The Missing Ship Part 14

Mrs Ma.s.sey did as she was advised, and sat down, endeavouring to calm her agitation, and feeling but little inclined to go to bed.

"It is useless to sit up, mother," observed Owen, after Mrs Ma.s.sey had been talking for some time about the escape of O'Harrall. "The man, if he has got away, is certain not to return. At all events, you will be as safe in bed as anywhere else."

After some persuasion Mrs Ma.s.sey consented to retire to bed, and after listening for some time at last fell asleep. The window of Owen's room looked directly down upon the outbuilding in which the fugitive was concealed. Owen felt much relieved, from believing that those who had gone on were not likely to think of examining the place; still, he could not go to sleep, and putting out his candle he sat down at the window to watch, hoping that O'Harrall would take the opportunity of slipping out and getting off to a distance, no watched in vain. After some hours he heard the tramp of feet along the road and the voices of men shouting to each other. They were the people who had gone in chase of O'Harrall.

Could the outlaw have continued his flight and, after all, have been captured? Owen listened attentively, and felt convinced that they were returning to the city without having overtaken the fugitive, he could no longer restrain his wish to ascertain whether O'Harrall was still in the loft, and cautiously descending the stair, he lighted a lantern and went out. To place the ladder so as to reach the trap was the work of a moment. He ascended to the loft, and throwing the light towards the further end, he saw the man he came to look for sleeping soundly.

Before Owen had advanced a step O'Harrall awoke and, springing to his feet, saw who it was.

"I came to tell you," said Owen, "that the men who had gone in pursuit of you have, to the best of my belief, returned to the city, and now would be a favourable time to make your escape."

O'Harrall hesitated. "What o'clock is it?" he asked.

"Just past midnight," refilled Owen.

"Are you certain that the men who are hunting for me have returned to the city?" asked O'Harrall.

"Judging from what I heard, and the direction in which their voices died away, I am confident of it," said Owen.

"Then I will follow your advice," answered O'Harrall. "You have increased the debt of grat.i.tude I owe you. I have no means of showing that I am grateful; but do me one favour more--accept this ring; it belonged to your family. It has a curious device on it, which is its chief value. I wish you to believe that, reckless as I am, I still retain some of the feelings I possessed when you knew me in days gone by. Come, take it; I cannot leave this place till you have done so.

There, man, take the ring; it might have been yours by right."

Owen took the ring and placed it on his finger.

"If we ever again meet, however much changed you may be, I shall know you by that," said O'Harrall. "Now, farewell--may a happier fate be yours than will probably be my lot!"

"Stay a moment, and I will ascertain that no one is near," said Owen, as O'Harrall was about to descend the ladder. He hid the lantern, and went out into the open part of the garden and round to the front of the house. Clouds obscured the stars; not a sound was to be heard, except the voice of some bird of night, which came from a distance. By some it might have been thought of ill omen, but Owen was above the superst.i.tions of the ignorant. He returned to the outhouse, and in a low voice called to O'Harrall, who immediately descended the ladder.

"I feel sure that no one is on the watch," said Owen, "and it may be most prudent for you to get away at once."

"You are right," answered O'Harrall. "Again farewell, Ma.s.sey; though we may never more see each other, I shall always remember that I have met with one honest and generous man."

He did not, however, put out his hand, perhaps supposing that Ma.s.sey would consider himself contaminated by touching it.

"Go into your house," he continued, "and let me follow my own course, that you may not even know what direction I have taken."

Owen did as he was advised, leaving O'Harrall standing beneath the shelter of the buildings. Closing the door he returned to his room, when on looking out of his window, he found that O'Harrall had disappeared. His mind felt greatly relieved at the thought that he was no longer harbouring a fugitive from justice. On going into the garden the next morning, he could perceive no traces by which it might perchance be discovered that O'Harrall had been there, and he determined that the occurrence should be known only to his mother and himself. He considered that it would be wrong to conceal it from her, and, sitting down, he told her what he had done. She did not speak for a minute or more.

"You acted rightly, my son," she said at length. "The O'Harralls have been our bitter enemies, but our holy religion teaches us that we should not only forgive our foes, but do good to those who most cruelly ill-treat and abuse us; whatever man may say, G.o.d will approve of your act, for he knows the motive which prompted you."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

ARRIVAL OF THE CHAMPION--MR. FERRIS GOES ON BOARD--BRINGS BACK LIEUTENANT FOLEY WOUNDED--GERALD JOINS THE CHAMPION AS MIDSHIPMAN--AN ACCOUNT OF HIS SHIPMATES--THE CHAMPION SAILS--CAPTAIN TRACY AND NORAH AT HOME--THE OUZEL GALLEY PREPARING FOR SEA--RETURN OF THE CHAMPION--SAILS AGAIN--OWEN APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OF THE OUZEL GALLEY--MR. FERRIS AND ELLEN GO TO DUBLIN--THE OUZEL GALLEY SAILS--NORAH'S LIFE AT HOME--MR.

FERRIS INTENDS TO GO TO JAMAICA--THE OUZEL GALLEY COMES BACK, AND CAPTAIN TRACY RESOLVES TO GO ROUND IN HER TO DUBLIN.

"News, Norah! I bring you news, Miss Ellen," cried Gerald, rushing into the drawing-room where his sister and her friend were seated. "I have just heard that a man-of-war has brought up inside the harbour, with her main-topmast gone and her sails riddled with shot. They say that she is the _Champion_, and that she has had a desperate action with a French ship, which she sent to the bottom, or which got away from her. Which was the case, I can't exactly make out, but she has lost I don't know how many officers and seamen, for there hasn't been such a b.l.o.o.d.y fight since the war began. The wounded, I hear, are to be sent on sh.o.r.e, and we shall thus, I suppose, know all about the matter."

Ellen turned pale as Gerald was speaking. "Have you heard who the killed and wounded are?" she asked, in a trembling voice.

"No; I could only learn the name of the ship, and that there has been a sharp action there can be no doubt," answered Gerald.

"Perhaps Gerald's account is exaggerated," remarked Norah, observing Ellen's agitation. "If the ship is the _Champion_, Mr Ferris is sure to go down and visit her; he will ascertain the truth of the report."

"I must--I must go and tell him what has happened, in case he should not have heard it," said Ellen, rising. She found Mr Ferris in his counting-house, on the ground-floor. He immediately ordered his boat, and telling Ellen that, should he find any wounded officers who might require to be cared for on sh.o.r.e, he would bring them up, he desired her to make preparations for their reception. Gerald, who was on the look-out for him, begged that he might accompany him on board. The boat, with six stout hands, rapidly made her way down the river.

Ellen and Norah, like good housewives, lost no time in seeing the spare rooms got ready for their expected guests. The occupation tended to relieve Ellen's mind.

"Perhaps, after all, there may be no wounded officers," said Norah.

"Gerald's account was very vague--people nearly always exaggerate disasters."

"But I saw the beginning of the battle, and heard the dreadful guns firing--and some of those on board may have been killed," said Ellen, scarcely able to restrain her feelings.

The young ladies had some time to wait after the rooms had been got ready. Ellen was constantly going to the window, from which she could see the river and watch for the return of the boat. Norah, like a faithful friend, did not quit her.

"There comes the boat," exclaimed Ellen, at length. "Oh, see, Norah!

there is a person wrapped up in blankets lying in the stern-sheets; my heart told me that he would be wounded."

"It is better so than had your heart told you he would be killed, and it had proved a true prophet," said Norah, smiling and trying to cheer up her friend. Ellen would have hurried down to the quay, but Norah persuaded her to remain at home. "He may not be Lieutenant Foley, remember," observed Norah, quietly; "and if he is, you are more likely to agitate him than to do him any good by rushing down to the quay.

Think how odd it would look were you to exhibit your feelings in public, or, still more so, should the wounded man prove to be a stranger."

Norah's sensible remarks prevailed in inducing Ellen to remain quiet till the arrival of the party in the boat. Mr Ferris was the first person who appeared.

"You must not be alarmed, my dear child," he said. "There has been a fierce engagement, in which two officers and several men were killed--"

"Oh, father, who were they?" cried Ellen.

"A master's mate and a midshipman," answered Mr Ferris; "but I am sorry to say that Mr Foley was among the most severely wounded, and he gladly accepted my offer to take him on sh.o.r.e; so I brought him up here, and you and Norah will, I am sure, do your best to look after him."

While Mr Ferris was speaking, the men bearing the wounded lieutenant arrived. Ellen, restraining her feelings, received him with becoming propriety, though his pale lips and wan cheek made her heart sink. He was forthwith conveyed to the room which, had been prepared for him.

Dr Roach, who had been an army surgeon, and knew well how to treat gunshot wounds of every description, was immediately sent for, and the young officer was placed under his charge.

"We'll pull him through, young lady," he observed, after he had visited his patient. "You will naturally wish to know what I think of the case of this fine young officer, who has been bleeding for his country. You need be under no serious apprehensions; he will be fit for duty again shortly. You saw how quickly I doctored up Mr Ma.s.sey, in whom, if I am not wrongly informed, Miss Norah here takes an interest."

Norah looked conscious. "Young people have hearts, and small blame to them if they fall in love now and then," remarked the doctor; "and now, my pretty maidens, good-bye to you, for I want to hear more about the battle. I could not let my patient tell me. Remember, I leave him under your charge, but I must lay an embargo on your tongues; talking, or listening to talking, isn't good for wounded men, though you may sing him to sleep with your sweet voices."

Owen was well enough to accompany Mrs Ma.s.sey when she returned Norah's visit, and, moreover, to stroll with her into the garden. He now first heard of O'Harrall's conduct; his brow flushed as she told him, but he restrained his feelings, and did not let even her know that he had a.s.sisted his rival's escape.

"Could the fellow have been aware that she was my betrothed wife, and yet, after such conduct, ventured to claim my protection? I am thankful I did not then know of his behaviour; I might have been tempted to refuse him my aid." Such were the thoughts which pa.s.sed through Owen's mind. "However, bold as he is, he is not likely again to appear in this neighbourhood."

Owen and Norah, having each other's society, forgot how the time went by, till Gerald came hurrying up to call them into the house. He had just returned from his visit to the _Champion_; he was full of what he had heard of her engagement with the _Coquille_. Two officers had been killed, and two, besides Mr Foley, wounded; three men had been killed, and several wounded. The Frenchman, instead of being sent to the bottom, having knocked away the _Champion's_ main-topmast and cut up her rigging, had managed to get off and run out of sight before her damages could be repaired. Captain Olding had chased in the direction the _Coquille_ had last been seen, but had failed to come up with her, and was compelled to steer for Waterford.

"And, do you know, Norah," continued Gerald, "I've made up my mind to go on board a man-of-war. They all say that Captain Olding will take me, and place me on the quarter-deck, if Mr Ferris introduces me and would say a word in my favour; so if our father approves of it, I hope to go at once, instead of waiting for the _Ouzel Galley_."

"If it would better promote your fortune to serve on board a man-of-war, I will not hinder you," said Owen, as they walked towards the house.

"I would rather you should remain on board the dear old ship, to act as Owen's mate," observed Norah; "but if our father allows you to go on board the _Champion_, neither will I try to alter your determination."

Captain Olding had come up to the house to inquire after his lieutenant.