In the King's Name Part 18

"And you nearly smother me; you drag me here in a wretched donkey-cart; and you nearly starve me to death."

"On chicken and wine," said Sir Henry smiling. "Come, Hilary, your parole."

"No, Sir Henry," cried the young man, "I'll give no parole. I mean to get away from here, and I warn you that as soon as I do I'll bring brimstone and burn out this miserable wasps' nest; so get out of the way."

"Then I must leave you to think it over, Hilary. There," he continued, rising, "think about it. I'll come and see you this evening."

"Stop, Sir Henry," cried the young man, leaping up in turn; "this is an outrage on an officer in the navy. In the king's name I order you to set me at liberty."

"And in the king's name I refuse, Master Hilary."

"Then I shall take it," cried Hilary, making for the door, which he reached and flung open, but only to find himself confronted by three rough, sailor-looking fellows.

"You see," said Sir Henry smiling. "Allstone, take away that tray.

Good-bye for the present, Hilary. I will see you to-night."

He went out of the door, which was slammed to and locked, and Sir Henry Norland said to himself:

"I like the lad, and it goes against me to make him break faith; but it must be done. My cause is a greater one than his. Once on our side, he could be of immense service. He will have to be won over somehow, poor fellow. Let's see what a day or two's caging will do."

Meanwhile Hilary was angrily walking up and down his prison, wroth with Sir Henry, with himself, and with fate, for placing him in such a position, to ameliorate which he climbed up to the window-sill and gazed out at the sunny meads.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

ANOTHER CRUISE ASh.o.r.e.

Lieutenant Lips...o...b.. made up his mind half a dozen times over that he would run into port and send in a despatch detailing Hilary Leigh's desertion; and each time that he so made up his mind, and had the cutter's head laid in the required direction, his eye became so painful that the cook had to supply hot water from the galley, and the worthy officer went below to bathe the injured optic.

Each time as the inflammation was relieved the lieutenant unmade his mind, and decided to wait a little longer, going on deck again to superintend the repairs Joe Smith, the carpenter, familiarly known as "Chips," was proceeding with in the damaged deck.

There was a great deal to do and the carpenter was doing that great deal well, but at his own pace, for "Chips" was not a rapid man. If he had a hole to make with gimlet or augur he did not dash at it and perhaps bore the hole a quarter or half an inch out of place, but took his measurements slowly and methodically, and no matter who or what was waiting he went steadily on.

There was enough in the composition of "Chips" to make anyone believe that he had descended from a family in the far-off antiquity who were bears; for he was heavy and bearlike in all his actions, especially in going up or coming down a ladder, and his caution was proverbial amongst the crew.

So deliberately were the proceedings now going on that Lieutenant Lips...o...b.. grew hot every time he went on deck, and the hotter the commander became the cooler grew "Chips."

The lieutenant stormed and bade him make haste.

"You are disgracefully slow, sir," he exclaimed.

"Chips" immediately found that his saw or chisel wanted sharpening, and left off to touch up the teeth of the one with a file, and the edge of the other on a stone well lubricated with oil.

The lieutenant grew more angry, and the carpenter looked at him in the calmest possible way, till in despair, seeing that he was doing no good, but only hindering progress, Lieutenant Lips...o...b.. went aft to his cabin and bathed his eye.

"Lookye here," said Billy Waters the day after Hilary's disappearance, "I hope, my lads, I'm as straightforrard a chap as a man can be, and as free from mut'nous idees; but what I want to know is this: why don't we go ash.o.r.e and have another sarch for our young orsifer?"

"That's just what I says," exclaimed Tom Tully.

"No, you don't, Thomas," cried the gunner sharply. "You did nothing but grumble and growl all the blessed time we was ash.o.r.e, and say as our young orsifer had cut on some games or another. I put it to you, lads; now didn't he?"

"That's a true word," said one of the men, and several others agreed.

"Yes," growled Tom Tully; "but that was when I weer hot and wanted to stow some wittles below, and my feet was as sore as if they'd been holystoned or sc.r.a.ped with a rusty nail. I'm ready enough now."

"Then I think we ought to go. I don't like the idee o' forsakin' of him."

"Pa.s.s the word there for the gunner," cried the corporal of marines.

"Captain wants him in his cabin."

Billy Waters pulled himself together, straightened his pigtail, and hauling up his slack, as he called it--to wit, giving the waistband of his trousers a rub up with one arm in front and a hitch up with one arm behind, he went off aft, and came back at the end of a quarter of an hour to announce that a fresh search was to be made for Mr Leigh, and that they were to go ash.o.r.e as soon as it was dusk.

"What's the good o' going then?" said the boatswain. "Why not go now?"

"That's just what I was a-thinking," said Billy Waters; "but I s'pose the skipper knows best."

Preparations were made and arms served round. The boat was to go under command of the gunner, and each man was supplied with a ration of biscuits, to be supplemented by a tot of grog before starting, which was to be just at dark, and the men, being all eager to find their young officer, who was a great favourite, lounged about waiting the order, a most welcome one on account of the grog; but just as the grog was being mixed in its proper proportions the gunner was sent for to the cabin, where the lieutenant was still bathing his eye.

"Has that grog been served out, Waters?"

"No, your honour; it's just a-going to be done."

"Go and stop it."

"Stop it, your honour? The men's grog?"

"Go and stop it, I say," cried the lieutenant irascibly. "I shall not send the expedition to-night."

Billy Waters went back and gave the order in the hearing of the a.s.sembled crew, from whom a loud murmur arose--truth to tell more on account of the extra tot of grog than the disappointment about searching for Hilary; but the latter feeling dominated a few minutes later, and the men lay about grumbling in no very pleasant way.

"I say it's a shame, that's what I says it is," growled Tom Tully, "and it ought to be reported. For half a b.u.t.ton I'd desart, and go and look for him myself--that's about what I'd do."

Just then Chips, who had knocked off work for the night, struck in slowly, laughing heartily the while: "Why don't you say as you won't go, my lads? He's sure to send you then."

"That's a good 'un," said Tom Tully.

"Ah! to be sure," said the boatswain. "I'm a officer, and can't do it; but if I was you, seeing as we ought to fetch young Mr Leigh back aboard, I should just give three rattling good cheers."

"What good would that do?" said Billy Waters dubiously.

"Why, then the skipper would send for one of us to know what's the matter. 's.h.i.+p's crew mutinous, sir; says they wouldn't have gone ash.o.r.e if they'd been ordered.'"

"Well?" said Billy Waters, "I don't see that that would have been no good neither."

"Why, don't you see? Soon as you says that he claps on his sword, takes his pistols, and orders you all into the boat; and says he, 'If you dare to come back without Mr Leigh I'll string one of you up to the yardarm.'"

"That's it," chorussed several of the men.