The King's Own

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

  A fisherman he had been in his youth; But other speculations were, in sooth, Added to his connection with the sea, Perhaps not so respectable, in truth, ... He had an only daughter. DON JUAN.

  Not possessing a prompter's whistle, we must use, as a substitute, theboatswain's call, and, at his shrill pipe, we change the scene to a backparlour in one of the most confined streets at the east end of England'sproud and wealthy metropolis. The _dramatis personae_ are an elderlyand corpulent personage, with as little of fashion in his appearance asin his residence; and a young female of about twenty years of age, withexpressive and beautiful features, but wanting "the damask on thecheek," the true value of which the fair sex so well appreciate, that,if not indebted for it to nature, they are too apt to resort to art foran unworthy imitation.

  The first-mentioned of these two personages was busy examining, throughhis spectacles, some papers which lay on the table before him--occasionally diverted from his task by the pertinacity of some flies,which seemed to have taken a particular fancy to his bald forehead andscalp, which, in spite of his constant brushing off, they thought properto consider as a pleasant and smooth sort of coursing-plain, placedthere (probably in their ideas) solely for their amusement. Part of adecanter of wine, and the remains of a dessert, crowded the small tableat which he sat, and added to the general air of confinement whichpervaded the whole.

  "It's very hot, my dear. Open the window, and let us have a littleair."

  "Oh, father," replied the young woman, who rose to throw up the sash,"you don't know how I pine for fresh air. How long do you intend tocontinue this life of constant toil and privation?"

  "How long, my dear? Why, I presume you do not wish to starve--you wouldnot be very well pleased if, when you applied for money, as you do,every week _at least_, I were to tell you that the bag was empty."

  "Oh, nonsense--I know better, father; don't think so poorly of me as toattempt to deceive me in that way."

  "And pray, Miss Susan, what do you know?" said the old gentleman,looking up at her through his spectacles, as she stood by the side ofhis chair.

  "I know what you have taught me, sir. Do you recollect explaining to methe nature of the funds--what was the meaning of the national debt--allthe varieties of stock, and what interest they all bore?"

  "Well, and what then?"

  "Why, then, father, I have often seen the amounts of the dividends whichyou have received every half-year, and have heard your orders to Wilmottto re-invest in the funds. Now, your last half-year's dividend in theThree per Cents was--let me see--oh--841 pounds, 14 shillings, 6 pence,which, you know, doubled, makes itself an income of--"

  "And pray, Miss Susan, what business have you with all this?" retortedher father, half pleased, half angry.

  "Why, father, you taught me yourself; and thought me very stupid becauseI did not comprehend it as soon as you expected," answered Susan,leaning over and kissing him; "and now you ask me what business I haveto know it."

  "Well, well, girl, it's very true," said the old man, smiling, "butallowing that you are correct, what then?"

  "Why then, father, don't be angry if I say that it appears to me thatyou have more money now than you can spend while you live, or know towhom to leave when you die. What, then, is the use of confiningyourself in a dirty, narrow street, and toiling all day for no earthlyadvantage?"

  "But how do you know that I have nobody to leave my money to, Susan?"

  "Have you not repeatedly said that you have no relations or kin, thatyou are aware of; except me; that you were once a sailor before themast--an orphan, bound apprentice by the parish? Whom, then, have youexcept _me_?--and if you continue here much longer, father, I feelconvinced that you will not have me--you will have no one. If you knewhow tired I am of looking out at this horrid brick wall--how I long forthe country, to be running among the violets and primroses--how I pinefor relief from this little dungeon. Oh! what would I give to be flyingbefore the breeze in the lugger with McElvina!"

  "Indeed, Miss!" replied old Hornblow, whom the reader may recognise asthe patron of our smuggling captain.

  "Well, father, there's no harm in saying so. I want freedom. I feel asif I could not be too free; I should like to be blown about in aballoon. Oh, why don't you give up business, go down to the sea-side,take a pretty little cottage, and make yourself and me happy? I fancythe sea-breeze is blowing in my face, and all my ringlets out of curl.I shall die if I stay here much longer--I shall indeed, father."

  Repeated attacks of this nature had already sapped the foundation; and alovely and only daughter had the influence over her father's heart, towhich she was entitled.

  "Well, well, Susan, let McElvina wind up the accounts of this vessel,and then I will do as you wish; but I cannot turn him adrift, you know."

  "Turn Captain McElvina adrift! No--if you did, father--"

  "I presume that you would be very much inclined to take him in tow--eh,Miss?"

  "I shall never act without attending to your advice, and consulting yourwishes, my dear father," answered Susan, the suffusion of her unusuallypale cheeks proving that she required but colour to be perfectlybeautiful.

  And here the conversation dropped. Old Hornblow had long perceived thegrowing attachment between his daughter and McElvina; and the faithfuland valuable services of the latter, added to the high opinion which theold man had of his honesty--which, to do McElvina justice, had been mostscrupulous--had determined him to let things take their own course.Indeed, there was no one with whom old Hornblow was acquainted to whomhe would have entrusted his daughter's happiness with so much confidenceas to our reformed captain.

  A sharp double tap at the street door announced the post, and in a fewminutes after this conversation the clerk appeared with a letter for oldHornblow, who, pursuant to the prudent custom of those days, had hiscounting-house on the ground floor of his own residence, which enabledhim to go to his dinner, and return to his business in the evening.Nowadays we are all above our business, and live above our means (whichis in itself sufficient to account for the general distress that iscomplained of); and the counting-house is deserted before dusk, that wemay arrive at our residences in Russell-square, or the Regent's-park, intime to dress for a turtle dinner at six o'clock, instead of a muttonchop, or single joint, _en famille_, at two.

  But to return. Old Hornblow put on his spectacles (which were on thetable since they had been removed from his nose by Susan when she kissedhim), and examined the post-mark, seal, and superscription, as if hewished to tax his ingenuity with a guess previously to opening theletter, which would have saved him all that trouble, and have decidedthe point of scrutiny--viz., from whom it came?

  "McElvina, I rather think," said he, musing; "but the postmark isPlymouth. How the deuce--!" The two first lines of the letter wereread, and the old man's countenance fell. Susan, who had been all aliveat the mention of McElvina's name, perceived the alteration in herfather's looks.

  "No bad news, I hope, my dear father?"

  "Bad enough," replied the old man, with a deep sigh; "the lugger istaken by a frigate, and sent into Plymouth."

  "And Captain McElvina--he's not hurt, I hope?"

  "No, I presume not, as he has written the letter, and says nothing aboutit."

  Satisfied upon this point, Susan, who recollected her father's promise,was undutiful enough, we are sorry to say, to allow her heart to boundwith joy at the circumstance. All her fond hopes were about to berealised, and she could hardly refrain from carolling the words ofAriel, "Where the bee sucks, there lurk I;" but fortunately sheremembered that other parties might not exactly participate in herdelight. Out of respect for her father's feelings, she therefore put ona grave countenance, in sad contrast with her eyes, which joy hadbrilliantly lighted up.

  "Well, it's a bad business," continued old Hornblow. "Wilmott!" (Theclerk heard his master's voice, and came in.) "Bring me the ledger. Letme see--_Belle Susanne_--I wonder why th
e fool called her by that name,as if I had not one already to take money out of my pocket. Oh! here itis--folio 59 continued, folio 100, 129, 147,--not balanced since Aprillast year. Be quick, and strike me out a rough balance-sheet of thelugger."

  "But what does Captain McElvina say, father?"

  "What does he say? Why, that he is taken. Haven't I told you soalready, girl?" replied old Hornblow, in evident ill-humour.

  "Yes, but the particulars, my dear father!"

  "Oh, there's only the fact, without particulars--says he will write morefully in a day or two."

  "I'll answer for him, that it was not his fault, father--he has alwaysdone you justice."

  "I did not say that he had not; I'm only afraid that success has madehim careless--it's always the case."

  "Yes," replied Susan, taking up the right cue; "as you say, father, hehas been very successful."

  "He has," replied the old man, recovering his serenity a little, "verysuccessful indeed. I dare say it was not his fault."

  The clerk soon made his appearance with the rough balance-sheetrequired. It did more to restore the good humour of the old man thaneven the soothing of his daughter.

  "Oh! here we are--_La Belle Susanne_--Debtor to ---. Total, 14,864pounds, 14 shillings, 3 pence. Contra--Credit. 27,986 pounds, 16shillings, 8 pence. Balance to profit and loss, 13,122 pounds, 2shillings, 5 pence. Well, that's not so very bad in less than threeyears. I think I may afford to lose her."

  "Why, father," replied Susan, leaning over his shoulder, and lookingarchly at him, "'tis a fortune in itself; to a contented person."

  But as, independently of McElvina's letter not being sufficientlyexplicit, there are other circumstances connected with his capture thatare important to our history, we shall ourselves narrate theparticulars.

  For more than two years, McElvina, by his dexterity and courage, and thefast sailing of his vessel, had escaped all his pursuers, and regularlylanded his cargoes. During this time, Willy had made rapid progressunder his instruction, not only in his general education, but also inthat of his profession. One morning the lugger was off Cape Clear, onthe coast of Ireland, when she discovered a frigate to windward,--thewind, weather, and relative situations of the two vessels being much thesame as on the former occasion, when McElvina, by his daring andjudicious manoeuvre, had effected his escape. The frigate chased, andsoon closed-to within a quarter of a mile of the lugger, when sherounded-to, and poured in a broadside of grape, which brought herfore-yard down on deck. From that moment such an incessant fire ofmusketry was poured in from the frigate, that every man on board ofMcElvina's vessel, who endeavoured to repair the mischief; wasimmediately struck down. Any attempt at escape was now hopeless. Whenwithin two cables' length, the frigate hove to the wind, keeping thelugger under her lee, and continued a fire of grape and musketry intoher, until the rest of her sails were lowered down.

  The crew of the smuggler, perceiving all chance in their favour to beover, ran down below to avoid the fire, and secure their own effects.The boats of the frigate were soon on board of the lugger, anddespatched back to her with McElvina and the chief officers. Willyjumped into the boat, and was taken on board with his patron.

  The captain of the frigate was on the quarter-deck; and as he turnedround, it occurred to Willy that he had seen his face before, but whenor where he could not exactly call to mind; and he continued toscrutinise him, as he paced up and down the quarter-deck, revolving inhis mind where it was that he had encountered that peculiar countenance.

  His eye, so fixed upon the captain that it followed him up and down ashe moved, at last was met by that of the latter, who, surprised atfinding so small a lad among the prisoners, walked over to the lee-sideof the quarter-deck, and addressed him with--"You're but a youngsmuggler, my lad; are you the captain's son?"

  The voice immediately recalled to Willy's recollection everycircumstance attending their last meeting, and who the captain was. Heanswered in the negative, with a smile.

  "You've a light heart, youngster. Pray, what's your name?"

  "_You_ said that my name was to be Seymour, sir," replied Willy,touching his hat.

  "Said his name was to be Seymour! What does the boy mean?--GoodHeavens! I recollect," observed Captain M---, for it was he. "Are youthe boy that I sent home in the _chasse-maree_, to be fitted out for thequarter-deck?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "And how long have you been on this praiseworthy service?"

  "Ever since, sir," replied our hero, who had little idea of itsimpropriety.

  _La Belle Susanne_ was as renowned for her fast sailing, and repeatedescapes from the cruisers, as Captain McElvina and his crew were fortheir courage and success. The capture of the vessel had long been adesideratum of the English Government; and Captain M---, althoughgratified at her falling into his hands, was not very well pleased tofind that a lad, whom he had intended to bring forward in the serviceshould, as he supposed, have voluntarily joined a party, who had so longbid defiance to the laws and naval force of the country. Hiscountenance assumed an air of displeasure, and he was about to turnaway, without any further remarks, when McElvina, who perceived howmatters stood, and felt aware that Willy's future prospects were atstake, stepped forward, and respectfully addressing the captain,narrated in few words the rescue of Willy from the wreck, and added thatthe boy had been detained by him, and had had no opportunity of leavingthe vessel, which had never anchored but in the French port of Havre.He also stated, what was indeed true, that he had always evadedexplaining to the boy the real nature of the service upon which thelugger was employed; from which it may be inferred that, notwithstandingMcElvina's defence of smuggling in our former chapters, he was not quiteso well convinced, in his own mind, of its propriety as he would haveinduced Debriseau to suppose.

  The assertions of McElvina turned the scale again in Willy's favour;and, after he had answered the interrogatories of the captain, relativeto the fate of Mr Bullock and the rest of the men in the prize, CaptainM---, who, although severe, was not only just, but kind-hearted,determined that his former good intentions relative to our hero shouldstill remain in force.

  "Well, Mr Seymour, you have seen a little service, and your captaingives you a high character, as an active and clever lad. As you havebeen detained against your will, I think we may recover your time andpay. I trust, however, that you will, in future, be employed in a morehonourable manner. We shall, in all probability, be soon in port, andtill then you must remain as you are, for I cannot trust you again in aprize."

  As our hero was in a new ship, the officers and ship's company of whichwere not acquainted with his history, except that he had been promoted,for an act of gallantry, by Captain M---, he was favourably received byhis messmates. The crew of the lugger were detained as prisoners onboard of the frigate, and the vessel in charge of one of the officerswas ordered to keep company, Captain M--- having determined to returninto port, and not wishing to lose sight of his valuable prize.

  "You have a very fine ship's company, Captain McElvina," observedCaptain M---. "How many of them are English?"

  "About eighty; and as good seamen as ever walked a plank."

  Captain M--- ordered the crew of the lugger aft of the quarter-deck, andput the question to them whether they would not prefer entering hisMajesty's service to the confinement of a prison: but, at the moment,they felt too indignant at having been captured by the frigate to listento the proposal, and refused to a man. Captain M--- turned awaydisappointed, surveying the fine body of men with a covetous eye, asthey were ranged in a line on his quarter-deck. He felt what a prizethey would be to him, if he could have added them to his own ship'scompany; for at that time it was almost impossible to man the number ofships which were employed in an effective manner.

  "Will you allow me to try what I can do for you, sir?" said McElvina, asthe men disappeared from the quarter-deck, to their former station asprisoners. Having received the nod of assent on the part of CaptainM---, McElvina w
ent down to the men, who gathered round him. Heforcibly pointed out to them the advantages of the proposal, and thegood chance they had of enriching themselves by the prize-money theywould make in a frigate which could capture such a fast-sailing vesselas the lugger. He also dwelt upon the misery of the prison whichawaited them: but what decided them was the observation that, in allprobability, they would not be permitted (now that seamen were in suchrequest) to remain in prison, but would be drafted in several ships, andbe separated; whereas, by now entering for Captain M---, they would allremain shipmates as before.

  Having obtained their unanimous consent, McElvina, with a pleasedcountenance, came aft, followed by his men, and informed CaptainM--- that they had agreed to enter for his ship. "Allow me tocongratulate you, sir, on your good fortune, as you will yourselfacknowledge it to be, when you find out what an addition they will be toyour ship's company."

  "I am indebted to you for your interference, sir," replied Captain M---,"and shall not prove ungrateful. Your conduct in this affair makes meinclined to ask another favour. I believe you can give me some valuableinformation, if you choose. Whether you are inclined to do so, I am notyet sure; but I now think that you will."

  "You will find me an Englishman, body and soul, sir and although I have,in defence of my profession, been occasionally necessitated to choosebetween capture and resistance, I can most conscientiously say, thatevery shot I have fired against my own countrymen has smitten me to theheart;" (and this assertion was true, although we have no time toanalyse McElvina's feelings at present). "I am not bound by honour, norhave I the least inclination, to conceal any information I may haveobtained, when in the French ports. I went there to serve my purposes,and they allowed me to do so to serve their own. I never would(although repeatedly offered bribes) bring them any information relativeto the proceedings of our own country, and I shall most cheerfullyanswer your questions; indeed, I have information which I would havegiven you before now, had I not felt that it might be supposed I wasactuated more by a view of serving myself than my country. I only wish,Captain M---, that you may fall in with a French frigate before I leaveyour ship, that I may prove to you that I can fight as well for oldEngland as I have done in defence of property entrusted to my charge."

  "Then do me the favour to step down into the cabin," said Captain M---.

  Captain M--- and McElvina were shut up in the after-cabin for some time;and the information received by Captain M--- was so important, that hedetermined not to anchor. He put all the French prisoners on board ofthe lugger at the entrance of the Sound, and, sending in a boat to takeout the major part of the men who had charge of her, he retainedMcElvina on board of the frigate, and made all sail for the Frenchcoast.