Roger Kyffin's Ward Part 13

"Do you know where he has gone to, Miss Mabel?" he asked. "I am afraid he has got some wrong notion into his head, and will be doing something desperate when there's no necessity for it. There are often two ways of looking at the same thing, and in my mind he has been looking the wrong way."

"I think indeed that he has," answered Mabel; "but I tried also to get him to speak to my uncle. His guardian, Mr. Kyffin, is away in Ireland.

I fear they are the only two people who could have persuaded him to act differently. He told me that he intended to remain for the night at the cottage of Dame Tuttle. You might find him there to-morrow morning, and perhaps his mind may by that time be calmer."

Mabel found her aunt very anxious about her long absence. The baron had gone away some little time before she quitted the drawing-room, so that she knew that Mabel had not gone out to speak to him. She was so thankful, however, at seeing her back, that she did not press her with questions, merely observing: "Since that fearful evening, the commencement of poor Lucy's illness, I have been so nervous, dear, that I am anxious even when you are more than a few minutes absent from me."

Mabel, however, had no wish to conceal the fact of her having met Harry Tryon; for she knew that her aunt would sympathise with her in her sorrow. She felt somewhat relieved when she had told her grief; but though the two ladies talked the matter over, they could see no immediate way of extricating Harry from his difficulties. Mabel was for writing at once to Mr. Kyffin. At length she bethought her of her G.o.dfather, Mr. Thornborough. "He knows Mr. Kyffin, Harry has told me, and he would be able to intercede both with him and Mr. Coppinger."

Many other plans were thought of and discussed. The two ladies, however, agreed to wait till the following morning before they settled the one they would adopt.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

MANNING THE NAVY IN THE OLD TIME.

Often during the night, as Harry lay on Widow Tuttle's spare truckle bed, he repented him of his resolution to start off immediately to sea.

Common sense said, "Wait till you can hear from your kind guardian, or still better, till you have had an interview with him. Explain the state of the case clearly to Mr. Coppinger, acknowledging that you were drunk, and put your name to papers with the contents of which you were not acquainted. Let him know that Silas Sleech is a consummate hypocrite, and in all probability a thorough rogue. Brave the worst.

Surely nothing can be so bad as running away, and leaving your name and credit and character in the hands of such a fellow as Sleech, who has acknowledged himself your enemy, and who will, like his master--Satan-- if you bravely face him, succ.u.mb before you." Then rose up again Harry's desire to go to sea, his dislike of having to acknowledge his weakness and folly to Mr. Coppinger, and his doubts whether his uncle would believe his statements. Sleep scarcely visited his eyelids. He was just dozing off when he heard Tuttle's rough voice exclaiming--

"Turn out there, mate, we'll have some breakfast, and then be off before the sun's up. We have a long voyage before us, and only our own legs to depend on." Harry had wished to go to Portsmouth by sea.

"And I'll tell you what would happen if we did," said Jacob. "As soon as we set foot on sh.o.r.e the press-gang would be upon us, and whether we liked it or not would carry us on board their s.h.i.+p to serve his Majesty.

I was very nearly caught once; had twenty fellows after me as hard as they could pelt. Fortunately it was dusk, and I bolted down an alley and into a court, and up a stair, and right under an old woman's bed, and there I lay while the whole gang hunted about without finding me. I know a place or two where we can lie hid till we learn what s.h.i.+ps are fitting out, and who are to command them. It's a great thing to get a good captain, Harry. There are several captains I would like to sail with well enough; but there are not a few whose s.h.i.+ps are like h.e.l.ls afloat, and you may depend on't I'll stand clear of them."

Jacob gave his old mother a hearty kiss, as putting a stick into his bundle, he threw it over his shoulder.

"Don't take on, dame, now," he said. "I'll be back soon and bring you no end of the rhino. Most of it, to be sure, slipped away from me at the end of the last cruise before I got home; but I will take better care of it this time for your sake, mother."

The old woman shook her head. She had been too long accustomed to find that Jacob's money had slipped away before he got home to expect much, though he had generally contrived to bring enough for his board while he remained. Harry wrote a note, which he got a boy to carry to Captain Falwa.s.ser, saying that he was going off to sea, and begging him to take care of his bag till his return. With brisk steps, though Harry's heart was heavy, the two young men took their way through the forest. They looked like two active young seamen any captain would be glad to get hold of. They cautiously approached the village of Hythe, opposite Southampton, lest the press-gang might be there on the look-out for men.

The coast being clear, they ran across the beautiful estuary of the Southampton Water in a wherry, and landing on the western side near Itchin, pushed on towards Gosport. Night had closed in before they had got to the end of their journey. Harry had seldom taken so long a walk; but his muscles were well knit, and he might have gone still farther.

"We must keep a sharp look-out, mate," said Jacob; "the gangs are sure to be about, and if they were to fall in with us, we might say good-bye to liberty. But come along; there's a house I know of not far off, and we shall be all right there if we once get inside the door."

Jacob led Harry down several lanes and alleys in which scenes of drunkenness and vice met his eye, which, even accustomed to London as he was, made his heart turn sick.

"And this is the way the defenders of our country spend their time on sh.o.r.e!" he said to himself. "No wonder they are treated like brutes, when they live like beasts without souls."

Harry's reasoning might possibly not have been correct as to what cause produced the effect. Might he not more justly have reasoned, "If they are treated like brutes, like brutes they will live?" That question has been solved in later days. Since thought has been taken for seamen they have essayed, and not unsuccessfully, to attend to the welfare of their souls. In those days little regard was paid to that subject.

They stopped before the door of a low house with not many windows looking into the street. Such as there were were closed with shutters.

"She's a good old creature," whispered Jacob, "though maybe by this hour she's a little lushy; but you must not mind that. She knows me and my ways, and will treat us well. Her husband is sure to be drunk; but then he will be in bed and out of the way, and she's never so bad but what she can get supper ready. We may trust Sally Hoggart for that. You will see I am right."

Jacob gave two or three knocks on the door, but no one came to it.

"Maybe she's had a drop or two more than usual," observed Jacob. "She will wake up in time, only I hope no press-gang will be coming along the street before she opens the door. If we see them we must run for it, Harry. You stick by me. I know a place to hide away in."

Jacob repeated his blows on the door. At last a slide was moved in one of the panels, and a light streamed through it.

"All right, Sally," said Jacob. "You know me, and I have brought a mate. Open the door, and let us in; we have enough to pay for our board, so don't be afraid."

The door opened, and the two young men entered, the bolts and bars being instantly replaced. The person who came to the door might have possessed many excellent qualities, but her appearance was not in her favour. Her figure was stout and shapeless; her dress, wanting greatly in hooks and eyes and strings, worn and stained, looked ready to slip off her shoulders. Her hair, already sprinkled with white, escaped in dishevelled locks from beneath her mob cap, dest.i.tute of all stiffness, and darkened by soot and dust, while her thick lips and watery bloodshot eye showed that she not unfrequently indulged in potations deep and strong. Jacob, however, on entering, chucked her under the chin, and giving her a hearty smack on her flabby cheeks, told her to be a good old soul, and to get supper ready for two hungry wayfarers. At first she declared that she had dressed suppers for twenty men already, and that she was too sleepy to put another saucepan on the fire; but Jacob, after a little persuasion, made her promise to exert herself, and he then led the way into a room at the back part of the house. Here some dozen or more men were sitting round a table, most of them with pipes in their mouths, others with pots of ale or gla.s.ses of spirits before them, while several were playing at cards. They looked up at the new comers, who took their seats at the other end of the table. Jacob soon entered into conversation with those nearest him, and learned what s.h.i.+ps were fitting out. The characters of various captains were discussed.

"The `Brilliant,' Captain Everard, has just come in to refit, and is in want of hands. He's a right sort of officer. If I wanted to go afloat, I would volunteer on board his s.h.i.+p as soon as any other," remarked a seaman who was sitting opposite to them.

"What do you say, Harry? Would you like to volunteer on board the `Brilliant'?" asked Jacob.

"No, she would not suit me," answered Harry. "I have my reasons for not wis.h.i.+ng to join her."

"Run from her, maybe, once in a time?" observed a seaman.

"Well, then there's the `Nymph,' Captain Cook. He's a good seaman, and not over-harsh with his men; and there's the `Saint Fiorenzo,' Captain Sir Harry Neale. Never a man has sailed with him who's worth his salt who would not wish to sail with him again. I wish there were many other captains in the navy like him. We should not have cause to complain as we have now."

Harry and Jacob agreed therefore to volunteer on board the "Saint Fiorenzo." While this discussion was going on Sally placed a smoking supper before her two lately arrived guests. They did ample justice to it, for although the cookery was of a somewhat coa.r.s.er character than that to which Harry had been accustomed, his long walk had given him an appet.i.te. He soon began to feel a great longing to lie down and go to sleep. For three nights, indeed, he had scarcely closed his eyes for ten minutes together. Even before he had finished supper his head began to nod. Jacob observed his condition, and asked Sally for a bed.

"Why," was her reply, "every one I have got are more than full already; you must p.r.i.c.k for the softest plank you can find. Not the first time either of you youngsters have had to do that."

Jacob knew there was no use remonstrating, and so drawing a bench up to a corner of the room, he placed his bundle under Harry's head, and led him to it. Scarcely had Harry stretched himself on the bench, hard as it was, than he was fast asleep. Jacob, however, was not so happy as he intended to be, and calling for come more liquor--he was not very particular what it was--he and his new friend opposite were soon engaged in plying each other with tumblers of grog.

There was a knocking at the door. Sally having by this time slept off some of her evening potations again went to it. Another seaman begged for admittance. He had nowhere to lodge, and he was afraid the press-gang who were about would be getting hold of him. He had plenty of s.h.i.+ners to spend, as Sally should soon know by the glitter of one with which he would at once cross her hand. This argument had great effect upon her gentle heart. Opening the door she admitted her visitor. He was a stout-looking man in a thick pea-coat, with a tarpaulin hat firmly fixed on his head, while his hand clutched a stout walking-stick. As she was about to close the door behind him great was her indignation to find a crowbar inserted. There was a trampling of feet. She shrieked out with several unfeminine oaths, "Murder! murder!

the press-gang is upon us." Her visitor, however, very ungallantly seized her by the arm as she attempted to close the door, and shoved a thick handkerchief into her mouth. In the meantime the door was forced completely back, and two or three men who had been lying down close under the walls, had sprung to their feet and entered with their leader.

They were quickly joined by others of their party, who had been coming at a quick run down the street. In an instant the inmates were aroused, and the whole house was in a fearful uproar. Some tried to force their way out by a back door, but no sooner had they opened it than they found themselves in the power of a strong body of armed seamen. The men who were in bed threw on their clothes, some trying to jump from the windows; but seeing by the number of the press-gang outside that they would be certainly caught if they did so, rushed down-stairs and joined in the fray which was going forward in the public room. Some were armed with bludgeons, others with fire-irons; some seized chairs and benches, and various other articles of Sally's furniture. She, to do her justice, with her female attendants, fought as heroically as her guests, in a vain endeavour to secure their personal safety.

Harry had slept through the first part of the combat, but at length the fearful uproar aroused him. He started to his feet, not knowing where he was or what had happened. The room was almost in total darkness, for the lights had instantly been extinguished, and only here and there fell the glare of the men-of-war's men's lanterns as they held them up in the hopes of distinguis.h.i.+ng friends from foes. Harry seized Jacob's bundle with one hand, and the stick with which he had carried it in the other, and attempted to defend himself from the blows which were dealt freely round. He thought he distinguished Jacob's voice not far from him, and he made his way up to his friend. At that instant, however, a further party of the press-gang arriving, the seamen were completely overpowered. In vain Sally and her attendants fought on, in the hopes of enabling some of their friends to escape. Every outlet was too strictly guarded. The officer and many of the men composing the press-gang probably knew the house as well as its inmates, and had taken their measures accordingly.

In the course of a few minutes, although some heads had received pretty hard cracks, yet no blood was spilt, every man in the house, with the exception of old Tony Hoggart, was in the power of the press-gang. It was a most successful haul. Upwards of thirty prime seamen had been captured, Jacob and Harry among them. Not till the fight was over did old Tony find his way down-stairs, at the foot of which he stood with a light in his hand, his red nightcap set on one side of his bullet head, his trousers held up by one suspender, his stockingless feet in shoes down at heel, while from his blear eyes he glared out on the intruders into his abode. As if at length aware of what had occurred, he commenced a series of his vituperative remarks, which increased in vehemence as he proceeded, his curses and oaths being first directed towards the head of the officer in command of the party and his men, the captain of the s.h.i.+p, and the navy in general coming in for their share.

"We're in for it, Harry," said Jacob; "keep up your courage, however; if we put a good face on the matter, we shan't be so much worse off than if we had volunteered. We can tell the first-lieutenant when he examines us to-morrow morning that we intended to do so. I'll just learn what s.h.i.+p we have been taken for."

Jacob made the inquiry of the seaman who had charge of him.

"The `Brilliant,' Captain Everard," was the answer; "he's a good captain, and you may bless your stars that you have been taken for his s.h.i.+p."

Harry's heart sank when he heard this.

He would at once be recognised by the captain.

What account could he give of himself? The boats were in waiting in the harbour. The men hurried down to them immediately. Some resisting were dragged along. A cuff on the head, or a blow with the b.u.t.t end of a pistol, generally silenced those who cried out in the hopes of being rescued.

Harry and Jacob walked along quietly. Neither were disposed to struggle. As soon as the prisoners were got into the boats they shoved off. In a quarter of an hour afterwards Harry found himself for the first time in his life on board a man-of-war.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE HERO'S FIRST TRIP TO SEA.--THE FATE OF THE "BRILLIANT."

Harry and the other pressed men stood for some time on the deck of the frigate, awaiting the appearance of the commanding officer. Harry dreaded his coming, believing that Captain Everard would immediately recognise him. At length an officer appeared from below, accompanied by the master-at-arms, who held a s.h.i.+p's lantern in his hand. The officer commenced his inspection at the other end of the line. The light not falling on him, Harry could not see his features, but his figure was like that of the captain.

"I must brave it out," he thought. "What shall I call myself? It must be a name I can recollect. Andrew Brown will, do as well as any other."