From Powder Monkey to Admiral Part 59

The men were next embarked. One boat alone remained under each fort, the gunner and boatswain of the _Lily_ and a warrant officer of the _Ariel_ being ordered to fire the trains.

Rayner had taken command of one of the _Lily's_ boats. The men waited with their oars in their hands, ready to shove off at a moment's notice.

Mr Coles, the gunnel, who was in Rayner's boat, ascended the bank match in hand. Presently he was seen rushing down again, faster probably than he had ever moved before.

"No time to lose, sir," he shouted, as he leapt on board. "The fuse in this hot country burns faster than I calculated on."

"Give way, lads!" cried Rayner.

The men bent to their oars. The other boats were seen pulling away at the same time. They had not got twenty fathoms from the sh.o.r.e, when a thundering report was heard, and up rose a portion of the large fort, filling the air with ma.s.ses of stone and earth, and dust and smoke.

In another second or two the other forts followed suit. The whole atmosphere was filled with a dense black cloud and ma.s.ses of lurid flame beneath, while thundering reports in rapid succession rent the air. A few seconds afterwards down came showers of stone and earth and pieces of burning timber, just astern of the boats. Had there been any delay they must have been overwhelmed. Fortunately they all escaped injury, and pulled away for their ships, which, with the prizes, had in the meantime got under way and were standing out of the harbour.

After a quick run the _Ariel_ and _Lily_ reached Port Royal to repair damages. Rayner was sent for on board the flagship.

"I have great pleasure in handing you your commission as lieutenant,"

said the admiral. "You have won it by your general meritorious conduct, as also by the gallantry you displayed in the capture of Fort Louis. I have appointed you as second lieutenant of the _Lily_, and shall be very glad in another year or two to hear that you have obtained your commander's rank."

These remarks of the admiral were indeed encouraging. Rayner, of course, said what was proper in return, and pocketing his commission, bowed and took his departure for the sh.o.r.e, which he had to visit to obtain a new uniform and other articles.

Lascelles had been removed to the hospital, where he was to remain until he was sufficiently recovered to go home. Rayner's only regret was being parted from Oliver, the dangers they had gone through together having united them like brothers.

While, however, their ships were refitting they were constantly in each other's society.

"I wish that I had the chance of getting appointed to your ship," said Oliver. "The _Ariel_ will soon be going home, but for the sake of being with you I should be glad to remain out another year or two. I am well seasoned by this time, and have no fear of Yellow Jack."

Not many days after this the senior mate of the _Lily_ was taken very ill while on sh.o.r.e. His shipmates declared that it was in consequence of his chagrin at finding that Rayner had obtained his promotion before him. They were heartily sorry at having made so unkind a remark, when in two days news were received on board that the poor fellow had fallen a victim to yellow fever.

Rayner at once advised Oliver to make application for the vacancy. He did so; the admiral appointed him to the _Lily_, and Captain Saltwell was very glad to have him on board.

Le Duc, who had been landed at Kingston, came on board one day while the ship was fitting out and begged to speak to the second lieutenant, Monsieur Rayner.

"Ah, monsieur, the first thing I did on landing was to purchase a violin, and the next to play it, and I have fiddled with such good effect that I have played my way into the heart of a Creole young lady whose father is wonderfully rich, and as I can turn my hand to other things besides fiddling, he has accepted me as his daughter's husband, and we are to be married soon. I propose settling at Kingston as professor of music and dancing, teacher of languages, and other polite arts; besides which I can make fiddles, harpsichords, and other instruments; I am also a first-rate cook. Indeed, monsieur lieutenant, I should blush were I to speak more of my accomplishments."

"I congratulate you heartily," said Rayner, "and I sincerely hope that you will be successful in your new condition. You will, I doubt not, be far happier living on sh.o.r.e with a charming young wife, than knocking about at sea with the chance of being shot or drowned."

Le Duc having communicated his good fortune to Jack and his other friends, and invited them to pay him a visit whenever they could get on sh.o.r.e, took his leave.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

FRESH SUCCESSES AND PERILS.

Our hero had now got the first step up the ratlines as an officer. As the _Lily's_ repairs were likely to occupy some time, Captain Saltwell had, by the admiral's permission, fitted out one of the prizes, a fine and fast little schooner, to which the name of the _Active_ had been given. He intended to man her from his own and the _Ariel's_ crews, and to send her cruising in search of the piratical craft which, under the guise of privateers, in vast numbers infested those seas.

The admiral had intended to send a _protege_ of his own in charge of the vessel, but that officer was taken ill, and both Lieutenant Horrocks and the first lieutenant of the _Ariel_ were engaged in attending to their respective ships.

Rayner was sent for, and the command was offered to him. He accepted it with delight, and begged that Crofton might be allowed to accompany him.

He took also Jack and Brown, and though he did not ask for Tom Fletcher, Tom was sent among the men drafted for the purpose.

The schooner was furnished with four carronades and two long six-pounders. Her crew mustered twenty men.

"We can dare and do anything in such a craft as this," he exclaimed, enthusiastically, as he and Oliver were walking the deck together, while the schooner, under all sail, was steering a course for San Domingo.

Before long they both dared and did several gallant actions. Just as they had sighted the land they fell in with three piratical feluccas, either one of which was a match for the _Active_.

One, after a desperate resistance, was captured, another was sunk, and the third, while the British crew were securing their first prize, and endeavouring to save the drowning men, effected her escape. She was, however, shortly afterwards taken, and on the return of the _Active_ to Port Royal with her prizes, the thanks of the merchants of Jamaica were offered to Lieutenant Rayner for the service he had rendered to commerce.

The admiral the next day sent for Rayner, and received him with more cordiality than is generally awarded to junior officers. Having listened to his report, and commended him for his gallantry.

"How soon will you be ready to sail again?" he asked.

"Directly our damages have been repaired, and they won't take long, sir," was the answer.

"That is right. I have received information that a desperate fellow in command of a craft somewhat larger than the _Active_ has been pillaging vessels of all nations, and it will be a feather in your cap if you take her."

"I'll do my best, sir," answered Rayner.

In two days the _Active_ was again at sea. Within a fortnight, after a long chase, she had fought and driven on sh.o.r.e a large schooner, got her off again, and recaptured two of her prizes, returning in triumph with all three to Jamaica.

He and Oliver were highly complimented on their success. The admiral, who was still in the harbour, invited them to dine on board the flagship.

"Mr Horrocks has just obtained his promotion, and you are thus, Mr Rayner, first lieutenant of the _Lily_; and, Mr Crofton, I intend to give you an acting order as second lieutenant, and I hope that before long you will be confirmed in your rank."

This was good news. With happy hearts the two friends went on board the _Lily_, which was now ready for sea. They found Lieutenant Horrocks packing up, ready to go on board a frigate just sailing for England.

"I expect to enjoy a few weeks' hunting before I get a ship, and when I do get one I shall be very glad to have you, Rayner, with me, should you be unemployed," he said as they parted.

Rayner would have preferred retaining the command of the _Active_, but an officer older than himself was appointed to her, and he could not complain.

Once more the _Lily_ was at sea. She cruised for some months, during which she captured several prizes, and cut out two others in a very gallant manner under the guns of a strong battery. Oliver soon afterwards had the satisfaction of being confirmed in his rank as lieutenant.

Though Commander Saltwell made honourable mention of our hero on each occasion, he received no further recognition of his services. "I have no business to complain," he observed. "My position is only that of many others who have done more than I have, but I should like to be wearing an epaulette on my right shoulder when we get home, and obtain a command with you, Oliver, as my first lieutenant."

With this exception, Rayner never alluded to the subject.

The _Lily's_ cruise was nearly up. She had lately sent away in her prizes her master and several petty officers and seamen, so that out of her establishment she could scarcely muster more than a hundred men.

It was night, a light breeze blowing, the island of Desirade bearing south-east by south, distant six or seven leagues. The two lieutenants had been talking of home. In a few months they expected to be at Plymouth, and Rayner's thoughts had been occupied, as they often were, with his brother officer's sweet sister, Mary Crofton.

Rayner had just come on deck to relieve Oliver, who had the middle watch. He had been pacing the deck, waiting for daylight, to commence the morning operation of washing decks, and was looking to windward, when, as the light slowly increased, at some little distance off he made out the dim outline of a large ship. Whether she was a friend or foe he could not determine; if the latter, the position of the _Lily_ was critical in the extreme. He instantly sent the midshipman of the watch to arouse the commander, who hurried on deck. After watching the stranger for a few seconds, they both came to the conclusion that she was a frigate, and, as they knew of no English vessel of her cla.s.s likely to be thereabouts, that she was French.

"Turn the hands up and make sail," said the commander. "We shall probably have to fight, but when the odds are so decidedly against us, it is my duty to avoid an action if I can."

The crew at the boatswain's summons came tumbling up from below. All sail was immediately made, and the _Lily's_ head directed to the north-west. She was seen, however, and quickly followed by the frigate, the freshening breeze giving an advantage to the larger vessel, which, having the weather-gauge, and sailing remarkably fast rapidly approached.

"We've caught a Tartar at last!" exclaimed Tom. "The sooner we go below and put on our best clothes he better; we shall be taken aboard her before the day's much older."

"How do you dare to say that!" cried Jack. "Look up there, you see our flag flying aloft, and I for one would sooner have our tight little craft sent to the bottom than be ordered to strike it. Our skipper hasn't given in yet, and if he falls our first lieutenant will fight the ship as long as he has a plank to stand on."