Captain Hannock

“ It was Captain Hannock's voice. I started in alarm, and found the skipper of the Spitfire close at my elbow.
CHAPTER XVII. IN A TIGHT FIX.
Captain Hannock's face was deadly white, and I knew he had taken in at a glance what I was doing.
"Looking for my letter," I replied, as calmly as I could.
"Are you?" He glared at me. "You're too smart, young man. I'll have to take you down a peg." ”

“ The yacht stopped moving, and a moment later the jolly-boat came alongside, and Captain Hannock, Lowell, Crocker, and the sailors stepped aboard.
"Who are you?" asked Captain Flagg of Captain Hannock; and I noticed that Mr. Henshaw had laid aside his navy-blue suit and badge, and was standing by apparently as an ordinary passenger.
Captain Hannock told him, and also introduced the rest.
"My schooner, the Spitfire, bound for Liverpool, took fire and sank," he continued. "We just had time to get out the jolly-boat and get a cask of water and some few things to eat when she went down." ”

“ I returned, calmly.
"Say, Captain, didn't that uncle of his send him along to set the Spitfire on fire?" went on the sailor, suggestively.
"Why, of course he did!" burst out Captain Hannock, caught by the idea. "How else would he happen to be on board?"
I must confess I was rather taken back by this cool assertion.
I was about to reply, when Mr. Ranson caught me by the arm and shook his head.
"Don't waste time talking to him," said the lawyer. "He will do and say what he can to get free, but it will not avail him—he will only twist himself up."
"Will I?" sneered Captain Hannock. ”

“ I replied. "That is, unless it becomes necessary."
"The old man's a fool," went on Dibble. "He has no business to sit in the cabin when there's a storm on. We might all go to the bottom."
"Will we weather it, do you think?"
"We can try," replied the old sailor, as cheerfully as he could.
Meanwhile Captain Hannock was shouting at the top of his voice. But the wind was so great that little could be heard, excepting such expressions as would have been better unuttered. ”

“ For two hours the storm continued without showing any signs of abating. By this time we were wet to the skin and shivering with the cold.
"Now we've got water, I wish it would clear off," remarked Phil, as he stood holding fast to the mast.
"So do I. It's no fun thinking that any moment we may be swept overboard."
"Hope the jolly-boat is out in it," he continued. "Captain Hannock deserves all the ducking a-going."
"He can't be to land yet. Wonder if all the sailors are with him?"
"I suppose so. I'm sure there wasn't a soul left on the ship." ”

“ I can hardly explain the feelings that filled my breast as I saw the schooner take her final plunge and sink beneath the waves. It was to me like some gigantic living creature breathing its last. I turned to the cabin boy, and saw that his eyes were filled with tears.
"I've spent a good many years on her," he whimpered. "And all I had was on board her. It wasn't much, but it was a good deal to me."
"Let us be thankful that we saved our lives," I replied. "Captain Hannock no doubt thinks we are at the bottom of the ocean."
"By the way, where is the jolly-boat?" asked Phil suddenly. ”

“ From the notes which we have appended to Sir W. Sidney Smith’s official letter, it will be seen that the Cruiser and Rattler most gallantly attacked the enemy’s flotilla, about two hours and a half before any other British ship could get near enough to take the least share in the action; and we are moreover of opinion, that if the division of gun-brigs under Lieutenant Manderston, had formed a junction with those two sloops, according to Captain Hancock’s signal, the enemy would have been completely defeated, and many of their vessels captured, long before l’Aimable, &c. ”

“ As the two sailors sprang in, the launch turned and put silently out to sea.
"And now," observed the Hound, producing pipe and pouch, "I propose to enjoy a smoke."
The doctor preferred to roll a cigarette. They lit up with shielded matches, keeping their faces turned westward that the glows might not attract attention from shore.
"Straight out for five miles," directed the Hound. "Then return to ship."
That was done. In a little more than an hour Carrick and Doctor Fleming found themselves ascending the side gangway of the Vulcan, while Captain Mulford stood on deck to receive them. ”

“ The Long Island boy was hardly to be expected as a member of the crew of the “Restless” on this cruise, but he had wound up the summer season at East Hampton, and now, with idle September coming upon him, he had found the longing for the broad sea too powerful for him. Family conditions at home being satisfactory, he had promised himself this one month away from home, and was aboard as steward and general helper.
“I wonder if our work for Mr. Seaton has started in earnest?” ventured Hank.
“It has, for a few hours to-day, anyway,” 22 smiled Captain Tom. ”

“ Mr. Hancock had not been long in the Queen before he became first Lieutenant; and it was principally through his exertions that she was brought to Port Royal in safety, after grounding on a shoal called the Three Fathom Bank, where she remained beating with great violence for 72 hours. It is scarcely necessary to add, that the preservation of such a ship from destruction must ever be considered a service of the highest importance, and as such it was viewed by Sir Hyde Parker and his Captain, both of whom expressed the most perfect approbation of Mr. ”

“ For some little time the young skipper watched the searchlight and moving masthead light of the distant craft with keen interest. Then, out of the dark weather a squall struck the “Rocket,” rolling her over considerably. Sheets of rain began to drive down. Captain Tom made a dive below for his oilskins, bringing up another outfit for Hank Butts. Mr. Moddridge, too, disappeared briefly below, coming up clad for the weather.
“See that masthead light, sir?” called Halstead, jubilantly. “It ought to be easy to follow. That boat is headed due south—putting straight out for the high seas.” ”

“ We have sustained no loss whatever: only one shot passed through the main-top-sail, and three or four through the mizen-stay-sail. I feel quite sure, if I had had a second 18-pounder frigate with me, so totally unprepared was the enemy for such a prompt attack, that, in his confusion, he would have gone on shore.”
In a second letter to Admiral Young, dated Sept. 7, 1811, Captain Hancock says;– “We have spoken several fishermen to-day, who all agree in the same story, that the enemy’s ship we fired at on the 29th ult. had 5 men killed and 9 wounded ”

“ Captains Hancock and Mason attacked this formidable line with the greatest gallantry and address, attaching themselves particularly to the two praams, both of them of greater, force than themselves, independent of the cross fire from the schooners and schuyts: I sent the Aimable by signal to support them [15] . The Penelope having an able pilot, on signal being made to engage. Captain Broughton worked up to the centre of the enemy’s line, as near as the shoal water would allow, while the Antelope went round the Stroom sand to cut the van off from Ostend. ”

“ In the big sitting room, beside the large open fire-place, was a pile of long sticks of firewood. Tom Halstead stopped to snatch up one of these, and Joe quickly followed suit.
“I’ll go down to the boat with you, boys,” said Mr. Seaton, who had followed them. “If there’s anyone around to put up a fight you’ll want some help.”
But Captain Tom, acting, for the moment, as though he were aboard the yacht, suddenly took command.
“Mr. Seaton,” he said, “you’d better remain here to guard your unconscious friend. Doctor, wake up! Better go in and send Hank Butts out on the trot. ”

“ When the work was done Halstead let himself to the deck again, half-expecting that the force of the pitching and fury of the gale would catch him and sweep him over into the dark, raging waters.
Yet he reached the deck in safety, finding 209 himself beside Hank Butts, who, by this time, looked more like some water-logged thing than a natty steward.
“Come on below to the sail-locker,” roared Captain Tom in the other boy’s ear. “Be careful to hold to the life lines and go slow when the boat heels over. We’ll get the new sail out and rig it—if we can.” ”

“ Helpless in this sea, the ‘Restless’ may ‘turn turtle.’”
Nor was Tom speaking in jest, nor in any effort to scare the recent prisoner into a fuller confession. Indeed, the motor boat captain was 217 paying no further heed to the wretch, but making his way forward. Jasper started to follow, Hank bringing up the rear.
As they reached the motor room the pitching and rolling of the boat were awesome enough. It seemed incredible that a boat the size of the “Restless” could live even a minute in her now helpless condition.
Joe still stood at the wheel, white-faced but calm. ”

“ Captain Hancock sent me one schuyt that had hauled out of the line and surrendered. She had a Lieutenant and 23 soldiers of the 48th regiment, with 5 Dutch seamen on board. She is so useful here I cannot part with her yet. Enclosed is a list of our loss, which, though great, is less than might have been expected, owing to the enemy directing their fire at our masts. The Rattler and the Cruiser have of course suffered most in the latter respect, but are nearly ready for service again. The smoke would not allow us to see the effect of our shot on the enemy ”

“ We’ve got to get our own boat back unless the heavens fall on us on the way over!”
“Humph! What are we going to do,” demanded Hank Butts, “if we find a gang aboard that we can’t whip or bluff?”
“That,” spoke Captain Tom, softly, “will have to be decided after we get there. But swim over there we must, since there isn’t anything on this island that even looks like a boat. See here, Joe, you and Hank trot up to the bungalow and tell Mr. Seaton what we’ve seen. The ‘Restless’ is at anchor in the cove yonder. There are plenty of logs up at the bungalow. ”

“ The Admiralty, however, did not think proper to break through a regulation then in force, by which no officer under three years standing was considered eligible to be appointed senior Lieutenant of an 18-pounder frigate, although he was allowed to become first of the Aquilon, two other gentlemen being appointed to her who were both his juniors in rank.
Captain Barlow was succeeded in the command of the Aquilon by Captain W. E. Cracraft, with whom Lieutenant Hancock continued to serve until the summer of 1798, when he exchanged into the Valiant, a third rate, on the Jamaica station. ”

“ The young navigators caught their sleep well enough, only the helm requiring constant attention.
Soon after the second morning out had dawned clear and bright, Captain Tom, who was at the wheel, caught sight of something so interesting that he yelled to Hank Butts, asleep on a mattress on deck:
[169]
“Wake up, steward! Hustle Mr. Moddridge on deck. Tell him there’s something ahead of huge interest!”
Joe, just rousing from a nap on an engine room locker, heard and was hastily on deck. He and Halstead were using the glass and their own eyes when Hank appeared with Eben Moddridge in tow. ”

“ The Frenchmen, however, seem to have penetrated his design; for, before their last ship got abreast of the outer brig, the latter either cut or slipped her cable, and was under a crowd of sail in an instant. The Quebec, a small 32-gun frigate, commanded by Captain Hawtayne, was in company with the Nymphen on this occasion, as were also the Cretan and Primrose brigs. Captain Hancock concludes his report to Admiral Young in the following energetic terms:– “This sort of service does us all a great deal of good ”

“ When the charter-man of the “Restless” came out once more the thick pile of banknotes in his pocket had grown a good deal thinner, but Captain Rawley had been enlisted as a friend to the cause.
“Good-bye, old chums,” cried Dick Davis, gripping a hand of Tom and Joe with each of his own.
“Good-bye! Good luck now, and all the way through life!” murmured Tom, earnestly, and with a hidden meaning that Davis caught.
As speedily as Tom and Joe had assisted 194 Powell Seaton aboard the motor boat, Hank cast off, while the crew of the “Glide” began to raise the side gangway. ”

“ After the conning tower the gray back of the sea pest rose into view. The manhole of the tower was opened and an officer appeared, followed to the deck by a few seamen, two of whom stationed themselves by a gun that popped up into view.
"Come alongside!" shouted the officer, in English, through a megaphone.
Again Captain Kennor's oarsmen gave way, their skipper heading for the submarine.
"That will do. Cease rowing," commanded the German officer. "What ship is that yonder?"
"Der Danish freighter, 'Rigsdak,'" replied Captain Kennor. ”

“ The revolution in Holland is now, however, justly considered as one of the most important features of the late war; and, surely, the expulsion of the common enemy from the islands of Zealand, by a British fleet, at an inclement season of the year, should not be deemed a service unworthy of the future historian’s notice.
In April 1814, Captain Hancock gave up tho command of the Nymphen, being superseded at his own particular equest: and at the latter end of the same month he was appointed to the Liffey of 50 guns, then at Woolwich ”

“ Lieutenant Terry asked.
"The enemy craft must be around and sending torpedoes our way," Dick guessed, dropping a lump of sugar in his coffee and stirring it slowly.
"In a merry throng like this the suspicion that you're being dogged by a hostile submarine doesn't strike one as very terrifying, does it?" Greg inquired as he took a piece of cake from the plate held out to him.
At this moment the adjutant, Captain Craig, who had been eating with Colonel Cleaves in the latter's quarters above, entered the dining-room briskly, stepping to a nearby table and rapping for attention. ”