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Updated: June 22, 2025
So you have had eighteen months in the eastern seas?” “Yes, sir.” “A very good school, I should say, Embleton; one has to keep one’s eyes open there.” “Yes indeed. He told me on the way up yesterday of an adventure he had had with the Malays, and as only three out of a boat-load of nine escaped, it must have been a pretty sharp business.”
Lord Cochrane had said to him on the day when he hoisted his flag: “As my flag-midshipman, Mr. Embleton, I could very well have you, as well as my flag lieutenant, at my table, but I think that it would be better for you to mess with the officers. I find that in the Chilian service the midshipmen do not mess by themselves, as is the case with us, but have a common mess with the lieutenants.
Embleton. “Every sailor knows you by reputation as being one of Lord Cochrane’s officers. It will be a pleasure to me to do all I can for your son.” “You will find him very different to most of your apprentices, Pinder. He has had the advantage of his father’s teaching, and, theoretically at any rate, he is already well up in his work.
“Yes, we have just left Lord Cochrane; but in the first place, Stephen, who is not much accustomed to return thanks, has asked me to say in his name how extremely obliged he is for your most kind offer to allow him to remain on the books of your fleet.” “Say no more about it, Embleton. I am very pleased that I can be of any service to you, and to the lad also.
No doubt he would like to see you, and there is nothing like settling the thing finally; and one interview is worth a dozen letters. Let me see.” Mr. Embleton consulted the sailing-list. “As there is no boat sailing to-morrow, we will take the coach. It would be better anyhow, for there is never any saying with certainty when the packets will arrive.
“Nothing could be better,” Mr. Embleton said warmly. “It is the voyage of all others that would be to the boy’s taste, and I shall be satisfied indeed at his being in such good hands. As to navigation, it is practice only that he wants. I have taught him all that I know myself, and he can take a lunar, or work his reckoning out from a star observation, as accurately as I could do it myself.”
The Earl then shook hands and departed, obviously somewhat easier in his mind. This remarkable conversation was duly reported by Logan to Merton. 'What are we to do next? asked Logan. 'Why you can do nothing but reconnoitre. Go down to Rookchester. It is in Northumberland, on the Coquet a pretty place, but there is no fishing just now. Then we must ask Lord Embleton to meet Miss Willoughby.
'The law of the Prophet, as you are aware, is not monogamous, said Logan; 'and the Eastern races are not averse to connections which are reprobated by our Western ideas. The real difficulty was that of religion. 'Oh, why from the heretic girl of my soul Should I fly, to seek elsewhere an orthodox kiss? hummed Logan, rather to the surprise of Lord Embleton.
“Well, pretty often, if you like—I certainly shall not be surprised if I find that they take after me.” The next two days were spent by Mr. Embleton and Stephen in exploring Boulogne.
Embleton said, “and will not detain you farther now.” As soon as they left Lord Cochrane they went to see Mr. Hewson. “It is all arranged, I suppose?” the latter said as they entered.
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