Part 11 (1/2)
”The faster she goes, the better,” answered Peter Ogle. ”I never does feel comfortable like when one of those Monsieurs is in sight, till I gets up alongside him and overhauls him one way or the other. You mind how they used to give us the slip in the West Ingies. They'll be trying on the same game now, depend on't.”
”But when they do begin, they don't fight badly, you'll allow,” observed Paul Pringle.
”Maybe; but while they can lift their heels, they'll run,” stoutly maintained Abel.
In this instance the stranger seemed determined to contradict his a.s.sertion, for at that very moment she was seen to haul up her foresail, while the topgallant-sails were lowered on the caps, where they hung swelling out and fluttering in the breeze; at the same time the flag of republican France was run up at the peak, and a shot of defiance was fired from one of her after-guns.
The British seamen, led by Paul Pringle, replied to it with a hearty cheer, which, although it could not reach the Frenchmen's ears, served to warm up their own hearts for the fight. Although the crew had not served long together, each man knew his proper station; and there each man now stood bold and fearless, prepared for the contest.
Captain Garland, with Mr Brine near him, walked the quarterdeck, with telescope in hand, watching each movement of the enemy. The marines, commanded by their lieutenant, stood drawn up with muskets, ready to open fire as soon as they could get within range. Added to them were a party of small-arm men prepared for the same object, or ready to board if required, while others were stationed there to fight the quarterdeck guns, or to attend the braces. Here, also, were grouped the mates and mids.h.i.+pmen, not wanted elsewhere, ready to be despatched on any duty which might be required of them. On the maindeck the crew of each gun, with handkerchiefs round their heads, and stripped to the waist, cl.u.s.tered round it, the locks fixed in readiness, and the lanyards coiled around them, the tackles laid along the decks, the captains with their priming-boxes buckled on, the officers with their swords on, standing by their proper divisions; while in long rows were the round-shot and wads, with grape and canister; and at intervals sat the s.h.i.+p's boys,--powder-monkeys they were often called,--each on his proper tub full of powder, which he had brought up from the magazine below.
Here in the depths of the s.h.i.+p was the gunner, the presiding genius of destruction, ready to serve out the further supply of powder which might be required, as the boys came tripping down nimbly to receive it, with no more concern than if they had had to carry up baskets of flour or of corn. The carpenter was also below. He and his mates were preparing shot-plugs with tallow and oak.u.m, and were placing them in readiness in the wings to stop any holes which the enemy's round-shot might make in the s.h.i.+p's side; while he was prepared to sound the well occasionally, and to make his report as to the depth of water in the hold. The other warrant-officer, the second in rank, the boatswain, stood on the forecastle with his mates, having especially to look after the masts and spars, and to repair immediately, if possible, any material damage. The purser and Captain's clerks were mostly on the quarterdeck, and, though not fighting officers, ready and willing enough to fight like the rest; while, lastly, the surgeon and his a.s.sistants were in the c.o.c.kpit, with the tables prepared, and the various implements required by them spread out--saws, tourniquets, knives, basins, and sponges, as well as restoratives of different kinds--to repair the damage, and to soothe or alleviate the pain which the chances of cruel war might inflict on frail humanity.
True Blue sat on his tub, with Harry Hartland next to him, and the big Gipples on the other side of Harry. They were stationed on the upper deck. True Blue was wis.h.i.+ng that he was bigger, that he might be serving the guns, or might be standing with Abel Bush and other friends, who, with pistols in their belts and cutla.s.ses at their sides, were collected ready to board the enemy, or to repel boarders, should their opponents make the attempt.
Big Gipples was in no way liking the look of things; and only the conviction that he would be sent up again with a rope's end prevented him jumping off his tub and running down to stow himself away in the hold. The other boys, though not aware of the excess of his terror, maliciously wished to frighten him in retaliation for his bullying.
”Who's likely to be best off now?” began Tim Fid, one of the smallest of the set, speaking across Gipples to Harry; ”we little chaps or the big ones, when the round-shot comes bowling about us? They'd just as soon take a big chap's head off as a little one's. I'd rather, for my part, be small and weak than big and strong. Wouldn't you, Harry?”
”Certainly,” answered Harry, who, having glanced at Gipples'
countenance, could not resist the temptation of having a fling at him.
”I've heard it said that the big fellows in a sea-fight are generally picked off first, and that that is the reason there are more small sailors than large ones. I wonder what Billy has to say about it?”
True Blue, thus appealed to, was nothing loth to join in trying to increase the evident terror of Gipples. ”Oh, as to that, I've heard tell how these powder tubs on which we are made to sit sometimes catches fire and blows the fellows on them like sky-rockets into the air,”
remarked Billy, laughing. ”Mind, it's what I've heard tell of, though I never saw it. But I did see once a s.h.i.+p and a whole s.h.i.+p's company blown up together; and, mates, I hope I may never see the same sight again. I was a little chap then, and I saw some sad things that day, but I remember that one just as clearly as if it happened a week ago.”
”Well, I do think it's a shame we small chaps, as have never done anybody any harm, should be made to sit here to be shot at by them Monsieurs out there--that I do,” continued Tim Fid. ”For my part, I do think that the Captain ought to let us little ones go down and stow ourselves comfortably away in the hold. Don't you, Gipples?”
Gipples, not perceiving that Tim was joking, looked up and said in a half-crying tone:
”Yes, I do; if any on you chaps will come, I'll bolt--that I will.”
On this there was a general laugh.
”I'd just like to see you,” said Tim, ”whether you'd go down or come up the fastest. If every man was to do as you'd do, I should like to know what would become of the s.h.i.+p. The sooner you goes home and learns to hem or sell dog's meat the better.”
The wretched Gipples saw that his feelings gained no sympathy. He tried to back out of his proposal, but his tormentors were in no way inclined to let him alone, till at last they made so much noise that they were called to order by the men standing at the guns nearest them.
Presently, too, the deep-toned voice of the Captain was heard.
”Silence there, fore and aft!” he exclaimed. ”We have an enemy in sight, of equal if not greater force. We must take her, of course, but the sooner we take her the less loss and the more honour we shall gain.
I intend to wait till we are close alongside before we open our fire. I shall take off my hat--wait till I lift it above my head; and then, my lads, I expect you'll give her a right good dose of our shot.”
The seamen raised three hearty cheers. British sailors are always ready for that; and directly afterwards the taunt masts and white canvas of the French frigate were seen by those on deck rising above the hammock nettings on the larboard bow. The Captain stepped to the larboard gangway. A voice came from the deck of the Frenchman.
”What do they say?” asked the Captain of the master, who was nearest him.
”I don't know, sir. I never could make out the Frenchmen's lingo, and I doubt that they intend us to understand them,” answered Mr Handlead with a tone of contempt in his voice. ”They are only mocking at us.
It's their way, sir.” Mr Brine more briefly said that he could not make out the Frenchman's hail.