The mutiny is nipped in the bud, and the fleet is saved. But thus it must ever be. Mutiny is a monster that must be crushed by the iron heel of force, ere yet it is fully hatched. * * * * * Jack was not sorry when all was over and the boats returned to their respective ships. To relieve his mind he went to see Murray. The poor boy smiled feebly, and held out his white worn hand to clasp that of Jack. "I've been thinking of home, and my little sweetheart, sir." "Have you a little sweetheart?" "Yes; look!" He took out a miniature from his breast--one of the sweetest young faces Jack had ever seen. "That is why I don't want to die, sir." Jack heaved a sigh. But after this all the spare time he had he passed by the side of young Murray's cot. And now came the terrible bombardment of Cadiz. CHAPTER XV. BEFORE CADIZ. "For honour, glory, and the laws, Is native courage given; And he who fights his country's cause, Fights in the cause of Heaven."--DIBDIN. It may be doubted whether the awful bombardment of Cadiz was a necessity of war. A bombardment is always a cruel undertaking, and often seems positively cowardly. But Sir John had one particular reason of his own, independent of exigency, for this cannonade. There was still a smouldering fire of disaffection among the seamen of the fleet, and he therefore determined to keep the sailors busy. Busy with a terrible busy-ness surely, for day and night, night and day, the firing went on, while many a daring cutting-out expedition was organized; and in some of these, deeds of heroism were accomplished that the British nation may well be proud of, even till this day. In one of these, during a boat action, Nelson himself was overpowered, and narrowly escaped being slain. But for his coxswain, who twice or thrice interposed his own body betwixt the swords of the assailants and the commodore, the battle of the Nile would never have been fought.[C] [C] This man was for his gallantry promoted to be a gunner, and not long afterwards was killed at his gun. In the cutting-out expeditions and boat actions, in or near to the harbour, and in repelling attempts to run the blockade from the town, our officers, even our captains, fought side by side with their men. The marines were particularly gallant and courageous. Sir John Jervis delighted to honour this gallant body of men. They certainly deserved to be petted and made much of; but the admiral had another reason for his treatment of them. He thought he might possibly have eventually to play them off against the seamen in case of revolt.