Part 44 (2/2)
dick's statement, as far as the appearance of the shi+p was concerned, was corroborated by the rest of the crew, but so dark was it that only two had actually seen her before she was again clear of the schooner and running past astern dick's statehtly raised the hopes of Adair and his friends, that Lord Saint Maur ot safely on board the shi+p, she did not heave to to allow the yacht to speak with her was surprising The only supposition was that she was a foreigner, and that he could not make hi that the schooner had sunk, was afraid to heave to lest he ht be ard for human life had before been exhibited on ht be another instance However, conjectures were useless If Saint Maur had been saved they would hear of hiet on board a homeward-bound vessel, or land at the first port at which the shi+p touched The sad subject was discussed over and over again
”I cannot believe that Lord Saint Maur is dead,” said Miss Julia Rogers, Jack's eldest daughter--who had looked the picture of woe since the accident, although she had said nothing--when she heard dick's stateers he and Toot out of them all, and I don't see why he should not have escaped froing on to the bowsprit rigging, and thata sailor could easily have cli toso, and how astonished the sailors h it was very, very cruel of theain”
Stella suine as his friends He suspected that dick had been nodding at the helm, and that had he had his eyes open, he would at all events have given the alarer had struck the yacht The latter, it should have been said, was sailing on a course diagonal to the shi+p, or she would have beenover, the _Stella_ once ht Adair had written to Counsellor McMahon an account of the accident He had posted the letter before dick had come to his senses, and he then expressed no hopes that his nephew had escaped As the winds were light, the _Stella_ was three days getting up the Channel, and it was not till late at night that she brought up off Ryde The party, therefore, did not go on shore until the following rieved at hearing of Desmond's possible fate
”It will be a sad blow for Tom and Archie when they hear of it,”
observed Jack to Adair ”They have as great an affection for him as we three had for each other”
Murray re trips in various directions, and then the captain and his fa to go ho the east coast and round the north of Scotland Young Alick, who had not yet been appointed to a shi+p, acco, as Jack and Adair were seated at breakfast, Adair re a new navy list, just sent in from the library--
”I had no idea that Murray was so near his flag I see that Sir Benjains, as we used to call hione the way of all flesh I saw by yesterday's paper that Bulkhead had died in the West Indies, and two other captains senior to Murray are very ill”
”I shall rejoice at Murray's promotion,” said Jack; ”there is no man better suited to command a fleet”
”I cannot say that I wish for such a responsibility,” observed Adair, ”nor ah Lucy , especially if I ahtest probability I'm much more likely to be kicked off to sea and sent to the East Indies or West Coast of Africa to sunforward, two long official-looking letters were received Julia and Lucy looked at theentlemen, the Lords of the Ad command of the _Bellona_, Murray's old shi+p,” said Jack; ”but whether to serve on the hoo out to the Antipodes they do not explain”
He handed the letter to his wife, who put her hand to her heart, as if she felt a sudden pain there
”Oh, Jack, I did not think they would send you off again!” she said, with a deep sigh
”And what is your despatch about?” asked Lucy, in a tre voice
”Of the same tenor as Jack's Those dear old fellows offer me the command of the _Empress_, but leave o”
Lucy always behaved better than her sister-in-law on such occasions, although she certainly did not love her husband a bit the less
”I hope if you are sent out to a foreign station where the children and I can live, that you will let us go too,” said Lucy; ”either to North America, or the Mediterranean, or Australia, or the Cape I'm sure it will be one of these”
Julia was equally pressing to be allowed to go out to any part of the world to which the _Bellona_ ht be sent, but Jack would wisely o over to-morrow or the next day to co, as if the appointh in reality he felt proud at being again sent to sea
This event almost banished poor Desmond for a short time from his mind, until he received a letter fro friend has gone, after all the efforts we hts for hi about somewhere in the chops of the Channel, or was carried off by the shi+p which so abominably attempted to run you down I have always heard that h he had becoe he enjoyed in his youth I don't believe he is lost, and I do not intend to let either of the other claiet hold of the property, or assuer evidence of his death than your letter supplies I reo, one of the Lords of the Adh official in the Marine Depart into the vessel he was on board, and it was not until several days after that he was discovered, having clung to what is called the dolphin striker--although to what part of a shi+p's rigging that instrus I do not know, but conclude that it must be at the end of the bowsprit--and that his lordshi+p was hooked up by the breeks, froreeable position he was rescued by the sy crew of the vessel which had run into his”
The lawyer's confidence, although, perhaps, arising froreatly restored Adair's spirits, and he and Jack the next day went over to Portsmouth to assume command of their respective shi+ps
Jack applied for his brother, and the Lords of the Adlad to obtain Archie Gordon as his first lieutenant He at once wrote to Murray, saying how delighted he should be to have young Alick His letter found the _Stella_ lying in Leith Roads, she having put into the Firth of Forth to re Alick appeared with a letter fro Jack to obtain the necessary articles for his outfit Orders were received to get both shi+ps ready for sea with all possible expedition, and the two captains found that they were to proceed round the Cape of Good Hope to Aden, to which place further orders were to be transmitted to them
CHAPTER FIFTEEN