Part 49 (2/2)

”I agree with you,” said Thompson; ”the only point is, that it will soon be dark.”

”I'll not lose sight of him, and he cannot get away. If he puts before the wind, then we will be at him again.”

We gave him the loaded guns as we forged a-head, and when we were about half a mile from him, hove-to to repair damages.

The reader may now ask, ”But where was the captain all this time?” My answer is, that he was at the capstern, where he stood in silence, not once interfering during the whole action, which was fought by Thompson, the master, and myself. How he looked, or how he behaved in other points during the engagement, I cannot pretend to say, for I had no time to observe him. Even now I was busy knotting the rigging, rousing up new sails to bend, and getting everything in order, and I should not have observed him, had he not come up to me; for as soon as we had ceased firing he appeared to recover himself. He did not, however, first address me; he commenced speaking to the men.

”Come, be smart, my lads; send a hand here to swab up the blood. Here, youngster, run down to the surgeon, and let him know that I wish a report of the killed and wounded.”

By degrees he talked more, and at last came up to me, ”This has been rather smartish, Mr Simple.”

”Very smart indeed, sir,” replied I, and then turned away to give directions. ”Maintop there, send down the hauling line on the starboard side.”

”Ay, ay, sir.”

”Now then, my lads, clap on, and run it up at once.”

”Maintop, there,” hailed the captain, ”be a little smarter, or by G----d, I'll call you down for something.” This did not come with a good grace from one who had done nothing, to those who were working with all their energy. ”Mr Simple,” said the captain, ”I wish you would carry on duty with less noise.”

”At all events, he set us that example during the action,” muttered the Joe Miller; and the other men laughed heartily at the implication. In two hours, during which we had carefully watched the enemy, who still lay where we left him, we were again ready for action.

”Shall I give the men their grog now, sir?” said I to the captain; ”they must want it.”

”No, no,” replied the captain; ”no, no, Mr Simple, I don't like what you call _Dutch_ courage.”

”I don't think he much does; and this fellow has shown plenty of it,”

said the Joe Miller, softly; and the men about him laughed heartily.

”I think, sir,” observed I, ”that it is an injustice to this fine s.h.i.+p's company to hint at their requiring Dutch courage.” (Dutch courage is a term for courage screwed up by drinking freely.) ”And I most respectfully beg leave to observe, that the men have not had their afternoon's allowance; and, after the fatigues they have undergone, really require it.”

”I command this s.h.i.+p, sir,” replied he.

”Certainly, sir, I am aware of it,” rejoined I. ”She is now all ready for action again, and I wait your orders. The enemy is two miles on the lee quarter.”

The surgeon here came up with his report.

”Good heavens!” said the captain, ”forty-seven men killed and wounded, Mr Webster dangerously. Why, the brig is crippled. We can do no more-- positively, we can do no more.”

”_We can take that brig, anyhow_,” cried one of the seamen from a dozen of the men who were to leeward, expecting orders to renew the attack.

”What man was that?” cried the captain.

No one answered.

”By G----d! this s.h.i.+p is in a state of mutiny, Mr Simple.”

”Will _soon_ be, I think,” said a voice from the crowd, which I knew very well; but the captain, having been but a short time with us, did not know it.

”Do you hear that, Mr Simple?” cried the captain.

<script>