Percival Keene

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

  The prizes proved to be the Diligente brig, of fourteen guns, and twohundred and ten men, and Caroline schooner, of eight guns, and onehundred and twenty men--they had done a great deal of mischief, andtheir capture was of importance. The captain of the Naiad's orders wereto return to Curacao, and we all made sail before sunset. Our loss hadbeen severe: commanding officer, boatswain, carpenter, and twelve menwounded--one midshipman and two men killed.

  The next morning our signal was made to pass within hail, and thecaptain of the Naiad inquired how I was. The surgeon's assistantreplied that I and all the wounded were doing well, and there was nomore communication till we arrived at Curacao on the fourth day, bywhich time I was rapidly recovering.

  Mr Fraser, as soon as he heard of my being hurt, immediately came onboard and insisted upon my being taken on shore to his house, and Igladly consented. The next day I had a visit from Captain C, thecommanding officer, and the captain of the Naiad. Captain C asked me ifI was well enough to write the account of the action. I replied that Iwas, and that I would send it the next day. He and the captain of theNaiad both paid me many compliments for having fought a superior forcefor so long a time, and Captain C said that as soon as I was well enoughhe would send me up to Jamaica, as bearer of my own despatches to theadmiral.

  I requested, as a particular favour of Mr Fraser, that he would allowBob Cross to be sent ashore to his house, and Mr Fraser immediatelyconsented. My friend Bob was therefore brought up that evening, and wassoon established in very comfortable quarters.

  We had been a fortnight at the island, during which my wound was healingrapidly, and I was able to hop about with a crutch. Cross also was outof bed, and able to sit up for an hour or two on the verandah, in thecool of which I spent the best part of the day, with my wounded limbresting upon a sofa. From the veranda we had a view of the harbour, andone morning I perceived that there were two additional vessels which hadanchored during the night; they proved to be the Driver and thebrigantine privateer, which she had captured after a chase and runningfight of forty-eight hours. I was glad of this, as I knew what pleasureit would give to the admiral.

  I now again indulged in my dreams of Minnie, who had been forgotten assoon as I had left the harbour and been engaged in active service.Stretched upon a sofa, with my wounded leg, I had nothing else to do, orrather nothing else which was so agreeable to me. I wrote to her again,and also to my mother; neither did I forget that Lord de Versely hadrequested at parting that I should write to him. I did so in a veryrespectful manner, detailing what had occurred.

  When we had been three weeks at Curacao, all our wounded, as well asmyself, had so far recovered, that there was no reason for the Fireflynot proceeding to Jamaica. The commanding officer lent anassistant-surgeon to the schooner. I received my despatches, took agrateful leave of Mr Fraser, and the Firefly was once more skimmingover the water. In three weeks we arrived at Port Royal, and I took upmy despatches.

  "Happy to see you, Keene," said the admiral. "Hollo! what makes youlimp in that way? Have you hurt your leg?"

  "Yes, sir," replied I; "I'm not quite well yet, but the despatches ofCaptain C will explain all."

  As no vessel had sailed from Curacao, the admiral had no idea of whathad happened.

  "Well, then," said he, "sit down on that sofa, Mr Keene, while I readthe despatches."

  I watched the admiral's countenance, and was delighted to witness theevident signs of satisfaction which he expressed as he read on.

  "Excellent!" said he, as he closed them. "Keene, you have done me agreat favour. The remonstrances of the merchants, the badgering I havereceived from the Admiralty by every packet, relative to thedepredations on our commerce by these vessels, have been enough to makea saint swear. Now they are happily disposed of, and I have chiefly tothank you for it. Captain C informs me that the brig is well adaptedfor his Majesty's service, but that the schooner is an old vessel." Theadmiral then left the room. In a few minutes he returned with a paperin his hand, which he laid upon the table, and, taking up a pen, hesigned it and presented it to me, saying--"_Captain_ Keene, I trust youwill give me the pleasure of your company to dinner; and, as you arestill very lame, I think you had better make a signal for your servantand traps, and take up your quarters at the Penn till you are quiterecovered."

  Perceiving that I was too much agitated to reply, he continued, "I mustleave you now;" then extending his hand, he said, "Allow me to be thefirst to wish you joy on your promotion, which you have so welldeserved." He then went out of the room. It really was so unexpected--so little dreamt of, this sudden promotion, that I was confused. I hadhoped that, by a continuance of good conduct, I might in a year or twoobtain it; but that I should receive it after only one cruise in theschooner was beyond all my imagination. I felt grateful, and as soon asI was more composed, I returned thanks to Heaven, and vowed eternalgratitude to the admiral. I felt that I was a step nearer to Lord deVersely, and I thought of the pleasure it would give my mother andMinnie. I had been alone about half an hour, when the admiral returned.

  "I have just sent for an old messmate of yours, Captain Keene, who wasseverely wounded in your action with the Dutch frigate; he has nowpassed, and Lord de Versely recommended him to me as a deserving youngofficer--a Mr Dott."

  "Oh, yes, admiral; he was my first acquaintance when I went to sea. Hehas been to sea longer than I have, but he lost a good deal of histime."

  "Well I am going to give him an acting order for your brig. I hope heis a good, smart officer."

  "Yes, admiral, he is a very good officer indeed," replied I, laughing."Will you oblige me by not telling him that I am to be his captain, tillafter we have met?"

  "Ah, some mischief, I suppose; but if we make captains of such boys asyou we must expect that. Are your wounded men all going on well?"

  "All, sir,--even Bob Cross, the boatswain, whose head was half knockedoff, is quite well again. He was Lord de Versely's coxswain, sir, andyou were kind enough to give him his warrant."

  "I recollect--a good man, is he not?"

  "So good, sir, that the only regret I have in leaving the schooner is,that I cannot take him with me. He is my right-hand man and I owe muchto him, and it will be a sore blow to him as well as to me."

  "I see, you want him made boatswain of your brig--that's it."

  "I assure you, admiral, I should be most grateful if you would have thatkindness."

  "I am always ready to promote a good man; your recommending him, and hissevere wound, are sufficient. He shall be your boatswain, Keene."

  "You are very kind, sir," replied I. "I hope I shall do justice to yourpatronage."

  "I've no fear of that, Keene, and I know that a man, to work well,should, as far as he can, choose his own tools. Mr Dott is waitingnow, and as soon as he has his acting order, I will send him in to you."

  About ten minutes afterwards Mr Tommy Dott made his appearance; heextended his hand to me, saying, in a haw-haw way, "Keene, my dearfellow, I'm glad to see you." He certainly did look two or three inchestaller, for he walked almost on tiptoe.

  "Glad to see you, Tommy," said I; "well, what's the news?"

  "Nothing, I believe, except what you have brought. I hear you had a bitof a brush, and got winged."

  "Even so, Tommy," replied I, pointing to my wounded leg. "The admiralhas kindly asked me to stay here until I'm better."

  "I dine with him to-day," replied Tommy; "but as for staying here, Ishould think that rather a bore. By the bye, Keene, what sort of acraft is that Diligente brig which the Naiad and you took?"

  "A very fine craft, Tommy: sails as well as the Firefly."

  "Oh, you, of course, swear by your own vessel; and there's nothing likethe schooner--that's natural enough; now, I must say, I prefer somethinga little larger, and, therefore, I'm not sorry that I have my commissionfor the new brig."

  "Indeed! Tommy; I wish you joy," replied I.

  "Thank ye, K
eene," replied Tommy, very dignified. "I wonder," said he,"what sort of a skipper we shall have. There's the first lieutenant ofthe Naiad has a good chance. I saw him: a very sharp sort of gentleman,and carries his head remarkably high; but that won't do for me. I'llnot allow any captain to play tricks in a ship that I'm aboard of. Iknow the rules and regulations of the service as well as any one, andthat the captain shall see, if he attempts to go beyond his tether."

  "Now, Tommy," replied I, "you know, that although you talk so big, ifyou had been appointed a lieutenant into a ship commanded by Lord deVersely, you would have been as much afraid of him as a lieutenant asyou used to be as a midshipman."

  "Lord de Versely," replied Tommy, who felt the truth of what I said:"he's a peculiar sort of man."

  "Take my word for it, Tommy, you'll find all captains peculiar to onepoint; which is, that they expect respectful behaviour, and notcavilling, from their officers; and our service is so peculiar, that itis absolutely necessary that the officers should set this example to themen."

  "Yes; that may be very well; but who knows but the captain of the brigmay be some young fellow, who has seen no more service than myself--perhaps, not been to sea so long?"

  "That is no reason that you should not obey his orders; indeed, if notexperienced, you ought to do all you can to support him."

  "Well, if he was to ask my advice, indeed--"

  "But he may not require your advice, Tommy, he may prefer deciding forhimself. Now, the first lieutenant of the Naiad is a great Tartar, andI'm certain, if he is your captain, that, on the first word, he wouldhave you under an arrest. There's an old saying, Tommy, `It's folly tokick against tenpenny nails;' and that every officer does who kicksagainst his superior. I can assure you, Tommy, that if ever I am acaptain, my officers shall obey me implicitly. I will have no cavillingat my orders. I will always treat them as gentlemen, and support theirauthority, as they ought to support mine; but captain of my own ship Iwould be, and I suspect that it would go hard with any officer whoventured to dispute my rights."

  "Well, I dare say you will be a martinet, or rather that you are onenow, as you command a schooner. However, as I never intend to sail withyou, that's nothing to me. I'm sure, from what has passed, that you andI should have a row before we were a week on board; for I'm not to beplayed with."

  "Well, Tommy, I'm very glad we have had this explanation; for now weboth know what to expect. I am resolved to be captain, you to resist myauthority."

  "No, no, I don't say that--I only say that I won't be played with--Iwon't be trifled with."

  "Tommy, I will neither play nor trifle with you; nor will you ever playor trifle with me. We have done that as midshipmen; in our new relativesituations it is not to be thought of for a moment. Read this." Ihanded him my appointment as commander of the Diligente: Tommy cast hiseyes over it, and at once saw that his promotion did not prevent hisgetting into scrapes, as usual.

  "You a commander! you captain of the Diligente! Why, I came to seabefore you."

  "I know you did, Tommy; but, although you have been in the servicelonger, you have not seen quite so much service as I have. At allevents, I'm now your captain. I flatter myself I shall make a verytolerable one; and what is more, I have an idea that you will make avery good lieutenant, as soon as the vanity, with which you have beenpuffed up since your receiving your promotion, will have settled down alittle, and that you will find it much pleasanter to be on good termswith your captain than to be eternally in hot water, especially with onewho, you know, is not a person to be played with."

  Tommy looked very confused; he said nothing, but kept his eyes on mycommission, which he still held in his hand. I had no idea that TommyDott's being ignorant of my being captain of the brig would haveoccasioned such a conversation as this. I only wished to amuse myselfwith him, and surprise him at the last. Tommy perceived that he hadmade a mess of it, and he stammered out some explanation as he returnedme the commission; and I replied: "The fact is, Dott, you were merelycutting a caper upon your new promotion; you never meant what you said;it was all talk. You always have been very obedient to proper authoritysince I have known you, and I am sure that you always will; so let's sayno more about it. I wish you joy upon your promotion, and, what's more,I'm very glad that we are to sail together." Saying this, I held out myhand, which Tommy took very readily, and we then began to talk on othersubjects.