The Three Commanders or, Active service afloat in modern days

Chapter I. Page Page

Murray of the loss of the midshipmen— The com mander's grief — The dhow blows up with all on board, and saves the hangman a job — The Opal goes in search of the midshipmen, Murray's Highland home — A visit from Admiral Triton — Adair and his nephew appear — Muriay appointed to the Opa?, Adair first lieutenant — Preparations for departure — Admiral Triton and Mrs Deborah invite Mrs Murray to stay at Southsea — The Opal and her crew — A poetical lieutenant — Parting between Miss Rogers and Adair — The Opal sails for the East Coast of Africa, 38

CHAPTER VII.

The midshipmen swim for their lices — Find the canoe — Adrift on the ocean — Their sulferings — Picked up by the Romp, Commander Jack Rogers — Tom's meeting witli Desmond and Archie — Adair's joy on peeing them— The banquet on the island — "Music hath charms" — Burning of a native village — The Opal and Romp sail for Zanzibar, 44

CHAPTER VIII.

Another dhow chased— Slaves thrown overboard— Dhow captured — Her hold — Zanzibar — "Spicy Odours " — A trip c-a shore — The slave-market — Horrors of the slave-trade in the interior — A store in Zanzibar — Murray and Adair pay a visit to the Sultan— Summary justice, 48 5

Chapter II

Crossing the Equator — Billy Blueblazes looks out for the line, but does not see it — He and Gerald mastheaded — Tristan d'Acunha : Jos Green, as usual, "meets with a friend" — The Opal at the Cape — Sails for Madagascar— Commodore Douce of the Radiant — A boat expedition up the Angoxa river — The slavers' stronghold — Mildroay's sonnet interrupted by the guns of the fort — Attack on the slave dhows— The Commodore is landed by Tom Bashan — Capture of the Fort — Crossing the bar, 12

Chapter III. Chapter IX

Mozambique — Visit to the Governor — Hamed, the interpreter — Escape of a slave to the Opal — Preparations for sharp work — A slave dhow in sight — Her wreck— Adah' after her through the breakers — Several of the slaves rescued — Ben Snatehblock attempts to comfort them — His efforts not appreciated — Return to the ship — Horrible state of the rescued blacks, . Tom Rogers spins a yarn — Adventures in Burmah —Up the Irrawaddy — Capture of Martaban— Tom's whiskers — Capture of Prome — Expedition on shore — General Bundoolah thinks discretion the better part of valour— Camping out in the jungle — Attack on the guerilla's fortress — Death of Captain Loch — Archie corrects Tom's Latin — The Opal ordered to Seychelles — Disembarkation of the slaves, 19 51

Chapter IV. Chapter

X. Ordered again to Angoxa — Island of Mafamale — Seine fishing — Desmond's victory over the fish — Thc carpenter tries his hand, but catches a Tartar — Life on the island — Jerry Bird's "Kettler" — Second boat expedition — Lightning in the Tropics ■ — Up the river— Capture and burning of a dhow — Land for provisions — Treachery of natives — Adah* and Desmond made prisoners — Adair turns the tables on the old chief, . . . . 2C News from England— Jack Rogers appointed to the Gauntlet — Adair promoted, aud succeeds him in command of the Romp — The three midshipmen transferred to the Gauntlet — A trip on shore— Sailors in the slave-market — The Sultan appears — Gauntlet on the Northern Station — Tom Kettle and Bill Saucepan, the Kroomen— A trap for slavers — Mr Large 's expedition in search of wild fowl — Finds more than he bargained for— Is the island bewitched? . . .60

CHAPTER XI.

The look-out party on the island — A slave caravan Unwelcome visitors — Three dhows chased — Wreck of the dhows — Rescuing the slaves — Dangerous position of the party on shore — The Kroomeft cross the suif with supplies — Tenderness of the sailors to the slaves — "Washing a blackamoor white," C9

CHAPTER XII.

The look-out party attacked— Repulse and flight of the Arabs — Securing the prisoners— A night on the beach— Rejoin the ship— Burning of the dhow — Arabs attempt to escape to the mainland, but fall victims to sharks— Encounter with anotner slave caravan— Return to the ship, . . 79

Chapter V

Three dhows chased — One is captured and left in charge of Desmond and Archie — Frightful condition of slaves on board — Horrible cruelties practised by Arabs— Jerry Bird sets the slaves dancing to keep up their spirits — Desmond's watch— He and Archie thrown overboard, . 35

Chapter VI

Adair boards the third dhow— Her crew and passengers — Pango discovers that the latter are slaves — Adair returns with the dhow to the island ■ — Green absent on an expedition — Adair's fears as to Desmond and Archie— Green returns with the dhow left in charge of Desmond, but without the midshipmen — Adair's anxiety increases— Interrogation of the Arab crew — A sail in sight She proves to be the Opal — Adah' informs CONTENTS. 4

CHAPTER XX. CHAPTER XIII.

PAGE PAGE Green returns without Higson and Tom— Jack goes in search of them— Colonel Paskiewich s house— Higson and Tom captured by Cossacks— Tom's escape— Miss Feodorowna's joy— The fort blown up— The Mosquito fleet— Gallant exploit of Captain Lyons— Jack heads expeditions inland — Escape, i*0 Six months pass away — The Gauntlet goes iu search of the Romp — Jack stands by her — *' Breakers ahead " — Anxious suspense — Probable fate of the Romp— Jack proceeds to Zanzibar — Search for Adair — Desmond and Hamed captured by Arabs— Adair and his companions rescued — Opal and Gauntlet at the Cape — A ball on shore — Jack meets an old friend — Falls in Love — Return to England— Prospect of war with Russia— Massacre of Sinope — The three commanders appointed to ships, ....

CHAPTER XXI.

85 Dick Needham's expedition— Dick and Archie captured — Attack on the caravan — Unexpected meet- . ing with Higson and midshipmen — Higson's unwillingness to return — Jack's solution of the difficulty— The young ladies' grief— Tom, against bis will, joins the Flas h— Captures a fort and guns — The sleeping beauties — The Flash aground— Attacked by Russians — Fate of Flash — Desmond thinks of emigrating — Tom's "prior engagement" — Capture of Kinburn, .

CHAPTER XIV.

Review at Spithead— Admiral Triton's opinion of steam-vessels— The Allied fleets in Cavarna Bay — Jack visits Murray on board the Briton — Bombardment of Odessa — Loss of the Tiger —Jack in command of the Tornado runs into the harbour of Sebastopol— A visit to the Guards' camp, 147 94

CHAPTER XXII. CHAPTER XV.

Adair acquitted for loss of Flash — Appointed to Gleam — The Tornado in the Bosphorus — Arrival of Herr Groben — Higson obtains leave of absence— Tom asks for it, and is sent on board Gleam — Higson promoted — His marriage with the fair Russian — Ball on board Tornado — The Gleam in a storm — Tom and Adair lost overboard — Desmond's grief — The Admiral's home — Appearance of the missing ones — Joy of the Admiral — Adair narrates their adventures — Jack and Adair married — Generosity of Admiral Triton, 159 Descent on the Crimea — Land ing "troops— Towing rafts— Battle of the Alma— Tom and Archie on the battlefield— The horrors of war— Bringing off the wounded — Bombardment of Sebastopol — Jack and Murray in action, 104

CHAPTER XVI.

The Toimado at Balaclava — The allied camps — Russian cavalry and Highlanders — The flying Turks and the Highland wife — Charge of the Heavy Brigade — " Into the Valley of Death rode the Six Hundred 1M — Death of Captain Nolan — After the battle— Tom and Archie propose to leave the navy for the army, but think better of it — Their visit to the Guards' camp — The stern realities of war — Attack by the Russians — The midshipmen in the thick of the fight, . CHAPTER XXni. A hard trial for Jack and Terence — The Dragon and Eolus sail for the Pacific — The straits of Magellan, Valparaiso, Callao — Peruvian Kidnappers — A strange tale— Sail for Tahiti — Fall in with a kidnapper — A fearful atrocity — A coral island — Tahiti — Its present state — Samoa, . . 16S 11 '1

CHAPTER XVII.

Storm in the Black Sea — Jack aids vessels in distress — Rescues Murray — The Tornado renders assistance — Shipwrecked crew on shore attacked by Cossacks — The latter are driven off, . . 121

CHAPTER XXIV.

Santa Cruz — Its unattractive inhabitants — A schooner chased by the boats — Suspicious characters — The schooner allowed to proceed — A gale — Run for shelter under the lee of an island — A volcano bursts forth — Driven away — Breakers ahead — An opening in the reef — Pass through — Land on an island — Food found— Natives appear — Hostile demonstrations — Green's old shipmate —Peace established— Escape from the island, . 174

CHAPTER XVIII.

State of affairs in the beginning of 1855 — Murray in command of the Giaour — Shelling Sebastopol by night — Tom finds matter for serious thought — The Tornado chases a Russian steamer — Attack on a fort — Another steamer sighted— Friend or foe — Proves to be the Giaour — The Flash appears — The fort stormed, . . . 325

CHAPTER XXV.

Jack's anxiety— Search for the boats— A wreck discovered — The mate brought off — Mr Large attacked by savages— The natives punished— The boats recovered— Sydney— The ships sail for the Sandwich Islands— A visit on shore — Visit Hawaii —Scene of Cook's death— Trip to the Crater of kihiuea— Magnificent scene— Tom nearly lost— Return on board— Again at sea— Vancouver's Island— Doings there— News from home— Jack andTercncesupersedcd— ReachEngland— Future career of the Three Commanders— Conclusion 184

CHAPTER XIX.

An expedition up the river — Attack on the magazines—Burning storehouses and vessels— Higson and Archie have to run for it — Pull down the river — Higson and Tom have to recruit the inner man — Russian nightingales — Hospitable reception — Higson succumbs to beauty — The old tutor — Proves to be one of Green's friends — Unpleasant interruption by Cossacks, ....

Chapter I

of Don Antonio's residence in Trinidad, where they had first met. Indeed, in some of its features, the scenery recalled to their memories the views they had enjoyed in that lovely island ; and though they confessed that Trini dad carried off the palm of beauty, yet they both loved far better their own Highland home. Murray's Highland home — A visit from Admiral Triton — Adair and his neph-ew appear — Murray appointed to the " Opal, " Adair first lieutenant — Preparations for departure — Admiral Triton and Mrs Deborah invite Mrs Murray to stay at Southsea— The "Opal" and her crew— A poetical lieutenant — Parting between Miss Rogers and Adair — The " Opal" sails for the East Coast of Africa. It was a lovely summer day, and Stella was sitting in the verandah with a small stranger, whom her faithful black maiden, Polly, had just placed in her lap ; she was fully employed in bestowing on him those marks of affection which a loving mother delights in affording to her first-born.

Alick stood by her side, watching her and their child with looks of fond pride. He had just come in from the garden, which it was one of his chief occupations to tend, and had taken off his gardening gloves that he might pat his child's cheek and tickle its chin to make it coo and smile. He might have been excused if he was proud of his boy, for he was a noble little fellow, a "braw chiel" — as he was pronounced to be by his grand-aunt, Mis tress Tibbie MacTavish, who had presided at his birth — and likely to do no discredit to the name of Murray. " The cutter ought to have been back by this time," said Alick at length, looking at his watch ; " Archie has had a fair tide from Oban, and a leading wind up the loch. I hope that he has not managed to run the Stella ashore. Ben Snatehblock knows the coast, and he him self should be pretty well acquainted with it.

" ' ' Perhaps Mr Adair did not arrive at the time expected, and Archie would, of course, wait for him," observed Stella. " That may be the case," said Alick, taking the telescope from a bracket on the wall, and looking through it down the loch, ' ' there is no sail in sight like her ; but I see a four-oared boat, which has just passed Bunaw ferry, pulling up the loch. Can Adair by any means have missed the cutter, aud be making his way alone to us ? " Alice Murray had not over-praised the High land home of which he had so often spoken when far away across the wide ocean. The house, substantially built in a style suited to that clime, stood some way up the side of a hill which rose abruptly from the waters of Loch Etive, on the north side of which it was situated. To the west the hills were comparatively low, the shores alternately widening and con tracting, and projecting in numerous promon tories.

The higher grounds were clothed with heath and wood, while level spaces below were diversified by cultivated fields. To the east of the house, up the loch, the scenery assumed a character much more striking and grand. Far as the eye could reach appeared a succession of lofty and barren mountains, rising sheer out of the water, on the calm surface of which their fantastic forms were reflected as in a mirror. Across the loch the lofty summit of Ben Cruachan appeared towering to the sky. The scenery immediately surrounding Murray's do main of Bercaldine was of extreme beauty. At some little distance the hill, rising abruptly, was covered with oak, ash, birch, and alder, producing a rich tone of colouring ; the rowan and hawthorn trees mingling their snowy blos soms or coral berries with the foliage of the more gigantic natives of the forest, while the dark purple heath, in tufted wreaths and numerous wild flowers, were interspersed amid the rich sward and underwood along the shore be neath.

Behind the house were shrubberies and a well-cultivated kitchen-garden, sheltered on either side by a thick belt of pines ; while in front a lawn, also protected by shrubberies from the keen winds which blew down from the mountain heights, sloped towards the loch, with a gravel walk leading to the landing-place. Murray had added a broad verandah to the front of the house, to remind himself and Stella ' ' Probably she contains a party of tourists on an excursion," said Stella. "She is, at all events, steering for Bercal dine," observed Murray ; "if she does not bring Paddy Adair, you will have the opportunity of exhibiting the small Alick to some other visi tor. I will go down to the pier to receive him, whoever he is, with due honour. " Saying this, the hand again, and to talk over old times. haven't forgot his making me carry his port manteau for him, the rogue !

" and the Admiral chuckled and laughed, and told Stella the story while he rubbed his hands ; " I made him pay, though— he thought he was going to do me out of that, but I was too sharp for him. Ha ! ha ! ha ! " and he laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks. He was becoming more garrulous than before — another sign of advancing age, which Murray was sorry to observe. He told many of his old anecdotes, laughing as heartily at them as ever. He was interrupted by the appearance of Polly, who had been watching for an opportunity of introducing the baby, which she now_ brought to its mamma. The Admiral started up onseeing it. "What ! I hadn't heard of this small stranger ! " he ex claimed ; " is it a boy or a girl ? A fine little creature, at all events ! I congratulate you, my dear Mrs Murray, with all my heart — a sailor's wife is all the better for a few small ones to occupy her thoughts when her ' guid mon,' as you call him in Scotland, is away from home, though I suppose you have no intention of letting Murray go to sea again just yet ?

" I hope not, indeed," answered Stella, turning pale at the thought. " There are number less officers who have nothing to do on shore, and he has plenty to occupy him." " But he ought to take a trip to sea, to pre vent himself from growing rusty," said the Admiral ; "we want the best officers to command her Majesty's ships, and he is among them. You will not contradict me on that point ? " ' ' I am sure he is, " said Stella, with a sigh. " Then, in case the Admiralty require his services, you will not dissuade him from accept ing an appointment ? " " Oh, Admiral ! are they going to send him to sea ? " exclaimed Stella, suddenly. " Not that I know of," answered the Admiral ; " I have not been let into their secret inten tions, and I don't wish to act the part of a bird of ill-omen ; though I confess that, were he to have the offer of a ship, I should advise him to accept it."

Stella's lips quivered ; she had thought her self very heroic, and that she should be ready to sacrifice her husband for the good of his country ; but when it came to tho point, she could not bear the idea of parting from him. Alick had gone round to see that the boat's crew were attended to ; on coming back he took another glance through his telescope down the loch. " Here comes the Stella ; we shall soon have Terence Adair with us ! " he exclaimed. "What brought him home?" asked the Admiral. "Surely he went out with Jack Rogers to India ? " "He got an ugly wound in cutting out a piratical junk in the Indian seas, " said Murray • " it was a near thing for him, and the doctors insisted on his returning home as the only chance of saving his life, so he -wrote me word in a few lines ; but he is not much addicted to Murray, having bestowed a kiss on his wife's brow, and given another tickle to his baby's chin, which produced an additional coo of delight, hurried down to the landing-place, towards which the boat was rapidly approaching.

He had his telescope in his hand. He stopped on the way to take another look through it. "It is not Terence, but who do you think ? — Our old friend Admiral Triton ! " he shouted out, as he looked back to his wife ; and then hurried on to the landing-place, that he might be there before the Admiral could step ashore. In a few minutes he was receiving the old man's hearty grasp of the hand, as he helped him out of the boat. " I had long promised to pay a visit to some friends in the Highlands, and I determined to make a trip a few miles further and take you by surprise, for I knew that I should be wel come at whatever time I might arrive," said the Admiral. "Indeed you are, my dear sir," answered Murray; "most sincerely I say it — we are flattered by your visit." "Give me your arm, my boy, for I don't walk up hill as easily as I used to do a few years back," said the Admiral, leaning some what heavily on the young commander as he stumped along with his timber toe.

"Stay, by-the-bye I must dismiss my crew ! " he ex claimed, stopping short. "Let them come up to the house first, Ad miral," said Murray; "they would consider otherwise that we were forgetful of Highland hospitality at Bercaldine. You will find your way up to the kitchen, my lads, by yonder path," he added, turning round to the boat men ; " the cook will have a snack for you before you pull back to Oban." The men touched their bonnets, and gratefully grinned their assent to the laird's proposal, as they tumbled out of the boat ; while Murray conducted Admiral Triton by the centre path, which led through the grounds to the house. Mrs Murray, having deposited the wee Alick in the armsof Polly, stood ready to receive them. " I am delighted to see you looking so bright and blooming, my dear Mrs Murray !

" exclaimed the old Admiral, shaking her warmly by the hand ; "it shows that the Highland air agrees with you, notwithstanding your long sojourn in the West Indies." ' ' Except in being more bracing, the climate differs but little from that to which I was ac customed in the North of Ireland till I grew up ; and I was scarcely long enough in the West Indies to becomeacclimatized, "answered Stella ; anda shade passed overher countenanceasshere collected the trying scenes she had gone through during the time to which the Admiral referred. He observed it, and changed the subject. *' And so you are expecting to see our old ship mate, Terence Adair ? " he remarked, as he sat himself down in a chair which Murray placed for him ; " I shall be heartily glad to shake him by letter-writing, I therefore know no particulars.

He will give us the account when he arrives." Murray stood watching the cutter, while the Admiral continued talking to Stella. The little craft, a vessel of about twelve tons, had been built by the young commander soon after he settled at Bercaldine. What naval officer, who has the means in his power, would fail of pos sessing a vessel *ji some sort ? She was not only a pleasure-yacht, but was useful as a despatch-boat to bring the necessary stores for the house from Oban, and served also for fish ing in summer, and for wild-fowl shooting in winter. She was a trim yacht, notwithstanding her multifarious employments. Ben Snatehblock, who acted as master, with a stout lad as his crew, was justly proud of her. He boasted that nothing under canvas could beat her, either on a wind or going free, and that in heavy weather she was as lively as a duck.

Not a better sea-boat could be found between the mainland and the Hebrides. In deed, she had often been pretty severely tried ; and on one occasion Murray had had the satis faction of preserving the crew of a wreck on a dangerous reef, when no other craft was at hand to render them assistance. He had of course named his yacht the Stella, for what other name could he have thought of giving her ? He now watched her with the interest which every seaman feels for the vessel he owns, as close-hauled, she stood up the loch. Now a breeze headed her, and she had to make a couple of tacks or more to weather a point. Now she met a baffling wind, and it seemed impossible that she would do it. ' ' Keep her close, Archie ! " exclaimed Murray, as if addressing his cousin ; "now keep her full again and shoot her up round the point.

That will do it, lad ! capital ! another tack and you will have the wind off the shore — that is only a flaw. Put her about again. With two more tacks you will do it." The breeze freshening and proving steady, in a short time the Stella was near enough to enable Murray to distinguish Terence Adair and another person, in addition to those who had gone away in the yacht. As the jib and foresail were taken off her, she shot up to the buoy. Murray hastened down to the landing place, in time to meet Adair and the stranger, whom Archie pulled on shore in the punt. Adair sprang to land with much more agility than the old Admiral had exhibited, and was warmly greeted by Murray. "As you told me that Archie was staying with you, I brought that broth of a boy, my nephew, Gerald Desmond, to bear him company, and to help keep him out of mischief, " exclaimed Adair, turning round and pointing to his nephew, who hung back till his uncle had offered some explanation as to the cause of his appearance uninvited. ' ' Desmond, you have grown such a strapping fellow that I didn't recognise you, "said Murray, putting out his hand.

"You are welcome to Bercaldine ; and we can easily stow you away in some odd corner or other, notwithstanding your inches. Will you come up to the house with us, or will you wait for Archie ? " ' ' I will wait for Archie, Sir, thank you, " answered Gerald ; and Murray and Adair walked on. " We have had sad times at Ballymacree," said the latter, speaking in a much graver tone than usual for him. ' ' Gerald only arrived a couple of weeks ago ; although he has grown so much, the climate of the China seas has played havock with his constitution, and I didn't like to leave him in a house of mourning. His mother died while he was away, and my poor sister Kathleen caught cold, and went off in a rapid consumption a few days after he arrived." "Your sister Kathleen ! to whom Rogers was engaged!" exclaimed Murray; "I am truly sorry to hear it.

What a blow for him, too, poor fellow ! You said nothing about this in your letter, though I saw thatyou were in mourning." "Faith, I hadn't theheart to doso," answered Terence. " I knew that I'd have to tell you all about it, and so I thought it better just to ask the question whether I might come and see you, without saying more, knowing very surely what your answer would be, if I didn't get it— which I didn't, seeing I left home before it arrived — but I suppose it's all right, as Archie said that you were expecting me ? " "Of course, my dear fellow," said Murray. "Poor Jack ! Have you written to him ? " " No, but Kathleen did, while she had strength to hold a pen ; and her mother put in a few words to tell him that all was over. On my life, I couldn't have done it. Things have gone badly, too, at Ballymacree in other respects.

The old place must go, after all ; and it will break my father's heart, I am very certain. If we had had a good, rattling war, and I had picked up lots of prize-money, I might have saved it. But that is not to be thought of. And then, my dear Murray, a little private affair of my own, which has put me out sadly. I wrote, when I first came home, to Lady Rogers, asking leave to pay a visit at Halli burton Hall. I got an answer from Sir John, very kind and very polite. At the same time, he gave me to understand that he considered it better I should not make my appearance there. In other words, that I wasn't wanted. I fancied that Lucy had begun to care for me, and so Jack thought, I suspect, from what he said when I confessed to him that I was over head and ears in love with his sweet little sister, and had for her sake kept my heart intact, notwithstanding the fascinations of all the charming creatures we met with in the West Indies.

So in truth, Murray, I am about as miserable a fellow as any in the three kingdoms just now." " I am very sorry to hear what you tell me," answered Alick. "We will do our best to cheer you up ; and our old friend Admiral Triton, who arrived a couple of hours ago, will, I expected to have my promotion, however ; but instead, their lordships send me off to sea again. I am appointed to the Opal, just commissioned at Portsmouth, as first lieutenant. I ought to be highly flattered ; and Desmond, my boy, you are to go with me." "The best thing that could happen to you. I congratulate you," said the Admiral ; ''and what news does your despatch contain?" he continued to Murray. AVithout answering, Alick put the letter into the Admiral's hands, and, taking his wife's arm, led her into the garden, where they were concealed from sight by the shrubbery.

" It will be a blow to her," said the Admiral, as he glanced over the official document ; " still it is flattering to Murray, and, unless he has resolved to give up the service altogether, I could not wish him better luck. You and your old shipmate are not to be parted, Adair. He is appointed to the command of the Opal, and I have a notion that she will be stationed at the Cape, and probably sent to the East Coast of Africa, where there is work to be done, and prize-money to be picked up, not to be got every day in these piping times of peace. It is no easy matter, however, to catch those slippery Arab slavers, so you mustn't count your hens before they are hatched. Still, the Opal is a fast craft, and if any man can do what is to be done, Murray will do it. " "At all events, I am delighted to hear that I am to serve with him.