CHAPTER X.

"I WILL BE A HERO, AND TRUSTING TO PROVIDENCE BRAVE EVERY DANGER."

"Avast! nor don't think me a milksop so soft To be taken, for trifles, aback; For they say there's a providence sits up aloft, To look after the life of poor Jack."--DIBDIN.

"There is one trait in my friend Horatio's character," continued Mr. Merryweather, "that I think is prominent enough, and that is decision. Mind you, Tom, lad, I like it in a certain way, but it may lead one wrong at times. But nevertheless, it is better to leap than flounder in a bog, and if you've got to do a thing there's no time like the present. If ever Horace _did_ rob an orchard--and I rather think he did more than once--I feel certain he didn't hang about long before commencing operations, that he didn't wait to see whether the farmer's wife was having a walk in the garden, or whether Bouncer, the dog, was tied up or not. No, Horace is a bad hand at waiting. He wasn't long in the navy, however, before he found out it was pretty nearly all waiting, that the youngsters or griffins had to wait on their elders, and the elders to wait on those older still. Even the captain himself has to wait, and very often in vain, for promotion. Horace, poor fellow, expected to find as much courtesy, sympathy, and kindness in the behaviour towards each other of the junior officers of ships in the navy as was displayed among his brothers in his happy and well-regulated home. Alas! he was sadly disappointed. He found roughness and brutality displayed on deck, between decks, fore and aft, and a good deal in the wardroom as well as in the gunroom. If he expected to meet with young gentlemen full of zeal for the service, burning with a desire to serve their king and country, or even to die, if need be, for their fatherland on the blood-stained battle-deck, he was terribly disappointed. If he expected even to find naval affairs discussed at all in his mess, again he was disappointed. If ambition dwelt in the hearts of the young fellows he found around him, they kept it to themselves. It was every man or lad for himself, and 'hang the service'; 'hang superior officers'; 'hang etiquette'; 'hang fine language'; 'hang--hang everything'; only let the beef and the biscuit have a fair wind, and if anybody smaller wanted the beef first, let him wait or have a dig in the eye. _Meum_ and _tuum_? There were no such words, except in the Latin dictionary. If you had anything to eat, _I_ must have a bit, if 't were only an oyster, that is, if I were bigger than you, or harder in the shell and in the fist.

"So Horace, who was really a tender-hearted boy, although ambitious, saw nothing but roughness around him, and not a little sin. That he soon was sick of all this goes without saying--that he was not polluted by the filth among which he had fallen is a marvel, but he never did forget his father's teaching, nor the prayers he had learned at his mother's knee.

"When my friend, then, joined the _Raisonnable_, there were reasonable expectations that he would soon see a little fighting, from the fact that the Spaniards were cutting up rough about a certain harbour in the Falkland Islands. Britain wanted that harbour; Britain was a bigger boy than Spain, and a bigger bully--always has been, and ever will be--so Britain threatened to punch Spain's head if Spain didn't hand over the harbour, quietly as well as quickly. Spain did so, and after five months of waiting in the 64-gun frigate, she was put out of commission; the boy's uncle, Captain Maurice Suckling, was appointed to the _Triumph_ for harbour service in the Medway, and as this did not suit Horace, who was burning to be on blue water, his captain sent him on a voyage to the West Indies, in a small ship commanded by John Rathbone, who had served in the _Dreadnought_ as master's mate, until he had either got sick of the service, or the service had got sick of him.

"Nevertheless, it seems that Horatio got better on with 'old Rathbone,' as he somewhat irreverently styled him, than with his uncle Maurice, or rather with the idle dandies on board the guardship _Triumph_. Rathbone succeeded in making a man of him, for, mind you, Tom, even a boy can be a man--at heart.

"Perhaps Horace roughed it considerably in Rathbone's ship. He doesn't say much, but I'll warrant you it was 'away aloft to reef topsails' on many a dark and stormy night.

"When my friend Horace returned, he was a sailor every inch, 'every hair a rope-yarn, every finger a fish-hook.'

"Indeed Horatio himself says, in speaking about this cruise in the merchant service, 'If I didn't improve much in my education during the voyage, I came back a practical seaman, with a horror of the Royal Navy, and with a saying then very common among sailors, "Aft the most honour, for'ard the best man." It was many weeks before I got in the least reconciled to a man-o'-war, so deep was the prejudice rooted, and the pains taken to instil this erroneous idea in my young mind.'

"Well, anyhow, when Horace returned from his delightful cruise in the West Indiaman, he came once more under the lee of his uncle Maurice, of H.M.S. _Triumph_. This gentleman, with most disinterested kindness, did all he could--though for a time with only partial success, to reconcile young Horace to man-o'-war routine. As a reward for services done, and attention to his duties, he was allowed to go piloting in the decked long-boat or cutter to the commanding officer's quarters at Chatham, and from Chatham, sometimes round to the North Foreland, or up stream to the Tower of London itself.

"But Horace stuck manfully to his duties, and gradually came to love the Royal Navy.

"It was in the year 1773, if my memory serves me well, that an expedition was set on foot to visit the North Pole, or, in other words, to find out how far north the sea was navigable in a northern direction.

"Two ships were commissioned for this purpose, namely, the _Racehorse_, Captain C. J. Phipps, and the _Carcass_, Captain Lutwidge.

"It was the _Carcass_ to which, much to his joy, Horatio was appointed. In the old _Triumph_ he had first been rated as captain's servant, then promoted to midshipman, and it was as captain's coxswain he joined the _Carcass_.

"His seamanship--learned, be it remembered, in the West Indiaman--came well to the front now. He was permitted to take his trick at the wheel, and steered the ship safely through very heavy ice. The ship, however, had the misfortune to get frozen in, and the wonder is ever she got back to tell her tale.

"Horatio is very reticent as to his adventures in Polar seas, but he told me that he was severely reprimanded for disobeying orders. He followed a bear into a position of imminent danger, for Horace not for the bear. He says his gun missed fire, and that he thought he might as well try to brain the beast with the butt end. The bear seemed not at all reluctant to be brained, for he came boldly on to meet the boy who was to perform the operation. No doubt, this particular bear had the utmost confidence in the thickness of his own skull, and if a well-directed bullet had not caused him to change his mind and sheer away on another tack, Horace would never again have planted cabbages in his father's garden at Burnham Thorpe. (That bear's skin, by the way, Horatio had meant to give to his father as a Christmas present).

"Well, on the paying-off of the _Carcass_, which, with her consort, got safely back to England, Horace, who, although only fifteen, was an out-and-out able seaman, was recommended for service to Captain Farmer of the _Seahorse_, a smart and saucy craft of twenty guns. He was a watch-and-watch seaman of the foretop now, but Farmer soon recognised his ability, and so he was promoted to the quarter-deck and made one of the midshipmen.

"Not only that, but he was allowed to carry on the duty, and crack on too when he pleased--in fact he was, to all intents and purposes, a naval officer. His cruising ground was now the Indian Ocean and all round about there. But in eighteen months his health began to break down, owing, not so much to the badness of the climate, he told me, as to the beastliness of the beef and evil disposition of the water.

"So he was transferred to the _Dolphin_, and in this ship returned for a spell to his native land."

"Not interrupting you, Mr. Merryweather," said Bob, "mightn't you tell Tom about the gallant end poor Captain Farmer had?"

"Ah! that was sad enough, though it was gallant, Bob," said Mr. Merryweather. "I hadn't meant to mention it, but here goes--

"It was on the fatal sixth of October, 1779, that bold Captain Farmer, in the fine old frigate _Quebec_, of thirty-two guns, sighted _La Surveillant_, off Ushant.

"This ship carried forty guns, and was more heavily manned, as well as more heavily metalled, than the _Quebec_. That didn't signify to Farmer. The drum beat merrily to quarters, and at it the two ships went pell-mell.

"It was a long and terrible struggle, lasting for over three hours and a half. Both vessels were utterly dismantled. Unfortunately in the struggle the sails of the _Quebec_, shot down by the enemy, caught fire by falling over the guns, and very soon the whole ship was wrapped in flames.

"The brave Captain Farmer however, although grievously wounded, refused to surrender, and was blown up with his ship, the colours flying defiantly till the last. So that was the glorious but terrible end of poor Farmer."

Merryweather paused here for a minute or two, busying himself in refilling his pipe.

No one spoke, however; for even Meg seemed to know that his story was not finished.

The midges danced above the quivering reeds, the twittering martins went skimming to and fro, there was a hum of insect life in the air, and all nature seemed rapt in blissful content.

"On so lovely a day," said Merryweather at last, "I am loth to sadden my yarn by any allusion to death or to gloom, but the truth must be told, else you, Tom, and you, Bob, will not understand my friend Horace's inner character, and it is the mind, you must remember, that prompts our every action.

"It was on board the _Dolphin_, then, on her homeward voyage, that Horatio Nelson first learned to think. The passage was not a pleasant one, for the ship was badly found. There were many men ill on board as well as Nelson, and it was the thoughts of getting back to merry England that kept those poor fellows hopeful and alive.

"When one is sick and ill, especially if tossed about on the ocean wave, one cannot help feeling both despondent and weary. Hear what Horatio himself says about this:

"'I felt impressed,' he writes, 'with the idea that I should never rise in my profession. My mind was staggered with a view of the difficulties I had to encounter and the little interest I possessed. I could discover no means of reaching the object of my ambition. After a long and gloomy reverie, in which I almost wished myself overboard, a sudden flow of patriotism was kindled within me, and presented my king and my country as my patrons. "Well then," I exclaimed, "I will be a _hero_, and, trusting to Providence will brave every danger."'

"That then, Tom, was the resolve my good friend made when still a boy. The thought of being a hero was the star that guided him on, and that will, I trust, guide him still to victory; for that he is the coming man I have not a doubt.

"But, lads, I can, I think, read Horatio's mind even better than he can do himself. You see, it was in the hour of sickness and gloom he made this firm resolution. He could not help remembering that he was but of puny frame, though with a mind fitted for a far stronger body. He might be cut down by disease at any time. What bolder or better resolve therefore could he make than to give his life to his king or country, be it long, be it short. If short it were doomed to be, the more deeds of heroism he could crowd into it the better. 'Let us work while it is called to-day, for the night cometh when no man can work.' These were the words on which his father once preached a sermon, and lying in his weary hammock Horatio remembered them. They gave him hope, they helped to raise his spirits, and with this new-born hope came strength and happiness. And so far as he has had it in his power Horatio has kept his resolve, but now that he is lying on his beam ends at Burnham Thorpe, is it any wonder that he chafes and fumes? He told me he felt as if standing high and dry on a rock beholding a ship on the sea-ridden sands, and powerless to help; for, he added, 'Am I not witnessing the shipwreck of all my hopes and ambition?'"

"Pardon me, mate," said Bob, "but you've kind o' drifted away from your story. Your friend Nelson didn't come straight away from the _Dolphin_ to his father's parsonage. He hasn't been planting cabbages there since '76, I'll lay a wager."

"No, Bob, no. Thank you for bringing me up with a round turn and holding me with a clove hitch. Just let me, however, make one digression, Bob, and I'll go ahead again right cheerily with my yarn. You've just spoken, Bob, about laying a wager. When you get well, Bob, as I trust you will, let me tell you that the less you have to do with wagering or betting the better. Horatio tells me that when still in his teens he one night sat up playing cards till very late. He thinks now that the devil must have sat by his side, tempting him and leading him on to good luck, for during the whole evening his winnings, and the 'devil's picture-books' that he held in his hand, were all he thought about. Duty, resolution, ambition itself, were in abeyance, were far away from his thoughts. And he rose up from the table at last, flushed and excited, the winner of £300! 'You'll play to-morrow night, too,' the devil appeared to whisper to him, and he appeared to promise.

"But with the morrow came reflection. 'Oh!' he thought, 'what, if instead of winning, I had lost. I, without money to pay? Horrible! I should have been broken, ruined, disgraced, and my father--I will never touch a card again.'

"Nor has he, Tom.

"You see the devil doesn't always have his own way in this world, no matter how alluring the bait may be that he dangles before the eyes of his would-be victims.

"Well, then, young Nelson's next vessel was the 46-gun ship the _Worcester_. And with kindly Mark Robinson as his captain, he sailed for Gibraltar across the stormy Bay of Biscay.

"Stormy then at all events, for the wind rose and the billows were houses high. It was indeed a fearful night, what with guns broken loose from their moorings, with racing shot and shifting ballast, with boats and bulwarks broken, with rent and riven canvas, there were few on board who hoped to see the morning light.

"It had been the old, old story--a ship hurried away to sea before things were properly stowed and everything made ship-shape, with a half-drunken crew, and officers wild with rage because the duty could not be carried on as they desired it. Ah! many and many a good ship has the stormy bay swallowed up at darkest midnight from causes such as these.

"But the _Worcester_ weathered the storm, and Captain Robertson was not slow in telling his officers they had done their duty in this trying time, like Hearts of Oak or British sailors.

"Above all he thanked young Horatio.

"'I shall have quite as much confidence in you in future,' he told him, 'as in any one of my older officers, and, indeed, I shall feel quite easy in my mind when you are on deck. You are a man in actions if not in years.'

"No wonder Nelson's face glowed with pleasure and shyness combined to hear these words of praise.

"For, Tom, your brave man is ever shy to some degree.

"We next find Nelson passing his examination as lieutenant, which he did with flying colours. His uncle, Captain Suckling, was the chief officer on the examining board, nor did he spare his nephew.

"At the conclusion of the examination he put the usual question to the other officers.

"'Are you satisfied, gentlemen?'

"'I am more than satisfied,' said a senior.

"'Hear, hear,' from all the others.

"Then Horatio was called in, and informed gravely that he had sustained the examination.

"'And now,' added the kindly-hearted Captain Suckling, 'let me introduce you to my nephew. My nephew, Horatio Nelson, gentlemen.'

"They were taken aback.

"'But why,' they asked, 'didn't you let us know this before?'

"'Well,' replied the bluff old uncle, 'I was afraid that, had I done so, you might have favoured him. I felt convinced he would pass a good examination, and you see, gentlemen, I have not been disappointed.'

"Right heartily then every officer on that board shook young Nelson by the hand, and hoped he would be an honour to the glorious old flag under which they all served their king and country.

"The very next day Nelson was made second-lieutenant of the _Lowestoft_, which after a time sailed for the West Indies.

"Nelson during the voyage became a great favourite with the captain, owing to the prompt way he obeyed all his instructions and carried on the duty.

"One day an American privateer hove in sight, and the first-lieutenant was ordered to board and capture her. However, the sea was so high and stormy that he lost heart, and returned to the frigate. The captain was wild with rage. 'Is there,' he cried, 'an officer in this ship who can make a prize of that letter of marque?'

"Both Nelson and the master stepped up at the same time. But Nelson had the honour, and honour it proved. He not only reached the privateer, but boarded and carried her, although the waves really were so high that the boat was washed over the Yankee.

"Horatio was a greater favourite now than ever with good Captain Locker."