Under the Meteor Flag | Page 2

was how to get me afloat under the most favourable auspices.
This question, fortunately for me, admitted of an easy solution. An
uncle of my mother--Sir Peregrine Portfire, K.B., Vice-admiral of the
Red, etcetera, etcetera--was applied to; and within a fortnight I was
directed to join the "Scourge" forthwith. A letter arrived by the same
post from my great-uncle, containing an enclosure addressed to
Commander George Brisac, soliciting his good service in my behalf,
which enclosure I was instructed to present to the gentleman addressed
on joining the ship.
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, what little it
is necessary for the reader to know concerning them he will glean in the
progress of the narrative. And now to resume the thread of my 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, with
frequent squalls of mingled rain and sleet. The sky was entirely
obscured by dull, dirty, ragged-looking clouds, which hung so low that
they 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 we
drew rapidly off the shore (the brig proving to be a wonderfully fast
little craft, to the intense satisfaction of all hands), we soon got into
rougher water; and then to the original miseries of rain and cold were
added the discomfort of frequent and copious showers of icy spray,

which, coming in over the weather bow, flew right aft and out over the
lee quarter, treating everybody, with the utmost impartiality, to a good
drenching on its way. All hands, from the skipper downward,
disregarding appearances, carefully enwrapped their carcases from
head to foot in oilskin; and if anything had been needed to complete the
all- pervading aspect of cold and wretchedness which the scene
presented, it would have been found in contemplation of the wet and
shiny appearance of the crew, each with a little stream of water
trickling off the flap of his sou'-wester down his back, and with hair
and whiskers blowing drenched and bedraggled about his pinched and
purple visage.
The crowning misery of all--sea-sickness--I was happily spared, and I
was thus enabled to go about my duty without experiencing a wish that
some kindly sea would wash me overboard and end my life and my
wretchedness together; but, as it was, the circumstances attendant upon
my first experience of active service were such as might well have
damped the ardour of one even more enthusiastic than myself. My
pride, or my obstinacy, however, were such, that having once put my
hand to the plough, I was quite determined that nothing short of actual
physical incapacity should compel me to turn back.
We stretched off the land, close-hauled upon the starboard tack, the
whole of that day, and the greater part of the succeeding night; the
skipper's object being, as I gathered from a remark or two which I
overheard between him and the first lieutenant, to get well over toward
the French coast; where, if fortune favoured us, we might be lucky
enough to pick up a prize or two.
As the day wore on, the wind increased considerably in strength, and at
the end of the first dog-watch orders were given to take down another
reef in the topsails, and to stow the courses. The topsail yards were
accordingly lowered down upon the caps, and the crew proceeded aloft
to execute this duty, some of the green hands evincing a very marked
disinclination to go more than half-way up the lower rigging; and when
at length, by dint of mingled force and persuasion, they were got as
high as the tops, two or three refused point-blank to lay out upon the

yards. The first lieutenant raved at them, stamped furiously upon the
deck, and threatened unutterable things if they did not lay out forthwith;
and the captains of the tops, not to be behindhand, proceeded
vigorously to "freshen their way" with a rope's end. This latter
persuasive appeared to have the desired effect; and, slowly and with
excessive caution, the men proceeded to lay out. Suddenly the foot of
one of them on the main-yard slipped; he clung convulsively for a
moment to the yard, and then whirled off backwards, striking the
main-rigging on the weather side, and rebounding into the sea.
Instantly there arose the startling cry of "A man overboard!" I know not
what possessed me, but in the