With Cochrane the Dauntless

In the annals of British sailors there is no name that should stand higher than that of Lord Cochrane. In some respects he resembled that daring leader and great military genius, the Earl of Peterborough. Both performed feats that most men would have regarded as impossible, both possessed extraordinary personal bravery and exceptional genius for war, and a love for adventure. Both accomplished marvels, and neither was appreciated at his full value by his countrymen, both having a touch of originality that amounted in the case of Peterborough to absolute eccentricity. In other respects they had little in common. Cochrane’s life was passed in one long struggle on behalf of the oppressed. He ruined his career in our navy, and created for himself a host of bitter enemies by his crusade against the enormous abuses of our naval administration, and by the ardour with which he championed the cause of reform at home. Finding the English navy closed to him he threw himself into the cause of oppressed nationalities. His valour and genius saved Chili from being reconquered by the Spanish, rescued Peru from their grasp, and utterly broke their power in South America. Similarly he crushed the Portuguese power in Brazil and ensured its independence, and then took up the cause of Greece. In all four enterprises his efforts were hampered by the utter corruption of the governments of these countries, just as his efforts on behalf of British sailors and of the British people at large had brought upon him the hatred and persecution of a government as corrupt as those of Chili, Brazil, and Greece. He was rewarded only with the basest ingratitude, and returned home after having expended a large part of his fortune and permanently injured his health in the inestimable services he had rendered. In other respects besides those exploits connected with the sea, his genius was remarkable. After retiring from active service he devoted himself to inventions, and some of these paved the way to later scientific achievements, giving him a place alongside the Marquis of Worcester.

Of Lord Cochrane it can be said that he was the victim of his generous enthusiasm for the oppressed. During the greater portion of his life he rested under a heavy cloud, and it was only in extreme old age that he had the satisfaction of having his name rehabilitated, and of regaining the honours and rank of which he had been so unjustly deprived.

G. A. HENTY.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE I. OFF TO SEA 11 II. IN THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO 30 III. A CYCLONE 50 IV. A RESCUE 69 V. AGAIN ON THE ISLAND 90 VI. HOME 109 VII. COCHRANE’S CAREER 128 VIII. THE BASQUE ROADS 146 IX. IN CHILI 158 X. WRECKED 176 XI. A DANGEROUS COMPANION 194 XII. DEATH OF THE CAPTAIN 214 XIII. PRIZE-MONEY 231 XIV. A PRISONER 249 XV. FRIENDS IN NEED 269 XVI. AN INDIAN GUIDE 287 XVII. DOWN THE RIVER 305 XVIII. CAPTURED BY INDIANS 323 XIX. IN BRAZIL 342 XX. FRESH TRIUMPHS 363

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page THE LIEUTENANT TALKS TO STEVE ABOUT GOING TO SEA, Frontis. 11 “WE WENT AT THE TREACHEROUS MALAYS WITH A WILL, AND DROVE 36 THEM BACK,” STEPHEN CRAWLS TO THE RESCUE OF HIS CHUM, JOYCE, 88 COCHRANE SCATTERS THE FRENCH FLEET IN THE BASQUE ROADS BY 156 HIS TERRIBLE EXPLOSION-SHIP, “THE SHIP FELL WITH A CRASH THAT THREW STEVE AND THE CAPTAIN 186 OFF THEIR FEET,” “WITH A SHOUT, STEPHEN SNATCHED UP HIS SWORD AND RUSHED AT 218 THE ASSASSIN,” STEPHEN BEATS OFF THE GREAT WAR-CANOE SINGLE-HANDED, 228 STEPHEN IS BOUND AND BROUGHT BEFORE THE GOVERNOR OF SAN 265 CARLOS, STEPHEN MAKES A DASH FOR LIBERTY, AND GRAPPLES WITH THE 278 GUARD, “THE ANIMAL WAS ON THE POINT OF SPRINGING WHEN STEPHEN 306 FIRED,” PITA TRIES STEPHEN’S PLAN IN ORDER TO ESCAPE FROM THE 323 WHIRLPOOL, “MY DEAR BOY,” EXCLAIMED LORD COCHRANE, “THANK GOD INDEED 365 THAT I SEE YOU ALIVE,”

[Illustration: THE LIEUTENANT TALKS TO STEVE ABOUT GOING TO SEA.]

WITH COCHRANE THE DAUNTLESS.

CHAPTER I.

OFF TO SEA.

“I am sure I do not know what to do with you, Steve,” Lieutenant Embleton said one afternoon as he and his son were sitting upon a bench on the cliff at Ramsgate, looking over the sea. “Upon my word I don’t see my way at all; this peace has stranded most of us, and at any rate, so far as I am concerned, there is not a ghost of a chance of my obtaining employment—not that I am fit for it if I could get it. I have been nearly ten years ashore. Every one of us who sailed under Cochrane have been marked men ever since. However, that is an old story, and it is no use grumbling over what cannot be helped; besides, that wound in my hip has been troubling me a good deal of late, and I know I am not fit for sea. I don’t think I should have minded so much if I had got post rank before being laid on the shelf. The difference of pension, too, would have been a help, for goodness knows it is hard work making ends meet on a lieutenant’s half-pay. However, that is not the question now. The thing that I have got to consider is what is the best thing to do with you.