CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
In three days we had gained the latitude of Berbice, and on the fourthmorning the men at the mast-head were keeping a sharp look-out for anystrange sail. Our head was then towards the land, which, being verylow, could not be seen; the breeze was light, the royals had been set,and the men piped down to breakfast, when the mast-head-man reportedthree sail right ahead. We soon made them out to be merchant vessels,and as they separated, and made all sail from us, we made sure that theyhad been captured; and so it proved when we took possession of them,which we did not do of the third before night-fall.
Upon interrogating the prisoners and the few English who had been lefton board the prizes, we found out that I had been right in myconjecture; they had been captured by a French line-of-battle ship,which they had left in shore the evening before. The English reportedher a very fast sailer, and believed her to be an eighty gun ship--indeed the French prisoners acknowledged that such was the case.
This was very important intelligence, and Captain Delmar walked up anddown deck in deep thought: the fact was, he was puzzled how to act. Toattempt to cope with such a force, unless under peculiarly favourablecircumstances, would be madness: to leave the coast and our mercantilenavy exposed to her depredations, was at the same time very repulsive tohis feelings and sense of duty. The prizes had been manned, theprisoners were on board, the boats hoisted up, and the Manilla stillremained hove to. The fact was, the captain did not know which way toput the ship's head; and he walked up and down in deep thought.
"Mr Keene, is it your watch?"
"No, sir."
"Oblige me by telling the master to work up the reckoning; I wish toknow exactly where we are."
"It is done already, sir," replied I, "and pricked off on the chart--Ihave just left the gun-room."
"Then, Mr Keene, bring the chart into my cabin." I followed into thecabin with the chart, which I laid down on the table, and pointed outthe position of the ship.
"You were right in your supposition, Mr Keene," said the captain; "andreally this vessel turning out to be a line-of-battle ship has put me ina very awkward predicament--I really am puzzled. Fighting is of no use,and yet run away I will not, if I can possibly help it."
Now, I had been studying the chart, and had made up my own mind how Ishould have acted under the circumstances, had I been in CaptainDelmar's position. The great point was, to give him my ideas withoutappearing to offer advice; I therefore replied, "We have one advantage,at all events sir; we have been cruising so long that we are flyinglight--I don't think we draw sixteen feet water."
"Yes, that may give us the heels of her in light winds, certainly,"replied the captain.
"I think she cannot draw less than twenty-six or twenty-seven feet ofwater, sir," continued I, to put him on the right scent, "which, on thiscoast, will be a great advantage. I think, sir, when I was down below,I measured from soundings to soundings, and the water is so shallow, anddeepens so gradually, that there is a distance of four miles betweenseventeen feet and twenty-eight feet water."
I took up the compass so as to take in the two soundings laid down inthe chart, and then measuring the distance, showed that my assertion wastrue. The captain said nothing for a little while. At last I perceiveda smile on his lips. "Tell the officer of the watch to lower down thecutter, Mr Keene. Go on board of the prizes, and tell them, inaddition to their present orders, to follow us, that in case of anenemy, they are to run as close in shore as the water will allow them,and drop their anchors."
"Aye, aye, sir," replied I, leaving the cabin.
This order satisfied me that the captain perceived what I would suggest,which was, that if we once got in shore and in shallow water we mightlaugh at the line-of-battle ship, which, in all probability would not beable to get near enough to reach us with her guns; or, if she attemptedit, she would run on shore, and then we should have the best of it.
As soon as I had given the orders to the prize-masters and returned onboard, the boat was hoisted up, and all sail made for the land. Attwelve o'clock we sounded, and found ourselves in nine-fathom water, bywhich we calculated we were about thirty miles from the land. I hardlyneed say that a most careful lookout was kept up, that we might not fallin with our formidable adversary.
At one o'clock the moon rose, and I, having the middle watch, surveyedthe horizon on every side, but without discovering the enemy; but athalf-past three the day dawned, and before my watch was over it wasbroad daylight; and then, just as I was going down, having been relievedby the second lieutenant, a strange sail was reported about eight milesto leeward, two points before the beam.
The second lieutenant hastened down to the cabin, to report to thecaptain, and I went up to the mast-head to make her out, and I soondiscovered that she was a line-of-battle ship: I immediately descended,and reported to the captain, who had come on deck. As we coulddistinguish the masts and sails of the enemy very well from the deck,the glasses were fixed upon her at the gang-way, and she was seen to sether royals and flying jib in chase of us; but we felt that we were safe,as we should be in shallow water long before she could beat up to us.All we had to fear for was the merchant vessels which we had re-taken,and which were two or three miles astern of us, with all the sail thatthey could carry.
It was a five-knot breeze, and the water quite smooth, which was veryfavourable for the line-of-battle ship and ourselves, but not for themerchant vessels, which, with their cargoes, required more wind topropel them through the water. The state of affairs, when the handswere piped to breakfast, was as follows:--
The French line-of-battle ship had stood in for the land, under allsail, until half-past-seven, being then, as she was when we first sawher, exactly two points before the beam, when, probably being in shoalwater, she had tacked, and was now a little abaft our beam, and lyingpretty well up for the merchant vessel the furthest astern of us. Sinceshe had tacked, she had risen her hull out of water, so as to show herupper tier of guns. Two of the merchant vessels were about three milesastern of us,--the other one, five, and stood a fair chance of being cutoff; the more so, because when we discovered the enemy, we were standingabout two points free, right for the coast; whereas, upon her haulingher wind in chase, we of course did the same, which made us approach theshallow water in a more slanting direction, and consequently not get inquite so soon. We were now in seven fathoms water, and, by our prickingoff on the chart, about eleven miles from land, which was so low as tobe barely visible from the mast-head. The men were allowed an hour totheir breakfast, and then we beat to quarters. The captain did not,however, put out the fires, so as to prevent the ship's company's dinnerbeing cooked, as everything was ready, and the magazines could be openedin a minute.
At ten o'clock we had drawn into six fathoms water; the Frenchman wasnow nearly astern of us, still on the opposite tack, and passing aboutthree miles to leeward of the merchant vessel which lagged most behind.It was now considered certain that she would re-capture this vessel,which was at least seven miles astern of us, and not impossible that shemight take one, if not both of the others, as it was evident she was aprime sailer, as fast almost as our own ship.
At a quarter-past ten, the French line-of-battle ship tacked, and stoodright after us in our wake, being now hull down about twelve miles fromus.
"He'll soon have the starnmost vessel, Mr Keene," said Bob Cross to me."Mr Dott has charge of her; he is always in some scrape or other."
"Yes," replied I; "but he gets out of them, and I dare say he will outof this."
"Helm up there, quarter-master--flatten in forward."
"The wind's heading us, sir," said the master; "she's full again now.Thus, boy, and nothing off."
"She has broken off two points, sir."
"All the better," replied the captain; "it's a squeak for Mr Dott."
In a few minutes we perceived that the other vessel had met the changein the wind and had broken off as well as ourselves. The Frenchman didnot now lay up for the mer
chant vessel as she did before, and the latterhad some chance of escape. It was very exciting: for as the time drewnearer to noon, the wind became more light and more variable, and at onetime all the vessels broke off another point; shortly afterwards, thewind flew back again to the point which it at first blew from, and theenemy lay once more right up for the merchant vessels. The Frenchline-of-battle ship was still about four miles astern of the merchantvessel nearest to her.
"I think we shall have a calm soon," observed Captain Delmar. "Squarethe mainyard; we may as well be nearer to her, as not, now; for if itfalls calm she will recapture them with her boats, and we shall be toofar to give any assistance. Get the yard tackles up: all ready, Mr---?"
"Aye, aye, sir," replied the first lieutenant.
"Pipe the boat's crew away, and let them get their guns and ammunitionon the gangway."
It was about a quarter to eleven when we hove to, the breeze stillcontinuing variable and light, and the French line-of-battle ship didnot come up so fast as before. We sounded after we hove to, and foundthat we were in five and a half fathoms water.
At twelve o'clock, in consequence of our having hove to, the relativepositions of the vessels were as follows:--The two merchant vesselswhich had been about four miles astern of us were now alongside of us;the third was about three miles astern of us; and the Frenchman wasabout the same distance astern of her; so that our frigate was about sixmiles from the French line-of-battle ship.
Captain Delmar had given orders to pipe to dinner at seven bells(half-past eleven o'clock); that in case the boats were required, themen might have dined before the were sent away. A few minutes aftertwelve o'clock it fell a dead calm; the hands were turned up, the boatshoisted out and lowered down, the guns and ammunition put in them, andeverything in readiness; we keeping our glasses upon the enemy, andwatching her manoeuvring, which, at the distance we were, was now easilyto be distinguished. Captain Delmar was aware that he ran some risk insending his boats away, for it might so happen that a breeze mightspring up from the seaward, and the enemy have the advantage of it longbefore us; if so, it might bring her up to the vessel astern, and theboats be captured: indeed it might bring her up nearly alongside of usbefore we caught the wind. It was necessary therefore, to be verycautious, and not send the boats away till the last moment--that is,before we saw the French ship hoisting out or lowering down her own.That the Frenchman knew that our boats had been hoisted out, could notbe doubted, as their eyes were quite as sharp as ours. They, however,tried to double us; for all of a sudden, as I had my glass upon theFrench ship, I perceived three boats coming round her quarter, andpulling right for the merchant vessel: the fact was, that she hadlowered down her stern and quarter boats to leeward, which we could notperceive. I reported this immediately to the captain, who ordered theboats' crews to be piped away.
"Who is to command the boats, sir?" said the first lieutenant.
"Mr Keene," said the captain.
"Mr Keene, I wish to speak with you before you go."
Captain Delmar then walked to the capstern, and, in few words, pointedout what I have just stated as the difficulty which might occur, and thechances of capture.
"You understand me, Mr Keene?"
"Perfectly, sir," replied I.
"Well, then, I trust to your discretion, Mr Keene, and hope I shall notbe disappointed. Now you may go."
"The French ship is getting up her yard tackles," said the signal man.
"Then you have no time to lose, Mr Keene. As for the small boats, theyare of no consequence."
I went down the side, and shoved off. Our men gave way cheerfully andmanfully; and the three boats of the Frenchmen had but a little start ofus. In half an hour we were both within less than a mile of themerchant vessel; but the French boats were the nearest of the two. Theaffair now became very exciting. In another ten minutes the Frenchboats had gained the merchant vessel, and the men were clambering up hersides, while we were not more than three cables' length from them. ThatTommy Dott was defending himself was to be presumed, as a good deal offiring took place; but before we could get alongside, it was evidentthat he and his men had been mastered, and the French were in possessionof the vessel. But now our turn came. Dividing my boats, six innumber, into two divisions, we boarded on both sides, and very soon hadregained the vessel and mastered the French, who did not amount to morethan thirty-five men, while we had more than seventy.
We found that the Frenchmen had not spared our people on board of thevessel, all of them being wounded or killed; but the fact was that TommyDott had fought most nobly, and resisted to the very last. He himself--poor fellow!--lay against the cap-stern, with his head cut open by ablow of a cutlass, and quite insensible. As soon as we had secured theprisoners, I turned my eyes to the line-of-battle ship, and saw that herlarge boats had shoved off; they were five in number, but much larger,and holding more men than we had.
A little reflection decided me that we should have a better chance ofresisting them on board of the vessel than in the boats; and Idetermined that I would get my boats' guns up on board of the vessel,and arm her in that way. It was necessary, however, to secure ourboats, that they might not cut them away from alongside; I therefore, assoon as the guns and ammunition were on board, lowered the iron chaincable down from the bows, and passed it from one boat to the other underthe fixed thwarts of each boat, including those captured from theFrench, hauling the end of the cable on board again through the sternport. We had plenty of time to do this, and make any other preparationon board, before the French boats arrived.
It was a dead calm; the sea was like a mirror, and the advancing boats,as their oars rose and fell in the water, gave you the idea of creaturespossessed of life and volition, as they rapidly forced their way throughthe yielding fluid. The vessel's stern was towards the line-of-battleship, and the boats were pulling up a little on the starboard quarter.The guns which I had hoisted on board had, for want of any other means,been sufficiently secured by ropes to the slides and breechings toenable us to fire them with effect. When the boats were about a quarterof a mile from us, we opened our fire; not that we expected much fromour guns, as we knew we could not obtain more than two good shots at theboats before they were alongside; still there was a chance of hittingand disabling them, and no chance was to be thrown away.
Our first shot was successful; it struck one of the pinnaces, and sheswamped immediately. Our men cheered, while the other French boatspulled to it, and took up the men who were floating in the water.Before they could effect this, another gun was fired with grape andround, which apparently did some execution, as there appeared to be muchconfusion on board of the two boats that had gone to the assistance oftheir comrades. We now fully expected the boats to advance; on thecontrary, they spread out on each quarter, and opened their fire upon uswith their guns--a very foolish act on their part, as it gave us everyadvantage; for they were far superior to us in number of men, and shouldhave boarded us at once, instead of risking the loss of more of theirboats. So little did we expect this, that at one time I was debatingwhether I should not leave the guns in the boats alongside, instead ofgetting them on board, that there might be no delay in case wind sprangup, and it were necessary that we should be off; of course, as it was, Iwas very glad that I had decided otherwise.
The action, if it may be so termed, now continued for about half an hourwithout any great casualty on either side: we had five or six menwounded on board of the vessel, but none killed. I had occasionallylooked round to see if there was any appearance of wind, and just aboutthis time I perceived a black line in the offing, which promised notonly wind, but wind from the very quarter which would be most disastrousto us, and I began to feel very anxious, when I heard a bugle soundedfrom the largest French boat. This was the signal to advance, and I wasvery glad, as the affair would now be soon decided.
As all our boats were secured on the starboard side of the vessel, theFrenchmen did not attempt to board on that side, as
in so doing it wouldhave been at a double disadvantage; they had therefore no alternativebut to board all together on the larboard side. Two of the boats' gunshad been fixed on that side--double shotted and depressed, so as to befired at the moment one of the boats should pass beneath them; they wereboth fired at the leading boat, the launch, which was very large andfull of men, and the shot went through her bottom. This did not preventher coming alongside: but she filled and sank almost immediatelyafterwards, while the men were climbing up the sides of the vessel. Thesinking of this boat prevented the men of the other boats outside of herfrom supporting their companions, and we had therefore only to meet theforce of the launch and the two other boats which had come alongsideahead of her, and which was in number not equal to our own.
We always had an idea that the French would never do much in the way ofboarding, and so it proved; they were beat down as fast as they madetheir appearance above the bulwarks. The French lieutenant wasattempting to get over the gunwale; he was unsupported, as almost allhis men had tumbled back into the sea. Instead of cutting him down, Icaught him by the collar, and hauled him on board, and as soon as he wasdisarmed, gave him in charge of a marine. In ten minutes all was over:two of the French boats remained alongside, and the others shoved off,half manned, and dropped astern. We gave them three cheers as a partingsalutation, but we had no time to lose--the wind was evidently springingup fast; already cat's paws were to be seen here and there rippling thewater, and the line on the horizon was now dark and broad. I orderedour boats to be ready for starting, the guns to be got in, and thewounded men divided among them as fast as possible. The two largeFrench boats which remained on the starboard side we cleared of the menwho lay in them, and then had their bottoms beat out to sink them. TheFrench lieutenant and two other officers I ordered into our own boats,to take on board as prisoners; the rest of the French who had beencaptured, with their wounded, we put into the three small French boatswhich had been captured in the first attack, taking away their oars,that, when I shoved off and left the vessel, they might drift about tillthey were picked up by the French ship.
Every thing being in readiness, I had now to decide what I should dowith the merchant vessel. The wind coming up so fast from the seaward,gave her no chance of escape, and I decided that I would set her onfire. Having so done in three different parts, to ensure herdestruction, I then shoved off with our boats, having first pushed offthe Frenchmen in their boats without oars, and wished them good-bye;they certainly did look very foolish, and anything but pleased.
As we pulled for the frigate, I perceived that the line-of-battle ship'ssails were filling, and that it was touch and go with us; but I alsoknew that she could not leave her boats and that it would take some timeto pick them up; two were half-manned, and pulling towards her; theother three were without oars, and must be picked by the other boats;all of which would occasion delay. Notwithstanding, we pulled as hardas we could and were halfway back before the breeze was sufficientlysteady to enable the line-of-battle ship to make much progress throughthe water. Of course we could not well see what was going on when wehad pulled away in the boats, and were at a distance; all we could seewas, that the French line-of-battle ship was not yet in chase, fromwhich we presumed that she had not yet picked up her boats. In themeantime the merchant vessel burnt furiously, and the columns of smokevery often hid the enemy from our view.
Before we arrived on board the breeze had passed us and caught the sailsof our frigate and the two merchant vessels, so that we were more easyon that score. Captain Delmar had been very anxious; the yards,tackles, and stays, and the tackles for hoisting up the quarter-boats,were already hanging down as we pulled alongside, and "all hands inboats" was piped before we could get up the gangway. There was no timeto be lost: the French line-of-battle ship had picked up her boats, andwas now in chase, with studding-sails below and abaft. The two merchantvessels had made all sail, and were running inshore ahead of us. Itouched my hat to the captain, and said, "Come on board, sir--shall Isee the quarter-boats hoisted up?"
"If you please, Mr Keene," replied he.
The fact was, it was very easy to tell my story after the boats were upand sail made upon the frigate, and I knew there was no time fortalking.
I never witnessed such a rapidity as was shown on this occasion; in lessthan five minutes all the boats were on board, and all sail made. Ilooked at the French line-of-battle ship; she was within four miles ofus, and bringing up a very steady breeze. But we were now drawingthrough the water, and as the re-captured vessels were three miles aheadof us, there was nothing to fear. Captain Delmar came aft to look atthe Frenchman, who had already passed by the vessel which I had set onfire.
"Now, then, Mr Keene," said he, "we will know what has taken place. Ofcourse we have seen most of it."
I narrated what the reader already knows.
"What do you suppose to have been the loss?"
"I should say three boats, and about forty men, sir. I forgot, sir, totell you that we have a lieutenant and two officers prisoners, whom Ibrought on board with me."
"Desire them to be brought on deck," said the captain. "Mr Keene, youhave done your work well--with great gallantry and great judgment."
I touched my hat, not a little pleased at such a compliment from.Captain Delmar.
"What's the last soundings, Mr Smith?" inquired the captain.
"And a quarter four, sir," said the master.
"This chase won't last long," observed the captain. "Take in the lowerstudding-sail."
The French lieutenant was then questioned; but with the exception of thename of the ship and captain, there was little to be expected from him,and he was dismissed and sent below.
This affair, however, was not without loss on our side (principallyarising from Tommy Dott's stout defence). We had two men killed, and wehad altogether fourteen men wounded--some of them very severely. Myfriend Tommy Dott came on board a miserable object, his face and hairmatted with blood; but when it was washed away, he proved to be not somuch hurt as was supposed: the cut was severe, but the bones were notinjured. He was very soon out of his hammock again, and his chiefpleasure was to put his tongue in his cheek and make faces at the Frenchlieutenant, who at last became so annoyed, that he complained to CaptainDelmar, who ordered Mr Tommy to leave off these expressions of nationalanimosity, if he had any wish to obtain his promotion. But to return.
As the breeze freshened, and the French ship had the first of it; sherapidly gained upon us, and in an hour and a half was about three milesfrom us. We had now shoaled our water to three fathoms and a half,which was quite near enough to the ground, as it left but four feetbetween our keel and the bottom; the studding-sails were taken in, andwe ranged the cable. A few minutes afterwards the French line-of-battleship was seen to shorten sail, and haul to the wind; she had followed usinto as shoal water as far as she dared to venture in, and as sherounded to, out of spite, I presume, she fired a gun. The evening wasnow closing in, and as there was every appearance of fine weather, westood out till we were again in four fathoms, and then dropped ouranchor.
The next morning, when the day broke, the French line-of-battle ship wasin the offing about eight miles distant. It may easily be imagined thatthe French were very much annoyed at what had taken place; their prizesre-captured, three boats lost, and their ship's company weakened, andall by an inferior force close to them, and without any prospect oftheir having any revenge. But we, on the other hand, were not verypleasantly situated. It is true that we were safe, but, at the sametime, we were in prison, and could not hope for escape, unless somevessel came down to our assistance; and how long we might be compelledto remain where we were, or what the chapter of accidents might bringabout, no one could foresee.
About eight o'clock the French ship again stood in, and when as close asshe dare come to us, she ran up and down, trying for deeper water on oneside or the other, but in vain. She was within gun-shot of us, it istrue, as we had run out in
to four fathoms; but we could always trip ouranchor when we pleased and stand further in. At last she tried a shotat us, and it fell very close. Captain Delmar did not, however, getunder weigh and stand further in, although he ordered the capstern barsto be shipped, and the messenger passed. A second and a third shot werefired, and one went over us. At last the Frenchman anchored, and set towork in good earnest. He found that he was within range, and as we didnot move, presumed that we were in as shallow water as we could runinto.
As the wind was still to seaward, we laid head on to him, and one of hisshot struck us in the forefoot; Captain Delmar then ordered the cable tobe hove in and the anchor tripped, by which means we drifted in shoreand increased our distance without his being aware of it, and his firingstill continued, but without injury to us. The reason for CaptainDelmar's doing this was evident; he wished the French ship to continuefiring, as the report of her guns might be heard and bring down somevessel to our assistance. At all events, such was not our good fortuneon the first day, and I began to be tired of our situation; so didCaptain Delmar; for on the second day he sent a boat to the recapturedvessels, which were at anchor inshore of us, directing them to heave upas soon as it was dark, and make the best of their way to Barbadoes,keeping well in shore till they got more to the northward; this theydid, and the following morning they were not in sight.
The French ship still remained at anchor, and it appeared that she hadbeen lightening so as to get further in; for on that morning sheweighed, and stood in to a mile and a half of us, and we were obliged todo the same, and run inshore out of his reach. To effect this weanchored in three and a quarter fathoms, so that we actually stirred upthe mud. Towards the evening the wind fortunately shifted to off shore,and as soon as it was dark the captain ordered the anchor to be weighed,and we made all sail to the northward, trusting to our heels; thefollowing morning we had run seventy miles, and as the French ship wasnot to be seen, it was to be presumed that she was not aware of ourhaving so done.
Ten days afterwards we dropped our anchor in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes.We found two men-of-war, both captains junior officers to our own, and Itook this opportunity of passing my examination, which was a mere matterof form. Having watered and taken in provisions, we then sailed forJamaica, to join the admiral, who, upon Captain Delmar's representation,immediately confirmed the acting order of lieutenant given to me by him.
A few days afterwards a packet arrived from England, and letters werereceived by Captain Delmar, informing him of the death of his elderbrother and his succeeding to the title of Lord de Versely; for hiselder brother, although married, had no male issue. Upon thisintelligence, Captain Delmar immediately resigned the command of theManilla, and another Captain was appointed to her. I did not much likethis, as I wished to remain with Captain Delmar, and gain his good-will.I was, however, consoled by his sending for me, previous to his sailingfor England in a frigate ordered home, and saying, "Mr Keene, my dutiesin the House of Lords, and family affairs, require my presence inEngland, and I think it most probable that I now quit the servicealtogether; but I shall not lose sight of you. You have conductedyourself much to my satisfaction, and I will take care of youradvancement in the service, if you only continue as you have begun. Ishall be happy to hear from you, if you will write to me occasionally.I wish you every success. Is there anything that I can do for you?"
"I am most grateful, my lord," replied I, "for all your kindness. I hadhoped to have been longer under your protection and guidance; but I amaware that your high station must now prevent it. If I might be so boldas to ask a favour, my lord?"
"Certainly, Keene," replied his lordship.
_Keene_! not _Mr_ Keene, thought I.
"It is, sir, that I--think I should have a better chance of doingsomething if I were to obtain the command of the Firefly schooner; thelieutenant commanding her is about to invalid."
"I agree with you. I will speak to the admiral this very day. Is thatall?"
"Yes, my lord; unless you think you could ask for Cross, your coxswain,to be appointed to her. I should like to have a man on board whom Iknew, and could trust."
"I will see about it, and so good-bye."
His lordship held out his hand. I took it very respectfully; he hadnever done so before, and the tears ran down my cheeks as I was quittinghim. His lordship observed it, and turned away. I left the cabin,quite overcome with his kindness, and so happy, that I would not havechanged positions with the grand sultan himself.
Lord de Versely was faithful to his promise: the next day I receivedfrom the admiral my appointment to the Firefly, and, what was moreunexpected, Bob Cross received a warrant as her boatswain. This was avery kind act of Lord de Versely, and I was as much delighted as Bobhimself. I also received an invitation to dinner with the admiral onthat day. On my arrival at the house, a few minutes before dinner, theadmiral called me aside to the verandah, and said to me, "Mr Keene, Ihave not forgotten your cruise in the pirate schooner, and Lord deVersely has told me of your good behaviour in many instances since;particularly of your conduct in the boats off Berbice. In hisdespatches he has given you great praise, and I have added mine to backit; so that if you only keep steady, you will command a sloop of warvery soon. You have now been seven months a lieutenant, for yourcommission will be confirmed to your first appointment; a few monthsmore, and I hope to see you with a commander's commission in yourpocket."
I replied, that I was very grateful, and only hoped that he would sendme out in the schooner to where I might prove myself deserving of hispatronage.
"Never fear. I'll find something for you to do, Mr Keene. By-the-bye,Lord de Versely told me last night, when we were alone, the history ofthe duel at Martinique. You did well, Mr Keene; I thank you in thename of our service--it won't do for the soldiers to crow over us,though they are fine fellows, it must be admitted. However, that secrethad better be kept."
"Most certainly, sir," replied I.
"Now, then, there's that black fellow come up to tell us dinner isready; so come along, or you'll be where the little boat was--a long wayastern."
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