Part 10 (2/2)
He knew that she would not have the means of supporting him, so he wished to come to sea, and with the help of a friend of his own he had, after much exertion, accomplished his object.
”You couldn't have done better--that you couldn't, Harry!” exclaimed True Blue, to whom he had confided thus much of his early history. ”I wouldn't have to go and live in smoky cities, or to ride along dirty roads, or to have to look only at sheep, or cows, or horses, not to be the greatest lord in the land. I have never been much on sh.o.r.e, and maybe haven't seen the most beautiful parts of it; but I was heartily glad to get afloat again. There you are on sh.o.r.e stuck in the same place day after day. What does it matter whether it's a calm or a gale, it doesn't make you go faster or slower. And if you want to go away, then you have to get on the outside of a coach, and be covered from truck to kelson with dust, and a precious good chance of a capsize and getting your neck broke. Now, when I was living ash.o.r.e with Paul Pringle's mother and people, there sprung up one night a gale of wind which blew down the church steeple, I don't know how many big tall trees, and sent a large part of the thatched roof off the cottage, besides scattering the tiles of the houses right and left, and toppling down numbers of chimney-pots. There were half a dozen people killed, I heard, that night, and ever so many hurt.”
Harry smiled.
”It is lucky that you think so, and I am quite ready to agree that a sailor's life is one of the best to choose, seeing that we shall have to spend the best part of ours afloat,” he answered. ”But what I hold is, that we shouldn't think meanly of those who have to live always on sh.o.r.e.”
”I don't know as to that, Harry,” said Billy quickly. ”We shouldn't think ill of them, I'll allow; but who can help pitying them? That's all I say.”
The conversation of the two boys was interrupted by an order which True Blue received to go aloft and take a lookout round the horizon. This was a post of honour to which he had been especially appointed, on account of the sharpness of his vision, and the accuracy with which he noted and could describe the various sail which might be in sight. Paul Pringle watched him with pride. Up--up--up he went. The topmast shrouds were reached--topgallant masthead; the royal mast was swarmed up, and then he stood on the main truck, holding on by the staff of the vane, no longer the little child, the pet of the s.h.i.+p's company, but a thorough, fearless young seaman--not the less, however, the darling of the crew.
CHAPTER TEN.
Day had just broken on the world of waters. It was at that time of the year when there is but little night. The water was smooth, the air soft and balmy. Gradually the grey dawn warmed up as the approaching sun cast some ruddy streaks in the eastern sky. It was True Blue's watch on deck, and he was at his post on the truck at the main-topgallant-mast.
By slow degrees the rich glow increased. He turned his head round to every point of the compa.s.s. The Start Point was just in sight, bearing about east by north, distant five or six leagues. When his eye came to the south-east, it rested there steadily for a moment, and then, putting his hand to his mouth, he shouted, ”Sail ho!” with a prolonged cadence, pointing in the direction where he saw her. The officer of the watch hailed to know what she was. ”A full-rigged s.h.i.+p, sir,” was his unhesitating reply, although even from where he stood her topgallant-sails alone could be seen, and to a landsman's eye nothing distinguishable would have been visible.
The Captain soon came on deck. True Blue kept his glance on the stranger, that he might note immediately any change in her course. She was standing across the Channel and drawing nearer.
”I trust that she is one of the frigates of which we are in search, Mr Brine,” said the Captain. ”We'll soon learn. Make sail on the s.h.i.+p.”
”Ay, ay, sir,” said the first lieutenant with alacrity. ”All hands make sail!”
”All hands make sail!” shouted the boatswain, putting his silver call to his mouth, and sounding a shrill whistle. ”All hands make sail!--rouse up there, rouse up!--an enemy in sight, boys!”
The men sprang from their hammocks, and, shaking themselves rapidly into their clothes, were in another instant on deck. Every inch of canvas the frigate could carry was soon got on her, and she bore up in chase.
Another order quickly followed. It was, ”Clear s.h.i.+p for action!”
Never was an order obeyed with more alacrity. The stranger appeared also to be standing under a press of sail, and steering to the southward of east.
”She wishes to escape us altogether, or is not quite ready for action,”
observed the Captain to Mr Brine.
”She seems to be putting her best foot foremost, at all events,”
answered the first lieutenant, taking a look at the stranger through his gla.s.s, for she could now be seen clearly from the deck. ”She looks like a frigate of much about our size; and I have little doubt, by the cut of her sails, she is French.”
”I have great hopes that she is, and more, that she is one of the very frigates we have been on the lookout for,” said the Captain. ”What do you think, master?” he added, turning to that officer, Mr Handlead, who stood near.
”A Johnny c.r.a.paud, sir,” he answered quickly. ”There's no doubt about it; and to my mind the villain is making all sail to be off, because he doesn't like the look of us.”
”I trust that we shall overtake her, and take her, too, master,” said Captain Garland. ”I think that we are already gaining on her. The frigate slips well through the water.”
The crew on the forecastle were carrying on a conversation much in the same style. ”Bless her heart, she is walking along at a good rate,”
observed Abel Bush as he looked over the bows. ”The old girl's got as pretty a pair of heels of her own as you'd wish to see.”
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