“A vessel ill-adapted to warfare is not the worst that I have had to contend with,” returned Captain Jones, rather bitterly. “The crew that I was forced to ship is a most curious mixture of races, and the fiercest and most unruly body of men that I ever saw gathered upon a ship’s deck. There are a very few Americans; England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Norway have all contributed to my ship’s company, as have Africa, India and the Malayan Peninsula.
“When my squadron sailed and I had brought my crew into some sort of discipline I fancied that my troubles were about over for a time. But then my captains, under the leadership of Pierre Landais, commander of the Alliance, began to show their teeth; and one night the Alliance ran afoul of the Richard, and we were compelled to put back for overhauling.”
“It may not prove a bad thing either,” said Ethan at this point. “If you secure this cartel of exchanges at Nantes you’ll have a crew that you can rely upon.”
As it afterward appeared, Ethan guessed the truth. The American prisoners about whom Longsword had spoken had just arrived in France, burning with the desire to fight against the country which had treated them so cruelly in its prisons. They were a fine body of men, stalwart and skilled in the handling of sea-going ships, and they leavened the mass of the Richard’s crew wonderfully when they came on board; from a semi-rabble of mutinous ruffians it came, in the end, to be as effective and steady a ship’s company as an officer could desire.
The repairs upon the Bon Homme Richard were carried on rapidly. Dale took his place on board and his practical judgment and sound sense soon attracted the attention of all. He had a knack of handling men, and could get more labor out of them by a cheerful, encouraging manner than most of the others could by their hectoring and loud impatience. Captain Jones noticed this; the quiet, thorough manner of the young Virginian pleased him, for it spoke of an alert and ready mind.
Ethan was aware of all this, and when, one day, Dale came to him with sparkling eyes and face flushed with pleasure, he was not at all surprised at his bursting out,
“Old fellow, great news! Captain Jones has secured me a commission.”
“I knew he would,” cried Ethan, delightedly. “He approved of your work from the first.”
“But in my wildest flights, I’ve never hoped for so long a step,” said Dale. “I’m to be first lieutenant of the Richard.”
Ethan whistled; Longsword, who stood at his side, raised his brows.