CHAPTER ELEVEN.
THE RESCUE OF THE FRENCH SEAMEN--MARY A PRISONER TO THE FRENCH--PIERREDELIVERS HER--BAD CONDUCT OF THE FRENCH.
The hurricane had given signs of abating, but the sea was still far toorough to allow of even a good boat going off to the people on the reef;still more impossible would it have been to have reached them by meansof a raft. On examining the rafts which had been constructed to bringthe cargo on shore, both were found to have suffered by the hurricane.It was determined, therefore, to build a smaller and more manageableone, by means of which it was hoped to reach the shipwrecked people.This work Captain Williams and his companions immediately set aboutperforming. The French lieutenant now thoroughly aroused, lent his handto it. In the course of a couple of hours a structure was formed withwhich it was hoped they might venture out to sea.
Their next undertaking was to cut out a number mast, and fit a sail forthe raft. Still the sea would not allow them to venture from the shore;they had, therefore, to wait patiently, watching in the meantime thepeople whom they were anxious to rescue. The wreck seemed to be fixedfirmly at the end of a reef, and to have afforded them a shelter fromthe fury of the seas, which would otherwise have washed them away.Still, as they probably had no food nor water, it was impossible thatthey could exist there for any length of time. Should any attempt bemade by those on the wreck to reach the shore by swimming, it was buttoo probable that they would be carried off by the sharks, numbers ofwhich swarmed around the island. In the meantime, the men were employedin getting up the tent, and in restoring matters to the condition theywere in before the hurricane.
The poor ladies had suffered greatly from the alarm into which they hadbeen thrown, and it was necessary they should obtain that rest which hadbeen denied them during the night. Mary, however, kept up her spirits,and could not help expressing her thankfulness that Harry and David hadbeen saved, and were thus sharing with her the adventures which she wasnot likely to forget to the end of her days.
"How curious it will be when they hear about us at home," said David,"and that we were all wrecked together on this out-of-the-way island."
"But how are they to hear about us?" observed Mary; "we must get awayfrom this before we can send a letter home, and how we are to get awayseems the question."
"Some means will turn up, depend upon it," said Harry, "we shall be seenby some passing ship, or if not, we must build a boat and try to reachsome of the nearest islands. We are not likely to have to spend all ourlives here, depend on that."
They little thought of the difficulties and dangers they had still to gothrough. The day was advancing, but still the sea was considered toorough to allow the raft to be launched. They watched the people on thereef, who seemed to be clustering together, and who probably, unlessthey had a telescope, would not be aware that there were any people onthe shore likely to come to their assistance. At length the sun set,and very unwillingly they were obliged to abandon the hope of going offtill the following morning. They anxiously watched the weather duringthe night, and were thankful to find that the wind had dropped to aperfect calm. By daybreak Captain Williams summoned those who hadagreed to accompany him, consisting of his mate and two English seamen,and Jacques Rossillion. By means of the long sweeps, which had beencarefully fitted to the raft, they were enabled to urge it along at agood speed over the waters.
"Success attend your efforts!" said Captain Rymer, as he assisted inshoving off the raft. Harry and David begged that they might also go,and assist in working the sweeps; and their offer was accepted. Theyhad a somewhat long voyage to perform, and though they vigorously workedthe sweeps they could not move the raft more than at the rate of threemiles an hour. As they approached the reef they were perceived by theshipwrecked party, who waved to them as if urging them to come faster.As they drew near the men pointed to their mouths, indicating that theywere suffering from thirst. Unhappily, no water had been brought off.Several, it appeared, had been in a state of delirium, and it was veryevident that it would be dangerous to approach too close to the wreck,lest a number jumping upon the raft might upset it. There appeared tobe about twenty or thirty people on the wreck, and Captain Williamsagreed that it would not be safe to convey more than eight or ten at atime to the shore. The French lieutenant recognised the men asbelonging to the schooner's crew, and he called out to them by name,ordering eight at a time to come down, and that they would be taken onboard. They did not seem, however, inclined to obey him. Fortunately,Captain Williams had stuck a brace of pistols in his belt, and he nowthreatened to shoot any who might attempt to come on board the raftunless ordered by the lieutenant. This had the effect of keeping backthe greater number, and eight of the Frenchmen were safely got on boardthe raft, which now at once commenced its return to the shore. Thosewho remained on the reef entreated that they might not be deserted,though they would scarcely believe the promise made by their officerthat he would return for them. The poor men who had been rescued showedhow much they had been suffering by pointing to their parched tongues,and again and again asking for water.
Captain Williams and his companions exerted themselves to the utmost toreach the shore. This they at length accomplished, and water wasimmediately procured for the thirsty men. Their sufferings might bethose of the whole party, unless great economy was used in distributingthe precious fluid. A small cask was put on the raft, with some cups,and once more the party set forth to return to the reef, leaving thosewho had first landed to the care of their friends on shore. As the raftagain approached the reef, the poor wretches who had been left upon itwere seen stretching out their hands eagerly for water. There was stillgreat danger lest they might rush down, in their anxiety to obtain it,and either fall into the water or upset the raft. Much caution wastherefore necessary. The lieutenant and Jacques first leaped on to therock, when Captain Williams handed them up the cups of water; but thefirst man who got the cup refused to let it leave his lips till he haddrained every drop. Two were seen to fall backward after they haddrunk, and it was with difficulty they were saved from falling into thesea. Several who were already in a state of delirium, scarcely seemedto value the boon which had been brought them. In time, however, waterwas given to all, and it was now necessary to select those who might becarried away on the raft, as it would require another trip before allcould be removed. Harry and David looked somewhat anxiously for theFrench captain, but neither he nor any of the officers were among thosesaved. More than half of the crew, it was evident, had been lost. Thelieutenant did not ask questions; indeed the poor men were not in acondition to have replied to them.
For the safety of the raft it was necessary to secure the limbs of thosewho were in a state of delirium, and it was painful to see themstruggling, as they lay on the raft, not understanding that this wasdone for their own safety. The second party were thus landed safely,and again the raft put off for the remainder of the crew. They had torow the whole way; indeed it was fortunate that there was no wind, as itwould have made the approach to the reef much more dangerous. As itwas, during the last trip the raft was very nearly driven against therocks by one of those sudden upheavings of the ocean which sometimesoccur, and send the water breaking over any opposing obstacle. Happily,they were able to shove off in time.
Altogether, nearly thirty people were safely landed. It became,however, a serious consideration to the former occupants of the island,how the new comers were to be fed. They had provisions which might havelasted them a couple of months or more, though they had already seen thenecessity of going upon an allowance of water; their numbers were nowdoubled, and they had not water to last them more than a very shorttime. Still, disregarding the character of those who had been rescued,they did their utmost to restore the poor men who had been thrown upontheir care. Two of them, however, died from having drunk a largequantity of salt water, and others remained seriously ill for severaldays.
The excitement of going off on the raft having subsided, the Frenchlieutenant agai
n sunk into his former moody state. At length theFrenchmen appeared to have recovered, but they did not seem inclined toassociate with the English, nor with Jacques nor Pierre, who continuedto perform their former duties. Captain Rymer and Captain Williamsagreed that it would be necessary to put a guard over their provisionsand stores, lest the Frenchmen should take it into their heads to helpthemselves without leave. It was explained to them that they must becontent with a very moderate amount of food, and a still smallerquantity of water, unless a supply of the latter could be found. Theyseemingly acquiesced in the wisdom of this, but from the looks theyexchanged with each other, it was but too probable that they would betempted to break through the regulations which had been formed on thesubject.
With regard to food, they might obtain sufficient to support life bothfrom the shell-fish on the shore, and from any fish they might catch,while the trees promised to afford them a supply of cocoanuts. Butwater was what they most required; without that it would be impossibleto support existence. As long, however, as they were supplied withfood, the Frenchmen did not show any inclination to search for it forthemselves. Pierre was sent to tell them that lines would be providedfor them, if they would try to catch some fish, and again the captainset out to make a fresh search for water.
As soon as the Frenchmen had recovered, they showed a very differentdisposition to what they had previously exhibited. They then receivedthe food given to them by the English with apparent gratitude. Now,however, when it was sent to them they seized it rudely, and grumbledbecause the supply was not larger. Captain Rymer endeavoured to explainto the French lieutenant that the arrangements made were for the good ofall. He, however, either had no authority over his countrymen orpretended to have none. Still, as he associated himself with them, itwas evident that he intended to side with them whatever they might do.This state of things gave considerable anxiety to the English officers.It was arranged that a strict guard should be kept over the provisionsand water, and that no one should be allowed to take anything from thestores.
Pierre continued, as before, to attend on the English, though heoccasionally paid a visit to the French, who were encamped at somelittle distance, and out of sight of the rest of the party. On beingquestioned, he said that the French claimed the stores as their own,because they had captured the vessel from which they were taken, andthat they were very angry at the idea of the English appropriating them.It was agreed, however, that unless they were preserved as before, theFrench sailors would probably consume the whole in a very short time,and all the party would be left in a state of starvation. Still, as theFrench had hitherto shown no disposition to annoy the English, thepassengers continued to stroll about the shore of the island without anyapprehension, as they had been accustomed to do. Harry and Davidfrequently escorted Mary in these expeditions. They always returnedwith a basket-full of shell-fish of various sorts. The boys also fittedsome fishing lines, and after a little practice they succeeded incatching a great many fish. Some of them were very beautiful; but whenthey showed them to Jacques, he told them that they were not fit to beeaten. Others, however, were excellent, and they had thus noapprehension with regard to not having provisions for their support,even though they might remain on the island for many months. The greatanxiety was with regard to water.
One day Mary and her young companions had gone along the shore for aconsiderable distance, when they reached a point of rock upon which theybelieved that they should be able to catch a number of fish. Mary didnot take the same interest in the sport that they did, but preferredwandering along the beach and picking up the beautiful shells, andseveral curious creatures that had been cast on shore. Harry and Davidsoon began to catch a number of fish, and were completely absorbed intheir sport. Mary said that she would go along the beach some littledistance, and then return to them. They saw her walking along, nowstooping down to pick up a shell, now continuing her course close to thewater, when a rock hid her from view. Just at that moment the fishbegan to bite faster and faster, and as they hauled them up in theireagerness they forgot to look out for their companion. Suddenly Harryexclaimed, "What can have become of Mary? She is a long time away."
They both shouted her name, but there was no answer. Gathering up theirlines and their fish they leaped off the rock, and ran along the beachin the direction she had gone. They did not, however, see her, andbecame greatly alarmed. In vain they shouted her name.
"She certainly could not have turned back and gone the other way," saidPhilip; "besides, see, here are the marks of her feet on the sand; shemust have gone on further than she intended." They traced her by themarks of her feet in the sand for a considerable distance, when sheappeared to have turned inland, away from the beach. "Surely here arethe marks of other feet," said David; "if there were any savages on theisland, I should be afraid she had been carried off by them."
They now pursued in the direction of the marks of the feet, thoughMary's were no longer to be traced. The ground in the centre of theisland being hard, they here lost all traces. They looked round inevery direction. No persons were to be seen. They continued runningeagerly forward, shouting again and again Mary's name, when they foundthemselves in front of the French camp. The French jeered at them asthey passed, and as they were unable to speak French, they could notenquire if any of the people had seen Mary. Not knowing what else todo, they hurried back to their own friends with the bad news. CaptainRymer at first would scarcely credit the account they gave him. Hehowever, with the two boys and Captain Williams, immediately set out tosearch the neighbourhood of the spot where Mary had disappeared. It wasevident to them that she had not been carried away from the island; theytherefore came to the conclusion that the Frenchmen had made her aprisoner, in the hopes that they might thus compel the English to agreeto any terms they might propose.
Captain Rymer therefore determined to go to the French with Pierre asinterpreter, and to ascertain what terms the French had to propose. Atfirst they denied that she was with them, but said that they weredetermined to have one half of the provisions and water as their propershare. Captain Rymer replied that they were determined for the good ofall those on the island not to give up the provisions, and againenquired whether they had seen his young daughter, but could get noanswer in return; and doubting whether the French really knew anythingabout Mary, he returned to consult further with Captain Williams. Itwas agreed that, should they yield to the demands of the Frenchmen, assoon as the first half of the provisions were consumed they would demandthe remainder, and that, therefore, it would be wiser at once to refusetheir demands.
The day was drawing on, but still there were no signs of Mary. Theyarranged that Jacques should carry their food as usual to the French,and endeavour to obtain all the information that he could. Harry andDavid offered to go and watch in the neighbourhood of the camp, so thatif she really was there, and could make her escape, they might be readyto assist her. While they remained concealed, Pierre went on into thecamp. He brought a larger supply of food than usual to each man, andtalked to one and then to the other, often in no complimentary terms ofthe English.
"And why do you remain with them?" was the question put to him.
"Because I am well fed; and until you came I had none else to associatewith except Jacques, and I cannot make out whether he likes the Englishor our own countrymen the best."
"Then do you intend to remain with us now?" was the question put toPierre.
"O yes! I have had enough of the English, and wish to throw in myfortunes with my own countrymen."
The Frenchmen seemed to think that Pierre was in earnest, as he showedno inclination to leave them. He was, however, very busy in going aboutamong the huts, whilst he put several questions to his countrymen, as towhether they could guess anything about the little girl who had beencarried off. "Our lieutenant knows something about that, and as he doesnot want to fight with the English, hopes to gain his object bydiplomacy."
This convinced Pierre tha
t Mary was in the camp, and he determined toset her free if he could. There was a hut in a grove close to the camp,into which he had hitherto not looked, and he thought it very likelythat Mary had been shut up there. He knew, however, that he should bewatched, especially by the lieutenant, who was walking up and down onthe beach, in his usual moody manner. Nothing could be done, at allevents, until it was dark; and he therefore continued laughing andtalking with his countrymen, so as if possible to throw them off theirguard. He observed the lieutenant once visit the hut with a tin offood, and, on leaving it, he placed a log of wood across the door. Thisconvinced him more even than before that Mary was shut up there.
Night came on at last. By the conversation of the Frenchmen, he fearedthat they had determined to have possession of the provisions by force,if they could not gain them in any other way. The Frenchmen amusedthemselves as their countrymen, even under the most adversecircumstances, are accustomed to do, by singing, telling stories, andoccasionally getting up and dancing. At last, tired with theirexertions, they laid themselves down in their huts. Pierre waited untilthey all seemed asleep. He most dreaded being detected by thelieutenant. He crept cautiously near the hut in which he was lyingdown, and, greatly to his satisfaction, found that he also was asleep.He instantly stole off to the hut in which he believed Mary wasconfined. The log at the entrance was somewhat heavy, and he had nolittle difficulty in removing it without making a noise. He pushed backthe rough planks that formed the door, and there, to his infinitesatisfaction, he saw Mary. She was seated on a heap of boughs in acorner of the hut, with her hands tied together, and her feet secured toa log. She uttered an exclamation of surprise on hearing Pierreapproach.
"Hush!" he said, "make no noise, I have come to release you."
He fortunately had the knife in his pocket that David had given him, andwith this he quickly cut the ropes with which the little girl was bound.
"Now," he said, "take my hand, and I will lead you to those with whomyou will soon find your way back to your friends."
Saying this, he took her hand and led her through the grove, the Frenchcamp soon being lost sight of. They quickly found the spot where Harryand David were waiting. The boys were delighted at finding their youngcompanion, and hurried off, supporting her between them, to theirfriends, while Pierre returned to the French. Captain Rymer wasoverjoyed at seeing his daughter, as will be supposed. The English didnot rest much that night, not knowing what the French would next do. Itwas nearly morning when a footstep was heard approaching the camp, andPierre came running up. "My countrymen have determined to attack you,and take the provisions by force," he said; "I had just time to escape,for they already suspected me of assisting Miss Rymer to escape."
Jacques, who had remained with the English, was very sorry to hear whatthe French proposed doing; he promised, however, to fight on the side ofhis friends. Ten muskets, and a small supply of powder and ball, hadbeen brought from the wreck. Of these the Frenchman were not aware, butas there was very little ammunition, it would soon be exhausted, andthen numbers would prevail.
CHAPTER TWELVE.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE "ARETHUSA"--THE FRENCH TAKEN PRISONERS--DAVID BECOMESA MIDSHIPMAN--THE FIGHT AND VICTORY--JOY AT HOME--THE END.
Captain Rymer had taken the precaution of throwing up a breastwork roundthe camp, which might assist him in repelling any attack of theFrenchmen. "Though my countrymen will kill me if they discover I havewarned you, I would rather die than that you should be taken bysurprise," exclaimed Pierre, as he was helped over the parapet.
"We hope that we shall be able to protect you," said Harry, who withDavid had been on guard some time.
"Never fear; we have firearms, and your countrymen are without them. Ifthey come, they will receive a warmer reception than they expect."
A few minutes afterwards a number of persons were seen stealing towardsthe camp, and evidently hoping to take the company by surprise."Silence!" said Captain Rymer to his companions, "we will let themsuppose that we are asleep, and then, if we suddenly start up and fire amusket or two over their heads they will become so alarmed that theywill perhaps desist from the attack." This plan was followed out. TheFrenchmen were evidently somewhat startled at finding that those theyhad come to attack were better armed than themselves.
"Now, Pierre, tell them that if they come on many of them will bekilled," said Captain Rymer; "we don't wish to injure them, but we areresolved not to yield to their demand."
The Frenchmen hearing this at first seemed to hesitate, but shouting toeach other they again advanced towards the embankment. "You will takethe consequences of your folly," said Captain Rymer, and Pierreinterpreted what he said. Several shots were fired, and two or three ofthe Frenchmen were apparently hit. The discharge had the effect ofmaking them retreat. It was evident, however, that from the few musketsthat had gone off that the powder was far from good, and that littledependence could therefore be placed on their firearms. Still itappeared that the French had had enough for the moment, as having failedin their expected surprise of the English they retreated once more totheir own camp. But the state of affairs was very serious, as it couldnot be supposed that they would not again attempt to attack the camp.
"One thing must be done," observed Captain Rymer; "as soon as the suncomes out we must dry our powder, that it may prove of more use than itdid just now." In a short time daylight broke, and the sun, rising outof the ocean, shed a bright light over the scene. As he rose, his raysfell on the white sails of a ship, not two miles from the island.Captain Rymer's telescope was immediately turned towards her. "She's anEnglish frigate," he exclaimed.
"Let me look, sir! let me look!" cried Harry, eagerly.
"That she is, indeed, and my own ship, the _Arethusa_, I am sure she is,I should know her among fifty other frigates. We expected that shewould be sent out to the West Indies."
The great point was now to draw the attention of those on board thefrigate to the island. A flagstaff was quickly erected at a point clearof the trees, and as the flag was run up, several muskets were fired atthe same time. They waited anxiously to see the effect. In anotherminute an answering gun was fired from the frigate, and almost at thesame moment a couple of boats were seen approaching the shore. Harry'sdelight was very great when he recognised several of his shipmates inthe boats. The second lieutenant of the frigate, who came in command,was the first person to step on shore. Harry, forgetting his ownappearance, instantly ran up to him, and was somewhat mortified at thelook of astonishment with which the lieutenant regarded him.
"What, don't you know me, sir?" exclaimed Harry.
"I begin to have an idea," said the lieutenant, putting out his hand,"though there are one or two reasons why I should not know you. Thefirst is, that we thought you had lost the number of your mess; and,excuse me, you certainly do not look like an English midshipman."
"No, sir, I don't think I do," said Harry, laughing. "Now let meintroduce my friends to you. Here is Mr David Morton, and CaptainRymer and Miss Rymer, and all these ladies and gentlemen. And it willtake some time to tell you all about ourselves."
Harry, in his joy, let his tongue run on, scarcely knowing what he wassaying. Captain Rymer now stepped forward and explained the state ofaffairs. This required some little time to do.
"I am sure the captain will be very glad to receive the master, crew,and all the passengers of the _Cerberus_ on board the frigate," repliedthe lieutenant; "but I don't know how he will be inclined to treat theFrenchmen, who have behaved as you have described. If they are left onthe island they will probably perish of thirst. But, in the meantime,should any English vessel come here, they might take the crew prisoners,and make off in her."
It was agreed, therefore, that the best way would be to carry them offas prisoners to Jamaica. The Frenchmen were very indignant at hearingthe arrangements that had been made, but when they saw that the boat'screw were armed they had the sense to know that resistance was useless.Harry and Da
vid entreated that Pierre and Jacques might not be madeprisoners, and of course their request was granted. Both Jacques andPierre begged that they might enter on board the frigate. In a shorttime nearly all those who had lately been living on the island werecarried on board the frigate. The Frenchmen were placed in the prisonforward. There was one exception, however, the French lieutenant wasnowhere to be found. While the rest of his countrymen were embarking hehad disappeared. A boat's crew was sent on shore to search for him.The only trace that could be discovered of him was his hat at the end ofa ledge of rocks, off which it was supposed he had thrown himself, andbeen drowned. Poor man! he had given up all hopes of happiness in thislife, and had refused to believe in a life to come.
In those days it was not so difficult to enter the navy as at thepresent time. Notwithstanding all the hardships David had gone throughhe was as anxious as ever to become a midshipman. The captain promisedto place him on the quarter-deck, if he preferred remaining out in theWest Indies instead of going home. David was naturally very anxious tosee his friends; but at the same time his darling desire to enter thenavy could now be realised. If he went home he would be separated fromHarry, whom he now looked upon more than ever as a brother.
"At all events, I will remain out," said David, "till I can hear fromhome, and then, should my father and mother desire me to return, I mustobey them."
The frigate conveyed Captain Rymer to his government, in the island of,and as she was constantly cruising about in that neighbourhood Harry andDavid had frequent opportunities of seeing Mary. Those were stirringdays, and midshipmen met with various adventures. David at lengthanxiously broke open a letter which reached him from home. His fatherand mother expressed their gratitude to Heaven that he had escaped somany dangers, and told him that, as his heart was set on becoming amidshipman, they would no longer oppose his wishes.
Several years passed by; the frigate was at one time cruising amongstthe West Indian Islands, and at another time she was sent to Halifax,then the chief station of the American squadron. Fully four yearspassed away before she was ordered home. The command held by CaptainRymer at the same time came to an end, and he and Mary prepared toreturn to England. The _Arethusa_ sailed some little time after them.Her crew, as was too often the case, was diminished by yellow fever; butthe survivors thought only of once more reaching their native land, andlooked forward with joy at the prospect of again seeing the white cliffsof old England. Already the frigate was more than half-way across theAtlantic, when one morning a sail was espied on the weather-bow; thesails were trimmed and the frigate gave chase. The stranger took herfor an enemy, and did everything to escape, and not without good hopesof success, for she was evidently a fast craft.
The _Arethusa_ was, however, one of the fastest frigates in the navy,and it was not likely that the chase would succeed, unless, favoured bythe darkness, she might alter her course during the night. A sharplook-out was kept. Twice the look-out man exclaimed that she wasnowhere to be seen, but again she was caught sight of. When morningdawned it was calculated that the frigate had gained considerably uponher. The chase continued for the best part of the day. At last thefrigate got her within length of her bow-chasers. Several shots werefired without inducing her to haul down her colours, which were French.She was a large schooner, a powerful vessel, with heavy masts and sails.At length a shot carried away her main-topmast, and now, finding thatany further attempt at escaping was useless, the colours were hauleddown. She proved to be a French privateer returning home after asuccessful cruise. The rage of the Frenchmen was very great at findingthemselves captured, when they so soon expected to be in _La BelleFrance_ to enjoy the booty they had obtained. In a short time, however,after the greater number had been transferred to the deck of thefrigate, they were dancing and singing, apparently forgetful of theirmisfortune. As no lieutenant from the frigate could be spared to takecharge of the prize, Harry, who had now become an experienced officer,was sent on board in command, and David went as his lieutenant. Pierrebegged that he might accompany them. For two or three days they kept insight of the frigate, but a gale coming on, with thick weather, whenmorning broke the _Arethusa_ was nowhere to be seen.
"We must find our way up Channel as best we can," said Harry. "I thinkyou and I can manage a correct day's work, though we have not had asmuch experience in navigation as would be desirable."
The weather continued bad for several days, during which the schoonerwas hove-to. Once more the sky cleared; the wind moderated, and acoarse was steered up Channel.
"I can scarcely fancy that more than four years have passed away sinceyou and I drifted out here in a boat with poor old Jefferies. We returnin a very different style, don't we?" remarked Harry to his companion.
They had reached, they calculated, the chops of the Channel, when alarge merchant ship was seen ahead.
"Should she prove to be an enemy's craft she will make a rich prize,"said David.
"I rather think she is English," said Harry; "but see, there is anothervessel, a large lugger I make her out to be, bearing down upon her. Thelugger is French, there is no doubt about that. I should not besurprised if she is a privateer, about to pounce down upon the merchantvessel. If the Frenchmen have seen us, they take us to be French also,and are anxious to secure the prize before we come up," observed Harry."I am not, however, certain that she will do that; see, there is astrong breeze from the westward coming up, and the sails of the twovessels are already becalmed."
Harry was right; the schooner carried up the breeze, and stood inbetween the two vessels before the lugger had time to fire a shot.Instantly hoisting English colours, Harry boldly stood towards thelugger, followed by the merchant ship. He at once opened fire on thelugger, who made all sail to escape. This was what Harry had determinedshe should not do. The schooner carried two long guns in her bows.These were so well worked that after a few shots the lugger's mizen-mastwas knocked away. The main-mast followed, and the lugger, being nowreduced to an almost helpless condition, hauled down her colours. Asmay be supposed, Harry and David's delight was very great, at not onlyhaving made so valuable a prize, but saving a valuable merchant vesselfrom capture. Still greater was their satisfaction when going on boardthe merchant vessel, they found that Captain Rymer and Mary were amongstthe passengers.
The merchantman was bound for Falmouth, and to that port Harry alsoresolved to steer with the prize, as she was not in a condition to betaken up Channel. The next morning the three vessels anchored inFalmouth Harbour. As neither Harry nor David could leave their vessels,a messenger was despatched to their homes, and in a short time Mr andMrs Morton, Mrs Merryweather, and a considerable number of friends whoformed the picnic party on that memorable day when Harry and David wentadrift in a boat, were collected at the Green Bank Hotel. If Harry hadbeen looked upon as a hero on the distant day of which we speak, muchmore so was he now.
Both Harry and David rose to rank and honour in the noble professionthey had selected, and as soon as the former obtained his rank aspost-captain, Mary Rymer became his wife; and among the adventures heloved to describe to his young descendants, was that of how he and hisfriend Admiral Morton, in their younger days, went "Adrift in a Boat."
THE END.
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