Part 29 (2/2)

”Then the sooner I get up to Kingston the better,” exclaimed Higson.

”It won't do to be left behind. I can't go, however, without delivering my despatches to the admiral.”

He accordingly hurried back with the three mids.h.i.+pmen to the brig, where Jack and Adair, who were anxious to pay their respects to Miss O'Regan, presently followed. They said all that was proper to her regarding her father's death, and expressed their hopes that Murray would soon return to Jamaica and receive his well-earned honours.

”He is sure to be promoted,” said Jack. ”When he is, I have great hopes that the admiral will appoint him to the command of the corvette, should Captain Babbicome resign her, as I think he is very likely to do, for he evidently wishes himself looking after his cows and pigs at home.”

Miss O'Regan and her attendant, with Higson and the three mids.h.i.+pmen, proceeded up at once to Kingston. Fortunately, on landing, they met the admiral, who was delighted to hear of Murray's success. ”I knew the lad would do something if he had the opportunity,” he exclaimed, rubbing his hands, ”and very well he has done it, that all must allow. He will obtain his promotion, and you, Mr Higson, may depend on receiving yours.”

On being introduced to Miss O'Regan the old admiral exclaimed, ”You must come up to the Pen, my dear young lady, and remain there till you can communicate with your friends. Mrs and Miss McAlpine will be delighted to see you on your own account, and also that of my kinsman Lieutenant Murray. He is an officer in whose welfare I am much interested, and I can a.s.sure you that he has not disappointed my expectations.” Then turning to the mids.h.i.+pmen, he added, ”And you youngsters must come up too; the ladies will want you to spin them a yarn about your adventures, and I'll take care that the frigate does not sail without you.”

Though Stella would have gladly set off at once for her relations the Bradshaws, she could not refuse the admiral's kind invitation. He drove her up to the Pen, where Higson and the mids.h.i.+pmen followed.

Stella was kindly received, and as little as possible was said to recall the painful scenes she had gone through. The admiral, with Murray's despatches before him, questioned Higson as to further particulars, and then made the mids.h.i.+pmen recount their adventures to his wife and daughters, being especially amused at the way Desmond roused up the vice-consul and his household.

Tom ever afterwards declared that he was the most jolly old officer he had ever met with--excepting, of course, Admiral Triton.

”I see, Mr Higson, that Lieutenant Murray speaks in the highest terms of your bravery and courage in this affair,” said the admiral. ”I have great pleasure, therefore, in giving you an acting order as Third Lieutenant of the _Plantagenet_; and I have no doubt that when the affair is known at the Admiralty, it will be confirmed; and I can congratulate you on the step, which has been entirely gained by your own merits.”

Higson felt his heart jump nearly into his mouth; for often before as he had expected promotion he had been disappointed, and he had almost given up hopes of obtaining it.

He thanked the admiral warmly. ”Say no more about it, mon,” he answered. ”I wish that I could reward every one on board the _Supplejack_ as they deserved. You may possibly before long have an opportunity of distinguis.h.i.+ng yourself, and I am very sure that I shall hear a good account of you.”

Captain Hemming soon afterwards went up to the Pen, when he received fresh instruction as to his course of proceeding. Instead of going direct to Nicaragua as he had before been ordered to do, he was to touch Carthagena to settle the affair of the capture of the Carthagenan fleet, and the recapture of the merchantman; it being considered that a visit of two or three s.h.i.+ps of war might somewhat a.s.sist in bringing the diplomatic part of the transaction to a satisfactory conclusion.

When the mids.h.i.+pmen went to wish goodbye to Stella, she had a letter for Murray, which she entrusted to Archy Gordon. ”You may depend on me for delivering it safely; for I should otherwise never be able to look my cousin in the face,” he answered.

After an early dinner the admiral dismissed them. Higson wished to get several things in Kingston before they returned on board; he had also to deliver over the brig to the agent, who had to find a fresh crew in lieu of the men-of-war's men, and some of the others who volunteered for the frigate. It was thus past midnight when they got on board.

Higson received the hearty congratulation of his old messmates as well as those of the mids.h.i.+pmen whose berth he was leaving.

”Pardon me, Mr Higson, I'm right glad that you've got this step,”

exclaimed d.i.c.k Needham, ”you deserve it, that you do; though it's not always those who are most deserving that gets their due.”

By daybreak next morning the _Plantagenet_ and _Tudor_ sailed with the land breeze for the southward. About the usual length of time was occupied in the run across the Caribbean Sea to Carthagena. The _Plantagenet_ hove-to outside, while Captain Hemming went on board the _Tudor_, which stood into the harbour. There lay the little _Supplejack_, like a bull-dog watching his charge, with Long Tom still pointed at her prize, while her young commander, ever vigilant, walked her deck.

Very great, as may be supposed, was his delight when he saw the corvette glide up to an anchorage, and when Captain Hemming came on board.

”Since the _Sarah Jane_ sailed, I have not once set foot on sh.o.r.e,” said Murray, after the first greetings were over; ”I acted, as I thought, for the best, and I hope that the admiral was not inclined to find fault with me for what I have done.”

”Find fault with you! On the contrary, my dear fellow, he is delighted,” answered Captain Hemming. ”He also told me in confidence that you may depend on your promotion. By the bye, your young relative Gordon is the bearer of a despatch which will give you further information. I'll leave you to read it while I have a talk with the consul who, I see, has just come off.”

The despatch which Archy delivered to his cousin need not be made public, though it afforded him intense satisfaction.

The consul, after a brief conversation with Captain Hemming, returned on sh.o.r.e to communicate with General Carmona. It was reported on board that the general had offered, as he could not restore the British subjects he had shot to life, to give up an equal number of natives to be dealt with in the same manner, should the English commander be so disposed.

Although he talked a little big about being compelled to give up the two merchant vessels which had been legally captured, he was glad enough to drop the subject on condition that his corvette and schooners were restored to him, while he promised in future never to shoot, hang, or imprison any British subject without a legal trial; thus the matter being settled, ”Long Tom” was once more housed, and the _Supplejack_ sailed out of the harbour.

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