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Updated: April 30, 2025
The topsails were sheeted home, and with a light land-breeze we stood out of the bay. Having to pass pretty near the fort, Mr Tilhard, the Second-Lieutenant, ordered the greater number of the people to go below, he and Kiddle taking the helm; while the few who remained on deck were directed to keep close under the bulwarks.
"I shall have some work for you and Kiddle directly." "Yes, old fellow, I'm alive and well," answered Gerald, "and will return to my duty as soon as the commander or one of the lieutenants orders me." "Let me tell you, youngster, I don't choose to be called old fellow, and as I am acting lieutenant, you will obey my orders."
"They tell me that we have been shipmates before, and that I was on board the ship when you were born; but I don't remember the circumstance." "I have been told so," I said, "and the man steering, Toby Kiddle, remembers you." "Ah! Yes, I think I have an idea of your mother a pretty woman. Where is she now?"
In spite, however, of Toby Kiddle, my other friends managed occasionally to let me have my own way; and with great pride they looked on while I, with the end of a mop stick in my hand, went galloping about the deck, belabouring the goat's hinder quarters, very much after the fashion of an Irishman riding a donkey at a race.
The pinnace had been carefully overhauled, and such additions to her fittings as the second lieutenant thought would be necessary had been made. Nothing more, therefore, had now to be done than to put her stores and water on board, and that would not take long, so that she might set off at an early hour the next morning. Nat Kiddle was greatly disappointed at finding that he was not to go.
This reply was received with a burst of laughter from the two midshipmen; but the lieutenant, guessing who we were, received us both in a very kind way, and Pember with Kiddle and Pat coming up, he seemed highly pleased to find that we were the prisoners he had been sent to liberate.
We shall have no lack of materials, but there are not many of us, I am afraid, fit for the work." He spoke too truly. Esse and I had escaped the best. Kiddle, also, was only slightly injured, and two of the ship's company had escaped, while all the rest were more or less hurt, two or three of them very badly.
A little on the starboard-bow, the rays of the bright luminary fell upon the white canvas of a tall ship standing across our course. "She's a man-of-war, or I am a Dutchman!" exclaimed Kiddle, "and a frigate too." "Perhaps she is the Orion herself, after all," cried Esse. "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!"
Gerald was not given to boasting, but he confided to Nat Kiddle the promise Mr Foley had made him. "I wonder whether he would take me too," said Nat. "I should not like to be left here without you. I should wonderfully enjoy the trip. What fun it would be if we were chased, and managed, notwithstanding, to get away!"
I was very thankful to think that Toby Kiddle was alive, but I could not help wishing that Pat Brady had escaped also, as I knew that he had been on deck and close to Kiddle. While we were looking out for the return of our shipmates, another man, one of the seamen, reached the wreck. He said he was greatly scorched, and it seemed surprising that he should have been able to swim so far.
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