Part 33 (2/2)
”I'm afraid so, in my side,” was the answer ”My poor mother, and Jeannette, I shall never see thes are not so bad as that,” responded Bill ”I will try and get you below Here!” and he called to one of the prisoners who had reet out of the way of the shot, willingly assisted Bill in dragging the wounded ether lifted hiun-rooeon had been ill in his berth, but had now got up, prepared to attend to his professional duties As yet, however, none of the wounded prisoners had been brought aft, and Pierre, who had been placed on the gun-rooeon took under his care
”He is not badly hurt, I hope,” said Bill, rather anxiously
”That's eon, ”but I will attend to hih on ht not to rereatly wished to learn how much Pierre had been injured All he could do, therefore, was to press his friend's hand, and spring up again on deck
The battery was still firing away at the prize, and every now and then a crashi+ng sound, as the shot struck her, showed that she ithin range of its guns; but she was rapidly distancing the boats, which could now only be dimly seen astern
The British crew raised a cheer when they found that they had to a certainty secured their prize Still the battery continued firing, but not another shot struck her, and at length the dim outline of the _Thisbe_ was seen ahead Shortly afterwards the prize, rounding to under the frigate's quarter, was received with hearty cheers by her crew
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
THE POWDER MONKEY GETS HIS FIRST STEP UP THE RATLINES
The British wounded, and the French prisoners captured in the prize, were forthwith taken on board the _Thisbe_, when both shi+ps ht Mr Saltwell reallantly won her
The wounded Frenche of their surgeon, with an English assistant-surgeon to help him, for there were upwards of forty poor felloho required his care
Bill was glad to find that he had not to go back to his own shi+p, as he wanted to look after Pierre, and as soon as his duty would allow hietting on When he asked for the ht down, the doctor pointed to one of the officer's cabins in the gun-roo, ”He is somewhat badly hurt, but there are others still more cruelly knocked about who require my care, and I have not been able to attend to him for some time”
Bill hurried into the cabin A faint voice replied to him
”_Merci, merci_! It is very kind of you to coet over it,” said Pierre ”Is there no chance of our returning to France? I should like to die under my father's roof, and see my mother and Jeannette onceback for the present, but I hope you will see your ,” answered Bill ”We are running across the Channel, and shall be in an English port in a day or then you will be landed, and I will ask the captain to let rateful I am for all your kindness to me and Jack Peek, and I will tell Mr Saltwell, the lieutenant who commands this shi+p, how you and your faht to talk; I ca for you”
”My lips are parched; I a to drink,” answered Pierre
”I will see what I can find,” said Bill; andhis way to the steward's pantry outside the captain's cabin, he hunted about until he discovered some lemons He quickly squeezed out the juice of a couple of thee to Pierre, who drank it eagerly It much revived him
”I was very unfortunate to be on board the _Atlante_ when you captured her, for I had no wish to fight the English,” said Pierre ”Only ten days ago I was persuaded to come on board to see a friend, and the creould not let me return on shore However, I was deteret back to my family, and be able to assist my father And now to be cut down by my own countrymen, for it was a shot from the battery on shore which wounded me It is more than I can bear!”
”Don't think about it,” said Bill; ”you are safe from further harm, and will be well taken care of; and when you have recovered, and the war is over, you will be able to go back I must leave you now, but I will co of lemonade close to your head, where it cannot slip When that is gone I will get so you can take at present”
Saying this, Bill hurried back to attend to his duty on deck, for, young as he was, as the prize was short-handed, he had plenty of work to do
Several tiave hiement, but did not allude to the service Bill had done hi shot the French boatswain,” thought Bill ”I only did my duty, and if anybody else had been in his place I should have done the same”