“Why, sir, I’m aboard the guardship, along wi’ another or two of our chaps as was discharged from the hospital about the same time as I was,” answered the man—formerly one of the Europa’s quartermasters.
“Oh, indeed,” I replied, very much surprised, for I had not known that there were others as well as myself put ashore from the frigate; “and are you all ready for duty again?” I asked.
“Ay, that we are, sir,” answered Henderson, “and shall be glad enough to get to sea and have a mouthful of fresh air once more. This bein’ in harbour is all very well for a change, but a man soon gets enough of it; and, a’ter all, it ain’t half so comfortable as bein’ at sea.”
“Then in that case,” said I, seeing my way to getting one good hand, at least, “perhaps you may be willing to volunteer for a little schooner that the Admiral is going to give me to go pirate-hunting in?”
“Ay, that indeed I will, Mr Delamere, and glad of the chance,” answered Henderson heartily; “and perhaps, sir,” he added, “I could help you to two or three more good men, if so be as you happen to want ’em.”
“Well, I think it more than likely that I shall,” said I, “so just keep your eyes open in that direction. I shall no doubt see you again to-morrow or next day, when we can have a further chat.”
Henderson touched his hat and turned away, and the master-attendant and I made our way along the wharf to the landing-steps. Here he directed four men to jump down into his gig and spread the cushions in the stern-sheets, while he went into his office to procure the keys which were to afford us access to the interior of my “seventy-four,” as the Admiral had jestingly called her. Then, descending the steps and taking our places in the gig, Carline seized the yoke-lines, gave the word to shove off, and away we went, across the upper end of the harbour and through the boat channel, past Gallows Point, whereon stood the stout posts and beam from which the five ringleaders of the pirates taken aboard the brigantine had been launched into eternity.