Syd Belton

Now, Mr Roylance; in with you."

"Ay, ay, sir," came in peculiar tones; and Syd felt disgusted that he should not have been able to come down into the boat in the same way, instead of sneaking in like a rat.

"Seems to be a good deal of swell on amongst these little rocks," said the first lieutenant. "You'll land at the other place."

"Oh, yes," said the second lieutenant; and from where he lay Syd could just get a glimpse of him as he stood up in the stern-sheets.

"He must have seen me," he thought; and looking upwards, there right over the side, and quite plainly to be seen, were the head and shoulders of the first lieutenant gazing down into the boat.

Perfectly certain now that he should be shouted at for trying to get off in the boat, Sydney lay perfectly still, waiting for the unpleasant order; but oddly enough thinking at the same time that ignominious as it would be to crawl up the ladder and climb on board, he should be spared one pain--Terry would not be there to sneer at him.

"Might have been worse," he thought, as he gathered himself together, ready to spring out and get the trouble over.

But the order did not come, and he only heard a growling sound as the boatswain said something to one of the men.

"They're waiting for something," thought Syd, as a low talking arose on deck; and he heard a voice reply which he knew was his father's, and the blood flushed to his cheeks.

"Give way, my lads!" came at last, and Syd exultantly exclaimed to himself, as the tension was taken off--

"He didn't see me," and he heard the oars splash, and felt that the boat was gliding through the water.

But Sydney was not quite right, for as soon as the boat had put off, the first lieutenant went aft to where the captain was standing, examining the rock.

"Well, Mr Bracy," he said, as he closed the gla.s.s with a snap.

"I thought I'd tell you, sir, that Mr Belton came and asked leave to go in the last boat."

"Did you give him permission?"

"No, sir."

"That's right."

"But--"

"Eh?" said Captain Belton, raising his eyebrows; "he has taken French leave and gone?"

"Yes; he was stowed away there amids.h.i.+ps."

"And you forbade his going?" said the captain, frowning.

"Oh, no, I did not forbid him, sir."

"Well, well, Mr Bracy; we were boys once," said the captain, smiling.

"Yes, sir, I'm afraid I did the same."

"And I more than twice, Bracy. One must be a little blind sometimes with a boy of spirit. Bit of change for him.

"Capitally. Full of promise."

"Then I hope he will perform. By the way, there was one thing I did not mention to you--a spar for a flagstaff. I should like them to be able to hoist the colours when anything comes in sight."

"I thought of it, sir. They have everything I could think of, and at a pinch ought to be able to hold out for three months."

"I don't think the pinch will come, Bracy.--Ah, they are getting close in."

"Yes," said the lieutenant, shading his eyes. "First boat is landing her additional stores. One comfort at this time of year, there is no fear of rain, so that they need not trouble much about getting covered in to-night."

"No," said the captain, thoughtfully, "but I hope Mr Dallas will get everything covered in all the same."

They were following the second boat, as it rose and fell on the mirror-like surface of the water, till she was cleverly run alongside the rocks, when the captain opened his gla.s.s once more, and stood watching--the first lieutenant seeing a smile come over his stern features, and rightly interpreting that he was gazing at his son more than the actions of the men, who were quickly landing the additional stores that they had taken to the rock; the tackle previously rigged up being lowered again and again, and the cases and kegs cleverly swung ash.o.r.e, the men dipping their oars at the word of command, and every time a box was swung up the boat was drawn out of danger, ready to be backed in when the tackle was once more lowered down.

"Yes," said the captain, thoughtfully, "I have no doubt that Mr Dallas will prove himself most able in this business. Weather seems settled down, Bracy."

"Yes, sir; but you know what it is in these lat.i.tudes. A smile one minute and a kick the next, and when it does rain--well, it's a good job it doesn't last, for we don't want another flood."

The captain went on pacing the quarter-deck, looking very cold and stern, but with a glow about his heart.

"He'll make a smart officer," he said to himself,--"one of whom we shall be proud. I'll write and tell Tom about this. How he will chuckle and enjoy it! But I suppose I must lecture the young dog when he comes on board to-night. Discipline must be maintained."

That evening, after the men had been busily helping, the barge came back and was hoisted on board. The captain walked on deck, but recollected that it was in the second cutter that Syd had gone, and he went back to his cabin.

Just at sundown the second boat returned with the c.o.xswain and crew, and she was hoisted up.

"Humph!" said the captain to himself, as he heard the squeaking sound made by the falls, "I will not send for him to-night; I'll have a few words with him in the morning. Let me see, I'll send word to him by Strake. Bah! how absurd. The bo'sun has gone ash.o.r.e to help putting up the tackle for hoisting the guns."

In the course of the evening, when the stars were blazing overhead, and the rock was invisible in the soft, transparent darkness of the night, the captain was walking up and down, when he encountered the first lieutenant, and they compared notes about the beauty of the night, and how advantageous it was for the unhoused men ash.o.r.e.

"By the way, Bracy," said the captain, "have you reproved Mr Belton?

because, if not, leave it to me."

"Oh, certainly, sir; but of course I have not had a chance."

"What do you mean?"

"I supposed that he had only gone ash.o.r.e for the day, and would come back with the last boat."

"Well, hasn't he?"

"No, sir; he has stopped ash.o.r.e."

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

That was a busy day on the rock, which was in places so hot to their bare feet that the men laughed as they stepped gingerly about.

"I say, mate," said one of them in the intervals of hauling up a case, and just as he had noted that Syd was close by, "d'yer know what's for dinner to-day?"