Part 43 (1/2)
Before we arrived on board the breeze had pa.s.sed us and caught the sails of our frigate and the two merchant vessels, so that we were more easy on that score. Captain Delmar had been very anxious; the yards, tackles, and stays, and the tackles for hoisting up the quarter-boats, were already hanging down as we pulled alongside, and ”all hands in boats” was piped before we could get up the gangway. There was no time to be lost: the French line-of-battle s.h.i.+p had picked up her boats, and was now in chase, with studding-sails below and abaft. The two merchant vessels had made all sail, and were running insh.o.r.e ahead of us. I touched my hat to the captain, and said, ”Come on board, sir--shall I see the quarter-boats hoisted up?”
”If you please, Mr Keene,” replied he.
The fact was, it was very easy to tell my story after the boats were up and sail made upon the frigate, and I knew there was no time for talking.
I never witnessed such a rapidity as was shown on this occasion; in less than five minutes all the boats were on board, and all sail made. I looked at the French line-of-battle s.h.i.+p; she was within four miles of us, and bringing up a very steady breeze. But we were now drawing through the water, and as the re-captured vessels were three miles ahead of us, there was nothing to fear. Captain Delmar came aft to look at the Frenchman, who had already pa.s.sed by the vessel which I had set on fire.
”Now, then, Mr Keene,” said he, ”we will know what has taken place. Of course we have seen most of it.”
I narrated what the reader already knows.
”What do you suppose to have been the loss?”
”I should say three boats, and about forty men, sir. I forgot, sir, to tell you that we have a lieutenant and two officers prisoners, whom I brought on board with me.”
”Desire them to be brought on deck,” said the captain. ”Mr Keene, you have done your work well--with great gallantry and great judgment.”
I touched my hat, not a little pleased at such a compliment from.
Captain Delmar.
”What's the last soundings, Mr Smith?” inquired the captain.
”And a quarter four, sir,” said the master.
”This chase won't last long,” observed the captain. ”Take in the lower studding-sail.”
The French lieutenant was then questioned; but with the exception of the name of the s.h.i.+p and captain, there was little to be expected from him, and he was dismissed and sent below.
This affair, however, was not without loss on our side (princ.i.p.ally arising from Tommy Dott's stout defence). We had two men killed, and we had altogether fourteen men wounded--some of them very severely. My friend Tommy Dott came on board a miserable object, his face and hair matted with blood; but when it was washed away, he proved to be not so much hurt as was supposed: the cut was severe, but the bones were not injured. He was very soon out of his hammock again, and his chief pleasure was to put his tongue in his cheek and make faces at the French lieutenant, who at last became so annoyed, that he complained to Captain Delmar, who ordered Mr Tommy to leave off these expressions of national animosity, if he had any wish to obtain his promotion. But to return.
As the breeze freshened, and the French s.h.i.+p had the first of it; she rapidly gained upon us, and in an hour and a half was about three miles from us. We had now shoaled our water to three fathoms and a half, which was quite near enough to the ground, as it left but four feet between our keel and the bottom; the studding-sails were taken in, and we ranged the cable. A few minutes afterwards the French line-of-battle s.h.i.+p was seen to shorten sail, and haul to the wind; she had followed us into as shoal water as far as she dared to venture in, and as she rounded to, out of spite, I presume, she fired a gun. The evening was now closing in, and as there was every appearance of fine weather, we stood out till we were again in four fathoms, and then dropped our anchor.
The next morning, when the day broke, the French line-of-battle s.h.i.+p was in the offing about eight miles distant. It may easily be imagined that the French were very much annoyed at what had taken place; their prizes re-captured, three boats lost, and their s.h.i.+p's company weakened, and all by an inferior force close to them, and without any prospect of their having any revenge. But we, on the other hand, were not very pleasantly situated. It is true that we were safe, but, at the same time, we were in prison, and could not hope for escape, unless some vessel came down to our a.s.sistance; and how long we might be compelled to remain where we were, or what the chapter of accidents might bring about, no one could foresee.
About eight o'clock the French s.h.i.+p again stood in, and when as close as she dare come to us, she ran up and down, trying for deeper water on one side or the other, but in vain. She was within gun-shot of us, it is true, as we had run out into four fathoms; but we could always trip our anchor when we pleased and stand further in. At last she tried a shot at us, and it fell very close. Captain Delmar did not, however, get under weigh and stand further in, although he ordered the capstern bars to be s.h.i.+pped, and the messenger pa.s.sed. A second and a third shot were fired, and one went over us. At last the Frenchman anch.o.r.ed, and set to work in good earnest. He found that he was within range, and as we did not move, presumed that we were in as shallow water as we could run into.
As the wind was still to seaward, we laid head on to him, and one of his shot struck us in the forefoot; Captain Delmar then ordered the cable to be hove in and the anchor tripped, by which means we drifted in sh.o.r.e and increased our distance without his being aware of it, and his firing still continued, but without injury to us. The reason for Captain Delmar's doing this was evident; he wished the French s.h.i.+p to continue firing, as the report of her guns might be heard and bring down some vessel to our a.s.sistance. At all events, such was not our good fortune on the first day, and I began to be tired of our situation; so did Captain Delmar; for on the second day he sent a boat to the recaptured vessels, which were at anchor insh.o.r.e of us, directing them to heave up as soon as it was dark, and make the best of their way to Barbadoes, keeping well in sh.o.r.e till they got more to the northward; this they did, and the following morning they were not in sight.
The French s.h.i.+p still remained at anchor, and it appeared that she had been lightening so as to get further in; for on that morning she weighed, and stood in to a mile and a half of us, and we were obliged to do the same, and run insh.o.r.e out of his reach. To effect this we anch.o.r.ed in three and a quarter fathoms, so that we actually stirred up the mud. Towards the evening the wind fortunately s.h.i.+fted to off sh.o.r.e, and as soon as it was dark the captain ordered the anchor to be weighed, and we made all sail to the northward, trusting to our heels; the following morning we had run seventy miles, and as the French s.h.i.+p was not to be seen, it was to be presumed that she was not aware of our having so done.
Ten days afterwards we dropped our anchor in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes.
We found two men-of-war, both captains junior officers to our own, and I took this opportunity of pa.s.sing my examination, which was a mere matter of form. Having watered and taken in provisions, we then sailed for Jamaica, to join the admiral, who, upon Captain Delmar's representation, immediately confirmed the acting order of lieutenant given to me by him.
A few days afterwards a packet arrived from England, and letters were received by Captain Delmar, informing him of the death of his elder brother and his succeeding to the t.i.tle of Lord de Versely; for his elder brother, although married, had no male issue. Upon this intelligence, Captain Delmar immediately resigned the command of the Manilla, and another Captain was appointed to her. I did not much like this, as I wished to remain with Captain Delmar, and gain his good-will.
I was, however, consoled by his sending for me, previous to his sailing for England in a frigate ordered home, and saying, ”Mr Keene, my duties in the House of Lords, and family affairs, require my presence in England, and I think it most probable that I now quit the service altogether; but I shall not lose sight of you. You have conducted yourself much to my satisfaction, and I will take care of your advancement in the service, if you only continue as you have begun. I shall be happy to hear from you, if you will write to me occasionally.
I wish you every success. Is there anything that I can do for you?”
”I am most grateful, my lord,” replied I, ”for all your kindness. I had hoped to have been longer under your protection and guidance; but I am aware that your high station must now prevent it. If I might be so bold as to ask a favour, my lord?”