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In the King's Name: The Cruise of the "Kestrel", a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 41. In Command |
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_ CHAPTER FORTY ONE. IN COMMAND The memory of that dinner and the words that he had heard filled Hilary's dreams that night. He was always waking up with a start, nervous and excited, and then dropping off again to dream of being lieutenant, captain, admiral, in rapid succession. Then his dreams changed, and he was helping Sir Henry and saving Adela from some great danger. Then he was in great trouble, for it seemed that he had been guilty of some gross blunder over his despatches, and he seemed to hear the voices of Captain Charteris and the admiral accusing him of neglect and ingratitude after the promotion given him. It was therefore weary and unrefreshed that he arose the next morning, glad to have a walk up and down the deck, which had just been washed; and as he soon began to revive in the cold fresh air, he felt a sensation of just pride in the smart little cutter now just freed from the workpeople and shining in her paint and polish. New sails had been bent and a great deal of rigging had been newly run up. The crew, glad to have the cutter clean once more, had made all shipshape. Ropes were coiled down, Billy Waters' guns shone in the morning sun, and all that was wanted now was the order to start. Hilary went below and had his breakfast, which he had hardly finished when the corporal of marines came down with a despatch. "Boat from the shore, sir," he said, saluting. Hilary took the packet, which was addressed to him, and as he opened it the colour flushed into his face and then he became very pale. The despatch was very short. It ordered him to take the cutter outside instantly and wait for the important despatches he was to take across to Dunkerque. Above all, he was to sail the moment Lieutenant Anderson came on board with the papers and stop for nothing, for the papers were most urgent. But with the letter was something else which made his heart throb with joy--what was really his commission as lieutenant, and the despatch was addressed to him as Lieutenant Leigh. As soon as he could recover himself he rose from the table cool and firm. "Is the boat waiting, corporal?" "No, sir. It went back directly." Hilary could not help it; he put on his hat with just the slightest cock in the world, went on deck, and gave his orders in the shortest and sharpest way. The men stared at him, but they executed his orders, and in a very short time the cutter was out of the basin, a sail or two was hoisted, and, as if rejoicing in her liberty, the _Kestrel_ ran lightly out to a buoy, to which, after what almost seemed like resistance, she was made fast, the sails being lowered, and the cutter rose and fell upon the waves, fretting and impatient to be off. The mainsail was cast loose, jib and staysail ready, and the gaff topsail would not take many minutes to run up in its place. Then, as if fearing that the blocks might run stiff and that there would be some delay at starting, Hilary gave his orders and the mainsail was run up, a turn or two of the wheel laid the cutter's head to the wind, and there she lay with the canvas flapping and straining and seeming to quiver in her excitement to be off once more. "Poor old gal! she feels just as if she was just let out of prison," said the boatswain affectionately. "How well she looks!" "Ay, she do," said Billy Waters. "Well, Tom Tully, my lad, how d'yer feel?" "Ready for suthin' to do, matey," said the big sailor. "But when's old Lipscombe coming aboard?" "I d'no," said the gunner. "Wish he wasn't coming at all. Wonder where we're for. I've a good mind to ask Master Leigh. He'll tell me if he can." "Ay, lad, do," said the boatswain. Just then Hilary came out of the cabin with a red spot in each cheek, and began walking up and down the deck and watching for the coming boat. "Is all ready and shipshape, boatswain?" he said. "Ay, ay, sir." "Your guns well lashed, Waters?" "Ay, ay, sir, and longing to have a bark. Beg pardon, sir, shall I get the fishing-lines out?" "No!" said Hilary shortly. "All right, sir. But beg pardon, sir." "What is it, Waters?" "Is the lieutenant soon coming aboard? His traps ar'n't come yet." "No," said Hilary firmly. "He's no longer in command." "Then I says three cheers, my lads," cried Billy Waters excitedly. "Leastwise, if I may." "No. Stop. No demonstrations now, my lads. We are just off on important business, and I must ask you to be ready and smart as you have never been before." "Which, if it's Muster Leigh as asks us, sir," said Billy Waters, "I think I may say for the whole crew, from my mates here to the sojers, as there ar'n't one who won't do his best." "It is not Master Leigh who asks you," said Hilary flushing, as the whole of his little crew now stood grouped about the forward part of the deck. "This is no time for speeches, my lads, but I must tell you this, that I ask you as your commander, the newly-appointed officer of the _Kestrel_, Lieutenant Leigh." Billy Waters bent down and gave his leg a tremendous slap; then, turning short round, he slapped the same hand into that of the boatswain, and the whole crew began shaking hands one with the other; the next moment every cap was flying in the air, and then came three hearty cheers. "Which, speaking for the whole crew, as I think I may," said Billy Waters, glancing round to receive encouragement in a murmur of acquiescence, "I says, sir, with my and our respex, success to the _Kestrel_ and her new commander, and--" "Hooroar!" cried Tom Tully. "Boat from the shore, sir," cried the man at the side. Hilary stepped quickly to the bulwark, to see that a boat well manned by a party of sailors was rapidly approaching, and, what took the young commander's attention, a naval officer seated in the stern sheets. "So that's my companion, is it?" said Hilary to himself, and he watched the officer very keenly as the boat came rapidly alongside, the officer sprang on board, waved his hand, and the boat pushed off at once. "Your despatches, Lieutenant Leigh," he said, quietly, as he saluted the young officer, who saluted in return. "You have your orders, sir. You stop for nothing." "For nothing," said Hilary, taking the packet from the newcomer's hands. "I presume sir, you are--" "Lieutenant Anderson, at your service," said the other rather stiffly. Then Hilary's voice rang out sharp and clear in the keen morning air. Up flew the staysail, and away and up ran the jib, bellying out as the rope that held the head of the cutter to the great ring of the buoy was slipped; the _Kestrel_ gave a leap, the great mainsail boom swung over to port, the cutter careened over, the water lapped her sides, and began as it were to run astern in foam, and away went the swift little craft, as if rejoicing in her freedom, and making straight for the eastern end of the Isle of Wight. The newcomer walked up and down, watching the proceedings for a time, glancing occasionally at the receding shore, and Hilary rapidly gave order after order, feeling a strange joy and excitement as for the next quarter of an hour he was busy, and kept pretty close to the sailor at the wheel. All at once there was a puff of smoke from one of the forts, and the deep roar of a gun. "Hullo!" cried Hilary. "What does that mean?" "Practice, I should say," replied the newcomer. "Nothing that concerns us. You have your orders, sir." "Yes," said Hilary, "and I'll obey them;" and away sped the _Kestrel_, her young commander little thinking that he had been made the victim of a clever plot, and that he was bearing despatches to the enemy such as might set England in a blaze. _ |
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