Peter Simple Part 48

A light breeze rippled the water, and I knew that I had no time to lose.

In about five minutes I heard the sound of oars, and perceived a boat crossing me. I hailed as loud as I could--they heard me; laid on their oars--and I hailed again--they pulled to me, and took me in. It was the master of the brig, who, aware of the capture of one gun-boat, and the retreat of the other, was looking for his vessel; or, as he told me, for what was left of her. In a short time we found her, and, although very much cut up, she had received no shot under water.

Here I may as well relate the events of the action. One of the other divisions of gun-boats had retreated when attacked by the boats. The other had beaten off the boats, and killed many of the men, but had suffered so much themselves, as to retreat without making any capture.

The _Acasta_ lost four men killed, and seven wounded; the _Isis_, three men wounded; the _Reindeer_ had n.o.body hurt; the _Rattlesnake_ had six men killed, and two wounded, including the captain; but of that I shall speak hereafter. I found that I was by no means seriously hurt by the blow I had received: my shoulder was stiff for a week, and very much discoloured, but nothing more. When I fell overboard I had struck against a sweep, which had cut my ear half off. The captain of the brig gave me dry clothes, and in a few hours I was very comfortably asleep, hoping to join my ship the next day; but in this I was disappointed.

The breeze was favourable and fresh; but we were clear of the Sound, but a long way astern of the convoy, and none of the headmost men-of-war to be seen. I dressed and went on deck, and immediately perceived that I had little chance of joining my ship until we arrived at Carlscrona, which proved to be the case. About ten o'clock, the wind died away, and we had from that time such baffling light winds, that it was six days before we dropped our anchor, every vessel of the convoy having arrived before us.

CHAPTER FIFTY NINE.

THE DEAD MAN ATTENDS AT THE AUCTION OF HIS OWN EFFECTS, AND BIDS THE SALE TO STOP--ONE MORE THAN WAS WANTED--PETER STEPS INTO HIS OWN SHOES AGAIN--CAPTAIN HAWKINS TAKES A FRIENDLY INTEREST IN PETER'S PAPERS--RIGA BALSAM STERNLY REFUSED TO BE ADMITTED FOR THE RELIEF OF THE SHIP'S COMPANY.

As soon as the sails were furled, I thanked the master of the vessel for his kindness, and requested the boat. He ordered it to be manned, saying, "How glad your captain will be to see you!" I doubted that. We shook hands, and I pulled to the _Rattlesnake_, which lay about two cables' length astern of us. I had put on a jacket, when I left the brig on service, and coming in a merchantman's boat, no attention was paid to me; indeed, owing to circ.u.mstances, no one was on the look-out, and I ascended the side unperceived.

The men and officers were on the quarter-deck, attending the sale of dead men's effects before the mast, and every eye was fixed upon six pairs of nankeen trowsers exposed by the purser's steward, which I recognised as my own. "Nine shillings for six pairs of nankeen trowsers," cried the purser's steward.

"Come, my men, they're worth more than that," observed the captain, who appeared to be very facetious. "It's better to be in his trowsers than in his shoes." This brutal remark created a silence for a moment.

"Well, then, steward, let them go. One would think that pulling on his trowsers would make you as afraid as he was," continued the captain laughing.

"Shame!" was cried out by one or two of the officers, and I recognised Swinburne's voice as one.

"More likely if they put on yours," cried I, in a loud indignant tone.

Everybody started, and turned round; Captain Hawkins staggered to a carronade: "I beg to report myself as having rejoined my ship, sir,"

continued I.

"Hurrah, my lads! three cheers for Mr Simple," said Swinburne.

The men gave them with emphasis. The captain looked at me, and without saying a word, hastily retreated to his cabin. I perceived, as he went down, that he had his arm in a sling. I thanked the men for their kind feeling towards me, shook hands with Thompson and Webster, who warmly congratulated me, and then with old Swinburne (who nearly wrung my arm off, and gave my shoulder such pain, as to make me cry out), and with the others who extended theirs. I desired the sale of my effects to be stopped; fortunately for me, it had but just begun, and the articles were all returned. Thompson had informed the captain that he knew my father's address, and would take charge of my clothes, and send them home, but the captain would not allow him.

In a few minutes, I received a letter from the captain, desiring me to acquaint him in writing, for the information of the senior officer, in what manner I had escaped. I went down below, when I found one very melancholy face, that of the pa.s.sed-midshipman of the _Acasta_, who had received an acting order in my place. When I went to my desk, I found two important articles missing; one, my private letter-book, and the other, the journal which I kept of what pa.s.sed, and from which this narrative has been compiled. I inquired of my messmates, who stated that the desk had not been looked into by any one but the captain, who, of course, must have possessed himself of those important doc.u.ments.

I wrote a letter containing a short narrative of what had happened, and, at the same time, another on service to the captain, requesting that he would deliver up my property, the private journal, and letter-book in his possession. The captain, as soon as he received my letters, sent up word for his boat to be manned. As soon as it was manned, I reported it, and then begged to know whether he intended to comply with my request. He answered that he should not, and then went on deck, and quitted the brig to pull on board of the senior officer. I therefore determined immediately to write to the captain of the _Acasta_, acquainting him with the conduct of Captain Hawkins, and requesting his interference. This I did immediately, and the boat that had brought me on board not having left the brig, I sent the letter by it, requesting them to put it into the hands of one of the officers. The letter was received previous to Captain Hawkins' visit being over; and the captain of the _Acasta_ put it into his hands, inquiring if the statement were correct. Captain Hawkins replied, that it was true that he had detained these papers, as there was so much mutiny and disaffection in them, and that he should not return them to me.

"That I cannot permit," replied the captain of the _Acasta_, who was aware of the character of Captain Hawkins; "if, by mistake, you have been put in possession of any of Mr Simple's secrets, you are bound in honour not to make use of them; neither can you retain property not your own."

But Captain Hawkins was determined, and refused to give them to me.

"Well, then, Captain Hawkins," replied the captain of the _Acasta_, you will oblige me by remaining on my quarter-deck till I come out of the cabin.

The captain of the _Acasta_ then wrote an order, directing Captain Hawkins immediately to deliver up to _him_ the papers of mine in his possession; and coming out of the cabin, put it into Captain Hawkins'

hands, saying, "Now, sir, here is a written order from your superior officer. Disobey it, if you dare. If you do, I will put you under an arrest, and try you by a court-martial."

Captain Hawkins bit his lip at the order.

"Your boat is manned, sir," said the captain of the _Acasta_, in a severe tone.

Captain Hawkins came on board, sealed up the books, and sent them to the captain of the _Acasta_, who redirected them to me, on His Majesty's service, and returned them by the same boat. The public may therefore thank the captain of the _Acasta_ for the memoirs which they are now reading.

From my messmates I gained the following intelligence of what had pa.s.sed after I had quitted the brig. The fire of the praam had cut them up severely, and Captain Hawkins had been struck in the arm with a piece of the hammock rail, which had been shot away shortly after I left.

Although the skin only was razed, he thought proper to consider himself badly wounded; and giving up the command to Mr Webster, the second lieutenant, had retreated below, where he remained until the action was over. When Mr Webster reported the return of the boats, with the capture of the gun-boat, and my supposed death, he was delighted, that he quite forgot his wound, and ran on deck, rubbing his hands as he walked up and down. At last he recollected himself, went down into his cabin, and came up again with his arm in a sling.

During the short time that we remained in port, I took care that _Riga balsam_ should not be allowed to come alongside, and the men were all sober. We received orders from the captain of the _Acasta_ to join the admiral, who was off the Texel, in pursuance of directions he had received from the Admiralty to despatch one of the squadron, and we were selected from the dislike which he had taken to Captain Hawkins.

CHAPTER SIXTY.

AN OLD FRIEND IN A NEW CASE--HEART OF OAK IN SWEDISH FIR--A MAN'S A MAN, ALL THE WORLD OVER, AND SOMETHING MORE IN MANY PARTS OF IT--PETER GETS REPRIMANDED FOR BEING DILATORY, BUT PROVES A t.i.tLE TO A DEFENCE-ALLOWED.

When we were about forty miles off the harbour, a frigate hove in sight.

We made the private signal: she hoisted Swedish colours, and kept away a couple of points to close with us.

We were within two miles of her when she up courses and took in her topgallant sails. As we closed to within two cable's lengths, she hove-to. We did the same; and the captain desired me to lower down the boat, and board her, ask her name, by whom she was commanded, and offer any a.s.sistance if the captain required it. This was the usual custom of the service, and I went on board in obedience to my orders. When I arrived on the quarter-deck, I asked in French, whether there were any one who spoke it. The first lieutenant came forward, and took off his hat: I stated, that I was requested to ask the name of the vessel and the commanding officer, to insert it in our log, and to offer any services that we could command. He replied, that the captain was on deck, and turned round, but the captain had gone down below. "I will inform him of your message--I had no idea that he had quitted the deck;"

and the first lieutenant left me. I exchanged a few compliments, and a little news with the officers on deck, who appeared to be very gentlemanlike fellows, when the first lieutenant requested my presence in the cabin. I descended--the door was opened--I was announced by the first lieutenant, and he quitted the cabin. I looked at the captain, who was sitting at the table: he was a fine, stout man, with two or three ribands at his b.u.t.ton-hole, and a large pair of mustachios. I thought that I had seen him before, but I could not recollect when: his face was certainly familiar to me, but, as I had been informed by the officers on deck, that the captain was a Count Shucksen, a person I had never heard of, I thought that I must be mistaken. I therefore addressed him in French, paying him a long compliment, with all the necessary _et ceteras_.

The captain turned round to me, took his hand away from his forehead, which it had shaded, and looking me full in the face, replied, "Mr Simple, I don't understand but very little French. Spin your yarn in plain English."

I started--"I thought that I knew your face," replied I; "am I mistaken?--no, it must be Mr Chucks!"

"You are right, my dear Mr Simple; it is your old friend, Chucks, the boatswain, whom you now see."

We shook hands heartily, and then he requested me to sit down. "But,"

said I, "they told me on deck that the frigate was commanded by a Count Shucksen."

"That is my present rank, my dear Peter," said he; "but as you have no time to lose, I will explain all. I know I can trust to your honour.

You remember that you left me, as you and I supposed, dying in the privateer, with the captain's jacket and epaulets on my shoulders. When the boats came out, and you left the vessel, they boarded and found me.

I was still breathing; and judging of my rank by my coat, they put me into the boat, and pushed on sh.o.r.e. The privateer sank very shortly after. I was not expected to live, but in a few days a change took place, and I was better. They asked me my name, and I gave my own, which they lengthened into Shucksen, somehow or another I recovered by a miracle, and am now as well as ever I was in my life. They were not a little proud of having captured a captain of the British service, as they supposed, for they never questioned me as to my real rank. After some weeks, I was sent home to Denmark in a running vessel; but it so happened that we met with a gale, and were wrecked on the Swedish coast, close to Carlscrona. The Danes were at that time at war, having joined the Russians; and they were made prisoners, while I was of course liberated, and treated with great distinction; but as I could not speak either French or their own language, I could not get on very well.

However, I had a handsome allowance, and permission to go to England as soon as I pleased. The Swedes were then at war with the Russians, and were fitting out their fleet; but, Lord bless them! they didn't know much about it. At last, they all came to me, and if they did not understand me entirely, I showed them how to do it with my own hands, and the fleet began to make a show with their rigging. The admiral who commanded was very much obliged, and I seemed to come as regularly to my work as if I were paid for it. At last, the admiral came with an English interpreter, and asked me whether I was anxious to go back to England, or would I like to join their service? I saw what they wanted, and I replied that I would prefer an English frigate to a Swedish one, and that I would not consent unless they offered something more; and then, with the express stipulation that I should not take arms against my own country. They then waited for a week, when they offered to make me a _Count_ and give me the command of the frigate. This suited me, as you may suppose, Peter; it was the darling wish of my heart--I was to be made a gentleman. I consented, and was made Count Shucksen, and had a fine large frigate under my command. I then set to work with a will, superintended the fitting out of the whole fleet, and showed them what an Englishman could do. We sailed, and you of course know the brush we had with the Russians, which I must say did us no discredit. I was fortunate to distinguish myself, for I exchanged several broadsides with a Russian two-decked ship, and came off with honour. When we went into port I got this riband. I was out afterwards, and fell in with a Russian frigate, and captured her, for which I received this other riband. Since that I have been in high favour, and now that I speak the languages, I like the people very much. I am often at court when I am in harbour; and, Peter, I am _married_."

"I wish you joy, count, with all my heart."

"Yes, and well married, too--to a Swedish countess of very high family and I expect that I have a little boy or girl by this time. So you observe, Peter, that I am at last a gentleman, and, what is more, my children will be n.o.ble by two descents. Who would have thought that this would have been occasioned by my throwing the captain's jacket into the boat instead of my own? And now, my dear Mr Simple, that I have made you my confidant, I need not say, do not say a word about it to anybody."

"My dear count," replied I, "your secret is safe with me, and my pleasure is very great."

I then, in a few words, stated where O'Brien was; and then we parted, I went with him on deck, Count Shucksen taking my arm, and introducing me as an old shipmate to his officers, "I hope we may meet again," said I, "but I'm afraid there is little chance."

"Who knows?" replied he; "see what chance has done for me. My dear Peter, G.o.d bless you! You are one of the very few whom I always loved.

G.o.d bless you, my boy! and never forget that all I have is at your command if you come my way."

I thanked him, and, saluting the officers, went down the side. As I expected, when I came on board, the captain demanded, in an angry tone, why I had stayed so long. I replied that I was shown down into Count Shucksen's cabin, and he conversed so long, that I could not get away sooner, as it would not have been polite to have left him before he had finished his questions. I then gave a very civil message, and the captain said no more: the very name of a great man always silenced him.

CHAPTER SIXTY ONE.

BAD NEWS FROM HOME, AND WORSE ON BOARD--NOTWITHSTANDING HIS PREVIOUS TRIALS, PETER FORCED TO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER--MRS. TROTTER AGAIN; IMPROVES AS SHE GROWS OLD--CAPTAIN HAWKINS AND HIS TWELVE CHARGES.