Under the Meteor Flag: Log of a Midshipman during the French Revolutionary War Read online

  Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

  Under the Meteor FlagLog of a Midshipman during the French Revolutionary War

  By Harry Collingwood________________________________________________________________________This is well-written and full of action. The formula is very much thesame as Kingston's--gales, shipwrecks, rafts, hand-to-hand battles, andabove all, a super-smart midshipman who doesn't even shave yet, but whohas influence in the Navy.

  It is a good yarn, but there are a couple of things I do not like aboutit. One is the habit of giving people surnames that are also parts ofthe ship. I know that Marryat did it once or twice, and Kingston didit, but it jars each time. I suppose the virtue of doing this is thatyou are unlikely to find anyone in real life with that surname, soconfusion with actual people is avoided.

  The other thing I don't like is the bringing-in of descriptions almostword for word from other books by the same author. I suppose that'sbetter than bringing in descriptions by other authors.

  A very strange thing is the title of the book. The word "meteor" ismentioned only once, and on that occasion the meteor flag was wavingwhile they committed someone's body to the deep. I do think the titleought to have something to do with the book, but at the time this bookwas written there didn't seem to be a strong rule about it.

  It is a longish book, and the audiobook is easy to listen to, but theaction goes so fast that you must not let your mind drift while you arelistening. NH.________________________________________________________________________UNDER THE METEOR FLAGLOG OF A MIDSHIPMAN DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY WAR

  BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD

  CHAPTER ONE.

  On board the "Scourge."

  On the 9th of March, 1793, his Britannic Majesty's gun-brig "Scourge"weighed, and stood out to sea from the anchorage at Spithead, undersingle-reefed topsails, her commander having received orders to cruisefor a month in the chops of the Channel. The "Scourge" was a 16-gunbrig, but having been despatched to sea in a great hurry, afterreceiving somewhat extensive repairs at the dockyard, she had only eightlong 6-pounders mounted, and, for the same reason, she was considerablyshort-handed, her _crew_ amounting only to seventy men and boys, of whomquite one half were eminently "green" hands. War with France had justbeen once more declared, the various dockyards were busy night and daypreparing and turning out ships for service, and the officers were gladto get hold of almost any class of men for their ships, provided onlythat they were strong and able-bodied.

  In this dashing little brig, I--Ralph Chester--held the exalted andresponsible post of midshipman; my appointment, on the morning inquestion, being exactly one week old. I had only joined the ship,however, three days before, and in the interval had been made the victimof almost every practical joke which the ingenuity of my fellow-midscould devise. It is not my purpose to recount these tricks, forstirring times were at hand, and adventures of a sterner and far moreinteresting nature were to meet me at the very outset of my career,crowding thick and fast upon each other's heels; and it is in therecital of these adventures that I hope to excite and gratify thecuriosity of my readers. A few--and _only_ a few--words are necessaryby way of personal introduction. My father--the Reverend HenryChester--was rector of the parish of --, which, as everybody knows,enjoys the advantage of being located in the heart of the loveliestscenery in Hampshire. Our family was not a large one; there were onlyfour of us--two boys and two girls--exclusive of my parents; which was adecidedly fortunate circumstance, for if my father's family wasmoderate, his income was still more so, and my poor mother's ingenuitywas often taxed to the utmost to make both ends meet, and at the sametime maintain for us all such outward tokens of respectability as becamethe rector's family.

  My elder brother, Henry, was destined to follow in the paternalfootsteps by entering the church. My sisters Florence and Amy (myjuniors respectively by two and four years) would, it was hoped,contract in due time suitable marriages, with the friendly aid andcountenance of some of our more wealthy relations; and, for myself, mydear father was most anxious that I should devote the few abilities withwhich I had been endowed by nature to the study of the law. Personallyabout the most unambitious man who ever lived, my father's ambition forhis children was absolutely boundless; and I believe, could the truthhave been arrived at, he quite hoped in course of time to see his sons,the one Primate of England, and the other in possession of the woolsack.

  But the prospect of spending my days in groping through musty law-books,hunting up obscure precedents, convincing an enlightened jury, throughthe medium of my persuasive arguments and impassioned eloquence, of theinnocence of rascals carrying the word "rogue" legibly imprinted upontheir countenances, and other operations of a kindred nature, had noattractions whatever for me; my tastes and proclivities were all infavour of an active outdoor existence; and, though I was prepared toyield obedience if my father chose to _insist_ upon my following souncongenial an occupation, I felt that it was only due to myself topoint out to him that it would be utterly out of my power to infuse anyspirit or enthusiasm into my pursuit of it.

  My father, on learning how utterly distasteful to me were his plans formy future, at once waived his own inclinations, and came to the point byinviting me to state specifically _what_ occupation I should prefer;and, after taking a little time to give the question my most carefulconsideration, I informed him that I had made up my mind to go into thenavy, if he saw no objection, and if I could get there. My decisiongave great concern to both my parents, and indeed I may say to the wholefamily; but as time went on and it became every day more apparent that Ihad set my heart upon going to sea, it was at length decided to yield tomy wishes; and the only question which then remained was how to get meafloat under the most favourable auspices.

  This question, fortunately for me, admitted of an easy solution. Anuncle of my mother--Sir Peregrine Portfire, K.B., Vice-admiral of theRed, etcetera, etcetera--was applied to; and within a fortnight I wasdirected to join the "Scourge" forthwith. A letter arrived by the samepost from my great-uncle, containing an enclosure addressed to CommanderGeorge Brisac, soliciting his good service in my behalf, which enclosureI was instructed to present to the gentleman addressed on joining theship.

  I will not detain my readers by introducing them to the officers of the"Scourge;" my sojourn on board that ship was but a short one, so short,indeed, that I scarcely had time to become acquainted with them myself;and, as I never fell in with any of them again in after-life, whatlittle it is necessary for the reader to know concerning them he willglean in the progress of the narrative. And now to resume the thread ofmy story.

  The "Scourge," when we left her, was standing out to sea under single-reefed topsails. The wind was about W.N.W., blowing strong, withfrequent squalls of mingled rain and sleet. The sky was entirelyobscured by dull, dirty, ragged-looking clouds, which hung so low thatthey seemed to touch our trucks as they swept rapidly along overhead.The sea under the shelter of the land was of course smooth, but as wedrew rapidly off the shore (the brig proving to be a wonderfully fastlittle craft, to the intense satisfaction of all hands), we soon gotinto rougher water; and then to the original miseries of rain and coldwere added the discomfort of frequent and copious showers of icy spray,which, coming in over the weather bow, flew right aft and out over thelee quarter, treating everybody, with the utmost impartiality, to a gooddrenching on its way. All hands, from the skipper downward,disregarding appearances, carefully enwrapped their carcases from headto foot in oilskin; and if anything had been needed t
o complete the all-pervading aspect of cold and wretchedness which the scene presented, itwould have been found in contemplation of the wet and shiny appearanceof the crew, each with a little stream of water trickling off the flapof his sou'-wester down his back, and with hair and whiskers blowingdrenched and bedraggled about his pinched and purple visage.

  The crowning misery of all--sea-sickness--I was happily spared, and Iwas thus enabled to go about my duty without experiencing a wish thatsome kindly sea would wash me overboard and end my life and mywretchedness together; but, as it was, the circumstances attendant uponmy first experience of active service were such as might well havedamped the ardour of one even more enthusiastic than myself. My pride,or my obstinacy, however, were such, that having once put my hand to theplough, I was quite determined that nothing short of actual physicalincapacity should compel me to turn back.

  We stretched off the land, close-hauled upon the starboard tack, thewhole of that day, and the greater part of the succeeding night; theskipper's object being, as I gathered from a remark or two which Ioverheard between him and the first lieutenant, to get well over towardthe French coast; where, if fortune favoured us, we might be luckyenough to pick up a prize or two.

  As the day wore on, the wind increased considerably in strength, and atthe end of the first dog-watch orders were given to take down anotherreef in the topsails, and to stow the courses. The topsail yards wereaccordingly lowered down upon the caps, and the crew proceeded aloft toexecute this duty, some of the green hands evincing a very markeddisinclination to go more than half-way up the lower rigging; and whenat length, by dint of mingled force and persuasion, they were got ashigh as the tops, two or three refused point-blank to lay out upon theyards. The first lieutenant raved at them, stamped furiously upon thedeck, and threatened unutterable things if they did not lay outforthwith; and the captains of the tops, not to be behindhand, proceededvigorously to "freshen their way" with a rope's end. This latterpersuasive appeared to have the desired effect; and, slowly and withexcessive caution, the men proceeded to lay out. Suddenly the foot ofone of them on the main-yard slipped; he clung convulsively for a momentto the yard, and then whirled off backwards, striking the main-riggingon the weather side, and rebounding into the sea.

  Instantly there arose the startling cry of "A man overboard!" I knownot what possessed me, but in the excitement of the moment, and withoutin the least thinking of what I was doing, I no sooner saw the manstrike the water than I rushed aft, leaped upon the taffrail, and,pausing a single instant to mark the spot where he fell, raised my handsabove my head, and took a most scientific header into the boiling surge.As I was descending toward the water I heard a hearty cheer from themen, and then the icy cold waves closed over my head; there was arushing sound in my ears, and darkness all around me.

  When I rose to the surface, I found myself close to the drowning man,who was struggling feebly and in an aimless sort of way, apparently halfstunned, and lying face downwards in the water. Swimming happened to beone of the very few accomplishments in which I excelled, otherwise I donot think it at all probable I should have leapt overboard sounhesitatingly; be that as it may, though I had never been in roughwater before, and though, now that I was overboard, the sea seemedincomparably more tempestuous than it had appeared to be from the ship'sdeck, I felt perfectly at home. Paddling cautiously up to the man, Iseized him by the hair, and turned him over on his back, then threwmyself upon my back, and dragged his head up high enough upon my breastto lift his mouth out of water, supporting him and myself by vigorousstrokes with my feet. Looking round, as we rose on the crest of a sea,I could dimly descry the brig through the rapidly increasing gloom; andto my horror she appeared to be a long distance away. I had time only,however, for a momentary glance, when we sank into the trough, and Ilost sight of her. A few seconds afterwards I caught sight of heragain, and this time she was displaying in her rigging a lantern, thesight of which I regarded (rightly, as it afterwards turned out) as asign and token that every effort would be used to recover us, and trulythe feeble gleam, appearing and disappearing as we rose and fell uponthe agitated surface of the sea, was to me a very star of hope andencouragement.

  My vigorous efforts to keep myself and the man afloat soon told upon me,and I began to fear that I should be obliged to abandon my prize inorder to preserve my own life; luckily for us both, however, mycompanion had ceased to struggle, and now lay supported within my arms,to all appearance dead. As the time dragged heavily away, I grew moreand more exhausted, and at length the man slipped from my relaxing graspand began to sink. Happily at this instant I caught a momentary glimpseof a small object standing out black and distinct against the narrowbelt of light lying along the western horizon, and I felt instinctivelythat it was a boat coming in search of us; the sight imparted new energyto my nerveless frame, and, recovering my grasp upon the man just as hewas sinking beyond my reach, I determined to keep him above water untilsuccour arrived, or go down with him.

  How anxiously I kept watch upon the boat, and the desperate efforts Imade to keep afloat, it would be impossible to describe. The dancingcraft appeared to be lying at anchor upon the water, though in realityshe was foaming down towards us before the wind and sea, propelled bythe strong arms of eight of the stoutest oarsmen in the ship. Atlength, however, she was near enough to enable me to discern the bow manstanding up, one hand shading his eyes, and the other grasping a boat-hook. Presently a hail came down upon the wind toward us from the boat,and directly afterwards another. I was by this time too weak to reply;and could only hope that they would pull on until close enough to seeus; to my inexpressible horror, however, when some seven or eightlengths away, the boat's head swerved sharply aside, and the craftdarted off upon a course at right angles to her former one. Then indeedI uttered a shriek loud enough to awake the seven sleepers, andimmediately went under. I thought it was now all over with us both; butthe love of life is strong, especially in the young, and a convulsivestruggle brought us once more to the surface; but, blinded with saltwater, and with my senses fast leaving me, I no longer looked round forthe boat, but battled desperately, though more than half unconsciously,for life; still retaining, with the tenacious grasp of the drowning, myhold upon my companion. I at length heard faintly, and as though in adream, a voice saying, "There they are! port, sir, hard!" and then allbecame an utter blank.

  The first indication of returning consciousness was the sound of thesurgeon's voice saying, "All right! he is coming to; and we shall savehim yet."

  "Thank God for that!" presently exclaimed another voice, which Irecognised as the skipper's; "I would not have lost the lad for theworth of all that I possess. I never saw a more plucky thing in all mylife; and, if he lives, he will grow up to be an ornament to theservice."

  At this point I opened my eyes, and found those of the speaker bent uponme with an expression of deep solicitude. I furthermore found that Ihad been stripped of my wet clothing, and was lying in the captain's owncot, with the doctor and one of the seamen rubbing my limbs and body sovigorously with their bare hands, in the endeavour to restore a briskcirculation, that I seemed to be in imminent danger of being flayedalive.

  "How do you feel now, my boy?" inquired the skipper, as he bent over theside of the cot, and laid his hand kindly upon my own.

  "Very much better, sir, thank you," I replied; though, to tell thetruth, I was at that moment enduring the most acute pain in every nerveof my body--the physical suffering attendant upon the returning tide oflife being actually much greater than that experienced while I wasundergoing the process of drowning.

  "That's right," returned he, in a cheery tone of voice; "I am glad tohear it, as every man in the ship will be. You have performed a rightgallant action, and I am sure you will be glad to know that your effortshave not been in vain. The poor fellow whom you rescued is alive, andlikely to do well."

  I felt too weak to make any reply to this gratifying speech, a factwhich the doctor instantly perceived, for
he turned to the skipper andremarked, "With your permission, sir, we will now leave the lad in quietto sleep off his exhaustion. I will just mix him a simple restorative,while your steward tucks him in and makes him comfortable for the night;after which I think we may safely leave the rest to nature, though, ofcourse, I shall look in upon both of my patients from time to time, soas to make quite sure that they are going on all right."

  If the worthy medico fulfilled his promise to "look in" upon me duringthe night--and I feel quite sure he did--I was blissfully unconscious ofthe fact, for under the soothing influence of the restorative draught,and the warmth of the blankets liberally heaped upon me by the captain'ssteward, I speedily sank into a deep, dreamless, refreshing slumber--adelicious oblivion--from which I awoke in the morning to find myselfvery little the worse for my exertions of the previous night.

  When I opened my eyes I saw, through the open door of the state-room,that the sun was streaming brightly down through the skylight, lightingup the cosy little cabin, bringing out to the fullest advantage theflowing tints of three or four well-executed pictures, which weresecured to the bulkheads, and altogether imparting a delightfullycheerful appearance to the apartment. The vessel, however, was inviolent motion; I could, from my position in the cot, look out throughthe stern windows; and I saw that there was a heavy sea running, and theroar of the wind through the rigging, which was distinctly audible abovethe sound of creaking timbers, rattling doors, trampling feet, and the_swish_ of heavy showers of spray upon the deck, told me it was blowinghard. I felt so greatly recovered, however, that I resolved to get up,and, springing out of the cot, I proceeded to dress myself with as muchalacrity as the rolling and pitching of the ship would permit. Whileengaged in this occupation, the doctor entered the cabin.

  "Hillo!" he exclaimed, "turning out, eh? Well done, young gentleman.Steady! you have not shipped your sea-legs yet, as our friend the firstlieutenant would say; you must be cautious, or you will be thrownagainst something or other, and get a nasty knock. Well, and how do youfeel this morning?"

  "A trifle weak," I replied, "that's all. I dare say I shall be betterwhen I have had breakfast."

  "That's your sort," responded the jolly old medico; "if you are hungry,there is not much wrong with you; but you mentioned breakfast. Have youany notion what time it may happen to be?"

  "Not much," I replied; "but I fear it is rather late."

  "That depends upon what you call late," he retorted. "Some of yourtown-bred dandies are only in their first nap about this time. As amatter of absolute fact, however, it has just gone eight bells, or noon;so that you see, my young friend, breakfast is over long enough ago.But I dare say Patterson can find something for you all the same." Herang a small hand-bell which stood on the table, and the captain'ssteward made his appearance. "Patterson," said the doctor, "this younggentleman complains that he is hungry. Have you any trifle, such as thewing of a chicken, or something of that sort, in your pantry that youcould give him?"

  "No, sir," replied the man, with a grin, "I'm afraid I've not. But if anice rasher of bacon and a cup of coffee will do--"

  "Splendidly," I interrupted. "To tell you the truth, doctor, I amhungry enough to eat a horse, harness and all; so I shall be very gladto have either a rasher of bacon or anything else that is quicklyobtainable."

  Patterson was not long in getting ready the promised repast, which Icleared to the last morsel; after which I made my way on deck. Theskipper was there, promenading the weather side of the quarter-deck, thefirst luff jogging fore and aft alongside of him. I was called up, afew kind inquiries made, together with a eulogistic remark or two uponmy conduct of the previous evening; and the whole neatly finished offwith an intimation that, having begun so well, great things would beexpected of me in future, and that, having established a reputation forzeal and gallantry, it was hoped I would do my utmost to maintain it;after which I was dismissed. I soon found that my exploit had placed meupon quite a different footing in the ship from that which I hadoccupied before. The men treated me with real respect, instead of thegood-humoured burlesque thereof which they had accorded me hitherto; andmy fellow-mids at once received me into the berth upon a footing ofperfect equality with themselves, each one striving to do me some littlekindness or show me some little attention, in place of playing offdisagreeable practical jokes upon me. They would not have beenmidshipmen had they not had a jocular remark or two to make upon thesubject, but it was all said in good part. The wind continued to blowhard during the whole of that day, but toward sunset it moderatedsomewhat, and veered a point or two to the northward. The ship had beenunder close-reefed topsails and fore-topmast staysail ever sincemidnight of the night before.