CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
A CUTTING-OUT EXPEDITION--BILL DISCOVERS AN OLD FRIEND.
The wind being very light, every stitch of canvas the _Thisbe_ couldcarry was packed on her, and her course altered so as to cut off thestranger. As the sun rose, and its beams lighted up the white canvas ofthe latter, she was pronounced to be a full-rigged ship, either aman-of-war or privateer, or a large merchantman, but at the distance shewas off it was difficult to determine whether she was a frigate or aflush-decked vessel. Captain Martin hoped that she would prove to be afrigate, and an antagonist worthy of engaging. She must have seen the_Thisbe_ approaching, but either took her for a friend or believed thatshe was well able to cope with her, as she did not alter her course.Captain Martin calculated that the _Thisbe_ would be up with thestranger before noon. Every telescope on board was directed towardsher. Bill wished that he had one, that he might form an opinion as towhat she was. He heard some officers talking, and they declared thatshe was undoubtedly French, and was either a large man-of-war corvette,or a privateer. If such were the case, and the _Thisbe_ could get up toher, she would be captured to a certainty, though she would probablyfight, and try to knock away some of the _Thisbe's_ spars, so as toeffect her escape. The wind, which had hitherto been blowing from thesouthward and south, suddenly shifted to the east. As soon as thestranger felt it, she was seen to haul her tacks on board, brace up heryards, and stand away towards the land.
"She's going to run on shore," exclaimed Jack, who had been watching heras eagerly as any one, when his duty would allow him to take a look-out.
"More likely she knows of a harbour or battery in there, and is runningin for shelter," answered Bill.
"We shan't be able to take her then," said Jack. "I was making sure weshould have her as our prize."
"I won't say we shan't take her, notwithstanding," observed Bill."Perhaps we shall fight the battery and her too, if she brings up underone. Or if she runs into a harbour, the boats may be sent in after herto bring her out."
As soon as the stranger was seen standing to the southward, the _Thisbe_also hauled up to continue the pursuit, but the chase was still beyondthe reach of her guns.
"We shan't catch her after all," said Jack, who had taken another lookat the stranger some time after she had altered her course.
"I don't see that we have not still a chance of coming up with her,"answered Bill. "The captain thinks so, or he would not be keeping afterher. Perhaps she may be becalmed closer in with the land, or we maydraw near enough to knock away her masts. We have gained a mile on herduring the last hour. I would always try to succeed while a singlechance remains, and I would never knock under to an enemy while I had astick standing, or a plank beneath my feet."
Still, notwithstanding Bill's sanguine hopes of success, as the day woreon there seemed every probability that the French ship would make goodher escape. It was now seen that she was steering for a harbour, themouth of which could be distinguished from the deck of the _Thisbe_,with a battery on one side.
"Our bow chasers will reach her, Mr Saltwell," cried the captain, atlength.
The order to fire was eagerly obeyed. The frigate, however, had to yawfor the purpose. One of the shot was seen to go right through the sailsof the chase, but the other fell on one side.
The guns were quickly reloaded, and were fired immediately the ship waskept away sufficiently for the purpose. Again one of the shot tookeffect, but what damage was done it was impossible to say, and the chasestood on as before.
The manoeuvre was repeated several times, causing the frigate to loseground; but a fortunate shot would have enabled her quickly to regainit. Though several of the _Thisbe's_ shot took effect, the chasecontinued her course, firing in return from a gun run out astern; butnone of the shot struck her pursuer. At last, however, the chase ranpast the battery, which shortly afterwards opened fire. Captain Martinreturned it with such effect that two of the guns were silenced, whenthe frigate's head was put off shore, and she stood away to avoid therisk of being becalmed should the wind fall, as was very likely, towardsevening.
"I say, Bill, I really believe that's the very place we got away from onour raft," said Jack.
"No doubt about it," answered Bill. "I remember the look of the land tothe eastward, and I feel pretty sure I could find my way up theharbour."
Bill had scarcely said this when he heard his name called, and he wastold to go to the first lieutenant.
"Do you recollect anything about the harbour up there?" asked MrSaltwell.
"Yes, sir," answered Bill. "I remember it was the one from which Peekand I got off, and I was thinking I could make my way up it at night, ifI had to do so."
"You will have an opportunity to-night, I hope, of showing yourknowledge. The captain intends to send up the boats to try and cut outthe vessel we chased into the harbour. I am to command the expedition,and I will take you with me."
"Thank you, sir," said Bill, touching his hat. "I feel pretty sure thatI know my way up to the landing-place, and I do not suppose that a shipthe size of the chase could get up higher."
"You can go forward now, and be ready to accompany me when you aresummoned," said Mr Saltwell.
Bill felt highly gratified by the confidence placed in him, and wasthankful that he had so thoroughly observed the harbour before he andJack had made their escape. The frigate, meantime, was standing out tosea, so that by the time the sun went down she could not be perceivedfrom the shore. She was then hove-to, and preparations were made forthe intended expedition.
Lieutenant Saltwell went in the barge, the third lieutenant in thelaunch, and the lieutenant of marines, with the senior mate, in thecutter, the oars of all the boats being muffled, so that no sound wouldbetray their approach to the enemy.
The frigate then again stood in, taking care to show no lights, when inperfect silence the boats shoved off, carrying among them about fiftyofficers and men. Lieutenant Saltwell called Bill aft to take a seat byhis side. Before leaving the frigate, the captain had directed thefirst lieutenant to return should he find the ship so moored as torender it impossible to bring her out. Bill, however, told him that hehad observed a vessel at anchor some way below the landing-place, andthat he supposed no large craft could get up higher on account of theshallowness of the water. The wind, which had hitherto been east andnorth-east, again shifting to the southward, blew directly down theharbour, which would enable the ship, should she be captured, to bebrought down without difficulty.
Bill's heart beat quicker than usual as he thought of the work in hand,and recollected that the success of the undertaking might considerablydepend upon him. The night was very dark, but as the boats got up tothe mouth of the harbour the lights on shore could be distinguished, aswell as several on board vessels at anchor. The boats kept clear of thelatter, lest any of their people might discover them and give the alarm.The barge led, the launch and cutter following in succession. Thesuccess of the undertaking would depend on their being able to take theenemy by surprise.
As yet no signs had been perceived that their approach was discovered,and Bill advised that they should keep over to the west shore, wherethere were no vessels at anchor, but where he was sure there was waterfor the boats, from having seen a good-sized craft keeping that courseat low tide.
As they got higher up, the sound of voices came off the shore, as if thepeople were laughing and making merry. This gave Mr Saltwell hopesthat many of the crew were landed, and that those on board would betotally unprepared for an attack. He intended to board on the starboardquarter, and he had given directions to the other officers, one to boardon the larboard quarter and the other at the main chains, his objectbeing to overpower the resistance the officer's would make aft, then tosweep the decks until the forecastle was gained. One of the boats wasimmediately to shove ahead and cut the cable, while certain of the menhad been directed to hoist the headsails, so that the prize might,without an instant's delay, be making her way down the h
arbour beforeany assistance could come off to her from the land.
The moment for action was approaching. The ship was seen at the spotwhere Bill thought she would be found, lying silent and dark, her tallmasts and the tracery of her rigging just to be distinguished againstthe sky. No one was observed moving on her deck. Eagerly the boatsdashed forward to the posts allotted to them. The bows of the barge hadjust hooked on when the sentry on the gangway, who had evidently notbeen attending to his duty, shouted out, and fired his musket.
The rest of the watch came rushing aft, but it was to encounter the crewof the barge, who, having climbed up her side, had already gained herdeck. Their officers at the same moment sprang up the companion-hatch,sword in hand, but were knocked over before they could strike a blow.
The crews of the other boats had, in the meantime, gained the deck, butnot before the rest of the Frenchmen came tumbling up from below armedwith cutlasses and pikes, or such weapons as they could lay their handson. Though they made a bold stand, and endeavoured to defend the forepart of the ship, they had to retreat before the desperate charge of theboarders, who, with cutlasses flashing and cutting, soon hewed a way forthemselves to the forecastle, leaving the deck on either side coveredwith dead or wounded men. Not a word had been spoken, and scarcely ashout uttered, but the clashing of steel and flashing of pistols musthave showed the people on shore what was going forward.
The mate, to whom the duty had been assigned, having in the meantimecarried his boat under the bows, quickly cut the cable, then allowingher to drift alongside, he sprang on to the forecastle, where he tookcharge of the party engaged in making sail.
The third lieutenant, though he was severely wounded, went aft to thehelm, and in less than three minutes from the time the boats gotalongside, the prize, under her foresail and foretopsail, was standingdown the harbour.
Bill, having got hold of a pistol, kept close to Mr Saltwell, that hemight be ready to assist him or obey any orders he might receive. A fewonly of his men were standing round the lieutenant when a party of theFrench crew, who had already yielded, led by the boatswain, a big,sturdy fellow, whose cutlass had already brought two of the Englishseamen to the deck, suddenly attacked him, hoping to regain the ship.The sailors had enough to do to defend themselves, and the big boatswainwas making a desperate blow at the lieutenant's head, when Bill, whothought it a time to use his pistol with effect, fired, and theboatswain fell, his cutlass dropping from his hand. His followers onthis sprang back, and, throwing down their weapons, cried for mercy.
"I saw you do it, my lad," said the lieutenant. "The second time youhave saved my life. I'll not forget it."
The English sailors now had work enough to do to prevent the Frenchmenfrom rising. While sail was being made, numerous boats also were seencoming off from the shore full of armed men, evidently with theintention of attempting to board the prize. Sail after sail was letdrop, and the ship ran faster and faster through the water. She wasnot, however, as yet entirely won. Her crew, though beaten down below,were still very numerous, and might, should they find the boats of theirfriends coming alongside, at any moment rise and try to regain her. Thefort also had to be passed, and the garrison were sure to have heard theuproar and would open fire as soon as she got within range of theirguns.
Notwithstanding this, the British seamen performed their various dutiesas steadily as if they were on board their own ship. Some were aloft,loosing sails; others ran out the guns, ready to give the boats a warmreception, and others kept an eye on the prisoners.
The breeze freshened, and the prize in a short time reached the mouth ofthe harbour. No sooner had she done so than the guns from the fort, ashad been expected, opened fire, and their shot, thick as hail, camecrashing on board. Several men were struck, and the sails shot throughand through. None of the yards, however, were carried away, and thecanvas stood filled out with the breeze.
A number of prisoners had remained on deck, with sentries over them, asthe shot struck the ship. Several, to avoid it, endeavoured to escapebelow. Some succeeded, not waiting to descend by the ladders, butleaping down, to the no small risk of breaking their arms and legs.There was still more sail to be set, and Bill was pulling and hauling,when he saw a shot come plump in among a party of prisoners. Threefell; the rest, in spite of the sentries, making a desperate rush, leaptdown the main hatchway.
Bill at that moment saw a young Frenchman, who had been struck,struggling on the deck, and a voice crying out which he thought herecognised.
He sprang towards the sailor, and lifted him up. He was not mistaken;it was his friend Pierre.
"Are you badly hurt?" he asked in French.
"I'm afraid so, in my side," was the answer. "My poor mother, andJeannette, I shall never see them more."
"I hope that things are not so bad as that," responded Bill. "I willtry and get you below. Here!" and he called to one of the prisoners whohad remained on deck, and who, being very glad to get out of the way ofthe shot, willingly assisted Bill in dragging the wounded man to thecompanion-hatchway, down which the two together lifted him, and placedhim in the gun-room.
Fortunately the French surgeon had been ill in his berth, but had nowgot up, prepared to attend to his professional duties. As yet, however,none of the wounded prisoners had been brought aft, and Pierre, who hadbeen placed on the gun-room table, was the first man the surgeon tookunder his care.
"He is not badly hurt, I hope," said Bill, rather anxiously.
"That's more than I can say, my young friend," answered the surgeon,"but I will attend to him. I shall have patients enough on my handsdirectly, I fear."
Bill felt that he ought not to remain a moment longer below, though hegreatly wished to learn how much Pierre had been injured. All he coulddo, therefore, was to press his friend's hand, and spring up again ondeck.
The battery was still firing away at the prize, and every now and then acrashing sound, as the shot struck her, showed that she was within rangeof its guns; but she was rapidly distancing the boats, which could nowonly be dimly seen astern.
The British crew raised a cheer when they found that they had to acertainty secured their prize. Still the battery continued firing, butnot another shot struck her, and at length the dim outline of the_Thisbe_ was seen ahead. Shortly afterwards the prize, rounding tounder the frigate's quarter, was received with hearty cheers by hercrew.
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