"A sail on the lee-bow," shouted the midshipman. "A lugger close-hauled standing across our course, sir."
At that moment the captain came on deck.
"She shows no colours," again shouted the midshipman.
"We will speak her whatever she is," observed the captain.
The order was given to trim sails, and the corvette was steered so as to cut off the lugger should she continue on her present course.
Those on board the stranger only just then discovered the ship of war, and instead of continuing on close-hauled as before, she stood away with her sheets eased off to the southward.
"That looks suspicious," observed Headland. "If she were honest, she would not try to avoid us."
It was soon evident that the lugger was a fast craft. Every sail the _Thisbe_ could carry was set, while the lugger, spreading out her broad canvas, did her best to escape.
"Perhaps the fellows think we may press some of them, and are simply anxious to escape being overhauled," observed Harry.
Though the lugger made good way, the loftier sails of the _Thisbe_ carried her quickly through the water, and her commander and Harry hoped that she would deserve the character they first formed of her.
At length they got near enough to the lugger to send a shot from a bow-chaser as a signal to heave to. She, however, took no notice of it, and stood on. Other shots were fired in the hopes of knocking away some of her spars, and compelling her to obey. At length a shot had the desired effect, and her main-halyards being shot away, her huge mainsail came down on deck. To avoid the risk of the broadside which might follow, the lugger came up into the wind.
A boat, under the second lieutenant De Vere, was lowered to ascertain the character of the vessel. Some thought that she would prove to be a smuggler, with possibly a cargo on board. She was so completely under the lee of the corvette that everything going on on deck was seen.
"We may, at all events, get some of those fellows. Give them the option of volunteering whatever they are, but if they refuse, pick out half-a-dozen of the best hands, Mr De Vere," said the captain.
"Ay, ay, sir," was the answer, and the lieutenant proceeded on board.
He was seen to dive down below, and in a short time to return and muster the men on deck. They seemed by their movements inclined to refuse submission to his orders, but he pointed to the guns of the corvette as his authority, and one after the other having gone below to get their bags, they descended the side into the boat.
Six men had already been secured, whether they had volunteered or not it was difficult to say, when a struggle was seen to be taking place forward between some of the lugger"s crew and a man who had made his way up the fore hatch. He dashed those who tried to stop him aside, and sprang aft to the lieutenant. A short discussion took place between De Vere and the master of the lugger. While it was going forward, the man took the opportunity of leaping over the side into the boat.
The second lieutenant, apparently considering that the lugger still had more hands than she required, now selected four additional men, who, evidently in a very sulky humour, obeyed his summons.
With the eleven men thus obtained he returned to the ship.
The breeze freshening, Headland was unwilling to delay longer, and therefore hailing the lugger, gave her permission to continue on her course, when the corvette"s sails being filled, she once more stood down channel.
The newly pressed men were summoned aft.
"I cannot say that they were volunteers except this man," said De Vere, pointing to the one who had been seen to leap into the boat, a fine strong young fellow, though he looked somewhat pale and ill, while his jacket had been torn, and his head cut in the struggle. "He was willing enough to join, though the others tried to prevent him."
The men gave in their names. They were hardy-looking, but of a somewhat ruffianly appearance. They were not the less likely to prove useful seamen, only it would be necessary to keep a sharp look-out on them while the corvette was in Plymouth Sound.
When Harry asked the name of the man of whom De Vere had been speaking, he replied--
"Jacob Halliburt."
Harry looked at him, wondering whether he could be old Adam"s son, and, as he supposed, May"s brother.
He did not wish just then to ask the question in public. He had no doubts, however, when the young man stated that he had been carried off some time before from his home by the lugger"s crew, and kept a prisoner on board ever since, being compelled to do duty when at sea, but being shut down in the hold whenever she was in port or might have an opportunity of making his escape.
"This was my only chance, sir, so I made a dash for it, and knocked down the fellows who tried to stop me, as I had a hundred times rather serve aboard a man-of-war than remain with such rascally lawless fellows."
"You did very right," said De Vere, "and you will find it to your advantage."
Before the day was over three large ships had been boarded, one of which had picked up a ship"s crew of twenty men at sea. It seemed hard for the poor fellows after the dangers they had gone through not to return to their friends on sh.o.r.e; but necessity has no law. The greater number were sent on board the corvette, which, with several of the ship"s crew, fully made up her complement.
As Headland was eager to get to sea, he was glad thus to avoid the necessity of having to touch at Plymouth, where it would have required great vigilance to prevent some of the lately pressed men from escaping.
CHAPTER FORTY THREE.
BETTER THAN A TONIC.
The _Thisbe_ had doubled the Cape.
On opening his sealed orders, Captain Headland found that he was to proceed to the Eastern Seas, and to give notice of the commencement of hostilities to any ships-of-war or merchantmen he could fall in with.
The _Thisbe_ had touched at Rio to obtain water and provisions, and had since made the best of her way eastward.
Little did Sir Ralph suppose when he had got Headland appointed to a ship destined for this service, that he was going to a part of the world in which he was so much interested.
Headland, as soon as he had opened the orders, determined, as far as was compatible with his duty, to visit every English settlement, and to make inquiries which might tend to elucidate the mystery of his birth.
Although upwards of twenty years had pa.s.sed since he had been put on board the merchantman by his supposed father, the circ.u.mstance, he thought, might still be recollected by some of the inhabitants, and if so, he might be able to trace his parents. His heart beat high with hope; Harry was sanguine of success.
"I am sure if you can find your parents you will have no more cause to be ashamed of them than they will have of you," he said, "and find them you will, I am very certain. I cannot help feeling that we were providentially sent out to these seas for that very object."
"At all events, we may make use of the opportunity to obtain it," said Headland, smiling.
Harry had taken the first opportunity of speaking to the young fisherman who had volunteered from the lugger, and, ascertaining that he was no other than Jacob Halliburt, had treated him with all the kindness which, in their relative positions, he was able to show.
"Do your duty, Halliburt," he said, "and I can answer for it that Captain Headland will endeavour to promote your interests, and give you a higher rating as soon as possible. I will write by the first chance, to give your friends notice of your safety, and you can do the same, and let them know what I have said."
"I am much obliged to you for your kindness," answered Jacob. "I knew, sir, when I saw you, that you must be Lieutenant Castleton who was at Texford, and I was thankful to think that I had to serve under you. If it had not been for that, I should have been heart-sick to return home to help poor father, for he must be sorely missing me." Harry was able to a.s.sure Jacob that his father"s spirits were wonderfully kept up, and that he hoped Ned Brown would stick by him, and help him during his absence.
"And mother, sir, does she bear up as well as father?" asked Jacob.
Harry, who had seen the dame just before he left home, was able to give a good account of her.
Jacob longed to ask after May, but he felt tongue-tied, and could not bring himself to p.r.o.nounce her name. Harry was surprised at his silence. Jacob merely remarked that he hoped the family at Downside were also well.
"The ladies were sorry when they heard of your being carried off."
"Thank you, Mr Castleton, thank you," said Jacob. "I will try and do as you tell me, and though I could not have brought myself to leave father of my own accord, it may be my coming aboard here won"t be so bad for me after all."
Harry was still under the belief that Jacob was May"s brother, and Jacob had said nothing to undeceive him. Jacob at the same time had not the slightest suspicion that his lieutenant was engaged to marry the being on whom his own honest affections were so hopelessly set.
It was observed by his messmates that Jacob Halliburt was a great favourite with the captain and first lieutenant, but as he was a well-behaved man, and did his duty thoroughly, this was easily accounted for, as no particular favour was shown him of which others could be jealous.