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Updated: June 11, 2025
We spent a very pleasant evening, got on board in good time, and the next day, meeting some of our companions in the carriage adventure, were able to relieve their minds from certain apprehensions of the consequences, and to tell them of the satisfactory results; nor did we fail to give Stallman credit, which was his due.
When he came out, he informed Adam Stallman that he had applied for him as his mate, and, to my great satisfaction, told me that I was also to accompany him. I was very anxious to get Dicky Sharpe; so, mustering up all my courage, I boldly asked Captain Poynder if he might be of the party.
"Do they gain on us?" asked Stallman, who sat propped up in the stern-sheets. "I fear so," I replied; "but the frigate is still not so very far off." "If they overtake us, I will ask you, D'Arcy, to drop astern a little, and try and keep them at bay, so as to afford the first gig a better chance of escaping," he said, faintly. This was the boat Miss Norman was in.
As we were pulling along, we heard a shout, which proved to come from Stallman, who had, of course, seen no wreck; but he had discovered a spot where the water was deep up to the shore, and where there appeared to be no inhabitants, so that he had been able to pull close in, and could have landed, if necessary. We now altogether pulled out to sea, and in another hour fell in with the frigate.
Adam Stallman and Jack Stretcher were the last men in, they keeping a whole host of Moors at bay, while the boats were being shoved off; then, by a desperate leap, Jack, by Stallman's order, got into one of the boats, while he himself sprang into another. Alas! at that moment a volley came rattling down among us, and before Stallman could take his seat he fell into the bottom of the boat.
"My dear boys," he said, "I have sometimes given you good advice, and I much regret that I have not given you more, as you always took it well. I may never have an opportunity of speaking to you again." "Oh! don't say so, Stallman," sobbed my young messmate. "Don't die! You must recover, and stay with us." "Life and death are in God's hands alone," replied Adam Stallman.
Adam Stallman accompanied them; he was grave, but kind and courteous as usual, and seemed to take great pains to answer all the questions, some of them not a little ridiculous, which were put to him. Mr Vernon invited him to join the luncheon-party in the ward-room, so I did not see what followed. As soon as the boat was hoisted in, Dicky came up to me.
We were now returning to Malta; for Captain Poynder saw that there would be no use of attempting to punish the Reefians for their late acts, and that we should certainly only be the chief sufferers if we attacked them. One day Adam Stallman sent for Dicky Sharpe and me.
I own that when I was first observed to read my Bible I was frequently called by my messmates a Methodist and a saint, and Dicky Sharpe was especially liberal in his application of such epithets to me; but Adam Stallman soon silenced him as well as others. "Let me ask you, Master Dicky, what you mean by a Methodist?" he inquired.
"Of course, Stallman," I answered, "every one here will do their best to defend the young lady. Won't you, my lads?" "Ay, ay, sir; never fear," replied the men, with one voice, at the same time giving a cheer. "Hurra! hurra!" The enemy's boats were now drawing uncomfortably near, and the headmost ones had begun to fire, though their shot did not reach us.
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