If there had been an expert present, he might have found some fault with my method, but I got through without a hitch, and I might claim, without boasting, that I held attention. Over and over again we went through the motions. I was wondering whether there was to be no time limit to the drill, when suddenly some one spoke to me from behind.
"Very good, drill-master," said Mr. Bullard. "Dismiss the landsmen, and take up the boarders with some cutlass-work."
The muskets returned to the racks, I once more came on deck, and found that I had to face a very different ordeal. There, awaiting me, were thirty or forty sailor-men—I could see that at a glance. They regarded the idea of my instructing them as something of a huge joke, for they stood there open-mouthed and nudging one another, half sneering, and all whispering. As soon as I took the position of "on guard," I noticed that some of them fell into it at once involuntarily, but others displayed an awkwardness that I knew must be premeditated. Now was the time for me to stand or fall.
I stepped up to a tall man who topped me by half a head, and bidding him stand out, I gently pushed him into the right position, moulding him, as it were, and paying no attention to the anger which flashed in his eyes and drew the corners of his mouth. The rest were becoming interested, but I saw that they were not grinning at me now, but at their messmate. Satisfied that the man could do what I wished, I again gave the order for them to act together. The tall sailor twisted his cutlass in his hand and held it upside down. Once more, as if believing this came from sheer stupidity, I went through the same performance, trying to speak kindly and firmly, but really on the verge of breaking down. Three times did I do this, and then the man succumbed.
But I had not finished. On the left of the line was a short, thick-set foretopman, with brawny, tattooed arms. Apparently he considered himself beyond all this and an adept with the weapon, for he indulged in side remarks that set those near him tittering, and he exaggerated all my motions. I saw that he was a leader in his way, and that for comfort's sake I should have him with me, so I called the others to a rest, and bade this man step forward. He did so in a careless, jaunty way, although his face had reddened. Placing him before me, I told all hands to observe me closely; that I would show them the bad effect of too open a guard and too lowered a point. It was a dangerous game to play, perhaps, but I called upon the seaman to make the various cuts and thrusts at my head and body. He did so with a vengeance, and it took all my strength to keep him from reaching me.
Captain Temple and the other officers had gathered in a little knot to one side and were watching. My blood was up, and I would rather have died than fail in what I was attempting. So I called upon the man to guard himself, and assured him that I would not harm him. Keeping my wrist well up, I told him to have a care of his left cheek. He grinned in reply. By a quick motion, the secret of which Monsieur de Brienne had taught me (for he was an adept with the broadsword as well as with the rapier), I got inside the man's guard and laid my blade along his throat. I well believe I could have severed his head from his body with a backward draw-stroke. The man paled and clinched his teeth. I resumed my position, with my eyes fixed on his, for I feared mischief. Then using the same movement that I had in my encounter with Captain Temple, I twisted his blade from his grasp and sent it flying. I verily believe it would have gone overboard had it not caught a stay overhead. Picking it up myself before any one could reach it, I returned it to him, and he stepped back into the ranks. I had no more trouble after that.
Now, strange as it may seem, when I got away I went forward and leaned out of an open port, and there, for some strange reason, the strain under which I had been laboring almost overcame me, and it was all I could do to keep from sobbing or to control the shaking of my limbs. While crouched there I felt a hand laid on my shoulder, and looking up I saw it was Edmundson, the Third Lieutenant.
"The Captain wishes to speak to you in the cabin, lad," he said, kindly. "Jump aft."
When I entered the plainly furnished little space, for the quarters of the officers were almost as confined as those of the crew, I saw that Captain Temple was sitting at the end of the table, which was covered with open charts. He looked up, and seeing who it was, half smiled.
