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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 42. A Troublesome Mentor |
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_ CHAPTER FORTY TWO. A TROUBLESOME MENTOR "Those sound to me like signals of recall," said Hilary to his companion, as gun after gun was fired, the last sending a shot skipping before the bows of the _Kestrel_. "Yes, they must be; but not for us," said Lieutenant Anderson coolly. "Why, there's a signal flying too," said Hilary, as he took his glass. "Yes, that's a signal of recall too," said the other coolly. "I wonder what ship they are speaking to? The _Kestrel_ sails well." "Gloriously," said Hilary, flushing with pleasure; "and I know how to sail her, too. Well, Mr Anderson, now we're getting towards clear water, and there's time to speak, let's shake hands. I'm very glad to see you, and I hope we shall be the best of friends." "I'm sure we shall," said the newcomer, shaking hands warmly. "Ah! that shot fell behind us. We're getting beyond them now." "Oh, yes; there's no fear of their hitting us," said Hilary laughing, as the _Kestrel_ careened over more and more as she caught the full force of the wind. "If we go on at this rate it will almost puzzle a cannonball to catch us. I know there is no vessel in Portsmouth harbour that could with this wind." "Do you think not?" said the lieutenant. "I'm sure not," said Hilary gaily; and they walked the deck chatting as, by degrees, they passed the Isle of Wight, making the open channel more and more, while Lieutenant Anderson--the real--was closeted with Admiral and Captain Charteris, all puzzled at the sudden flight of the _Kestrel_, which had set sail without her despatches, and also without what the old admiral called ballast for the young commander, namely, Lieutenant Anderson, who had gone off with his despatches directly after his counterfeit, only to find the cutter gone. Signal guns and flags proving vain, there was nothing for it but to send another vessel in chase of the _Kestrel_, but it was hours before one could be got off, and meanwhile the swift despatch boat was tearing on towards her destination, with poor Hilary happy in the blind belief that he was doing his best. There was something very delightful in feeling that he was chief officer of the _Kestrel_, that the duty of the swift little cutter was to be carried out without the wretched cavilling and fault-finding of the late commander. Everything seemed to work so smoothly now; the men were all alacrity, and they saluted him constantly with a bright smile, which showed that they shared his pleasure. The breeze was brisk, the sun came out, and Lieutenant Anderson, the self-styled, proved to be a very pleasant, well informed man, who very soon showed Hilary that he had not the slightest intention of interfering in any way with his management of the cutter. "No," said Hilary to himself, "I suppose not. As they told me, he is only to interfere in cases of emergency, or when I am doing any foolish thing; and that I don't mean to do if I can help it." Towards afternoon the wind fell light, and the great squaresail was spread, but it made little appreciable difference, and as evening came on, to Hilary's great disgust the wind dropped almost completely. "Did you ever know anything so unfortunate!" cried Hilary; "just when I wanted to show the admiral what speed there was in the little _Kestrel_ as a despatch boat." "Unfortunate!" cried his companion, who had been struggling to maintain his composure, but who now broke out; "it is atrocious, sir. Those despatches are of the greatest importance, and here your cursed vessel lies upon the water like a log!" Hilary stared. "It is very unfortunate," he said; "but let's hope the wind will spring up soon after sundown." "Hope, sir!" cried the other. "Don't talk of hope. Do something." Hilary flushed a little at the other's imperious way. He was not going to prove so pleasant a companion as he had hoped for, and there was that worst of all qualities for a man in command--unreason. "I am to take your advice, sir, in emergencies," said Hilary, restraining his annoyance; "what would you suggest for me to do?" "I suggest, Lieutenant Leigh!" exclaimed the other, stamping up and down the little deck. "I am not in command of the cutter. It is your duty to suggest and to act." "Yes, sir, and I will," replied Hilary. "It is a question of vital importance--the delivery of these despatches--and every moment lost means more than you can imagine. Come, sir, your position is at stake. You command this cutter: do something to get her on." Hilary looked up at the flapping sails, which hung motionless; then out to windward in search of cats'-paws upon the water; then at his men, who were lounging about the lee side of the cutter; and then back at his companion. "Really, sir," he said at last, "I am quite helpless. You are more experienced than I. What would you advise me to do?" "And you are placed in command of this cutter!" said the other ironically. "Why, a child would know better. Have out the boats, sir, and let the men tow the cutter." "Tow, sir!" cried Hilary; "why, it would be exhausting the men for nothing. We could not make head against the current we have here." "It will save something, sir," said the other; "and I order you to do it at once." Hilary felt the hot blood flush into his face, and the order was so unreasonable and absurd that he felt ready to refuse, especially as he knew his own power, and that there was not a man on board who would not be at his back. But he recalled his duty, and feeling that this was a case of emergency, where he ought to obey, he ordered out the two boats; lines were made fast, and soon after the men were bending well to their work, while the stout ash blades bent as they dipped in rhythmical motion, and sent the clear water plashing and sparkling back into their wake. The men worked willingly enough, but Hilary saw to his annoyance that they glanced at and whispered to one another, and it seemed very hard that he should be forced to inaugurate his first day in command by setting his men to an unreasonable task, for it was mere waste of energy. But even now it was done the officer seemed no better satisfied, but tramped up and down the little deck, uttering the most angry expressions of impatience, and at last abusing the cutter unmercifully. "Well," thought Hilary, "he has dropped the mask, and no mistake. It is not going to be such smooth sailing as I expected. Never mind; one must have some bitters with the sweet, and after all he is only angry from a sense of being unable to do his duty, while I was taking it as cool as could be." For quite five hours the boats were kept out, the men being relieved at intervals; and at the end of those five hours the cutter had not advanced a mile, when Hilary seized the speaking-trumpet, and hailed them to come on board. "Stop!" cried the officer. "Why have you done that, sir, without my permission?" This was too much for Hilary, and he spoke out: "Because, sir, I am in command here, and there is no occasion for the men to row any longer." "I insist, sir, upon their keeping on with the towing." "And I insist, sir," replied Hilary, "on the men returning on board." "I shall report your conduct," cried his officer. "Do so, sir," replied Hilary, "if you think it your duty. In with you, my lads. Let go the halyards there, and down with that squaresail. Quick with those boats. There will be a squall upon us directly." He had proved himself on the alert, guided as he had been by the signs of the weather, and the great squaresail had hardly been lowered, the boats made snug, and a reef or two taken in the mainsail, before the wind came with a sharp gust, and the next minute the _Kestrel_ was sending the water surging behind her in a long track of foam. "Ah! that's better," cried the officer, whose ill-humour seemed to vanish on the instant. "How painful it is, Mr Leigh, to be lying like a log, and all the time with important despatches to deliver!" "It is, sir," said Hilary quietly. "I declare there were times when I felt disposed to jump overboard and to swim on with the despatches." "Rather a long swim," said Hilary drily; and he thought it rather odd that the other should think of swimming on with the papers that he had locked up in the cabin despatch-box, and that again in a locker for safety. "Well, yes," said the other, "it would have been a long swim. But tell me, Mr Leigh, about what time do you think we shall make Dunkerque?" "If this wind holds good, sir, by eight o'clock to-morrow morning." "Not till eight o'clock to-morrow morning!" cried the other furiously. "Good heavens! how we crawl! There, have the reefs shaken out of that mainsail, and send the cutter along." Hilary looked aloft, and then at the way in which the cutter lay over, dipping her bowsprit from time to time in the waves. "I think she has as much canvas upon her as she can bear, sir." "Absurd! nonsense! You can get two or three knots more an hour out of a cutter like this." "I could get another knot an hour out of her, sir, by running the risk of losing one of her spars; and that means risking the delivery of the despatches." "Look here, Mr Leigh," said the officer; "you seem to be doing all you can to delay the delivery of these despatches. I order you, sir, to shake out the reefs of that mainsail." Hilary took up the speaking-trumpet to give the order, but as he held it to his lips he felt that he would be doing wrong. He knew the cutter's powers intimately. He saw, too, that she was sailing her best, and he asked himself whether he would not be doing wrong by obeying what was, he felt, an insensate command. Surely there must be some limit to his obedience, he thought; and more than ever he felt what a peculiar position was that in which he had been placed, and he wondered whether Captain Charteris could be aware of the peculiar temperament of his companion. Hilary lowered the speaking-trumpet, as the cutter rushed on through the darkness. "Well, sir," said his companion, "you heard my orders?" "I did, sir," replied Hilary. "Here, bosun." "Ay, ay, sir." "How much more canvas will the cutter bear?" "Bear, sir?" said the experienced old salt; "begging your pardon, sir, I was going to ask you if you didn't think it time to take a little off if you don't want the mast to go." "Silence, sir!" said the officer. "Mr Leigh, these despatches must be delivered at all hazards. I order you again, sir, to risk more canvas." Hilary stood for a moment undecided, and his thoughts flashed rapidly through his brain. This man was unreasonable. He did not understand the _Kestrel's_ powers, for she was already dashing at headlong speed through the sea, and he wanted him to run an unwarrantable risk. At all hazards he would refuse. He knew his duty, he felt that he was a better seaman than his mentor, and he turned to him quietly: "My orders were, sir, to refer to you for advice in times of emergency; but I was not told to run risks that my commonsense forbids. The cutter will bear no more canvas, sir, for the wind is increasing. In half an hour we shall have to take in another reef." "If you dare!" said the officer, laying his hand upon his sword. "I dare do my duty, sir," replied Hilary, ignoring the gesture; and the cutter dashed on through the darkness of the night. _ |
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