Paul Gerrard | Page 7

first-lieutenant, Mr
Order, came down.
"My lads," he exclaimed, "the captain sends to you to say that we have,
perhaps, tough work before us; but that he is sure you all will do your
duty like men, and will help him to thrash the enemy, as he hopes to do
by daylight, when he can see them better."
A loud cheer rang out from the throats of the seamen, fore and aft. Mr
Order felt satisfied that they were in the right temper for work. He
returned again on deck. It was still very dark, and nothing could be seen
through the open ports. Every now and then, however, the crest of a sea
washed in and deluged the decks, washing from side to side till it could
escape through the scuppers. Any moment the order to fire might be
heard, or the shot of the enemy might come crashing through the sides.
It was a trying time for old salts, who had fought in many a previous
battle; much more so for young hands. Paul sat composedly on his tub.
Not far off from him stood Gilbert Devereux, in command of a division
of guns.
"If a shot were to take his head off, there would be one of our enemies
out of the way," thought Paul; but directly afterwards his conscience
rebuked him. "No, no; that is a wicked feeling," it said; "I would rather
be killed myself, if it were not for my poor mother and all at
home--they would be so sorry."
Still, Paul could not help eyeing the aristocratic-looking young
midshipman, who, with a firm, proud step, trod the deck, eager for the
fight, and little aware that he was watched with so much interest by the
humble ship's boy. Peter Bruff, who had the next division of guns under
his charge, came up to Gilbert.
"Well, Devereux, how do you like this fun?" he asked. "Have you ever
before been engaged?"
"Never; but I like the idea of the sport well enough to wish to begin,"
answered Devereux. "Where are our enemies?"

"Not far off, and they will not disappoint us," answered Bruff. "We
shall have pretty tough work of it, depend on that."
"The tougher the better," answered Devereux, in a somewhat affected
tone. "I've never been in a battle, and I really want to see what it is
like."
"He's wonderfully cool," thought Paul. "He hasn't seen the dead men
there, forward. It would be some satisfaction if he would show himself
to be a coward, after all. I could throw it in his teeth when he attempts
to tyrannise over me."
Paul's feelings were very far from right; but they were natural,
unfortunately. Gilbert's firm step and light laugh showed that there was
little chance of Paul's wishes being realised. Now a rumour spread from
gun to gun that the enemy were again drawing near. The men took a
firmer hold of the gun-tackles, hitched up their trousers, drew their
belts tighter round their waists, or gave some similar sign of
preparation for the coming struggle.
"Silence, fore and aft!" cried the officer in command of the deck.
He was repeating the order which the captain had just given above. The
frigate plunged on heavily through the seas. The awful moment was
approaching. There was neither jest nor laughter now. The men were
eagerly looking through the ports. The lights from two ships were seen
on the weather beam. In smooth water the enemy having the
weather-gauge would have been to the disadvantage of the Cerberus;
but with the heavy sea which then ran it mattered, fortunately, less.
"Starboard guns! Fire! fire!" was shouted by the officers.
"Hurrah, lads! We have the first of it this time, and it's my belief we hit
the mounseer," cried Reuben Cole, as he discharged his gun.
Scarcely had the smoke cleared off from the deck when the roar of the
enemy's guns was heard, and several shot came crashing against the
side. One, coming through a port, passed close above Paul's head, and

though it sent the splinters flying about in every direction, no one was
hurt.
"I've an idea there'll be work for the carpenters, to plug the shot-holes,"
cried Reuben, as the guns, being rapidly run in, loaded, and run out
again, he stood ready for the command to fire.
It soon came, and the whole broadside of the Cerberus was poured,
with good aim, into the bows of the leading Frenchman, which had
attempted to pay her the same compliment. For a few moments at a
time Paul could catch sight of the lights of the enemy's ships through
the ports; but the smoke from their own guns quickly again shut out all
objects, except the men standing close to him. Paul had