In the King's Name Part 53

"Hooroar!" cried Tom Tully.

"Boat from the sh.o.r.e, sir," cried the man at the side.

Hilary stepped quickly to the bulwark, to see that a boat well manned by a party of sailors was rapidly approaching, and, what took the young commander's attention, a naval officer seated in the stern sheets.

"So that's my companion, is it?" said Hilary to himself, and he watched the officer very keenly as the boat came rapidly alongside, the officer sprang on board, waved his hand, and the boat pushed off at once.

"Your despatches, Lieutenant Leigh," he said, quietly, as he saluted the young officer, who saluted in return. "You have your orders, sir. You stop for nothing."

"For nothing," said Hilary, taking the packet from the newcomer's hands.

"I presume sir, you are--"

"Lieutenant Anderson, at your service," said the other rather stiffly.

Then Hilary's voice rang out sharp and clear in the keen morning air.

Up flew the staysail, and away and up ran the jib, bellying out as the rope that held the head of the cutter to the great ring of the buoy was slipped; the _Kestrel_ gave a leap, the great mainsail boom swung over to port, the cutter careened over, the water lapped her sides, and began as it were to run astern in foam, and away went the swift little craft, as if rejoicing in her freedom, and making straight for the eastern end of the Isle of Wight.

The newcomer walked up and down, watching the proceedings for a time, glancing occasionally at the receding sh.o.r.e, and Hilary rapidly gave order after order, feeling a strange joy and excitement as for the next quarter of an hour he was busy, and kept pretty close to the sailor at the wheel.

All at once there was a puff of smoke from one of the forts, and the deep roar of a gun.

"Hullo!" cried Hilary. "What does that mean?"

"Practice, I should say," replied the newcomer. "Nothing that concerns us. You have your orders, sir."

"Yes," said Hilary, "and I'll obey them;" and away sped the _Kestrel_, her young commander little thinking that he had been made the victim of a clever plot, and that he was bearing despatches to the enemy such as might set England in a blaze.

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

A TROUBLESOME MENTOR.

"Those sound to me like signals of recall," said Hilary to his companion, as gun after gun was fired, the last sending a shot skipping before the bows of the _Kestrel_.

"Yes, they must be; but not for us," said Lieutenant Anderson coolly.

"Why, there's a signal flying too," said Hilary, as he took his gla.s.s.

"Yes, that's a signal of recall too," said the other coolly. "I wonder what ship they are speaking to? The _Kestrel_ sails well."

"Gloriously," said Hilary, flushing with pleasure; "and I know how to sail her, too. Well, Mr Anderson, now we're getting towards clear water, and there's time to speak, let's shake hands. I'm very glad to see you, and I hope we shall be the best of friends."

"I'm sure we shall," said the newcomer, shaking hands warmly. "Ah! that shot fell behind us. We're getting beyond them now."

"Oh, yes; there's no fear of their hitting us," said Hilary laughing, as the _Kestrel_ careened over more and more as she caught the full force of the wind. "If we go on at this rate it will almost puzzle a cannonball to catch us. I know there is no vessel in Portsmouth harbour that could with this wind."

"Do you think not?" said the lieutenant.

"I'm sure not," said Hilary gaily; and they walked the deck chatting as, by degrees, they pa.s.sed the Isle of Wight, making the open channel more and more, while Lieutenant Anderson--the real--was closeted with Admiral and Captain Charteris, all puzzled at the sudden flight of the _Kestrel_, which had set sail without her despatches, and also without what the old admiral called ballast for the young commander, namely, Lieutenant Anderson, who had gone off with his despatches directly after his counterfeit, only to find the cutter gone.

Signal guns and flags proving vain, there was nothing for it but to send another vessel in chase of the _Kestrel_, but it was hours before one could be got off, and meanwhile the swift despatch boat was tearing on towards her destination, with poor Hilary happy in the blind belief that he was doing his best.

There was something very delightful in feeling that he was chief officer of the _Kestrel_, that the duty of the swift little cutter was to be carried out without the wretched cavilling and fault-finding of the late commander. Everything seemed to work so smoothly now; the men were all alacrity, and they saluted him constantly with a bright smile, which showed that they shared his pleasure.

The breeze was brisk, the sun came out, and Lieutenant Anderson, the self-styled, proved to be a very pleasant, well informed man, who very soon showed Hilary that he had not the slightest intention of interfering in any way with his management of the cutter.

"No," said Hilary to himself, "I suppose not. As they told me, he is only to interfere in cases of emergency, or when I am doing any foolish thing; and that I don't mean to do if I can help it."

Towards afternoon the wind fell light, and the great squaresail was spread, but it made little appreciable difference, and as evening came on, to Hilary's great disgust the wind dropped almost completely.

"Did you ever know anything so unfortunate!" cried Hilary; "just when I wanted to show the admiral what speed there was in the little _Kestrel_ as a despatch boat."

"Unfortunate!" cried his companion, who had been struggling to maintain his composure, but who now broke out; "it is atrocious, sir. Those despatches are of the greatest importance, and here your cursed vessel lies upon the water like a log!" Hilary stared.

"It is very unfortunate," he said; "but let's hope the wind will spring up soon after sundown."

"Hope, sir!" cried the other. "Don't talk of hope. Do something."

Hilary flushed a little at the other's imperious way. He was not going to prove so pleasant a companion as he had hoped for, and there was that worst of all qualities for a man in command--unreason.

"I am to take your advice, sir, in emergencies," said Hilary, restraining his annoyance; "what would you suggest for me to do?"

"I suggest, Lieutenant Leigh!" exclaimed the other, stamping up and down the little deck. "I am not in command of the cutter. It is your duty to suggest and to act."

"Yes, sir, and I will," replied Hilary.

"It is a question of vital importance--the delivery of these despatches--and every moment lost means more than you can imagine.

Come, sir, your position is at stake. You command this cutter: do something to get her on."

Hilary looked up at the flapping sails, which hung motionless; then out to windward in search of cats'-paws upon the water; then at his men, who were lounging about the lee side of the cutter; and then back at his companion.

"Really, sir," he said at last, "I am quite helpless. You are more experienced than I. What would you advise me to do?"

"And you are placed in command of this cutter!" said the other ironically. "Why, a child would know better. Have out the boats, sir, and let the men tow the cutter."

"Tow, sir!" cried Hilary; "why, it would be exhausting the men for nothing. We could not make head against the current we have here."

"It will save something, sir," said the other; "and I order you to do it at once." Hilary felt the hot blood flush into his face, and the order was so unreasonable and absurd that he felt ready to refuse, especially as he knew his own power, and that there was not a man on board who would not be at his back. But he recalled his duty, and feeling that this was a case of emergency, where he ought to obey, he ordered out the two boats; lines were made fast, and soon after the men were bending well to their work, while the stout ash blades bent as they dipped in rhythmical motion, and sent the clear water plashing and sparkling back into their wake.

The men worked willingly enough, but Hilary saw to his annoyance that they glanced at and whispered to one another, and it seemed very hard that he should be forced to inaugurate his first day in command by setting his men to an unreasonable task, for it was mere waste of energy.

But even now it was done the officer seemed no better satisfied, but tramped up and down the little deck, uttering the most angry expressions of impatience, and at last abusing the cutter unmercifully.

"Well," thought Hilary, "he has dropped the mask, and no mistake. It is not going to be such smooth sailing as I expected. Never mind; one must have some bitters with the sweet, and after all he is only angry from a sense of being unable to do his duty, while I was taking it as cool as could be."

For quite five hours the boats were kept out, the men being relieved at intervals; and at the end of those five hours the cutter had not advanced a mile, when Hilary seized the speaking-trumpet, and hailed them to come on board.