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Updated: June 29, 2025
Fairburn and Swinton, with whom he promised to correspond, and they sailed with a fair wind for St. Helena, where they remained for a few days, and took that opportunity of visiting the tomb of Napoleon, the former emperor of the French. A seven weeks' passage brought them into the Channel-and they once more beheld the white cliffs of England.
We engaged a carriage, with two inside seats for the widow and Maria, and two outside for Mr Jeekel and me. Mr Scott kindly urged me to take care of myself and get well. Fairburn promised to get on with the schooner's outfitting; and just as we were starting, Captain Cloete came and put a sum of money into the hands of the widow.
Mary had been pressed by the Fairburn family to take up her abode with them, but had preferred to go into the cottage with her old governess and friend. Yet she was overwhelmed with gratitude towards the kindly couple. Marlborough was late in taking the field that year. Important matters engaged his attention at home.
For a minute's space it was hot work, but then the French began to fall back, and with a shout the English handful followed. Fairburn pulled himself together and stood on the edge of the rock-shelf where he had fallen breathless. To his horror, he saw a Frenchman on the shelf below, taking deliberate aim at the lieutenant.
Van Graoul lighted his pipe, and sat on the deck, puffing away with more energy than usual. "There is no fear," he remarked. "I did not expect them before morning; and if the brig is where I advised Fairburn to look for her, there is better chance of finding her in the dark than in the daylight without their being discovered." Of course I could not turn in.
Fairburn had in his pockets all his worldly wealth, which he insisted should be at my service; and Captain Cloete kindly assured me, that he would be answerable for any sum I might require till my remittances could arrive, so that I might not be delayed in fitting out my vessel.
The rest of Blackett's little band dashed over the prostrate enemy and into the fortress. The stronghold was taken. "Send Cornet Fairburn to me, Mr. Blackett," said the colonel that same evening, and much wondering the lieutenant obeyed. "Cornet Fairburn sounds well," he remarked to George. "Wonder if the old colonel has made a mistake about it." There was no mistake at all.
The two generals were well matched, according to the opinion that prevailed among the troops. Weeks passed, and as yet George Fairburn had seen no actual fighting. He was all eager to get into action, and was not much comforted by the declaration of the old sergeant under whom he marched.
"I can settle my own bills, thank you," answered Fairburn, a proud hot flush overspreading his face. And, seizing his little bag, the lad strode from the room and out of the inn, shivering as the chill northeasterly breeze caught him in the now dark and almost deserted street. "Confound the fellow with his purse-proud patronage!" he muttered as he hurried along. "Bless me, why is he so touchy?"
They evidently mistrusted us, and perhaps expected that we were the boats of some man-of-war sent to intercept them. Even Fairburn acknowledged that the slightest show of resistance would now seal our fate. "We must give up our idea of an independent cruise round these seas," I remarked to him. "My sweet little sister! I think of her captivity the most, if captive she is."
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