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Read Ebook: The Cruise of the Midge (Vol. 1 of 2) by Scott Michael
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Ebook has 1242 lines and 104601 words, and 25 pages
"Pray, Mr Binnacle," said the commodore, "have you brought me the letters and the English newspapers?"
"Yes, Sir Oliver; here they are, sir; and here is a memorandum of several vessels expected on this part of the coast that we got from the Cerberus, sir."
"Oh, let me see."
After a long pause, the commodore again spoke.
"Why, Mr Binnacle, I have no tidings of the vessels you speak of; but I suppose we must stand in for the point indicated, and take our chance of falling in with them. But where got you all these men? Did the Cerberus man you?"
"No, sir, she did not. Ten of the men were landed at Cape Coast, out of the Tobin, Liverpool trader. They are no great things, sir, certainly; they had been mutinous, so the merchantman who unshipped them chose to make the run home with five free negroes instead. But if they be bad, there is not much of them, for they are the smallest men I ever saw."
After Binnacle had made his report to Sir Oliver, he, with an arch smile, handed me the following letter, open, which I have preserved to this hour for the satisfaction of the curious. Many a time have I since laughed and almost cried over this production of poor Donovan's heated brain:--
"MY DEAR BRAIL,--When you receive this, I shall be at rest far down amongst the tangleweed and coral branches at the bottom of the deep green sea, another sacrifice to the insatiable demon of this evil climate--another melancholy addition to the long list of braver and better men who have gone before me. Heaven knows, and I know, and lament with much bitterness therefor, that I am ill prepared to die, but I trust to the mercy of the Almighty for pardon and forgiveness.
"DENNIS DONOVAN,
A sham wooden gun.
To return.
"And pray," said the commodore, "what captures may you have made in this redoubtable man-of-war of yours--in his Britannic Majesty's felucca, Midge?"
"Why, none, sir," said wee Middy, blushing; "but I hope you will soon put us in the way of having a brush, sir."
This was the second lieutenant, who had been ill for a week with fever.
The moment I knew Lanyard was going in the Midge, I determined to accompany him if possible, so I asked the commodore's leave--hinting, that my knowledge of the rivers might be of use. He laughed.
"Pilot, indeed--mind you don't evaporate in one of your pilotings, and then what shall I say to your friends, Master Benjamin?"
I pressed my suit.
"Why, my good boy, you had better not--take my word for it, if you carry on in this way, you will either get your head broken, or be caught by one of these infernal marsh fevers, which will be worse."
"No fear, Sir Oliver, I am a seasoned cask--do give me leave--I shall be back in a week."
"Well, well, as you please, my young master."
And it was at once so fixed.
Lanyard heard the order given, and instantly set about getting his kit arranged for his departure, although he seemed to think it would have been more pleasing in his excellent captain had he appeared to have consulted him a little on the subject; but to hear was to obey, and Dick was quite ready to move by the time he was sent for to receive his orders, when I adjourned to the cabin also, to say good by. Sir Oliver was sitting at his wine; and so soon as the steward had left us to ourselves, the knight rang the bell, the cord of which, ending in a handsome brass handle, hung within a foot of his head.
"Potter, send the first lieutenant here."
Sprawl was in immediate attendance.
"Glad to see you, Mr Sprawl; sit down, and take wine."
After a pause--
"Do you think, if the breeze holds, that we shall make the land again before morning, Mr Sprawl?"
"No, sir, for we have run thirty miles off since morning, and there is no appearance of any wind at present; but we should be able, notwithstanding, to beat up to it by noon to-morrow."
"Very well. Pray, Mr Lanyard, how many men, counting the strangers, are there on board?"
"Thirty-three, sir, all told."
"And the gun she carries?"
"A long twelve, sir, with a six-inch howitzer affair fitted forward, for throwing grape."
"Do you think you could stow ten men more, comfortably?"
Dick had been on board of his new command before he came down, and had made such passing observations as the time permitted.
"Why, I daresay, for a few days we might, sir."
"Then send your purser, or whoever may be acting for him, aboard this evening."
The lieutenant made his bow, whipped off his glass, and went on deck to be off. It was getting dark fast--the wind had risen suddenly--the frigate had been carrying top-gallant sails up to the time I had gone below, but they were now handed, and the watch were in the act of taking a reef in the top-sails.
"Whereabouts is the felucca?" said I to the officer of the watch, the old gunner, who, in the absence of Mr Garboard, the second lieutenant, who, as already stated, was sick and in his cot, had charge of the deck.
"You don't? I say, quartermaster, do you see the small craft down to leeward there?"
"No, sir. I sees nothing of her; but she can't be far away, sir, as she was close to, within this last half hour."
"Ah," said the man again, "there she is; she is in chase of something, sir."
"What can they mean?" said Lanyard. "They know they cannot follow out their chase when I am on board here."
The riddle was soon read. Little Binnacle had returned on board, and, as it turned out, he was determined to have some fun, in the interregnum between the unshipping of poor Donovan and Lanyard's appointment.
"What is that abeam of us?" said Mr Sprawl, who had now come on deck.--"Hand me up the night-glass, Jeremy."
He worked away with it for some time. At length Lanyard spoke.
"Quartermaster," exclaimed Sprawl, "keep her away, and edge down towards that chap, will ye?"
The commodore was now on deck.
"I was on the point of reporting to you, sir, that the felucca was a good way off to leeward, apparently cut off by a strange sail, that is sculling along right between us," said David Doublepipe.
"Whereabouts," said the captain, "whereabouts is this strange sail? And why the deuce did the felucca not fire a gun?"
"She did, sir," answered the lieutenant, "but I could not divine what she would be at, as she did not make the night-signal."
"True enough," said Lanyard.--"I daresay all the signals and instructions, and every thing else, are locked up on board, sir. May I therefore request the favour of your standing down to her, or I don't see how we shall manage at all?"
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