Part 6 (1/2)

They approached very slowly. At first it was hoped that they might be towing the s.h.i.+p; but though they were evidently drawing near, no s.h.i.+p could be distinguished. At length they came in sight. The Captain hailed them. The voice of a young mids.h.i.+pman answered: ”Sad news, sir!

Sad news!”

”What has happened, Mr Ha.s.sel? Where is the s.h.i.+p?”

”Beaten back, sir, beaten back!” was the answer, and the speaker's voice was almost choked. The boats, as they got alongside, were seen to be full of people, but they were lying about over the thwarts in confused heaps, those only who were at the oars appearing to move. My mother was at this moment fortunately below. The gunner came down and entreated her to remain there. I, however, had gone up on deck, and was eagerly looking about, expecting to see my father arrive. Mr Ha.s.sel was the first to come up the side. He staggered aft to the Captain to make his report. Meantime whips were rove, and, one after one, those who that afternoon had left the frigate in high health and spirits were hoisted up dead and mangled in every variety of way. Nearly thirty bodies were thus brought on deck. Many others were hoisted up and carried immediately below, where the surgeon attended them, and of the whole number only seven were able to walk the deck steadily. I eagerly looked out for my father. He was not among those unhurt. Among the dead I dared not look. I hurried below, hoping to see him under the hands of the surgeon, but neither was he there. My heart sank within me. I hastened to the main-deck. There, with a lantern, I met my poor mother frantically scanning the faces of the slain, who were laid out in a ghastly row. Eagerly she pa.s.sed along, bending over the pallid features of those who a few hours before had been so full of life and courage, jokes escaping their lips. Now as she looked at one, now at another, a glance told her that the corpse was not that of her husband.

”Oh! Mother! Mother! Where is father?” I cried out at length, as I caught sight of her.

”I know not, my boy, I know not,” she answered. ”Oh! Burton, Burton!

Where are you? Has no one seen my husband? Can anyone tell me of my husband? Where is he? Where is he?” she frantically exclaimed, running from one to the other, when she found that he was not among those brought on board.

”The boatswain!” said some one. ”Bless her poor heart, I don't like to utter it, but I saw him knocked overboard as he was climbing up the polacca's side. He would not have let go had it not been for a thrust in his shoulder, and he was. .h.i.t, I know, while he was still in the boat.”

”Who is that you speak of?” asked my mother, hearing the man's voice.

”Bless your heart, Mrs Burton, but I am sorry to say it,” answered Bill Houston, one of the few who had escaped unhurt. ”I was close to him, but he fell by me before I could stretch out a hand to help him, and I doubt, even if we had got him on board, it would have been much the better for him, he seemed so badly hurt. I did not hear him cry out or utter a sound.”

The lantern my mother had been holding dropped from her hand as she heard these words. All hope was gone. ”Oh I give me back my husband I give me back my husband!” she shrieked out. ”Why did you come away without him?”

”Oh! Mother! Mother! Don't take on so!” I exclaimed, running up to her. She put her hands on my shoulders and gazed in my face.

”For you, Ben, I would wish to live, otherwise I would rather be down in the cold sea along with him.” Then again she cried out frantically for my poor father. Her grief increased mine. Seeing the state she was in, Bill King, who had remained near her, hurried down to fetch his wife, who was attending on the wounded. She did her best to soothe my poor mother's grief, and not without difficulty she was led away to my father's cabin; and there, placed on his bed, she found some relief in tears. I did my best to comfort her, but I could do little else than weep too. Perhaps that was the best thing I could do; there is nothing like sympathy.

”Oh! My boy! My boy!” she exclaimed, ”you are still left to me; but the day may come when you will be taken away, as your poor father has been, and I shall be all alone--alone! Alone!”

Then she burst forth in an Irish wail such as I had never heard before.

It was curious; because, though an Irish woman, her accent, under ordinary circ.u.mstances, was but slightly to be detected. Mrs King, having done all she could, returned to her duties among the wounded, of whom there were upwards of thirty, several of them mortally.

From Bill Houston, who had come to inquire for my mother, shortly afterwards, I learned the particulars of what had occurred. The boats approached the s.h.i.+p, all hands being fully persuaded that they had little more to do than to climb up her sides and take possession. As, however, they drew near her, and were just about to dash alongside, a tremendous fire of grape, musketry, and round-shot was opened on them from her ports, which were suddenly unmasked. In spite of this, although numbers were hit, Mr Mason ordered them to board the s.h.i.+p.

Scarcely had he uttered the words than a shot laid him low, poor Mr Bramston being wounded at the same time. Still the attempt to board was made, but as they climbed up the sides they found that boarding nettings were triced up the whole length of the s.h.i.+p, while pikes were thrust down on them, and a hot fire of musketry opened in their faces. Again and again they attempted to get on board, and not till nearly all were killed or wounded did they desist from the attempt. Young Mr Ha.s.sel, the mids.h.i.+pman, being the only officer left alive, then gave the order to retreat, though it was not without difficulty that they could push off from the s.h.i.+p's sides. The darkness of the night saved them from being utterly destroyed. The enemy, probably, had not been aware of the tremendous effect of their own fire, and expected another attack from our men, or they would undoubtedly have continued firing at the boats after they had shoved off. Some distance had been gained, however, before the s.h.i.+p again commenced firing, and the aim being uncertain, very few of her shot took effect.

The next day was the saddest I had ever known. Our kind young Captain felt the loss more than anyone. Really, it seemed as if his heart would break as he walked along the main-deck, where our dead s.h.i.+pmates were laid out. He paid a visit also to my mother, and endeavoured to comfort her as well as he could.

”I owe your brave husband much, Mrs Burton,” he said. ”We have been s.h.i.+pmates a good many years altogether, and he more than once saved my life; I cannot repay him, but I can be a friend to your boy, and I will do my utmost to be of a.s.sistance to you. I cannot heal your grief, and I cannot tell you not to mourn for your husband, but I will soothe it as far as I can.”

Then came the sad funeral. Had the frigate been engaged in a desperate action with a superior force we could scarcely have lost so many men as we had done in this unfortunate expedition. I thought the Captain would break down altogether as he attempted to read the funeral service. Two or three times he had to stop, and by a great effort recover his composure. There were the two lieutenants and a young mids.h.i.+pman, and upwards of twenty men all to be committed to the ocean together.

Curiosity brought me up to see what was going forward, and though I looked on quietly for some time I at length burst into bitter tears. I thought there is my poor father--he had to go overboard without any service being read over him.

CHAPTER TEN.

Soon after the funeral was over I was sent for into the Captain's cabin.

I found him and Mr Schank seated there.

”Ben,” he said, ”my boy, we have been talking over what we can do for your poor mother. The best thing, I think, will be for her to return to her home on the first opportunity, and I daresay we shall find a s.h.i.+p homeward-bound at Malta, on board which she can get a pa.s.sage, while we will do our best to raise funds to place her as much as possible at her ease as to money matters. Now, Ben, I wish to stand your friend; but you are very young still to knock about at sea without a father to look after you, and I propose, therefore, that you should return with your mother. After you have had schooling for a year or two on sh.o.r.e, you shall rejoin this s.h.i.+p or any other I may command, and then your future progress will much depend on your own conduct. You will behave well, I have no doubt you will; but if not, I cannot help you forward as I desire.”

I did not quite comprehend what the Captain proposed, but I understood enough to know that I had a friend in him, and I accordingly thanked him for his good intentions. I was still standing hat in hand in the cabin, for the Captain seemed disposed to ask me further questions, when the surgeon entered to make his report of the state of the wounded.

”What, more dead I more dead!” exclaimed the poor Captain, as his eye glanced on the paper.

”Yes, sir,” was the answer. ”Turner and Green have both slipped their cables. I had very little hopes of either from the first. There are one or two more I am afraid will follow them before many days are over.”