so that the larger vessels could capture them.”
”Decoy-duck to French frigates!--Very dignified office, truly!” hissed Paul in a fiery rage. ”Doctor Franklin, whatever Paul Jones does for the cause of America, it must be done through unlimited orders: a separate, supreme command; no leader and no counsellor but himself. Have I not already by my services on the American coast shown that I am well worthy all this? Why then do you seek to degrade me below my previous level? I will mount, not sink. I live but for honor and glory. Give me, then, something honorable and glorious to do, and something famous to do it with. Give me the _Indien_”
The man of wisdom slowly shook his head. ”Everything is lost through this s.h.i.+llyshallying timidity, called prudence,” cried Paul Jones, starting to his feet; ”to be effectual, war should be carried on like a monsoon, one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim. But in vacillating councils, statesmen idle about like the cats'-paws in calms. My G.o.d, why was I not born a Czar!”
”A Nor'wester, rather. Come, come, Captain,” added the sage, ”sit down, we have a third person present, you see,” pointing towards Israel, who sat rapt at the volcanic spirit of the stranger.
Paul slightly started, and turned inquiringly upon Israel, who, equally owing to Paul's own earnestness of discourse and Israel's motionless bearing, had thus far remained undiscovered.
”Never fear, Captain,” said the sage, ”this man is true blue, a secret courier, and an American born. He is an escaped prisoner of war.”
”Ah, captured in a s.h.i.+p?” asked Paul eagerly; ”what s.h.i.+p? None of mine!
Paul Jones never was captured.”
”No, sir, in the brigantine Was.h.i.+ngton, out of Boston,” replied Israel; ”we were cruising to cut off supplies to the English.”
”Did your s.h.i.+pmates talk much of me?” demanded Paul, with a look as of a parading Sioux demanding homage to his gewgaws; ”what did they say of Paul Jones?”
”I never heard the name before this evening,” said Israel.
”What? Ah--brigantine Was.h.i.+ngton--let me see; that was before I had outwitted the Soleby frigate, fought the Milford, and captured the Mellish and the rest off Louisbergh. You were long before the news, my lad,” he added, with a sort of compa.s.sionate air.
”Our friend here gave you a rather blunt answer,” said the wise man, sagely mischievous, and addressing Paul.
”Yes. And I like him for it. My man, will you go a cruise with Paul Jones? You fellows so blunt with the tongue, are apt to be sharp with the steel. Come, my lad, return with me to Brest. I go in a few days.”
Fired by the contagious spirit of Paul, Israel, forgetting all about his previous desire to reach home, sparkled with response to the summons.
But Doctor Franklin interrupted him.
”Our friend here,” said he to the Captain, ”is at present engaged for very different duty.”
Much other conversation followed, during which Paul Jones again and again expressed his impatience at being unemployed, and his resolution to accept of no employ unless it gave him supreme authority; while in answer to all this Dr. Franklin, not uninfluenced by the uncompromising spirit of his guest, and well knowing that however unpleasant a trait in conversation, or in the transaction of civil affairs, yet in war this very quality was invaluable, as projectiles and combustibles, finally a.s.sured Paul, after many complimentary remarks, that he would immediately exert himself to the utmost to procure for him some enterprise which should come up to his merits.
”Thank you for your frankness,” said Paul; ”frank myself, I love to deal with a frank man. You, Doctor Franklin, are true and deep, and so you are frank.”
The sage sedately smiled, a queer incredulity just lurking in the corner of his mouth.
”But how about our little scheme for new modelling s.h.i.+ps-of-war?” said the Doctor, s.h.i.+fting the subject; ”it will be a great thing for our infant navy, if we succeed. Since our last conversation on that subject, Captain, at odds and ends of time, I have thought over the matter, and have begun a little skeleton of the thing here, which I will show you.