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THE TWO ADMIRALS
time mentioned, the vehicle drew up before the door of the
cottage, and all three alighted.
If the morning of that day had been veiled in mist, the sun
had set in as cloudless a sky, as is often arched above the island
of Great Britain. The night was, what in that region, is termed
a clear moonlight. It was certainly not the mimic day that is so
often enjoyed in purer atmospheres, but the panorama of the
head-land was clothed in a soft, magical sort of semi-distinctness, that rendered objects sufficiently obvious, and exceedingly beautiful. The rounded, shorn swells of the land, hove
upward to the eye, verdant and smooth; while the fine oaks of
the park formed a shadowy background to the picture, inland.
Seaward, the ocean was glittering, like a reversed plane of the
firmament, far as eye could reach. If our own hemisphere, or
rather this latitude, may boast of purer skies than are enjoyed
by the mother country, the latter has a vast superiority in the
tint of the water. While the whole American coast is bounded
by a dull-looking sheet of sea-green, the deep blue of the wide
ocean appears to be carried close home to the shores of Europe.
This glorious tint, from which the term of “ultramarine” has
been derived, is most remarkable in the Mediterranean, that sea
of delights; but it is met with, all along the rock-bound coasts
of the Peninsula of Spain and Portugal, extending through the
British Channel, until it is in a measure, lost on the shoals of
the North Sea; to be revived, however, in the profound depths
of the ocean that laves the wild romantic coast of Norway.
“’Tis a glorious night!” exclaimed Bluewater, as he handed
Mildred, the last, from the carriage; “and one can hardly wish
to enter a cot, let it swing ever so lazily.”
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
“Sleep is out of the question,” returned Mildred, sorrow-
fully. “These are nights in which even the weary are reluctant
to lose their consciousness; but who can sleep while there is
this uncertainty about dear Sir Wycherly.”
“I rejoice to hear you say this, Mildred,” – for so the admi-
ral had unconsciously, and unrepelled, begun to call his sweet
companion – “I rejoice to hear you say this, for I am an inveterate star-gazer and moon-ite; and I shall hope to persuade
you and Mrs. Dutton to waste yet another hour, with me, in
walking on this height. Ah! yonder is Sam Yoke, my coxswain,
waiting to report the barge; I can send Sir Gervaise’s message
to the surgeons, by deputy, and there will be no occasion for
my hastening from this lovely spot, and pleasant company.”
The orders were soon given to the coxswain. A dozen boats,
it would seem, were in waiting for officers ashore, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour; and directions were sent for
two of them to pull off, and obtain the medical men. The coach
was sent round to receive the latter, and then all was tranquil,
again, on the height. Mrs. Dutton entered the house, to attend
to some of her domestic concerns, while the rear-admiral took
the arm of Mildred, and they walked, together, to the verge of
the cliffs.
A fairer moonlight picture seldom offered itself to a sea-
man’s eye, than that which now lay before the sight of Admiral
Bluewater and Mildred. Beneath them rode the fleet; sixteen
sail of different rigs, eleven of which, however, were twodecked ships of the largest size then known in naval warfare;
and all of which were in that perfect order, that an active and
intelligent commander knows how to procure, even from the
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THE TWO ADMIRALS
dilatory and indifferent. If Admiral Bluewater was conspicuous in man[oe]uvring a fleet, and in rendering every vessel of a
line that extended a league, efficient, and that too, in her right
place, Sir Gervaise Oakes had the reputation of being one of
the best seamen, in the ordinary sense of the word, in England.
No vessel under his command, ever had a lubberly look; and
no ship that had any sailing in her, failed to have it brought
out of her. The vice-admiral was familiar with that all-important fact – one that members equally of Congress and of Parliament are so apt to forgot, or rather not to know at all – that
the efficiency of a whole fleet, as a fleet, is necessarily brought
down to the level of its worst ships. Of little avail is it, that four
or five vessels of a squadron sail fast, and work well, if the eight
or ten that remain, behave badly, and are dull. A separation of
the vessels is the inevitable consequence, when the properties
of all are thoroughly tried; and the division of a force, is the
first step towards its defeat; as its proper concentration, is a
leading condition of victory. As the poorer vessels cannot imitate the better, the good are compelled to regulate their movements by the bad; which is at once essentially bringing down
the best ships of a fleet to the level of its worst; the proposition
with which we commenced.
Sir Gervaise Oakes was so great a favourite, that all he
asked was usually conceded to him. One of his conditions was,
that his vessels should sail equally well; “If you give me fast
ships,” he said, “I can overtake the enemy; if dull, the enemy
can overtake me; and I leave you to say which course will be
most likely to bring on an action. At any rate, give me con-
sorts; not one flyer, and one drag; but vessels that can keep
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
within hail of each other, without anchoring.” The admiralty
professed every desire to oblige the gallant commander; and,
as he was resolved never to quit the Plantagenet until she was
worn out, it was indispensably necessary to find as many fast
vessels as possible, to keep her company. The result was literally a fleet of “horses,” as Galleygo used to call it; and it was
generally said in the service, that “Oakes had a squadron of
flyers, if not a flying-squadron.”
Vessels like these just mentioned, are usually symmetrical
and graceful to the eye, as well as fast. This fact was apparent
to Mildred, accustomed as she was to the sight of ships and she
ventured to express as much, after she and her companion had
stood quite a minute on the cliff, gazing at the grand spectacle
beneath them.
“Your vessels look even handsomer than common, Admi-
ral Bluewater,” she said, “though a ship, to me, is always an
attractive sight.”
“This is because they are handsomer than common, my
pretty critic. Vice-Admiral Oakes is an officer who will no
more tolerate an ugly ship in his fleet, than a peer of the realm
will marry any woman but one who is handsome; unless indeed she happen to be surpassingly rich.”
“I have heard that men are accustomed to lose their hearts
under such an influence,” said Mildred, laughing; “but I did not
know before, that they were ever frank enough to avow it!”
“The knowledge has been imparted by a prudent mother,
I suppose,” returned the rear-admiral, in a musing manner; “I
wish I stood sufficiently in the parental relation to you, my
young friend, to venture to give a little advice, also. Never, be-
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THE TWO ADMIRALS
fore, did I feel so strong a wish to warn a human being of a
great danger that I fear is impending over her, could I presume
to take the liberty.”
“It is not a liberty, but a duty, to warn any one of a danger
that is known to ourselves, and not to the person who incurs
the risk. At least so it appears to the eyes of a very young girl.”
“Yes, if the danger was of falling from these cliffs, or of set-
ting fire to a house, or of any other visible calamity. The case is
different, when young ladies, and setting fire to the heart, are
concerned.”
“Certainly, I can perceive the distinction,” answered Mil-
dred, after a short pause; “and can understand that the same
person who would not scruple to give the alarm against any
physical danger, would hesitate even at hinting at one of a
moral character. Nevertheless, if Admiral Bluewater think a
simple girl, like me, of sufficient importance to take the trouble to interest himself in her welfare, I should hope he would
not shrink from pointing out this danger. It is a terrible word
to sleep on; and I confess, besides a little uneasiness, to a good
deal of curiosity to know more.”
“This is said, Mildred, because you are unaccustomed to the
shocks which the tongue of rude man may give your sensitive
feelings.”
“Unaccustomed!” said Mildred, trembling so that the weak-
ness was apparent to her companion. “Unaccustomed! Alas!
Admiral Bluewater, can this be so, after what you have seen
and heard!”
“Pardon me, dear child: nothing was farther from my
thoughts, than to wish to revive those unpleasant recollec-
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
tions. If I thought I should be forgiven, I might venture, yet, to
reveal my secret; for never before – though I cannot tell the
reason of so sudden and so extraordinary an interest in one
who is almost a stranger – “
“No – no – not a stranger, dear sir. After all that has passed
to-day; after you have been admitted, though it were by accident, to one most sacred secret; – after all that was said in
the carriage, and the terrible scenes my beloved mother went
through in your presence so many years since, you can never
be a stranger to us, whatever may be your own desire to fancy
yourself one.”
“Girl, you do not fascinate – you do not charm me, but
you bind me to you in a way I did not think it in the power of
any human being to subjugate my feelings!”
This was said with so much energy, that Mildred dropped
the arm she held, and actually recoiled a step, if not in alarm,
at least in surprise. But, on looking up into the face of her companion, and perceiving large tears actually glistening on his
cheek, and seeing the hair that exposure and mental cares had
whitened more than time, all her confidence returned, and
she resumed the place she had abandoned, of her own accord,
and as naturally as a daughter would have clung to the side of
a father.
“I am sure, sir, my gratitude for this interest ought to be
quite equal to the honour it does me,” Mildred said, earnestly.
“And, now, Admiral Bluewater, do not hesitate to speak to me
with the frankness that a parent might use. I will listen with
the respect and deference of a daughter.”
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THE TWO ADMIRALS
“Then do listen to what I have to say, and make no answer,
if you find yourself wounded at the freedom I am taking. It
would seem that there is but one subject on which a man, old
fellow or young fellow, can speak to a lovely young girl, when
he gets her alone, under the light of a fine moon; – and that
is love. Nay, start not again, my dear, for, if I am about to speak
on so awkward a subject, it is not in my own behalf I hardly
know whether you will think it in behalf of any one; as what I
have to say, is not an appeal to your affections, but a warning
against bestowing them.”
“A warning, Admiral Bluewater! Do you really think that
can be necessary?”
“Nay, my child, that is best known to yourself. Of one thing
I am certain; the young man I have in my eye, affects to admire
you, whether he does or not; and when young women are led
to believe they are loved, it is a strong appeal to all their generous feelings to answer the passion, if not with equal warmth, at
least with something very like it.”
“Affects to admire, sir! – And why should any one be at
the pains of affecting feelings towards me, that they do not
actually entertain? I have neither rank, nor money, to bribe
any one to be guilty of an hypocrisy so mean, and which, in my
ease, would be so motiveless.”
“Yes, if it were motiveless to win the most beautiful crea-
ture in England! But, no matter. We will not stop to analyze
motives, whenfacts are what we aim at. I should think there
must be some passion in this youth’s suit, and that will only
make it so much the more dangerous to its object. At all events,
I feel a deep conviction that he is altogether unworthy of you.
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
This is a bold expression of opinion on an acquaintance of a
day; but there are such reasons for it, that a man of my time of
life, if unprejudiced, can scarcely be deceived.”
“All this is very singular, sir, and I had almost used your
own word of ‘alarming,’” replied Mildred, slightly agitated by
curiosity, but more amused. “I shall be as frank as yourself, and
say that you judge the gentleman harshly. Mr. Rotherham may
not have all the qualities that a clergyman ought to possess,
but he is far from being a bad man. Good or bad, however, it
is not probable that he will carry his transient partiality any
farther than he has gone already.”
“Mr. Rotherham! – I have neither thought nor spoken of
the pious vicar at all!”
Mildred was now sadly confused. Mr. Rotherham had made
his proposals for her, only the day before, and he had been
mildly, but firmly refused. The recent occurrence was naturally uppermost in her mind; and the conjecture that her rejected
suitor, under the influence of wine, might have communicated
the state of his wishes, or what he fancied to be the state of his
wishes, to her companion, was so very easy, that she had fallen
into the error, almost without reflection.
“I beg pardon, sir – I really imagined,” the confused girl
answered; “but, it was a natural mistake for me to suppose you
meant Mr. Rotherham, as he is the only person who has ever
spoken to my mother on the subject of any thing like a preference for me.”
“I should have less fear of those who spoke to your mother,
Mildred, than of those who spoke only to you. As I hate ambi-
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THE TWO ADMIRALS
guity, however, I will say, at once, that my allusion was to Mr.
Wychecombe.”
“Mr. Wychecombe, Admiral Bluewater!” – and the veteran
felt the arm that leaned on him tremble violently, a sad confirmation of even more than he apprehended, or he would not
have been so abrupt. “Surely – surely – the warning you mean,
cannot, ought not to apply to a gentleman of Mr. Wychecombe’s
standing and character!”
“Such is the world, Miss Dutton, and we old seamen, in
particular, get to know it, whether willingly or not. My sudden
interest in you, the recollection of former, but painful scenes,
and the events of the day, have made me watchful, and, you
will add, bold – but I am resolved to speak, even at the risk of
disobliging you for ever – and, in speaking, I must say that I
never met with a young man who has made so unfavourable
an impression on me, as this same Mr. Wychecombe.”
Mildred, unconsciously to herself, withdrew her arm, and
she felt astonished at her own levity, in so suddenly becoming
sufficiently intimate with a stranger to permit him thus to disparage a confirmed friend.
“I am sorry, sir, that you entertain so indifferent an opin-
ion of one who is, I believe, a general favourite, in this part of
the country,” she answered, with a coldness that rendered her
manner marked.
“I perceive I shall share the fate of all unwelcome counsel-
lors, but can only blame my own presumption. Mildred, we
live in momentous times, and God knows what is to happen to
myself, in the next few months; but, so strong is the inexplicable interest that I feel in your welfare, that I shall venture still
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
to offend. I like not this Mr. Wychecombe, who is so devout an
admirer of yours – real or affected – and, as to the liking of
dependants for the heir of a considerable estate, it is so much
a matter of course, that I count it nothing.”
“The heir of a considerable estate!” repeated Mildred, in a
voice to which the natural sweetness returned, quietly resuming the arm, she had so unceremoniously dropped – “Surely,
dear sir, you are not speaking of Mr. Thomas Wychecombe, Sir
Wycherly’s nephew.”
“Of whom else should I speak? – Has he not been your
shadow the whole day? – so marked in his attentions, as scarce
to deem it necessary to conceal his suit?”
“Has it really struck you thus, sir? – I confess I did not so
consider it. We are so much at home at the Hall, that we rather
expect all of that family to be kind to us. But, whether you are
right in your conjecture, or not, Mr. Thomas Wychecombe can
never be ought to me – and as proof, Admiral Bluewater, that
I take your warning, as it is meant, in kindness and sincerity, I
will add, that he is not a very particular favourite.”
“I rejoice to hear it! Now there is his namesake, our young
lieutenant, as gallant and as noble a fellow as ever lived –
would to Heaven be was not so wrapt up in his profession, as
to be insensible to any beauties, but those of a ship. Were you
my own daughter, Mildred, I could give you to that lad, with
as much freedom as I would give him my estate, were he my
son.”
Mildred smiled – and it was archly, though not without a
shade of sorrow, too – but she had sufficient self-command, to
keep her feelings to herself, and too much maiden reserve not
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