Ronald Morton, or the Fire Ships Part 32

It was now time for Rolf to return on board the "Lion." His son and Glover attended him down the side with as much attention as they would have paid to an admiral.

A number of the pa.s.sengers were collected on the p.o.o.p-deck, waiting for the boats to convey them up to Calcutta.

"Who is that man to whom Mr Morton and Mr Glover are paying so much attention?" asked Colonel Armytage, who happened just then to look up from his book.

No one could tell him. After he had seen his father off, Ronald joined the party on the p.o.o.p. He certainly would not have gone, had Edda not been there. The feeling came forcibly on him that he ought to tell her about his father. It had never occurred to him before. As he was going up to address her, some ladies stopped him, and asked, "Who is that fine looking, officer-like man who just now left the s.h.i.+p!"

"He is my father," said Ronald, firmly. Edda looked up at him with a surprised expression.

"Why, Mr Morton, if I mistake not, he wears the dress of a boatswain,"

said Colonel Armytage, in a cool, deliberate manner.

"Yes, sir--he is boatswain of his Majesty's s.h.i.+p the 'Lion.'"

"Your father a boatswain!" said the colonel in the same slow manner.

"You should have informed me of this before, sir."

"The question was not asked me," answered Ronald. "I was wrong, I feel, in not mentioning it."

At that moment his eye caught Edda's, casting on him a look of such sorrow and pain that he was about to spring to her side, when she suddenly sunk on her seat, and would have fallen on the deck had not Mrs Armytage and another lady at hand caught her in their arms.

"It is of no consequence," exclaimed Colonel Armytage, in a peremptory manner; "you have undoubtedly duties to perform about the s.h.i.+p. We will not detain you from them."

Ronald felt that his only dignified course was to retire. With a heart bursting with indignation, he walked forward. Not long after this the boats arrived to carry the pa.s.sengers back to Calcutta, where they purposed remaining till the arrangements respecting the s.h.i.+p were concluded. Ronald had been directed to retain the command till it could be legally restored to Captain Winslow.

Miss Armytage had gone below, and was kept out of his sight till she was ready to leave the s.h.i.+p. He came to a.s.sist her down the side. She gave him a look full of sorrow, but which he interpreted to mean, "Do not think that what I have heard can diminish my affection for you; it were worth little if it did." But she had scarcely time to falter out a few words before her father stepped up and effectually stopped any further communication.

The manner of Colonel Armytage, indeed, was so rude, that Ronald had to recollect who he was, to a.s.sist him in commanding his temper.

The pa.s.sengers in the boats were concealed by the awnings which covered them, but Ronald could not help standing on the deck, watching them with a heavy heart as they took their way up the broad stream of the Hooghly.

The next day he received three letters; two were official, one of them was from his captain, expressing the warm approbation of Admiral Rainier for his conduct in the attack on the enemy's forts; the other was from the officials of the Honourable East India Company, promising him some substantial proof of their sense of his merit. The third letter was private. He opened it with some misgiving.

"It is as I expected," he exclaimed bitterly; "my father was right."

The letter was from Colonel Armytage, and was couched in almost offensive terms.

"Sir,--You took unwarrantable advantage of the opportunities afforded you of paying attention to Miss Armytage during our late voyage; and in case you should misunderstand my behaviour towards you while you had command of the 'Osterley,' I feel it necessary to state that, considering your true position in society, I consider your conduct most reprehensible, and desire that from henceforth all communication between you and any member of my family shall cease. My daughter is too obedient, and has too high a sense of propriety to differ in opinion with me on this subject.--I am, sir, your obedient servant--

"A. Armytage."

When Ronald told his father what had occurred, Rolf replied--

"You will serve your country the more devotedly, and depend on it she has need of you."

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

RONALD JOINS LORD CLAYMORE'S s.h.i.+P--THE "PALLAS" AT SEA--A CHASE--ENEMY'S FLEET IN SIGHT--"PALLAS" CHASED BY ENEMY--LORD CLAYMORE'S MANOEUVRE-- ESCAPE OF "PALLAS."

No part of the British coast presents a harbour of beauty equal to that of Plymouth Sound, with its lofty banks covered with trees from the summit to the water's edge, its rocks and headlands, its numerous bays, inlets, and other indentations, the towers and glittering white buildings of the picturesque town at the northern end, and the lordly castle and waving woods of Mount Edgcombe on the west.

On a bright summer morning a frigate was seen gliding slowly up the Sound, and making her way towards Hamoaze. The French flag under that of England proclaimed her to be a prize. She was quickly boarded by boats from the sh.o.r.e, every one in them eager to be on board, for a prize crew are supposed to have their pockets well lined with coin, and to be ready to spend it. She was soon known to be "La Forte," captured by the "Thisbe" in the East Indies. She at once went into dock, her crew was paid off, and Rawson got confirmed in his rank of commander; but Ronald Morton received no further acknowledgment of his services.

He had been paid some prize-money, and he might have remained on sh.o.r.e to enjoy some relaxation after the number of years he had been employed; but he had few even of the acquaintance young naval men usually make, and idleness was the very last thing in which he wished just then to indulge. Action, excitement, was what he wanted. He longed once more for the battle and the tempest. In this mood, when the s.h.i.+p was paid off, he went on sh.o.r.e. A tall thin young man, in a post-captain's uniform, met him before he had walked a hundred paces, and after looking at him hard, held out his hand, exclaiming--"Morton, old s.h.i.+pmate, I'm glad to meet you."

"So am I, you, Lord Claymore," returned Ronald, happy to encounter one he had known and liked so much.

"Well, you see, Morton, that I have got the two swabs on my shoulders,"

said the young lord, laughing. "I've worked hard for them, let me tell you; my lords of the Admiralty don't give promotion for nothing to those who don't happen to be born with silver spoons in their mouths; and I was not, I know. Mine was of wood or iron. I hope that you will get your's soon--you deserve it. I met Rawson just now, and he was speaking of you. But, in the meantime, what do you say to taking a berth as my first lieutenant? I've interest enough to obtain that for you. Come along with me for a few yards. You can see the s.h.i.+p I have just commissioned. She is not long off the stocks. I cannot say much for her at present. She is small and cramped, but she carries thirty-eight guns, and I'll make her do something one of these days."

Ronald at once accepted Lord Claymore's offer. They shortly after fell in with Glover. Lord Claymore told him that he should apply for him as his junior lieutenant.

In a week the two old s.h.i.+pmates found themselves appointed to the "Pallas" frigate, nominally of thirty-two guns, though in reality mounting thirty-eight. Of course Job Truefitt and Bob Doull followed them. Ronald had been puzzled to know how to dispose of the elder Doull and Archy Eagleshay, when the two old men applied to enter. At first he was inclined to laugh at the notion, but when the captain saw them he desired that they might not be refused.

"There is stuff in them yet--they will be useful."

They proved that Lord Claymore was right, and he soon rated them as quarter-masters.

"We must be sharp in manning the frigate, Morton," said his captain.

"Promise largely. We'll redeem our word, depend on that."

Bills soon appeared, posted all over Plymouth:--"The 'Pallas,' fitting for sea, in want of a few prime hands. The fastest frigate in the service--sure to come back in a few weeks with a full cargo of Spanish pewter and cobs. Plenty of liberty at the end of each trip. Engaged to make more prize-money in three weeks than any other s.h.i.+p in three years."

Lord Claymore was not unknown to fame. Many men joined in consequence of the deeds he had already done, and some, after reading the placards or hearing them read, though they had no great faith in the promises.

Still, the s.h.i.+p could not be manned entirely without sending out press-gangs.

At length the "Pallas" was ready for sea.

"I hope we may fulfil all our pledges," observed Ronald one day, after the frigate had left the sh.o.r.es of England far astern.

"I am determined to do so," exclaimed the captain. "Morton, I have lived long enough to know that a man can do nothing without money. That is irresistible, in politics, war, or love--rather marriage; it conquers all opposition. There is but one way by which seamen can make it. We are on that course. We'll take good care that the opportunity does not escape us."

Morton thought awhile. For the first time in his life, perhaps, the idea occurred to him that money would aid his cause. "It may serve to elucidate the mystery of my father's birth; or why can I not win my way up to fame and fortune? I will show Colonel Armytage that the boatswain's son may become his superior in rank, and surpa.s.s him in wealth, just as much as the boatswain does in all the qualities which make a man truly n.o.ble."

Ronald did not allow himself generally to give way to such feelings, but they would arise in spite of him, when he thought of the ungrateful conduct of Colonel Armytage towards him. Lord Claymore, who took an interest in all serving with him, observed Morton's depressed spirits.

He, did not, however, inquire directly into the cause.

"By-the-by, Morton, you are a Shetlander, if I recollect rightly," he exclaimed. "I have been lately among your people, and a kind-hearted, hospitable race they are. Among other places I visited was Lunnasting Castle, where I made the acquaintance of Sir Marcus Wardhill and his daughter, a handsome person, though no longer young. He is a hale old man, but somewhat eccentric, and rather morose, I suspect; has a bee in his bonnet--that is the case with many of his family. There is a cousin who lives there; not quite as old as Sir Marcus--a very odd fellow; indeed, I should say decidedly mad. You may probably know something of them?"

Ronald told him that he had been brought up in the castle.

"A relative of the family?" said the captain.

"I can scarcely be called so," said Morton humbly. "A distant one only, on my mother's side. My father was about to take command of a merchantman when he was pressed into the navy. He has remained in the service ever since. He is now but a boatswain, but he is a man of whom any son may be proud."

Ronald then told the captain all he knew of his father's early history, and of the discovery of the two men who had carried him off.

"I understand the whole affair," exclaimed Lord Claymore, warmly. "With all my heart I'll help you to clear it up. You will have plenty of employment for your prize-money: the lawyers will take good care of that; but never mind, we'll have enough for their maws, and to spare.