"But," cried Duncan, "there need be no dying about it. I myself can navigate the ship, if s.e.xtant and chronometer still are safe."
They crowded round this brave though youthful navigator and shook him by the hand, while tears of joy streamed down many a sea-browned weather-beaten cheek.
"Can you, sir? Oh, can you? Then take charge and we will obey."
Luckily the rudder and wheel were uninjured, and as soon as he had taken sights and found out where he was, he had a jib and new foresails set, the helm was put up, and slowly the _Ocean"s Pride_ began to sail for the nearest land.
This was one of the Azores. Very far away indeed, but still Duncan hoped to reach it ere long and in safety.
The young fellow"s orders followed each other quickly enough, and were obeyed with great alacrity.
The spirit-room was locked, and an armed sentry placed over it. He was to bludgeon any man who should dare to approach it with intent.
Several of the worst cases of drunkards he put in irons.
Then all hands were told off to temporarily repair the ship.
The p.o.o.p was mended and made water-tight, and the bulwarks roughly seen to. This occupied a whole day, and as soon as daylight succeeded darkness the busy crew were at work once more.
There were several spare spars on board, and the men now set about rigging a couple of jury-masts, which, though only carrying fore-and-aft sails, would greatly add to the good ship"s speed.
But more than this had to be done, for she had shipped quite a deal of water, and the donkey-engine had to be repaired and rigged to get clear of it.
While work was going on cheerily enough a poor drink-demented wretch, who had escaped from below, rushed wildly up, and sprang with a shriek, that none who heard it ever forgot, right into the sea.
There was not a boat to lower, and small use would it have been anyhow, for those who looked fearfully over the bulwarks saw but a red circle on the waves, and rising bubbles. It was the poor man"s blood and breath, for he had been torn down by a shark.
The other cases recovered, and begged of Duncan not to log them.
The young acting-commander promised he would not, and they returned to duty.
It was a long and a tedious voyage to the Azores, but every one was for the most part happy now, although still sad when they thought of the awful catastrophe which had caused such loss of life.
At the town where the _Ocean"s Pride_ at last lay at anchor, additional repairs were made, and in due time Duncan sailed with a fair wind for England"s sh.o.r.e.
It was the month of July when the ship was once more lying alongside the quay, and hearing of her terrible adventures the people crowded down in hundreds, and would have crowded on board, too, had not Duncan given strict orders that no one should cross the gangway, except on business.
This did not prevent reporters from getting over the side, however, and although Duncan was very reticent, the whole town was soon ringing with his praise.
But the owners were still more delighted. The cargo was valued at fully five-and-twenty thousand pounds, and the young navigator had saved it all.
A meeting was held at which it was unanimously agreed to present Duncan with the very handsome sum of one thousand, and his brother, who had been but little less active than himself, with five hundred.
Duncan was indeed a happy young fellow now. But his good luck did not end here, for on the fourth day of the arrival of the _Ocean"s Pride_, who should step on board but jolly Captain Talbot himself, and, neatly dressed in the uniform of a ship"s apprentice, Frank walked alongside of him--on his port beam in fact.
That was a real happy meeting, as a Yankee would say.
Surely Frank never looked better nor more manly. He had lost all the looks of the "tender-foot", and was well coloured and hardy.
And Talbot himself was as usual bronzed and jolly. The honest grip that he gave Duncan"s hand showed, too, that he was hearty and strong as ever. It was not a few fingers that this bold sailor presented to a friend, but the whole hand.
"And how are you, my brick of a boy? But I needn"t ask when I look into those bright eyes of yours. Ay, and I"ve heard of your clever doings too. Do you see the papers?"
"I haven"t much time just at present," replied Duncan, "nor has Conal here either."
"Ah, Conal, right glad to see you! But do you know that your brother is a hero? Why, all the newspapers from Land"s End to John o" Groats are singing his praises!"
"It won"t make a bit of difference to Duncan, sir," said Conal, somewhat proudly.
"But really, Captain Talbot"--this from Duncan himself--"I don"t know what I should have done without Conal. But come into the saloon, sir, such as it is, for we were terribly knocked about."
"Yes, and it surprises me that you have got things so ship-shape again as you have. You"ve heard from your daddy?"
"Ay, and Florie too, and I"m going to run down for a spell as soon as I can get paid off."
"And I"ll go with you, and Frank here as well. Won"t you, lad?"
"Like a hundredweight of gunpowder, sir, with a spark put to it."
"And now, sir, sit down; I have half an hour to spare. Steward, bring the wine and biscuits. And how goes the project, Captain Talbot?"
"Getting on splendidly. I"ve formed a company, and nearly all the shares are sold, but really "twixt you and me and the binnacle, boys, I"ve kept the most myself."
"Well," cried Conal laughing, "I and my brother are men of vast wealth now--ahem!--we shall have all that is left."
"No, you mustn"t part with all your doubloons. Just half. The other shall be put in a bank as a kind of nest-egg, don"t you see?"
"Very well," said Duncan, "we always did take your advice, and so we will now."
"That"s right! Old Ben Talbot never gave a boy bad counsel yet."
"And the ship, sir?"
"Well, the ship"s a barque, and a beauty she is. About eight hundred tons, and although not quite a clipper, she"ll make up in strength what she"ll lack in speed.
"A whaler she was," he continued, "but we have given her a rare cleaning. She"s as sweet now as a nut. Double-skinned is she, and the bows all between the bends are solid teak, shod in front with iron. But you shall see her as soon as we haul out of dock."
"I"m taking two mates; both have pa.s.sed and own certificates. You, Duncan, shall be acting third mate, and Conal I"ll rate as auxiliary.
You haven"t neglected your studies, have you?"
"No, sir, and both myself and Conal mean to go in for our first exam, as soon as we get to London."
"Bravo! But I won"t hinder you longer. Frank shall stay on with you a bit, and I expect you all to come and dine with me to-night at my hotel.
Can you?"
"All but me," said Conal. This wasn"t quite grammatical, but it was truth. "One of us must be ship-keeper."
"That"s right. Never shirk your duty for anyone or anything. Do you remember the eulogy on Tom Bowling--when stark and stiff?"