Micah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Read book online ยซMicah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐ยป. Author - Arthur Conan Doyle
Of Saxon no news had come, good or bad, which encouraged me to hope that he had found a hiding-place for himself. Reuben was still confined to his couch by his wound, and was under the care and protection of Major Ogilvy. The good gentleman came to see me more than once, and endeavoured to add to my comfort, until I made him understand that it pained me to find myself upon a different footing to the brave fellows with whom I had shared the perils of the campaign. One great favour he did me in writing to my father, and informing him that I was well and in no pressing danger. In reply to this letter I had a stout Christian answer from the old man, bidding me to be of good courage, and quoting largely from a sermon on patience by the Reverend Josiah Seaton of Petersfield. My mother, he said, was in deep distress at my position, but was held up by her confidence in the decrees of Providence. He enclosed a draft for Major Ogilvy, commissioning him to use it in whatever way I should suggest. This money, together with the small hoard which my mother had sewed into my collar, proved to be invaluable, for when the gaol fever broke out amongst us I was able to get fitting food for the sick, and also to pay for the services of physicians, so that the disease was stamped out ere it had time to spread.
Early in August we were brought from Bridgewater to Taunton, where we were thrown with hundreds of others into the same wool storehouse where our regiment had been quartered in the early days of the campaign. We gained little by the change, save that we found that our new guards were somewhat more satiated with cruelty than our old ones, and were therefore less exacting upon their prisoners. Not only were friends allowed in occasionally to see us, but books and papers could be obtained by the aid of a small present to the sergeant on duty. We were able, therefore, to spend our time with some degree of comfort during the month or more which passed before our trial.
One evening I was standing listlessly with my back against the wall, looking up at a thin slit of blue sky which showed itself through the narrow window, and fancying myself back in the meadows of Havant once more, when a voice fell upon my ear which did, indeed, recall me to my Hampshire home. Those deep, husky tones, rising at times into an angry roar, could belong to none other than my old friend the seaman. I approached the door from which the uproar came, and all doubt vanished as I listened to the conversation.
โWonโt let me pass, wonโt ye?โ he was shouting. โLet me tell you Iโve held on my course when better men than you have asked me to veil topsails. I tell you I have the admiralโs permit, and I wonโt clew up for a bit of a red-painted cock-boat; so move from athwart my hawse, or I may chance to run you down.โ
โWe donโt know nothing about admirals here,โ said the sergeant of the guard. โThe time for seeing prisoners is over for the day, and if you do not take your ill-favoured body out of this I may try the weight oโ my halberd on your back.โ
โI have taken blows and given them ere you were ever thought of, you land-swab,โ roared old Solomon. โI was yardarm and yardarm with De Ruyter when you were learning to suck milk; but, old as I am, I would have you know that I am not condemned yet, and that I am fit to exchange broadsides with any lobster-tailed piccaroon that ever was triced up to a triangle and had the Kingโs diamonds cut in his back. If I tack back to Major Ogilvy and signal him the way that I have been welcomed, heโll make your hide redder than ever your coat was.โ
โMajor Ogilvy!โ exclaimed the sergeant, in a more respectful voice. โIf you had said that your permit was from Major Ogilvy it would have been another thing, but you did rave of admirals and commodores, and God knows what other outlandish talk!โ
โShame on your parents that they should have reared you with so slight a knowledge oโ the Kingโs English!โ grumbled Solomon. โIn truth, friend, it is a marvel to me why sailor men should be able to show a lead to those on shore in the matter of lingo. For out of seven hundred men in the ship Worcesterโthe same that sank in the Bay of Funchalโthere was not so much as a powder-boy but could understand every word that I said, whereas on shore there is many a great jolterhead, like thyself, who might be a Portugee for all the English that he knows, and who stares at me like a pig in a hurricane if I do lint ask him what he makes the reckoning, or how many bells have gone.โ
โWhom is it that you would see?โ asked the sergeant gruffly. โYou have a most infernally long tongue.โ
โAye, and a rough one, too, when I have fools to deal with,โ returned the seaman. โIf I had you in my watch, lad, for a three yearsโ cruise, I would make a man of you yet.โ
โPass the old man through!โ cried the sergeant furiously, and the sailor came stumping in, with his bronzed face all screwed up and twisted, partly with amusement at his victory over the sergeant, and partly from a great chunk of tobacco which he was wont to stow within his cheek. Having glanced round without perceiving me, he put his hands to his mouth and bellowed out my name, with a string of โAhoys!โ which rang through the building.
โHere I am, Solomon,โ said I, touching him on the shoulder.
โGod bless you, lad! God bless you!โ he cried, wringing my hand. โI could not see you, for my port eye is as foggy as the Newfoundland banks, and has been ever since Long Sue Williams of the Point hove a quart pot at it in the Tiger inn nigh thirty year agone. How are you? All sound, alow and aloft?โ
โAs well as might be,โ I answered. โI have little to complain of.โ
โNone of your standing rigging shot away!โ said he. โNo spars crippled? No shots between wind and water, eh? You have not been hulled, nor raked, nor laid aboard of?โ
โNone of these things,โ said I, laughing.
โFaith! you are leaner than of old, and have aged ten years in two months. You did go forth as smart and trim a fighting ship as over answered helm, and now you are like the same ship when the battle and the storm have taken the gloss from her sides and torn the love-pennants from her peak.
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