Part 13 (1/2)
I only wish that I had been able to go with him. He was good enough to say so in his letter to me. That is unfortunately out of the question.
However, Stephen, you must choose for yourself. There is no saying what may come of this business. You know that Lord Cochrane is a hot-headed man, and one who does not mince matters. The Chilians, I believe, are the brightest and most energetic of any of the South American peoples, but that, you know, is not saying a great deal. Cochrane is sure to be maddened by delays and difficulties of all kinds, and if so he will certainly speak out in a way that will ruffle their feelings greatly, and may bring on trouble.
”He is what is called an impracticable man, Stephen. He is himself the soul of honour and generosity, and so is altogether unable to refrain from giving vent to his indignation and disgust when he sees these qualities lacking in others. He has ruined his own career here by his intolerance of wrong, whether the wrong was inflicted upon himself or upon others. He has rather injured than benefited the cause of our seamen by the intemperate zeal with which he pressed his reforms, and by allying himself heart and soul with the ultra-radicals. Such a man as he may get on well with a people like the South Americans, his das.h.i.+ng bravery, his frankness, and his disregard of ceremony will render him popular among the people at large, but will raise up for him enemies innumerable among the governing cla.s.s. I cannot, therefore, for a minute think that the present arrangement will be a permanent one. I say all this to a.s.sure you that you cannot expect to find a permanent career in the service of Chili; but, on the other hand, you will have the advantage of fighting under the bravest officer of modern times.
”You will, I have no doubt, take part in some brilliant feats. And to have served under Cochrane will, as long as you live, be a feather in your cap, just as I feel that it is a great honour for myself, although it has been to my pecuniary disadvantage, to have done so. I have exchanged letters with Mr. Hewson on the subject. He has behaved with the greatest kindness in the matter, and agrees with me that it would in some respects be a great advantage to you. He has offered in the kindest possible way to allow your apprentices.h.i.+p to run on while you are with Cochrane, just as if you were still serving with his own s.h.i.+ps, and whenever you may return to England he will reinstate you in his service, the time you have been away counting just the same as if you had been with him. I expressed a doubt whether your apprentices.h.i.+p would count; but he said that any master being, from any circ.u.mstances, unable to teach a trade to an apprentice, as he covenanted to do, could, with the consent of that apprentice, hand him over to another employer; and that as you will be learning the sea as efficiently on the coast of Chili as elsewhere, he could loan you, as it were, to Lord Cochrane. Besides, of course, there is no real necessity for pa.s.sing through an apprentices.h.i.+p in order to become an officer. Large numbers of men do, in fact, become officers without ever having been apprenticed, as it is only necessary to serve so many years at sea, and to pa.s.s an examination. Still, there are advantages the other way. All s.h.i.+p-owners prefer a man who has served an apprentices.h.i.+p in a good line of s.h.i.+ps, as he would naturally be better mannered and better educated, and therefore better fitted for the position of an officer in s.h.i.+ps carrying pa.s.sengers. In that way it would be as well that you should obtain your discharge at the end of your term of apprentices.h.i.+p from Mr.
Hewson, although I have some doubts whether your sea-service under a foreign flag would be allowed to count by the examiners if you went up to pa.s.s as a mate. Upon the other hand, lad, you are now in a good service, and are certain to get on if you remain in it; and you have less chance of being shot than if you go with Cochrane.”
”I don't know that, father. I can tell you I have had just as close a shave under Captain Pinder as I could have under Lord Cochrane. Only three of us out of nine got through; the other six were killed and eaten by the Malays; and if the Spaniards kill a man, at least they will not eat him.
Oh, I should certainly like to go with Lord Cochrane!”
”I thought you would. As far as one can see there is no chance of our being engaged in any naval wars for many years to come, for all Europe is in alliance with us, and is likely to continue so; and even if we have trouble with any of them, our fleet is so overpoweringly strong that even a coalition of all the other powers of Europe could not stand against us at sea. It is a good thing no doubt for the nation; but such a peace as this is likely to be, gives no chance for naval men to distinguish themselves. I must say that I consider you are fortunate indeed to have this opportunity of seeing some service under the man who, of all others, is distinguished for dash and bravery. He is the Lord Peterborough of the present day.”
”Who was he, father?”
”He was a military man in the days of Queen Anne. He performed extraordinary feats of bravery in Spain, and in many other respects his character bore a strong resemblance to that of Lord Cochrane. Well, Stephen, we had better lose no time, and I propose that we go up to town again to-morrow morning. No doubt he would like to see you, and there is nothing like settling the thing finally; and one interview is worth a dozen letters. Let me see.” Mr. Embleton consulted the sailing-list. ”As there is no boat sailing to-morrow, we will take the coach. It would be better anyhow, for there is never any saying with certainty when the packets will arrive. With a strong southerly wind they may do it in two tides, though it is only once in a hundred times that they manage it; still, even three tides would be very fair. But we could not risk the chances, and it is a duty to let Lord Cochrane know as early as possible, as no doubt he has many applications, and would be glad to be able to say that the matter was finally settled.”
They arrived in town the next evening and called upon Lord Cochrane the first thing after breakfast next day. On Mr. Embleton sending in his name he was at once admitted.
”I am heartily glad to see you, old friend,” Lord Cochrane said as he rose from the table, at which he was writing. ”So this is your boy! His appearance saves me asking questions. When did he get back?”
”He arrived in town on Monday evening, came down on Tuesday to Dover, and returned here with me last night.”
”You have indeed lost no time. Well, young sir, what do you think of going out with me?”
”I should like it above everything, my lord, and I am deeply grateful to you for offering me the post.”
”It is to your father, lad, that you should be grateful, and not to me, for he earned it for you. So you have had eighteen months in the eastern seas?”
”Yes, sir.”
”A very good school, I should say, Embleton; one has to keep one's eyes open there.”
”Yes indeed. He told me on the way up yesterday of an adventure he had had with the Malays, and as only three out of a boat-load of nine escaped, it must have been a pretty sharp business.”
”If only three escaped it must have been sharp indeed,” Lord Cochrane said, ”and they must have had marvellous luck in getting out of the Malays' hands. He shall tell me all about it on our voyage out. Now, come along with me.”
He led the way to the dining-room, where Lady Cochrane was sitting, while her two children, of four and five years old, were playing about.
”My dear,” he said, ”this is Lieutenant Embleton, whom you have heard me speak of a score of times as a most gallant officer, and a most ill-used man. This is his son, who is, you know, going out with us as my flag-mids.h.i.+pman; he has been eighteen months in the Indian Archipelago.
And let me tell you, the Malays are much more serious foes than the Spaniards. You know, youngster, one of the chief duties of an admiral's mids.h.i.+pman is to make himself agreeable to the admiral's wife and family, if there are such inc.u.mbrances. He goes errands for her, attends her when she goes shopping, is a sort of head nurse to the children, and in our service he is generally nicknamed the admiral's poodle. However, as soon as I get out there, I hope to find more attractive work for you, and until I do, I am sure my wife and the children will be glad they have someone with them to speak English.”
”I shall be very glad to be of any service I can,” Stephen said earnestly.
”I am afraid,” Lady Cochrane said with a smile, ”that we shall have very little opportunity of availing ourselves of your services. When we once get out there you will be carried off by Lord Cochrane, and he will never set foot on sh.o.r.e again unless when absolutely driven to it.”
”Is your time for sailing fixed yet, Lord Cochrane?” the lieutenant asked.