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Updated: June 9, 2025
After the crew had been piped up, and Mr Tarwig had mustered them and gone through the usual duties performed by a first lieutenant although, as he observed with one of his comical looks to Norman, he need not get the decks washed, the rain having done that already they re-entered their tent, to which their servants brought fresh water for their morning ablutions.
"Clear the ship for action, Mr Tarwig." "Ay, ay, sir," answered the first lieutenant, giving the necessary orders. Lieutenant Foley and the other officers set about carrying them out with alacrity. He was glad to be actively employed, for many anxious thoughts oppressed his mind.
His chief care, for the present was over, and he at length fell fast asleep. "It is a hard trial for him, poor man," observed the surgeon, as he and the two lieutenants sat at their table at the further end of the tent. "Though it may not be the commander's fault when he loses his ship, he must feel it dreadfully." "Somewhat as you feel when you lose a patient, Mac," observed Mr Tarwig.
Owen transcribed it in a clear, regular hand, correcting two or three errors in spelling. "Good," said Mr Tarwig, as he glanced over it, perhaps not discovering the improvement in the latter respect. "Now cast up these figures," and he handed him a long account. Owen performed the work rapidly, and when checked by Mr Tarwig, it was found to be perfectly correct.
"She is a fast ship whatever she is," observed Mr Tarwig; "but as to her wish to fight us, or whether she is French or Spanish, I have great doubts." "She has hoisted Spanish colours, at all events," said Mr Foley, who had been looking at her through the telescope, "but she does not shorten sail."
Don't let us be quite sure that yonder vessel is not in the hands of the pirates," he shouted out to Mr Tarwig, whose boat was astern of the pinnace. "I agree with you," was the answer. "We will be on our guard." The first lieutenant, as the senior officer, now took the lead, and the other two boats followed a little more than an oar's length apart.
I must trust, sir, to your not only sparing my life, but protecting me afterwards, for if I fall into their hands they will murder me to a certainty." These remarks were addressed to Mr Tarwig, to whom the pirate seemed more inclined to be communicative than to any one else. "What makes you so ready to deliver your late companions into our hands?" asked the first lieutenant.
"Well, Tracy, we have all our trials to bear. Cheer up, cheer up, matters may not be so bad as you suppose," said Mr Tarwig in a soothing tone. Rough as was his exterior, he was a true kind-hearted man at bottom. The two vessels were soon lost to sight in the darkness, which rapidly came on.
Scarcely had these arrangements been made, the boats still remaining concealed behind the rocks, when the pirate's canvas blew out to the increasing breeze, and she began to glide rapidly away over the smooth water. "I was afraid so," exclaimed Mr Tarwig. "I am the most unlucky fellow in existence. We shall lose her, after all."
Eighty men were engaged in these operations, and it seemed extraordinary how much that number of willing hands could get through, the officers all labouring away to set them the example. The commander was well pleased as he surveyed the work. "We shall be able to give a fair account of an enemy should one attack us before many days are over," he observed to Mr Tarwig.
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