The Three Lieutenants Part 29

Scarcely half an hour had elapsed after this before Stella was once more on board the _Sarah Jane_. Sail was made, the anchor lifted, and the brig with a fair wind glided out of the harbour.

Murray continued on board her as far as he could venture to sea, but as he dared not be long absent from the _Supplejack_, he was at length compelled to return.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

STELLA AND THE MIDSHIPMEN SAIL FOR JAMAICA IN THE SARAH JANE--VOYAGE-- ARRIVAL--JACK'S DELIGHT AT RECOVERING TOM--STELLA GOES TO THE BRADSHAWS--HIGSON PROMOTED--THE PLANTAGENET AND TUDOR SAIL FOR CARTHAGENA--THEY QUICKLY SETTLE ALL DIFFICULTIES--PROCEED TO THE MOSQUITO Sh.o.r.e--BOAT EXPEDITION UP THE SAN JUAN DE NICARAGUA--NIGHT ENCAMPMENT--VISIT OF A PUMA--A CHASE--SCENERY OF THE RIVER--BIRDS AND MONKEYS--VOYAGE CONTINUED--AN UNPLEASANT BED ON AN ANTHILL--APPROACHING THE ENEMY--A SAD ACCIDENT--ALARM--THE CAPTAIN ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE THE DROWNING MEN--DOES NOT RETURN.

The _Sarah Jane_ meeting with fine weather and a fair wind glided rapidly across the Caribbean Sea. Higson felt proud of his first command, and soon gained that self-confidence which long years spent in a subordinate position had made him doubt that he possessed. The midshipmen supported him well, and Needham, who acted as boatswain,--and a more thorough man-of-war's-man never stepped,--a.s.sisted to keep the rest of the crew in good order. Tom Rogers was declared "First Lieutenant," and he walked the deck with all the air and consequence of one. He had already become a fair navigator, and Higson could depend on his calculations. Gordon was dubbed the "Master," and it was voted that Desmond should be "Second Lieutenant."

"I say," exclaimed Tom, "we ought to have a doctor, and so I propose that we give Master Spider the rating, since we haven't got a better one to fill the post; he at all events won't drench his patients with physic, and if he has to bleed them he will do it artistically with his teeth." So Spider was dubbed "Doctor" from henceforth. Higson appointed Archy Gordon also to do the duties of "Purser," so that he had plenty of occupation.

It was impossible to be more attentive to poor Miss O'Regan than were the young midshipmen, or more thoughtful in all they did. Although she still looked pale, she endeavoured to show her grat.i.tude whenever she came on deck by her cheerful conversation and her smile, which Desmond declared beat everything in the way of sunshine. The midshipmen enjoyed the voyage and quickly regained their strength, somewhat lost during their imprisonment; as to their spirits they were of too buoyant a nature to be kept down the moment the pressure was removed.

At length the Blue Mountains beyond the harbour of Port Royal appeared in sight, the sea breeze, which still blew fresh, wafting the brig rapidly towards the sh.o.r.e.

Miss O'Regan, with her faithful attendant by her side, seated on deck, watched with much interest the magnificent view which gradually rose before her eyes. The three midshipmen were standing near her.

"I cannot help hoping that the frigate and corvette have been sent to sea; if not, Higson will have pretty soon to give up his command, and we three, degraded from our rank, shall be ignominiously sent back into the midshipman's berth," said Tom, with a laughable grimace.

"Then the sooner we make up our minds to sink into insignificance the better," observed Desmond, who had a telescope to his eye. "I make out clearly enough the frigate and corvette at anchor; however, we shall have a jolly time of it giving the other fellows an account of our adventures. I vote that we make old Scrofton believe that 'Master Spider' played a gallant part in the capture of the Carthagenan fleet, and led the boarders when we took the corvette."

"But we didn't board at all, in the first place," said Tom, "so that won't be true to begin with."

"No, but when one's about spinning a yarn it's as well to spin a good one," answered Desmond.

"To my mind a joke's a joke, and a lie's a lie," observed Tom.

"Although it would be very good fun to quiz old Scrofton, we certainly should not tell him what is not the truth, and I won't vote for anything of the sort."

"Nor will I," observed Gordon, "and after all the adventures we have been preserved from, it's time that we should knock off our midshipmen's tricks. Where should we have been if my cousin Murray hadn't come in at the moment he did, and so bravely captured the fleet? We should to a certainty have been shot, as was the poor colonel."

"Hush!" said Tom, pointing to Miss O'Regan, "she may hear us." Paddy Desmond looked rather vexed. "I don't consider humbugging an old bo'sun telling a lie, as you choose to call it," he said, turning away.

"Truth is truth, Paddy, though," answered Tom; "I didn't mean to offend you, and I dare say we shall get a rise out of old Scrofton without descending to falsehood." Paddy's anger was as usual quickly appeased, and he joined in the hearty laughter which "Master Spider" produced, as at that moment he came hopping aft rigged in a white shirt with blue turn-down collar, white trousers, a straw hat secured to the top of his head, and a wooden cutla.s.s made fast to one of his paws, and which, in his efforts to free himself from it, he appeared to be flourishing about as if engaged in mortal combat.

"There!" exclaimed Paddy, "if he didn't board the Dons he shows that he would have done so if we had run them alongside, and he would precious soon have driven them overboard."

Even Stella could not help indulging in a smile such as had not for a long time lighted up her countenance, while Polly clapped her hands, and shrieked with laughter.

Gradually the fortifications and buildings of Port Royal and the long line of the Palisades appeared in sight, and the brig pa.s.sing close round the works of Fort Charles steered in and anch.o.r.ed a short distance from the frigate. Blue Peter was flying from the mastheads of both ships, a signal that they were about to put to sea, so there was no time to be lost. Higson ordered a boat to be lowered, and leaving the brig in charge of Needham, accompanied by the three midshipmen, pulled alongside the frigate. Stella naturally preferred remaining on board the brig until she could be conveyed to Kingston.

Captain Hemming was on sh.o.r.e, but Mr Cherry and Jack Rogers were on board, while Adair was seen walking the deck of the corvette.

"A boat coming alongside, sir," sang out Norris, addressing Jack, who was officer of the watch, "and if I can believe my eyes, there's Higson, with your brother, and Gordon, and Paddy Desmond in her." The announcement produced no small excitement on board, all who heard it hurrying to have a look at the three long-lost midshipmen.

Jack, his warm heart beating with joy, rushed to the gangway. He was soon shaking hands with Tom and his companions, who were warmly welcomed by their other shipmates. Spider, who had accompanied them, made his own way up the side, and seated on the hammock nettings, holding on by a backstay, was received with shouts of laughter by his old friends, he chattering away, seemingly as glad to see them as they were to greet him. Singling old Ben s.n.a.t.c.hblock, with whom he had been a favourite, he sprang on his shoulders and was quickly carried in triumph forward, where he was lost to sight among the crew, who gathered round him as school girls are wont to do round a small child introduced amongst them.

Higson and the midshipmen were in the meantime relating their adventures as rapidly as their tongues could wag; as soon as they had given a brief outline of them, they inquired what had occurred during their absence.

The corvette had been repaired. Commander Babbicome, though still as much afraid of the West India climate as at first, had not resigned, as it was thought he would do. Her complement had been made up of the crew of two merchant vessels wrecked on the coast, with other volunteers, and a few hands from the frigate, and they were now only waiting the return of Captain Hemming to proceed to the southward, application having been made by her Britannic Majesty's consul at Bluefields on the Mosquito sh.o.r.e for the a.s.sistance of some ships of war, to protect British interests in that part of the world. A variety of outrages and insults of which he complained having been offered to Englishmen, work of some sort it was expected would be cut out for them, and all hands were delighted at the thoughts of having something in the way of fighting to do.

"Then the sooner I get up to Kingston the better," exclaimed Higson.

"It won't do to be left behind. I can't go, however, without delivering my despatches to the admiral."

He accordingly hurried back with the three midshipmen to the brig, where Jack and Adair, who were anxious to pay their respects to Miss O'Regan, presently followed. They said all that was proper to her regarding her father's death, and expressed their hopes that Murray would soon return to Jamaica and receive his well-earned honours.

"He is sure to be promoted," said Jack. "When he is, I have great hopes that the admiral will appoint him to the command of the corvette, should Captain Babbicome resign her, as I think he is very likely to do, for he evidently wishes himself looking after his cows and pigs at home."

Miss O'Regan and her attendant, with Higson and the three midshipmen, proceeded up at once to Kingston. Fortunately, on landing, they met the admiral, who was delighted to hear of Murray's success. "I knew the lad would do something if he had the opportunity," he exclaimed, rubbing his hands, "and very well he has done it, that all must allow. He will obtain his promotion, and you, Mr Higson, may depend on receiving yours."

On being introduced to Miss O'Regan the old admiral exclaimed, "You must come up to the Pen, my dear young lady, and remain there till you can communicate with your friends. Mrs and Miss McAlpine will be delighted to see you on your own account, and also that of my kinsman Lieutenant Murray. He is an officer in whose welfare I am much interested, and I can a.s.sure you that he has not disappointed my expectations." Then turning to the midshipmen, he added, "And you youngsters must come up too; the ladies will want you to spin them a yarn about your adventures, and I'll take care that the frigate does not sail without you."

Though Stella would have gladly set off at once for her relations the Bradshaws, she could not refuse the admiral's kind invitation. He drove her up to the Pen, where Higson and the midshipmen followed.

Stella was kindly received, and as little as possible was said to recall the painful scenes she had gone through. The admiral, with Murray's despatches before him, questioned Higson as to further particulars, and then made the midshipmen recount their adventures to his wife and daughters, being especially amused at the way Desmond roused up the vice-consul and his household.

Tom ever afterwards declared that he was the most jolly old officer he had ever met with--excepting, of course, Admiral Triton.

"I see, Mr Higson, that Lieutenant Murray speaks in the highest terms of your bravery and courage in this affair," said the admiral. "I have great pleasure, therefore, in giving you an acting order as Third Lieutenant of the _Plantagenet_; and I have no doubt that when the affair is known at the Admiralty, it will be confirmed; and I can congratulate you on the step, which has been entirely gained by your own merits."

Higson felt his heart jump nearly into his mouth; for often before as he had expected promotion he had been disappointed, and he had almost given up hopes of obtaining it.

He thanked the admiral warmly. "Say no more about it, mon," he answered. "I wish that I could reward every one on board the _Supplejack_ as they deserved. You may possibly before long have an opportunity of distinguishing yourself, and I am very sure that I shall hear a good account of you."

Captain Hemming soon afterwards went up to the Pen, when he received fresh instruction as to his course of proceeding. Instead of going direct to Nicaragua as he had before been ordered to do, he was to touch Carthagena to settle the affair of the capture of the Carthagenan fleet, and the recapture of the merchantman; it being considered that a visit of two or three ships of war might somewhat a.s.sist in bringing the diplomatic part of the transaction to a satisfactory conclusion.

When the midshipmen went to wish goodbye to Stella, she had a letter for Murray, which she entrusted to Archy Gordon. "You may depend on me for delivering it safely; for I should otherwise never be able to look my cousin in the face," he answered.

After an early dinner the admiral dismissed them. Higson wished to get several things in Kingston before they returned on board; he had also to deliver over the brig to the agent, who had to find a fresh crew in lieu of the men-of-war's men, and some of the others who volunteered for the frigate. It was thus past midnight when they got on board.

Higson received the hearty congratulation of his old messmates as well as those of the midshipmen whose berth he was leaving.

"Pardon me, Mr Higson, I'm right glad that you've got this step,"

exclaimed d.i.c.k Needham, "you deserve it, that you do; though it's not always those who are most deserving that gets their due."

By daybreak next morning the _Plantagenet_ and _Tudor_ sailed with the land breeze for the southward. About the usual length of time was occupied in the run across the Caribbean Sea to Carthagena. The _Plantagenet_ hove-to outside, while Captain Hemming went on board the _Tudor_, which stood into the harbour. There lay the little _Supplejack_, like a bull-dog watching his charge, with Long Tom still pointed at her prize, while her young commander, ever vigilant, walked her deck.

Very great, as may be supposed, was his delight when he saw the corvette glide up to an anchorage, and when Captain Hemming came on board.

"Since the _Sarah Jane_ sailed, I have not once set foot on sh.o.r.e," said Murray, after the first greetings were over; "I acted, as I thought, for the best, and I hope that the admiral was not inclined to find fault with me for what I have done."

"Find fault with you! On the contrary, my dear fellow, he is delighted," answered Captain Hemming. "He also told me in confidence that you may depend on your promotion. By the bye, your young relative Gordon is the bearer of a despatch which will give you further information. I'll leave you to read it while I have a talk with the consul who, I see, has just come off."

The despatch which Archy delivered to his cousin need not be made public, though it afforded him intense satisfaction.

The consul, after a brief conversation with Captain Hemming, returned on sh.o.r.e to communicate with General Carmona. It was reported on board that the general had offered, as he could not restore the British subjects he had shot to life, to give up an equal number of natives to be dealt with in the same manner, should the English commander be so disposed.

Although he talked a little big about being compelled to give up the two merchant vessels which had been legally captured, he was glad enough to drop the subject on condition that his corvette and schooners were restored to him, while he promised in future never to shoot, hang, or imprison any British subject without a legal trial; thus the matter being settled, "Long Tom" was once more housed, and the _Supplejack_ sailed out of the harbour.