"As to trouble, Miss, I can"t boast much of that, seeing I didn"t go when I said I would," answered Peter, in a greatly changed tone. "I like you, for you speak kindly to me; and I"m sorry I didn"t go when I promised; for, as you say, Miss, there"s no time to be lost. He was taken aboard the _Falcon_, and she is to sail this morning for the Indies, so that if he goes in her he won"t be back again for many a long year."
This information increased poor Jessie"s agitation and anxiety.
Fortunately, the boat was soon alongside the _Amity_: Peter hailed the deck. One of the crew looked over the side, and seeing Jessie, called the captain, who quickly made his appearance, while in the meantime the accommodation ladder had been lowered.
"What brings you here at this hour, my dear girl?" he exclaimed, with a look of anxiety in his countenance as he descended the ladder to help Jessie up the side. "Has anything happened to my mate?"
"Oh, yes, Captain Mudge; he has been pressed, and will be carried off to sea if we do not take him his protection," answered Jessie as she reached the deck, no longer able to restrain her tears. "That boy knows all about it."
Peter Puddle was called up, and gave the message he had received from Ralph with sufficient clearness.
"No time to be lost indeed," exclaimed the captain. "Dear me! dear me!
poor Ralph! We"ll make our way down the harbour as fast as sails and oars will send us along, and save him if we can. Lower the boat, lads, and take your breakfasts with you."
Jessie, in spite of her anxiety, did not forget her promise to Peter; and the captain told him to go forward and get some food, which Toby Trott, the cabin boy, would give him. Peter pulled one of his s.h.a.ggy locks and hastened to the caboose, where the cook was busy blowing up the fire, the grey smoke from which had just begun to curl in light wreaths towards the blue sky. In the meantime, Jessie accompanied the captain into the cabin.
"I reminded him to take his protection just as he was going ash.o.r.e. He must have lost it, I fear, on his way," observed the latter.
But Jessie was not so easily convinced of that. She hurried down to Ralph"s berth, and eagerly put her hand into one of the pockets of his jacket hanging up inside the door; her countenance fell. She tried the other pocket; "Yes, here it is!" she exclaimed in a joyful tone, drawing out a tin case and examining it. "Oh, Captain Mudge, let us go with it at once."
"As soon as you have had a cup of coffee, my dear girl; I cannot let you start without that," answered the kind old captain. "Careless fellow!
I am angry with him for giving you so much anxiety; but the fright he has had will be punishment enough you think, I daresay. Come, come, Jessie, don"t cry; any man might have done the same. He just forgot in his eagerness to see you that he had changed his jacket.--Here comes the coffee." The captain poured out a cup for her, but she could only take a few sips, while he hurriedly swallowed his breakfast. The boat was soon ready. Jessie was handed into her, and the old captain taking his seat, with four stout hands to row, they shoved off from the vessel"s side. They had got to a short distance off, when Peter Puddle looked over the bulwarks. ""Mind the mate of the sovereign he promised," he shouted. "I"ll stay aboard till you come back."
"Never fear, lad; you"ll get it if he is set free," answered the captain.
"Oh! he must, he will be freed," cried poor Jessie, who did not like the captain"s "if."
"I hope so, my dear girl, but we must be prepared for disappointment,"
he said, in a soothing tone. "I have had a good deal in my time, though I know that G.o.d orders all for the best, and He has given me strength to bear it." He spoke for some time in the same strain. "It"s still a dead calm, and the ship cannot sail without a breeze, though all the Lords of the Admiralty were to order her to get under weigh, that"s one comfort," he continued. "So cheer up, Jessie, cheer up." The boat had got out of the Cat.w.a.ter, and was making good progress down the smooth waters of the Sound, with its high, richly-wooded sh.o.r.es on either side.
Far ahead, at the entrance of the harbour, lay several ships-of-war and a fleet of merchantmen. The topsails of the largest, as well as those of the merchant vessels, were loosed and hung in the brails, and Blue-peter was flying from their mast-heads. It was evident that they were prepared for sea. Poor Jessie"s anxiety increased. Now and anon a catspaw had pa.s.sed across the mirror-like surface of the water, just rippling it for an instant, and then leaving it again placid as before.
Others now followed in quick succession. The sails and flags of the ships, hitherto hanging listlessly against the masts, began to blow out, and a vessel close-hauled was seen in the offing, gliding quickly across the mouth of the harbour.
"Step the mast, lads," said the captain; "we shall feel the breeze presently, and the canvas will help us along. Keep the oars going though." The sail was quickly hoisted and rigged out with a boat-hook, while the sheet was pa.s.sed aft to the captain. The crew pulled more l.u.s.tily than ever, for they saw that the frigate was preparing to sail, and were eager to rescue their mate, who was beloved by all of them.
The breeze every moment increased. Poor Jessie, unable to speak from anxiety, her heart sinking within her, kept her eyes fixed on the ships, while the captain every now and then bent down to look at them under the foot of the sail. "In oars, lads," he said at length, for the boat was skimming so fast over the water that they were of no further use. Still the wind blew stronger and stronger. They were within half a mile of the frigate. The loud sound of a gun fired from her side boomed over the water; it was followed by another--the signal for weighing. The head-sails of the merchantmen were sheeted home, and in quick succession their bows turned seaward and they glided away from their anchorage.
The _Falcon_ had not yet moved. They were now so near the frigate that the men in the tops and on the yards and swarming up the rigging could clearly be distinguished, while the boatswain"s shrill whistle and the voices of the officers were distinctly heard. A groan escaped from the old captain"s breast as the head-sails were let fall and sheeted home.
The yards, hitherto backed against the mast, were swung round, and the huge anchor appeared rising above the water. Poor Jessie uttered a cry of grief, for she understood too well that there was now no hope of ever getting alongside. At that instant a person was seen to spring into the main rigging: Jessie held out her hands to him--it was Ralph. He must have recognised the boat as she approached. He waved a farewell to Jessie. No words reached her ear; but she saw, or fancied that she saw, his lips moving. Standing up, she seemed as if about to spring towards her intended husband, but the old captain holding her back, she uttered a piercing cry and sank down senseless in his arms. He could not tell whether Ralph had seen what had happened; he had indeed enough to do in attending to Jessie and steering the boat. Recollecting the protection, he held up the case containing it; but it was unnoticed, or at all events unheeded. He heard one of his seamen remark, "Now"s his time!
If he was to slip overboard and swim to us, we"d pick him up fast enough, and they"d not heave-to to send after him." The sailors in the boat beckoned eagerly to Ralph, who could not have misunderstood their signals. The temptation to him must have been very great; but whether or not he intended to make the attempt they could not tell, for at that moment three men sprang into the rigging and he was dragged down on deck out of sight.
Happily for Jessie, she did not see what had occurred. The ship had paid off before the wind and was rapidly gathering way: her after-sails were let fall, her topgallant sails hoisted, and under a crowd of canvas she majestically glided out of the Sound.
The boat had got a considerable way up the harbour before Jessie gave signs of returning consciousness. The old captain sat watching her with the affectionate care of a father. With a deep sigh she at length recovered, and a flood of tears relieved her aching heart. She turned her eyes seaward and gazed long and steadfastly at the proud ship which bore Ralph away, till the man-of-war could no longer be distinguished from the crowd of other vessels which surrounded her. The good old captain could fully sympathise with her in her grief, for he himself felt very sad at having his mate, whom he loved as a son, taken so unjustly away from him.
As the boat pa.s.sed the _Amity_, Peter Puddle looked over the side and hailed, "Haven"t you got the mate in?"
The captain shook his head.
"Then I"ve lost my guinea," cried Peter; "but I mind more about the mate, that I do."
"Never mind your guinea, lad. I"ll see after you. Stay on board till I come back," answered the captain.
They soon reached the sh.o.r.e. Captain Mudge insisted on escorting Jessie home, for he could not bring himself to leave her till he had seen her safe with her grandmother, who would, he fancied, comfort her better than he could. On reaching home, Jessie, throwing herself into her granny"s arms, gave way to her tears.
"It will do her good, and Ralph won"t find fault with her when he hears of it," observed the old captain. "Fine young man, that mate of mine, Mrs Treviss. He"s a great loss to me, no doubt about that; but it may turn out for his good after all. Shouldn"t be surprised, as I said to Jessie just now, if he was to come back an officer in his Majesty"s Service. He"d not be the first pressed man who has risen to be an admiral. We can all pray for him too, you know, Mrs Treviss; and that"s a great comfort, isn"t it?"
Jessie in a short time became calm again, and even looked up and smiled at her kind old friend. Captain Mudge had a good deal of business to attend to, so after a short chat, promising to return soon to see how they were getting on, he took his departure.
CHAPTER FIVE.
The _Falcon_ sailed down Channel with her convoy of merchantmen. She was to see them safe across the Atlantic to different ports in the West Indies, and then to proceed on her voyage to the East.
Early in the morning, Ralph, with the other pressed men, had been sent up on deck and their names duly entered in the ship"s books. Still he had a lingering hope that Captain Mudge would come off in time with the protection. How cruelly that hope was disappointed has been seen. With intense anxiety he had watched for the boat: he had seen her at length approaching. Already the capstan had been manned, and the men were tramping round against the pawls, the fifes playing merrily, to run the anchor up to the bows. While stationed at the fore-topsail braces, as he looked through a port he had recognised Jessie in the _Amity"s_ boat.
The temptation to bid her farewell was greater than he could resist.
The brace was belayed: he sprang into the rigging that Jessie might see him. A midshipman observing the boat, and thinking that he was about to spring overboard to her, ordered him to be seized, and suddenly he found himself dragged down on deck and placed under charge of the master-at-arms for attempting to desert.
Ralph had now more reason than ever to be cast down. The offence with which he was charged was a serious one, yet the consciousness that he had no intention of committing it supported him. For long he was kept in suspense, while the ship with her attendant merchantmen was making an offing from the land before shaping a course down Channel. At length he was conducted between two marines to the quarter-deck, where Captain Shortland and his officers were standing and a large portion of the crew were a.s.sembled.
"I must have you understand, my lads, that I intend to maintain strict discipline on board this ship. I shall have an eye on those who do their duty, and on those who neglect it. I never forgive an offence, and shall severely punish drunkenness, insubordination, and desertion, or attempt at desertion: and I intend to make an example of the man who was, I am informed, about to try to desert from the ship." And the captain looked at Ralph, who stood between his guards. All eyes were turned towards him. "What is his name?" asked the captain of the first lieutenant. On being told, he continued, "Ralph Michelmore, after having entered as one of this ship"s company, you were about to desert to a boat which had come off to receive you, and I shall give you two dozen lashes as a warning to yourself and others for the future."
"I had no intention of deserting, sir," answered Ralph, firmly. "The boat brought off the master of the brig to which I belong, with my protection, and I could easily have slipped through a port had I wished it."
"And I can say, sir, that Ralph Michelmore speaks the truth. He"s an old shipmate of mine, and I never heard him tell the shadow of a lie,"
said d.i.c.k Bracewell, stepping aft and doffing his hat. "He could have made his escape before he was brought aboard if he"d had a mind to do it, but he wouldn"t because he"d pa.s.sed his word that he"d stay quiet, and the officer who pressed us knows it and can say so if he likes."
The old mate who had commanded the press-gang, and was now attending to his duties on the lower deck, was sent for, and at once corroborated what d.i.c.k had said, explaining at the same time the circ.u.mstances of Ralph"s capture.
"I believe you, and you may return to your duty," said the captain, looking at Ralph. "For your sake I am sorry that you were pressed, though I am glad to have got so smart a seaman as you appear to be; and if you turn out as I expect, you may have no reason to regret that you were compelled to join this ship. Pipe down."
The men went below or forward to their respective duties.
"Well, my lad," said the old sailor who had spoken to Ralph in the boat, coming up to him, "I"m right glad you"ve got out of that sc.r.a.pe, and, as I said afore, if ever you want a friend you"ll find Jacob Crane a staunch one. I can feel for you, lad; I can feel for you."
"Thank you, Jacob," answered Ralph, putting out his hand to grasp that of the speaker, who wrung his heartily.
"Have you ever before served in a King"s ship?" asked Jacob.
"No, I have never so much as been on board one before," said Ralph.
"Then I can be of use to you in putting you up to a thing or two," said old Jacob, and forthwith he began to explain the way in which the duty was carried on.
Ralph listened attentively, and made such good use of the knowledge he had gained that he was able from the first to do his duty as well as any one. He was fortunately stationed at the gun of which Jacob was captain, and the old sailor took pains to instruct him in handling it.
Naval gunnery not being in those days the art it has since become he was soon a proficient.
"How, my lad, came you to say that you have never before served on board a man-of-war?" asked the first lieutenant one day, observing his activity.
"Nor have I, sir," answered Ralph, touching his hat. "I never handled a gun before I joined this ship."
"You do very well, then, and may look out for a higher rating before long," observed Mr Handsel, pa.s.sing on.