“May I ask you, William, why you do not assume the name of De Bracy, which every one that knows you is aware you are entitled to?”
“Because, Charles, I cannot see that I am as yet entitled, by law, to claim that name. For the present I prefer retaining that of my kind old benefactor. I can fight, or die, or achieve fame under that name as well as any other. I had hoped to have embraced a dear parent, and to have been acknowledged by him; but it was the will of Providence to take his life. I have felt this much, but dare not murmur; so now let us to the work on hand—we must have that Vengeance.”
A little after ten o’clock, the Onyx filled her topsails, and stood in for the cliff headland of Lyon Point. The boats were all ready and the men selected, and eager to be led by Lieutenant Thornton, whose gallantry and general good fortune, until the last mishap, was pretty well known to them.
There was a slight breeze from the land, which was in their favour.
“I have changed our mode of attack,” said Captain O’Loughlin to our hero, as they walked the quarter-deck, gazing out at the indistinct line of coast, half hid by the haze; “though the change has greatly annoyed Pole. I have determined upon his taking the command of the Onyx during our absence. My second lieutenant will take his place. Between you and me, Mr. Joyce is a brave fellow, but somewhat rash. I would rather not leave the ship under his care in our absence; on Pole I can depend in every way: he is cool, calculating, and skilful.”
“I think you are quite right; but I fancy if you stayed on board yourself, and let Charles take the pinnace, you would do better still.”
“Be the powers of war! catch me at that,” said O’Loughlin, laughing; “you are thinking of Sir Sidney, and that there’s a chance of two commanders failing in cutting out this redoubtable Vengeance.”
“I hope not, Patrick; for, by Jove! that would be paying dearly for the chance of a privateer. It is not that. It strikes me that commanders should not, except in extreme cases, lead in these cutting-out affairs.”
“Oh, bother! what’s a commander? Many a worthy lieutenant is worth a dozen of some of them. If a commander does get knocked on the head, it makes way for another—it’s all in the way of business; besides, I like a thing of the kind. What do you think of the sailing qualities of the corvette?”
“She moves fast and easily through the water,” said Lieutenant Thornton; “she’s a handsome craft, and, I should say, makes good weather of it from her beam. She’s a splendid sea boat, and as stiff as a church steeple; it must be a hard gale that will make her want two reefs in her topsail.”