The old admiral stood looking at him attentively for a few moments, and then said quietly:

"You."

Hilary half staggered back in his surprise.

"Me? me, sir? Do you mean that I shall be appointed to the command of the _Kestrel_? I have not pa.s.sed my examination for lieutenant yet."

"No, but you will, Mr Leigh, and I have no doubt with credit. I have been having a chat with my friend the captain here. It is a novelty, I own, but the _Kestrel_ is a very small vessel, and for the present you will have with you a brother officer of riper years, who, pending his own appointment to a ship, will, as it were, share your command, and in cases of emergency give you his advice. Of course all this is to be if I obtain the sanction of the Admiralty, but I think I may tell you this will come."

Hilary was so overpowered by this announcement that he could only stammer a few words, and Captain Charteris took his hand.

"You see, Mr Leigh," he said, "we want a dashing, spirited young officer of the greatest fidelity, a man who is brave without doubt; ready-witted, and apt to deal with the smuggling and fishing craft likely to be the bearers of emissaries from the enemy's camp. We want such an officer at once for the _Kestrel_, and in the emergency, as we find those qualities in you, the admiral decides to set the question of years aside, while, as his spokesman and one to whom he often refers for counsel--"

"And takes it," said the admiral smiling.

"I cannot help giving my vote in your favour. Mr Leigh," he said, speaking very sternly now, "in the king's name I ask you from this time forth to set aside boyish things and to be a man in every sense of the word, for you are entering upon a great responsibility; and Lieutenant Anderson, who comes with you, will never interfere, according to his instructions, unless he sees that you are about to be guilty of a piece of reckless folly, which in your case is, I am sure, as good as saying that he will never interfere."

"The fact is, Mr Leigh," said the admiral kindly, "Lieutenant Lips...o...b.. unwittingly advanced your cause, and it was solely on account of what has occurred coming to my ears that you were to-night put to so severe a proof. Now, good-night. You will receive your despatches to-morrow morning, and lieutenant Anderson will come on board. Then make the best of your way to Dunkerque, and I need hardly say that I shall be glad to see you whenever you are in port on business or for pleasure."

"And I as well, Leigh," said Captain Charteris. "Some day let's hope that I shall be an admiral, and when I am I shall wish for no better luck than to have Captain Leigh in command of my flagship. But that will be some time ahead. Now, good-night."

Hilary said good-night and made his way out into the fresh night-air, wondering if it was all true, and whether he was not suffering from some attack of nightmare; but the streets and the docks all looked very real, and when he reached the cutter and was saluted by the watch he began to think that there was no doubt about it, and he began, as he lay awake, to consider whether he ought not at once to take possession of the lieutenant's cabin.

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

IN COMMAND.

The memory of that dinner and the words that he had heard filled Hilary's dreams that night. He was always waking up with a start, nervous and excited, and then dropping off again to dream of being lieutenant, captain, admiral, in rapid succession. Then his dreams changed, and he was helping Sir Henry and saving Adela from some great danger. Then he was in great trouble, for it seemed that he had been guilty of some gross blunder over his despatches, and he seemed to hear the voices of Captain Charteris and the admiral accusing him of neglect and ingrat.i.tude after the promotion given him.

It was therefore weary and unrefreshed that he arose the next morning, glad to have a walk up and down the deck, which had just been washed; and as he soon began to revive in the cold fresh air, he felt a sensation of just pride in the smart little cutter now just freed from the workpeople and shining in her paint and polish. New sails had been bent and a great deal of rigging had been newly run up. The crew, glad to have the cutter clean once more, had made all shipshape. Ropes were coiled down, Billy Waters' guns shone in the morning sun, and all that was wanted now was the order to start.

Hilary went below and had his breakfast, which he had hardly finished when the corporal of marines came down with a despatch.

"Boat from the sh.o.r.e, sir," he said, saluting.

Hilary took the packet, which was addressed to him, and as he opened it the colour flushed into his face and then he became very pale.

The despatch was very short. It ordered him to take the cutter outside instantly and wait for the important despatches he was to take across to Dunkerque. Above all, he was to sail the moment Lieutenant Anderson came on board with the papers and stop for nothing, for the papers were most urgent.

But with the letter was something else which made his heart throb with joy--what was really his commission as lieutenant, and the despatch was addressed to him as Lieutenant Leigh.

As soon as he could recover himself he rose from the table cool and firm.

"Is the boat waiting, corporal?"

"No, sir. It went back directly."

Hilary could not help it; he put on his hat with just the slightest c.o.c.k in the world, went on deck, and gave his orders in the shortest and sharpest way.

The men stared at him, but they executed his orders, and in a very short time the cutter was out of the basin, a sail or two was hoisted, and, as if rejoicing in her liberty, the _Kestrel_ ran lightly out to a buoy, to which, after what almost seemed like resistance, she was made fast, the sails being lowered, and the cutter rose and fell upon the waves, fretting and impatient to be off.

The mainsail was cast loose, jib and staysail ready, and the gaff topsail would not take many minutes to run up in its place. Then, as if fearing that the blocks might run stiff and that there would be some delay at starting, Hilary gave his orders and the mainsail was run up, a turn or two of the wheel laid the cutter's head to the wind, and there she lay with the canvas flapping and straining and seeming to quiver in her excitement to be off once more.

"Poor old gal! she feels just as if she was just let out of prison,"

said the boatswain affectionately. "How well she looks!"

"Ay, she do," said Billy Waters. "Well, Tom Tully, my lad, how d'yer feel?"

"Ready for suthin' to do, matey," said the big sailor. "But when's old Lips...o...b.. coming aboard?"

"I d'no," said the gunner. "Wish he wasn't coming at all. Wonder where we're for. I've a good mind to ask Master Leigh. He'll tell me if he can."

"Ay, lad, do," said the boatswain.

Just then Hilary came out of the cabin with a red spot in each cheek, and began walking up and down the deck and watching for the coming boat.

"Is all ready and shipshape, boatswain?" he said.

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Your guns well lashed, Waters?"

"Ay, ay, sir, and longing to have a bark. Beg pardon, sir, shall I get the fishing-lines out?"

"No!" said Hilary shortly.

"All right, sir. But beg pardon, sir."

"What is it, Waters?"

"Is the lieutenant soon coming aboard? His traps ar'n't come yet."

"No," said Hilary firmly. "He's no longer in command."

"Then I says three cheers, my lads," cried Billy Waters excitedly.

"Leastwise, if I may."

"No. Stop. No demonstrations now, my lads. We are just off on important business, and I must ask you to be ready and smart as you have never been before."

"Which, if it's Muster Leigh as asks us, sir," said Billy Waters, "I think I may say for the whole crew, from my mates here to the sojers, as there ar'n't one who won't do his best."

"It is not Master Leigh who asks you," said Hilary flushing, as the whole of his little crew now stood grouped about the forward part of the deck. "This is no time for speeches, my lads, but I must tell you this, that I ask you as your commander, the newly-appointed officer of the _Kestrel_, Lieutenant Leigh."

Billy Waters bent down and gave his leg a tremendous slap; then, turning short round, he slapped the same hand into that of the boatswain, and the whole crew began shaking hands one with the other; the next moment every cap was flying in the air, and then came three hearty cheers.

"Which, speaking for the whole crew, as I think I may," said Billy Waters, glancing round to receive encouragement in a murmur of acquiescence, "I says, sir, with my and our respex, success to the _Kestrel_ and her new commander, and--"