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Cutlass and Cudgel, a novel by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 34 |
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_ CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.
"But it would be undignified in an officer," he felt; and he sat still, feeling the boat live almost in the water as she throbbed from end to end with the powerful strokes, and glide up the waves, hang for a moment, and slide down. "Tidy swell on, Mr Raystoke," said Gurr. "Oh, it's glorious!" replied the lad in a low voice. "Glorious?" "Yes. You don't know what it means to have been shut up in a place like a cellar, always black, and longing to see the blue sky and sunshine." "Well, there aren't none now, my lad." "No, Gurr, there is no blue sky and sunshine, but--but--this is delightful;" and he said to himself, with his breast swelling, "I feel stupid, and as if I could cry like a child." They were nearing the cutter fast, her lights growing plainer, and the lad leaned forward with feelings that were almost ecstatic as he tried to scan her lines, and thought of leaping on her deck, and feeling the easy, yielding motion as she rose and fell to her cable where she lay at anchor. He even thought of how glorious it would be for there to come a storm, with the spray beating on his cheeks and then, as he involuntarily raised his hand to his face, a thought occurred to him which made him start. "Oh!" he mentally ejaculated, as he thought of his long sojourn in the cave, and a feeling of satisfaction came over him that it was dark; "what a horribly dirty wretch I must look!" A hail came from the cutter at last, and was answered from the boat, Archy's heart beating fast as he dimly saw the figures on board, and thought of the joy of being once more in his own cabin. "Gurr," he whispered, "don't say a word to Mr Brough; let me tell him I have come on board." "Right, my lad; but you'll say we found you, and all that. You see, I must make my report." "Of course." Just then the oars were thrown up and laid alongside, and, as the lieutenant came to the gangway, Archy sprang on to the cutter so sharply that he came rather roughly in contact with his commanding officer. "How dare you! Why, you clumsy young--" Before he could say more, the midshipman touched his red cap. "Come aboard, sir," he said. "Why? What? Mr Ray--Oh, my dear boy!" There was not a bit of official dignity in the greeting, for the plump little lieutenant, in his surprise and delight, caught Archy by the arms, then by the shoulders; stared in his face; seized his hands, shook them both, and was about to hug him, but, suddenly recollecting himself, he drew back. "In with that boat," he cried sharply. Then, giving the orders to slip the cable, and prepare to make sail, he turned to Gurr. "I'll take your report directly, Mr Gurr," he said. Then, very stiffly, "Take charge of the deck. Mr Raystoke, follow me, sir, to my cabin." "Going to wig me," said the midshipman, as he followed his officer down into the cabin and shut the door. "Now, sir," cried the lieutenant, turning upon him sharply, "have the goodness to explain your conduct. Stop--not a word yet. I entrusted you with an important commission. I dealt with you as if you were a man, an officer and a gentleman; and, instead of doing your duty, you went off like a contemptible cabin-boy on a shore-going game, sir-- dissipation, sir--behaved like a blackguard till all your money was spent; and then you come sneaking back on board, insult me by blundering up against me, and all you've got to say for yourself is, 'Come aboard, sir.' Now, then, what else have you to say?" "Well, sir!--" "Stop. Let me tell you that, knowing as I did what a young scamp you were, I refrained from reporting your conduct at Portsmouth, to get you dismissed His Majesty's service; and knowing, too, that it would break your father's and mother's heart, I did not write and tell them. For I said to myself, 'He'll come back and ask forgiveness to-morrow, and I'll punish him and forgive him,' for I did not want to blast your career. But to-morrow has always been coming, and you haven't come till to-night. And now, what have you to say before--before I treat you-- yes, I've a good mind to--like some mutinous scoundrel, and--What's that, sir, what's that? How dare you sit down in my presence, when--" "I'm so done up, sir, and hungry and faint." "And serve you right, you insolent young dog. I knew it, and--" "Oh, I say, Mr Brough, you don't think I could have been such a beast." "What?" "I found out all about the smugglers, but they caught me, and I've been a prisoner ever since. Do give me something to eat and drink, and don't scold me any more, till I've got on my uniform and had a good wash." "My dear boy! My dear Archy Raystoke!" cried the lieutenant, seizing his hands and pumping them up and down. "Of course I didn't think it! Knew you were too much of a gentleman, but I was stuffed full of thoughts like that, and they would come out. Here," he cried, "drink that, and here's some cake sent from Poole, and--tip it up, and eat away. I am glad to see you again. God bless you, my dear boy! I'm your officer, but you don't know how miserable I've been." "Yes, I do, sir. I know you always liked me," cried the midshipman, between the mouthfuls he was taking. "But never mind the being prisoner, sir. I know all the scoundrels' secrets now, and you can capture them, and make some good hauls. You must send a strong party ashore as soon as it's day." "But--but--" Archy answered those buts to such an extent that Gurr's report was needless, and the master was terribly disappointed. By that time the cutter was slowly gliding away seaward, with every eye on the watch, for, as the lieutenant explained, after telling his recovered officer how he had searched in all directions, he had that night seen lights shown far up on one of the cliffs--lights which might mean a warning to some vessel to keep off, or just as likely might have the other intention, and be an invite to some lugger to land her cargo. In any case the lieutenant meant to be on the alert, and hence the sailing of the cutter. The lieutenant had hesitated a little at first after hearing his midshipman's report, but he now decided how to act. "No," he said; "not to-night, my lad. I'm inclined to think the signal was a warning to keep off. They may hide the cargo they leave ashore, and if we don't capture it, so much the worse, but our work is to crush up the gang more than to capture a few barrels and bales. We'll look out to-night, and, as soon as it is daylight, you shall make sure of the bearings of your prison, then we'll land a strong boat's crew, and go along the top of the cliff to the place, and put an end to that game. You shall make a good meal, and then have a sleep, ready for to-morrow's work. Hah!" cried the little lieutenant; "that ought to mean a good day's business, Mr Raystoke, and promotion to better jobs than this." "I hope so, sir," said Archy, with his mouth full. "No use to hope," said the lieutenant dismally. "I'm like poor old Gurr; they don't consider me fit for service in a crack ship; and when I make my report, and send in my despatches, and ask for an appointment, I shall be told I do my work too well on this important service, and that they cannot spare so valuable an officer from the station. Gammon, Mr Raystoke, gammon! It's all because I'm so little and so fat." Archy was silent, for he knew it was the truth, and that such a quaint little fellow did not somehow quite command the men's respect. Half an hour after, he was sleeping heavily, with the delightful sensation of being undressed and between blankets, to wake up with a start in the morning, by hearing Ram coming to the trap-door. No, it was a noise on deck; and he sprang up and rapidly washed and dressed, to hurry up to see what was going on. _ |
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