The Story of Nelson | Page 4

growing over the heads of numbers of the fine fellows who composed the expedition--both redcoats and seamen; and though our captain, receiving notice of his appointment to another ship, the `Janus,' sailed away immediately, we lost the greater number of our people by sickness. The captain was so knocked up that he had to go home invalided, as did my father, who was never able again to go to sea. I went with him, and we lived for some time at Deal.
"I remember early in January, 1782, a tremendous gale sprang up. My father and I were standing on the shore, he with his glass in his hand watching the ships driving here and there, one running foul of another, when we observed a heavy store-ship drive right down on a frigate.
"`They'll grind each other down to the water's edge,' observed my father. `Does no one on board know what to do? I'd like to be off to lend a hand, but that's impossible; few boats could live in such a sea.'
"While we were talking, a lad came running along the beach, saying that an officer was in a great taking, wanting to get off to his ship, and no one would go.
"`Who is he?' asked my father.
"`A Captain Nelson,' answered the lad.
"`I'll go, if any man will trust his boat,' exclaimed my father. `Come along, Ned.'
"We ran along the beach, and there we found our late captain walking up and down, fuming away, and trying to persuade the boatmen to take him off.
"`I'll go, sir, if I had a boat,' said my father. `I've long sailed with you.'
"`Ah! Ned Freeman. Thank you--thank you,' exclaimed the captain. `I'm sure you'd go with me anywhere.'
"`We'll take the captain off if he'll give us fifteen guineas,' observed several of the men, owners of a fine boat.
"`Done!' exclaimed the captain. `Off we go at once.'
"My father and I, with the other men, launched the boat. Away we pulled with the white-topped seas dancing up round us and the dangerous Goodwin Sands to leeward, towards which the frigate was driving fast. Captain Nelson, by word and look, urged us on, though more than once I thought the boat would have been swamped, and all hands lost. We did succeed in getting alongside. The captain sprang on board, and soon had got the ships clear with only the loss of the frigate's bowsprit and pennant.
"`Well, Freeman, if you can't sail with me, your boy must,' said the captain, as the boat was about to shove off for the shore; `I'll look after him.'
"`Will you go, Ned?' said my father to me.
"There was no time for consideration. I said, `Yes, father.'
"My kind father wrung my hand, and we parted never to meet again.
"The `Albemarle' soon after sailed for Canada and the West Indies. Our captain had a kind heart. On our first cruise we captured a fishing vessel belonging to Boston. The master wrung his hands, declaring that he had no other property, and a large family at home to support, who would all be brought to beggary. The captain told him not to be cast down; that he would employ him as a pilot, and give him back his vessel at the end of the time. He was as good as his word, and I never saw a poor fellow so happy and grateful as the fisherman was when he was put on shore. Some time after, when we were all suffering from scurvy, not having had a fresh piece of meat or vegetables for many months, the same man came off to us with a full supply for several days, which I believe saved the lives of many poor fellows on board.
"Soon after this, while cruising off Boston, a squadron of four French line-of-battle ships and a frigate were seen from the masthead. They made sail in chase, but the captain knew well all the shoals and quicksands in those parts, and soon got into channels where the big ships were afraid to follow. The frigate, however, kept on her course, and when we saw this we hove to, to wait for her. We all looked forward with joy to a brush, but she did not like our appearance, and much to our disappointment, about she went and rejoined her consorts.
"I can't tell you all the things we did in the West Indies. At last we went home, and were paid off; and I remained on shore with my widowed mother till I heard that Captain Nelson had commissioned the `Boreas.' I went and joined him. He received me heartily, and away we sailed for the West Indies.
"Young as was our captain, he found himself senior officer on the station--that is to say, second in command under the admiral; for in those days we