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"Well, then, get up, and be a man," said I. "If you give in like that, and fancy yourself dying, and all sorts of things, you deserve to be thrown overboard; though I'm not the person going to do it." "All hands shorten sail!" sung out Adam Stallman, who had charge of the deck. I sprang up the companion-ladder, followed by Dicky, and from that moment he forgot all about his sea-sickness.
It was the general opinion that it was possible Delano and his crew might have fallen in with her; but still she had had ample time to reach Gibraltar. We made up our minds that Mr Vernon would be placed in command of the expedition, and we each of us hoped to be selected to accompany him. Adam Stallman, who was in the berth, did not make any remark; but after a time he got up and went on deck.
We thanked Signora Faranelli very much for her kindness, but explained that we had a friend waiting outside for us, who had, however, nothing to do with the carriage affair. Of course Adam Stallman was requested to come in, and, to my surprise, he consented. "I like what you tell me of the people, D'Arcy, and their acquaintance must be worth making," he observed.
I sung out, with no little satisfaction. We hauled up a little, and stood for her. She had seen us and shortened sail. "What vessel is that?" I inquired. "A prize to his Majesty's ship Harold," answered the voice of Adam Stallman. "All right; we want your aid. Heave-to, and send your boat aboard, with the people well-armed," I sung out.
He fired it at Stallman, and then attempted to spring up on deck. Happily the ball missed its aim, and he was knocked over by several stout fists, which his head encountered, and fell like a log back into the hold. Several shots were exchanged, and the four pirates fought desperately in their hopeless attempt to regain their freedom.
It was the one I had reached. I stooped down. "Where are you hurt, Stallman? Oh! tell me, tell me," I exclaimed, taking his hand. "In my side; lend me a handkerchief, pray," he answered, faintly. "But give way, my lads give way; never mind me." The men had stopped in their exertions for a moment, and were leaning forward to discover if he was much hurt.
Mr Vernon had directed Adam Stallman to get the schooner under way, and to bring her up alongside the pirate brig, as soon as he calculated we could have taken possession. She now appeared, and, furling sails, dropped her anchor close to us.
Her complexion was beautifully fair; her eyes were blue; and the expression of her countenance was soft, feminine, and full of sweetness; at the same time, the arch smile which occasionally played over it showed that she was not destitute of sense and wit. While I was looking on, I was joined by Adam Stallman, one of the senior mates of the Harold. I have slightly mentioned him before.
"Why, do you see, sir," he said to Stallman, who sat as judge on his trial, "it somehow or other got into my tub of hot water, and I never knowed it; and when I went to heave the water overboard, I then see'd the glitter of it in the sea, as it sunk to the bottom."
Should it not make our hearts sink with sorrow, when we see the worthless wealth, the empty titles, for which men barter away their souls?" I agreed with Stallman as to the correctness of his remarks. My excellent messmate was very fond of endeavouring, in a similar mode, to give instruction to the youngsters brought in contact with him.
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