Sailors -- Juvenile fiction; Seafaring life -- Juvenile fiction
Two months thus passed speedily away, and then Jack found that he must
go to sea once more. He would have liked to stay much longer, but if
Nancy once got used to him, as he said, she would not let him go at all;
so he had better go while he could. This time he found his way to
Portsmouth, and sailed in a line of battle ship for the East Indies.
Four years soon passed by out there, though before they were over he
longed to be again at home. Fever visited the ship and carried off many
victims, but he was spared. He was in more than one tempest, and formed
one of a boat's crew who boarded a dismasted Indiaman, at the risk of
their own lives, and were the means of preserving those of all on board.
On his reaching England, he found that a fleet was fitting out for the
Mediterranean, and that something was to be done. He would not miss the
opportunity, though he longed to be at home; so he at once entered on
board another line of battle ship, and then got a few days leave to run
down and see his wife. He found her in great affliction, for she had
just lost her mother, and much he wished to stay and comfort her, but
duty called him away. Poor Nancy would be very lonely during his
absence, and with a heavier heart than he had ever before in his bosom
he left her, her only comfort his promise that he would return as soon
as he had the power.
Long had the unhappy Greeks groaned under the grinding tyranny of the
Turks. An army under Ibrahim Pacha was oppressing them with fresh
exactions. Generous England, ever ready to assist the weak and injured,
resolved to send a squadron to relieve them. It was placed under the
command of Sir Edward Codrington. Jack was on board one of the line of
battle ships. Joined by the squadrons of France and Russia they entered
the harbour of Navarin, where the Turkish and Egyptian fleets, mounting
altogether nearly two thousand guns, lay moored in the form of a
crescent, supported by some heavy batteries on shore. The Turks
commenced hostilities by firing on a flag of truce and killing an
officer and several men. The _Dartmouth_ on this opened a fire of
musketry to protect the boat, and the action commenced in earnest. Jack
had never before been in a general action. The allies had about thirty
ships, and the Turks had a hundred, and all these were now blazing away
together. Shot, and shell, and musket balls were flying thickly about.
Loud and deafening was the roar from upwards of three thousand guns as
they sent forth their messengers of death, a dark canopy from their
smoke forming overhead and serving as a funeral pall to many a brave man
who fell that day. Each British ship was opposed to several of the foe,
but discipline and true courage prevailed over fanaticism, and one after
the other the Turkish ships caught fire, and many blew up with terrific
explosions, destroying their own crews and the ill-fated Greek prisoners
they had on board. Jack stood manfully at his gun, seeing but little of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account