Great Britain -- History -- George III, 1760-1820 -- Juvenile fiction; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Juvenile fiction
"The `Brilliant,' Captain Everard," was the answer; "he's a good
captain, and you may bless your stars that you have been taken for his
ship."
Harry's heart sank when he heard this.
He would at once be recognised by the captain.
What account could he give of himself? The boats were in waiting in the
harbour. The men hurried down to them immediately. Some resisting were
dragged along. A cuff on the head, or a blow with the butt end of a
pistol, generally silenced those who cried out in the hopes of being
rescued.
Harry and Jacob walked along quietly. Neither were disposed to
struggle. As soon as the prisoners were got into the boats they shoved
off. In a quarter of an hour afterwards Harry found himself for the
first time in his life on board a man-of-war.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
THE HERO'S FIRST TRIP TO SEA.--THE FATE OF THE "BRILLIANT."
Harry and the other pressed men stood for some time on the deck of the
frigate, awaiting the appearance of the commanding officer. Harry
dreaded his coming, believing that Captain Everard would immediately
recognise him. At length an officer appeared from below, accompanied by
the master-at-arms, who held a ship's lantern in his hand. The officer
commenced his inspection at the other end of the line. The light not
falling on him, Harry could not see his features, but his figure was
like that of the captain.
"I must brave it out," he thought. "What shall I call myself? It must
be a name I can recollect. Andrew Brown will, do as well as any other."
Jacob was standing at a little distance from him. He had just time to
step round and whisper, "I shall take the name of Andrew Brown," before
the officer approached. He was greatly relieved on finding it was not
the captain. Jacob Tuttle gave his real name. He entered himself as
Andrew Brown.
As soon as the inspection was over, the men were ordered down below,
being told that they would be entered more regularly the next morning.
They were told that they might lie down between the guns on the main
deck, sentries being placed over them as if they were prisoners.
Harry was only too thankful to find a quiet spot where he might stretch
his weary limbs and finish his slumbers, which had been so rudely broken
during the first part of the night. He was too sleepy even to think.
He dreamed that the fray was renewed, for the most strange, wild, and
unearthly sounds assailed his ears: shrill whistles, hoarse bawlings,
fierce oaths, the stamping of feet and rattling of ropes, and shouts of
all sorts, creating the wildest uproar he had ever heard.
"Yes, he's alive, only drunk, maybe," said a gruff voice in his ear.
"No, he's not drunk, only worn out pretty well, as you or I would be if
we had not had a sleep for three or four nights. He's young, you see."
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account