Looking Seaward Again | Page 4

to speak of liberating you,
and now I am requested to bring you to him so that you may be
severely reprimanded. He talked of gaol, and sending you out of the
country for ever, and inflicting a heavy fine; but that stage has passed,
so come with me."
When they were ushered into the Admiral's presence he frowned
severely at them. Russian officers and high officials always expect you
to tremble when they administer a rebuke. Needless to say, the
reception was harsh. There was a good deal of long stride, prancing
from one end of the room to the other, vehement talk in Russian, and
wild gesticulation. The Maltese told the somewhat callous captains that
the Admiral declared the next Englishman that attempted such a thing,
if he were not blown up, would have to be shot. An example must be
made. The genial intermediary interjected with apparent sternness--
"Captains, you must apologize for the crime you have committed, and
be thankful that you are going to be dealt leniently with. The Admiral is
right: you deserved to be blown up with your ship. But apologize
suitably, and leave the rest to me."
All but the last sentence was interpreted to the gallant official. An
apology was made, and silently accepted; but the real penalty was not
disclosed to the captains until afterwards, and then it was kept secret by
them and by the two contracting parties. The two commanders, when
being congratulated on their release, said they did not know what all
the fuss was about. They had done no harm to anybody, and if
hostilities were resumed they hoped the Turks would wipe the Russians

off the field, and so on.
Three stirring months passed before the Claverhouse returned to ----.
When she arrived at the gunboat guarding the torpedo channel, she took
a pilot, and proceeded into the harbour in a law-abiding manner, while
her captain, audibly and inaudibly, declaimed against a Government
whose barbarous notions led them to impose restrictions that caused
expense and interrupted the normal process of navigation. "What right
have these beastly Russians to hamper British shipping like this?"
When the captain landed he was met by several friends, who cheerfully
inquired if he had found another new channel into the port. He jokingly
retorted--
"No; but I might have to find a new one out."
He was solemnly advised not to attempt it. The Admiral, whom he
occasionally met, was unusually cordial, and this attitude of courtesy
was ungrudgingly reciprocated. One evening the captain wished to visit
a friend of his, whose vessel lay at the forts. The sentry asked him to
retire. He refused to move, and commenced to harangue the soldier in a
language he supposed to be Russian. There must have been something
wrong about it, for after a few words of conversation the sentry rushed
at him with the bayonet fixed, and but for the swiftness of his heels
there might have been a tragedy. He immediately called at the
Admiral's office, informed him of what had occurred, and requested
that he should be escorted where he desired to go. An officer was sent
with him, and when they got to the sentry the officer spoke to the man
in a heated tone, and then slapped him on the face with the flat of his
hand. The captain asked why he had struck the sentry. The officer
replied--
"Because he told me you had used some Russian language to him that
caused him to believe you were a suspicious character. I told him he
was a fool, and that you were a friend of mine and of the Admiral. You
will have no more trouble."
A douceur was slipped into the willing hand, and on the return journey
another was given to the poor sentry, who showed a meekness and
gratitude that was nearly pathetic.
On the following day there was a sensational rumour that the armistice
would be raised and hostilities between the two belligerents resumed.
At the forts and at the military quarters of the city there was much

activity. The troops were being reviewed by one of the Grand Dukes,
and there were evidences of conscription everywhere. Aboard the
warships the flutter was quite noticeable, and the frequent
communications between them and the shore augured trouble.
Merchants, agents, and captains displayed unusual energy to complete
their engagements. A strongly-worded order was handed to the captains
of the few vessels still remaining in port that, on penalty of being sunk
by the warships or blown up by torpedoes, no vessel was to go out of
the port after sundown at 6 p.m.
On the second day after this instruction was given the loading of the
_Claverhouse's_ cargo was completed. A gentleman sent a note
requesting the