Part 8 (1/2)
”Glorious news, Tom. How pleased father will be!”
”Byng told me further that we must get men to fill up our complement, and fifty over, by hook or by crook.”
”Fifty over! that means fighting, Tom. Go on.”
”The hook and crook means pressment, Jack.”
”Well, well, I don't like it; but it is all for the good of the service.
Heave round, Tom.”
”Then I went to the post-office. Sly dog, am I? Well, perhaps. A letter from Flora, and one for you.”
Jack tore his open.
”Why, she has gone to live with dear old Father Spence at Torquay, Tom.”
”Yes, Jack, till the war is over. Then, if G.o.d but spares us all, I shall be your brother.”
”Dear girl,” said Jack. ”Ah, Tom, what a n.o.ble courage she possesses!
You and I can meet the foe face to face and fight well; but that is under excitement. But dear Flora needed more courage than ours to leave Grantley Hall so bravely as she did. Never a tear, Tom, never a tear; and I even saw my father's eyes wet. Ah well. It is the fortune of war.
Heigh-ho!”
”Cheer up, Jack. Somehow, my friend, I think that Grantley Hall will come back to the Mackenzies yet.”
”Ah, never, Tom, never! The dear old place where Flora and I spent our childhood, only to think it should come at last into the clutches of the plausible skinflint Keane; the father, though, of--but go on, Tom, go on.”
”I next saw two gentlemen of the 'sailors' friend' persuasion.”
”Crimps? Scoundrels!”
”Well, anyhow, they are good for forty between them.”
”Bravo! Things are looking up. What a capital fellow you are, Tom! But, stay; let me reckon. We still want twenty more.”
”And these, Jack, shall be no mere top hampers, I can a.s.sure you.
I have arranged to lay hands on fifteen at least of thorough dare-any-things--fellows who look upon fighting as mere fun, and can face the billows as well as tackle a foe.”
”You interest me. Proceed.”
”What say you to pirates, then?”
”Come, come, Tom.”
”Well, they are the next thing to it. They are sea-smugglers. I met One-legged Butler to-day, the king of coastguardsmen; and if we lend him nets, he will land the fish.”
”You mean seamen and cutla.s.ses. Well, he'll have them; and I'll trust the matter all to you.”