CHAPTER SEVEN.
The look-out from the mast-head of the pirate schooner must havediscovered the stranger soon after Paul had seen her, and her appearancemust have caused some uncertainty and irresolution on board. The winddropping, they furled sails, as if about to remain where they were andfight it out.
"It will give the boats of the man-of-war some work to do," exclaimedDevereux, when he saw this. "I wish that we could get off to themfirst, though. I would give much to have a brush with those piraticalscoundrels."
Before long, however, the pirates again altered their minds. The breezereturning, sail was once more made, and the schooner, with the boatstowing ahead, stood through the entrance. The time lost was probably ofthe greatest consequence to them, and by the time that the schooner wasclear of the reefs, the man-of-war had drawn so near, that her characterwas no longer doubtful. Devereux had been anxiously watching her forsome time, so had Reuben Cole.
"What do you think of her, Cole?" asked Devereux.
"What you knows her to be, sir--the _Cerberus_ herself, and no other,"cried Reuben, in a more animated tone than he had indulged in for many along day.
"I made sure it was she, sir, five minutes ago, but I was just afraid tospeak; but when you axed me, sir, then I knowed it was all right."
"The _Cerberus_!" cried the rest of the party in the same breath.
"Ay, she's the fine old girl, no doubt about it," exclaimed O'Grady."Three cheers for the _Cerberus_! Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!"
All the party joined heartily in the shout. It was echoed from adistance, and old Charcoal was seen scrambling along on his crutchestowards them. They congratulated him by signs at having escaped thefate which his cruel taskmasters had intended for him, and he seemed noless pleased than they were at the appearance of the English frigate.Their attention was, however, soon fully engrossed by the chase. Thefrigate had caught sight of the schooner, and was now crowding on allsail to overtake her. The latter was keeping as close in with the shoreas the reefs would allow, with the intention, probably, of rounding theisland and putting it between herself and her enemy. She, however, bykeeping so close in, lost the sea breeze, which the frigate, keepingfrom necessity further out, retained. The pirates thus lost theadvantage which the knowledge of the shore would have given them. Theircraft was a fast one, but there was no faster frigate on the stationthan the _Cerberus_. She seemed putting forth all her speed, and it wassoon evident that she was gaining rapidly on the chase. The wind, itmust be understood, was off the land, along the south coast of which thevessels were standing towards the east. It was necessary, therefore,for the schooner, in order to get on the north side, either to stand along way to the east, or else to make short tacks, so as to weather theeastern end of the island. The temptation to watch her proceedings wasvery great, and though the way round was long, and over soft sand inplaces, the party set off in that direction as fast as they could run.By the time they had reached a slight elevation, whence they could watchthe further progress of the chase, the frigate had gained so greatly onthe schooner, that the latter would, in a few minutes, be within rangeof her guns. The pirates must have seen that they had now little chanceof escaping, but they would not give in.
"Hurra! There goes her first shot," cried O'Grady, as a puff of smokeand a flash was seen to proceed from the frigate's side, followed by areport, as the iron missile went leaping over the water, but fallingshort of the object at which it was aimed. For some half-hour or morethe frigate did not throw another shot away; the schooner, meantime,made several tacks in shore, but the wind veered as she went about, andshe gained far less ground than if she had continued on one tack. Stillshe managed nearly to weather the eastern point. The _Cerberus_,however, was by this time standing directly towards her, a point off thewind, so as to make her escape almost impossible. Again the frigatefired--the water was smooth, and her gunnery was good. The shot struckthe schooner's hull. Another and another followed. Still she stood on.She was in stays; another tack or two would carry her round the point,and there were reefs amid which she might possibly make her escape, whena shot, flying higher than the rest, struck the head of her main-mast.Over the side went the topmast and topsail, down came the mainsail, andthe vessel's head paying off, in five minutes she was hard and fast on areef. The frigate had, meantime, been shortening sail, and scarcely hadthe schooner struck, when she dropped her anchor in a positioncompletely to command the wreck with her guns.
"The villains will get their due now. Hurrah!" cried O'Grady. "Butsee, they are lowering their boats to escape on shore. If they fall inwith us, they will knock us on the head to a certainty. Won'tdiscretion with us be the best part of valour? and hadn't we just bestget out of their way?"
"They will scarcely attempt to come on shore here, I should think,"observed Devereux. "They will more probably pull along close in withthe shore, and, if they can, get away from the island altogether."
The attempt of the pirates to escape was immediately seen from thefrigate, which, thereon, opened her fire to prevent them, while at thesame time her boats were lowered to cut them off. The frigate's shothad knocked one of the schooner's boats to pieces. Most of her crewcrowded into the other two, which shoved off, leaving some on board, wholoudly entreated them to return. But, overloaded as they were, theycould not have done so had they wished, and it was with difficulty theyreached the shore, swearing vengeance on the heads of their victors.
"It's time for us, at all events, to be off, if we would save ourthroats from being cut, or our heads from being broken," cried O'Grady,as he saw them about to land.
The rest of the party agreed with him, and signed to Charcoal toaccompany them. But the old black seemed bewildered, and shook hishead, to signify that he could not move as fast as they could, and thatthey must hurry on without him. In vain they urged him and showed himthat they would help him on.
"Come, old fellow, just you get up on my back, and I will carry you,"exclaimed Reuben Cole, who was by far the strongest of the party.
Still the black refused--the whole party were in despair. It was hightime, indeed, to move away from the spot, not only to escape thepirates, but to avoid the shot from the _Cerberus_, some of which,passing over the schooner, had struck the ground very close to them.One of the shot at length settled the dispute by flying along andstriking the poor old man on the shoulder, and very nearly taking offReuben's head at the same time. His moments were evidently numbered,and to move him while seemingly in the agonies of death, would have beencruelty. Devereux, therefore, reluctantly ordered his followers to runfor their lives, before they were discovered and pursued by the pirates.It was doubtful, indeed, whether they had not already been seen. Paul,as they came along, had observed a patch of rocky ground to the southnear the shore, with low shrubs growing about it. He pointed it out toDevereux.
"Right, Gerrard, the very place for us; we'll steer towards it," heanswered.
By running on at full speed, they had just time to conceal themselvesamong the rocks as the pirates reached the shore. Devereux had orderedthem all to lie down, so that they were unable to observe the directionthe outlaws took. O'Grady and Paul were crouching down close to eachother. Both felt a strong inclination to look out from theirhiding-place.
"I say, Gerrard, don't you think that you could manage, just with halfan eye above the rock, to see what the spalpeens of pirates are aboutthere?" whispered the former.
"Beg pardon, sir, but our orders were not to look out at all," answeredPaul, in a very low voice.
"Right, Gerrard, right; but by the powers, our fellows are a long timegetting on shore from the frigate," said O'Grady.
"Silence, lads!" whispered Devereux, who overheard them talking. "Ihear footsteps."
Sure enough, the tramp of men running fast was heard, and, it seemed,coming in the direction of the rock. Probably the pirates werehastening there for shelter. Paul was sure, as most likely were therest of the party, that they would wreak their vengea
nce on their headsif they discovered them. He felt very uncomfortable; his satisfactionwas not increased, when he heard a voice shout out, "Here they are, thescoundrels! don't let one of them escape."
As there was no object in remaining to be cut down, he was about tofollow the ordinary instinct of nature, and to try and escape by flight,when another voice added, "Come on, men, here they are, a dozen or twoskulking scoundrels, too."
There was a shrill squeak in the sound, which Paul was certain he hadheard many times before. He was not mistaken. There, on the top of arock, stood honest Bruff, and by his side, Tilly Blake.
"There are two of the villains--young ones, though," cried Tilly,pointing to O'Grady and Gerrard.
Then he stopped, with a look of astonishment which made them almostburst into a fit of laughter, as they sprang forward to meet him, whilethe rest of the party at the same time rose up from their lair.
"Why, Devereux, old fellow, I thought that you were safe in England withour prize by this time," cried Bruff, as he shook his messmate's hand.
Devereux could with difficulty reply, his feelings had so completelymastered him; so Bruff continued: "Ah, I see how it was; the scoundrelssurprised and captured you, and brought you prisoners here. Well, I'mthankful we've got you back safe, though I conclude poor old Noakes haslost the number of his mess."
In a few words, Devereux, who soon found his tongue, explained what hadoccurred, and the whole party, with the rest of the frigate's crew whohad landed, set forward in pursuit of the pirates. It was important tocome up with them before they could have time to fortify themselves. Inhigh glee, the whole party hurried on, led by Bruff, and guided byDevereux and O'Grady. It was likely that the pirates would make a standeither at the hut or on the top of a rocky mound on which some thickbrushwood, with a few trees, grew. It was a strong post naturally, andmight be made much stronger if the pirates had time to cut down thetrees and form barricades. Bruff, therefore, with his small party,without waiting for reinforcements from the ship, pushed on. They hadalready passed round the head of the lagoon without finding the enemy.
"They must have got into the hut, and we must be cautious how weapproach it, or they may pick us off without our being able to return ashot," observed Devereux, as they came in sight of it.
Bruff, in consequence of this, at once divided his men, sending oneparty to the right, another to the left, while he advanced directlytowards the hut, keeping, however, under such shelter as the cocoa-nuttrees and bushes afforded. Whether the generalship was good might bedoubted, for should the pirates break out, they might overwhelm one ofthe smaller parties, and make good their retreat to another part of theisland, where they might hold out till the frigate was compelled toleave the coast. This was Reuben's opinion, which he imparted to Paul.Still the enemy did not appear. The parties closed in--not a shot wasfired. "Charge!" shouted Bruff. The door was burst open--the hut wasempty. There were treasures of all sorts scattered about, which thepirates had not time to pack up when they hurriedly left the island.
The crew of the _Cerberus_ very naturally wished to take possession ofthe plunder, but Bruff called them together, and ordered them to proceedat once to the mound where Devereux and O'Grady thought that the piratesmust have gone. It was hot work. They stopped for a few seconds at thefountain to wash the sand out of their throats, and pushed on. The hillwas soon in sight. The place looked naturally strong.
"The fellows are there, for they are cutting down the trees already,"cried O'Grady. "If we could but wait for an hour or so, they'd bepretty well ready for us, and we should get heaps of honour and glory intaking them."
"Thank you, Paddy, but we'll not give them time to get ready," answeredBruff. "On, lads, on!"
So busily engaged were the pirates, that the English were close up tothe mound, for hill it was not, before they perceived that their enemieswere on them. Led on by Bruff and the other midshipmen, the seamenclambered up the hill in spite of all obstacles. The pirates stood totheir arms and fought desperately. They were a fierce set of ruffians.The hairy baboon, as O'Grady called the man who had seized Paul on therock, led them on. Their captain, probably, had been killed, for heseemed to be the principal officer among them. Among gentry of thatclass, when the day is going against them, no one is anxious to belooked upon as a leader. Whether he wished it or not, however, thehairy baboon was a conspicuous object. With three brace of pistolsstuck in his belt, his arms bare, and a huge sword in his hand, he stoodlike a wild beast at bay. The pirates, when overpowered at otherpoints, rallied round him. Again and again Bruff attempted to pick himout, in the hopes of cutting him down, but each time calling his menaround him, the pirate avoided the combat.
The pirates were, however, getting the worst of it. Several of them hadfallen, killed, or desperately wounded. Some of the English also hadbeen hurt, and two killed. Bruff, determining to put an end to theconflict, once more dashed up the slope, and with his brave fellows,leaping over all obstacles, pushed up to where the savage stood behindthe trunk of a fallen tree. Devereux was at his side, and Paul followedclose behind, armed with a pistol which had been given him by one of theseamen. His great wish was, should opportunity occur, of being of useto Devereux, just as he had been, on a former occasion, to poor oldNoakes. This was fiercer work, for quarter was neither asked nor taken.The English among the pirates were the most desperate, for they knewthat they were fighting with halters round their throats. The pirateplied his weapon with right good will, and kept Bruff fully occupied,bestowing, indeed, more than one wound on him. Devereux was, meantime,engaged with another fellow, evidently an officer by his gay dress andornaments. He also was a good swordsman; and while the English seamenwere engaged on either side, he managed to strike down Devereux'scutlass, and would the next moment have cut him from the head to theneck, when Paul, seeing that the moment for action had arrived,springing forward, fired his pistol with so good an aim, that thepirate, shot through the heart, sprang into the air and fell forwardover the tree, while Devereux, recovering his guard, saved his head fromthe blow of the falling sword, which he sent flying away among thepirates. At liberty for a moment, he turned on Bruff's antagonist, who,unable to parry his rapid blows, was at length brought to the ground.As he lay writhing in the agonies of death, he attempted to fire apistol, which he drew from his belt, at his victor's head; but his eyewas dim--the shot flew into the air, and his hand fell powerless by hisside. The pirates, though they still fought on, were evidentlydisheartened at the fall of their leaders; but the English wereproportionately encouraged, and dashing on once more, they cut downevery pirate opposing them. Some attempted to fly, prompted by theinstinct of self-preservation; but they were met by a party underO'Grady, sent round to attack them in the rear, and at last, in thehopes of prolonging their lives, they threw down their arms and beggedfor quarter. However fierce men may be, very few will fight on with thecertainty of being killed if they do, and the possibility of escaping ifthey yield. The pirates were completely disarmed, and were thensurrounded by seamen, with pistols at their heads, marched towards thespot where the boats of the _Cerberus_ lay waiting for them. The hutand its contents were not forgotten, and one party of men was ordered tocollect and bring along all the more valuable articles which could befound. As they marched along, Devereux called Paul up to him."Gerrard, I am anxious to tell you that I feel how heavy a debt ofgratitude I owe you," he said. "You have tended me with a brother'scare since I was wounded, and I saw the way in which you saved my lifejust now. Fortunately, Mr Bruff saw it also, and as you thus certainlycontributed to the success of the undertaking, I am certain that he willplace your conduct in its most favourable light before the captain, and,for my part, I think that there is one reward which you ought to obtain,and which you will obtain, too."
"What can that be, sir?" asked Paul, innocently. "All I know is, that Iwished to be of use to you, and I am very glad that you think I havebeen of use."
"Indeed you have, Gerrard," ans
wered Devereux. "I should have been foodfor the land crabs if it hadn't been for you; but we'll not say anythingmore about the reward just now."
They were approaching the beach where the boats were waiting.
"Hillo, what is that?" cried O'Grady. "Oh, you vile scoundrels--you didthat, I know you did."
He shook his fist at the prisoners as he spoke, and pointed to the bodyof the poor black, which lay in their course, with the head smashed topieces. The pirates had evidently found him wounded on the ground whenthey landed, and had thus wreaked their vengeance on him.
The seamen stopped a few short minutes to bury him in the sand, and themidshipmen, as they passed on, muttered, "Poor old Charcoal, good bye."
The pirates would have had very little chance just then of escaping withtheir lives had the seamen been their judges, and in consequence of thecruel murder of the black, they got many a punch in the ribs and a liftwith the knee as they were bundled into the boats. Hitherto, of course,those on board the _Cerberus_ were ignorant that Devereux and hiscompanions were on the island. As the boats approached the ship, allglasses were turned towards them; but it took some time after they hadclimbed up the sides to explain who they were and where they had comefrom, so haggard in countenance were they, and so tattered in dress, andblood and smoke-begrimed. Devereux lost not a moment in speaking toCaptain Walford in warm terms of Paul's conduct throughout all theevents which had occurred, adding, "To-day, sir, he saved my life byshooting a man who was on the point of cutting me down, and I mustentreat you to give him the only reward he would value, or indeed, Ibelieve, accept."
"What is that?" asked Captain Walford, smiling at the idea of a ship-boybeing punctilious as to the style of reward he would receive.
"Why, sir, that you would place him on the quarter-deck," answeredDevereux, boldly. "There is no one who will do it more credit, or isbetter fitted to become an officer than Paul Gerrard, sir."
"I will keep him in mind, and perhaps he may have an opportunity ofdistinguishing himself while under my eye," answered the captain; but hemade no promise to promote Paul, and Devereux left him, fearing verymuch that he was displeased at his having mentioned the subject.
All the party were, however, warmly welcomed on board, and Alphonse, whohad now learned a good deal of English, became a great favourite bothwith officers and men. As there happened to be no fiddler among thecrew, his violin was in great requisition. He had no pride, and as hetook delight in giving pleasure, he constantly went forward to play tothe men while they danced. There was nothing they would not have donefor the "little mounseer," as they called him.
Before the _Cerberus_ left the island, one of the pirates declared thata large amount of treasure was hidden near the hut, and volunteered toshow it, provided that his life was spared. Captain Walford would makeno promise, but let the man understand that if the treasure was found,and he chose to turn king's evidence, the circumstance might possiblytell in his favour. The pirate held out for the promise of a pardon andrefused to afford any further information unless it was given. Thecaptain, however, sent a party on shore, under Mr Bruff with O'Grady,to search for the supposed treasure. Reuben and Paul were of the party.There were two boats. They pulled up the lagoon.
"I feel very different now from what I did t'other day when the pirateswere after us. Don't you, Paul?" said Reuben Cole, in a moralisingtone. "Many are the ups and downs in the world. The pirates was thenthirsting after our blood, and now we're thirsting after the pirates'gold. It's not much good our blood would have done them, and I'mafeared the gold won't do us much good either, if it's spent as most ofus spends it when we gets ashore. Paul, don't you go and throw awayyour hard-earned gains as seamen generally do--you'll be sorry for itsome day, if you do."
Paul promised to follow his friend's advice. He was very eager,however, to find the pirate treasure, as he hoped to be able to send hisshare home to his mother and sisters. He was not aware of the effortsDevereux had been making to get him placed on the quarter-deck, in whichcase the share would be considerably more than that of a cabin-boy. Thesearch was commenced, but except a bag of dollars and a few golddoubloons, nothing of value could be found. The men dug about in everydirection. There was no sign of the earth having been turned up.
"I say, Reuben, I wonder where all the gold we are looking for can be,"exclaimed Paul, after they had searched in vain again and again.
"Just possible, nowhere," answered Reuben. "Them chaps is much morelikely to spend their money ashore than to bury it in the ground."
It seemed very probable that Reuben's opinion was the right one. Theseamen dug and dug more frantically and eagerly as the prospect offinding the gold became less and less. Reuben's spade at length strucksomething hard.
"Hurrah! Here it is," cried several voices, and half a dozen spadeswere plunged into the hole at the same time. A human skull was soonbrought to view.
"All right," cried O'Grady. "The pirates always bury a man above theirtreasure, that his spirit may keep guard over it."
Thus encouraged, the seamen dug on, the bones were thrown up with verylittle ceremony, and all expected every instant to come upon an ironcase, or an oak chest, or something of that sort, full of gold, andpearls, and diamonds. While thus employed, a gun from the ship washeard. They dug more desperately than ever. The gun was the signal fortheir return: it must not be disobeyed. Still, within the very grasp oftheir treasure, it seemed hard to lose it. They dug, and they dug, butthere was no sign of treasure. Another gun was heard.
"We must be away!" cried the leader. "Shoulder spades, and march!"
O'Grady, stopping behind, leaped into the hole and ran his sword up tothe hilt into the sand, but it met with no impediment. Again and againhe plunged his sword in all directions. He saw that it was of no avail."I must be out of this and run after the rest," he said to himself.But to propose was easier than to execute. In vain he tried to get upthe sandy sides of the pit--he made desperate efforts. He ought not tohave stopped behind, and did not like to cry out. "Oh! I shall have totake the place of the disinterred body, and that would not be at allpleasant," he muttered--"One more spring!" But no--down he came on hisback, and the sand rushed down and half covered him up. He now thoughtthat it was high time to sing out, and so he did at the very top of hisvoice. He shouted over and over again--no one came. His companionswere getting further and further off. He scrambled to his feet and madeanother spring, shrieking out at the same time, "Help! help!"
Fortunately, Paul and Reuben were bringing up the rear, and Paulhappening to speak of Mr O'Grady, observed that he was not in front.At that moment the cry of "Help, help!" reached his ears.
"It's Mr O'Grady," he exclaimed, and he ran forward to Mr Bruff andobtained leave to go and look. Reuben and several other men had,however, to go to his assistance to get poor Paddy out of the hole, andpretty hot they all became by running towards the boats, so as not todelay them. Nothing was said of O'Grady's adventure, and the captaindid not seem much surprised at no treasure having been found. A coursewas steered for Jamaica, where the pirates were to be tried. The_Cerberus_ arrived at her destined port without falling in with anenemy. Numerous witnesses came forward to prove various acts of piracycommitted by the prisoners, the greater number of whom were condemned todeath, and were accordingly hung in chains, as the custom of those dayswas, to be a terror and warning to like evil-doers, as dead crows andother birds are stuck up in a field to scare away the live ones wishingto pilfer the farmer's newly-sown seed.
The frigate having refitted in Port Royal harbour, was again to sail--like a knight-errant--in search of adventures. It was not likely thatshe would be long in finding them.
As soon as the commander-in-chief heard of the capture of the frigate bythe mutineers, he became very anxious to re-take her. A brig of warbefore long arrived with a Spanish prize lately out of Puerto Cabello onthe Spanish Main. Her crew gave information that the frigate was therefitting for sea by the Spaniards,
to whom the mutineers had deliveredher; that she was strongly armed, and manned with a half more than herformer complement. It soon became known on board the _Cerberus_ thatCaptain Walford had volunteered to cut out the frigate, but that theadmiral objected to the exploit as too hazardous.
"Just like our skipper," exclaimed O'Grady. "He would try it and do ittoo. We'd back him, and so would every man on board."
"No fear of that," cried several voices. "Let us but find her, and shewill be ours."
"I wish that we could have the chance," observed Devereux to O'Grady."It would be a fine opportunity for Gerrard, and the captain would, Ithink, be glad of a good excuse for placing him on the quarter-deck."
As there was no longer a reason for Alphonse Montauban remaining onboard the _Cerberus_, he had to be left at Jamaica to wait till anopportunity should occur for sending him to France. His friends partedfrom him with many regrets.
"We shall meet some day again, old fellow," said O'Grady, as he wrunghis hands. "But I say, I hope that it won't be with swords in ourfists."
"Oh no, no!" cried Alphonse; "I will never more fight against youEnglish. I was told that you were little better than barbarians--anation of fierce lords, money-making shopkeepers, and wretched slaves;but I find you very different. I love you now, and I love you forever."
Alphonse parted in a most affectionate manner from Paul, telling him howglad he should be, when the war was over, if he would come and see himat his father's chateau, where he said he should go and remain quietly,and escape, if possible, being sent again to sea.
The _Cerberus_ sailed with sealed orders. This was known. It was hopedthat they would give permission to the captain to attack the Spanishfrigate. The captain opened his orders off the east end of the island,when he found that he was to proceed off Cape Delavela, on the SpanishMain, a point of land about seventy leagues to leeward of PuertoCabello, and that he was to remain as long as his provisions, wood, andwater would allow, to endeavour to intercept the frigate supposed to bebound to the Havana. Thither the _Cerberus_ accordingly proceeded. Towait in expectation of meeting a friend is a matter of no littleinterest; but when an enemy is looked-for, and there is the prospect ofa battle, and a pretty tough one to boot, the excitement is immense. Inthis instance it was tenfold: the enemy was no ordinary one; the objectwas to win back a ship foully taken and disgracefully retained.
"There is no necessity to tell you to keep a sharp look-out," said thecaptain to the officers of the watch, as he went below the first nightof their arrival on their cruising-ground.
"She'll be clever if she escapes us," was the answer. However, thecaptain was on deck that night several times, as he was on manysubsequent nights, and sharp eyes were looking out all night and allday, and still no enemy's frigate hove in sight. Paul was veryambitious to be the first to see her. Whenever his duty would allow, hewas at the mast-head till the hot sun drove him down, or darkness madehis stay there, useless. He often dreamed, when in his hammock atnight, that he heard the drum beat to quarters, and jumping up, slippedinto his clothes, and hurried on deck, when finding all quiet, with nosmall disappointment he had again to turn in. "The opportunity willcome, however, in some way or other," said Paul to himself as he triedto go to sleep, and succeeded, as ship-boys generally do. "I must havepatience. Even if I were to be killed the next day, I should like tohave been a midshipman." Week after week passed away; no enemyappeared. Now and then a prize was taken; but it was always the samestory--the frigate was still in Puerto Cabello. At length it becameknown that the water and wood were running short, while it was a fact noone would dispute, that the provisions were very bad. The _Cerberus_must return to Jamaica. The disappointment was general.
"Och, the blackguards of Dons, to keep us waiting all this time, and notto give us the satisfaction of thrashing them after all!" cried PaddyO'Grady, as the matter was discussed in the midshipmen's berth.
"The fellow has probably slipped by us in the dark; but we'll catch himsome day; that's a comfort," observed Devereux.
"Our skipper is not a man to take that for granted without ascertainingthe fact," remarked Bruff.
He was right. Before a course was shaped for Jamaica, the _Cerberus_stood for Puerto Cabello. All hands were eagerly on the look out asthey approached the port, to ascertain whether the frigate was stillthere. A shout of satisfaction broke from the throats of the crew asshe was discovered with her sails bent ready for sea, though moored headand stern between two strong batteries, one on either side, at theentrance of the harbour. By herself, she looked no insignificantopponent; while the batteries, it was supposed, mounted not less thantwo hundred guns. The _Cerberus_ stood in till she was within gun-shotof the enemy, and then continued her course, as if fearing a contest.Not a word was said by the captain as to what he intended doing. Hopereturned when the ship was tacked. For two or three days the _Cerberus_continued cruising up and down before the port. Another day was drawingto a close, when, as it seemed, she had given a farewell to the port.Some of the officers had been dining with the captain. They came out ofthe cabin with an expression of satisfaction on their countenances.
"Something is in the wind," said Reuben to Paul. "They wouldn't look sopleased otherwise."
Not long after this, all hands were sent aft to the quarter-deck, wherethe captain stood, surrounded by his officers, ready to receive them.
"I told you so," whispered Reuben to Paul. "He's got some good news,depend on that; I see it in his eye."
"My lads, we have been waiting a long time to get hold of thatvillainous frigate in there," the captain began. "If we don't take her,somebody else will, and we shall lose the honour and glory of the deed.She will not come out to fight us fairly, and so we must go in and bringher out. It's to be done, I know, if you'll try to do it. What do yousay to that?"
"That we'll try and do it," cried a voice from among the seamen.
"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" Three hearty cheers broke from the crew.Again and again was given forth from the seamen's throats thatsoul-thrilling shout which none but Englishmen can utter.
"Thank you, my lads," cried the captain. "I knew that you would beready to do it; and, what is more, I know that you will do it. It willnot be your fault if that frigate is not ours before many hours areover. There will be six boats with their regular crews, and I havearranged already of whom the boarding-parties are to consist. I willmyself lead."
Saying this, he handed a list to the first-lieutenant. All were eagerto ascertain its contents. Bruff and Devereux had command of boats; thesecond-lieutenant had charge of another--the launch; the surgeon of afourth. Paul, with no small delight, heard his name called out for thecaptain's boat--the pinnace. Reuben Cole was also to go in her. Theexpedition was to consist of two divisions; the first formed by thepinnace, launch, and jolly-boat, to board on the starboard-bow, gangway,and quarter; and the gig, black and red cutters, to board on theopposite side. Some of her crew were to remain in the launch to cut thelower cable, for which they were provided with sharp axes; thejolly-boat was to cut the stern cable and to send two men aloft to loosethe mizen-topsail. Four men from the gig were to loose thefore-topsail, and in the event of the boats reaching the shipundiscovered, as soon as the boarders had climbed up the sides, thecrews were to cut the cables and take the ship in tow. No arrangementscould be more perfect, and all about to engage in the undertaking feltconfident of success, eagerly waiting for the moment of action. Theship stood towards the harbour, and in silence the crews and theboarding-parties entered the boats and shoved off. Paul felt as he hadnever felt before. He had gone through a good many adventures; but thework he was now engaged in would probably be of a far more desperatecharacter. Still his heart beat high with hope. If the undertakingshould be successful--and he felt sure that it would be--he believedthat he should secure that position he had of late taught himself soardently to covet. The boats made rapid progress. The pinnace led; thecaptain with his night-glass keeping his
eye constantly on the enemy.No light was seen, either on board her or in the batteries, or othersign to show that the Spaniards were aware that a foe was approaching.The night was dark; the water was smooth. There was a sound of oars.Two large gun-boats were seen at the entrance of the harbour. At thesame instant the Spaniards, discovering the English, began firing. Thealarm was given; lights burst forth in all directions, and round-shotand bullets came whizzing through the air. Some officers might haveturned back; not so Captain Walford. Ordering the boats to follow, andnot to mind the Spaniards, he gave three hearty cheers, and, dashing on,was quickly up to the frigate.
Paul Gerrard, the Cabin Boy Page 7
