By Conduct and Courage

ame dusk and rowed to the frigate, whe

d. "Meanwhile, tell me briefly what is the result? Of c

say that the casualties are heavy, twenty-eight kil

are the less able to bear it since we have some seventy men awa

utside ships, and as most of the fellows jumped overboard and swam to the other, we had an even stiffer fight th

asualties among

t me and would have killed me had not that boy Gilmore thrown himself between us. He waved his cutlass about wildly, and, principally from good luck, I [pg 76]think, cut down one of the

a smile. "I think he is too good to remain wher

ertainly as well up in his work as any of the midshipmen. The chaplain told me only yesterday that he

te at home aloft, and may be fairly called a sailor. He is certainly a favourite with the whole crew, and

ed hardly say that it will be a

through the night, closed up to her. The wounded were transhipped, and a prize crew was told off to each of the

uld only throw the garment over his shoulders before he hurried aft. When [pg 77]he reached the poop he found that the crew were mustered, and in much trepidation as t

and keenness aloft, but by the fact that he has, under great difficulties, educated himself, and in manner and education is perfectly fit to be a messmate of the midshipmen of this vessel. Moreover, in the fight yesterday he saved the life of Lieutenant Farrance when he had fallen and was attacked by two of the Moors. One of these the lad killed, and

mrade. As to Will himself, he was so surprised and overcome by this most unexpected distinction that he could scarcely

speak, "and when you have recovered from your wound the ship's tailor will take your unifor

he reached the sick berth, and then he threw himself into a hammo

an I can possibly express. It is splendid

ant ship, but to think that in less than two months after joining I could be on the quarter-deck was beyond my wil

han a year you would be on the quarter-deck, as it would be ridiculous that anyone who could take an observation and be at the same time one of the smartest hands aloft should remain in the position of ship's boy. On

s of the ship. Now I will lie quiet for a time, for my arm is throbbing dreadfully. The doctor tells me that although the wound is severe it can ha

and the next day Will was in a state of high fever, whic

l soon pick up strength again. It has had one good effect; it has kept you from fidgeting o

, together with a pile of shirts and underclothing of all kinds, and two or three pairs of shoes. His other clothes had been taken away, so he dressed himself in the working suit, and with some little trepi

artily," he said. "I know that neither

in tells us that you can take an observation as well as he can. I can assure you we are all heartily glad to have you with us. Sit down and make yourself at home. We have not mu

with satisfaction. I feel immensely indebted to you, Mr. Forster; for if you had not brought my request be

in our name and who is a full-fledged master's mate, does not claim to be addressed as mister, though he will probably do so before long, for the wound of Lieutenant Ayl

ellows will be game to shell out a bottle apiece-I don't think I can

ful to them, for he saw that it was in no small

generally are, but he is kind-hearted and likes to makes himself popular, and he will wink one eye when you take a nap under a gun, which is no mean virtue. The boatswain, who is in the same watch, is a much more formidable person, and busies himself quite unnecessarily. One ca

ort of sacred ground, and he stood shyly aside while the others fell into their duties of looking after the men and se

in speaking for me to the captain, and especially in providing me with an outfi

that it was a great satisfaction to me to be able to make this slight return. I shall watch

the late fight, there was a shortage of officers on the Furious. Three had left in the Moorish prizes, and when, a week later,

prize. You can take one of the juniors with you; I canno

ore, sir. I feel that I c

u will go straight to Malta, hand over your prize to the agent there, and either

he was to go with Forster. "Will you

without difficulty for an

he sailor named Dimchurch; they are both good hands in their

ct as our servant, and one able seaman is as good as another. I have noti

to the Moorish galley of which he was to be second in command, but he coul

laughing at?"

as come over my position. Not that I am conceited about it, but it

rought a chart on board with me. Our course is north-north-east, and the distance is between two and three hundred miles. In any decent part of the world we should do it in

to divide the cre

ster said, "but I shall certainly waive

and one of the men was made cook; nine

of them, and as hang-dog scoundrels as one would wish to see. We shall have to keep a sharp look-out on them, to make sure that

how they could possib

in the yards, and if there was an opportunity, however small, for them to break out, you may be sure that they would take it. These Moorish pirates are

leep, when he was suddenly awakened by a loud noise. He sprang out of bed, seized his dirk and a brace of pistols which were part of the equipment given him by the first lieutenant. As he ran up the compan

looked at the fastenings of the two hatches when I came down twenty minutes ago, an

ch. What do you thi

inking out. I don't suppose they will meddle with us

s forward here, and make a barricade with them. We will also obtain two or three barrels of water an

ea, sir. We will s

ow of the vessel, forming a triangular enclosure of about fourteen feet on each side. The arms were then collected and placed

rch asked. "You have only to give your or

r to allow them to make the first move, for even with the advantage of attac

nly, sir; but if the worst come

worst, Dimchurch, before we

e others dashed forward. The seamen lined the barricade and made a strenuous resistance. Cutlass clashed against Moorish yatagan; the Moors were too crowded together to use their guns, and as they could gather no more closely in front than the sailors stood, they were unable to break through the barricade. At last, after many

nt outside the barricade and piled some heavy bales aga

way again, sir," he said to Will;

everal badly wounded, so we ought to have a good cha

night had fallen

can lift that ha

an said. "I will roll this tub under it; that

ightly, his utmost efforts failed

; but I think that if some others will get on tub

hurch. Let each man make sur

firelocks were carefully examined. When he

ds, heav

enough for a man to crawl out. Pieces of wood were shoved in at each corne

nd have a look round. Are

. They are jabbering away among themselves disputi

s not matter. You two crawl out and lie down, then give me a hand and hoist me out.

ed along aft to within a few yards of the Moors, then leapt to their feet and fir

over the hatchwa

he order. They were startled as t

! Have you got poss

that you,

88]

ted back, while the men gave a

to slide dow

n't you come down

t they would at once shoot me, but there was a lively argument among them and shouts of laughter, and they evidently thought that it would be a great joke to leave me up here until I chose to slide down and be killed. Of course I heard their a

first attack upon us, and we have shot five m

hall get a pretty bad wigging for allowing them to get out, though certainly the bolts of the hatchways were all right when we changed the watch. Of course I see now that I ought to have placed a man there as sentry. It is always so mighty easy

the ship," said Will; "but I think it would be as well to place a s

you badly woun

ross the cheek, sir, b

d the door. You will be able to tell us, at least, if they are up to any mischief. I should think, howe

Forster said, as he and Will

ter, but I am afraid ther

s out of th

I had had a man there they could hardly have cut away the woodwork without his hearing. I certainly wish you to state in your report that you took the w

ought to have reminded you to put a man there, there can be no question at all about that, but I never gave the matter a thought, and

they hoisted up the shrouds, and fastened them round the mast, making all taut by means of the lanyards. The sails were still standing, flapping loosely

port. "It all depends now on what sort of a man the admiral is, bu

d. "I do wish you would let me

rster said; "the commanding o

ater Forste

longside. "Of course I got a wigging. The admiral read

o sentry was placed

ed [pg 91]that. I am quite conscious that my conduct was in

admiral said, 'though one would have thought they

to think it was a very good joke, my being a prisoner up th

en sold their lives

urprise as they were they certainly

you did the sam

hem, and I did not cease fightin

your duty to His Majesty was to tak

t moment I thought more of my duty to

iled g

er. Well, you committed a blunder, and I

indeed, s

ed to question

r seems to have behav

,' I said. 'I only wis

he blocking up of the door of communication through the bulkhead was well thought of, and his final escape through the hatchway and sudden

e was only promoted from being a ship's

a ship's boy?' the ad

only of the fight that led to your promotion

inished, the

im up here at this hour to-morrow; I shall be glad to see him. There, now, you may go, and don't

e admiral had not been so interested in you he would not have let me off so ea

count of the admiral. From what you say it is evident he is a kindly man, a

of the goods on board this craft before this rumpus took place I fancy the Moor had captured and plundered a well-laden merchantman. In that case the prize-money will be worth a good round sum, and as the admiral gets a picking out of it he will be still more inclined to look favourably on the matter.

ore went below and examined the cargo. This proved to consist of

rth much, for their holds were nearly empty and I fancy they had only been cruising a short time. This fellow, however, is a rich prize; he certainly had very hard luck, falling in with us as he did. I fancy the ship they pillaged was a Frenchman or Italian, more likely the latter. I don't think there

the first time, and, landing with Forster, ascende

great pleasure to meet so promising a young officer. Will you kindly

ed account of his history up

stance. It is nothing short of astonishing that you should have progressed so far under her care that you were able, after a few lessons from the c

k his leave, and returned

greatly interested in the castle with its heavy frowning stone batteries, the deep cut separating it from the rest of the island, and its towering rock. Then there was [pg 95]the church of St. John, paved with tombstones of the knights, and other places of interest. The costume and appearance of the in

his very first expenditure would be a suite of coral for the lady who had done so much f

y trouble. One morning, when day broke, she was seen only a quarter of a mile from the frigate. A gun was at on

ted, he was severely reprimanded for not having placed a sentry over the prisoners, but in consideration of the fact that he had already been spoke

captain said, "and showed that y

g