"Mr Leigh," said the lieutenant, with dignity, "I command this ship."

He walked slowly to the side, and peered at the coming boats, while Hilary stood fretting and fuming at his side. There was, however, something so ominous in the look of the boats, dimly-seen though they were through the murky night, that the lieutenant did give orders, and cutla.s.ses and boarding-pikes were seized, the men then cl.u.s.tering about their officers.

"She ar'n't making a drop o' water," said the carpenter just then--an announcement which seemed to put heart into the crew, who now watched the coming of the boats.

"Hey! Hoop!" shouted a voice. "What sheeps is that? Are you sink?"

"May I answer, sir?" whispered Hilary.

"Yes, Mr Leigh; and be quick."

"Ahoy! What ship's that?" cried Hilary.

There was no response, only a buzz of conversation reached their ears, and the boats came rapidly on, the occupants of the _Kestrel's_ deck seeing that they separated and changed position, so as to board on each bow, for the cutter now lay with her sail flapping, like a log upon the water.

"She's an enemy, sir," whispered Hilary; and he did not alter his opinion as the boats neared.

"All raight. We come take you off, sailor boy," cried the same voice that had hailed. "You shall be safe before you vill sink you sheep."

The lieutenant seemed to have come to himself, and to be a little more matter-of-fact and sane in his actions, for he now ordered Waters to load the long gun, and the gunner eagerly slipped away.

"There, that will do," cried the lieutenant now. "We are not sinking.

What ship's that?"

The boats stopped for a moment, and there was again a whispering on board; but the next instant they came on.

"Stop there, or I'll sink you!" cried the lieutenant. But the boats now dashed on, and it was evidently a case of fighting and beating them off.

Every man grasped his weapon, and a thrill of excitement ran through Hilary as he felt that he was really about to engage in what might be a serious fight. Fortunately for the crew of the _Kestrel_, both of the boats were not able to board at once, for that on the larboard bow was driven right into the wreck of the jibboom and sail, which, with the attendant cordage, proved to be sufficient to hamper their progress for the time being, while the other boat dashed alongside with a French cheer, and, sword in hand, the crew swarmed over on to the deck.

It was bravely done; and, had they met with a less stout resistance, the _Kestrel_ would have been captured. But, as it was, they had Englishmen to deal with, and Hilary and about ten of the crew met them bravely, Hilary going down, though, from the first blow--one from a boarding-pike. This, however, so enraged the _Kestrels_ that they beat back the attacking party, cutting down several and literally hurling others over into their boat, which hauled off, not liking its reception.

Meanwhile, after a struggle, the crew of the other boat got itself clear of the tangle, and came on to the attack, to find themselves, after a sharp struggle, repulsed by the lieutenant and his party, the leader fighting bravely and well.

It was evident that the commander of the schooner had realised the character of the vessel with which he had been in collision, and had hoped to make an easy capture of her, if she did not prove to be in a sinking state. If she were, motives of humanity had prompted him to take off the crew, if they needed help. The task, however, had proved more severe than he antic.i.p.ated, and the two boats were now together, with their leaders evidently in consultation.

The next minute an order was evidently given, and the boats turned, separated, and began to row back.

The schooner could only be made out now by a light she had hoisted; but this was quite sufficient for Billy Waters, who stood ready by his gun waiting for orders. Possibly he might have hit and sunk one of the boats, but the lieutenant did not seem to wish for this, but began giving his orders with unwonted energy, trying to make sail upon the _Kestrel_, which lay there upon the water, with one of her wings, as it were, so crippled that he found it would take quite half an hour before she could be cleared.

"It's of no use, Mr Leigh," he cried excitedly. "I wanted to board and take this schooner, and we cannot get alongside. Take charge of the gun, sir, and try and bring down one of her spars. Let's cripple her too. I'll order out the boats to board her."

"Ay, ay, sir," said Hilary, delighted at the energy shown by his chief.

"Now, Billy Waters, send a shot through her mainmast. I'd aim straight at her light."

"Which on 'em, sir?" said the gunner drily.

"Why, that one! There's only one," cried Hilary sharply.

"Look alive! and--ah--how provoking, the light's out!"

"Ay, sir, they've dowsed their light now the boats know where to go, and it would be only waste o' good powder and round shot to go plumping 'em into that there bank o' blackness out yonder."

"Well, Mr Leigh, why don't you fire?" shouted the lieutenant.

"Beg pardon, sir, but there's nothing to fire at," replied Hilary.

"Fire at the schooner's light, sir,--fire at her light," cried the lieutenant indignantly. "Bless my soul, Mr Leigh," he said, bustling up. "Here, let me lay the gun, and--eh?--what?--the light out?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then why, in the name of common sense, Mr Leigh, didn't you fire before it went out?"

"Didn't get no orders," growled Billy Waters.

"Silence, sir; how dare you speak!" cried the lieutenant. "But are you sure the light's out, Mr Leigh?"

"There isn't a sign of it, sir."

"Then--then how are we to manage about the boats?"

There was a momentary silence, during which, as the men stood ready to man the two boats that had been lowered, the lieutenant and his junior tried to make out where the schooner lay, but on every side, as the _Kestrel_ lay softly rolling in the trough of the sea, a thick bank of darkness seemed to be closing them in, and pursuit of the schooner by boats would have been as mad a venture as could have been set upon by the officer of a ship.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

REPAIRING DAMAGES.

During the excitement, the bustle of the attack, the lieutenant had seemed more himself, and he had given his orders in a concise and businesslike way; but now that they were left to themselves all seemed changed, and he reverted to his former childish temper, turning angrily upon Hilary as the cause of all his misfortunes.

"Never in the whole career of the English navy," he cried, stamping his bare foot upon the deck, "was officer plagued with a more helpless, blundering junior than I am. Bless my heart! it is very cold, and I've no coat on. Mr Leigh, fetch my coat and waistcoat."

"Yes," he continued, as he put on the two garments, "as I said before, never was officer plagued with a more helpless, blundering, mischievous junior."

"Very sorry, sir. I do my best," said Hilary bluntly.

"Exactly, sir. You do your best," said the lieutenant; "and your best is to lay the _Kestrel_--His Majesty's ship _Kestrel_--right in the track of that French schooner, and but for my fortunate arrival upon deck we should have been sunk."

Hilary recalled the fact that he had ordered the helm hard down, and saved the vessel himself, but he did not say so.

"I'll be bound to say," continued the lieutenant, "that you were sailing slowly along without a light."

"Yes, sir, we had no light hoisted," said Hilary, who, in spite of his annoyance, could not help feeling amused.

"Exactly. Just what I expected," continued the lieutenant. "Then pray, sir, why, upon a dark night like this, was there no light?"

"My superior officer gave me orders, sir, that we were to keep a sharp lookout for French boats cruising the channel, and burn no light."