Part 5 (2/2)

”No, sir, I came out with old Tom Swatridge, who went on board the s.h.i.+p which blew up,” I answered.

”Then I fear he must have been blown up with her, my lad,” said the officer.

”I hope not, sir, I hope not,” I cried out, my heart ready to break as I began to realise that such might be the case.

CHAPTER FIVE.

A FRIEND LOST AND A FRIEND GAINED.

It seemed but a moment since the s.h.i.+p blew up. I could not believe that old Tom had perished.

”Some people have been picked up out there, sir, I think,” observed the c.o.xswain to the officer, pointing as he spoke to several boats surrounding the one I had before remarked with the injured men in her.

”Maybe the old man the lad speaks of is among them.”

”Make the wherry fast astern, and we'll pull on and ascertain,” said the officer.

”If he is not found, or if found is badly hurt, I'll get leave for a couple of hands to help you back with your boat to Portsmouth.”

”I can take her back easily enough by myself if the wind holds as it does now; thank you all the same, sir,” I answered.

I felt, indeed, that if my faithful friend really was lost, which I could scarcely yet believe, I would rather be alone; and I had no fear about managing the wherry single-handed.

As may be supposed, my anxiety became intense as we approached the boat.

”Is old Tom Swatridge saved?” I shouted out.

No answer came.

”Tom! Tell me, Tom, if you are there!” I again shouted.

”Step aboard the boat and see if your friend is among the injured men,”

said the good-natured officer, a.s.sisting me to get alongside.

I eagerly scanned the blackened faces of the men sitting up, all of whom had been more or less scorched or burnt. A surgeon who had come off from one of the s.h.i.+ps was attending to them. They were strangers to me.

Two others lay dead in the bottom of the boat, but neither of them was old Tom. He was gone, of that I could no longer have a doubt.

With a sad heart I returned to the wherry. The other boats had not succeeded in saving any of the hapless crew. The s.h.i.+p had been loaded with arms and gunpowder, bound for South America, I heard some one say.

”Cheer up, my lad!” said the officer; ”you must come aboard the _Lapwing_, and we'll then send you into Portsmouth, as we must have this poor fellow looked to by our surgeon before he is taken to the hospital.”

The name of the _Lapwing_ aroused me; she was the brig in which my brother Jack had gone to sea. For a moment I forgot my heavy loss with the thoughts that I might presently see dear Jack again. But it was only for a moment. As I sat steering the wherry towed by the man-of-war's boat my eyes filled with tears. What sad news I had to give to Jack! What would become of Mary and Nancy? For myself I did not care, as I knew that I could obtain employment at home, or could go to sea; but then I could not hope for a long time to come to make enough to support them. My chief feeling, however, was grief at the loss of my true-hearted old friend.

Soon after we got alongside the brig of war the master's mate told me to come up on deck, while one of the men took charge of the wherry. He at once led me aft to the commander, who questioned me as to how I came to be in the wherry by myself. I described to him all that had happened.

”You acted a brave part in trying to save the man from the s.h.i.+p which blew up. Indeed, had you not held on to him he would have been lost,”

he observed. ”I must see that you are rewarded. What is your name?”

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