Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 12, 2025
We three lads, midshipmen on board HM clipper gunboat the Teaser, did "tumble over" in other words, made our way down into the boat alongside but not so quickly that the first lieutenant, Mr Reardon, who, from his slightly Hibernian pronunciation of the word discipline and constant references thereto had earned for himself among us the sobriquet of "Dishy," did catch sight of us, come to the gangway and look down just as Double B had given the order to shove off, and was settling the strap of the large telescope he carried over his shoulder.
"No; if there were I'd never have found you here," said Frank, shortly, in reply; which at once turned the tide in his favor and diverted the ridicule from himself to his teaser, who was seized by some of his comrades and carried off with much laughter and slapping on the back.
But our rate did not satisfy Mr Brooke, who kept on looking at his watch as the time went on, and we found that the swift tide had carried us much farther than we thought for. "We shall never get back at this rate," said Mr Brooke, "and it can't be very long before the tide turns, and then those scoundrels will come sailing down, perhaps pass us before we can get to the Teaser."
He was very polite to the lieutenant, and it was evident that he had no personal interest in the success of the Teaser in the business for which she had been fitted out. He was the cabin steward, and he had heard everything that had been said in regard to the vessel since he came on board of her. "What is your name, my man?" asked Christy, addressing the steward.
"Passford, late of the Bellevite, and now executive officer of the United States steamer Bronx, formerly the Teaser, privateer," answered Christy, in his usual cheerful tones. "May I inquire the name of this steamer?" "This steamer is the Havana," replied Captain Lonley. "May I ask you, Mr. Passford, in regard to your business on board of her?"
Just now the large ships-of-war which had been there were absent on their duty, though they were expected to return at any time. There was liable to be some unpleasantness at any time between Fort Pickens and Fort Barrancas; but everything was quiet just now. Flint had come on board of the Teaser with Christy, but none of the boat's crew had attended them.
It was not that they were frivolous, but like most other lads in the army, they had grown into the habit of teasing one another, which was often a relief to teaser as well as teased. "I think, sir," said Dick to Colonel Winchester, "that some of our troops are moving."
A couple of minutes later they were hauled aboard, and in a very short time found themselves on the British destroyer 'Teaser. 'Any more of you in the water? asked her commander, Lieutenant Carey, a keen, hard-bitten young man of about twenty-eight. 'No, sir, I think not, Ken answered. 'I believe every one else got off in the boats.
In the offing the two junks were seen and recognised, evidently on their way to pick up their shipwrecked friends. First of all, the strong party of blue jackets and marines was landed, while the Teaser went round the back of the island, to reach the channel and take the pirate junks by surprise.
Satisfied at last that our task was at an end, the word was given, and the men began to row back to the Teaser, which still lay so transformed in appearance, as seen from a distance, that I was thinking that it was no wonder that the pirates had been deceived, when one of the men, forgetful of all the horrors through which we had passed, of his wounded comrade, and the dangerous prisoners under his feet, burst out into a merry fit of laughter.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking