The Three Lieutenants Part 19

"Dere, dat Saint David's."

Somehow or other they had expected to see only a Mr and Mrs Bradshaw.

Their surprise was considerable when they met with a reception not unlike that at Trinidad, from a matronly dame and a number of young damsels; except that they did not claim Adair as a relation.

"We were expecting Mr Murray, and regret not seeing him, but his brother officers are most welcome," said Mrs Bradshaw, when she had glanced at Alick's letter.

She then introduced the two lieutenants by name to her eldest daughter f.a.n.n.y, and to her three little girls, as she called them, but though the youngest was barely thirteen, they all looked like grown women. Adair was quickly at home with them, answering the questions they showered on him. Jack remained talking to Mrs Bradshaw and f.a.n.n.y. He mentioned Murray's anxiety about the O'Regans.

"I fear that he has good reason to be anxious," answered Mrs Bradshaw.

"The colonel promised to bring his daughter here long ago, and we were expecting to see her, when we heard that he had carried her off on another of his wild expeditions. He wrote word from Antigua that he intended to be but a short time away, so that they may possibly arrive in a day or two. We long to have her safe with us, for though f.a.n.n.y is the only one who knows her, as they were at a finishing school together in England, from the account she gives we are all prepared to love her."

"Yes, indeed," exclaimed f.a.n.n.y. "She was a delightful creature, the pet and darling of the school, one of the youngest among us; and I should never have supposed that she would have been able to go through what she has done since."

While they were speaking Mr Bradshaw arrived--a stout, bald-headed, middle-aged gentleman, with ruddy countenance, dressed in nankin trousers, white jacket, and broad-brimmed straw hat, which he doffed as he approached the strangers, glancing from one to the other; and then, having settled in his mind that Jack Rogers was Alick Murray, shook his hand, which he grasped with the greatest warmth.

"Happy to welcome you to Saint David's, my dear sir; only wish that our expected friends were here also. A great disappointment to us, and to you likewise, I feel sure, eh!" and he gave a facetious look at Jack, as much as to say. "I know all about it."

"My dear, this gentleman is Lieutenant Rogers. Mr Murray has been unable to come up," said Mrs Bradshaw; and she explained how matters stood.

Jack thought that he ought to speak of going back. Mr Bradshaw laughed at the notion.

"Utterly out of the question. Stay a week, or as long as you have leave. Send your shanredan back to-morrow morning, and I'll drive you down in my buggy when you have to go."

Thus pressed, Jack confessed that he and Adair had brought their carpet-bags, not knowing where they might have to put up, and accepted the invitation for the night; but said that, on Murray's account, they must return the next day to see him before he sailed, and to tell him what they had heard respecting Colonel and Miss O'Regan.

"You may a.s.sure your friend that he will ever be welcome here, and I hope that we shall have the young lady with us when he returns,"

answered Mr Bradshaw. "I will not say the same with regard to her impracticable father, for, between you and I, the farther he is away from her the better. I am no admirer of his wild, harum-scarum schemes, though he is individually a brave and honourable man; and had he not foolishly quarrelled with the authorities at home, he would never have lacked employment under the flag of England, instead of knocking his head against stone walls in quarrels not his own."

These remarks of the worthy planter explained Colonel O'Regan's character to Jack more clearly than anything he had before heard. He had before entertained some unpleasant suspicions on the subject. They were confirmed, and he now only hoped that Murray would not, should he marry Stella, be induced to join any of her father's schemes. Of that, however, if cautioned, he did not think there was much risk. Had Terence been the favoured lover the case would have been different, for, enthusiastic himself, he might easily have been won over by the colonel's persuasive powers. Dinner was soon announced. Jack and Terence, who were very hungry, did ample justice to the solids as well as to the numerous West Indian delicacies and rich fruits pressed on them by their fair hostesses--the shaddocks, the mangos, and, above all, the granadillos, which were p.r.o.nounced like strawberries and cream, but superior to any such mixture ever tasted in Europe. They enjoyed, too, a most pleasant evening, several friends having come in, among them Mr and Mrs Raven, nice young people, full of life and spirits. Mrs Raven was glad, she said, to make the acquaintance of Lieutenant Murray's brother officers, of whom she had heard from her mother, Mrs Houghton, and only regretted that he himself was unable to come.

"However," she added, "we may hope to see him frequently by-and-by, on his return from his cruise."

They had dancing, of course, as young people never think of meeting in the West Indies without it; and some delightful music, for the younger girls had been taught by f.a.n.n.y, who was highly accomplished. Mr Bradshaw observed that they did pretty well considering that they had not the advantages of their elder sister. Times were changed in Jamaica, and he could not afford to pay three hundred a year for the education of each of them, as he had done for her.

"No; but they are better housekeepers, and understand far more about preserving and pickling than she does, and there is not a bird or a flower on the estate, or, indeed, in any part of the island, with which they are not acquainted," remarked Mrs Bradshaw, with motherly pride.

"Thanks to f.a.n.n.y, too, they are really, considering their ages, not so very much behind her in book knowledge. We need not regret having kept them with us."

"I agree in all you say, Mrs B," rejoined her husband, rubbing his hands and laughing; "and as I am eighteen hundred pounds the richer, or, let me see, in three years, with the addition of their voyages and dress, the cost of sending them home would have amounted to three thousand or more. I do not complain, I a.s.sure you."

The young officers listened with surprise, and not a little amus.e.m.e.nt, at this eulogium on the young ladies, and the accompanying remarks-- uttered they believed correctly without any ulterior object. It gave them some idea of the expense to which West Indian parents were put for the education of their girls, of which they before had no conception.

"Faith! more than double a lieutenant's pay," e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Terence, as he was turning in at night. "If he would make that allowance to f.a.n.n.y, the eldest of the three, I'd do my best to win her before the ship sails. I can't stand it, Jack. I must either stay aboard and do duty for Cherry, or never set eyes on these houris again, or knock under to one or the other."

"'There's luck in odd numbers, says Rory O'More,'" answered Jack, from his side of the room. "You divided your attention very fairly among the young ladies, and depend on it they will as easily forget us as we shall get them out of our heads, by the time we have been a few days at sea; so don't bother yourself about the matter, Paddy, but go to sleep."

Whether or not Terence followed his advice Jack could not tell, for he himself very soon went off into a sound slumber. The house was astir at daybreak, and not long after the white dresses and broad-brimmed straw hats of the young ladies were seen in the garden amid the fragrant flowers, with glittering humming-birds and gorgeous b.u.t.terflies, flitting about in all directions. The lieutenants speedily joined them.

Jack's wise resolutions were almost overcome. He had made up his mind to take leave after breakfast. They looked so bright and happy; the air was so fresh, the flowers so sweet. He and Terence could not fail to spend a pleasant day, but then he remembered Murray, who would be anxiously looking for their return.

"Then you'll come again soon, Mr Adair, if Mr Rogers thinks you must go now," said f.a.n.n.y, with a strong emphasis on the must, and a gentle sigh.

"You will always be welcome at Saint David's," added Mr Bradshaw. "And tell Lieutenant Murray that I will let him know should I hear anything about the _Sarah Jane_. I may possibly get information which might not reach him."

Their own vehicle not having started they returned to Kingston in it, well baked by the burning rays of the sun. With a case of champagne, and a few other articles obtained of Johnny Ferong, as presents to Murray, they returned in the evening to Port Royal. Alick thanked them heartily. He had so zealously pushed forward the brig's equipment that she would be ready for sea the next day. That very evening he received orders from the admiral to sail immediately he could. A despatch had just arrived from the British consul at Carthagena, stating that disturbances had broken out in the country, and requesting to have a man-of-war sent immediately, for the protection of British subjects residing there, and elsewhere along the coast.

Captain Hemming had been directed to send fifty hands from the frigate, and with the a.s.sistance of Rogers and Adair, by working all night, the sails were bent, and early next morning the brig glided out into the harbour.

The land-wind still blew strong, smelling of the hot earth, albeit mixed with spicy odours. Murray was eager to be away. His duty required him to use all speed. He had also a feeling that he might be of service to those in whom he was so deeply interested. He spoke of it to his friends.

"Second-sight, eh, Alick!" said Rogers. "I have no great faith in that, but I am very sure that whatever has to be done you will do it thoroughly."

"I wish that I could accompany you," exclaimed Adair. "If Hemming would spare me I'd have my traps on board in a jiffy."

"I should be glad of your company; the admiral, however, in a private note, says that he shall probably despatch the frigate in a few days, but he remarks that the brig will be of greater service, by being able to enter the rivers and harbours, which she cannot," answered Murray.

Rogers and Adair watched the _Supplejack_ as she glided out of the harbour under all sail to the southward before the wind, till she met the sea breeze, when, hauling her tacks aboard, she heeled over to it, and stood away to the south-west, her canvas gradually disappearing below the horizon.

Jack and Terence spent their time pleasantly enough on sh.o.r.e, Johnny Ferong's store being one of their favourite places of resort, as it was of officers of all ranks. Captain Hemming had made a rule that his midshipmen, when they returned on board after leave, should send in a written statement of the places and people they had visited. He was much amused at the frequency of such entries as the following:--

"Called on J Ferong's, Esquire;" "spent the evening at J Ferong's, Esquire," music and a hop sometimes added; "lunched at J Ferong's, Esquire." In those days Jamaica flourished, but alas! her time came, and so did that of the well-known highly-esteemed Johnny Ferong. As the island went down he ceased to flourish, and at length Kingston knew him no more, except as one of her departed worthies.

CHAPTER TEN.

CRUISE OF THE SUPPLEJACK--CALMS AND HEAT--A SHARK CAUGHT--EXERCISING AT THE GUNS--A BOAT SEEN--NEEDHAM AND ONE OF THE MISSING MIDSHIPMEN FOUND, NEARLY DYING FROM THIRST--THEY BRING ALARMING INFORMATION.

The _Supplejack_ was making the best of her way across the Caribbean sea. Murray, or one of his subordinates, Higson, or Jos Green usually so called, the second master of the corvette, was ever on deck, with watchful eyes on the bending topmasts, carrying on as much sail as the brig could bear. Gallantly she slashed through the blue, heaving seas, a ma.s.s of white foam rising up round her bows, and sheets of sparkling spray flying over her forecastle. A bright look-out was kept on every side, not in the expectation of meeting either with a slaver or pirate; but the young commander could not help secretly hoping that he might fall in with the _Sarah Jane_, and be relieved of his chief cause of anxiety. His patience, however, on several occasions was sorely tried when the wind fell light. One day, too, a perfect calm came on, and the brig lay, her sides lapping the gla.s.sy sea, as she rolled in the slowly-heaving, sluggish swell, and her sails flapped lazily against the masts. In vain old Higson whistled for a wind till his cheeks were ready to crack; not that he really believed the proceeding would produce a breeze, or that he had any notion of the origin of the custom; but he had always done so when there was a calm; and he wanted a wind, and the wind, if he whistled long enough, always came. The heat was oppressive, as it always is under such circ.u.mstances in those lat.i.tudes; the spirits of all fell, except those of Jos Green, who was ever merry, blow high or blow low, in sunshine or cold. The grumblers grumbled, of course, but in lower tones than usual, like the mutterings of distant thunder; the phlegmatic became more supine; the quarrelsome had not the energy to dispute; the talkative were silent; and even Pat Blathermouth, who could usually spin a yarn which lasted from the beginning to eight bells in a watch, and then wasn't half finished, could scarcely drawl out an oft-told tale, which was wont to make his hearers burst their sides with laughter, but now only sent them to sleep.

"Of course it's hot," answered jolly Jos to a remark of Higson's. "What else would you have it here in the tropics, with the bright sun striking down from the cloudless sky? It has its advantages, and it is better than cold, and saves one the trouble of putting on more clothing than decency requires."

"But it may be the harbinger of another hurricane, and that wouldn't be pleasant," observed Fligson.

"No fear of a hurricane. They seldom reach so far south," answered Jos.

"Wait patiently, and we shall get the breeze before long. If not, what's the odds? we are very happy as we are."

"You're a salamander, or you wouldn't say that," growled Higson.

"Just the very thing of all others it's most convenient to be just now,"

answered jolly Jos, laughing. "It really isn't hotter than it has been often before, only there are fewer hands to divide it amongst, eh? Just do your turn in, Hig, and forget your troubles in sleep."

"I shall be stewed if I do," moaned Higson. "I've a great mind to have a swim."

"It will be the last you'll ever take, old fellow, depend on that," said Green. "Look there!"

He pointed to the black fin of a huge shark, which the next instant, turning up its white belly, opened its huge mouth to swallow the contents of the cook's slush bucket.

"See, Jack has had his soup, and will be ready for the next course, which you proposed offering him."

"Thank you, Jos; I've changed my mind," said Higson. "But I should not object to catch the fellow, and take a slice out of him instead."