Part 15 (1/2)
He and Captain Tracy had been s.h.i.+pmates in their younger days. He was well pleased, he said, to be able to forward the views of his friend's son. It was therefore settled that Gerald should join the _Champion_ at once, and Norah was busy from morning till night in preparing his outfit. Captain Tracy was now able to get about, and even to superintend the repairs of the _Ouzel Galley_. He secretly was somewhat proud of having a son belonging to the Royal Navy. It was the road to honour and fame; Gerald might some day become one of England's admirals.
Still, had the captain intended to continue at sea himself, he would have wished to keep his boy with him, and he would also gladly have had him accompany Owen Ma.s.sey. Gerald himself was in high glee; he made frequent trips down to the _Champion_, and always came back with some fresh account of what she had done, and of what his future messmates, the mids.h.i.+pmen, fully expected she would do. He described them to Norah as first-rate, jolly fellows, up to all sorts of fun.
”And you may tell Miss Ferris, if you like,” he added, ”that they all say there isn't a more gallant officer in the service than Lieutenant Foley, and they hope that he'll soon get well and rejoin the s.h.i.+p. They don't speak quite so favourably of her first lieutenant, Jonah Tarwig, who seems as if he had swallowed the mizen-royal-mast as he was looking aloft one stormy night when the s.h.i.+p was taken aback and it was carried away. He is six feet two in height--how he manages to stow himself in his berth it is hard to say, but it is supposed that he doubles his legs back, for as to coiling away his body, that would be impossible. The master, old Billhook, is a rough diamond, but he understands navigation, and spins tough yarns by the score; I'll tell you some of them one of these days. The purser, Simon Cheeseparings--that isn't his real name-- was a slopseller in Wapping, but outran his creditors and had to come to sea to escape from Newgate; and the doctor's a Scotchman whose name begins with Mac, and for brevity's sake Mac he is always called. Now you know all about the gun-room officers; but the best fellows, out and out, are in our berth. We've got two old mates, Beater and Crowhurst-- at least, they are old compared to the rest of us, and they are always complaining that they are not port-admirals. Their characters answer to their names, for Beater is never without a cob in his hand, and he uses it pretty freely; and Crowhurst is always boasting of his own mighty deeds or those of his ancestors--and if you are to take his word for it, they (his ancestors, I mean) came over with William the Conqueror, and ought to be dukes at the least. However, putting their peculiarities aside, they're capital fellows, and, if they have an opportunity, will show that they have the true metal in them--so my chum, Nat Kiddle, says. He doesn't pretend to be anybody, though I can tell you he's a broth of a boy, and it's a pity he wasn't an Irishman, for he'd do honour to the old country; but he happens to be the tenth son of an English farmer, whose brother was a lieutenant in the navy, and took him to sea, but his uncle having been killed at the end of the last war, Nat has to s.h.i.+ft for himself. Though he has tumbled into a good many sc.r.a.pes, he has always managed to fall on his feet. Then we've got a young lord, Mountstephen; he is always called Molly, but he doesn't at all mind, and declares that he'll some day show the Frenchmen what an English Molly can do. In reality, he is the pet of the mess--not because he's a lord, but because he's a very nice little fellow, who looks as if he ought to be in the nursery instead of knocking about in a sloop of war. But I don't know, Norah, whether you'll care to hear about the rest of us.”
”Oh yes,” answered Norah; ”I am very much interested, especially in the little lord. I hope you'll help to take care of him.”
”Yes, that you may depend on it I will,” said Gerald; ”if I get into sc.r.a.pes, I'll take care he doesn't--though I don't intend to get into any myself, notwithstanding that they say Irishmen always do. They've dubbed me Paddy already, but of course I'm proud of that, and shall always stick up for old Ireland, and sing 'Erin-go-bragh' on all occasions. Well, I'll tell you about the rest of our mess another day, and something about the warrant officers. We've three of them, the gunner, boatswain, and carpenter--and as chance will have it, the first is a Scotchman, the second an Englishman, and the third an Irishman; and though they're mighty good friends, they are always wrangling about their respective countries, each one declaring his own to be superior to the others in every respect. Barney O'Rourke hailed me at once as a countryman, and was mighty pleased to see one young gentleman, at least, from the Emerald Isle who would stick up for our country's honour.
'And, by my faith, that's what I intend to do,' I answered--and we became sworn friends. There now, Norah, I think you know a good deal about our s.h.i.+p already, and when Lieutenant Foley gets about again, which I hope he'll do in a few days, you will learn a good deal more; and when we're away, you'll be able to fancy me on board among my s.h.i.+pmates.”
Norah sighed as she thought how soon her young brother, who had never before been parted from her, would be away, with the chance of not coming back for three or four years, for the _Champion_ had only lately been commissioned, and might before long be sent to a foreign station.
At length Captain Olding, the _Champion_ being ready for sea, ordered Gerald on board to perform, duty as a mids.h.i.+pman. He intended, however, to return in the course of two or three weeks, expecting by that time that his second lieutenant would be sufficiently recovered to resume his duties. Norah accompanied her father and Owen down the river to wish Gerald good-bye, and to see the s.h.i.+p sail. She felt rather sad as the boat shoved off, when the anchor was apeak and the white canvas let fall, and the s.h.i.+p began to glide majestically away through the calm waters of the harbour--for, besides that she grieved to part with her young brother, the thought occurred to her that the _Ouzel Galley_ would be the next s.h.i.+p she should see taking her departure from port. Owen, who was now able to be constantly with her, offered, not unsuccessfully, all the consolation in his power. Captain Tracy, being now well enough to go about, removed with her to their own cottage, situated a short distance from Waterford, and within a mile of Mrs Ma.s.sey's abode. It was a pretty spot. The cottage, with its porch covered with clematis and eglantine, stood in a good garden in which the captain delighted to work during his leisure hours. From the windows could be seen the broad, s.h.i.+ning river and the s.h.i.+pping in the distance on one side, and from the other the mountainous regions to the westward. Altogether, no young lady could have desired a more romantic bower.
The captain, by his successful voyages, had been able to save a sufficient sum to live in comfort, with a handmaiden, Biddy O'Halloran, to attend on him and his daughter, and a gessoon to look after the cows and pigs and to work in the garden. Still, notwithstanding her present happiness, it was but natural that poor Norah should reflect that in a short time Owen must sail away in command of the _Ouzel Galley_, and be subject to all the dangers of the sea, increased in war time by the chance of being captured by the enemy. He and her father were now absent all day long, attending to the fitting out of the s.h.i.+p, which was making rapid progress. Her owners had decided on sending her back to the West Indies, and Owen a.s.sured Norah that, as he should probably find a cargo waiting for him, he should not be long absent. She paid frequent visits to Ellen, who could heartily sympathise with her.
Lieutenant Foley had entirely recovered from his wound, and would have to rejoin the _Champion_ as soon as she arrived in the harbour, in which she was every day expected. Norah thought that the lieutenant deserved all the praises bestowed on him by Gerald, though of course he was not equal, in her estimation, to Owen. Still, she could not be surprised that her friend had given him her heart, especially as he had owned that he had given his to Ellen; and they were now regularly betrothed with the full approval of Mr Ferris, and were to marry as soon as Mr Foley had obtained the rank of commander.
The days and weeks went rapidly by. Mr Ferris intended, as soon as Lieutenant Foley had joined his s.h.i.+p, to return with his daughter to Dublin. This would be a great loss to Norah, as she was acquainted with but few other young ladies in the neighbourhood; indeed, from having been at school with Ellen, they were more like sisters than ordinary friends. Ellen had begged that she would visit her in Dublin, but she could not leave her father, and still less did she wish to quit Waterford till the _Ouzel Galley_ had sailed; after that, she felt that she should have no spirit to enjoy the gay society of the metropolis, even should her father insist on her accepting Ellen's invitation.
The arrival of the _Champion_ was announced at last by Gerald, who early one morning rushed into the house.
”We came in last night, and are to sail again this evening, so I obtained leave to run up to see you,” cried Gerald. ”I've got lots to tell you,” he continued, after he had exchanged greetings with his father and sister, and was seated at the breakfast-table. ”We haven't had any actual fight, but we've taken several prizes, one of them, as big as the _Champion_, cut out in gallant style. She was seen at anchor in Saint Martin's Roads, and the captain determined to have her. We stood away, and the Frenchman must have supposed we had gone; but at night, when it was very dark, we stood back again. Three boats were then lowered, and I had the good luck to be sent in one of them. We at once pulled away for the roads with m.u.f.fled oars. There lay the s.h.i.+p right ahead of us; we could just see her masts against the sky. The Frenchmen must have been all asleep, or keeping a very bad look-out, for we were alongside and our fellows almost on her deck before we were discovered. The Frenchmen, thus taken by surprise, made but a very feeble resistance, and though a few of them were knocked over, we didn't lose a man. The cable was cut and the topsails sheeted home before the fort began to fire, and as the wind was off sh.o.r.e, we got out of range with very little damage. We earned our prize into Plymouth, and our captain, I believe, gained some credit for his exploit; though except that he designed it, he took no part, for old Tarwig commanded one boat, and the master, Billhook, another, and one of our mates and I went in the third. Had half of us been killed, I suppose more would have been thought of the affair. While at Plymouth we heard from the b.u.mboat women, who have always the most correct intelligence, that we were to be sent to the West Indies, and we soon found that they were right; but the captain got leave to come in here first, to take Lieutenant Foley on board, and to obtain fresh provisions; so I shall be visiting the old scenes again, and, I hope, fall in with Owen. That will be good fun; perhaps we shall have to convoy him home, or maybe, should the _Ouzel Galley_ fall into the hands of the enemy, retake the s.h.i.+p. Faith, shouldn't I be delighted.”
”Oh, don't talk of such a dreadful thing!” exclaimed Norah. ”I hope that you may have to convoy him home, and that we may see you both back here in five or six months.”
Gerald could stay but a very short time, as he had been ordered to return on board with Lieutenant Foley. Norah and Captain Tracy accompanied him into Waterford. They found the lieutenant ready to start, and Norah remained with Ellen, who had just taken farewell of her intended husband. Owen, having joined the captain and Norah, went down to the quay to see Gerald off.
”We shall meet, I hope, soon, Owen,” said the young mids.h.i.+pman. ”I feel half ashamed of myself for deserting you; but if you knew the life we lead on board the _Champion_, you wouldn't be surprised at my preferring her to the dear old _Galley_.”
”The time may come when you may think differently. But good-bye, my lad; I hope you will enjoy yourself and come back safe,” answered Owen, as Gerald sprang on board.
The lieutenant gazed with eager eyes towards the windows of the large house overlooking the river, where he could see a white handkerchief waving to him. Two or three more years might pa.s.s before he could again press the hand lately clasped in his, and it was a hard matter for him just then to keep up his spirits. Soon after the boat returned on board, the anchor was hove up, and the _Champion_, under all sail, stood to the south-west.
In the evening Mr Ferris desired to see Owen. ”My partners and I have given you charge of the _Ouzel Galley_, Captain Ma.s.sey, and we trust that you will be as devoted to our interests as your predecessor has been,” he said, giving Owen for the first time the t.i.tle of captain.
”Having undergone a thorough refit, we hope that she will require no fresh repairs for some time to come. We intend to insure her among our friends in Dublin, and they, knowing her good qualities and your careful character, would be ready to underwrite her at a moderate premium considering the war risk.”
”You may rely on my taking the best care I possibly can of the s.h.i.+p,”
answered Owen, ”and, as she has (I may say it without fear) a fair pair of heels, on my keeping clear of every enemy I may sight.”
”That is what we wish, Mr Ma.s.sey,” said Mr Ferris. ”We don't want men who will run their noses into danger; and true courage and seamans.h.i.+p will best be shown in your case by cleverly escaping from your foes.
You will get the s.h.i.+p ready for sea as soon as possible, and take your cargo on board, and we will then send you further directions from Dublin.”
Owen took leave of his employer and returned home. The next day Mr Ferris, accompanied by Ellen, proceeded to Dublin.
Norah's day of trial came at length. She ought not to have complained, as she had enjoyed Owen's society for some months. The _Ouzel Galley_ having s.h.i.+pped her cargo, chiefly of salt provisions, and other produce of the fertile south of Ireland, hauled out into the stream. Her old captain, with Norah and Mrs Ma.s.sey, went on board to bid farewell to Owen, and proceeded down the river till she had crossed the bar, when Captain Tracy took Owen by the hand.
”Heaven speed you, my boy!” he said. ”May He who guarded me through the many dangers of the ocean take care of you, and bring you back in safety to those who will ever give you a loving welcome! And now, the shorter you cut the parting with those two the better.”
Mrs Ma.s.sey saw that the time had come; she threw her amis round the young captain's neck, and asked G.o.d again and again to protect him.