"Then wear ship, Mr Simple."
There are times when grumbling and discontent among the seamen is so participated by the officers, although they do not show it, that the expressions made use of are passed unheeded. Such was the case at present. The officers looked at each other, and said nothing; but the men were unguarded in their expressions. The brig wore gradually round; and when the men were bracing up the yards, sharp on the other tack, instead of the "Hurrah!" and "Down with the mark!" they fell back with a groan.
"Brace up those yards in silence, there," said I to the men.
The ropes were coiled down, and we piped to dinner. The captain, who continued on deck, could not fail to hear the discontented expressions which occasionally were made use of on the lower deck. He made no observation, but occasionally looked over the side, to see whether the brig went through the water. This she did slowly for about ten minutes, when it fell a perfect calm—so that, to use a common sea phrase, he gained little by his motion. About half-past one, a slight breeze from the opposite quarter sprung up—we turned round to it—it increased—the fog blew away, and, in a quarter of an hour, the chase was again visible, now upon our lee beam. The men gave three cheers.
"Silence there, fore and aft," cried the captain, angrily. "Mr Simple, is this the way that the ship's company have been disciplined under their late commander, to halloo and bawl whenever they think proper?"
I was irritated at any reflection upon O'Brien, and I replied, "Yes, sir; they have been always accustomed to express their joy at the prospect of engaging the enemy."
"Very well, Mr Simple," replied he.
"How are we to shift her head?" inquired the master, touching his hat: "for the chase?"
"Of course," replied the captain, who then descended into his cabin.
"Come, my lads," said Swinburne, as soon as the captain was below, "I have been going round, and I find that your pets are all in good fighting order. I promise ye, you sha'n't wait for powder. They'll find that the Rattlesnake can bite devilish hard yet, I expect."—"Aye, and without its head, too," replied one of the men, who was the Joe Miller of the brig. The chase, perceiving that she could not escape—for we were coming up with her, hand over hand, now shortened sail for action, hoisting Dutch colours. Captain Hawkins again made his appearance on the quarter-deck, when we were within half a mile of her.