The Missing Ship Part 15

He and Captain Tracy had been s.h.i.+pmates in their younger days. He was well pleased, he said, to be able to forward the views of his friend's son. It was therefore settled that Gerald should join the _Champion_ at once, and Norah was busy from morning till night in preparing his outfit. Captain Tracy was now able to get about, and even to superintend the repairs of the _Ouzel Galley_. He secretly was somewhat proud of having a son belonging to the Royal Navy. It was the road to honour and fame; Gerald might some day become one of England's admirals.

Still, had the captain intended to continue at sea himself, he would have wished to keep his boy with him, and he would also gladly have had him accompany Owen Ma.s.sey. Gerald himself was in high glee; he made frequent trips down to the _Champion_, and always came back with some fresh account of what she had done, and of what his future messmates, the mids.h.i.+pmen, fully expected she would do. He described them to Norah as first-rate, jolly fellows, up to all sorts of fun.

"And you may tell Miss Ferris, if you like," he added, "that they all say there isn't a more gallant officer in the service than Lieutenant Foley, and they hope that he'll soon get well and rejoin the s.h.i.+p. They don't speak quite so favourably of her first lieutenant, Jonah Tarwig, who seems as if he had swallowed the mizen-royal-mast as he was looking aloft one stormy night when the s.h.i.+p was taken aback and it was carried away. He is six feet two in height--how he manages to stow himself in his berth it is hard to say, but it is supposed that he doubles his legs back, for as to coiling away his body, that would be impossible. The master, old Billhook, is a rough diamond, but he understands navigation, and spins tough yarns by the score; I'll tell you some of them one of these days. The purser, Simon Cheeseparings--that isn't his real name-- was a slopseller in Wapping, but outran his creditors and had to come to sea to escape from Newgate; and the doctor's a Scotchman whose name begins with Mac, and for brevity's sake Mac he is always called. Now you know all about the gun-room officers; but the best fellows, out and out, are in our berth. We've got two old mates, Beater and Crowhurst-- at least, they are old compared to the rest of us, and they are always complaining that they are not port-admirals. Their characters answer to their names, for Beater is never without a cob in his hand, and he uses it pretty freely; and Crowhurst is always boasting of his own mighty deeds or those of his ancestors--and if you are to take his word for it, they (his ancestors, I mean) came over with William the Conqueror, and ought to be dukes at the least. However, putting their peculiarities aside, they're capital fellows, and, if they have an opportunity, will show that they have the true metal in them--so my chum, Nat Kiddle, says. He doesn't pretend to be anybody, though I can tell you he's a broth of a boy, and it's a pity he wasn't an Irishman, for he'd do honour to the old country; but he happens to be the tenth son of an English farmer, whose brother was a lieutenant in the navy, and took him to sea, but his uncle having been killed at the end of the last war, Nat has to s.h.i.+ft for himself. Though he has tumbled into a good many sc.r.a.pes, he has always managed to fall on his feet. Then we've got a young lord, Mountstephen; he is always called Molly, but he doesn't at all mind, and declares that he'll some day show the Frenchmen what an English Molly can do. In reality, he is the pet of the mess--not because he's a lord, but because he's a very nice little fellow, who looks as if he ought to be in the nursery instead of knocking about in a sloop of war. But I don't know, Norah, whether you'll care to hear about the rest of us."

"Oh yes," answered Norah; "I am very much interested, especially in the little lord. I hope you'll help to take care of him."

"Yes, that you may depend on it I will," said Gerald; "if I get into sc.r.a.pes, I'll take care he doesn't--though I don't intend to get into any myself, notwithstanding that they say Irishmen always do. They've dubbed me Paddy already, but of course I'm proud of that, and shall always stick up for old Ireland, and sing 'Erin-go-bragh' on all occasions. Well, I'll tell you about the rest of our mess another day, and something about the warrant officers. We've three of them, the gunner, boatswain, and carpenter--and as chance will have it, the first is a Scotchman, the second an Englishman, and the third an Irishman; and though they're mighty good friends, they are always wrangling about their respective countries, each one declaring his own to be superior to the others in every respect. Barney O'Rourke hailed me at once as a countryman, and was mighty pleased to see one young gentleman, at least, from the Emerald Isle who would stick up for our country's honour.

'And, by my faith, that's what I intend to do,' I answered--and we became sworn friends. There now, Norah, I think you know a good deal about our s.h.i.+p already, and when Lieutenant Foley gets about again, which I hope he'll do in a few days, you will learn a good deal more; and when we're away, you'll be able to fancy me on board among my s.h.i.+pmates."

Norah sighed as she thought how soon her young brother, who had never before been parted from her, would be away, with the chance of not coming back for three or four years, for the _Champion_ had only lately been commissioned, and might before long be sent to a foreign station.

At length Captain Olding, the _Champion_ being ready for sea, ordered Gerald on board to perform, duty as a mids.h.i.+pman. He intended, however, to return in the course of two or three weeks, expecting by that time that his second lieutenant would be sufficiently recovered to resume his duties. Norah accompanied her father and Owen down the river to wish Gerald good-bye, and to see the s.h.i.+p sail. She felt rather sad as the boat shoved off, when the anchor was apeak and the white canvas let fall, and the s.h.i.+p began to glide majestically away through the calm waters of the harbour--for, besides that she grieved to part with her young brother, the thought occurred to her that the _Ouzel Galley_ would be the next s.h.i.+p she should see taking her departure from port. Owen, who was now able to be constantly with her, offered, not unsuccessfully, all the consolation in his power. Captain Tracy, being now well enough to go about, removed with her to their own cottage, situated a short distance from Waterford, and within a mile of Mrs Ma.s.sey's abode. It was a pretty spot. The cottage, with its porch covered with clematis and eglantine, stood in a good garden in which the captain delighted to work during his leisure hours. From the windows could be seen the broad, s.h.i.+ning river and the s.h.i.+pping in the distance on one side, and from the other the mountainous regions to the westward. Altogether, no young lady could have desired a more romantic bower.

The captain, by his successful voyages, had been able to save a sufficient sum to live in comfort, with a handmaiden, Biddy O'Halloran, to attend on him and his daughter, and a gessoon to look after the cows and pigs and to work in the garden. Still, notwithstanding her present happiness, it was but natural that poor Norah should reflect that in a short time Owen must sail away in command of the _Ouzel Galley_, and be subject to all the dangers of the sea, increased in war time by the chance of being captured by the enemy. He and her father were now absent all day long, attending to the fitting out of the s.h.i.+p, which was making rapid progress. Her owners had decided on sending her back to the West Indies, and Owen a.s.sured Norah that, as he should probably find a cargo waiting for him, he should not be long absent. She paid frequent visits to Ellen, who could heartily sympathise with her.

Lieutenant Foley had entirely recovered from his wound, and would have to rejoin the _Champion_ as soon as she arrived in the harbour, in which she was every day expected. Norah thought that the lieutenant deserved all the praises bestowed on him by Gerald, though of course he was not equal, in her estimation, to Owen. Still, she could not be surprised that her friend had given him her heart, especially as he had owned that he had given his to Ellen; and they were now regularly betrothed with the full approval of Mr Ferris, and were to marry as soon as Mr Foley had obtained the rank of commander.

The days and weeks went rapidly by. Mr Ferris intended, as soon as Lieutenant Foley had joined his s.h.i.+p, to return with his daughter to Dublin. This would be a great loss to Norah, as she was acquainted with but few other young ladies in the neighbourhood; indeed, from having been at school with Ellen, they were more like sisters than ordinary friends. Ellen had begged that she would visit her in Dublin, but she could not leave her father, and still less did she wish to quit Waterford till the _Ouzel Galley_ had sailed; after that, she felt that she should have no spirit to enjoy the gay society of the metropolis, even should her father insist on her accepting Ellen's invitation.

The arrival of the _Champion_ was announced at last by Gerald, who early one morning rushed into the house.

"We came in last night, and are to sail again this evening, so I obtained leave to run up to see you," cried Gerald. "I've got lots to tell you," he continued, after he had exchanged greetings with his father and sister, and was seated at the breakfast-table. "We haven't had any actual fight, but we've taken several prizes, one of them, as big as the _Champion_, cut out in gallant style. She was seen at anchor in Saint Martin's Roads, and the captain determined to have her. We stood away, and the Frenchman must have supposed we had gone; but at night, when it was very dark, we stood back again. Three boats were then lowered, and I had the good luck to be sent in one of them. We at once pulled away for the roads with m.u.f.fled oars. There lay the s.h.i.+p right ahead of us; we could just see her masts against the sky. The Frenchmen must have been all asleep, or keeping a very bad look-out, for we were alongside and our fellows almost on her deck before we were discovered. The Frenchmen, thus taken by surprise, made but a very feeble resistance, and though a few of them were knocked over, we didn't lose a man. The cable was cut and the topsails sheeted home before the fort began to fire, and as the wind was off sh.o.r.e, we got out of range with very little damage. We earned our prize into Plymouth, and our captain, I believe, gained some credit for his exploit; though except that he designed it, he took no part, for old Tarwig commanded one boat, and the master, Billhook, another, and one of our mates and I went in the third. Had half of us been killed, I suppose more would have been thought of the affair. While at Plymouth we heard from the b.u.mboat women, who have always the most correct intelligence, that we were to be sent to the West Indies, and we soon found that they were right; but the captain got leave to come in here first, to take Lieutenant Foley on board, and to obtain fresh provisions; so I shall be visiting the old scenes again, and, I hope, fall in with Owen. That will be good fun; perhaps we shall have to convoy him home, or maybe, should the _Ouzel Galley_ fall into the hands of the enemy, retake the s.h.i.+p. Faith, shouldn't I be delighted."

"Oh, don't talk of such a dreadful thing!" exclaimed Norah. "I hope that you may have to convoy him home, and that we may see you both back here in five or six months."

Gerald could stay but a very short time, as he had been ordered to return on board with Lieutenant Foley. Norah and Captain Tracy accompanied him into Waterford. They found the lieutenant ready to start, and Norah remained with Ellen, who had just taken farewell of her intended husband. Owen, having joined the captain and Norah, went down to the quay to see Gerald off.

"We shall meet, I hope, soon, Owen," said the young mids.h.i.+pman. "I feel half ashamed of myself for deserting you; but if you knew the life we lead on board the _Champion_, you wouldn't be surprised at my preferring her to the dear old _Galley_."

"The time may come when you may think differently. But good-bye, my lad; I hope you will enjoy yourself and come back safe," answered Owen, as Gerald sprang on board.

The lieutenant gazed with eager eyes towards the windows of the large house overlooking the river, where he could see a white handkerchief waving to him. Two or three more years might pa.s.s before he could again press the hand lately clasped in his, and it was a hard matter for him just then to keep up his spirits. Soon after the boat returned on board, the anchor was hove up, and the _Champion_, under all sail, stood to the south-west.

In the evening Mr Ferris desired to see Owen. "My partners and I have given you charge of the _Ouzel Galley_, Captain Ma.s.sey, and we trust that you will be as devoted to our interests as your predecessor has been," he said, giving Owen for the first time the t.i.tle of captain.

"Having undergone a thorough refit, we hope that she will require no fresh repairs for some time to come. We intend to insure her among our friends in Dublin, and they, knowing her good qualities and your careful character, would be ready to underwrite her at a moderate premium considering the war risk."

"You may rely on my taking the best care I possibly can of the s.h.i.+p,"

answered Owen, "and, as she has (I may say it without fear) a fair pair of heels, on my keeping clear of every enemy I may sight."

"That is what we wish, Mr Ma.s.sey," said Mr Ferris. "We don't want men who will run their noses into danger; and true courage and seamans.h.i.+p will best be shown in your case by cleverly escaping from your foes.

You will get the s.h.i.+p ready for sea as soon as possible, and take your cargo on board, and we will then send you further directions from Dublin."

Owen took leave of his employer and returned home. The next day Mr Ferris, accompanied by Ellen, proceeded to Dublin.

Norah's day of trial came at length. She ought not to have complained, as she had enjoyed Owen's society for some months. The _Ouzel Galley_ having s.h.i.+pped her cargo, chiefly of salt provisions, and other produce of the fertile south of Ireland, hauled out into the stream. Her old captain, with Norah and Mrs Ma.s.sey, went on board to bid farewell to Owen, and proceeded down the river till she had crossed the bar, when Captain Tracy took Owen by the hand.

"Heaven speed you, my boy!" he said. "May He who guarded me through the many dangers of the ocean take care of you, and bring you back in safety to those who will ever give you a loving welcome! And now, the shorter you cut the parting with those two the better."

Mrs Ma.s.sey saw that the time had come; she threw her amis round the young captain's neck, and asked G.o.d again and again to protect him.

Then she let Norah take her place, while Captain Tracy helped her down into the boat alongside, in which Owen soon afterwards placed Norah.

They had said their last words of farewell; Norah's had been whispered, for her heart was too full to allow her to utter them aloud. Captain Tracy took his seat in the stern-sheets. "Cast off!" he cried to the bowman. The boat dropped astern; Owen was seen standing aft and looking over the taffrail; the pilot, who had still the command, ordered the courses to be let fall, and the _Ouzel Galley_ glided onward. As long as the boat was in sight, there stood Owen gazing at Norah and his mother, as again and again they waved. More than once the old captain turned round to take another look at the s.h.i.+p whose keel he had seen laid, each timber and plank of which he had carefully watched as the s.h.i.+pwrights had fixed them in their destined positions--that s.h.i.+p on the deck of which he had stood when she glided into the water for the first time, and which he had since navigated with watchful care on every voyage she had made, amid rocks and shoals, and over many a league of ocean.

Mrs Ma.s.sey had consented to spend a few days with Norah. Though her own heart was heavy, she knew that she could console that of the young girl, so unused to the trials of life; while the old captain himself, she saw, required cheering, and thus in benefiting others she forgot her own anxieties. The captain had out his chart: he had marked the way the wind blew, and knew to a nicety the rate at which the s.h.i.+p was sailing, and could thus calculate from hour to hour the exact spot on which she floated--always provided, as he observed, if the wind holds as it did when she quitted port.

At length Mrs Ma.s.sey returned home, and Norah settled down to her daily occupations. Norah was not free from some anxiety on her own account, for she could not forget the attempt which had been made to carry her off, or divest herself altogether of the fear that she might be subjected to a similar outrage. She therefore never ventured abroad without her father's escort, while he at home ever kept his firearms ready for her defence. Still, as week after week went by, her hope that O'Harrall had quitted the country, and that he would not again venture to molest her, increased. She heard occasionally from Ellen, though letters were long in coming, and more than once the mail had been stopped on the road and plundered--a too frequent occurrence to be thought much of in those days.

Norah, notwithstanding her fears, was unmolested. The captain had given out that if any one should venture to run off with his daughter he would not obtain a farthing of his property--a wise precaution, for it probably prevented any of the squireens in the neighbourhood from making the attempt--added to the fact, which was pretty generally known, that she was engaged to marry Owen Ma.s.sey.

Month after month went by. Ellen at first wrote her word that she was going much into society--more, indeed, than she liked--while she had an abundance of occupation at home in attending to her father's household.

Latterly, from her letters, she appeared to be living a more quiet life than at first. She mentioned her father, who seemed to be much out of spirits, though she could not divine the cause. She again invited Norah to come up to Dublin and help to cheer him up.

"You are a great favourite of his, you know," she wrote. "He delights in hearing you sing, and your merry laugh and conversation will do him good."

But Norah could not be induced to leave her father; besides which, she confessed to Ellen, she was looking forward in a short time to the return of the _Ouzel Galley_, and she would be sorry if Owen should not find her at home on his arrival. Ellen, in reply, told her that the _Ouzel Galley_, after calling at Waterford, would probably have to come on to Dublin, and she continued--"And my father, finding it necessary to go out to Jamaica, intends taking a pa.s.sage in her; and I have determined to obtain leave to accompany him. I fear that he will object to my doing so, on account of the danger to which I may be exposed; but, you know, as I generally manage to have my own way, I hope to overcome his objections. The s.h.i.+p also will form one of a large fleet of merchantmen under convoy of two or three men-of-war, and as the _Ouzel Galley_ sails well, even should the convoy be attacked by the enemy, we shall have every chance of getting off. You must not be jealous of me, my dear Norah; indeed, I heartily wish that your father could spare you to bear me company; and I dare say that the young captain would wish the same, did he know of the proposed plan. Pray tell him of it when he comes into Waterford, and I have an idea that he will join his persuasions with mine."

This letter made Norah's heart beat quickly. She was much surprised, too, at hearing of the intention of Mr Ferris to go out to the West Indies; but, much as she would have liked to accompany her friend, she felt that it would be impossible to leave her father.

"I was afraid that things were not going on straight," observed Captain Tracy, when she told him of the news she had received. "However, Mr Ferris is the man to set them to rights, and he'll do it; but I wish that Miss Ellen, instead of going out with him, would come and stay here. She expects to meet the lieutenant, but he'll be here, there, and everywhere, and she mayn't see him all the time she is there."

Norah, in reply, told Ellen what Captain Tracy had said; but Miss Ferris had made up her mind to go if she could, and was not to be deterred from her purpose. One evening Norah was seated at the open window with her work before her, while her father occupied his usual armchair, smoking his pipe, when a rapid step was heard approaching the house. Norah uttered a cry of delight, and, hurrying to the door, the next moment was in Owen Ma.s.sey's arms.

"I am glad to see you back, my lad," cried the old captain, grasping his hand; "you've made a quick voyage, and a prosperous one, I hope?"

"As prosperous as I could desire," answered Owen. "We have had two or three narrow escapes from the enemy's cruisers, but the _Ouzel Galley_ is in good trim, and never sailed better. I heard in Waterford that I am to proceed to Dublin," he continued; "so I paid my mother a visit, and she bade me hurry on here. I can remain but a short time, for I must be on board again early to-morrow."

"We'll make the most of you, then, my lad," said Captain Tracy, "and Norah looks as if she intended to do so."

She was the first to tell Owen of the intention of Mr Ferris to go out in the _Ouzel Galley_ to Jamaica, and that Ellen had made up her mind to accompany him. "She has asked me to pay her a visit before she goes,"

she added, "and I should much like to do so could I leave my father, but that I cannot do."

"Nor shall you, my girl, for I will go with you," said the captain, who had overheard her remark. "We'll go in the _Ouzel Galley_--to my mind there's less danger at sea than from those land pirates, the highwaymen--and if you can pack up your traps in time, we'll go aboard to-morrow morning. What say you, Owen? Will you take us as pa.s.sengers?"

Owen expressed his pleasure at the proposal, and Norah had no doubt that she could pack up in time. Owen put aside all fears of capture by the enemy; indeed, the Channel was so well guarded by British s.h.i.+ps of war that there was little danger, he thought, on that score. He had too much confidence in his own seamans.h.i.+p to think of s.h.i.+pwreck. After all arrangements had been made, he went back to spend the rest of the evening with his mother, while Norah and the captain, with Biddy's help, prepared for their departure.

CHAPTER NINE.

THE OUZEL GALLEY SAILS FOR DUBLIN--A STRANGE SAIL TO THE SOUTHWARD-- FOLLOWS THE OUZEL GALLEY--THE CHAMPION SENDS MR. FOLEY AND GERALD TO PRESS SOME OF HER MEN--NORAH IN DUBLIN--MR. FOLEY AND GERALD IN COMMAND OF A PRESSGANG--AN ADVENTURE ON THE LIBERTIES--A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER CAPTURED--PRESSED MEN CARRIED OFF--ELLEN AND MR. FERRIS SAIL IN THE OUZEL GALLEY--CAPTAIN TRACY AND NORAH RETURN TO WATERFORD--THE OUZEL GALLEY WITH THE CONVOY BOUND FOR THE WEST INDIES--SHARP ACTION WITH FRENCH FRIGATES--THE ENEMY BEATEN OFF.

Norah and Captain Tracy were on board the _Ouzel Galley_ before noon the next day, accompanied by Owen. They had gone round to bid Mrs Ma.s.sey good-bye; it cost her much to part again so soon with her son, but she was proud of seeing him captain of so fine a s.h.i.+p, and had learnt to bear many trials with fort.i.tude.

As the breeze blew up the harbour, the _Ouzel Galley_ had to beat out, which, with a favourable tide, she succeeded in doing in a few tacks, after which she had a fair wind for Dublin. Dan, coming aft, hat in hand, welcomed Miss Norah, and wished she was going to sail with them the next voyage--Pompey, who presumed on long service with Captain Ma.s.sey, imitating his example, and making an appropriate speech. Norah thanked them, and, it is just possible, secretly wished that she was to remain on board.

A bright look-out was kept for any sail which might heave in sight; for, though Owen believed that there was no risk of encountering an enemy, it was still possible that a French privateer might be on the watch to pick up any merchant vessel which might come within her grasp. The wind fell, and the _Ouzel Galley_ made but little progress during the night.

Whatever others might have done, Norah did not complain; she was in no hurry to have the trip over. Dawn had just broken, when, as a mist which had for some hours hung over the ocean began to clear away, a hand who had been sent aloft shouted out, "A sail to the southward!" Owen, who was on deck, at once went to the mast-head to take a look at the stranger. She was a large s.h.i.+p under all sail, but the mist prevented him from making out very clearly what she was.

"She is bringing up the breeze," observed Captain Ma.s.sey, when he returned on deck; "but as we shall probably get it before long, we may keep ahead of her."

"We'll try our best to do that same," said the old captain; "it would be hard to be trapped just as we are going into port."