The Three Lieutenants Part 60

"We must not leave the flagstaff behind," cried Jack; springing to the top of the bank, he hauled it out of the ground, and waving it in the faces of the enemy, leapt down again, just in time to escape a shot which came flying over his head.

"Now, lads, run for it!" cried the officer in command; and at the word the whole party set off, scampering along through the brushwood towards the boat, while the shot came whistling after them, clipping off the branches of the trees on either side, or plunging into the ground behind them, or whistling over their heads; but thick as had been the shower of iron missiles, when they reached the boat, to their mutual satisfaction, not a single man had been hit. The boat was quickly cleared of the willows which concealed her, and shoved out into the stream.

"Out, oars!" was the word, and away she flew down the river to join the squadron. As they pa.s.sed the large island, to the south of the one they had occupied, they observed three merchant men which had got on sh.o.r.e, from keeping too much over to the east side. The boats of the squadron had just come up, and were engaged in hauling them off; two were got free, but the third being immoveable, was set on fire to prevent the enemy from benefiting by her cargo. No other vessel was lost, but slight damage was suffered by even those most exposed to the enemy's guns, and not a man was. .h.i.t.

The flames of the burning vessel cast a lurid glare from bank to bank, as the fleet with flying colours proceeded down the broad stream on their voyage to Monte Video.

Rosas made no further attempt to molest them; he had received a lesson which he was not likely to forget; his power was broken, and he soon afterwards had to fly the country.

The British and French squadron, on their arrival at Monte Video, found, however, that there was still work to be done. Some of the allies of Rosas had been engaged in attempting its capture, but they were quickly put to flight, and a body of marines and bluejackets were sent on sh.o.r.e, to a.s.sist the inhabitants in placing the city in a better position of defence.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

LETTER FROM MURRAY--JACK'S REPLY--THE SUPPLEJACK ORDERED HOME--THE VOYAGE--A GALE--LONG TOM'S BURIAL--A WRECK SEEN AND BOARDED--STELLA AND HER FRIENDS RESCUED--ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND--MURRAY'S ANXIETY RELIEVED--THE FATE OF THE SUPPLEJACK--MURRAY'S WEDDING--JACK AWAKES FROM HIS DREAM--A VISIT TO BALLYMACREE--JACK CAUGHT AT LAST--CONCLUSION.

Jack found letters from England at Monte Video for him, and among them was one from Murray; he wrote much out of spirits. Mr Bradshaw had deferred his departure from Jamaica, and Stella, who had waited for his escort, was not likely to arrive in England for some time, wrote Murray--

"I would have gone out myself to escort her home, but as she and her friends may sail any day, I might, possibly, on my arrival, find that they had left the island. I must remain, therefore, in England, till I hear something more definite of their intentions. I have received orders to pay off the _Tudor_, so that I shall shortly be a free man. I have not heard whether the _Carib_, the ship for which Mr Bradshaw is waiting, is bound for London or Liverpool, and I am, therefore, at a loss where to take up my quarters to await her arrival. Of course, I am very anxious to be on the spot to meet Stella. I trust that as I am not likely to be employed again for some time, she will not consider it necessary longer to defer our marriage, and I sincerely hope, my dear Jack, that you will be at home to act as my best man."

Jack wrote a reply by Terence, whose ship was on the point of sailing for England.

"Nothing I can wish for would give me greater pleasure than to take care of you on the awful occasion to which you allude. Keep up your spirits, my dear Alick, for I feel very sure that if you are not already spliced by the time I arrive in England, that I shall have the satisfaction, not long afterwards, of attending you as you propose.

"I cannot believe that so sensible a girl as Miss O'Regan is, will longer defer your happiness. Should she contemplate so cruel a proceeding, I must get my sisters, Mary and Lucy, to argue the point with her, and depend upon it they will bring her round. I have promised Terence to pay him a visit to Ballymacree, but I told him that I cannot go till I see you settled. Should you find your fair one's obdurate heart soften before I arrive, he will be delighted to undertake the post you offer me, and I cannot wish for a better subst.i.tute. He begs me to say this, and you well know that next to me you have not a truer friend.

He has promised to come and stay with us at Halliburton, after he has paid a flying visit to his own home, and we hope to meet you and Mrs Murray there, as my father and mother propose asking you to take it in your way to the north, where we conclude you will wish to introduce your bride to the Highland home you have so often described to us."

Jack said a good deal more, indeed his letter was one of the longest he had ever indited. He, of course, also wrote home, begging Sir John to invite Murray to stay at Halliburton till the arrival of the _Carib_.

Terence promised to post the letters as soon as he got on sh.o.r.e, or to deliver Murray's, which was directed to his agent, should he by chance be at Portsmouth.

"Good-bye," said Terence, as they parted, "we shall meet again before long, depend upon that, for I hear that your brig is to be sent home as soon as a steamer comes from England to relieve you; they have an idea that such vessels are more likely to prove efficient slaver-hunters than such small craft as yours."

Jack took an active part in the work going forward at Monte Video, and when it was over he began eagerly to look out for the expected orders to return home.

Two steamers at last arrived, the second came to relieve the _Supplejack_. Without an hour's delay, having already received on board fuel and fresh provisions, the anchor was hove up, and under all sail a course was steered for Old England. Her crew gave three hearty cheers, as she glided out from among the ships destined to remain behind.

Desmond had continued on board her, as Terence considered that the longer he remained afloat the better, as it might not be so easy to get him another ship.

Except a pampeiro, which, had not Jack been wideawake, might have taken the masts out of the brig, or sent her--where many a vessel of her cla.s.s has gone--to the bottom, nothing of consequence occurred, until she had got considerably to the north of the line. She had reached about the lat.i.tude of Madeira, when a heavy gale sprang up.

For three days she lay exposed to its fury, so severely tried that Jack entertained serious thoughts of heaving Long Tom overboard. Needham gazed at his old friend with sorrowful eye, as Jack suggested that such might be necessary.

"He has done good service, and she has carried him a good many thousand miles without complaining, sir, and, unless it comes on worse than it is at present, she will carry him home safe enough, I hope."

It, however, did come on worse; and, moreover, a leak was sprung, which required half the watch constantly at the pumps. Long Tom was doomed.

Jack tried to comfort Needham by saying--

"From what I hear, when the ship is paid off, he will only be looked on as so much old iron, or laid up in the gun-wharf never to bark again, so we shall do him more honour by lowering him into an ocean grave."

The order was given, and, as the brig rolled, Long Tom sent over the side into the foaming waters. The brig evidently floated more buoyantly on being relieved of his weight.

At length the gale broke, and sail being made, the _Supplejack_ once more stood on her course.

Evening was coming on; dark, leaden seas, still foam-topped, were rising up sullenly around her as she made her way amidst them, now on the summit of one, now sinking into the valley below, when the lookout shouted--

"The hull of a ship, either dismasted or on her beam-ends away on the lee-bow, sir."

Jack went aloft with his telescope.

"She is a dismasted vessel, there is little doubt about that," he observed to Bevan, as he returned on deck. "Keep the brig away for her."

Evening was approaching, but Jack hoped to be up with the stranger before dark. As the brig drew near her, she was seen to be a large ship, her three masts gone, while no attempt apparently had been made to rig jury-masts. So deep was she, that as she rolled in the heavy seas, the water came rushing over her decks, and gushing out through the scuppers on the opposite side.

Jack felt thankful that he had seen her, as, in all probability, her fate during the night would have been sealed. The brig was steered to pa.s.s just under her stern, Jack intending to heave-to to leeward. Just as she got up to her, Tom exclaimed--

"I see her name--it is the _Carib_, the very ship in which Mr Bradshaw intended to come to England."

The eyes of all on board were turned towards the wreck. No one was seen on the deck.

"She must have been abandoned, but I trust that her pa.s.sengers have been taken off by some other vessel, for should they have left in the boats, their chance of escaping in the heavy sea which has been running would have been small indeed," said Jack, feeling very anxious as he thought of Stella and Murray.

"Possibly the boats may have not long left her," observed Bevan.

"You may be right," said Jack. "Send a couple of men with the sharpest eyes to look out, in case they may be still in sight."

Just then a person was seen emerging from the companion-hatch, who no sooner discovered the brig, than he waved his hands and appeared to be frantically imploring a.s.sistance.

"It is Mr Bradshaw himself!" exclaimed Jack, who had been looking through his telescope. He immediately ordered a boat to be lowered, and sung out for volunteers.

"I will go myself, Bevan," he said. "Take charge of the brig."

Needham was the first to step in, others quickly followed, and Jack, with some of his best men, pulled away through the heavy seas towards the ship. It was no easy task to get alongside without the risk of having the boat knocked to pieces. Jack watched his opportunity, and, followed by Needham and Tim Mullens, one of the men, sprang on board.

As he did so, he ordered the boat to keep off till he called her.

"Thank Heaven you have come!" exclaimed Mr Bradshaw, as he grasped his hand.

"Quick! quick! the ladies are in the cabin. I charged them not to come on deck for fear of being washed overboard, but from the heavy way the ship is rolling, I suspect that she has not much longer to swim."

"Indeed she has not, I fear," exclaimed Jack, rushing into the cabin.

Stella was seated on a sofa, supporting Miss Bradshaw, who, overcome with alarm or illness, appeared to have fainted, while Polly was kneeling by her side, helping her mistress. Miss O'Regan looked amazed at seeing Jack. He, without waiting to utter an exclamation, seized her in his arms, and carried her on deck. Needham took up Miss Bradshaw, while Tim, who had accompanied him, tucked Polly under his arm.

"If you have nerve to leap at the proper time as the boat comes alongside, do so," said Jack to Mr Bradshaw. "If not, wait and I will come back for you."

Jack shouted to the men in the boat to return, and waiting till she was close to, let himself down into her, holding Stella firmly with one arm.

Needham and Tim dropped safely with their burdens at the same time.

Mr Bradshaw still remained on board.

"Let me go, sir," cried Needham, "I will help him;" and the next moment he was again on deck. Seizing Mr Bradshaw by the hand, he watched the proper opportunity and dragged him down into the boat, both falling, though being caught by the men they were not much hurt. Jack then sheered the boat off from the wreck, and ordered his men to pull away towards the brig. Scarcely had they got clear than the ship's stern was seen to lift, and her bows plunging into the next sea which came rolling up, it rushed over her deck foaming and hissing, she in a few seconds disappearing beneath the surface, the boat having only just got beyond the influence of the vortex she created. There was no time to ask questions. Jack, being at the helm, could with difficulty attend to the two ladies, who lay in the stern sheets, Stella still attending on her friend. The boat was quickly again alongside the brig, and Jack and Needham lifted the two ladies safely on board. Mr Bradshaw was then helped up the side by the seamen, and the boat being hoisted in, the brig again made sail and stood on her proper course. The ladies were at once conveyed to Jack's cabin, and McTavish being sent for, his appliances soon restored Miss Bradshaw to consciousness.