Part 19 (2/2)
”Then you'll come again soon, Mr Adair, if Mr Rogers thinks you must go now,” said f.a.n.n.y, with a strong emphasis on the must, and a gentle sigh.
”You will always be welcome at Saint David's,” added Mr Bradshaw. ”And tell Lieutenant Murray that I will let him know should I hear anything about the _Sarah Jane_. I may possibly get information which might not reach him.”
Their own vehicle not having started they returned to Kingston in it, well baked by the burning rays of the sun. With a case of champagne, and a few other articles obtained of Johnny Ferong, as presents to Murray, they returned in the evening to Port Royal. Alick thanked them heartily. He had so zealously pushed forward the brig's equipment that she would be ready for sea the next day. That very evening he received orders from the admiral to sail immediately he could. A despatch had just arrived from the British consul at Carthagena, stating that disturbances had broken out in the country, and requesting to have a man-of-war sent immediately, for the protection of British subjects residing there, and elsewhere along the coast.
Captain Hemming had been directed to send fifty hands from the frigate, and with the a.s.sistance of Rogers and Adair, by working all night, the sails were bent, and early next morning the brig glided out into the harbour.
The land-wind still blew strong, smelling of the hot earth, albeit mixed with spicy odours. Murray was eager to be away. His duty required him to use all speed. He had also a feeling that he might be of service to those in whom he was so deeply interested. He spoke of it to his friends.
”Second-sight, eh, Alick!” said Rogers. ”I have no great faith in that, but I am very sure that whatever has to be done you will do it thoroughly.”
”I wish that I could accompany you,” exclaimed Adair. ”If Hemming would spare me I'd have my traps on board in a jiffy.”
”I should be glad of your company; the admiral, however, in a private note, says that he shall probably despatch the frigate in a few days, but he remarks that the brig will be of greater service, by being able to enter the rivers and harbours, which she cannot,” answered Murray.
Rogers and Adair watched the _Supplejack_ as she glided out of the harbour under all sail to the southward before the wind, till she met the sea breeze, when, hauling her tacks aboard, she heeled over to it, and stood away to the south-west, her canvas gradually disappearing below the horizon.
Jack and Terence spent their time pleasantly enough on sh.o.r.e, Johnny Ferong's store being one of their favourite places of resort, as it was of officers of all ranks. Captain Hemming had made a rule that his mids.h.i.+pmen, when they returned on board after leave, should send in a written statement of the places and people they had visited. He was much amused at the frequency of such entries as the following:--
”Called on J Ferong's, Esquire;” ”spent the evening at J Ferong's, Esquire,” music and a hop sometimes added; ”lunched at J Ferong's, Esquire.” In those days Jamaica flourished, but alas! her time came, and so did that of the well-known highly-esteemed Johnny Ferong. As the island went down he ceased to flourish, and at length Kingston knew him no more, except as one of her departed worthies.
CHAPTER TEN.
CRUISE OF THE SUPPLEJACK--CALMS AND HEAT--A SHARK CAUGHT--EXERCISING AT THE GUNS--A BOAT SEEN--NEEDHAM AND ONE OF THE MISSING MIDs.h.i.+PMEN FOUND, NEARLY DYING FROM THIRST--THEY BRING ALARMING INFORMATION.
The _Supplejack_ was making the best of her way across the Caribbean sea. Murray, or one of his subordinates, Higson, or Jos Green usually so called, the second master of the corvette, was ever on deck, with watchful eyes on the bending topmasts, carrying on as much sail as the brig could bear. Gallantly she slashed through the blue, heaving seas, a ma.s.s of white foam rising up round her bows, and sheets of sparkling spray flying over her forecastle. A bright look-out was kept on every side, not in the expectation of meeting either with a slaver or pirate; but the young commander could not help secretly hoping that he might fall in with the _Sarah Jane_, and be relieved of his chief cause of anxiety. His patience, however, on several occasions was sorely tried when the wind fell light. One day, too, a perfect calm came on, and the brig lay, her sides lapping the gla.s.sy sea, as she rolled in the slowly-heaving, sluggish swell, and her sails flapped lazily against the masts. In vain old Higson whistled for a wind till his cheeks were ready to crack; not that he really believed the proceeding would produce a breeze, or that he had any notion of the origin of the custom; but he had always done so when there was a calm; and he wanted a wind, and the wind, if he whistled long enough, always came. The heat was oppressive, as it always is under such circ.u.mstances in those lat.i.tudes; the spirits of all fell, except those of Jos Green, who was ever merry, blow high or blow low, in suns.h.i.+ne or cold. The grumblers grumbled, of course, but in lower tones than usual, like the mutterings of distant thunder; the phlegmatic became more supine; the quarrelsome had not the energy to dispute; the talkative were silent; and even Pat Blathermouth, who could usually spin a yarn which lasted from the beginning to eight bells in a watch, and then wasn't half finished, could scarcely drawl out an oft-told tale, which was wont to make his hearers burst their sides with laughter, but now only sent them to sleep.
”Of course it's hot,” answered jolly Jos to a remark of Higson's. ”What else would you have it here in the tropics, with the bright sun striking down from the cloudless sky? It has its advantages, and it is better than cold, and saves one the trouble of putting on more clothing than decency requires.”
”But it may be the harbinger of another hurricane, and that wouldn't be pleasant,” observed Fligson.
”No fear of a hurricane. They seldom reach so far south,” answered Jos.
”Wait patiently, and we shall get the breeze before long. If not, what's the odds? we are very happy as we are.”
”You're a salamander, or you wouldn't say that,” growled Higson.
”Just the very thing of all others it's most convenient to be just now,”
answered jolly Jos, laughing. ”It really isn't hotter than it has been often before, only there are fewer hands to divide it amongst, eh? Just do your turn in, Hig, and forget your troubles in sleep.”
”I shall be stewed if I do,” moaned Higson. ”I've a great mind to have a swim.”
”It will be the last you'll ever take, old fellow, depend on that,” said Green. ”Look there!”
He pointed to the black fin of a huge shark, which the next instant, turning up its white belly, opened its huge mouth to swallow the contents of the cook's slush bucket.
”See, Jack has had his soup, and will be ready for the next course, which you proposed offering him.”
”Thank you, Jos; I've changed my mind,” said Higson. ”But I should not object to catch the fellow, and take a slice out of him instead.”
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