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diff --git a/old/11243-8.txt b/old/11243-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ddf987a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11243-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16412 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Miles Wallingford, by James Fenimore Cooper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Miles Wallingford + Sequel to "Afloat and Ashore" + +Author: James Fenimore Cooper + +Release Date: February 23, 2004 [EBook #11243] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MILES WALLINGFORD *** + + + + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +MILES WALLINGFORD + +Sequel to Afloat and Ashore. + +By J. Fenimore Cooper. + +1863. + + + +Preface + + +The conclusion of this tale requires but little preface. Many persons may +think that there is too much of an old man's despondency in a few of the +opinions of this portion of the work; but, after sixty, it is seldom we +view the things of this world _en beau_. There are certain political +allusions, very few in number, but pretty strong in language, that the +signs of the times fully justify, in the editor's judgment; though he does +not profess to give his own sentiments in this work, so much as those of +the subject of the narrative himself. "The anti-rent combination," for +instance, will prove, according to the editor's conjectures, to be one of +two things in this community--the commencement of a dire revolution, or +the commencement of a return to the sounder notions and juster principles +that prevailed among us thirty years since, than certainly prevail to-day. +There is one favourable symptom discoverable in the deep-seated disease +that pervades the social system: men dare, and do, deal more honestly and +frankly with the condition of society in this country, than was done a few +years since. This right, one that ought to be most dear to every freeman, +has been recovered only by painful sacrifices and a stern resolution; but +recovered it has been, in some measure; and, were the pens of the country +true to their owners' privileges, we should soon come to a just view of +the sacred nature of private character, as well as the target-like +vulnerability of public follies and public vice. It is certain that, for a +series of dangerous years, notions just the reverse of this have prevailed +among us, gradually rendering the American press equally the vehicle of +the most atrocious personal calumny, and the most flatulent national +self-adulation. It is under such a state of things that the few evils +alluded to in this work have had their rise. Bodies of men, however +ignorant or small, have come to consider themselves as integral portions +of a community that never errs, and, consequently, entitled to esteem +themselves infallible. When in debt, they have fancied it political +liberty to pay their debts by the strong hand; a very easy transition for +those who believe themselves able to effect all their objects. The disease +has already passed out of New York into Pennsylvania; it will spread, like +any other epidemic, throughout the country; and there will soon be a +severe struggle among us, between the knave and the honest man. Let the +class of the latter look to it. It is to be hoped it is still +sufficiently powerful to conquer. + +These few remarks are made in explanation of certain opinions of Mr. +Wallingford, that have been extorted from him by the events of the day, as +he was preparing this work for the press; remarks that might seem out of +place, were it not a part of his original plan, which contemplated +enlarging far more than he has, indeed, on some of the prominent +peculiarities of the state of society in which he has passed the greater +part of his days. + + + + + +Miles Wallingford + + + +Chapter I. + + + + --"But I'll not chide thee; + Let shame come when it will, I do not call it; + I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot, + Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove; + Mend when thou canst--" + + Lear. + + +It is almost as impossible to describe minutely what occurred on the +boat's reaching the Wallingford, as to describe all the terrific incidents +of the struggle between Drewett and myself in the water. I had sufficient +perception, however, to see, as I was assisted on board by Mr. Hardinge +and Neb, that Lucy was not on deck. She had probably gone to join Grace, +with a view to be in readiness for meeting the dire intelligence that was +expected. I afterwards learned that she was long on her knees in the +after-cabin, engaged in that convulsive prayer which is apt to accompany +sudden and extreme distress in those who appeal to God in their agony. + +During the brief moments, and they were but mere particles of time, if one +can use such an expression, in which my senses could catch anything beyond +the horrid scene in which I was so closely engaged, I had heard shrill +screams from the lungs of Chloe; but Lucy's voice had not mingled in the +outcry. Even now, as we were raised, or aided, to the deck, the former +stood, with her face glistening with tears, half convulsed with terror and +half expanding with delight, uncertain whether to laugh or to weep, +looking first at her master and then at her own admirer, until her +feelings found a vent in the old exclamation of "der feller!" + +It was fortunate for Andrew Drewett that a man of Post's experience and +steadiness was with us. No sooner was the seemingly lifeless body on +board, than Mr. Hardinge ordered the water-cask to be got out; and he and +Marble would have soon been rolling the poor fellow with all their might, +or holding him up by the heels, under the notion that the water he had +swallowed must be got out of him, before he could again breathe; but the +authority of one so high in the profession soon put a stop to this. +Drewett's wet clothes were immediately removed, blankets were warmed at +the galley, and the most judicious means were resorted to, in order to +restore the circulation. The physician soon detected signs of life, and, +ordering all but one or two assistants to leave the spot, in ten minutes +Drewett was placed in a warm bed, and might be considered out of danger. + +The terrific scene enacted so directly before his eyes, produced an effect +on the _Albon_-ny man, who consented to haul aft his main-sheet, lower his +studding-sail and top-sail, come by the wind, stand across to the +Wallingford, heave-to, and lower a boat. This occurred just as Drewett was +taken below; and, a minute later, old Mrs. Drewett and her two daughters, +Helen and Caroline, were brought alongside of us. The fears of these +tender relatives were allayed by my report; for, by this time, I could +both talk and walk; and Post raised no objection to their being permitted +to go below. I seized that opportunity to jump down into the sloop's hold, +where Neb brought me some dry clothes; and I was soon in a warm, +delightful glow, that contributed in no small degree to my comfort. So +desperate had been my struggles, however, that it took a good night's rest +completely to restore the tone of my nerves and all my strength. My +arrangements were barely completed, when I was summoned to the cabin. + +Grace met me with extended arms. She wept on my bosom for many minutes. +She was dreadfully agitated as it was; though happily she knew nothing of +the cause of Chloe's screams, and of the confusion on deck, until I was +known to be safe. Then Lucy communicated all the facts to her in as +considerate a manner as her own kind and gentle nature could dictate. I +was sent for, as just stated, and caressed like any other precious thing +that its owner had supposed itself about to lose. We were still in an +agitated state, when Mr. Hardinge appeared at the door of the cabin, with +a prayer-book in his hand. He demanded our attention, all kneeling in both +cabins, while the good, simple-minded old man read some of the collects, +the Lord's Prayer, and concluded with the thanksgiving for "a safe return +from sea"! He would have given us the marriage ceremony itself, before he +would have gone out of the prayer-book for any united worship whatever. + +It was impossible not to smile at this last act of pious simplicity, while +it was equally impossible not to be touched with such an evidence of +sincere devotion. The offering had a soothing influence on all our +feelings, and most especially on those of the excited females. As I came +out into the main-cabin, after this act of devotion, the excellent divine +took me in his arms, kissed me just as he had been used to do when a boy, +and blessed me aloud. I confess I was obliged to rush on deck to conceal +my emotion. + +In a few minutes I became sufficiently composed to order sail made on our +course, when we followed the Orpheus up the river, soon passing her, and +taking care to give her a wide berth; a precaution I long regretted not +having used at first. As Mrs. Drewett and her two daughters refused to quit +Andrew, we had the whole family added to our party, as it might be, per +force. I confess to having been sufficiently selfish to complain a little, +to myself only, however, at always finding these people in my way, during +the brief intervals I now enjoyed of being near Lucy. As there was no help +after seeing all the canvass spread, I took a seat in one of the chairs +that stood on the main-deck, and began, for the first time, coolly to +ponder on all that had just passed. While thus occupied, Marble drew a +chair to my side, gave me a cordial squeeze of the hand, and began to +converse. At this moment, neatly tricked out in dry clothes, stood Neb on +the forecastle, with his arms folded, sailor-fashion, as calm as if he had +never felt the wind blow; occasionally giving in, however, under the +influence of Chloe's smiles and unsophisticated admiration. In these +moments of weakness the black would bow his head, give vent to a short +laugh when, suddenly recovering himself, he would endeavour to appear +dignified. While this pantomime was in the course of exhibition forward, +the discourse aft did not flag. + +"Providence intends you for something remarkable, Miles," my mate +continued, after one or two brief expressions of his satisfaction at my +safety; "something uncommonly remarkable, depend on it. First, you were +spared in the boat off the Isle of Bourbon; then, in another boat off +Delaware Bay; next, you got rid of the Frenchman so dexterously in the +British Channel; after that, there was the turn-up with the bloody Smudge +and his companions; next comes the recapture of the Crisis; sixthly, as +one might say, you picked me up at sea, a runaway hermit; and now here, +this very day, seventhly and lastly, are you sitting safe and sound, after +carrying as regular a lubber as ever fell overboard, on your head and +shoulders, down to the bottom of the Hudson, no less than three times! I +consider you to be the only man living who ever sank his three times, and +came up to tell of it, with his own tongue." + +"I am not at all conscious of having said one word about it, Moses," I +retorted, a little drily. + +"Every motion, every glance of your eye, boy, tells the story. No; +Providence intends you for something remarkable, you may rely on _that_. +One of these days you may go to Congress--who knows?" + +"By the same rule, you are to be included, then; for in most of my +adventures you have been a sharer, besides having quantities that are +exclusively your own. Remember, you have even been a hermit." + +"Hu-s-h--not a syllable about it, or the children would run after me as a +sight. You must have generalized in a remarkable way, Miles, after you +sunk the last time, without much hope of coming up again?" + +"Indeed, my friend, you are quite right in your conjecture. So near a view +of death is apt to make us all take rapid and wide views of the past. I +believe it even crossed my mind that _you_ would miss me sadly." + +"Ay," returned Marble, with feeling; "them are the moments to bring out +the truth! Not a juster idee passed your brain than _that_, Master Miles, +I can assure you. Missed you! I would have bought a boat and started for +Marble Land, never again to quit it, the day after the funeral. But there +stands your cook, fidgeting and looking this way, as if she had a word to +put in on the occasion. This expl'ite of Neb's will set the niggers up in +the world; and it wouldn't surprise me if it cost you a suit of finery +all round." + +"A price I will cheerfully pay for my life. It is as you say--Dido +certainly wishes to speak to me, and I must give her an invitation to +come nearer." + +Dido Clawbonny was the cook of the family, and the mother of Chloe. +Whatever hypercriticism might object to her colour, which was a black out +of which all the gloss had fairly glistened itself over the fire, no one +could deny her being full blown. Her weight was exactly two hundred, and +her countenance a strange medley of the light-heartedness of her race, and +the habitual and necessary severity of a cook. She often protested that +she was weighed down by "responserbility;" the whole of the discredit of +overdone beef, or under-done fish, together with those which attach +themselves to heavy bread, lead-like buckwheat-cakes, and a hundred other +similar cases, belonging exclusively to her office. She had been twice +married, the last connection having been formed only a twelvemonth before. +In obedience to a sign, this important lady now approached. + +"Welcome back, Masser Mile," Dido began with a curtsey, meaning "Welcome +back from being half-drowned;" "ebberybody _so_ grad you isn't hurt!" + +"Thank you, Dido--thank you with all my heart. If I have gained nothing +else by the ducking, I have gained a knowledge of the manner in which my +servants love me." + +"Lor' bless us all! How we help it, Masser Mile? As if a body can +posserbly help how lub come and go! Lub jest like religion, Masser +Mile--some get him, and some don't. But lub for a young masser and a young +missus, sah--_dat_ jest as nat'ral, as lub for ole masser and ole missus. +I t'ink nut'in' of neider." + +Luckily, I was too well acquainted with the Clawbonny dialect to need a +vocabulary in order to understand the meaning of Dido. All she wished to +express was the idea that it was so much a matter of course for the +dependants of the family to love its heads, that she did not think the +mere circumstance, in itself, worthy of a second thought. + +"Well, Dido," I said, "how does matrimony agree with you, in your old +age? I hear you took a second partner to yourself, while I was last +at sea." + +Dido let her eyes fall on the deck, according to the custom of all brides, +let their colour be what it may; manifested a proper degree of confusion, +then curtsied, turned her full moon-face so as to resemble a half-moon, +and answered, with a very suspicious sort of a sigh-- + +"Yes, Masser Mile, dat jest so. I did t'ink to wait and ask 'e young +masser's consent; but Cupid say"--not the god of love, but an old negro of +that name, Dido's second partner--"but Cupid say, 'what odd he make to +Masser Mile; he long way off, and he won't care:' and so, sah, rader than +be tormented so by Cupid, one had altogedder better be married at +once--dat all, sah." + +"And that is quite enough, my good woman; that everything may be in rule, +I give my consent now, and most cheerfully." + +"T'ankee, sah!" dropping a curtsey, and showing her teeth. + +"Of course the ceremony was performed by our excellent rector, good Mr. +Hardinge?" + +"Sartain, sah--no Clawbonny nigger t'ink he marry at all, 'less Masser +Hardinge bless him and say Amen. Ebberybody say 'e marriage is as good as +ole Masser and Missusses. Dis make two time Dido got married; and both +time good, lawful ceremunny, as ebber was. Oh! yes, sah!" + +"And I hope your change of condition has proved to your mind, Dido, now +the thing is done. Old Cupid is no great matter in the way of beauty, +certainly; but he is an honest, sober fellow enough." + +"Yes, sah, he _dat_, no one _can_ deny. Ah! Masser Mile, em 'ere +step-husband, after all, nebber jest like a body own husband! Cupid +_berry_ honest, and _berry_ sober; but he only step-husband; and _dat_ I +tell him twenty time already, I do t'ink, if trut' was said." + +"Perhaps you have now said it often enough--twenty times are quite +sufficient to tell a man such a fact." + +"Yes, sah," dropping another curtsey, "if Masser Mile please." + +"I do please, and think you have told him _that_ often enough. If a man +won't learn a thing in twenty lessons, he is not worth the trouble of +teaching. So tell him he's a step-husband no more, but try something else. +I hope he makes Chloe a good father?" + +"Lor', sah, he no Chloe's fadder, at all--_her_ fadder dead and gone, and +nebber come back. I want to say a word to young Masser, 'bout Chloe and +dat 'ere fellow, Neb--yes, sah." + +"Well, what is it, Dido? I see they like each other, and suppose _they_ +wish to get married, too. Is that the object of your visit? if so, I +consent without waiting to be asked. Neb will make no step-husband, I can +promise you." + +"Don't be in a hurry, Masser Mile," said Dido, with an eagerness that +showed this ready consent was anything but what she wanted. "Dere many +'jection to Neb, when he ask to marry a young gal in Chloe sitiation. You +know, sah, Chloe now Miss Grace's own waitin'-maid. Nobody else help her +dress, or do anything in 'e young missus's room, dan Chloe, sheself--my +darter, Chloe Clawbonny!" + +Here was a new turn given to the affair! It was "like master, like man." +Neb's love (or _lub_, for that was just the word, and just the idea, too) +was no more fated to run smooth than my own; and the same objection lay +against us both, viz., want of gentility! I determined to say a good word +for the poor fellow, however; while it would have been exceeding the usage +of the family to interfere in any other manner than by advice, in an +affair of the heart. + +"If Chloe is my sister's favourite servant, Dido," I remarked, "you are to +remember that Neb is mine." + +"Dat true, sah, and so Chloe say; but dere great difference, Masser Mile, +atween Clawbonny and a ship. Neb own, himself, young Masser, he doesn't +even lib in cabin, where you lib, sah." + +"All that is true, Dido; but there is a difference of another sort between +a ship and a house. The house-servant may be more liked and trusted than +the out-door servant; but we think, at sea, it is more honourable to be a +foremast-hand than to be in the cabin, unless as an officer. I was a +foremast Jack some time, myself; and Neb is only in such a berth as his +master once filled." + +"Dat a great deal--quite won'erful, sah--berry great deal, and more dan +Chloe can say, or I can wish her to say. But, sah, dey say now Neb has +save 'e young masser's life, young masser must gib him free-paper; and no +gal of mine shall ebber be free nigger's wife. No, sah; 'scuse me from dat +disgrace, which too much for fait'ful ole servant to bear!" + +"I am afraid, Dido, Neb is the same way of thinking. I offered him his +freedom, the other day, and he refused to receive it. Times are changing +in this country; and it will be thought, soon, it is more creditable for a +black to be free, than to be any man's slave. The law means to free all +hands of you, one of these days." + +"Nebber tell me dat, Masser Mile--dat day nebber come for me or mine; even +ole Cupid know better dan _dat_. Now, sah, Misser Van Blarcum's Brom want +to have Chloe, dreadful; but I nebber consent to sich a uner"--(Dido meant +union)--"nebber. Our family, sah, altogedder too good to marry in among +the Van Blarcums. Nebber has been, and never shall be uner atween 'em." + +"I was not aware, Dido, that the Clawbonny slaves were so particular about +their connections." + +"Won'erful particular, sah, and ebber hab been, and ebber will be. Don't +t'ink, Masser Mile, I marry ole Cupid, myself, if anoder prop'r connection +offer in 'e family; but I prefar him, to marry into any oder family +hereabout." + +"Neb is Clawbonny, and my great friend; so I hope you will think better of +his suit. Some day Chloe may like to be free; and Neb will always have it +in his power to make his wife free, as well as himself." + +"Sah, I t'ink, as you say, Masser Miles, sah--when I hab done t'inkin', +sah, hope young masser and young missus hear what ole cook got to say, +afore 'ey gives consent." + +"Certainly; Chloe is your daughter, and she shall pay you all due +respect--for that, I will answer for my sister as well as for myself. We +will never encourage disrespect for parents." + +Dido renewed and redoubled her thanks, made another profound curtsey, and +withdrew with a dignity that, I dare say, in Neb's and Chloe's eyes, boded +little good. As for myself, I now mused on the character of the things of +this world. Here were people of the very humblest class known in a +nation--nay, of a class sealed by nature itself, and doomed to +inferiority--just as tenacious of the very distinctions that were making +me so miserable, and against which certain persons, who are wiser than the +rest of the world, declaim without understanding them, and even go so far, +sometimes, as to deny their existence. My cook reasoned, in her sphere, +much as I knew that Rupert reasoned, as the Drewetts reasoned, as the +world reasoned, and, as I feared, even Lucy reasoned in my own case! The +return of Marble, who had left my side as soon as Dido opened her budget, +prevented my dwelling long on this strange--I had almost said, +uncouth--coincidence, and brought my mind back to present things. + +"As the old woman has spun her yarn, Miles," the mate resumed, "we will go +on with matters and things. I have been talking with the mother of the +youngster that fell overboard, and giving her some advice for the benefit +of her son in time to come; and what do you think she gives as the reason +for the silly thing he did?" + +"It is quite out of my power to say--that he was a silly fellow naturally, +perhaps." + +"Love. It seems the poor boy is in love with this sweet friend of yours, +Rupert's sister; and it was nothing more nor less than love which made him +undertake to play rope-dancer on our main-boom!" + +"Did Mrs. Drewett tell you this, with her own mouth, Marble?" + +"That did she, Captain Wallingford; for, while you were discussing Neb and +Chloe with old Dido, we, that is, the doctor, the mother and myself, were +discussing Andrew and Lucy between ourselves. The good old lady gave me to +understand it was a settled thing, and that she looked on Miss Hardinge, +already, as a third daughter." + +This was a strange subject for Mrs. Drewett to discuss with a man like +Marble, or even with Post; but some allowances were to be made for +Marble's manner of viewing his own connection with the dialogue, and more +for the excited condition of the mother's feelings. She was scarcely yet +in possession of all her faculties, and might very well commit an +indiscretion of this nature, more especially in her conversation with a +man in Post's position, overlooking or disregarding the presence of the +mate. The effect of all that had passed was to leave a strong impression +on my mind that I was too late. Lucy must be engaged, and waited only to +become of age, in order to make the settlements she intended in favour of +her brother, ere she was married. Her manner to myself was merely the +result of habit and sincere friendship; a little increased in interest and +gentleness, perhaps, on account of the grievous wrong she felt we had +received from Rupert. What right had I to complain, admitting all this to +be true? I had scarcely been aware of my own passion for the dear girl for +years, and had certainly never attempted to make her acquainted with it. +She had made me no pledges, plighted no faith, received no assurances of +attachment, was under no obligation to wait my pleasure. So sincere was my +affection for Lucy, that I rejoiced, even in my misery, when I remembered +that not the slightest imputation could be laid on her deportment, truth, +or frankness. On the whole, it was perhaps the more natural that she +should love Andrew Drewett, one she met for the first time after she +became of an age to submit to such impressions, than to love me, whom she +had been educated to treat with the familiarity and confidence of a +brother. Yes; I was even just enough to admit this. + +The scene of the morning, and the presence of Mrs. Drewett and her +daughters, produced an entire change in the spirits and intercourse of our +party. The ladies remained below most of the time; and as for Drewett +himself, he was advised by Post not to quit his berth until he found his +strength restored. Mr. Hardinge passed much time by Andrew Drewett's side, +offering such attentions as might be proper from a father to a son. At +least it so seemed to me. This left Marble and myself in possession of the +quarter-deck, though we had occasional visits from all below--Grace, Lucy, +and old Mrs. Drewett, excepted. + +In the mean time, the Wallingford continued to ascend the river, favoured +until evening by a light southerly breeze. She outsailed everything; and, +just as the sun was sinking behind the fine termination of the Cattskill +range of mountains, we were some miles above the outlet of the stream that +has lent it its name. + +A lovelier landscape can scarce be imagined than that which presented +itself from the deck of the sloop. It was the first time I had ascended +the river, or indeed that any of the Clawbonny party had been up it so +high, Mr. Hardinge excepted; and everybody was called on deck to look at +the beauties of the hour. The sloop was about a mile above Hudson, and the +view was to be gazed at towards the south. This is perhaps the finest +reach of this very beautiful stream, though it is not the fashion to think +so; the Highlands being the part usually preferred. It is easy enough for +me, who have since lived among the sublimity of the Swiss and Italian +lakes, to understand that there is nothing of a very sublime character, +relatively considered, in any of the reaches of the Hudson; but it would +be difficult to find a river that has so much which is exquisitely +beautiful; and this, too, of a beauty which borders on the grand. Lucy was +the first person to create any doubts in my mind concerning the perfection +of the Highlands. Just as the cockney declaims about Richmond Hill--the +_inland_ view from Mont-Martre, of a clouded day, is worth twenty of +it--but just as the provincial London cockney declaims about Richmond +Hill, so has the provincial American been in the habit of singing the +praises of the Highlands of the Hudson. The last are sufficiently +striking, I will allow; but they are surpassed in their own kind by a +hundred known mountain landscapes; while the softer parts of the river +have scarcely a rival. Lucy, I repeat, was the first person to teach me +this distinction--Lucy, who then had never seen either Alps or Apennines. +But her eye was as true as her principles, her tongue, or her character. +All was truth about this dear girl--truth unadulterated and unalloyed. + +"Certainly, my dear Mrs. Drewett," the dear girl said, as she stood +supporting the old lady, who leaned on her arm, gazing at the glorious +sunset, "the Highlands have nothing to equal this! To me this seems all +that art could achieve; while I confess the views in the mountains have +ever appeared to want something that the mind can imagine." + +Mrs. Drewett, though a respectable, was a common-place woman. She belonged +to the vast class that do most of their thinking by proxy; and it was a +sort of heresy in her eyes to fancy anything could surpass the Highlands. +Poor Mrs. Drewett! She was exceedingly cockney, without having the +slightest suspicion of it. _Her_ best ought to be everybody else's best. +She combated Lucy's notion warmly, therefore, protesting that the +Highlands _could_ not have a superior. This is a sort of argument it is +not easy to overcome; and her companion was content to admire the scene +before her, in silence, after urging one or two reasons, in support of her +opinion, in her own quiet, unpretending manner. + +I overheard this little argument, and was a close observer of the manner +of the parlies. Mrs. Drewett was extremely indulgent, even while warmest, +seeming to me to resist Lucy's opinion as an affectionate mother would +contend with the mistaken notions of a very favourite child. On the other +hand, Lucy appeared confiding, and spoke as the young of her sex are most +apt to do, when they utter their thoughts to ears they feel must be +indulgent. + +A sunset cannot last for ever; and even this, sweet as it had been, soon +became tame and tasteless to me. As the ladies now disappeared, I +determined to anchor, the wind failing, and the tide coming ahead. Marble +and myself had a sort of state-room fitted up for us in the hold; and +thither I was glad to retire, standing really in need of rest, after the +terrible exertions of that day. What passed in the cabins that evening, I +had no opportunity of knowing, though I heard laughing, and happy female +voices, through the bulkheads, hours after my own head was on its pillow. +When Marble came down to turn in, he told me the cabin party had revived, +and that there had been much pleasant discourse among the young people; +and this in a way to cause even him to derive great satisfaction as +a listener. + +Neb gave us a call at daylight. The wind was fresh at west-north-west, +but the tide was just beginning to run on the flood. I was so impatient to +be rid of my guests, that all hands were called immediately, and we got +the sloop under-way. The pilot professed himself willing to beat up +through the narrow passages above, and, the Wallingford's greatest +performance being on the wind, I was determined to achieve my deliverance +that very tide. The sloop drew more water than was usual for the up-river +craft, it is true, but she was light, and, just at the moment, could go +wherever the loaded Albany vessels went. Those were not the days of vast +public works; and as for sea-going craft, none had ever crossed the +Overslaugh, so far as had come to my knowledge. Times have changed +greatly, since; but the reader will remember I am writing of that remote +period in American history, the year of our Lord 1803. + +The anchor was no sooner aweigh, than the deck became a scene of activity. +The breeze was stiff, and it enabled me to show the Wallingford off to +advantage among the dull, flat-bottomed craft of that day. There were +reaches in which the wind favoured us, too; and, by the time the ladies +reappeared, we were up among the islands, worming our way through the +narrow channels with rapidity and skill. To me, and to Marble also, the +scene was entirely novel; and between the activity that our evolutions +required, and the constant change of scene, we had little leisure to +attend to those in the cabin. Just as breakfast was announced, indeed, the +vessel was approaching the more difficult part of the river; and all we +got of that meal, we took on deck, at snatches, between the many tacks we +made. As good-luck would have it, however, the wind backed more to the +westward about eight o'clock; and we were enabled to stem the ebb that +began to make at the same time. This gave us the hope of reaching the end +of our passage without again anchoring. + +At length we reached the Overslaugh, which, as was apt to be the case, was +well sprinkled with vessels aground. The pilot carried us through them +all, however; if not literally with flying colours, which would have been +regarded as an insult by the less fortunate, at least with complete +success. Then Albany came into view, leaning against its sharp acclivity, +and spreading over its extensive bottom-land. It was not the town it is +to-day, by quite three-fourths less in dwellings and people; but it was +then, as now, one of the most picturesque-looking places in America. There +is no better proof, in its way, how much more influence the talking and +writing part of mankind have than the mere actors, than is to be found in +the relative consideration of Albany, on the scale of appearance and +position, as compared with those enjoyed by a hundred other towns, more +especially in the Eastern States. Almost without a competitor, as to +beauty of situation, or at least on a level with Richmond and Burlington, +among the inland towns, it was usually esteemed a Dutch place that every +pretender was at liberty to deride, in my younger days. We are a people by +no means addicted to placing our candle under the bushel and yet I cannot +recall a single civil expression in any native writer touching the +beauties of Albany. It may have been owing to the circumstance that so +much of the town was under the hill at the beginning of the century, and +that strangers had few opportunities of seeing it to advantage; but I +rather think its want of the Anglo-Saxon origin was the principal reason +it was so little in favour. + +Glad enough was I to reach the wharves, with their line of storehouses, +that then literally spouted wheat into the sloops that crowded the quays, +on its way to feed the contending armies of Europe. Late as it was in the +season, wheat was still pouring outward through all the channels of the +country, enriching the farmers with prices that frequently rose as high as +two dollars and a half the bushel, and sometimes as high as three. Yet no +one was so poor in America as to want bread! The dearer the grain, the +higher the wages of the labourer, and the better he lived. + +It was not at all late when the Wallingford was slowly approaching the +wharf where it was intended to bring-up. There was a sloop ahead of us, +which we had been gradually approaching for the last two hours, but which +was enabled to keep in advance in consequence of the lightness of the +wind. This dying away of the breeze rendered the approaching noon-tide +calm and pleasant; and everybody in-board, even to Grace, came on deck, as +we moved slowly past the dwellings on the eastern bank, in order to get a +view of the town. I proposed that the Clawbonny party should land, +contrary to our original intention, and profit by the opportunity to see +the political capital of the State at our leisure. Both Grace and Lucy +were inclined to listen favourably; and the Drewetts, Andrew and his +sisters, were delighted at this prospect of our remaining together a +little longer. Just at this moment, the Wallingford, true to her +character, was coming up with the sloop ahead, and was already doubling on +her quarter. I was giving some orders, when Lucy and Chloe, supporting +Grace, passed me on their way to the cabin. My poor sister was pale as +death, and I could see that she trembled so much she could hardly walk. A +significant glance from Lucy bade me not to interfere, and I hid +sufficient self-command to obey. I turned to look at the neighbouring +sloop, and found at once an explanation of my sister's agitation. The +Mertons and Rupert were on her quarter-deck, and so near as to render it +impossible to avoid speaking, at least to the former. At this embarrassing +instant Lucy returned to my side, with a view, as I afterwards learned, to +urge me to carry the Wallingford to some place so distant, as to remove +the danger of any intercourse. This accident rendered the precaution +useless, the whole party in the other vessel catching sight of my +companion at the same moment. + +"This is an agreeable surprise!" called out Emily, in whose eyes Rupert's +sister could not be an object of indifference. "By your brother's and Mrs. +Drewett's account, we had supposed you at Clawbonny, by the bed-side of +Miss Wallingford." + +"Miss Wallingford is here, as are my father, and Mrs. Drewett, and--" + +Lucy never let it be known who that other "and" was intended to include. + +"Well, this is altogether surprising!" put in Rupert, with a steadiness of +voice that really astounded me. "At the very moment we were giving you +lots of credit for your constancy in friendship, and all that sort of +thing, here you are, Mademoiselle Lucie, trotting off to the Springs, like +all the rest of us, bent on pleasure." + +"No, Rupert," answered Lucy, in a tone which I thought could not fail to +bring the heartless coxcomb to some sense of the feeling he ought to +manifest; "I am going to no Springs. Dr. Post has advised a change of +scene and air for Grace; and Miles has brought us all up in his sloop, +that we may endeavour to contribute to the dear sufferer's comfort, in one +united family. We shall not land in Albany." + +I took my cue from these last words, and understood that I was not even to +bring the sloop alongside the wharf. + +"Upon my word, it is just as she says, Colonel!" cried Rupert. "I can see +my father on the forecastle, with Post, and divers others of my +acquaintance. Ay--and there's Drewett, as I live! Wallingford, too! How +fare you, noble captain, up in this fresh-water stream? You must be +strangely out of your latitude." + +"How do you do, Mr. Hardinge?" I coldly returned the salutation; and then +I was obliged to speak to the Major and his daughter. But Neb was at the +helm, and I had given him a sign to sheer further from our companion. This +soon reduced the intercourse to a few wavings of handkerchiefs, and +kissings of the hand, in which all the Drewetts came in for a share. As +for Lucy, she walked aside, and I seized the occasion to get a word +in private. + +"What am I to do with the sloop?" I asked. "It will soon be necessary to +come to some decision." + +"By no means go to the wharf. Oh! this has been most cruel. The +cabin-windows are open, and Grace _must_ have heard every syllable. Not +even a question as to her health! I dread to go below and witness +the effect." + +I wished not to speak of Rupert to his sister, and avoided the subject. +The question, therefore, was simply repeated. Lucy inquired if it were not +possible to land our passengers without bringing-up, and, hearing the +truth on the subject, she renewed her entreaties not to land. Room was +taken accordingly, and the sloop, as soon as high enough, was rounded-to, +and the boat lowered. The portmanteau of Post was placed in it, and the +Drewetts were told that everything was ready to put them ashore. + +"Surely we are not to part thus!" exclaimed the old lady. "You intend to +land, Lucy, if not to accompany us to Ballston? The waters might prove of +service to Miss Wallingford." + +"Dr. Post thinks not, but advises us to return tranquilly down the river. +We may yet go as far as Sandy Hook, or even into the Sound. It all depends +on dear Grace's strength and inclinations." + +Protestations of regret and disappointment followed, for everybody +appeared to think much of Lucy, and very little of my poor sister. Some +attempts were even made at persuasion; but the quiet firmness of Lucy soon +convinced her friends that she was not to be diverted from her purpose. +Mr. Hardinge, too, had a word to say in confirmation of his daughter's +decision; and the travellers reluctantly prepared to enter the boat. After +he had assisted his mother over the sloop's side, Andrew Drewett turned to +me, and in fair, gentleman-like, manly language, expressed his sense of the +service I had rendered him. After this acknowledgment, the first he had +made, I could do no less than shake his hand; and we parted in the manner +of those who have conferred and received a favour. + +I could perceive that Lucy's colour heightened, and that she looked +exceedingly gratified, while this little scene was in the course of being +acted, though I was unable to comprehend the precise feeling that was +predominant in her honest and truthful heart. Did that increased colour +proceed from pleasure at the handsome manner in which Drewett acquitted +himself of one of the most embarrassing of all our duties--the admission +of a deep obligation? or was it in any manner connected with her interest +in me? I could not ask, and of course did not learn. This scene, however, +terminated our intercourse with the Drewetts, for the moment; the boat +pulling away immediately after. + + + +Chapter II. + + + + "----Misplaced in life, + I know not what I could have been, but feel + I am not what I should be--let it end." + + Sardanapalus. + + +Glad enough was I to find the quiet and domestic character of my vessel +restored. Lucy had vanished as soon as it was proper; but, agreeably to +her request, I got the sloop's head down-stream, and began our +return-passage, without even thinking of putting a foot on the then +unknown land of Albany. Marble was too much accustomed to submit without +inquiry to the movements of the vessel he was in, to raise any objections; +and the Wallingford, her boat in tow, was soon turning down with the tide, +aided by a light westerly wind, on her homeward course. This change kept +all on deck so busy, that it was some little time ere I saw Lucy again. +When we did meet, however, I found her sad, and full of apprehension. +Grace had evidently been deeply hurt by Rupert's deportment. The effect on +her frame was such, that it was desirable to let her be as little +disturbed as possible. Lucy hoped she might fall asleep; for, like an +infant, her exhausted physical powers sought relief in this resource, +almost as often as the state of her mind would permit. Her existence, +although I did not then know it, was like that of the flame which flickers +in the air, and which is endangered by the slightest increase of the +current to which the lamp may be exposed. + +We succeeded in getting across the Overslaugh without touching, and had +got down among the islands below Coejiman's,[1] when we were met by the +new flood. The wind dying away to a calm, we were compelled to select a +berth, and anchor. As soon as we were snug, I sought an interview with +Lucy; but the dear girl sent me word by Chloe that Grace was dozing, and +that she could not see me just at that moment, as her presence in the +cabin was necessary in order to maintain silence. On receiving this +message, I ordered the boat hauled up alongside; Marble, myself and Neb +got in; when the black sculled us ashore--Chloe grinning at the latter's +dexterity, as with one hand, and a mere play of the wrist, he caused the +water to foam under the bows of our little bark. + + [Footnote 1: Queemans, as pronounced. This is a Dutch, not an Indian + name, and belongs to a respectable New York family.] + +The spot where we landed was a small but lovely gravelly cove, that was +shaded by three or four enormous weeping-willows, and presented the very +picture of peace and repose. It was altogether a retired and rural bit, +there being near it no regular landing, no reels for seines, nor any of +those signs that denote a place of resort. A single cottage stood on a +small natural terrace, elevated some ten or twelve feet above the rich +bottom that sustained the willows. This cottage was the very _beau idéal_ +of rustic neatness and home comfort. It was of stone, one story in height, +with a high pointed roof, and had a Dutch-looking gable that faced the +river, and which contained the porch and outer door. The stones were +white as the driven snow, having been washed a few weeks before. The +windows had the charm of irregularity; and everything about the dwelling +proclaimed a former century, and a regime different from that under which +we were then living. In fact, the figures 1698, let in as iron braces to +the wall of the gable, announced that the house was quite as old as the +second structure at Clawbonny. + +The garden of this cottage was not large, but it was in admirable order. +It lay entirely in the rear of the dwelling; and behind it, again, a small +orchard, containing about a hundred trees, on which the fruit began to +show itself in abundance, lay against the sort of amphitheatre that almost +enclosed this little nook against the intrusion and sight of the rest of +the world. There were also half a dozen huge cherry trees, from which the +fruit had not yet altogether disappeared, near the house, to which they +served the double purpose of ornament and shade. The out-houses seemed to +be as old as the dwelling, and were in quite as good order. + +As we drew near the shore, I directed Neb to cease sculling, and sat +gazing at this picture of retirement, and, apparently, of content, while +the boat drew towards the gravelly beach, under the impetus +already received. + +"This is a hermitage I think I could stand, Miles," said Marble, whose +look had not been off the spot since the moment we left the sloop's side. +"This is what I should call a human hermitage, and none of your out and +out solitudes Room for pigs and poultry; a nice gravelly beach for your +boat; good fishing in the offing, I'll answer for it; a snug +shoulder-of-mutton sort of a house; trees as big as a two-decker's lower +masts; and company within hail, should a fellow happen to take it into his +head that he was getting melancholy. This is just the spot I would like to +fetch-up in, when it became time to go into dock. What a place to smoke a +segar in is that bench up yonder, under the cherry tree; and grog must +have a double flavour alongside of that spring of fresh water!" + +"You could become the owner of this very place, Moses, and then we should +be neighbours, and might visit each other by water. It cannot be much more +than fifty miles from this spot to Clawbonny." + +"I dare say, now, that they would think of asking, for a place like this, +as much money as would buy a good wholesome ship--a regular A. No. 1." + +"No such thing; a thousand or twelve hundred dollars would purchase the +house, and all the land we can see--some twelve or fifteen acres, at the +most. You have more than two thousand salted away, I know, Moses, between +prize-money, wages, adventures, and other matters." + +"I could hold my head up under two thousand, of a sartainty. I wish the +place was a little nearer Clawbonny, say eight or ten miles off; and then +I do think I should talk to the people about a trade." + +"It's quite unnecessary, after all. I have quite as snug a cove, near the +creek bluff at Clawbonny, and will build a house for you there, you shall +not tell from a ship's cabin; that would be more to your fancy." + +"I've thought of that, too, Miles, and at one time fancied it would be a +prettyish sort of an idee; but it won't stand logarithms, at all. You may +build a room that shall have its cabin _look_, but you can't build one +that'll have a cabin _natur_' You may get carlins, and transoms, and +lockers and bulkheads all right; but where are you to get your motion? +What's a cabin without motion? It would soon be like the sea in the calm +latitudes, offensive to the senses. No! none of your bloody motionless +cabins for me. If I'm afloat, let me be afloat; if I'm ashore, let me be +ashore." + +Ashore we were by this time, the boat's keel grinding gently on the +pebbles of the beach. We landed and walked towards the cottage, there +being nothing about the place to forbid our taking this liberty. I told +Marble we would ask for a drink of milk, two cows being in sight, cropping +the rich herbage of a beautiful little pasture. This expedient at first +seemed unnecessary, no one appearing about the place to question our +motives, or to oppose our progress. When we reached the door of the +cottage, we found it open, and could look within without violating any of +the laws of civilization. There was no vestibule, or entry; but the door +communicated directly with a room of some size, and which occupied the +whole front of the building. I dare say this single room was twenty feet +square, besides being of a height a little greater than was then customary +in buildings of that class. This apartment was neatness itself. It had a +home-made, but really pretty, carpet on the floor; contained a dozen +old-fashioned, high-back chairs, in some dark wood; two or three tables, +in which one might see his face; a couple of mirrors of no great size, but +of quaint gilded ornaments; a beaufet with some real china in it; and the +other usual articles of a country residence that was somewhat above the +ordinary farm-houses of the region, and yet as much below the more modest +of the abodes of the higher class. I supposed the cottage to be the +residence of some small family that had seen more of life than was +customary with the mere husbandman, and yet not enough to raise it much +above the level of the husbandman's homely habits. + +We were looking in from the porch, on this scene of rural peace and +faultless neatness, when an inner door opened in the deliberate manner +that betokens age, and the mistress of the cottage-appeared. She was a +woman approaching seventy, of middle size, a quiet but firm step, and an +air of health. Her dress was of the fashion of the previous century, +plain, but as neat as everything around her--a spotless white apron +seeming to bid defiance to the approach of anything that could soil its +purity. The countenance of this old woman certainly did not betoken any of +the refinement which is the result of education and good company; but it +denoted benevolence, a kind nature, and feeling. We were saluted without +surprise, and invited in, to be seated. + +"It isn't often that sloops anchor here," said the old woman-lady, it +would be a stretch of politeness to call her--their favour_yte_ places +being higher up, and lower down, the river." + +"And how do you account for that, mother?" asked Marble, who seated +himself and addressed the mistress of the cottage with a seaman's +frankness. "To my fancy, this is the best anchorage I 've seen in many a +day; one altogether to be coveted. One might be as much alone as he liked, +in a spot like this, without absolutely turning your bloody hermit." + +The old woman gazed at Marble like one who scarce know what to make of +such an animal; and yet her look was mild and indulgent. + +"I account for the boatmen's preferring other places to this," she said, +"by the circumstance that there is no tavern here; while there is one two +miles above, and another two miles below us." + +"Your remark that there is no tavern here, reminds me of the necessity of +apologizing for coming so boldly to your door," I answered; "but we +sailors mean no impertinence, though we are so often guilty of it +in landing." + +"You are heartily welcome. I am glad to see them that understand how to +treat an old woman kindly, and know how to pity and pardon them that do +not. At my time of life we get to learn the value of fair words and good +treatment, for it's only a short time it will be in our power to show +either to our fellow-creatures." + +"Your favourable disposition to your fellows comes from living all your +days in a spot as sweet as this." + +"I would much rather think that it comes from God. He alone is the source +of all that is good within us." + +"Yet a spot like this must have its influence on a character. I dare say +you have lived long in this very house, which, old us you profess to be, +seems to be much older than yourself. It has probably been your abode ever +since your marriage?" + +"And long before, sir. I was born in this house, as was my father before +me. You are right in saying that I have dwelt in it ever since my +marriage, for I dwelt in it long before." + +"This is not very encouraging for my friend here, who took such a fancy to +your cottage, as we came ashore, as to wish to own it; but I scarce think +he will venture to purchase, now he knows how dear it must be to you." + +"And has your friend no home--no place in which to put his family?" + +"Neither home nor family, my good mother." answered Marble for himself; +"and so much the greater reason, you will think, why I ought to begin to +think of getting both as soon as possible. I never had father or mother, +to my knowledge; nor house, nor home of any sort, but a ship. I forgot; I +was a hermit once, and set myself up in that trade, with a whole island to +myself; but I soon gave up all to natur', and got out of that scrape as +fast as I could. The business didn't suit me." + +The old woman looked at Marble intently. I could see by her countenance +that the off-hand, sincere, earnest manner of the mate had taken some +unusual hold of her feelings. + +"Hermit!" the good woman repeated with curiosity; "I have often heard and +read of such people; but you are not at all like them I have fancied to +be hermits." + +"Another proof I undertook a business for which I was not fit. I suppose a +man before he sets up for a hermit ought to know something of his +ancestors, as one looks to the pedigree of a horse in order to find out +whether he is fit for a racer. Now, as I happen to know nothing of mine, +it is no wonder I fell into a mistake. It's an awkward thing, old lady, +for a man to be born without a name." + +The eye of our hostess was still bright and full of animation, and I never +saw a keener look than she fastened on the mate, as he delivered himself +in this, one of his usual fits of misanthropical feeling. + +"And were _you_ born without a name?" she asked, after gazing intently at +the other. + +"Sartain. Everybody is born with only one name; but I happened to be born +without any name at all." + +"This is so extr'or'nary, sir," added our old hostess, more interested +than I could have supposed possible for a stranger to become in Marble's +rough bitterness, "that I should like to hear how such a thing could be." + +"I am quite ready to tell you all about it, mother; but, as one good turn +deserves another, I shall ask you first to answer me a few questions about +the ownership of this house, and cove, and orchard. When you have told +your story, I am ready to tell mine." + +"I see how it is," said the old woman, in alarm. "You are sent here by Mr. +Van Tassel, to inquire about the money due on the mortgage, and to learn +whether it is likely to be paid or not." + +"We are not sent here at all, my good old lady," I now thought it time to +interpose, for the poor woman was very obviously much alarmed, and in a +distress that even her aged and wrinkled countenance could not entirely +conceal. "We are just what you see--people belonging to that sloop, who +have come ashore to stretch their legs, and have never heard of any Mr. +Van Tassel, or any money, or any mortgage." + +"Thank Heaven for that!" exclaimed the old woman, seeming to relieve her +mind, as well as body, by a heavy sigh. "'Squire Van Tassel is a hard man; +and a widow woman, with no relative at hand but a grand-darter that is +just sixteen, is scarce able to meet him. My poor old husband always +maintained that the money had been paid; but, now he is dead and gone, +'Squire Van Tassel brings forth the bond and mortgage, and says, 'If you +can prove that these are paid, I'm willing to give them up.'" + +"This is so strange an occurrence, my dear old lady," I observed, "that +you have only to make us acquainted with the facts, to get another +supporter in addition to your grand-daughter. It is true, I am a stranger, +and have come here purely by accident; but Providence sometimes appears to +work in this mysterious manner, and I have a strong presentiment we may be +of use to you. Relate your difficulties, then; and you shall have the best +legal advice in the State, should your case require it." + +The old woman seemed embarrassed; but, at the same time, she seemed +touched. We were utter strangers to her, it is true; yet there is a +language in sympathy which goes beyond that of the tongue, and which, +coming _from_ the heart, goes _to_ the heart. I was quite sincere in my +offers, and this sincerity appears to have produced its customary fruits. +I was believed; and, after wiping away a tear or two that forced +themselves into her eyes, our hostess answered me as frankly as I had +offered my aid. + +"You do not look like 'Squire Van Tassel's men, for they seem to me to +think the place is theirs already. Such craving, covetous creatur's I +never before laid eyes on! I hope I may trust you?" + +"Depend on us, mother," cried Marble, giving the old woman a cordial +squeeze of the hand. "My heart is in this business, for my mind was half +made up, at first sight, to own this spot myself--by honest purchase, +you'll understand me, and not by any of your land-shark tricks--and, such +being the case, you can easily think I'm not inclined to let this Mr. +Tassel have it," + +"It would be almost as sorrowful a thing to _sell_ this place," the good +woman answered, her countenance confirming all she said in words, "as to +have it torn from me by knaves. I have told you that even my father was +born in this very house. I was his only child; and when God called him +away, which he did about twelve years after my marriage, the little farm +came to me, of course. Mine it would have been at this moment, without let +or hindrance of any sort, but for a fault committed in early youth. Ah! my +friends, it is hopeless to do evil, and expect to escape the +consequences." + +"The evil _you_ have done, my good mother," returned Marble, endeavouring +to console the poor creature, down whose cheeks the tears now fairly began +to run; "the evil you have done, my good mother, can be no great matter. +If it was a question about a rough tar like myself, or even of Miles +there, who's a sort of sea-saint, something might be made of it, I make no +doubt; but your account must be pretty much all credit, and no debtor." + +"That is a state that befalls none of earth, my young friend,"--Marble +_was_ young, compared to his companion, though a plump fifty,--"My sin was +no less than to break one of God's commandments." + +I could see that my mate was a good deal confounded at this ingenuous +admission; for, in his eyes, breaking the commandments was either killing, +stealing, or blaspheming. The other sins of the decalogue he had come by +habit to regard as peccadilloes. + +"I think this must be a mistake, mother," he said, in a sort of consoling +tone. "You may have fallen into some oversights, or mistakes; but this +breaking of the commandments is rather serious sort of work." + +"Yet I broke the fifth; I forgot to honour my father and mother. +Nevertheless, the Lord has been gracious; for my days have already reached +threescore-and-ten. But this is His goodness--not any merit of my own!" + +"Is it not a proof that the error has been forgiven?" I ventured to +remark. "If penitence can purchase peace, I feel certain you have earned +that relief." + +"One never knows! I think this calamity of the mortgage, and the danger I +run of dying without a roof to cover my head, may be all traced up to that +one act of disobedience, I have been a mother myself--may say I am a +mother now, for my grand-daughter is as dear to me as was her blessed +mother--and it is when we look _down_, rather than when we look _up_, as +it might be, that we get to understand the true virtue of this +commandment." + +"If it were impertinent curiosity that instigates the question, my old +friend," I added, "it would not be in my power to look you in the face, as +I do now, while begging you to let me know your difficulties. Tell them in +your own manner, but tell them with confidence; for, I repeat, we have the +power to assist you, and can command the best legal advice of +the country." + +Again the old woman looked at me intently through her spectacles; then, as +if her mind was made up to confide in our honesty, she disburthened it of +its secrets. + +"It would be wrong to tell you a part of my story, without telling you +all," she began; "for you might think Van Tassel and his set are alone to +blame, while my conscience tells me that little has happened that is not a +just punishment for my great sin. You'll have patience, therefore, with an +old woman, and hear her whole tale; for mine is not a time of life to +mislead any. The days of white-heads are numbered; and, was it not for +Kitty, the blow would not be quite so hard on me. You must know, we are +Dutch by origin--come of the ancient Hollanders of the colony--and were +Van Duzers by name. It's like, friends," added the good woman, hesitating, +"that you are Yankees by birth?" + +"I cannot say I am," I answered, "though of English extraction. My family +is long of New York, but it does not mount back quite as far as the time +of the Hollanders." + +"And your friend? He is silent; perhaps he is of New England? I would not +wish to hurt his feelings, for my story will bear a little hard, perhaps, +on his love of home." + +"Never mind me, mother, but rowse it all up like entered cargo," said +Marble, in his usual bitter way when alluding to his own birth. "There's +not the man breathing that one can speak more freely before on such +matters, than Moses Marble." + +"Marble!--that's a _hard_ name," returned the woman slightly smiling; "but +a _name_ is not a _heart_. My parents were Dutch; and you may have heard +how it was before the Revolution, between the Dutch and the Yankees. Near +neighbours, they did not love each other. The Yankees said the Dutch were +fools, and the Dutch said the Yankees were knaves. Now, as you may easily +suppose, I was born before the Revolution, when King George II. was on the +throne and ruled the country; and though it was long after the English got +to be our masters, it was before our people had forgotten their language +and their traditions. My father himself was born after the English +governors came among us, as I've heard him say; but it mattered not--he +loved Holland to the last, and the customs of his fathers." + +"All quite right, mother," said Marble, a little impatiently; "but what of +all that? It's as nat'ral for a Dutchman to love Holland, as it is for an +Englishman to love Hollands. I've been in the Low Countries, and must say +it's a muskrat sort of a life the people lead; neither afloat nor ashore." + +The old woman regarded Marble with more respect after this declaration; +for in that day, a travelled man was highly esteemed among us. In her +eyes, it was a greater exploit to have seen Amsterdam, than it would now +be to visit Jerusalem. Indeed, it is getting rather discreditable to a man +of the world not to have seen the Pyramids, the Red Sea, and the Jordan. + +"My father loved it not the less, though he never saw the land of his +ancestors," resumed the old woman. "Notwithstanding the jealousy of the +Yankees, among us Dutch, and the mutual dislike, many of the former came +among us to seek their fortunes. They are not a home-staying people, it +would seem; and I cannot deny that cases have happened in which they have +been known to get away the farms of some of the Netherlands stock, in a +way that it would have been better not to have happened." + +"You speak considerately, my dear woman," I remarked, "and like one that +has charity for all human failing." + +"I ought to do so for my own sins, and I ought to do so to them of New +England; for my own husband was of that race." + +"Ay, now the story is coming round regularly, Miles," said Marble, nodding +his head in approbation. "It will touch on love next, and, if trouble do +not follow, set me down as an ill-nat'red old bachelor. Love in a man's +heart is like getting heated cotton, or shifting ballast, into a +ship's hold." + +"I must confess to it," continued our hostess, smiling in spite of her +real sorrows--sorrows that were revived by thus recalling the events of +her early life--"a young man of Yankee birth came among us as a +schoolmaster, when I was only fifteen. Our people were anxious enough to +have us all taught to read English, for many had found the disadvantage of +being ignorant of the language of their rulers, and of the laws. I was +sent to George Wetmore's school, like most of the other young people of +the neighbourhood, and remained his scholar for three years. If you were +on the hill above the orchard yonder, you might see the school-house at +this moment; for it is only a short walk from our place, and a walk that I +made four times a day for just three years." + +"One can see how the land lies now," cried Marble, lighting a segar, for +he thought no apology necessary for smoking under a Dutch roof. "The +master taught his scholar something more than he found in the +spelling-book, or the catechism. We'll take your word about the +school-house, seeing it is out of view." + +"It was out of sight, truly, and that may have been the reason my parents +took it so hard when George Wetmore asked their leave to marry me. This +was not done until he had walked home with me, or as near home as the brow +on yon hill, for a whole twelvemonth, and had served a servitude almost as +long, and as patient, as that of Jacob for Rachel." + +"Well, mother, how did the old people receive the question? Like +good-natured parents, I hope, for George's sake." + +"Rather say like the children of Holland, judging of the children of New +England. They would not hear of it, but wished me to marry my own cousin, +Petrus Storm, who was not greatly beloved even in his own family." + +"Of course you down anchor, and said you never would quit the moorings of +home?" + +"If I rightly understand you, sir, I did something very different. I got +privately married to George, and he kept school near a twelvemonth longer, +up behind the hill, though most of the young women were taken away from +his teaching." + +"Ay, the old way; the door was locked after the horse was stolen! Well, +you were married, mother----" + +"After a time, it was necessary for me to visit a kinswoman who lived a +little down the river. There my first child was born, unknown to my +parents; and George gave it in charge to a poor woman who had lost her own +babe, for we were still afraid to let our secret be known to my parents. +Now commenced the punishment for breaking the fifth commandment." + +"How's that, Miles?" demanded Moses. "Is it ag'in the commandments for a +married woman to have a son?" + +"Certainly not, my friend; though it is a breach of the commandments not +to honour our parents. This good woman alludes to her marrying contrary to +the wishes of her father and mother." + +"Indeed I do, sir, and dearly have I been punished for it. In a few weeks +I returned home, and was followed by the sad news of the death of my +first-born. The grief of these tidings drew the secret from me; and nature +spoke so loud in the hearts of my poor parents, that they forgave all, +took George home, and ever afterwards treated him as if he also had been +their own child. But it was too late; had it happened a few weeks earlier, +my own precious babe might have been saved to me." + +"You cannot know that, mother; we all die when our time comes." + +"His time had not come. The miserable wretch to whom George trusted the +boy, exposed him among strangers, to save herself trouble, and to obtain +twenty dollars at as cheap a rate as possible----" + +"Hold!" I interrupted. "In the name of Heaven, my good woman, in what year +did this occur?" + +Marble looked at me in astonishment, though he clearly had glimpses of the +object of my question. + +"It was in the month of June, 17--. For thirty long, long years, I +supposed my child had actually died; and then the mere force of conscience +told me the truth. The wretched woman could not carry the secret with her +into the grave, and she sent for me to hear the sad revelation." + +"Which was to say that she left the child in a basket, on a tombstone, +in a marble-worker's yard, in town; in the yard of a man whose name was +Durfee?" I said, as rapidly as I could speak. + +"She did, indeed! though it is a marvel to me that a stranger should know +this. What will be God's pleasure next?" + +Marble groaned. He hid his face in his hands, while the poor woman looked +from one of us to the other, in bewildered expectation of what was to +follow. I could not leave her long in doubt; but, preparing her for what +was to follow, by little and little I gave her to understand that the man +she saw before her was her son. After half a century of separation, the +mother and child had thus been thrown together by the agency of an +inscrutable Providence! The reader will readily anticipate the character +of the explanations that succeeded. Of the truth of the circumstances +there could not be a shadow of doubt, when everything was related and +compared. Mrs. Wetmore had ascertained from her unfaithful nurse the +history of her child as far as the alms-house; but thirty years had left a +gap in the information she received, and it was impossible for her to +obtain the name under which he had left that institution. The Revolution +was just over when she made her application, and it was thought that some +of the books had been taken away by a refugee. Still, there were a plenty +of persons to supply traditions and conjecture; and so anxious were she +and her husband to trace these groundless reports to their confirmation or +refutation, that much money and time were thrown away in the fruitless +attempts. At length, one of the old attendants of the children's +department was discovered, who professed to know the whole history of the +child brought from the stone-cutter's yard. This woman doubtless was +honest, but her memory had deceived her. She said that the boy had been +called Stone, instead of Marble; a mistake that was natural enough in +itself, but which was probably owing to the fact that another child of the +first name had really left the institution a few months before Moses took +his leave. This Aaron Stone had been traced, first, as an apprentice to a +tradesman; thence into a regiment of foot in the British army, which +regiment had accompanied the rest of the forces, at the evacuation, +November 25th, 1783. + +The Wetmores fancied they were now on the track of their child. He was +traced down to a period within a twelvemonth of that of the search, and +was probably to be found in England, still wearing the livery of the king. +After a long consultation between the disconsolate parents, it was +determined that George Wetmore should sail for England in the hope of +recovering their son. But, by this time, money was scarce. These worthy +people were enabled to live in comfort on their little farm, but they were +not rich in cash. All the loose coin was gone in the previous search, and +even a small debt had been contracted to enable them to proceed as far as +they had. No alternative remained but to mortgage their home. This was +done with great reluctance; but what will not a parent do for his child? A +country lawyer, of the name of Van Tassel, was ready enough to advance +five hundred on a place that was worth quite three thousand dollars. This +man was one of the odious class of country usurers, a set of cormorants +that is so much worse than their town counterparts, because their victims +are usually objects of real, and not speculative distress, and as ignorant +and unpractised as they are necessitous. It is wonderful with what +far-sighted patience one of these wretches will bide his time, in order to +effect a favourite acquisition. Mrs. Wetmore's little farm was very +desirable to this 'Squire Van Tassel, for reasons in addition to its +intrinsic value; and for years nothing could be kinder and more +neighbourly than his indulgence. Interest was allowed to accumulate, until +the whole debt amounted to the sum of a thousand dollars. In the mean time +the father went to England, found the soldier after much trouble and +expense, ascertained that Stone knew his parents, one of whom had died in +the alms-house, and spent all his money. + +Years of debt and anxiety succeeded, until the father sunk under his +misfortunes. An only daughter also died, leaving Kitty a legacy to her +widowed mother, the other parent having died even before her birth. Thus +was Katharine Van Duzer, our old hostess, left to struggle on nearly +alone, at the decline of life, with a poverty that was daily increasing, +years, and this infant grand-daughter. Just before his death, however, +George Wetmore had succeeded in selling a portion of his farm, that which +was least valuable to himself, and with the money he paid off Van Tassel's +mortgage. This was his own account of the matter, and he showed to his +wife Van Tassel's receipt, the money having been paid at the county town, +where the bond and mortgage could not be then produced. This was shortly +before Wetmore's last illness. A twelvemonth after his death, the widow +was advised to demand the bond, and to take the mortgage off record. But +the receipt was not to be found. With a woman's ignorance of such matters, +the widow let this fact leak out; and her subsequent demand for the +release was met with a counter one for evidence of payment. This was the +commencement of Van Tassel's hostile attitude; and things had gone as far +as a foreclosure, and an advertisement for a sale, when the good woman +thus opportunely discovered her son! + + + +Chapter III. + + + + I charge you by the law, + Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, + Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear + There is no power in the tongue of man + To alter me: I stay here on my bond. + + Shylock. + + +It is not easy to describe the immediate effect of this discovery on +either of the parties most concerned. Not a doubt remained on the mind of +either, after the facts were explained, of the reality of the +relationship; for that was so simply proved, as to place the circumstance +beyond all dispute. Mrs. Wetmore thought of her lost son as of an innocent +smiling babe; and here she found him a red-faced, hard-featured, +weather-beaten tar, already verging towards age, and a man of manners that +were rough, if not rude. She could not at first possess any knowledge of +the better points in his character, and was compelled to receive this boon +from Providence as it was offered. Nevertheless, a mother's love is not +easily dissatisfied, or smothered; and, ere I left the house, I could see +the old woman's eyes fixed on Marble with an expression of interest and +tenderness they had not manifested previously to the revelations. + +As for the mate himself, now that the fondest wish of his life was so +unexpectedly gratified, he was taken so much by surprise that he appeared +to think something was wanting. He found his mother the reputable widow of +a reputable man, of a class in life quite equal to his own, living on a +property that was small, certainly, and involved, but property that had +been long in her family. The truth was, Marble felt so much at this +unlooked-for appeal to his gentler feelings, that one of his stern nature +did not know how to answer it on the emergency; and the obstinacy of his +temperament rather induced him to resist, than to yield to such unwonted +sentiments, I could see he was satisfied with his mother, while he was +scarcely satisfied with himself; and, with a view to place both parties in +truer positions, I desired Moses to walk down and look at the boat, while +I remained alone with his new-found parent. This was not done, however, +until all the explanations had been made, and the mother had both blessed +and wept over her child. It was done, indeed, principally to relieve +Marble from the oppression of feeling created by this very scene. + +As soon as alone with Mrs. Wetmore, I explained to her my own connection +with Marble, and gave her a sort of apologetic account of his life and +character, keeping down the weak points, and dwelling on the strong. I set +her mind at ease, at once, on the subject of the farm; for, should the +worst happen, her son had double the amount of money that would be +necessary to discharge the mortgage. + +"The debt was incurred, my dear Mrs. Wetmore, in his behalf; and he will +be happy to discharge it on the spot. I would advise you to pay the money +at once. Should the receipt ever be found, this Van Tassel will be obliged +to refund; for, though the law winks at many wrongs, it will not wink at +one so atrocious as this, provided you can satisfy it with proof. I shall +leave Moses----" + +"His name is Oloff, or Oliver," interrupted the old woman easerly "I named +him after my own father, and had him duly christened, before he was +entrusted to the nurse, in the hope it might soften his grandfather's +heart, when he came to know of my marriage. Oloff Van Duzer Wetmore is his +real name." + +I smiled to think of Marble's sailing under such an appellation, and was +about to suggest a compromise, when the subject of our discourse returned. +The mate had regained his composure during the half-hour he had been +absent; and I saw by the kind glance he threw on his mother, whose look +answered his own more naturally than I could have hoped, that things were +getting right; and, by way of removing the awkwardness of excessive +sensibility, I pursued the discourse. + +"We were talking of your true name, Moses, as you came in," I said. "It +will never do for you to hail by one name, while your mother hails by +another. You'll have to cut adrift from Moses Marble altogether." + +"If I do, may I be----" + +"Hush, hush--you forget where you are, and in whose presence you stand." + +"I hope my son will soon learn that he is always in the presence of his +God," observed the mother, plaintively. + +"Ay, ay--that's all right, mother, and you shall do with me just what you +please in any of them matters; but as for not being Moses Marble, you +might as well ask me not to be myself. I should be another man, to change +my name. A fellow might as well go without clothes, as go without a name; +and mine came so hard, I don't like to part with it. No, no--had it come +to pass, now, that my parents had been a king and a queen, and that I was +to succeed 'em on the throne, I should reign as King Moses Marble, or not +reign at all." + +"You'll think better of this, and take out a new register under your +lawful designation." + +"I'll tell you what I'll do, mother, and that will satisfy all parties. +I'll bend on the old name to the new one, and sail under both." + +"I care not how you are called, my son, so long as no one has need to +blush for the name you bear. This gentleman tells me you are an honest and +true-hearted man; and those are blessings for which I shall never cease +to thank God." + +"Miles has been singing my praises, has he! I can tell you, mother, you +had need look out for Miles's tongue Natur' intended him for a lawyer, and +it's mere accident his being a sailor, though a capital one he is. But +what may be my name, according to law?" + +"Oloff Van Duser Wetmore Moses Marble, according to your own expedient of +sailing under all your titles. You can ring the changes, however, and call +yourself Moses Oloff Marble Van Duser Wetmore, if you like that better." + +Moses laughed, and as I saw that both he and his new-found mother were in +a fit state to be left together, and that the sun now wanted but an hour +or two of setting, I rose to take my leave. + +"You will remain with your mother to-night, Marble," I observed. "I will +keep the sloop at an anchor until I can see you in the morning, when we +will settle the future a little more deliberately." + +"I should not like to lose my son so soon after finding him," the old +woman anxiously remarked. + +"No fear of me, mother--I berth under your roof to-night, and so many more +in the bargain, that you'll be glad enough to be rid of me in the end." + +I then left the house, followed by Marble, towards the boat. As we reached +the little piece of bottom-land, I heard a sort of suppressed sob from the +mate, and, turning round, was surprised to see the tears running down his +sun-burned cheeks. His wrought-up feelings had at last obtained the +mastery; and this rude, but honest creature, had fairly given in, under +the excitement of this strange admixture of joy, wonder, shame, and +natural emotion. I took his hand, gave it a hearty squeeze, but said +nothing; though I stopped, unwilling to go nearer to Neb until my +companion had regained his composure. This he did, sufficiently to speak, +in the course of a minute or two. + +"It's all like a dream-to me, Miles," Moses at length muttered--"more out +of natur' like, than setting up for a hermit." + +"You'll soon get accustomed to the change, Marble; then everything will +seem in the ordinary way, and natural." + +"To think of my being a son, and having a real, living mother!" + +"You must have known that you had parents once, though you are fortunate +in finding one of them alive at your time of life." + +"And she an honest woman! A mother the President of the United States, or +the first commodore in the navy, needn't be ashamed of!" + +"All that is fortunate, certainly; especially the first." + +"She's a bloody good-looking old woman in the bargain. I'll have her +dressed up and carry her down to town, the first opportunity." + +"What would you give an old woman that trouble for? You'll think better of +these matters, in the long run." + +"Better! Yes, I'll take her to Philadelphia, and perhaps to Baltimore. +There's the gardens, and the theatres, and the museums, and lots of things +that I dare say the dear old soul never laid eyes on." + +"I'm mistaken in your mother, if she would not prefer a church to all of +them put together." + +"Well, there's churches in all of them towns. Put it on a religious +footing, if you will, and I ought to take my mother as soon as possible +down to York. She's old, you see, and cannot live for ever, just to oblige +me; and here has she been tied down to one church all her days, giving her +no ch'ice nor opportunity. I dare say, now, variety is just as agreeable +in religion, as in anything else." + +"You are nearer right there, Moses, than you think yourself, possibly. But +we can talk of all these things to-morrow. A good night's rest will give +us cooler heads in the morning." + +"I shall not sleep a wink for thinking of it. No, no--I'll make the old +lady pack up before breakfast, and we'll sail in the sloop. I'll take her +aboard the Dawn with me in town, and a comfortable time we'll have of it +in her cabins. She has as good state-rooms as a yacht." + +There were no liners in those days; but a ship with two cabins was a +miracle of convenience. + +"Your mother will hardly suit a ship, Moses; and a ship will hardly suit +your mother." + +"How can any of us know that till we try? If I'm a chip of the old block, +they'll take to each other like rum and water. If I'm to go out in the +ship, I'm far from certain I'll not take the old woman to sea with me." + +"You'll probably remain at home, now that you _have_ a home, and a mother, +and other duties to attend to. I and my concerns will be but secondary +objects with you hereafter, Mr. Wetmore." + +"Wetmore be d----d! D'ye mean, Miles, that I'm to give up my calling, +give up the sea, give up _you_?" + +"You wished to be a hermit once, and found it a little too solitary; had +you a companion or two, you would have been satisfied, you said. Well, +here is everything you can wish; a mother, a niece, a house, a farm, +barns, out-houses, garden and orchard; and, seated on that porch, you can +smoke segars, take your grog, look at the craft going up and down the +Hudson----" + +"Nothing but so many bloody sloops," growled the mate. "Such in-and-in +fore-and-afters that their booms won't stay guyed-out, even after you've +been at the pains to use a hawser." + +"Well, a sloop is a pleasant object to a sailor, when he can set nothing +better. Then there is this Mr. Van Tassel to settle with--you may have a +ten years' law-suit on your hands, to amuse you." + +"I'll make short work with that scamp, when I fall in with him. You're +right enough, Miles; that affair must be settled before I can lift an +anchor. My mother tells me he lives hard by, and can be seen, at any +moment, in a quarter of an hour. I'll pay him a visit this very night." + +This declaration caused me to pause. I knew Marble too well, not to +foresee trouble if he were left to himself in a matter of this nature, and +thought it might be well to inquire further into the affair. Sailors do +everything off-hand. Mrs. Wetmore telling me that her son's statement was +true, on my going back to the house to question her in the matter, and +offering us the use of an old-fashioned one-horse chaise, that the only +farm-labourer she employed was just then getting ready to go in, in quest +of Kitty, I availed myself of the opportunity, took the printed +advertisement of the sale to read as we went along, obtained our +directions, and off Marble and I went in quest of the usurer. + +There would be sufficient time for all our purposes. It is true that the +horse, like the house, its owner, the labourer, the chaise, and all we had +yet seen about Willow Cove, as we had learned the place was called, was +old; but he was the more safe and sure. The road led up the ascent by a +ravine, through which it wound its way very prettily; the labourer walking +by our side to point out the route, after we should reach the elevation of +the country that stretched inland. + +The view from the height, as it might be termed in reference to the river, +though it was merely on the level of the whole region in that portion of +the State, was both extensive and pretty. Willow Grove, as Marble called +his mother's place three or four times, while our horse was working his +way up the ascent, looked more invitingly than ever, with its verdant +declivities, rich orchards, neat cottage, all ensconced behind the +sheltering cover of the river heights. Inland, we saw a hundred farms, +groves without number, divers roads, a hamlet within a mile of us, an +old-fashioned extinguisher-looking church-spire, and various houses of +wood painted white, with here and there a piece of rustic antiquity in +bricks, or stone, washed with lime; or some livelier paint; for the Dutch +of New York had brought the habits of Holland with them, delighting in +colours. This relief may be desirable in a part of the world where the +eternal green of the meadows in a manner fatigues the eye; but certainly +the grey of nature has no just competitor in the tints of the more +artificial portions of the ordinary landscape. White may make a scene look +gay; but it can never lend it dignity, or the solemn hues that so often +render the loveliness of a view impressive, as well as sweet. When this +glaring colour reaches the fences, it gives the prettiest landscape the +air of a bleaching-yard, or of a great laundry, with the clothes hung +out to dry! + +The guide pointed out to us the house of Van Tassel, and another at which +we should find Kitty, who was to be brought home by us on our return. +Understanding the course and distance, we put to sea without any +misgivings. The horse was no flyer, and Marble and I had plenty of leisure +to arrange preliminaries before reaching the door to which we were bound. +After some consultation, and a good of discussion, I succeeded in +persuading my companion it would not be wisest to break ground by flogging +the attorney--a procedure to which he was strongly inclined. It was +settled, however, he was at once to declare himself to be Mrs. Wetmore's +son, and to demand his explanations in that character; one that would +clearly give him every claim to be heard. + +"I know what these usurers, as you call 'em, Miles, must be," said the +mate. "They are a sort of in-shore pawn-brokers; and the Lord have mercy +on them, for I'll have none. I've had occasion to pawn a watch, or a +quadrant, in my time; and bloody poor prices does a fellow get for his +goods and chattels. Yes, yes; I'll let the old gentleman know, at once, +I'm Van Duzer Oloff Marble Wetmore Moses, or whatever's my name; and will +stand up for the right in a fashion that will surprise him: but what are +you to do in the mean time?" + +It struck me, if I could get Marble to attempt practising a sort of +_ruse_, it would have the effect to prevent his resorting to club-law, +towards which I knew he had a strong natural disposition, and of which I +was still a little afraid. With this object, then, I conceived the +following scheme. + +"You shall simply introduce me as Mr. Miles Wallingford," I said, "but in +a formal manner, that may induce this Mr. Van Tassel to-imagine I'm a sort +of lawyer; and this may have the effect to awe him, and bring him to terms +the easier. Do not _say_ I am a lawyer, for that will not be true, and it +will also be awkward falling back when the truth comes to be known." + +Marble took the idea, and seemed pleased with it, though he affirmed that +there could be no such thing as acting lawyer without lying a little, and +that "the truth was too good for one of your bloody usurers." I got him +trained, however, by the time we reached the door; and we alighted as well +prepared for our task as could be expected. + +There was nothing about the residence of 'Squire Van Tassel to denote the +grasping money-dealer, unless a certain negligence of the exterior might +be supposed to betray the abode of such a man. His friends wished to +ascribe this to an indifference to appearances; but the multitude, more +accurately imputed it to parsimony. When the very soul gets to be +absorbed in the process of rolling gold over and over, in order to make it +accumulate, the spirit grudges the withdrawal of the smallest fraction +from the gainful pursuit; and here lies the secret of the disdain of +appearances that is so generally to be met with in this description of +persons. Beyond this air of negligence, however, the dwelling of Van +Tassel was not to be distinguished from those of most of the better houses +of that part of the country. Our application for admission was favourably +received, and, in a minute, we were shown into the attorney's office. + +'Squire Van Tassel, as this man was universally termed, eyed us keenly as +we entered, no doubt with a view to ascertain if we were borrowers. I +might possibly have passed for one of that character, for I aimed at +looking serious and thoughtful; but I would defy any man to mistake Moses +for one who came on such an errand. He looked more like a messenger sent +by the Father of Sin, to demand the payment of a certain bond that had +been signed in blood, and of which the fatal pay-day had at length +arrived. I had to give the skirt of his coat a pull, in order to recall +him to our agreement, else I do think the first salutation received by the +attorney, would have been a broadside in anything but words. The hint +succeeded, and Marble permitted our host to open the communications. + +Squire Van Tassel had a very miserly exterior. He even looked ill fed; +though doubtless this appearance was more a consequence of habit of body, +than of short-feeding. He wore spectacles with black rims, and had the +common practice of looking over them at objects at a distance, which gave +him an air still more watchful than that which he imbibed from character. +His stature was small, and his years about sixty, an age when the +accumulation of money begins to bring as much pain as pleasure; for it is +a period of life when men cannot fail to see the termination of their +earthly schemes. Of all the passions, however, avarice is notoriously that +which the latest loosens its hold on the human heart. + +"Your servant, gentlemen," commenced the attorney, in a manner that was +civil enough; "your servant; I beg you to help yourselves to chairs." We +all three took seats, at this invitation. "A pleasant evening," eyeing us +still more keenly over his glasses, "and weather that is good for the +crops. If the wars continue much longer in Europe," another look over the +glasses, "we shall sell all the substance out of our lands, in order to +send the belligerents wheat. I begin to look on real estate security as +considerably less valuable than it was, when hostilities commenced in +1793, and as daily growing less and less so." + +"Ay, you may say that," Marble bluntly answered; "particularly the farms +of widows and orphans." + +The "'Squire" was a little startled at this unexpected reply. He looked +intently at each of us again, over the spectacles; and then asked, in a +manner divided between courtesy and authority-- + +"May I inquire your names, and the object of this visit?" + +"Sartain," said Marble. "That's reasonable and your right. We are not +ashamed of our names, nor of our errand. As for the last, Mr. Van Tassell, +you'll know it sooner than you will wish to know it; but, to begin at the +right end, this gentleman with me, is Mr. Miles Wallingford, a partic'lar +friend of old Mrs. Wetmore, who lives a bit down the road yonder, at a +farm called Willow Grove; 'Squire Wallingford, sir, is _her_ friend, and +_my_ friend, and I've great pleasure in making you acquainted with him." + +"I am happy to see the gentleman," answered Van Tassel, taking another +look, while at the same time he glanced his eye at an alphabetical list of +the attorneys and counsellors, to see what place I occupied among them. +"Very happy to see the gentleman, who has quite lately commenced practice, +I should think by his age, and my not remembering the name." + +"There must be a beginning to all things, Mr. Van Tassel," I replied, with +a calmness that I could see the old usurer did not like. + +"Very true, sir, and I hope your future success will be in proportion to +the lateness of your appearance at the bar. Your companion has much more +the air of a sailor than of a lawyer."--This was true enough, there being +no mistaking Marble's character, though I had put on a body-coat to come +ashore in;--"I presume _he_ is not in the practice." + +"That remains to be seen, sir." answered Marble. "Having told you my +friend's name, Mr. Van Tassel, I will now tell you my own. I am called +Moses Marble Wetmore Van Duser Oloff, sir, or some such bloody thing; and +you're welcome to take your pick out of the whole list. I'll answer to +either of them aliases." + +"This is so extraordinary and unusual, gentlemen, I scarce know what to +make of it. Has this visit any connection with Mrs. Wetmore, or her farm, +or the mortgage I have been foreclosing on the last?" + +"It has, sir; and I am that Mrs. Wetmore's son--yes sir, the only child of +that dear, good, old soul." + +"The son of Mrs. Wetmore!" exclaimed Van Tassel, both surprised and +uneasy. "I knew there _was_ a son; but I have been always told it was +impossible to find him. I see no resemblance, sir, in you to either George +Wetmore, or Kitty Van Duser." + +Now this was not altogether true. As for George Wetmore, they who had +known him in middle age, afterwards declared that Moses did resemble him +greatly; while I, myself, could trace in the mouth and milder expression +of the mate's features, a strong likeness to the subdued character of his +aged mother's face. This resemblance would not have been observed, in all +probability, without a knowledge of the affinity that existed between the +parties; but, with that knowledge, it was not easy to overlook. + +"Resemblance!" repeated Marble, much in the tone of one who is ready to +quarrel on the slightest provocation; "how should there be any +resemblance, after the life I've led. In the first place, I was carried +out of my mother's sight in less than ten days after I was born. Then I +was placed on a tombstone, by way of encouragement; after which, they sent +me to live among paupers. I ran away at ten years old, and went to sea, +where I've played the part of man-of-war's-man, privateer's-man, smuggler, +mate, master, and all hands; everything, in short, but a pirate and +mutineer. I've been a bloody hermit, Mr. Van Tassel, and if that won't +take the resemblance to anything human out of a fellow, his face is as +unchangeable as that on a gold coin." + +"All this, Mr. Wallingford, is so unintelligible to me, that I shall have +to ask you to explain it." + +I can only add to it, sir, my belief that every word you hear is true. I +am satisfied that this is, in a legal sense, Oloff Van Duser Wetmore, the +only surviving child of George Wetmore and Catharine Van Duser. He has +come to see you in relation to a claim you are said to hold against the +farm his mother inherited from her parents." + +"_Said_ to hold!--I certainly do hold George Wetmore's bond, secured by a +mortgage signed by his wife, balance due, including interest and costs, +$963.42; and I am proceeding to sell, under the statute. One sale has been +postponed, to oblige the widow; for a merciful man would not wish to press +a single and aged woman, though I've lain out of my money a very long +time. You are aware, sir, that I lose all my interest on interest, and +must take up with just what the law will give; hardship enough in active +times like these, when not a day passes that something good does not offer +in the way of purchasing the best of securities, at liberal discounts. +Trade is so lively, now, Mr. Wallingford, that men will almost sell their +souls for money." + +"I rather think, sir, that some men will do this at all times; nay, do it +hourly, daily. But, I am instructed"--I could not help acting the counsel +a little, on the occasion--"I am instructed that the bond of George +Wetmore is paid in full." + +"How can that be, sir, while I still hold bond and mortgage? As a business +man, you must understand the value to be attached to the idle tales of +women, and can see the danger of taking _their_ gossip for authority. +George Wetmore had some knowledge of business, and would not be likely to +pay his bond without taking it up, or at least of obtaining a receipt; +much less leave the mortgage on record." + +"I am informed he did take your receipt, though he presumes he must have +lost it with a missing pocket-book, which his widow supposes to have been +dropped from his coat, the very day he returned from the court where he +met you, and where he says he paid you the money, being anxious to stop +interest as soon as possible." + +"A very idle story, and one you do not suppose the chancellor will +believe, confirmed by the _hearsay_ of the party interested in preserving +the property. You are aware, sir, that the sale can be stopped only by an +injunction from the Court of Chancery." + +Now, I was certainly no lawyer; but, like almost every American, I knew +something of that branch of the jurisprudence of the country, which +touched my own interests. As a land-holder, I had a little knowledge of the +law of real estate, and was not absolutely ignorant of the manner in which +matters were managed in that most searching of all tribunals, the Court of +Chancery. A lucky thought suggested itself to my mind on the instant, and +I made use of it on the spur of the moment. + +"It is quite true, sir," I answered, "that any prudent judge might +hesitate about entering a decree on authority no better than the oath of +Mrs. Wetmore that she had heard her husband say he had paid the money; but +you will remember that the party replying has to swear to his answer. All +of us might be better satisfied in this affair, were you to make oath that +the money was never paid." + +This hit told; and from that moment I did not entertain a doubt that +Wetmore had paid the money, and that Van Tassel retained a perfect +recollection of the whole affair. This much I could read in the man's +altered countenance and averted eye, though my impressions certainly were +not proof. If not proof, however, for a court of justice, they served to +enlist me earnestly in the pursuit of the affair, into which I entered +warmly from that moment. In the meantime, I waited for Van Tassel's +answer, watching his countenance the whole time, with a vigilance that I +could easily see caused him great embarrassment. + +"Kitty Wetmore and I were born neighbours' children," he said; "and this +mortgage has given me more trouble than all the rest of my little +possessions. That I have been in no hurry to foreclose is plain by the +length of time I've suffered to go by, without claiming my dues. I could +wait no longer, without endangering my rights, as there would be a +presumption of payment after twenty years, and a presumption that would +tell harder against me than old Kitty's oath. We are neighbours' children, +as I've said, nevertheless, and rather than push matters to extremities I +will consent to some sort of a compromise." + +"And what sort of a compromise will be agreeable to your notions of +justice, Mr. Van Tassel?" + +"Why, sir, as Kitty is old, it would be a sad thing to drive her from the +roof under which she was born. This I've said and thought from the first, +and say, _now_. Still, I cannot part with my property without a +compensation; though I'm willing to wait. I told Mrs. Wetmore, before +advertising, that if she would give a new bond, making all clear, and +giving me interest on the whole sum now due, I should be willing to grant +her time. I now propose, however, as the simplest way of settling the +affair, to accept from her a release of the equity of redemption, and to +grant her a lease, for her own life, on a nominal rent." + +Even Marble knew enough to see the rank injustice of such an offer. In +addition to conceding the non-payment of the debt, it was securing to Van +Tassel, at no distant day, the quiet possession of the farm, for somewhat +less than one-third its value. I detected symptoms of an outbreak in the +mate, and was obliged to repress it by a sign, while I kept the discussion +in my own hands. + +"Under such an arrangement, sir," I answered, "my friend here would be +literally selling his birthright for a mess of porridge." + +"You will remember, Mr. Wallingford, that a mortgage sale, legally made, +is a ticklish thing, and the courts do not like to disturb one. This sale +will take place, this day week; and the title once passed, it will not be +so easy a matter to get it repassed. Mr. Wetmore, here, does not look like +a man ready to pay down a thousand dollars." + +"We shall not run the risk of letting the title pass. I will buy the +property, myself, if necessary; and should it afterwards appear that the +money has been actually paid, we believe you are sufficiently secure for +principal, interest, and costs." + +"You are young in the profession, Mr. Wallingford, and will come to learn +the folly of advancing money for your clients." + +"I am not in the profession at all, sir, as you have erroneously supposed, +but am a ship-master; and Mr. Wetmore, or Marble, as he has hitherto been +called, is my mate. Still, we are none the worse provided with the means +of paying a thousand dollars--or twenty of them, should it be necessary." + +"No lawyer!" cried Van Tassel, smiling grimly. "A couple of sailors about +to dispute the foreclosure of a mortgage! Famous justice we should get at +your hands, gentlemen! Well, well; I now see how it is, and that this has +only been an attempt to work on my sympathies for an old woman who has +been living on my money these twenty years. I rather think your $963.42, +will prove to be of the same quality as your law." + +"And, yet, it struck me, Mr. Van Tassel, that you rather disliked the idea +of swearing to the truth of an answer to a certain bill in Chancery, +which, if I cannot draw, one Abraham Van Vechten, of Albany, can!" + +"Abraham Van Vechten is skilful counsel, and an honest man, and is riot +likely to be employed in a cause that rests only on an old woman's +_hearsays_--and all to save her own farm!" + +Marble could keep silence no longer. He told me afterwards, that, during +the dialogue, he had been taking the measure of the old usurer's foot, and +felt it would be a disgrace to strike so feeble a creature; but, to sit +and hear his newly-found mother sneered at, and her just rights derided, +was more than his patience could endure. Rising abruptly, therefore, he +broke out at once in one of the plainest philippics of the sea. I shall +not repeat all he said; for, to render it justly, might be to render it +offensive; but, in addition to calling old Van Tassel by a great many +names that were as unusual as they were quaint, he called him by several +that would be familiar to the ears of most of my readers, besides being +perfectly well merited. I allowed his humour to find vent; and, giving the +attorney to understand he should hear further from us, I succeeded in +getting my companion to the wagon, without coming to blows. I could see +that Van Tassel was very far from being at his ease, and that he would +still gladly keep us, if he could, in the hope of bringing about some sort +of a compromise, if possible; but I thought it wisest to let matters rest +awhile, after the decided demonstration we had already made. + +It was not an easy matter to get Marble into the vehicle; but this was no +sooner effected, than I trotted him off, down the road, taking the +direction of the house where we had been told to seek Kitty Huguenin, old +Mrs. Wetmore's grand-daughter, who would be waiting the appearance of the +chaise, in order to return home. + +"You must put on a more amicable look," said I to the mate, as we went on +our way, "or you'll frighten your niece; with whom, you will remember, you +are about to make an acquaintance." + +"The cheating vagabond, to take advantage of a poor, lonely, old woman, +whose only husband was in the grave, and only son at sea!" the mate +continued to mutter. "Talk about the commandments! I should like to know +what commandment this was breaking. The whole six, in a batch." + +"The tenth, I am inclined to think, my friend; and that is a commandment +broken all day, and every day." + +The denunciations of the mate continued for some time longer, and then +went off like the rumbling of distant thunder in the heavens after the +passage of the gust. + + + +Chapter IV. + + + + "No Moorish maid might hope to vie + With Laila's cheek, or Laila's eye; + No maiden loved with purer truth, + Or ever loved a lovelier youth." + + Southey. + + +"Miles," said Moses, suddenly, after riding a short distance in silence, +"I must quit the old lady, this very night, and go down with you to town. +We must have that money up at the place of sale, in readiness for the +vagabond; for, as to letting him have the smallest chance at Willow Grove, +that is out of the question." + +"As you please, Marble; but, now, get yourself in trim to meet another +relation; the second you have laid eyes on in this world." + +"Think of that, Miles! Think of my having _two_ relations! A mother and a +niece! Well, it is a true saying that it never rains but it pours." + +"You probably have many more, uncles, aunts, and cousins in scores. The +Dutch are famous for counting cousins; and no doubt you'll have calls on +you from half the county." + +I saw that Marble was perplexed, and did not know, at first, but he was +getting to be embarrassed by this affluence of kindred. The mate, however, +was not the man long to conceal his thoughts from me; and in the strength +of his feelings he soon let his trouble be known. + +"I say, Miles," he rejoined, "a fellow may be bothered with felicity, I +find. Now, here, in ten minutes perhaps, I shall have to meet my sister's +darter--my own, born, blood niece; a full-grown, and I dare say, a comely +young woman; and, hang me if I know exactly what a man ought to say in +such a state of the facts. Generalizing wont do with these near relations; +and I suppose a sister's darter is pretty much the same to a chap as his +own darter would be, provided he had one." + +"Exactly; had you reasoned a month, you could not have hit upon a better +solution of the difficulty than this. Treat this Kitty Huguenin just as +you would treat Kitty Marble." + +"Ay, ay; all this is easy enough aforehand, and to such scholars as you; +but it comes hard on a fellow like myself to heave his idees out of him, +as it might be, with a windlass. I managed the old woman right well, and +could get along with a dozen mothers, better than with one sister's +darter. Suppose she should turn out a girl with black eyes, and red +cheeks, and all that sort of thing; I dare say she would expect me to +kiss her?" + +"Certainly; she will expect that, should her eyes even be white, and her +cheeks black. Natural affection expects this much even among the least +enlightened of the human race." + +"I am disposed to do everything according to usage," returned Marble, +quite innocently, and more discomposed by the situation in which he so +unexpectedly found himself, than he might have been willing to own; +"while, at the same time, I do not wish to do anything that is not +expected from a son and an uncle. If these relations had only come one +at a time." + +"Poh, poh, Moses--do not be quarrelling with your good luck, just as it's +at its height. Here is the house, and I'll engage one of those four girls +is your niece--that with the bonnet, for a dollar; she being ready to go +home, and the whole having come to the door, in consequence of seeing the +chaise driving down the road. They are puzzled at finding us in it, +however, instead of the usual driver." + +Marble hemmed, attempted to clear his throat, pulled down both sleeves of +his jacket, settled his black handkerchief to his mind, slily got rid of +his quid, and otherwise "cleared ship for action," as he would have been +very apt to describe his own preparations. After all, his heart failed +him, at the pinch; and just as I was pulling up the horse, he said to me, +in a voice so small and delicate, that it sounded odd to one who had heard +the man's thunder, as he hailed yards and tops in gales of wind-- + +"Miles, my dear boy, I do not half like this business; suppose you get +out, and open the matter to the ladies. There's four of them, you see, and +that's three too many. Go, now, Miles, that's a good fellow, and I'll do +the same for you another time. I can't have _four_ nieces here, you'll own +yourself." + +"And while I am telling your story to your niece, your own sister's +daughter, what will you be doing here, pray?" + +"Doing?--Why anything, my dear Miles, that can be useful--I say, boy, do +you think she looks anything like me? When you get nearer, if you should +think so, just hold up a hand as a signal, that I may not be taken by +surprise. Yes, yes; you go first, and I'll follow; and as for 'doing,' +why, you know, I can hold this bloody horse." + +I laughed, threw the reins to Marble, who seized them with both hands, as +if the beast required holding, while I alighted, and walked to the cluster +of girls, who awaited my movements in surprise and silence. Since that +day; I have seen more of the world than might have been expected in one of +my early career; and often have I had occasion to remark the tendency +there exists to extremes in most things; in manners as well as in every +other matter connected with human feelings. As we become sophisticated, +acting takes the place of nature, and men and women often affect the +greatest indifference in cases in which they feel the liveliest interest. +This is the source of the ultra _sang froid_ of what is termed high +breeding, which would have caused the four young women, who then stood in +the door-yard of the respectable farm-house at which I had alighted, to +assume an air as cold, and as marble-like, at the sudden appearance of +Mrs. Wetmore's chaise, containing two strange faces, as if they had been +long expecting our arrival, and were a little displeased it had not +occurred an hour sooner. Such, however, was not my reception. Though the +four girls were all youthful, blooming, pretty, delicate in appearance, +according to the fashion of American women, and tolerably well attired, +they had none of the calm exterior of conventional manner. One would speak +quick to another; looks of surprise were often exchanged; there were not a +few downright giggles, and then each put on as dignified an air to meet +the stranger as, under the circumstances, she could assume. + +"I presume Miss Kitty Huguenin is among you, young ladies," I commenced, +bowing as civilly as was necessary; "for this appears to be the house to +which we were directed." + +A girl of about sixteen, of decidedly pleasing appearance, and one who +bore a sufficient resemblance to old Mrs. Wetmore to be recognised, +advanced a step out of the group, a little eagerly, and then as suddenly +checked herself, with the timidity of her years and sex, as if afraid of +going too far. + +"I am Kitty," she said, changing colour once or twice; now flushing and +now growing pale--"Is any thing the matter, sir--has grandmother sent +for me?" + +"Nothing is the matter, unless you can call _good news_ something the +matter. We have just left your grandmother's on business, having been up +to 'Squire Van Tassel's on her affairs; rather than let us go on foot, she +lent us her chaise, on condition that we should stop on our return and +bring you home with us. The chaise is the evidence that we act +under orders." + +In most countries, such a proposition would have excited distrust; in +America, and in that day, more especially among girls of the class of +Kitty Huguenin, it produced none. Then, I flatter myself, I was not a very +frightful object to a girl of that age, and that my countenance was not of +such a cast as absolutely to alarm her. Kitty, accordingly, wished her +companions hasty adieus, and in a minute she was placed between Marble and +myself, the old vehicle being sufficiently spacious to accommodate three. +I made my bows and away we trotted, or _ambled_ would be a better word. +For a brief space there was silence in the chaise, though I could detect +Marble stealing side-long glances at his pretty little niece. His eyes +were moist, and he hemmed violently once, and actually blew his nose, +taking occasion, at the same time, to pass his handkerchief over his +forehead, no less than three times in as many minutes. The furtive manner +in which he indulged in these feelings, provoked me to say-- + +"You appear to have a bad cold this evening, Mr. Wetmore," for I thought +the opportunity might also be improved, in the way of breaking ground with +our secret. + +"Ay, you know how it is in these matters, Miles--somehow, I scarce know +why myself, but somehow I feel bloody womanish this evening." + +I felt little Kitty pressing closer to my side, as if she had certain +misgivings touching her other neighbour. + +"I suppose you are surprised, Miss Kitty," I resumed, "at finding two +strangers in your grandmother's chaise?" + +"I did not expect it--but--you said you had been to Mr. Van Tassel's, and +that there was good news for me--does 'Squire Van Tassel allow that +grandfather paid him the money?" + +"Not that exactly, but you have friends who will see that no wrong shall +be done you. I suppose you have been afraid your grandmother and yourself +might be turned away from the old place?" + +"'Squire Van Tassel's daughters have boasted as much,"--answered Kitty, in +a very subdued tone--a voice, indeed, that grew lower and more tremulous +as she proceeded--"but I don't much mind _them_, for they think their +father is to own the whole country one of these days." This was uttered +with spirit. "But the old house was built by grandmother's grandfather, +they say, and grandmother was born in it, and mother was born in it, and +so was I. It is hard to leave a place like that, sir, and for a debt, too, +that grandmother says she is sure has once been paid." + +"Ay, bloody hard!" growled Marble. + +Kitty again pressed nearer to me, or, to speak more properly, farther from +the mate, whose countenance was particularity grim just at that moment. + +"All that you say is very true, Kitty," I replied; "but Providence has +sent you friends to take care that no wrong shall be done your +grandmother, or yourself." + +"You're right enough in that, Miles," put in the mate. "God bless the old +lady; she shall never sleep out of the house, with my consent, unless it +is when she sails down the river to go to the theatre, and the museum, the +ten or fifteen Dutch churches there are in town, and all them 'ere sort o' +thingumerees." + +Kitty gazed at her left-hand neighbour with surprise, but I could feel +that maiden bashfulness induced her to press less closely to my side than +she had done the minute before. + +"I don't understand you," Kitty answered, after a short pause, during +which she was doubtless endeavouring to comprehend what she had heard. +"Grandmother has no wish to go to town; she only wants to pass the rest of +her days, quietly, at the old place, and one church is enough +for anybody." + +Had the little girl lived a few years later, she would have ascertained +that some persons require half-a-dozen. + +"And you, Kitty, do you suppose your grandmother has no thought for you, +when she shall be called away herself? + +"Oh! yes--I know she thinks a good deal of _that_, but I try to set her +heart at ease, poor, dear, old grandmother, for it's of no use to be +distressing herself about _me_! I can take care of myself well enough, and +have plenty of friends who will never see me want. Father's sisters say +they'll take care of _me_." + +"You have one friend, Kitty, of whom you little think, just now, and he +will provide for you." + +"I don't know whom you mean, sir--unless--and yet you can't suppose I +never think of God, sir?" + +"I mean a friend on earth--have you no friend on earth, whom you have not +mentioned yet?" + +"I am not sure--perhaps--you do not mean Horace Bright, do you, sir?" + +This was said with a bright blush, and a look in which the dawning +consciousness of maiden shame was so singuarly blended with almost +childish innocence, as both to delight me, and yet cause me to smile. + +"And who is Horace Bright?" I asked, assuming as grave an air as possible. + +"Oh! Horace is nobody--only the son of one of our neighbours. There, don't +you see the old stone house that stands among the apple and cherry trees, +on the banks of the river, just here in a line with this barn?" + +"Quite plainly; and a very pretty place it is. We were admiring it as we +drove up the road." + +"Well, that is Horace Bright's father's; and one of the best farms in the +neighbourhood. But you mustn't mind what _he_ says, grandmother always +tells me; boys love to talk grandly, and all the folks about here feel for +us, though most of them are afraid of 'Squire Van Tassel, too." + +"I place no reliance at all on Horace's talk--not I. It is just as your +grandmother tells you; boys are fond of making a parade, and often utter +things they don't mean." + +"Well, I don't think that is Horace's way, in the least; though I wouldn't +have you suppose I ever think, the least in the world, about what Horace +says concerning my never being left to want. My own aunts will take care +of _that_." + +"And should they fail you, my dear," cried Marble, with strong feeling, +"your own _uncle_ would step into their places, without waiting to have +his memory jogged." + +Again Kitty looked surprised, a very little startled, and again she +pressed to my side. + +"I have no uncle," she answered, timidly. "Father never had a brother, and +grandmother's son is dead." + +"No, Kitty," I said, giving a look at Marble to keep him quiet; "in the +last you are mistaken. This is the good news of which we spoke. Your +grandmother's son is not dead, but living, and in good health. He is +found, acknowledged, has passed the afternoon with your grandmother, has +money more than enough to satisfy even the unjust demand of the miserly +Van Tassel, and will be a father to _you_." + +"Oh! dear me--can this be true!" exclaimed Kitty, pressing still closer +than ever to my side. "And are _you_ uncle after all, and will it all come +out as you say? Poor, poor grandmother, and I not at home to hear it all, +and to help her under such a great trial!" + +"Your grandmother was a little distressed of course, at first, but she +bore it all remarkably well, and is as happy at this moment, as you +yourself could wish her to be. You are under a mistake, however, in +supposing I am your uncle--do I look old enough to be your +mother's brother? + +"Dear me, no--I might have seen that, hadn't I been so silly--can it be +this other gentleman?" + +Here Marble took his hint from nature, and clasping the pretty young +creature in his arms, he kissed her with an affection and warmth that were +truly paternal. Poor Kitty was frightened at first, and I dare say, like +her grandmother in a slight degree disappointed; but there was so much +heartiness in the mate's manner, that it reassured her in degree. + +"I'm a bloody poor uncle, I know, Kitty, for a young woman like you to +own," Marble got out, though sorely tempted to blubber; "but there's worse +in the world, as you'll discover, no doubt, in time. Such as I am, you +must take me, and, from this time henceforth, do not care a strap for old +Van Tassel, or any other griping vagabond like him in York state." + +"Uncle is a sailor!" Kitty answered, after being fairly released from the +mate's rough embrace. "Grandmother heard once that he was a soldier." + +"Ay, that comes of lying. I don't think they could have made a soldier of +me, had two wicked nurses run away with me, and had they placed me on +fifty tombstones, by way of commencing life. My natur' would revolt at +carrying a musket, for sartain, while the seas have always been a sort of +home to me." + +Kitty made no answer to this, being a little in doubt, I believe, as to +the manner in which she was to regard this new acquisition of an uncle. + +"Your grand-parents did suppose your uncle a soldier," I remarked, "but, +after the man was seen the mistake was discovered, and now the truth has +come out in a way that will admit of no dispute." + +"How is uncle named?" demanded the niece, in a low voice, and a hesitating +manner. "Mother's brother was christened Oloff, I have heard +grandmother say." + +"Very true, dear; we've been all over that, the old lady and I. They tell +me, too, I was christened by the name of Moses--I suppose you know who +Moses was, child?" + +"To be sure, uncle!" said Kitty, with a little laugh of surprise. "He was +the great law-maker of the Jews." + +"Ha, Miles, is that so?" + +I nodded assent. + +"And do you know about his being found in the bulrushes, and the story of +the king of Ethiopia's daughter?" + +"The king of Egypt, you mean, do you not, uncle Oloff?" cried Kitty, with +another little laugh. + +"Well, Ethiopia or Egypt; it's all pretty much the same--this girl has +been wonderfully edicated, Miles, and will turn out famous company for me, +in the long winter evenings, some twenty years hence, or when I've worked +my way up into the latitude of the dear, good, old soul under the +hill yonder." + +A slight exclamation from Kitty was followed by a blush, and a change of +expression, that showed she was thinking, just at that moment, of anything +but uncle Oloff. I asked an explanation. + +"It's _only_ Horace Bright, out yonder in the orchard, looking at us. He +will be puzzled to know who is with me, here, in the old chaise. Horace +thinks he can drive a horse better than any one about here, so you must be +careful how you hold the reins, or use the whip.--Horace!" + +This boded no good to Marble's plans for passing the evenings of his old +age with Kitty to amuse him; but, as we were now on the brow of the hill, +with the cottage in sight, Horace Bright was soon lost to view. To do the +girl justice, she appeared now to think only of her grandmother, and of +the effects the recent discovery of her son would be likely to produce on +one of her years and infirmities. As for myself, I was surprised to see +Mr. Hardinge in earnest conversation with old Mrs. Wetmore, both seated on +the stoop of the cottage, in the mild summer's evening, and Lucy walking, +to and fro, on the short grass of the willow bottom, with an impatience +and restlessness of manner it was very unusual for her to exhibit. No +sooner was Kitty alighted, than she ran to her grandmother, Marble +following, while I hastened to the point where was to be found the great +object of my interest. Lucy's face was full of feeling and concern, and +she received me with an extended hand that, gracious as was the act +itself, and most grateful as it would have proved to me under other +circumstances, I now feared boded no good. + +"Miles, you have been absent an age!" Lucy commenced. "I should be +disposed to reproach you, had not the extraordinary story of this good old +woman explained it all. I feel the want of air and exercise; give me your +arm, and we will walk a short distance up the road. My dear father will +not be inclined to quit that happy family, so long as any light is left." + +I gave Lucy my arm, and we did walk up the road together, actually +ascending the hill I had just descended; but all this did not induce me to +overlook the fact that Lucy's manner was hurried and excited. The whole +seemed so inexplicable, that I thought I would wait her own pleasure in +the matter. + +"Your friend, Marble," she continued--"I do not know why I ought not to +say _our_ friend, Marble, must be a very happy man at having, at length, +discovered who his parents are, and to have discovered them to be so +respectable and worthy of his affection." + +"As yet, he seems to be more bewildered than happy, as, indeed, does the +whole family. The thing has come on them so unexpectedly, that there has +not been time to bring their feelings in harmony with the facts." + +"Family affection is a blessed thing, Miles," Lucy resumed, after a short +pause, speaking in her thoughtful manner; "there is little in this world +that can compensate for its loss. It must have been sad, sad, to the poor +fellow to have lived so long without father, mother, sister, brother or +any other known relative." + +"I believe Marble found it so; yet, I think, he felt the supposed disgrace +of his birth more than his solitary condition. The man has warm +affections at the bottom, though he has a most uncouth manner of making +it known." + +"I am surprised one so circumstanced never thought of marrying; he might, +at least, have lived in the bosom of his own family, though he never knew +that of a father." + +"These are the suggestions of a tender and devoted female heart, dear +Lucy; but, what has a sailor to do with a wife? I have heard it said Sir +John Jervis--the present Lord St. Vincent--always declared a married +seaman, a seaman spoiled; and I believe Marble loves a ship so well he +would hardly know how to love a woman." + +Lucy made no answer to this indiscreet and foolish speech. Why it was +made, I scarce knew myself; but the heart has its bitter moods, when it +prompts sentiments and declarations that are very little in accordance +with its real impulses. I was so much ashamed of what I had just said, +and, in truth, so much frightened, that, instead of attempting to laugh it +off, as a silly, unmeaning opinion, or endeavouring to explain that this +was not my own way of thinking, I walked on some distance in silence, +myself, and suffered my companion to imitate me in this particular. I have +since had reason to think that Lucy was not pleased at my manner of +treating the subject, though, blessed creature! she had another matter to +communicate, that lay too heavy on her heart, to allow one of her +generous, disinterested nature to think much of anything else. + +"Miles," Lucy, at length, broke the silence, by saying--"I wish, I _do_ +wish we had not met that other sloop this morning." + +I stopped short in the highway, dropped my beautiful companion's arm, and +stood gazing intently in her face, as if I would read her most inmost +thoughts through those windows of the soul, her serene, mild, tender, blue +eyes. I saw that the face was colourless, and that the beautiful lips, out +of which the words that had alarmed me more by their accents than their +direct signification, were quivering in a way that their lovely mistress +could not control. Tears, as large as heavy drops of rain, too, were +trembling on the long silken eye-lashes, while the very attitude of the +precious girl denoted hopelessness and grief! + +"This relates to Grace!" I exclaimed, though my throat was so parched, as +almost to choke my utterance. + +"Whom, or what else, can now occupy our minds, Miles; I can scarce think +of anything but Grace; when I do, it is to remember that my own brother +has killed her!" + +What answer could I have made to such a speech, had my mind been +sufficiently at ease as respects my sister to think of anything else? As +it was, I did not even attempt the vain office of saying anything in the +way of alleviating my companion's keen sense of the misconduct of Rupert. + +"Grace is then worse in consequence of this unhappy rencontre?" I +observed, rather than asked. + +"Oh! Miles; what a conversation I have had with her, this afternoon! She +speaks, already, more like a being that belongs to the regions of the +blessed, than like one of earth! There is no longer any secret between us. +She would gladly have avoided telling me her precise situation with +Rupert, but we had already gone so far, I would know more. I thought it +might relieve her mind; and there was the chance, however slight, of its +enabling us to suggest some expedient to produce still further good. I +think it has had some of the first effect, for she is now sleeping." + +"Did Grace say anything of your communicating the miserable tale to me?" + +"It is, indeed, a miserable tale! Miles, they were engaged from the time +Grace was fifteen! Engaged distinctly, and in terms, I mean; not by any of +the implied understandings, by which those who were so intimate, +generally, might believe themselves bound to each other." + +"And in what manner did so early and long-continued an engagement cease?" + +"It came from Rupert, who should have died first, before he was so untrue +to himself, to my poor father, to me, to all of us, Miles, as well as to +his own manhood. It has been as we supposed; he has been deluded by the +éclât that attaches to these Mertons in our provincial society; and Emily +is rather a showy girl, you know,--at least for those who are accustomed +only to our simple habits." + +Alas! little did Lucy _then_ know--she has learned better since--that +"showy" girls belong much more to our "simple" state of society, than to +the state of those which are commonly conceived to be more advanced. But +Emily Merton was, in a slight degree, more artificial in manner, than it +was usual for a Manhattanese female of that day, to be, and this was what +Lucy meant; Lucy, who always thought so humbly of herself, and was ever so +ready to concede to her rivals all that could plausibly be asked in +their behalf. + +"I am well aware how much importance the leading set among ourselves +attaches to English connection, and English rank," I answered; "but, it +does not strike me Emily Merton is of a class so elevated, that Rupert +Hardinge need break his faith, in order to reap the advantage of belonging +to her, or her family." + +"It cannot be altogether that, Miles," Lucy added, in an appealing, but +touchingly confidential manner, "you and I have known each other from +children, and, whatever may be the weaknesses of one who is so dear to me, +and who, I hope, has not altogether lost his hold on your own affections, +_we_ can still rely on each other. I shall speak to you with the utmost +dependence on your friendship, and a reliance on your heart that is not +second to that which I place on my dear father's; for this is a subject on +which there ought to be no concealment between _us_. It is impossible that +one as manly, as upright, as honest I will say, as yourself, can have +lived so long in close intimacy with Rupert, and not be aware that he has +marked defects of character." + +"I have long known that he is capricious," I answered, unwilling to be +severe on the faults of Lucy's brother, to Lucy's own ear; "perhaps I +might add, that I have known he pays too much attention to fashion, and +the opinions of fashionable people." + +"Nay, as _we_ cannot deceive ourselves, let us not attempt the ungrateful +task of endeavouring to deceive each other," that true-hearted girl +replied, though she said this with so great an effort, that I was +compelled to listen attentively to catch all she uttered. "Rupert has +failings worse than these. He is mercenary; nor is he always a man of +truth. Heaven knows, how I have wept over these defects of character, and +the pain they have given me from childhood! But, my dear, dear father +overlooks them all--or, rather, seeing them, he hopes all things; it is +hard for a parent to believe a child irreclaimable." + +I was unwilling to let Lucy say any more on this subject, for her voice, +her countenance, I might almost say her whole figure showed how much it +cost her to say even this much of Rupert. I had long known that Lucy did +not respect her brother as much as she could wish; but this was never +before betrayed to me in words, nor in any other manner, indeed, that +would not have eluded the observation of one who knew the parties less +thoroughly than myself. I could perceive that she felt the awful +consequences she foresaw from her brother's conduct gave me a claim on her +sincerity, and that she was suffering martyrdom, in order to do all that +lay in her own power to lessen the force of the blow that unworthy +relative had inflicted. It would have been ungenerous in me to suffer such +a sacrifice to continue a moment longer than was necessary. + +"Spare yourself, and me, dearest Lucy," I eagerly said, "all explanations +but those which are necessary to let me know the exact state of my +sister's case. I confess, I could wish to understand, however, the manner +in which Rupert has contrived to explain away an engagement that has +lasted four years, and which must have been the source of so much innocent +confidence between Grace and himself." + +"I was coming to that, Miles; and when you know it, you will know all. +Grace has felt his attentions to Emily Merton, for a long time; but there +never was a verbal explanation between them until just before she left +town. Then she felt it due to herself to know the truth; and, after a +conversation which was not very particular, your sister offered to release +Rupert from his engagement, did he in the least desire it." + +"And what answer did he make to a proposal that was as generous as it was +frank?" + +"I must do Grace the justice to say, Miles, that, in all she said, she +used the utmost tenderness towards my brother. Still, I could not but +gather the substance of what passed. Rupert, at first, affected to believe +that Grace, herself, wished to break the engagement; but, in this, you +well know, her ingenuous simplicity would not permit him to succeed. She +did not attempt to conceal how deeply she should feel the change in her +situation, and how much it might influence her future happiness." + +"Ay, that was like both of them--like Rupert, and like Grace," I muttered, +huskily. + +Lucy continued silent an instant, apparently to allow me to regain my +self-command; then she continued-- + +"When Rupert found that the responsibility of the rupture must rest on +him, he spoke more sincerely. He owned to Grace that his views had +changed; said they were both too young to contract themselves when they +did, and that he had made an engagement to marry, at a time when he was +unfit to bind himself to so solemn a contract--said something about +minors, and concluded by speaking of his poverty and total inability to +support a wife, now that Mrs. Bradfort had left me the whole of her +property." + +"And this is the man who wishes to make the world believe that he is the +true heir!--nay, who told me, himself, that he considers you as only a +sort of trustee, to hold half, or two-thirds of the estate, until he has +had leisure to sow his wild oats!" + +"I know he has encouraged such notions, Miles," Lucy answered, in a low +voice; "how gladly would I realize his hopes, if things could be placed +where we once thought they were! Every dollar of Mrs. Bradfort's fortune +would I relinquish with joy, to see Grace happy, or Rupert honest." + +"I am afraid we shall never see the first, Lucy, in this evil world at +least." + +"I have never wished for this engagement, since I have been old enough to +judge of my brother's true character. He would ever have been too fickle, +and of principles too light, to satisfy Grace's heart, or her judgment. +There may have been some truth in his plea that the engagement was too +early and inconsiderately made. Persons so young can hardly know what +will, or what will not be necessary to their own characters, a few years +later. As it is, even Grace would now refuse to marry Rupert. She owned to +me, that the heaviest part of the blow was being undeceived in relation to +his character. I spoke to her with greater freedom than a sister ought to +have used, perhaps, but I wished to arouse her pride, as the means of +saving her. Alas! Grace is all affections, and those once withered, I +fear, Miles, the rest of her being will go with them." + +I made no answer to this prophetic remark, Lucy's visit to the shore, her +manner, and all that she had said, convincing me that she had, in a great +degree, taken leave of hope. We conversed some time longer, returning +toward the cottage; but there was nothing further to communicate, that it +is necessary to record. Neither of us thought of self, and I would as soon +have attempted to desecrate a church, as attempt to obtain any influence +over Lucy, in my own behalf, at such a moment. All my feelings reverted to +my poor sister again, and I was dying with impatience to return to the +sloop, whither, indeed, it was time to repair, the sun having some time +before disappeared, while even the twilight was drawing to a close. + + + +Chapter V. + + + + "The serpent of the field, by art + And spells, is won from harming, + But that which coils around the heart, + Oh! who hath power of charming?" + + Hebrew Melodies. + + +It was not easy to make Mr. Hardinge a sharer in my impatience. He had +taken a fancy to Marble, and was as much rejoiced at this accidental +discovery of the mate's parentage, as if he had been one of the family +himself. With such feelings, therefore, I had a good deal of difficulty in +getting him away. I asked Marble to go off with me, it being understood +that he was to be landed again, in order to pass the first night of his +recognition under his mother's roof. To this scheme, however, he raised an +objection, as soon as told it was my intention to go down the river as far +as New York, in quest of further medical advice, insisting on accompanying +me, in order to obtain the thousand dollars with which to face 'Squire Van +Tassel, or, at least, his mortgage sale. Accordingly, there were +leave-takings, and about eight we were all on board the sloop. + +I did not see, nor did I ask to see, my sister again, that night. I had +not seen her, indeed, since the moment Rupert was discovered in company +with the Mertons; and, to own the truth, I felt afraid to see her, +knowing, as I did, how much her frame was apt to be affected by her mind. +It appeared to me there remained but the single duty to perform, that of +getting below as fast as possible, in order to obtain the needed medical +aid. It is true, we possessed Post's written instructions, and knew his +opinion that the chief thing was to divert Grace's thoughts from dwelling +on the great cause of her malady; but, now he had left us, it seemed as if +I should neglect a most sacred duty, did I delay obtaining some other +competent physician. + +The tide turned at nine, and we got immediately under way, with a light +south-west wind. As for Marble, ignorant as Mr. Hardinge himself of the +true condition of my sister, he determined to celebrate his recent +discoveries by a supper. I was about to object to the project, on account +of Grace, but Lucy begged me to let him have his way; such _convives_ as +my late guardian and my own mate were not likely to be very boisterous; +and she fancied that the conversation, or such parts of it as should be +heard through the bulk-head, might serve to divert the invalid's mind from +dwelling too intently on the accidental rencontre of the morning. The +scheme was consequently carried out; and, in the course of an hour, the +cabins of the Wallingford presented a singular spectacle. In her berth was +Grace, patiently and sweetly lending herself to her friend's wish to seem +to listen to her own account of the reason of the mate's _festa_, and to +be amused by his sallies; Lucy, all care and attention for her patient, as +I could discover through the open door of the after-cabin, while she +endeavoured to appear to enter into the business that was going on at the +table, actually taking wine with the mate, and drinking to the happiness +of his newly-found relatives; Mr. Hardinge, over-flowing with +philanthropy, and so much engrossed with his companion's good fortune as +not to think of aught else at the moment; Marble, himself, becoming +gradually more under the influence of his new situation, as his feelings +had time to gather force and take their natural direction; while I was +compelled to wear the semblance of joining in his festivities, at an +instant when my whole soul was engrossed with anxiety on behalf of Grace. + +"This milk is just the richest and best that ever came on board a vessel!" +exclaimed the mate, as he was about to wind up his own share of the repast +with a cup of coffee--"and as for butter, I can say I never tasted the +article before. Little Kitty brought both down to the boat with her own +hands, and that makes them so much the sweeter, too, for, if anything can +add to the excellence of eatables, it is to have them pass through the +hands of one's own relations. I dare say, Mr. Hardinge, now, you have +verified this, time and again, in your own experience?" + +"In feeling, my friend; in feeling, often, though little in practice, in +the sense that you mean. My family has been my congregation, unless, +indeed, Miles here, and his beloved sister, can be added to my own +children in fact, as they certainly are in affection. But, I can +understand how butter made by the hands of one's own mother, or by those +of such a pretty niece as your Kitty, would taste all the sweeter." + +"It's such a providential thing, as you call it, to find _such_ a mother +in the bargain! Now I might have discovered a slattern, or a scold, or a +woman of bad character; or one that never went to church; or even one that +swore and drank; for, begging your pardon, Miss Lucy, just such creatur's +are to be met with; whereas, instead of any of these disagreeable +recommendations, I've fallen in with an A. No. 1. mother; ay, and such an +old lady as the king of England, himself, need not be ashamed to own.[A] I +felt a strong desire, Mr. Hardinge, to get down on my knees, and to ask +the dear, good old soul, just to say, 'God bless you, my dear son, Moses, +Van Duzer, or Oloff, whatever your name may be.'"[2] + + [Footnote 2: In that day, all allusions to royalty were confined to the + Majesty of Great Britain; it being no uncommon thing, at the + commencement of this century, to hear "_The_ King" toasted at many of + the best tables of the country.] + +"And if you had, Mr. Marble, you would not have been any the worse for it. +Such feelings do you honour, and no man need be ashamed of desiring to +receive a parent's blessing." + +"I suppose now, my dear sir," added Marble, innocently, "that is what is +called having a religious turn? I've often foreseen, that religion would +fetch me up, in the long run; and now that I am altogether relieved from +bitterness of heart on the subject of belonging to none, and no one's +belonging to me, my sentiments have undergone a great alteration, and I +feel a wish to be at peace with the whole human family--no, not with the +_whole_; I except that rascally old Van Tassel." + +"You must except no one--we are told to 'love those that hate us, to bless +those that curse us, and to pray for those that despitefully use us.'" + +Marble stared at Mr. Hardinge; for, to own the truth, it would have been +difficult, in a Christian land, to meet with one of his years who had less +religious instruction than himself. It is quite probable that these +familiar mandates had never been heard by him before; but I could see that +he was a little struck with the profound morality that pervaded them; a +morality to which no human heart appears to be so insensible as not in +secret to acknowledge its sublimity. Still he doubted. + +"Where are we told to do this, my dear sir?" demanded Marble, after +looking intently at the rector for a moment. + +"Where? why, where we get all our divine precept and inspired morality, +the bible. You must come to wish this Mr. Van Tassel good, instead of +evil; try to love, instead of hating him." + +"Is that religion?" demanded the mate, in his most dogmatical and +determined manner. + +"It is Christianity--its spirit, its very essence; without which the heart +cannot be right, let the tongue proclaim what delusion it may." + +Marble had imbibed a sincere respect for my late guardian, equally from +what he had heard me say in his favour and what he had seen himself, of +his benevolent feelings kind-hearted morality, and excellent sense. +Nevertheless, it was not an easy matter to teach a being like Marble the +lesson that he was to do good to those who used him despitefully; and just +at that moment he was in a frame of mind to do almost anything else, +sooner than pardon Van Tassel. All this I could see, understanding the man +so well and, in order to prevent a useless discussion that might disturb +my sister, I managed to change the discourse before it was too late; I say +too late, because it is not easy to shake off two moralists who sustain +their doctrines as strongly as Mr. Hardinge and my mate. + +"I am glad the name of this Mr. Van Tassel has been mentioned," I +observed, "as it may be well to have your advice, sir, concerning our best +mode of proceeding in his affair." + +I then related to Mr. Hardinge the history of the mortgage, and the +necessity there was for promptitude, inasmuch as the sale was advertised +for the ensuing week. My late guardian was better acquainted with the +country, up the river, than I was myself; and it was fortunate the subject +was broached, as he soon convinced me the only course to be pursued was to +put Marble ashore at Hudson, where, if too late for the regular stage, he +might obtain some other conveyance, and proceed to town by land. This +would barely leave him time to transact all the necessary business, and to +be back in season to prevent the title to the Willow Cove from passing +into the usurer's grasp. As was usual with Mr. Hardinge, he entered into +this, as into every good work, heart and hand, and immediately set about +writing directions for Marble's government when he got ashore. This put in +end to the banquet, and glad was I to see the table removed, and the other +signs of a tranquil night reappear. + +It was twelve before the sloop was as low as Hudson, and I saw by our rate +of sailing, that, indeed, there was little prospect of her reaching New +York in time for Marble's necessities. He was landed, therefore, and Mr. +Hardinge and myself accompanied him to the stage-house, where we +ascertained that the next morning after breakfast he would be enabled to +get into the stage, which would reach town in the evening of the +succeeding day. But this was altogether too slow for Marble's impatience. +He insisted on procuring a private conveyance, and we saw him drive out of +the long street that then composed most of the city of Hudson, at a +slapping pace, about one o'clock in the morning. This important duty +discharged, Mr. Hardinge and I returned to the sloop in which Neb had been +standing off and on, in waiting for us, and again made sail down the +river. When I turned in, the Wallingford was getting along at the rate of +about five miles the hour; the wind having freshened, and come out at the +westward, a quarter that just enabled her to lay her course. + +The reader will easily imagine I did not oversleep myself the following +morning. My uneasiness was so great, indeed, that I dreamed of the +dreadful accident which had produced my father's death, and then fancied +that I saw him, my mother, and Grace, all interred at the same time, and +in the same grave. Fortunately, the wind stood at the west, and the sloop +was already within twenty miles of the creek at Clawbonny, when I got on +deck. All was quiet in the after-cabin; and, Mr. Hardinge still continuing +in his berth, I went out to breathe the fresh morning air, without +speaking to any below. There was no one on the quarter-deck but the pilot, +who was at the helm; though I saw a pair of legs beneath the boom, close +in with the mast, that I knew to be Neb's, and a neat, dark petticoat that +I felt certain must belong to Chloe. I approached the spot, in tending to +question the former on the subject of the weather during his watch; but, +just as about to hail him, I heard the young lady say, in a more animated +tone than was discreet for the character of the conversation-- + +"No, _nebber_, sah--_nebber_, widout de apperbation of my modder and de +whole famerly. Mattermony a berry differ t'ing, Neb, from what you +surposes. Now, many a young nigger gentleman imagine dat he has only to +coax his gal to say 'yes,' and den dey goes to de clergy and stands up for +de blessin', and imagines all right for de futur', and for de present +time, all which is just a derlusion and a derception. No, sah; mattermony +a berry differ t'ing from _dat,_ as any old lady can tell you. De fuss +t'ing in mattermony, is to hab a _consent_." + +"Well, Chloe, and hab'n't I had dis berry consent from you, now for most +two year?" + +"Ay, dat not de consent I surposes. You wouldn't t'ink, Neb, ongrateful +feller, to get marry, widout first askin' do consent of Masser Mile, I +_do_ surpose! You, who has been his own waiter so long, and has gone to +sea wid him so often; and has saved his life; and has helped kill so many +hateful saverges; and has been on a desert conternent wid him." + +"I nebber told you dat, Chloe--I said on an island." + +"Well, what's the differ? You cannot tell me anyt'ing of edercation, Neb; +for I hab hear Miss Grace and Miss Lucy say deir lesson so often, dat I +sometime surposes I can say 'em all, one by one, almost as well as my +young lady, 'emselves. No, Neb; on _dat_ subjeck better be silent. You +been much too busy, ebber to be edercated; and, if I _do_ marry you, +remember I now tell you, I shall not enter into mattermony wid you on +account of any edercation you hab." + +"All Clawbonny say dat we can make as good a couple, Chloe, as ebber stood +up togedder." + +"All Clawbonny don't know much of mattermony, Neb. People talks +inderskrimernaterly, and doesn't know what dey says, too often. In de fuss +place my modder, my own born modder, upposes our uner, and dat is a great +differculty to begin wid. When a born modder upposes, a darter ought to +t'ink sebberal time." + +"Let me speak to Masser Mile; he'll fetch up her objeckshun wid a round +turn." + +"What dat, Neb?" + +"It mean Masser will _order_ her to consent." + +"Dat nebber saterfy my conscience, Neb. We be nigger dat true; but no +Clawbonny master ebber tell a Clawbonny slabe to get marry, or not to get +marry, as he choose. Dat would be intollabull, and not to be supported! +No; mattermony is religion; and religion free. No colour' young lady hab +vergin affeckshun, to t'row 'em away on just whom her masser say. But, +Neb, dere one odder differculty to our uner dat I don't know--sometime, I +feel awful about it!" + +As Chloe now spoke naturally, for the first time. Neb was evidently +startled; and I had sufficient amusement, and sufficient curiosity, to +remain stationary in order to hear what this new obstacle might be. The +voice of the negress was music itself; almost as sweet as Lucy's; and I +was struck with a slight tremor that pervaded it, as she so suddenly put +an end to all her own affectation of sentiment, and nipped her airs and +graces, as it might be, in the bud. + +"Nebber talk to me of mattermony, Neb," Chloe continued, almost sobbing as +she spoke, "while Miss Grace be in dis berry bad way! It hard enough to +see her look so pale and melercholy, widout t'inking of becomin' a wife." + +"Miss Grace will grow better, now Masser Mile carry her on de water. If he +only take her to sea, she get so fat and hearty, no libbin' wid her!" + +Chloe did not acquiesce in this opinion; she rather insisted that "Miss +Grace" was altogether too delicate and refined a person to live in a ship. +But the circumstance that struck me with the greatest force, in this +characteristic dialogue, was the fact that Chloe betrayed to me the +consciousness of the cause of my sister's indisposition; while true to her +sex's instincts, and faithful to her duty, the girl completely concealed +it from her lover. I was also oppressively struck with the melancholy +forebodings that appeared in Chloe's manner, rather than in her words, and +which made it apparent that she doubted of her young mistress's recovery. +She concluded the conversation by saying-- + +"No, no, Neb--don't talk to me of mattermony while Miss Grace so ill; and +if any t'ing _should_ happen, you need nebber talk to me of it, at _all_. +I could nebber t'ink of any uner (union) should anyt'ing happen to Miss +Grace. Lub (love) will die forebber in de family, when Miss Grace die!" + +I turned away, at this speech, the tears starting to my eyes, and saw Lucy +standing in the companion-way. She was waiting to speak to me, and no +sooner caught my eye, than beckoning me to her side, she let me know that +my sister desired to see me. Erasing every sign of emotion as soon as +possible, I descended with Lucy, and was soon at the side of my +sister's berth. + +Grace received me with an angelic smile; but, I almost gasped for breath +as I noticed the prodigious change that had come over her in so brief a +space. She now looked more like a being of another world than ever; and +this, too, immediately after coming from the refreshment of a night's +rest. I kissed her forehead, which had an unnatural chill on it, I +thought; and I felt the feeble pressure of an arm that was thrown +affectionately round my neck. I then sat down on the transom, still +holding my sister's hand. Grace looked anxiously at me for half a minute, +ere she spoke, as if to ascertain how far I was conscious of her +situation. + +"Lucy tells me, brother," she at length said, "that you think of carrying +me down the river, as far as town, in order to get further advice. I hope +this is a mistake of our dear Lucy's, however?" + +"It is not, Grace. If the wind stand here at the westward, I hope to have +you in Lucy's own house in Wall street, by to-morrow evening. I know she +will receive you hospitably, and have ventured to form the plan without +consulting you on the subject." + +"Better that I should be at Clawbonny--if anything can now do me good, +brother, it will be native air, and pure country air. Hearken to my +request, and stop at the creek." + +"Your serious request, Grace, will be a law to me, if made on due +reflection. This growing feebleness, however, alarms me; and I cannot +justify it to myself not to send for advice." + +"Remember, Miles, it is not yet twenty-four hours since one of the ablest +men of the country saw me. We have his written instructions; and, all that +man can do for me, they will do for me. No, brother; listen to my +entreaties, and go into the creek. I pine, I pine to be again at dear +Clawbonny, where alone I can enjoy anything like peace of body or mind. +This vessel is unsuited to me; I cannot think of a future, or pray in it. +Brother, _dearest_ brother, carry me home, if you love me!" + +There was no resisting such an appeal. I went on deck with a heavy heart, +and gave the necessary orders to the pilot; and, in about eight-and-forty +hours after we emerged into the Hudson, we left that noble stream again, +to shoot beneath the shaded, leafy banks of our own inlet. Grace was so +feeble as to be carried to the chaise, in which she was supported by Lucy, +during the short drive to the house. When I reached my own dwelling, I +found Mr. Hardinge pacing the little portico, or piazza, waiting for my +arrival, with an uneasiness of manner that at once proclaimed his anxiety +to see me. He had driven the horse of the chaise, and had imbibed a first +impression of Grace's danger. + +"Miles, my dear boy--my second son"--the simple-hearted, excellent old +man commenced; "Miles, my dear boy, the hand of God has been laid heavily +on us--your beloved sister, my own precious Grace, is far more ill than I +had any idea of, before this morning." + +"She is in the hands of her merciful Creator," I said, struggling to +command myself, "who, I greatly fear, is about to call her from a world +that is not good enough for one so innocent and pure, to take her to +himself. I have foreseen this from the hour I first met her, after my +return; though a single ray of hope dawned on me, when Post advised the +change of scene. So far from producing good, this excursion has produced +evil; and she is much worse than when we left home." + +"Such short-sighted mortals are we!--But what can we do, my boy?--I +confess my judgment, my faculties themselves, are nearly annihilated by +the suddenness of this shock. I had supposed her illness some trifling +complaint that youth and care would certainly remove; and here we stand, +as it might be, at the call of the trumpet's blast, almost around +her grave!" + +"I am most anxious to lean on your wisdom and experience, my dear sir, at +this critical moment; if you will advise, I shall be happy to follow your +instructions." + +"We must lean on God, Miles," answered my worthy guardian, still pacing +the piazza, the tears running down his cheeks in streams, and speaking so +huskily as barely to be intelligible; "yes, we will have the prayers of +the congregation next Sunday morning; and most devout and heartfelt +prayers they will be; for her own sainted mother was not more deservedly +loved! To be called away so young--to die in the first bloom of youth and +loveliness, as it were--but, it is to go to her God! We must endeavour to +think of her gain--to rejoice over, rather than mourn her loss." + +"I grieve to perceive that you regard my sister's case as so entirely +hopeless, sir." + +"Hopeless!--It is full of the brightest promise; and when I come to look +calmly at it, my reason tells me I ought not to grieve. Still, Miles, the +loss of Lucy, herself, would scarce be a more severe blow to me. I have +loved her from childhood, cared for her as for one of my own, and feel +the same love for her that I should feel for a second daughter. Your +parents were dear to me, and their children have always appeared to me to +belong to my own blood. Had I not been your guardian, boy, and you and +Grace been comparatively so rich, while I and mine were so poor, it would +have been the first wish of my heart to have seen Rupert and Grace, you +and Lucy, united, which would have made you all my beloved children alike. +I often thought of this, until I found it necessary to repress the hope, +lest I should prove unfaithful to my trust. Now, indeed, Mrs. Bradfort's +bequest might have smoothed over every difficulty; but it came too late! +It was not to be; Providence had ordered otherwise." + +"You had an ardent supporter of your scheme in one of your children, at +least, sir." + +"So you have given me to understand, Miles, and I regret that I was +informed of the fact so late, or I might have contrived to keep off other +young men while you were at sea, or until an opportunity offered to enable +you to secure my daughter's affections. That done, neither time nor +distance could have displaced you; the needle not being more true than +Lucy, or the laws of nature more certain." + +"The knowledge of these sterling qualities, sir, only makes me regret my +having come too late, so much the more." + +"It was not to be;--at one time, I _did_ think Rupert and Grace had a +preference for each other; but I must have been deceived. God had ordered +it otherwise, and wisely no doubt; as his omniscience foresaw the early +drooping of this lovely flower. I suppose their having been educated +together, so much like brother and sister, has been the reason there was +so much indifference to each other's merits. You have been an exception on +account of your long absences, Miles, and you must look to those absences +for the consolation and relief you will doubtless require. Alas! alas! +that I could not now fold Grace to my heart, as a daughter and a bride, +instead of standing over her grave! Nothing but Rupert's diffidence of his +own claims, during our days of poverty, could have prevented him from +submitting himself to so much loveliness and virtue. I acquit the ad of +insensibility; for nothing but the sense of poverty and the pride of a +poor gentleman, added perhaps to the brotherly regard he has always felt +for Grace, could have kept him from seeking her hand. Grace, properly +enough, would have requited his affection." + +Such is a specimen of the delusion under which we live, daily. Here was my +sister dying of blighted affections, under my own roof; and the upright, +conscientious father of the wretch who had produced this withering evil, +utterly unconscious of the wrong that had been done; still regarding his +son with the partiality and indulgence of a fond parent. To me, it seemed +incredible at the time, that unsuspecting integrity could carry its +simplicity so far; but I have since lived long enough to know that +mistakes like these are constantly occurring around us; effects being +hourly attributed to causes with which they have no connection; and causes +being followed down to effects, that are as imaginary as human sagacity is +faulty. As for myself, I can safely say, that in scarce a circumstance of +my life, that has brought me the least under the cognizance of the public, +have I ever been judged justly. In various instances have I been praised +for acts that were either totally without any merit, or, at least, the +particular merit imputed to them; while I have been even persecuted for +deeds that deserved praise. An instance or two of the latter of these +cases of the false judgment of the world will be laid before the reader as +I proceed. + +Mr. Hardinge continued for some time to expatiate on the loveliness of +Grace's character, and to betray the weight of the blow he had received, +in gaining this sudden knowledge of her danger. He seemed to pass all at +once from a state of inconsiderate security to one of total hopelessness, +and found the shock so much harder to endure. At length he sent for Lucy, +with whom he continued closeted for near an hour. I ascertained, +afterwards, that he questioned the dear girl closely on the subject of my +sister's malady; even desiring to know if her affections were any way +connected with this extraordinary sinking of the vital powers; but not in +the slightest degree inclining to the distrust of Rupert's being in any +manner implicated in the affair. Lucy, truthful and frank as she was, felt +the uselessness, nay, the danger, of enlightening her father, and managed +to evade all his more delicate inquiries, without involving herself in +falsehoods. She well knew, if he were apprised of the real state of the +case, that Rupert would have been sent for; and every reparation it was in +his power to make would have been insisted on, as an act of justice; a +hopeless and distressing attempt to restore the confidence of unbounded +love, and the esteem which, once lost, is gone forever. Perhaps the +keenest of all Grace's sufferings proceeded from the consciousness of the +total want of merit in the man she had so effectually enshrined in her +heart, that he could only be ejected by breaking in pieces and utterly +destroying the tenement that had so long contained him. With ordinary +notions, this change of opinion might have sufficed for the purposes of an +effectual cure; but my poor sister was differently constituted. She had +ever been different from most of her sex, in intensity of feeling; and had +come near dying, while still a child, on the occasion of the direful +catastrophe of my father's loss; and the decease of even our mother, +though long expected, had come near to extinguish the flame of life in the +daughter. As I have already said more than once, a being so sensitive and +so pure, ever seemed better fitted for the regions of bliss, than for the +collisions and sorrows of the world. + +Now we were at Clawbonny again, I scarce knew how to employ myself. Grace +I could not see; Lucy, who took the entire management of the invalid, +requiring for her rest and quiet. In this she did but follow the +directions of reason, as well as those left by Post; and I was fain to +yield, knowing that my sister could not possibly have a more judicious or +a more tender nurse. + +The different persons belonging to the mill and the farm came to me for +directions, which I was compelled to give with thoughts engrossed with the +state of my sister. More than once I endeavoured to arouse myself; and, +for a few minutes, _seemed_ to enter, if I did not truly enter, with +interest into the affairs presented to my consideration; but these little +rallies were merely so many attempts at self-delusion, and I finally +referred everything to the respective persons entrusted with the different +branches of the duty bidding them act as they had been accustomed to do +in my absence. + +"Why, yes, Masser Mile," answered the old negro who was the head man in +the field, "dis berry well, if he can do it. Remember I alway hab Masser +Hardinge to talk to me about 'e crop, and sich t'ing, and dat a won'erful +help to a poor nigger when he in a nonplush." + +"Surely, Hiram, you are a better husbandman than Mr. Hardinge and myself +put together, and cannot want the advice of either to tell you how to +raise corn, or to get in hay!" + +"Dat berry true, sah--so true, I wont deny him. But, you know how it be, +Masser Mile; a nigger _do_ lub to talk, and it help along work +won'erfully, to get a good dispute, afore he begin." + +As respects the blacks, this was strictly true. Though as respectful as +slavery and habit could make them, they were so opinionated and +dogmatical, each in his or her sphere, that nothing short of a downright +assertion of authority could produce submission to any notions but their +own. They loved to argue the different points connected with their several +duties, but they did not like to be convinced. Mr. Hardinge would discuss +with them, from a sense of duty, and he would invariably yield, unless in +cases that involved moral principles. On all such points, and they were +not of unfrequent occurrence in a family of so many blacks, he was as +inflexible as the laws of the Medes and Persians; but, as respected the +wheat, the potatoes, the orchards, the mill, or the sloop, he usually +submitted to the experience of those more familiar with the business, +after having discussed the matters in council. This rendered him +exceedingly popular at Clawbonny, the persuaded usually having the same +sort of success in the world as a good listener. As for the rector +himself, after so many long discussions, he began to think he had actually +influenced the different steps adopted; the cause of one of the illusions +I have already pourtrayed. + +Old Hiram did not quit me when he came for instructions alias a "dispute," +without a word of inquiry touching Grace I could see that the alarm had +passed among the slaves, and it was quite touching to note the effect it +produced on their simple minds. It would have been sufficient for them to +love her, that Grace was their young mistress; but such a mistress as she +had ever been, and one so winning in manner and person, they might be said +almost to worship her. + +"I berry sorry to hear Miss Grace be onwell, sah," said old Hiram, looking +at me sorrowfully. "It go hard wid us all, if anyt'ing happen _dere_! I +alway s'pose, Masser Mile, dat Miss Grace and Masser Rupert come togeder, +some time; as we all expects you and Miss Lucy will. Dem are happy days, +sah, at Clawbonny, for den we all know our new masser and new missus from +de cradle. No, no--we can nebber spare Miss Grace, sah; even I should miss +her in 'e field!" + +The very blacks had observed the state of things which had deluded my poor +sister; and the slave had penetrated his master's secret. I turned away +abruptly from the negro, lest he should also detect the evidence of the +weakness extorted by his speech, from the eyes of manhood. + + + +Chapter VI. + + + + --"Like the lily + That once was mistress of the field, and flourished, + I'll hang my head, and perish." + + Queen Catherine. + + +I saw little of Lucy that night. She met us at evening prayers, and tears +were in her eyes as she arose from her knees. Without speaking, she kissed +her father for good night, more affectionately than ever, I thought, and +then turned to me. Her hand was extended, (we had seldom met or parted for +eighteen years, without observing this little act of kindness), but she +did not--nay, _could not_, speak. I pressed the little hand fervently in +my own, and relinquished it again, in the same eloquent silence. She was +seen no more by us until next day. + +The breakfast had ever been a happy meal at Clawbonny. My father, though +merely a ship-master, was one of the better class; and he had imbibed many +notions, in the course of his different voyages, that placed him much in +advance of the ordinary habits of his day and country. Then an _American_ +ship-master is usually superior to those of other countries. This arises +from some of the peculiarities of our institutions, as well as from the +circumstance that the navy is so small. Among other improvements, my +father had broken in upon the venerable American custom of swallowing a +meal as soon as out of bed. The breakfast at Clawbonny, from my earliest +infancy, or as long as I can remember, had been eaten regularly at nine +o'clock, a happy medium between the laziness of dissipation and the hurry +of ill-formed habits. At that hour the whole family used to meet, still +fresh from a night's repose, and yet enlivened and gay by an hour or two +of exercise in the open air, instead of coming to the family board half +asleep, with a sort of drowsy sulkiness, as, if the meal were a duty, and +not a pleasure. We ate as leisurely as keen appetites would permit; +laughed, chatted, related the events of the morning, conversed of our +plans for the day, and indulged our several tastes and humours, like +people who had been up and stirring, and not like so many drowsy drones +swallowing our food for form's sake. The American breakfast has been +celebrated by several modern writers, and it deserves to be, though +certainly not to be compared to that of France. Still it might be far +better than it is, did our people understand the _mood_ in which it ought +to be enjoyed. + +While on this subject, the reader will excuse an old man's prolixity, if I +say a word on the state of the science of the table in general, as it is +put in practice in this great republic. A writer of this country, one Mr. +Cooper, has somewhere said that the Americans are the grossest feeders in +the civilized world, and warns his countrymen to remember that a national +character may be formed in the kitchen. This remark is commented on by +Captain Marryatt, who calls it both unjust and ill-natured. As for the +ill-nature I shall say nothing, unless it be to remark that I do not well +see how that which is undeniably true ought to be thought so very +ill-natured. That it is true, every American who has seen much of other +lands must know. Captain-Marryatt's allegation that the tables are good in +the large towns, has nothing to do with the merits of this question. The +larger American towns are among the best eating and drinking portions of +the world. But what are they as compared to the whole country? What are +the public tables, or the tables of the refined, as compared to the tables +of the mass, even in these very towns? All things are to be judged of by +the rules, and not by the exceptions. Because a small portion of the +American population understand what good cookery is, it by no means +follows that _all_ do. Who would think of saying that the people of +England live on white bait and venison, because the nobility and gentry +(the aldermen inclusive) can enjoy both, in the seasons, _ad libitum?_ I +suspect this Mr. Cooper knows quite as well what he is about, when writing +of America, as any European. If pork fried in grease, and grease pervading +half the other dishes, vegetables cooked without any art, and meats done +to rags, make a good table, then is this Mr. Cooper wrong, and Captain +Marryatt right, and _vice versâ_. As yet, while nature has done so much in +America, art has done but little. Much compared with numbers and time, +certainly, but little as compared with what numbers and time have done +elsewhere. Nevertheless, I would make an exception in favour of America, +as respects the table of one country, though not so much in connection +with the coarseness of the feeding as in the poverty of the food. I +consider the higher parts of Germany to be the portions of the Christian +world where eating and drinking are in the most primitive condition; and +that part of this great republic, which Mr. Alison Would probably call the +_State_ of New England, to come next. In abundance and excellence of food +in the native form, America is particularly favoured; Baltimore being at +the very nucleus of all that is exquisite in the great business of +mastication. Nevertheless, the substitution of cooks from the interior of +New England, for the present glistening tenants of her kitchens, would +turn even that paradise of the epicure into a sort of oleaginous waste. +Enough of cookery. + +Lucy did not appear at prayers next morning! I felt her absence as one +feels the certainty of some dreadful evil. Breakfast was announced; still +Lucy did not appear. The table was smoking and hissing; and Romeo +Clawbonny, who acted as the everyday house-servant, or footman, had +several times intimated that it might be well to commence operations, as a +cold breakfast was very cold comfort. + +"Miles, my dear boy," observed Mr. Hardinge, after opening the door to +look for the absentee half a dozen times, "we will wait no longer. My +daughter, no doubt, intends to breakfast with Grace, to keep the poor dear +girl company; for it _is_ dull work to breakfast by oneself. You and I +miss Lucy sadly, at this very moment, though we have each other's company +to console us." + +We had just taken our seats, when the door slowly opened, and Lucy entered +the room. + +"Good morning, dearest father," said the sweet girl, passing an arm round +Mr. Hardinge's neck, with more than her usual tenderness of manner, and +imprinting a long kiss on his bald head. "Good morning, Miles," stretching +towards me a hand, but averting her face, as afraid it might reveal too +much, when exposed fully to my anxious and inquiring gaze. "Grace passed a +pretty quiet night, and is, I think, a little less disturbed this morning +than she was yesterday." + +Neither of us answered or questioned the dear nurse. What a breakfast was +that, compared to so many hundreds in which I had shared at that very +table, and in that same room! Three of the accustomed faces were there, it +is true; all the appliances were familiar, some dating as far back as the +time of the first Miles; Romeo, now a grey-headed and wrinkled negro, was +in his usual place; but Chloe, who was accustomed to pass often between +her young mistress and a certain closet, at that meal, which never seemed +to have all we wanted arranged on the table at first, was absent, as was +that precious "young mistress" herself. "Gracious Providence!" I mentally +ejaculated, "is it thy will it should _ever_ be thus? Am I _never_ again +to see those dove-like eyes turned on me in sisterly affection from the +head of my table, as I have so often seen them, on hundreds and hundreds +of occasions?" Lucy's spirits had sometimes caused her to laugh merrily; +and her musical voice once used to mingle with Rupert's and my own more +manly and deeper notes, in something like audible mirth; not that Lucy was +ever boisterous or loud; but, in early girlhood, she had been gay and +animated, to a degree that often blended with the noisier clamour of us +boys. With Grace, this had never happened. She seldom spoke, except in +moments when the rest were still; and her laugh was rarely audible, though +so often heartfelt and joyous. It may seem strange to those who have never +suffered the pang of feeling that such a customary circle was broken up +forever; but, that morning, the first in which I keenly felt that my +sister was lost to me, I actually missed her graceful, eloquent, silence! + +"Miles," said Lucy, as she rose from the table, tears trembling on her +eyelids as she spoke, "half an hour hence come to the family room. Grace +wishes to see you _there_ this morning, and I have not been able to deny +her request. She is weak, but thinks the visit will do her good. Do not +fail to be punctual, as waiting might distress her. Good morning, dearest +papa; when I want _you_, I will send for you." + +Lucy left us with these ominous notices, and I felt the necessity of going +on the lawn for air. I walked my half-hour out, and returned to the house +in time to be punctual to the appointment. Chloe met me at the door, and +led the way in silence towards the family room. Her hand was no sooner +laid on the latch than Lucy appeared, beckoning me to enter. I found Grace +reclining on that small settee, or _causeuse_, on which we had held our +first interview, looking pallid and uneasy, but still looking lovely and +as ethereal as ever. She held out a hand affectionately, and then I saw +her glance towards Lucy, as if asking to be left with me alone. As for +myself, I could not speak. Taking my old place, I drew my sister's head on +my bosom, and sat holding it in silence for many painful minutes. In that +position I could conceal the tears which forced themselves from my eyes, +it exceeding all my powers to repress these evidences of human grief. As I +took my place, the figure of Lucy disappeared, and the door closed. + +I never knew how long a time Grace and I continued in that tender +attitude. I was not in a state of mind to note such a fact, and have since +striven hard to forget most that occurred in that solemn interview. After +a lapse of so many years, however, I find memory painfully accurate on all +the leading circumstances, though it was impossible to recall a point of +which I took no heed at the moment. Such things only as made an impression +is it in my power to relate. + +When Grace gently, and I might add faintly, raised herself from my bosom, +she turned on me eyes that were filled with a kind anxiety on my account +rather than on her own. + +"Brother," she said, earnestly, "the will of God must be submitted to--I +am very, _very_ ill--broken in pieces--I grow weaker every hour. It is not +right to conceal such a truth from ourselves, or from each other." + +I made no reply, although she evidently paused to give me an opportunity +to speak. I could not have uttered a syllable to have saved my life. The +pause was impressive, rather than long. + +"I have sent for you, dearest Miles," my sister continued, "not that I +think it probable I shall be called away soon or suddenly--God will spare +me for a little while, I humbly trust, in order to temper the blow to +those I love; but he is about to call me to him, and we must all be +prepared for it; you, and dear, dear Lucy, and my beloved guardian, as +well as myself. I have not sent for you even to tell you this; for Lucy +gives me reason to believe you expect the separation; but I wish to speak +to you on a subject that is very near my heart, while I have strength and +fortitude to speak on it at all. Promise me, dearest, to be calm, and to +listen patiently." + +"Your slightest wish will be a law to me, beloved, most precious sister; I +shall listen as if we were in our days of childish confidence and +happiness--though I fear those days are never to return!" + +"Feel not thus, Miles, my noble-hearted, manly brother. Heaven will not +desert you, unless you desert your God; it does not desert me, but angels +beckon me to its bliss! Were it not for you and Lucy, and my dear, dear +guardian, the hour of my departure would be a moment of pure felicity. But +we will not talk of this now. You must prepare yourself, Miles, to hear me +patiently, and to be indulgent to my last wishes, even should they seem +unreasonable to your mind at first." + +"I have told you, Grace, that a request of your's will be a law to me; +have no hesitation, therefore, in letting me know any, or all +your wishes." + +"Let us, then, speak of worldly things; for the last time, I trust, my +brother. Sincerely do I hope that this will be the last occasion on which +I shall ever be called to allude to them. This duty discharged, all that +will remain to me on earth will be the love I bear my friends. This Heaven +itself will excuse, as I shall strive not to let it lessen that I bear +my God." + +Grace paused, and I sat wondering what was to follow, though touched to +the heart by her beautiful resignation to a fate that to most so young +would seem hard to be borne. + +"Miles, my brother," she continued, looking at me anxiously, "we have not +spoken much of your success in your last voyage, though I have understood +that you have materially increased your means." + +"It has quite equalled my expectations; and, rich in my ship and ready +money, I am content, to say nothing of Clawbonny. Do what you will with +your own, therefore, my sister; not a wish of mine shall ever grudge a +dollar; I would rather not be enriched by your loss. Make your bequests +freely, and I shall look on each and all of them as so many memorials of +your affectionate heart and many virtues." + +Grace's cheeks flushed, and I could see that she was extremely gratified, +though still tremblingly anxious. + +"You doubtless remember that by our father's will, Miles, my property +becomes your's, if I die without children before I reach the age of +twenty-one; while your's would have been mine under the same +circumstances. As I am barely twenty, it is out of my power to make a +legal will." + +"It is in your power to make one that shall be equally binding, Grace. I +will go this instant for pen, ink, and paper; and, as you dictate, will I +write a will that shall be even more binding than one that might come +within the rules of the law." + +"Nay, brother, that is unnecessary; all I wish I have already said in a +letter addressed to yourself; and which, should you now approve of it, +will be found among my papers as a memorandum. But there should be no +misapprehension between you and me, dearest Miles. I do not wish you even +fully to consent to my wishes, now; take time to consider, and let your +judgment have as much influence on your decision as your own +excellent heart." + +"I am as ready to decide at this moment as I shall be a year hence. It is +enough for me that you wish the thing done, to have it done, sister." + +"Bless you--bless you--brother"--said Grace, affectionately pressing my +hand to her heart--"not so much that you consent to do as I wish, as for +the spirit and manner in which you comply. Still, as I ask no trifle, it +is proper that I release you from all pledges here given, and allow you +time for reflection. Then, it is also proper you should know the full +extent of what you promise." + +"It is enough for me that it will be in my power to perform what you +desire; further than that I make no stipulation." + +I could see that Grace was profoundly struck with this proof of my +attachment; but her own sense of right was too just and active to suffer +the matter to rest there. + +"I must explain further," she added. "Mr. Hardinge has been a most +faithful steward; and, by means of economy, during my long minority, the +little cost that has attended my manner of living, and some fortunate +investments that have been made of interest-money, I find myself a good +deal richer than I had supposed. In relinquishing my property, Miles, you +will relinquish rather more than two-and-twenty thousand dollars; or quite +twelve hundred a year. There ought to be no misapprehensions on this +subject, between us; least of all at such a moment." + +"I wish it were more, my sister, since it gives you pleasure to bestow it. +If it will render you any happier to perfect any of your plans, take ten +thousand of my own, and add to the sum which is now your's. I would +increase, rather than lessen your means of doing good." + +"Miles--Miles"--said Grace, dreadfully agitated--"talk not thus--it almost +shakes my purpose! But no; listen now to my wishes, for I feel this will +be the last time I shall ever dare to speak on the subject. In the first +place, I wish you to purchase some appropriate ornament, of the value of +five hundred dollars, and present it to Lucy as a memorial of her friend. +Give also one thousand dollars in money to Mr. Hardinge, to be +distributed in charity. A letter to him on the subject, and one to Lucy, +will also be found among my papers. There will still remain enough to make +suitable presents to the slaves, and leave the sum of twenty thousand +dollars entire and untouched." + +"And what shall I do with these twenty thousand dollars, sister?" I asked, +Grace hesitating to proceed. + +"That sum, dearest Miles, I wish to go to Rupert. You know that he is +totally without fortune, with the habits of a man of estate. The little I +can leave him will not make him rich, but it may be the means of making +him happy and respectable. I trust Lucy will add to it, when she comes of +age, and the future will be happier for them all than the past." + +My sister spoke quick, and was compelled to pause for breath. As for +myself, the reader can better imagine than I can describe my sensations, +which were of a character almost to overwhelm me. The circumstance that I +felt precluded from making any serious objections, added to the intensity +of my suffering, left me in a state of grief, regret, indignation, wonder, +pity and tenderness, that it is wholly out of my power to delineate. Here, +then, was the tenderness of the woman enduring to the last; caring for the +heartless wretch who had destroyed the very springs of life in her +physical being, while it crushed the moral like a worm beneath the foot; +yet bequeathing, with her dying breath, as it might be, all the worldly +goods in her possession, to administer to his selfishness and vanity! + +"I know you must think this strange, brother;" resumed Grace, who +doubtless saw how utterly unable I was to reply; "but, I shall not die at +peace with myself without it. Unless he possess some marked assurance of +my forgiveness, my death will render Rupert miserable; with such a marked +assurance, he will be confident of possessing my pardon and my prayers. +Then, both he and Emily are pennyless, I fear, and their lives may be +rendered blanks for the want of the little money it is in my power to +bestow. At the proper time, Lucy, I feel confident, will add her part; and +you, who remain behind me, can all look on my grave, and bless its +humble tenant!" + +"Angel!" I murmured--"this is too much! Can you suppose Rupert will +accept this money?" + +Ill as I thought of Rupert Hardinge, I could not bring my mind to believe +he was so base as to receive money coming from such a source, and with +such a motive. Grace, however, viewed the matter differently; not that she +attached anything discreditable to Rupert's compliance, for her own +womanly tenderness, long and deeply rooted attachment, made it appear to +her eyes more as an act of compliance with her own last behest, than as +the act of degrading meanness it would unquestionably appear to be, to all +the rest of the world. + +"How can he refuse this to me, coming to him, as the request will, from my +grave?" rejoined the lovely enthusiast. "He will owe it to me; he will owe +it to our former affection--for he once loved me, Miles; nay, he loved me +even more than you ever did, or could, dearest--much as I know you +love me." + +"By heavens, Grace," I exclaimed, unable to control myself any longer, +"that is a fearful mistake. Rupert Hardinge is incapable of loving +anything but himself; he has never been worthy of occupying the most idle +moment of a heart true and faithful as your's." + +These words escaped me under an impulse I found entirely impossible to +control. Scarcely were they uttered, ere I deeply regretted the +indiscretion. Grace looked at me imploringly, turned as pale as death, and +trembled all over, as if on the verge of dissolution. I took her in my +arms, I implored her pardon, I promised to command myself in future, and I +repeated the most solemn assurances of complying with her wishes to the +very letter. I am not certain I could have found it in my heart not to +have recalled my promise, but for the advantage my sister obtained over +me, by means of this act of weakness. There was something so exceedingly +revolting to me in the whole affair, that even Grace's holy weakness +failed to sanctify the act in my eyes; at least so far as Rupert was +concerned. I owe it to myself to add that not a selfish thought mingled +with my reluctance, which proceeded purely from the distaste I felt to +seeing Lucy's brother, and a man for whom I had once entertained a boyish +regard, making himself so thoroughly an object of contempt. As I +entertained serious doubts of even Rupert's sinking so low, I felt the +necessity of speaking to my sister on the subject of such a contingency. + +"One might hesitate about accepting your money, after all, dearest +sister," I said; "and it is proper you give me directions what I am to do, +in the event of Rupert's declining the gift." + +"I think that is little probable, Miles," answered Grace, who lived and +died under a species of hallucination on the subject of her early lover's +real character--"Rupert may not have been able to command his affections, +but he cannot cease to feel a sincere friendship for me; to remember our +ancient confidence and intimacy. He will receive the bequest, as you would +take one from dear Lucy," added my sister, a painful-looking smile +illuminating that angelic expression of countenance to which I have so +often alluded; "or, as that of a sister. _You_ would not refuse such a +thing to Lucy's dying request, and why should Rupert to mine?" + +Poor Grace! Little did she see the immense difference there was in my +relation to Lucy and that which Rupert bore to her. I could not explain +this difference, however, but merely assented to her wishes, renewing, for +the fourth or fifth time, my pledges of performing with fidelity all she +asked at my hands. Grace then put into my hands an unsealed letter +addressed to Rupert, which she desired me to read when alone, and which I +was to have delivered with the legacy or donation of money. + +"Let me rest once more on your bosom, Miles," said Grace, reclining her +head in my arms, quite exhausted under the reaction of the excitement she +had felt while urging her request. "I feel happier, at this moment, than I +have been for a long time; yet, my increasing weakness admonishes me it +cannot last long. Miles, darling, you must remember all our sainted mother +taught you in childhood, and you will not mourn over my loss. Could I +leave you united to one who understood and appreciated your worth, I +should die contented. But you will be left alone, poor Miles; for a time, +at least, you will mourn for me." + +"Forever--long as life lasts, beloved Grace," I murmured, almost in her +ear. + +Exhaustion kept my sister quiet for a quarter of an hour, though I felt +an occasional pressure of her hands, both of which held one of mine; and I +could hear words asking blessings and consolation for me, whispered, from +time to time, in heartfelt petitions to heaven. As she gained strength by +repose, my sister felt the desire to continue the discourse revive. I +begged her not to incur the risk of further fatigue but she answered, +smiling affectionately in my face-- + +"Rest!--There will be no permanent rest for me, until laid by the side of +my parents. Miles, do your thoughts ever recur to that picture of the +future that is so precious to the believer, and which leads us to hope, if +not absolutely to confide in it as a matter of faith, that we may +recognise each other in the next state of being, and that in a communion +still sweeter than any of this life, since it will be a communion free +from all sin, and governed by holiness?" + +"We sailors give little heed to these matters, Grace; but I feel that, in +future, the idea you have just mentioned will be full of consolation +to me." + +"Remember, my best-beloved brother, it is only the blessed that can enjoy +such a recognition--to the accursed it must add an additional weight to +the burthen of their woe." + +"Felix trembled!" The thought that even this chance of again meeting my +sister, and of communing with her in the form in which I had ever seen and +loved her might be lost, came in aid of other good resolutions that the +state of the family had quickened in my heart. I thought, however, it +might be well not to let Grace lead the conversation to such subjects, +after all that had just passed, repose becoming necessary to her again. I +therefore proposed calling Lucy, in order that she might be carried to her +own room. I say carried; for, by a remark that fell from Chloe, I had +ascertained that this was the mode in which she had been brought to the +place of meeting. Grace acquiesced; but while we waited for Chloe to +answer the bell, she continued to converse. + +"I have not exacted of you, Miles," my sister continued, "any promise to +keep my bequest a secret from the world; your own sense of delicacy would +do that; but, I will make it a condition that you do not speak of it to +either Mr. Hardinge or Lucy. They may possibly raise weak objections, +particularly the last, who has, and ever has had, some exaggerated +opinions about receiving money. Even in heydays of poverty, and poor as +she was, you know, notwithstanding our true love for each other, and close +intimacy, I never could induce Lucy to receive a cent. Nay, so scrupulous +has she been that the little presents which friends constantly give and +receive, she would decline, because she had not the means of offering them +in return." + +I remembered the gold the dear girl had forced on me, when I first went to +sea, and could have kneeled at her feet and called her "blessed." + +"And this did not make you love and respect Lucy the less, my sister? But +do not answer; so much conversing must distress you." + +"Not at all, Miles. I speak without suffering, nor does the little talking +I do enfeeble me in the least. When I appear exhausted, it is from the +feelings which accompany our discourse. I talk much, very much, with dear +Lucy, who hears me with more patience than yourself, brother!" + +I knew that this remark applied to Grace's wish to dwell on the unknown +future, and did not receive it as a reproach in any other sense. As she +seemed calm, however, I was willing to indulge her wish to converse with +me, so long as she dwelt on subjects that did not agitate her. Speaking of +her hopes of heaven had a contrary effect, and I made no further +opposition. + +"Lucy's hesitation to be under the obligations you mention did not lessen +her in your esteem?" I repeated. + +"You know it could not, Miles. Lucy is a dear, good girl; and the more +intimately one knows her, the more certain is one to esteem her. I have +every reason to bless and pray for Lucy; still, I desire you not to make +either her or her father acquainted with my bequest." + +"Rupert would hardly conceal such a thing from so near and dear friends." + +"Let Rupert judge of the propriety of that for himself. Kiss me, brother; +do not ask to see me again to-day, for I have much to arrange with Lucy; +to-morrow I shall expect a long visit. God bless you, my own, dear,--my +_only_ brother, and ever have you in his holy keeping!" + +I left the room as Chloe entered; and, in threading the long passage that +led to the apartment which was appropriated to my own particular purposes, +as an office, cabinet, or study, I met Lucy near the door of the latter. I +could see she had been weeping, and she followed me into the room. + +"What do you think of her, Miles?" the dear girl asked, uttering the words +in a tone so low and plaintive as to say all that she anticipated herself. + +"We shall lose her, Lucy; yes, 'tis God's pleasure to call her to +himself." + +Had worlds depended on the effort, I could not have got out another +syllable. The feelings which had been so long pent up in Grace's presence +broke out, and I am not ashamed to say that I wept and sobbed like +an infant. + +How kind, how woman-like, how affectionate did Lucy show herself at that +bitter moment. She said but little, though I think I overheard her +murmuring "poor Miles!"--"poor, _dear_ Miles!"--"what a blow it must be +to a brother!"--"God will temper this loss to him!" and other similar +expressions. She took one of my hands and pressed it warmly between both +her own; held it there for two or three minutes; hovered round me, as the +mother keeps near its slumbering infant when illness renders rest +necessary; and seemed more like a spirit sympathizing with my grief than a +mere observer of its violence. In reflecting on what then passed months +afterwards, it appeared to me that Lucy had entirely forgotten herself, +her own causes of sorrow, her own feelings as respected Grace, in the +single wish to solace me. But this was ever her character; this was her +very nature; to live out of herself, as it might be, and in the existences +of those whom she esteemed or loved. During this scene, Lucy lost most of +the restraints which womanhood and more matured habits had placed on her +deportment; and she behaved towards me with the innocent familiarity that +marked our intercourse down to the time I sailed in the Crisis. It is +true, I was too dreadfully agitated at first to take heed of all that +passed; but, I well remember, that, before leaving me in obedience to a +summons from Grace, she laid her head affectionately on mine, and kissed +the curls with which nature had so profusely covered the last. I thought, +at the time, notwithstanding, that the salute would have been on the +forehead, or cheek, three years before, or previously to her acquaintance +with Drewett. + +I was a long time in regaining entire self-command; but, when I did, I +opened my sister's letter to Rupert, agreeably to her request, and perused +it thrice without a pause, even to reflect. It was conceived in +these words:-- + + "My Dearest Rupert-- + + "God, in his infinite and inscrutable wisdom, when you read this letter, + will have seen fit to call me to himself. Let not this seeming loss, in + any manner, afflict you, my friend; for I feel the humble assurance that + I shall reap the full benefit of the Saviour's great sacrifice. I could + not have been happy in this life, Rupert; and it is a mercy that I am + taken, thus early, to a better. It grieves me to part from your + excellent father, from yourself, from our precious and rightfully + beloved Lucy, and from dear, dear Miles. This is the last tribute I pay + to nature, and I hope it will be pardoned for its character. There is a + strong hope within me, that my death will be sanctified to the benefit + of my friends. With this view, and this view only, beloved Rupert, I + wish you to remember it. In all other respects let it be forgotten. You + have found it impossible to command your affections, and worlds would + not have tempted me to become your wife without possessing all your + heart. I pray daily, almost hourly"--tears had evidently blotted this + portion of the letter--"for you and Emily. Live together, and make each + other happy. She is a sweet girl; has enjoyed advantages that Clawbonny + could not bestow, and which will contribute to your gratification. In + order that you may sometimes think of me"--poor Grace was not aware of + this contradiction in her requests--"Miles will send you a legacy that I + leave you. Accept it as a little fortune with Emily. I wish sincerely, + it were much larger; but you will not overlook the intention, and forget + the insufficiency of the sum. Small as it is, I trust it will enable you + to marry at once, and Lucy's heart may be confided in for the rest. + + "Farewell, Rupert--I do not say, farewell Emily; for I think this + letter, as well as its object, had better remain a secret between you + and me, and my brother--but I wish your future wife all earthly + happiness, and an end as full of hope as that which attends the + death-bed of your affectionate + + "Grace Wallingford." + +Oh! woman, woman, what are ye not, when duly protected and left to the +almost divine impulses of your generous natures! What may ye not become, +when rendered mercenary and envious by too close a contact with those +worldly interests which are never admitted to an ascendancy without +destroying all your moral beauty! + + + +Chapter VII. + + + + "And the beautiful, whose record + Is the verse that cannot die, + They too are gone, with their glorious bloom, + From the love of human eye." + + Mrs. Hemans. + + +I cannot dwell minutely on the events of the week that succeeded. Grace +sunk daily, hourly; and the medical advice that was obtained, more as a +duty than with any hope of its benefiting the patient, failed of assisting +her. Mr. Hardinge saw the invalid often, and I was admitted to her room +each day, where she would lie, reclining on my bosom for hours at a time, +seemingly fond of this innocent indulgence of her affections, on the eve +of her final departure. As it was out of the question that my sister +should again visit the family room, the _causeuse_ was brought into her +chamber, where it was made to perform the office to which it had been +several times devoted in its proper apartment since my return from sea. +That venerable chair still exists, and I often pass thoughtful hours in it +in my old age, musing on the past, and recalling the different scenes and +conversations of which it could tell, did it possess consciousness and the +faculty of speech. + +Mr. Hardinge officiated in his own church, agreeably to his intention, on +the succeeding Sunday. Lucy remained with her friend; and I make no doubt +their spirits devoutly communed with ours the while; for I mastered +sufficient fortitude to be present at St. Michael's. I could observe an +earnest sympathy in every member of the little congregation; and tears +fell from nearly every eye when the prayer for the sick was read. Mr. +Hardinge remained at the rectory for the further duties of the day; but I +rode home immediately after morning service, too uneasy to remain absent +from the house longer than was necessary, at such a moment. As my horse +trotted slowly homeward, he overtook Neb, who was walking towards +Clawbonny, with an air so different from his customary manner, I could not +help remarking it. Neb was a muscular, active black, and usually walked as +if his legs were all springs; but he moved along now so heavily, that I +could not but see some weight upon the spirits had produced this influence +on the body. The change was, naturally enough, attributed to the state of +affairs with Chloe; and I felt disposed to say a word to my faithful +slave, who had been unavoidably overlooked in the pressure of sorrow that +had weighed me down for the last ten days. I spoke to the poor fellow as +cheerfully as I could, as I came up, and endeavoured to touch on such +subjects as I thought might interest without troubling him. + +"This is a famous windfall that has crossed Mr. Marble's track, Neb," I +said, pulling up, in order to go a short distance at an even pace with my +brother-tar. "As nice an old woman for a mother, as pretty a little girl +for a niece, and as snug a haven to moor in, at the end of the voyage, as +any old worn-out sea-dog could or ought to wish." + +"Yes, sir, Masser Mile," Neb answered, as I fancied, in the manner of one +who was thinking of something different from what he said; "yes, sir, Mr. +Marble a reg'lar sea-dog." + +"And as such not the less entitled to have a good old mother, a pretty +niece, and a snug home." + +"No, sir; none de wuss for bin' sea-dog, all must allow. Nebberdeless, +Masser Mile, I sometime wish you and I nebber hab see salt water." + +"That is almost as much as wishing we never looked down the Hudson from +the hills and banks of Clawbonny boy; the river itself being salt not far +below us. You are thinking of Chloe, and fancying, that had you stayed at +home, your chance of getting into her good graces would have been better." + +"No, Masser Mile; no, _sir_. Nobody at Clawbonny t'ink, just now, of +anyt'ing but deat'." + +I started in surprise. Mr. Hardinge kept everything like exaggeration and +those physical excitements which it is so much the habit of certain sects +to mistake for religious impulses, even from the negroes of the Clawbonny +property. Neb's speech sounded more like an innovation of this nature than +I had ever heard among my people; and I looked hard at the fellow for an +instant, before I answered. + +"I am afraid I understand you, Neb," was my reply, after a meaning pause. +"It is a relief to me to find that my people retain all their affections +for the children of their old master and mistress." + +"We hard-hearted indeed, sir, if we don't. Ah! _Masser_ Mile, you and I +see many dreadful t'ing togeder, but we nebber see any t'ing like dis!" + +Neb's dark cheek was glistening with tears as he spoke, and I spurred my +horse, lest my own manhood might give way, there in the road, and in the +presence of those who were fast approaching. Why Neb had expressed sorrow +for having ever gone to sea, I could not account for in any other manner +than by supposing that he imagined Grace was, in some manner, a sufferer +by my absence from home. + +When I reached the house, not a soul was visible. The men had all gone to +church, and were to be seen in the distance, coming, along the road, +singly and in a melancholy manner, not a sign of the customary, +thoughtless merriment of a negro escaping a single individual among them; +but it was usual for some of the black Venuses to be seen sunning +themselves at that season, exhibiting their summer finery to each other +and their admirers. Not one was now visible. All the front of the house, +the lawn, the kitchens, of which there were no less than three, and the +kitchen yards; in short, every familiar haunt of the dwelling was deserted +and empty. This boded evil; and, throwing the bridle over a post, I walked +hurriedly towards the part of the building, or _buildings_, would be a +better word, inhabited by Grace. + +As I entered the passage which communicated with my sisters own room, the +departure from ordinary appearances was explained. Six or seven of the +negresses were kneeling near the door, and I could hear the low, solemn, +earnest voice of Lucy, reading some of the collects and other prayers +suited to the sick-chamber and to the wants of a parting soul. Lucy's +voice was music itself, but never before had it sounded so plaintively +sweet. The lowest intonation was distinctly audible, as if the dear, +devout creature felt that the Being she addressed was not to be approached +in any other manner, while the trembling earnestness of the tones betrayed +the depth of feeling with which each syllable escaped from the heart. Talk +of liturgies impairing the fervour of prayer! This may be the fact with +those who are immersed in themselves while communing with God, and cannot +consent even to pray without placing their own thoughts and language, +however ill-digested and crude, uppermost in the business of the moment. +Do not such persons know that, as respects united worship, their own +prayers are, to all intents and purposes, a formulary to their listeners, +with the disadvantage of being received without preparation or direction +to the mind?--nay, too often substituting a critical and prurient +curiosity for humble and intelligent prayer? In these later times, when +Christianity is re-assuming the character of the quarrels of sects, and, +as an old man who has lived, and hopes to die, in communion with the +Anglo-American church, I do not wish to exculpate my own particular branch +of the Catholic body from blame; but, in these later times, when +Christianity is returning to its truculency, forgetful of the chiefest of +virtues, Charity, I have often recalled the scene of that solemn +noon-tide, and asked myself the question, "if any man could have heard +Lucy, as I did, on that occasion, concluding with the petition which +Christ himself gave to his disciples as a comprehensive rule, if not +absolutely as a formulary, and imagine the heart could not fully accompany +words that had been previously prescribed?" + +No sooner had Lucy's solemn tones ceased than I passed through the crowd +of weeping and still kneeling blacks, and entered my sister's room. Grace +was reclining in an easy chair; her eyes closed, her hands clasped +together, but lying on her knees, and her whole attitude and air +proclaiming a momentary but total abstraction of the spirit. I do not +think she heard my footstep at all, and I stood at her side an instant, +uncertain whether to let her know of my presence, or not. At this instant +I caught the eye of Lucy, who seemed intent on the wish to speak to me. +Grace had three or four small rooms that communicated with each other, in +her part of the dwelling; and into one of these, which served as a sort of +_boudoir_, though the name was then unknown in America, I followed the +dear girl, whose speaking but sad look had bidden me do so. + +"Is my father near at hand?" Lucy asked, with an interest I did not +understand, since she must have known he intended to remain at his own +residence, in readiness for the afternoon service. + +"He is not. You forget he has to attend to evening prayers." + +"I have sent for him--Miles," taking one of my hands in both her own, with +the tenderness a mother would manifest to a very dear child, "_dear_ +Miles, you must summon all your fortitude." + +"Is my sister worse?" I demanded, huskily; for, prepared as I was for the +result, I was not expecting it by any means so soon. + +"I cannot call it worse, Miles, to be about to be called away to God in +such a frame of mind. But it is proper I should tell you all. Rather less +than an hour since, Grace told me that the hour was at hand. She has the +knowledge of her approaching end, though she would not let me send for +you. She said you would have ample time to witness it all. For my father, +however, I have sent, and he must soon be here." + +"Almighty Providence! Lucy, do you really think we shall lose Grace so +soon?" + +"As it is the will of God to take her from us, Miles, I can scarce repine +that her end should be so easy, and, in all respects, so tranquil." + +So long as memory is granted to me, will the picture that Lucy presented +at that moment remain vividly impressed on my mind. She loved Grace as a +most dear sister; loved her as an affectionate, generous-minded, devoted +woman alone can love; and yet, so keenly was she alive to the nature of +the communication it was her duty to make, that concern for me alone +reigned in her saddened and anxious eye. Her mind had schooled itself to +bear its own grief; and meek, believing, and disposed to foresee all that +her profound faith taught her to hope, I do believe she considered my +sister a subject of envy rather than of regret, though her solicitude on +my account was so absorbing. This generous self-denial touched my feelings +in more ways than one, enabling me to command myself to a degree that +might otherwise have been out of my power, during the few succeeding +hours. I felt ashamed to manifest all I endured in the presence of so much +meek but pious fortitude, and that exhibited by one whose heart I so well +knew to be the very seat of the best human affections. The sad smile that +momentarily illuminated Lucy's countenance, as she gazed anxiously in my +face when speaking, was full of submissive hope and Christian faith. + +"God's will be done," I rather whispered than uttered aloud. "Heaven is a +place more suited to such a spirit than the abodes of men." + +Lucy pressed my hand, and appeared relieved from a load of intense anxiety +by this seeming fortitude. She bade me remain where I was, until she had +herself apprized Grace of my return from church. I could see through the +open door that the negresses had been directed to retire, and presently I +heard the footstep of Mr. Hardinge approaching the room adjoining that in +which I then was, and which answered the purpose of a sort of ante-chamber +for those who came to the sick-room from the more public side of the +house. I met my excellent old guardian in that apartment, and Lucy was at +my side at the next instant. One word from the last sufficed to keep us in +this room while she returned to that of Grace. + +"God have mercy on us, my dear boy"--the divine ejaculated, as much in +prayer as in grief--"and I say on _us_, as well as on _you_, for Grace has +ever been dear to me as a child of my own. I knew the blow must come, and +have prayed the Lord to prepare us all for it, and to sanctify it to us, +old and young; but, notwithstanding, death has come 'literally' when no +man knoweth. I must have materials for writing, Miles, and you will choose +an express for me out of your people; let the man be ready to mount in +half an hour; for I shall not require half that time to prepare +my letter." + +"Medical advice is useless, I am afraid, dear sir," I answered. "We have +Post's directions, and very respectable attendance from our own family +physician, Dr. Wurtz, who gave me to understand several days since that he +saw no other means of averting the evil we dread than those already +adopted. Still, sir, I shall be easier, if we can persuade Dr. Bard to +cross the river, and have already thought of sending Neb once more on +that errand." + +"Do so," returned Mr. Hardinge, drawing towards him a little table on +which Dr. Wurtz had written a few prescriptions that were used more for +form, I believe, than any expectation of the good they could do; and +beginning to write, even while talking--"Do so"--he added--"and Neb can +put this letter in the post-office on the eastern bank of the river, which +will be the quickest mode of causing it to reach Rupert" + +"Rupert!" I exclaimed, on a key that I instantly regretted. + +"Certainly; we can do no less than send for Rupert, Miles. He has ever +been like a brother to Grace, and the poor fellow would feel the neglect +keenly, did we overlook him on an occasion like this. You seem astonished +at my thinking of summoning him to Clawbonny." + +"Rupert is at the springs, sir--happy in the society of Miss Merton--would +it not be better to leave him where he is?" + +"What would you think, Miles, were Lucy on her death-bed, and we should +fail to let you know it?" + +I gazed so wildly at the good old man, I believe, that even his simplicity +could not avoid seeing the immense difference between the real and the +supposititious case. + +"Very true, poor Miles; very true," Mr. Hardinge added, in an apologetic +manner; "I see the weakness of my comparison, though I was beginning to +hope you were already regarding Lucy, once more, with the eyes of a +brother. But Rupert must not be forgotten neither; and here is my letter +already written." + +"It will be too late, sir," I got out, hoarsely--"my sister cannot survive +the day." + +I perceived that Mr. Hardinge was not prepared for this, his cheek grew +pale, and his hand trembled as he sealed the epistle. Still he sent it, as +I afterwards discovered. + +"God's will be done!" the excellent divine murmured. "If such should +really be his holy will, we ought not to mourn that another humble +Christian spirit is called away to the presence of its great Creator! +Rupert can, at least, attend, to do honour to all that we can honour of +the saint we lose." + +There was no resisting or contending with so much simplicity and goodness +of heart; and, had it been in my power, a summons to the room of Grace +called all my thoughts to her. My sister's eyes were now open. I +shuddered, felt a sinking of the heart like that produced by despair, as I +caught their unearthly or rather their supernatural expression. It was not +that anything which indicated death in its more shocking aspects met my +look, but simply that I could trace the illumination of a spirit that +already felt itself on the eve of a new state of being, and one that must +at least separate all that remained behind from any further communication +with itself. I am not certain that I felt no pang at the thought my sister +could be entirely happy without any participation on my part in her bliss. +We are all so selfish that it is hard to say how far even our most +innocent longings are free from the taint of this feature of our nature. + +But Grace, herself, could not entirely shake off the ties of kindred and +human love so long as her spirit continued in its earthly tenement. So far +from this, every glance she cast on one or all of us denoted the +fathomless tenderness of her nature, and was filled with its undying +affection. She was weak, frightfully so I fancied; for death appeared to +hasten in order to release her as swiftly and easily as possible; yet did +her interest in me and in Lucy sustain her sufficiently to enable her to +impart much that she wished to say. In obedience to a sign from her, I +knelt at her side, and received her head on my bosom, as near as possible +in that attitude in which we had already passed hours since her illness. +Mr. Hardinge hovered over us, like a ministering spirit, uttering in a +suppressed and yet distinct voice, some of the sublimest of those passages +from scripture that are the most replete with consolation to the parting +spirit. As for Lucy, to me she seemed to be precisely in that spot where +she was most wanted; and often did Grace's eyes turn towards her with +gleamings of gratitude and love. + +"The hour is near, brother," Grace whispered, as she lay on my bosom. +"Remember, I die asking forgiveness as much for those who may have done me +wrong, as for myself. Forget nothing that you have promised me; _do_ +nothing to cause Lucy and her father sorrow." + +"I understand you, sister"--was my low answer. "Depend on all I have +_said_--all you can _wish_." + +A gentle pressure of the hand was the token of contentment with which this +assurance was received. + +From that moment it seemed to me that Grace was less than usual attached +to the things of the world. Nevertheless, her interest in those she loved, +and who loved her, continued to the last. + +"Let all the slaves that wish to see me, enter," Grace said, rousing +herself to perform a trying but necessary duty. "I never can repay them +for all they have done for me; but I trust them to you, Miles, with +confidence." + +Lucy glided from the room, and in a few minutes the long train of dark +faces was seen approaching the door. The grief of these untutored beings, +like their mirth, is usually loud and vociferous; but Lucy, dear, +considerate, energetic Lucy--energetic even in the midst of a sorrow that +nearly crushed her to the earth--had foreseen all this, and the blacks +were admitted only on the condition of their preserving a command over +themselves in the interview. + +Grace spoke to every one of the females, taking leave of each calmly and +with some useful and impressive admonition, while all the older men were +also noticed personally. + +"Go, and rejoice that I am so soon released from the cares of this world," +she said, when the sad ceremony was over. "Pray for me, and for +yourselves. My brother knows my wishes in your behalf, and will see them +executed. God bless you, my friends, and have you in his holy keeping." + +So great was the ascendency Lucy had obtained over these poor simple +creatures during the short time they had been under her mild but +consistent rule, that each and all left the room as quiet as children, +awe-struck by the solemnity of the scene. Still, the oldest and most +wrinkled of their cheeks were wet with tears, and it was only by the most +extraordinary efforts that they were enabled to repress the customary +outbreakings of sorrow. I had gone to a window to conceal my own feelings +after this leave-taking, when a rustling in the bushes beneath it caught +my ear. Looking out, there lay Neb, flat on his face, his Herculean frame +extended at full length, his hands actually gripping the earth under the +mental agony he endured, and yet the faithful fellow would not even utter +a groan, lest it might reach his young mistress's ears, and disquiet her +last moments. I afterwards ascertained he had taken that post in order +that he might learn from time to time, by means of signs from Chloe, how +things proceeded in the chamber above. Lucy soon recalled me to my old +post, Grace having expressed a wish to that effect. + +"It will be but an hour, and we shall all be together again," Grace said, +startling us all by the clearness and distinctness of her enunciation. +"The near approach of death places us on a height whence we can see the +entire world and its vanities at a single view." + +I pressed the dying girl closer to my heart, a species of involuntary +declaration of the difficulty I experienced in regarding her loss with the +religious philosophy she was inculcating. + +"Mourn not for me, Miles"--she continued--"yet I know you will mourn. But +God will temper the blow, and in his mercy may cause it to profit you +for ever." + +I did not, could not answer. I saw Grace endeavouring to get a look at my +countenance, as if to observe the effect of the scene. By my assistance +she was so placed as to obtain her wish. The sight, I believe, aroused +feelings that had begun to yield to the influence of the last great +change; for, when my sister spoke next, it was with a tenderness of accent +that proved how hard it for those who are deeply affectionate to lose +their instincts. + +"Poor Miles! I almost wish we could go together! You have been a dear, +good brother to me"--(What a sweet consolation I afterwards found in these +words)--"It grieves me to leave you so nearly alone in the world. But you +will have Mr. Hardinge, and our Lucy--" + +The pause, and the look that succeeded, caused a slight tremour to pass +over my frame. Grace's eyes turned anxiously from me to the form of the +kneeling and weeping Lucy. I fancied that she was about to express a wish, +or some regret, in connection with us two, that even at such a moment I +could not have heard without betraying the concern it would give me. She +did not speak, however, though her look was too eloquent to be mistaken. I +ascribed the forbearance to the conviction that it would be too late, +Lucy's affections belonging to Andrew Drewett. At that instant I had a +bitter remembrance of Neb's words of "I sometime wish, Masser Mile, you +and I nebber had see salt water." But that was not the moment to permit +such feelings to get the mastery; and Grace, herself, felt too clearly +that her minutes were numbered to allow her mind to dwell on the subject. + +"An Almighty Providence will direct everything for the best, in this as in +other things," she murmured; though it was still some little time, I +thought, before her mind reverted to her own situation. The welfare of two +as much beloved as Lucy and myself, could not be a matter of indifference +to one of Grace's disposition, even in the hour of death. + +Mr. Hardinge now knelt, and the next quarter of an hour passed in prayer. +When the divine rose from his knees, Grace, her countenance beaming with +an angelic serenity, gave him her hand, and in a clear, distinct voice, +she uttered a prayer for blessings, connecting her petitions with the +gratitude due him, for his care of us orphans. I never saw the old man so +much touched before. This unexpected benediction, for it had that +character, coming from youth to age, quite unmanned him. The old man sunk +into a chair, weeping uncontrollably. This aroused Lucy, who regarded the +grey hairs of her father with awe, as she witnessed the strength of his +emotions. But feelings of this nature could not long absorb a man like Mr. +Hardinge, who soon regained as much of the appearance of composure as it +was possible to maintain by such a death-bed. + +"Many may think me young to die," Grace observed; "but I am weary of the +world. It is my wish to submit myself to the will of God; but, blessed be +his holy name, that he sees fit to call me to him this day. Lucy, beloved +one--go into the next room, and draw the curtain asunder; I shall then be +enabled to gaze on the fields of dear Clawbonny once more; that will be my +last look at the outer world." + +This leave-taking of inanimate things, objects long known and loved, is of +frequent occurrence with the dying. It is not in our natures to quit for +ever this beautiful world, without casting "one longing, lingering look +behind." The hand of its divine Creator was gloriously impressed on the +rural loveliness of my native fields that day, and a holy tranquillity +seemed to reign over the grain, the orchards, the meadows, and the wooded +heights. The couch of Grace was purposely placed at a point in her own +chamber that commanded a wide view of the farm, through the vista formed +by the door and windows of the adjoining room. Here she had often sat, +during her confinement to her rooms, contemplating scenes so familiar and +so much loved. I saw her lips quiver as she now gazed on them for the last +time, and was convinced some unusual sentiment, connected with the past, +pressed on her feelings at that instant. I could see the same view myself, +and perceived that her eyes were riveted on the little wood where Rupert +and I had met the girls on our return from sea; a favourite place of +resort, and one that, I doubted not, had often been the witness of the +early confidence between Grace and her recreant lover. Death was actually +hovering over that sainted being at the moment; but her woman's heart was +not, _could_ not, be insensible to the impressions produced by such a +sight. In vain the warm light from the heavens bathed the whole landscape +in a flood of glory; in vain the meadows put forth their flowers, the +woods their variegated, bright, American verdure, and the birds their +innocent gaiety and brilliant plumage; the fancy of Grace was portraying +scenes that had once been connected with the engrossing sentiment of her +life. I felt her tremble, as she lay in my arms; and bending my head +towards her in tender concern, I could just distinguish the murmuring of a +prayer that it was easy to understand was a petition offered up in behalf +of Rupert. This done, she asked, herself, to have the curtain drawn again, +to shut out the obtrusive thought for ever. + +I have often thought, since the events of that sad day that Grace's +dissolution was hastened by this accidental recurrence of her mind to +Rupert and his forgotten love. I call it love, though I question if a +being so thoroughly selfish ever truly loved any one but himself; perhaps +not himself, indeed, in a way to entitle the feeling to so respectable an +epithet. Grace certainly drooped the faster from that unfortunate moment. +It is true, we all expected her death, thought it would occur that day +even, though surprised at the suddenness with which it came at last; but +we did not expect it within an hour. + +And what an hour was that which succeeded! Both Mr. Hardinge and Lucy +passed quite half of it on their knees, engaged in silent prayer; for it +was thought petitions uttered aloud might disturb the sick. There were +minutes in which the stillness of the tomb already reigned among us. I am +not enough of a physician to say whether the change that now came over my +sister's mind was the consequence of any shock received in that long, +intense look at the wood, or whether it proceeded from the sinking of the +system, and was connected with that mysterious link which binds the +immortal part of our being so closely to the material, until the tie is +loosened forever. It is certain, however, that Grace's thoughts wandered; +and, while they never lost entirely their leaning towards faith and a +bright Christian hope, they became tinctured with something allied to +childish simplicity, if not absolutely to mental weakness. Nevertheless, +there was a moral beauty about Grace, that no failing of the faculties +could ever totally eradicate. + +It was fully half an hour that the breathing quiet of prayer lasted. In +all that time my sister scarcely stirred, her own hands being clasped +together, and her eyes occasionally lifted to heaven. At length she seemed +to revive a little, and to observe external objects. In the end, +she spoke. + +"Lucy, dearest," she said, "what has become of Rupert? Does he know I am +dying? If so, why does he not come and see me, for the last time?" + +It is scarcely necessary for me to say how much Lucy and myself were +startled at this question. The former buried her face in her hands without +making any reply; but good Mr. Hardinge, altogether unconscious of +anything's being wrong, was eager to exculpate his son. + +"Rupert has been sent for, my dear child," he said, "and, though he is +engrossed with love and Miss Merton, he will not fail to hasten hither the +instant he receives my letter." + +"Miss Merton!" repeated Grace, pressing both her hands on her +temples--"who is she? I do not remember anybody of that name?" + +We now understood that the mind of the dear patient was losing its powers; +of course no efforts were made to give a truer direction to her thoughts. +We could only listen, and weep. Presently, Grace passed an arm round the +neck of Lucy, and drew her towards her, with a childish earnestness. + +"Lucy, love," she continued--"we will persuade these foolish boys from +this notion of going to sea. What if Miles's father, and Rupert's +great-grand-father _were_ sailors; it is no reason _they_ should be +sailors too!" + +She paused, appeared to meditate, and turned towards me. Her head was +still inclining on my bosom, and she gazed upwards at my face, as fondly +as she did in that tender meeting we held just after my return home, in +the family room. There was sufficient strength to enable her to raise her +pallid but not emaciated hand to my face, even while she passed it over my +cheeks, once more parting the curls on my temples, and playing with my +hair, with infantile fondness. + +"Miles," the dear angel whispered, utterance beginning to fail her--"do +you remember what mother told us about always speaking the truth? You are +a manly boy, brother, and have too much pride to say anything but the +truth; I wish Rupert were as frank." + +This was the first, the last, the only intimation I had ever heard from +Grace, of her being conscious of any defect in Rupert's character. Would +to God she had seen this important deficiency earlier! though this is +wishing a child to possess the discernment and intelligence of a woman. +The hand was still on my cheek, and I would not have had it removed at +that bitter moment to have been well assured of Lucy's love. + +"See," my sister resumed, though she now spoke merely in a whisper--"how +brown his cheek is, though his forehead is white. I doubt if mother would +know him, Lucy. Is Rupert's cheek as brown as this, dear?" + +"Rupert has not been as much exposed of late as Miles," Lucy answered +huskily, Grace's arm still clinging to her neck. + +The well-known voice appeared to awaken a new train of thought. + +"Lucy," my sister asked, "are you as fond of Miles as we both used to be, +when children?" + +"I have always had, and shall ever retain, a deep affection for Miles +Wallingford," Lucy answered, steadily. + +Grace now turned towards me, releasing her hold of Lucy's neck, from pure +inability to sustain it; and she fastened her serene blue eyes on my +countenance, whence they never deviated while she breathed. My tears were +uncontrollable, and they seemed to perplex rather that distress her. Of a +sudden, we heard her voice aloud, speaking gently, but with a fervour that +rendered it distinct. The words she uttered were full of the undying +affection of a heart that never turned away from me for a single instant; +no, not even in the petulance of childhood. "Almighty Father," she said, +"look down from thy mercy-seat on this dear brother--keep him for thyself; +and, in thy good time, call him, through the Saviour's love, to thy +mansions of bliss." + +These were the last words that Grace Wallingford ever spoke. She lived ten +minutes longer; and she died on my bosom like the infant that breathes its +last in the arms of its mother. Her lips moved several times; once I +fancied I caught the name of "Lucy," though I have reason to think she +prayed for us all, Rupert included, down to the moment she ceased +to exist. + + + +Chapter VIII. + + + + "There have been sweet singing voices + In your walks that now are still; + There are seats left void, in your earthly homes, + Which none again may fill." + + Mrs. Hemans. + + +I never saw the body of my sister, after I handed it, resembling a +sleeping infant, to the arms of Lucy. There is a sort of mania in some, a +morbid curiosity, to gaze on the features of the dead; but, with me, it +has ever been the reverse. I had been taken to the family room to +contemplate and weep over the faces of both my parents, but this was at an +age when it became me to be passive. I was now at a time of life when I +might be permitted to judge for myself; and, as soon as I began to think +at all on the subject, which was not for some hours, however, I resolved +that the last look of love, the sweet countenance, sinking in death it is +true, but still animate and beaming with the sentiments of her pure heart, +should be the abiding impression of my sister's form. I have cherished it +ever since, and often have I rejoiced that I did not permit any subsequent +images of a corpse to supplant it. As respects both my parents, the images +left on my mind, for years and years, was painful rather than pleasing. + +Grace's body was no sooner out of my arms, I had scarcely imprinted the +last long kiss on the ivory-like but still warm forehead, than I left the +house. Clawbonny had no impertinent eyes to drive a mourner to his closet, +and I felt as if it were impossible to breathe unless I could obtain the +freedom of the open air. As I crossed the little lawn, the wails from the +kitchens reached me. Now that the invalid could no longer be disturbed by +their lamentations, the unsophisticated negroes gave vent to their +feelings without reserve. I heard their outcries long after every other +sound from the house was lost on my ear. + +I held my way along the road, with no other view but to escape from the +scene I had just quitted, and entered the very little wood which might be +said to have been the last object of the external world that had attracted +my sister's attention. Here everything reminded me of the past; of the +days of childhood and youth; of the manner in which the four Clawbonny +children had lived together, and roamed these very thickets, in confidence +and love. I sat in that wood an hour; a strange, unearthly hour it seemed +to me! I saw Grace's angel countenance imprinted on the leaves, heard her +low but gay laugh, as she was wont to let it be heard in the hours of +happiness, and the tones of her gentle voice sounded in my ears almost as +familiarly as in life. Rupert and Lucy were there too. I saw them, heard +them, and tried to enter into their innocent merriment, as I had done of +old; but fearful glimpses of the sad truth would interpose, in time to +break the charm. + +When I left that little wood, it was to seek a larger cover, and fields +farther removed from the house. It was dark before I thought of returning; +all that time was passed in a species of mystical hallucination, in which +the mind was lost in scenes foreign to those actually present. I saw +Grace's sweet image everywhere; I heard her voice at every turn. Now she +was the infant I was permitted to drag in her little wagon, the earliest +of all my impressions of that beloved sister; then, she was following me +as I trundled my hoop; next came her little lessons in morals, and +warnings against doing wrong, or some grave but gentle reproof for errors +actually committed; after which, I saw her in the pride of young +womanhood, lovely and fitted to be loved, the sharer of my confidence, and +one capable of entering into all my plans of life. How often that day did +the murmuring of a brook or the humming of a bee become blended in my +imagination with the song, the laugh, the call, or the prayers of that +beloved sister whose spirit had ascended to heaven, and who was no more to +mingle in my concerns or those of life! + +At one time I had determined to pass the night abroad, and commune with +the stars, each of which I fancied, in turn, as they began slowly to show +themselves in the vault above, might be the abiding-place of the departed +spirit. If I thought so much and so intensely of Grace, I thought also of +Lucy. Nor was good Mr. Hardinge entirely forgotten. I felt for their +uneasiness, and saw it was my duty to return. Neb, and two or three others +of the blacks, had been looking for me in all directions but that in which +I was; and I felt a melancholy pleasure as I occasionally saw these +simple-minded creatures meet and converse. Their gestures, their +earnestness, their tears, for I could see that they were often weeping, +indicated alike that they were speaking of their "young mistress;" _how_ +they spoke, I wanted no other communications to understand. + +Ours had ever been a family of love. My father, manly, affectionate, and +strongly attached to my mother, was admirably suited to sustain that +dominion of the heart which the last had established from her earliest +days at Clawbonny. This power of the feelings had insensibly extended +itself to the slaves, who seldom failed to manifest how keenly alive they +all were to the interests and happiness of their owners. Among the negroes +there was but one who was considered as fallen below his proper level, or +who was regarded as an outcast. This was an old fellow who bore the name +of Vulcan, and who worked as a blacksmith on the skirts of the farm, +having been named by my grandfather with the express intention of placing +him at the anvil. This fellow's trade caused him to pass most of his youth +in an adjacent village, or hamlet, where unfortunately he had acquired +habits that unsuited him to live as those around him were accustomed to +live. He became in a measure alienated from us, drinking, and otherwise +living a life that brought great scandal on his sable connections, who +were gathered more closely around the homestead. Nevertheless, a death, or +a return home, or any important event in the family, was sure to bring +even Vulcan back to his allegiance; and, for a month afterwards, he would +be a reformed man. On this occasion he was one of those who were out in +the fields and woods in quest of me, and he happened to be the very +individual by whom I was discovered. + +The awe-struck, solemn manner in which the reckless Vulcan approached, +were all other proofs wanting, would have proclaimed the weight of the +blow that had fallen on Clawbonny. The eyes of this fellow were always +red, but it was easy to see that even he had been shedding tears. He knew +he was no favourite; seldom came near me, unless it were to excuse some of +his neglects or faults, and lived under a sort of ban for his constantly +recurring misdeeds. Nevertheless, a common cause of grief now gave him +confidence, and Neb himself could hardly have approached me with a manner +of more easy but respectful familiarity. + +"Ah! Masser Mile! Masser Mile!" Vulcan exclaimed, certain that we felt +alike on this topic, if on no other; "poor young missus! when we ebber get +'noder like _she!_" + +"My sister is in heaven, Vulcan, where I hope all at Clawbonny, blacks as +well as whites, will endeavour to meet her, by living in a manner that +will improve the mercy of God." + +"You t'ink dat _posserbul,_ Masser Mile?" demanded the old man, fixing his +dull eyes on me, with an earnest intentness that proved he had not +entirely lost all sensibility to his moral condition. + +"All things are possible with God, Vulcan. Keeping him and his +commandments constantly in mind, you may still hope to see your young +mistress, and to share in her happiness." + +"Wonnerful!" exclaimed the old man; "dat would be a great conserlation. +Ah! Masser Mile, how often she come when a little lady to my shop door, +and ask to see 'e spark fly! Miss Grace hab a great taste for +blacksmit'in', and a great knowledge too. I do t'ink, dat next to some +oder t'ing, she lub to see iron red-hot, and 'e horse shod!" + +"You have come to look for me, Vulcan, and I thank you for this care. I +shall return to the house presently; you need give yourself no further +trouble. Remember, old man, that the only hope that remains of either of +us ever seeing Miss Grace again, is in living as Mr. Hardinge so often +tells us all we ought to live." + +"Wonnerful!" repeated old Vulcan, whose mind and feelings were in a happy +condition to receive such a lesson. "Yes, _sah_, Masser Mile; she come to +my shop to see 'e spark fly;--I shall miss her like a darter." + +This was a specimen of the feelings that prevailed among the negroes, +though the impression on most of the others was more lasting than that +made on the blacksmith, whom I now dismissed, taking the path myself that +led to the house. It was quite dark when I crossed the lawn. A figure was +just visible in the shadows of the piazza, and I was on the point of +turning in the direction of a side door, in order to avoid the meeting, +when Lucy advanced eagerly to the edge of the steps to receive me. + +"Oh! Miles--_dear_ Miles, how happy I am to see you again," the precious +girl said, taking my hand with the warmth and frankness of a sister. "My +father and myself have been very uneasy about you; my father, indeed, has +walked towards the rectory, thinking you may have gone thither." + +"I have been with you, and Grace, and your father, my good Lucy, ever +since we parted. I am more myself now, however, and you need feel no +further concern on my account. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for +that which you have already felt, and will give you no further concern." + +The manner in which Lucy now burst into tears betrayed the intensity of +the feelings that had been pent up in her bosom, and the relief she found +in my assurances. She did not scruple, even, about leaning on my shoulder, +so long as the paroxysm lasted. As soon as able to command herself, +however, she wiped her eyes, again took my hand with confiding affection, +looked anxiously towards me as she said, soothingly-- + +"We have met with a great loss, Miles; one that even time cannot repair. +Neither of us can ever find another to fill the place that Grace has +occupied. Our lives cannot be lived over again; we cannot return to +childhood; feel as children; love as children; live as children; and grow +up together, as it might be, with one heart, with the same views, the same +wishes, the same opinions; I hope it is not presuming on too great a +resemblance to the departed angel, if I add, the same principles." + +"No, Lucy; the past, for us, is gone for ever. Clawbonny will never again +be the Clawbonny it was." + +There was a pause, during which I fancied Lucy was struggling to repress +some fresh burst of emotion. + +"Yet, Miles," she presently resumed, "we could not ask to have her +recalled from that bliss which we have so much reason to believe she is +even now enjoying. In a short time Grace will be to you and me a lovely +and grateful image of goodness, and virtue, and affection; and we shall +have a saddened, perhaps, but a deep-felt pleasure in remembering how much +we enjoyed of her affection, and how closely she was united to us both +in life." + +"That will be indeed a link between us two, Lucy, that I trust may +withstand _all_ the changes and withering selfishness of the world!" + +"I hope it may, Miles," Lucy answered, in a low voice; and, as I fancied +at the moment, with an embarrassment that I did not fail to attribute to +the consciousness she felt of Andrew Drewett's claims on all such intimate +association of feeling. "We, who have known each other from children, can +scarcely want causes for continuing to esteem and to regard each other +with affection." + +Lucy now appeared to think she might trust me to myself, and she led the +way into the house. I did not see her again until Mr. Hardinge caused the +whole household to be assembled at evening prayers. The meeting of the +family that night was solemn and mournful. For myself, I fancied that the +spirit of Grace was hovering around us; more than once did I fancy that I +heard her sweet, voice mingling in the petitions, or leading the service, +as was her practice on those occasions when our good guardian could not +attend. I observed all the negroes looking at me with solicitude, like +those who recognised my right to feel the blow the deepest, It was a +touching evidence of respectful interest that each man bowed to me +reverently, and each woman curtsied, as he or she left the room. As for +Chloe, sobs nearly choked her; the poor girl having refused to quit the +body of her mistress except for that short moment. I thought Lucy would +have remained with her father and myself for a few minutes, but for the +necessity of removing this poor heart-stricken creature, who really felt +as if the death of her young mistress was a toss of part of her own +existence. + +I have already dwelt on the circumstances attending the death of Grace +longer than I intended, and shall now cease to harass my own feelings, or +to distress those of my readers by unnecessarily enlarging on more of the +details. The next three or four days produced the usual calm; and though +it was literally years ere Lucy or myself ceased altogether to weep for +her loss, we both obtained the self-command that was necessary for the +discharge of our ordinary duties. Grace, it will be remembered, died of a +Sunday, about the usual hour for dinner. Agreeably to the custom of the +country, in which there is usually a little too much of an indecent haste +in disposing of the dead, owing in some degree to climate, however, the +funeral would have taken place on Wednesday, and that would have been +delaying twenty-four hours longer than might have been granted in most +cases; but Mr. Hardinge, who gave all the directions, had named Thursday +noon as the hour for the interment. We had few relatives to expect; most +of those who would have been likely to attend, had circumstances admitted +of it, living in distant places that rendered it inconvenient, and indeed +scarcely possible. + +I passed most of the intervening time in my study, reading and indulging +in such contemplations as naturally suggest themselves to the mourner. +Lucy, dear girl, had written me two or three short notes, asking my wishes +on various points; among other things, when I wished to pay a last visit +to the body. My answer to this question brought her to my room, with some +little surprise of manner; for she had been so much with Grace, living and +dead, as to think it strange one who had loved her so well while living +should not desire to take a final look at the beautiful remains. I +explained my feelings on this head, and Lucy seemed struck with them. + +"I am not sure you will not have decided wisely, Miles," she said--"the +picture being one too precious to destroy. You will be gratified in +knowing, however, that Grace resembles an angel quite as much in death as +she did in life; all who have seen her being struck with the air of +peaceful tranquillity her features now present." + +"Bless you--bless you, Lucy--this is all-sufficient. I did wish for some +such assurance, and am now content." + +"Several of your family are in the house, Miles, in readiness to attend +the funeral; a stranger has just arrived who seems to have some such +desire, too, though his face is unknown to all at the place. He has asked +to see you with an earnestness that my father scarce knows how to refuse." + +"Let him come here, then, Lucy. I can only suppose it to be some one of +the many persons Grace has served; her short life was all activity in that +particular." + +Lucy's face did not corroborate that notion; but she withdrew to let my +decision be known. In a few minutes a large, hard-featured, but not +ill-looking man approaching fifty, entered my room, walked up to me with +tears in his eyes, squeezed my hand warmly, and then seated himself +without ceremony. He was attired like a thriving countryman, though his +language, accent, and manner denoted one superior to the ordinary run of +those with whom he was otherwise associated in externals. I had to look at +him a second time ere I could recognise Jack Wallingford, my father's +bachelor cousin, the western land-holder. + +"I see by your look, cousin Miles, that you only half, remember me," my +visitor remarked; "I deeply regret that I am obliged to renew our +acquaintance on so melancholy an occasion." + +"There are so few of, us left, Mr. Wallingford, that this kindness will be +doubly appreciated," I answered. "If I did not give orders to have you +apprised of the loss we have all sustained, it is because your residence +is so far from Clawbonny as to render it improbable you could have +received the intelligence in time to attend the solemn ceremony that +remains to be performed. I did intend to write to you, when a little +better fitted to perform such a duty." + +"I thank you, cousin. The blood and name of Wallingford are very near and +dear to me, and Clawbonny has always seemed a sort of home." + +"The dear creature who now lies dead under its roof, cousin John, so +considered you; and you may be pleased to know that she wished me to leave +you this property in my will the last time I went to sea, as of the direct +line, a Wallingford being the proper owner of Clawbonny. In that +particular, she preferred your claims to her own." + +"Ay, this agrees with all I ever heard of the angel," answered John +Wallingford, dashing a tear from his eyes, a circumstance that gave one a +favourable opinion of his heart. "Of course you refused, and left the +property to herself, who had a better right to it." + +"I did sir; though she threatened to transfer it to you, the moment it +became her's." + +"A threat she would have found it difficult to execute, as I certainly +would have refused to receive it. We are half savages, no doubt, out west +of the bridge; but our lands are beginning to tell in the markets, and we +count already some rich men among us." + +This was said with a self-satisfied manner, that my cousin was a little +too apt to assume when property became the subject of conversation. I had +occasion several times that day, even, to remark that he attached a high +value to money; though, at the same time, it struck me that most of his +notions were just and honourable. He quite worked his way into my favour, +however, by the respect he manifested for Clawbonny, and all that belonged +to it. So deep was this veneration, that I began to think of the necessity +of making a new will, in order to bequeath him the place in the event of +my dying without heirs, as I now imagined must sooner or later occur. As +Lucy was not likely to be my wife, no one else, I fancied, ever should be. +I had nearer relations than Jack Wallingford, some of whom were then in +the house; cousins-german by both father and mother; but they were not of +the direct line; and I knew that Miles the First would have made this +disposition of the place, could he have foreseen events, and had the law +allowed it. Then Grace had wished such an arrangement, and I had a sad +happiness in executing all the known wishes of my sister. + +The funeral did not occur until the day after the arrival of John +Wallingford, who accidentally heard of the death that had occurred in the +family, and came uninvited to attend the obsequies, as has been mentioned. +I passed most of the evening in the company of this relative, with whom I +became so much pleased as to request he would walk with me next day as +second nearest of kin. This arrangement, as I had reason to know in the +end, gave great offence to several who stood one degree nearer in blood to +the deceased, though not of her name. Thus are we constituted!--we will +quarrel over a grave even, a moment that should lay open eternity to our +view, with all its immense consequences and accompaniments, in order to +vindicate feelings and passions that can only interest us, as it might be, +for a day. Fortunately I knew nothing of the offence that was taken at +the time, nor did I see any of my kinsmen but John Wallingford that +evening; his presence in my room being owing altogether to a certain +self-possession and an _à plomb_ that caused him to do very much as he +pleased in such matters. + +I rose on the following morning at a late hour, and with a heaviness at +the heart that was natural to the occasion. It was a lovely summer's day; +but all in and around Clawbonny wore the air of a Sunday. The procession +was to form at ten o'clock; and, as I cast my eyes from my window, I could +see the negroes moving about on the lawns, and in the lanes, attired in +their best, but wearing no holiday faces. It seemed to me to be a species +of unnatural Sabbath, possessing all its solemnity, its holy stillness, +its breathing calm, but wanting in that solacing spirit of peace which is +so apt to be imparted to the day of rest in the country, most particularly +at that season of the year. Several of the neighbours, who did not belong +to Clawbonny, were beginning to appear; and I felt the necessity of +dressing in order to be in readiness for what was to follow. + +I had eaten alone in my little study or library from the time my sister +died, and had seen no one since my return to the house, the servants +excepted, besides my guardian, Lucy, and John Wallingford. The last had +taken a light supper with me the previous night; but he was then +breakfasting with the rest of the guests in the family eating-room, Mr. +Hardinge doing the honours of the house. + +As for myself, I found my own little table prepared with its coffee and +light meal, as I had ordered before retiring. It had _two_ cups, however, +and a second plate had been laid in addition to my own. I pointed to this +arrangement, and demanded of the old white-headed house-servant, who was +in-waiting, what it meant. + +"Miss Lucy, sah--she say she mean to breakfast wid Masser Mile, dis +mornin', sah." + +Even the accents of this negro were solemn and sad as he made this +familiar explanation, like those of a man who was conscious of having +reached an hour and an occasion that called for peculiar awe. I bade him +let Miss Lucy know that I was in the study. + +"Ah, Masser Mile," added the old man, with tears in his eyes as he left +the room, "Miss Lucy 'e only young missus now, sah!" + +In a few minutes Lucy joined me. She was in deep black of course, and that +may have added to the appearance of paleness; but no one could be deceived +in the manner in which the dear girl had mourned and wept since we parted. +The subdued expression of her face gave it a peculiar sweetness; and, in +spite of the absence of colour, I thought, as Lucy advanced towards me, +both hands extended, and a smile of anxious inquiry on her lips, that she +had never appeared more lovely. I did not hesitate about pressing those +hands with fervour, and of kissing the warm though colourless cheek. All +this passed as it might have done between an affectionate brother and +sister, neither of us thinking, I am persuaded, of aught but the +confidence and friendship of childhood. + +"This is kind of you, dear Lucy," I said, as we took our seats at the +little table; "my cousin John Wallingford, though a good man in the main, +is scarcely near enough, or _dear_ enough, to be admitted at a time +like this." + +"I have seen him," Lucy replied--the tremour in her voice showing how hard +she found it to avoid melting in tears, "and rather like him. I believe he +was a favourite with mamma Wallingford," so Lucy was accustomed to call my +mother, "and that ought to be a high recommendation with us, Miles." + +"I am disposed to like him, and shall endeavour to keep up more +intercourse with him than I have hitherto done. It is as we begin to find +ourselves alone in the world, Lucy, that we first feel the necessity of +counting blood and kin, and of looking around us for support." + +"Alone you are not, Miles, and never can be while I and my dear father +live. We are certainly nearer to you than any that now remain among your +blood relatives! You can neither suffer nor be happy without our partaking +in the feelings." + +This was not said without an effort; that much I could detect; yet it was +said firmly, and in a way that left no doubt of its entire sincerity. I +even wished there had been less of nature and more of hesitation in the +dear girl's manner while she was endeavouring to assure me of the +sympathy she felt in my happiness or unhappiness. But the waywardness of a +passion as tormenting, and yet as delightful as love, seldom leaves us +just or reasonable. + +Lucy and I then talked of the approaching ceremony. Each of us was grave +and sorrowful, but neither indulged in any outward signs of grief. We knew +the last sad offices were to be performed, and had braced ourselves to the +discharge of this melancholy duty. It was not customary with the females +of purely New York families of the class of the Hardinges, to be present +at the performance of the funeral rites; but Lucy told me she intended to +be in the little church, and to share in as much of the religious offices +as were performed within the building. In a population as mixed as ours +has become, it is not easy to say what is and what is not now a national +or state usage, on such an occasion; but I knew this was going farther +than was usual for one of Lucy's habits and opinions, and I expressed a +little surprise at her determination. + +"Were it at any other funeral, I would not be present, Miles," she said, +the tremour of her voice sensibly increasing; "but I cannot divest myself +of the idea that the spirit of Grace will be hovering near; that the +presence of her more than sister will be acceptable. Whatever the +Providence of God may have ordered for the dear departed, I know it will +be grateful to myself to join in the prayers of the church--besides, I am +not altogether without the womanly feeling of wishing to watch over the +form of Grace while it remains above ground. And now, Miles, brother, +friend, _Grace's_ brother, or by whatever endearing term I may address +you," added Lucy, rising, coming to my side of the table, and taking my +hand. "I have one thing to say that I alone can say, for it would never +suggest itself as necessary to my dear father." + +I looked earnestly at Lucy's sweet countenance, and saw it was full of +concern--I had almost said of alarm. + +"I believe I understand you, Lucy," I answered, though a sensation at the +throat nearly choked me--"Rupert is here?" + +"He is, Miles; I implore you to remember what would be the wishes of her +who is now a saint in heaven--what her entreaties, her tears would +implore of you, had not God placed a barrier between us." + +"I understand you, Lucy"--was the husky reply--"I do remember all you +wish, though that recollection is unnecessary. I would rather not see him; +but never can! forget that he is your brother!" + +"You will see as little of him as possible, Miles--bless you, bless you, +for this forbearance!" + +I felt Lucy's hasty but warm kiss on my forehead as she quitted the room. +It seemed to me a seal of a compact between us that was far too sacred +ever to allow me to dream of violating it. + +I pass over the details of the funeral procession. This last was ordered +as is usual in the country, the friends following the body in vehicles or +on horseback, according to circumstances. John Wallingford went with me +agreeably to my own arrangement, and the rest took their places in the +order of consanguinity and age. I did not see Rupert in the procession at +all, though I saw little beside the hearse that bore the body of my only +sister. When we reached the church-yard, the blacks of the family pressed +forward to bear the coffin into the building. Mr. Hardinge met us there, +and then commenced those beautiful and solemn rites which seldom fail to +touch the hardest heart. The rector of St. Michael's had the great +excellence of reading all the offices of the church as if he felt them; +and, on this occasion, the deepest feelings of the heart seemed to be +thrown into his accents. I wondered how he could get on; but Mr. Hardinge +felt himself a servant of the altar, standing in his master's house, and +ready to submit to his will. Under such circumstances it was not a trifle +that could unman him. The spirit of the divine communicated itself to me. +I did not shed a tear during the whole of the ceremony, but felt myself +sustained by the thoughts and holy hopes that ceremony was adapted to +inspire. I believe Lucy, who sat in a far corner of the church, was +sustained in a similar manner; for I heard her low sweet voice mingling in +the responses. Lip service! Let those who would substitute their own crude +impulses for the sublime rites of our liturgy, making ill digested forms +the supplanter of a ritual carefully and devoutly prepared, listen to one +of their own semi-conversational addresses to the Almighty over a grave, +and then hearken to these venerable rites, and learn humility. Such men +never approach sublimity, or the sacred character that should be impressed +on a funeral ceremony, except when they borrow a fragment here and there +from the very ritual they affect to condemn. In their eagerness to +dissent, they have been guilty of the weakness of dissenting, so far as +forms are concerned, from some of the loftiest, most comprehensive, most +consolatory and most instructive passages of the inspired book! + +It was a terrible moment when the first clod of the valley fell on my +sister's coffin. God sustained me under the shock! I neither groaned nor +wept. When Mr. Hardinge returned the customary thanks to those who had +assembled to assist me "in burying my dead out of my sight," I had even +sufficient fortitude to bow to the little crowd, and to walk steadily +away. It is true, that John Wallingford very kindly took my arm to sustain +me, but I was not conscious of wanting any support. I heard the sobs of +the blacks as they crowded around the grave, which the men among them +insisted on filling with their own hands, as if "Miss Grace" could only +rest with their administration to her wants; and I was told not one of +them left the spot until the place had resumed all the appearance of +freshness and verdure which it possessed before the spade had been +applied. The same roses, removed with care, were restored to their former +beds; and it would not have been easy for a stranger to discover that a +new-made grave lay by the side of those of the late Captain Miles +Wallingford and his much-respected widow. Still it was known to all in +that vicinity, and many a pilgrimage was made to the spot within the next +fortnight, the young maidens of the adjoining farms in particular coming +to visit the grave of Grace Wallingford, the "Lily of Clawbonny," as she +had once been styled. + + + +Chapter IX. + + + + "I knew that we must part--no power could save + Thy quiet goodness from an early grave: + Those eyes so dull, though kind each glance they cast, + Looking a sister's fondness to the last; + Thy lips so pale, that gently press'd my cheek; + Thy voice--alas! Thou could'st but try to speak;-- + All told thy doom; I felt it at my heart; + The shaft had struck--I knew that we must part." + + Sprague. + + +It is not easy to describe the sensation of loss that came over me after +the interment of my sister. It is then we completely feel the privation +with which we have met. The body is removed from out of our sight; the +places that knew them shall know them no more; there is an end to all +communion, even by the agency of sight, the last of the senses to lose its +hold on the departed, and a void exists in the place once occupied. I felt +all this very keenly, for more than a month, but most keenly during the +short time I remained at Clawbonny. The task before me, however, will not +allow me to dwell on these proofs of sorrow, nor do I know that the reader +could derive much advantage from their exhibition. + +I did not see Rupert at the funeral. That he was there I knew, but either +he, himself, or Lucy for him, had managed so well, as not to obtrude his +person on my sight. John Wallingford, who well knew my external or visible +relation to all the Hardinges, thinking to do me a pleasure, mentioned, as +the little procession returned to the house, that young Mr. Hardinge had, +by dint of great activity, succeeded in reaching Clawbonny in time for the +funeral. I fancy that Lucy, under the pretence of wishing his escort, +contrived to keep her brother at the rectory during the time I was abroad. + +On reaching the house, I saw all my connexions, and thanked them in person +for this proof of their respect for the deceased. This little duty +performed, all but John Wallingford took their leave, and I was soon left +in the place alone with my bachelor cousin. What a house it was! and what +a house it continued to be as long as I remained at Clawbonny! The +servants moved about it stealthily; the merry laugh was no longer heard in +the kitchen; even the heavy-footed seemed to tread on air, and all around +me appeared to be afraid of disturbing the slumbers of the dead. Never +before, nor since, have I had occasion to feel how completely a negative +may assume an affirmative character, and become as positive as if it had a +real existence. I thought I could _see_ as well as feel my sister's +absence from the scene in which she had once been so conspicuous an actor. + +As none of the Hardinges returned to dinner, the good divine writing a +note to say he would see me in the evening after my connexions had +withdrawn, John Wallingford and myself took that meal _tête à tête_. My +cousin, with the apparent motive of diverting my thoughts from dwelling on +the recent scene, began to converse on subjects that he was right in +supposing might interest me. Instead of flying off to some topic so +foreign to my feelings as constantly to recall the reason, he judiciously +connected the theme with my loss. + +"I suppose you will go to sea again, as soon as your ship can be got +ready, cousin Miles," he commenced, after we were left with the fruit and +wine. "These are stirring times in commerce, and the idle man misses +golden opportunities." + +"Gold has no longer any charm for me, cousin John," I answered gloomily. +"I am richer now than is necessary for my wants, and, as I shall probably +never marry, I see no great use in toiling for more. Still, I shall go out +in my own ship, and that as soon as possible. _Here_ I would not pass the +summer for the place, and I love the sea. Yes, yes; I must make a voyage +to some part of Europe without delay. It is the wisest thing I can do." + +"That is hearty, and like a man! There is none of your mopes about the +Wallingfords, and I believe you to be of the true stock. But why never +marry, Miles? Your father was a sailor, and _he_ married, and a very good +time I've always understood he had of it." + +"My father was happy as a husband, and, did I imitate his example, I +should certainly marry, too. Nevertheless, I feel I am to be a bachelor." + +"In that case, what will become of Clawbonny?" demanded Jack Wallingford, +bluntly. + +I could not avoid smiling at the question, as I deemed him my heir, though +the law would give it to nearer relatives, who were not of the name; but +it is probable that John, knowing himself to be so much my senior, had +never thought of himself as one likely to outlive me. + +"I shall make a new will, the instant I get to town, and leave Clawbonny +to you," I answered steadily, and truly, for such a thought had come into +my mind the instant I saw him. "You are the person best entitled to +inherit it, and should you survive me, yours it shall be." + +"Miles, I like that," exclaimed my cousin, with a strange sincerity, +stretching out a hand to receive mine, which he pressed most warmly. "You +are very right; I _ought_ to be the heir of this place, should you die +without children, even though you left a widow," + +This was said so naturally, and was so much in conformity with my own +notions on the subject, that it did not so much offend, as surprise me. I +knew John Wallingford loved money, and, all men having a very respectful +attachment to the representative of value, such a character invariably +means, that the party named suffers that attachment to carry him too far. +I wished, therefore, my kinsman had not made just such a speech; though it +in no manner shook my intentions in his favour. + +"You are more ready to advise your friends to get married, than to set the +example," I answered, willing to divert the discourse a little. "You, who +must be turned of fifty, are still a bachelor." + +"And so shall I remain through life. There was a time I might have +married, had I been rich; and now I am reasonably rich, I find other +things to employ my affections. Still, that is no reason you should not +leave me Clawbonny, though it is not probable I shall ever live to inherit +it. Notwithstanding, it is family property, and ought not to go out of the +name. I was afraid, if you were, lost at sea, or should die of any of +those outlandish fevers that sailors sometimes take, the place would get +into females, and there would no longer be a Wallingford at Clawbonny. +Miles, I do not grudge _you_ the possession of the property the least in +the world; but it would make me very unhappy to know one of those Hazens, +or Morgans, or Van-der-Schamps had it." Jack had mentioned the names of +the children of so many Miss Wallingfords, aunts or great-aunts, of mine, +and cousins of his own.--"Some of them may be nearer to you, by a +half-degree, or so, but none of them are as near to Clawbonny. It is +Wallingford land, and Wallingford land it ought to remain." + +I was amused in spite of myself, and felt a disposition now, to push the +discourse further, in order better to understand my kinsman's character. + +"Should neither of us two marry," I said, "and both die bachelors, what +would then be the fate of Clawbonny?" + +"I have thought of all that, Miles, and here is my answer: Should such a +thing happen, and there be no other Wallingford left, then no +Wallingford would live to have his feelings hurt by knowing that a +Vander-dunder-Schamp, or whatever these Dutchmen ought to be called, is +living in his father's house; and no harm would be done. But, there _are_ +Wallingfords besides you and me." + +"This is quite new; for I had supposed we two were the last." + +"Not so: Miles the first left two sons; our ancestor, the eldest, and one +younger, who removed into the colony of New Jersey, and whose descendants +still exist. The survivors of us two might go there in quest of our heir, +in the long run. But do not forget I come before these Jersey Blues, let +them be who, or what they may." + +I assured my kinsman he _should_ come before them, and changed the +discourse; for, to own the truth, the manner in which he spoke began to +displease me. Making my apologies, I retired to my own room, while John +Wallingford went out, professedly with the intention of riding over the +place of his ancestors, with a view to give it a more critical exanimation +than it had hitherto been in his power to do. + +It was quite dark, when I heard the arrival of the Hardinges, as the +carriage of Lucy drove up to the door. In a few minutes Mr. Hardinge +entered the study. He first inquired after my health, and manifested the +kind interest he had ever taken in my feelings; after which, he +proceeded: + +"Rupert is here," he said, "and I have brought him over to see you. Both +he and Lucy appeared to think it might be well not to disturb you +to-night; but I knew you better. Who should be at your side at this bitter +moment, my dear Miles, if it be not Rupert, your old friend and play-mate; +your fellow truant, as one might say, and almost your brother?" + +Almost my brother! Still I commanded myself. Grace had received my solemn +assurances, and so had Lucy, and Rupert had nothing to apprehend. I even +asked to see him, desiring, at the same time, that it might be alone. I +waited several minutes for Rupert's appearance, in vain. At length the +door of my room opened, and Chloe brought me a note. It was from Lucy, and +contained only these words--"Miles, for _her_ sake, for mine, command +yourself." Dear creature! She had no reason to be alarmed. The spirit of +my sister seemed to me to be present; and I could recall every expression +of her angel-countenance as it had passed before my eyes in the different +interviews that preceded her death. + +At length Rupert appeared. He had been detained by Lucy until certain her +note was received, when she permitted him to quit her side. His manner was +full of the consciousness of undeserving, and its humility aided my good +resolutions. Had he advanced to take my hand; had he attempted +consolation; had he, in short, behaved differently in the main from what +he actually did, I cannot say what might have been the consequences. But +his deportment, at first, was quiet, respectful, distant rather than +familiar, and he had the tact, or grace, or caution, not to make the +smallest allusion to the sad occasion which had brought him to Clawbonny. +When I asked him to be seated, he declined the chair I offered, a sign he +intended the visit to be short. I was not sorry, and determined, at once, +to make the interview as much one of business as possible. I had a sacred +duty confided to me, and this might be as fit an occasion as could offer +in which to acquit myself of the trust. + +"I am glad so early an opportunity has offered, Mr. Hardinge," I said, as +soon as the opening civilities were over, "to acquaint you with an affair +that has been entrusted to me by Grace, and which I am anxious to dispose +of as soon as possible." + +"By Grace--by Miss Wallingford!" exclaimed Rupert, actually recoiling a +step in surprise, if not absolutely in alarm--"I shall feel +honoured--that is, shall have a melancholy gratification in endeavouring +to execute any of her wishes. No person commanded more of my respect, Mr. +Wallingford, and I shall always consider her one of the most amiable and +admirable women with whom it was ever my happy fortune to be acquainted." + +I had no difficulty now in commanding myself, for it was easy to see +Rupert scarce knew what he said. With such a man I saw no great necessity +for using extraordinary delicacy or much reserve. + +"You are doubtless aware of two things in our family history," I +continued, therefore, without circumlocution: "one that my sister would +have been mistress of a small fortune, had she reached the term of +twenty-one years, and the other that she died at twenty." + +Rupert's surprise was now more natural, and I could see that his +interest--shame on our propensities for it!--was very natural, too. + +"I am aware of both, and deeply deplore the last," he answered. + +"Being a minor, she had it not in her power to make a will, but her +requests are legal legacies in my eyes, and I stand pledged to her to see +them executed. She has left rather less than $22,000 in all; with $500 of +this money I am to present Lucy with some suitable memorial of her +departed friend; some small charitable dispositions are also to be made, +and the balance, or the round sum of $20,000, is to be given to you." + +"To me, Mr. Wallingford!--Miles!--Did you really say to me?" + +"To you, Mr. Hardinge,--such is my sister's earnest request--and this +letter will declare it, as from herself. I was to hand you this letter, +when acquainting you with the bequest." I put Grace's letter into Rupert's +hand, as I concluded, and I sat down to write, while he was reading it. +Though employed at a desk for a minute or two, I could not avoid glancing +at Rupert, in order to ascertain the effect of the last words of her he +had once professed to love. I would wish not to be unjust even to Rupert +Hardinge. He was dreadfully agitated, and he walked the room, for some +little time, without speaking. I even fancied I overheard a +half-suppressed groan. I had the compassion to affect to be engaged, in +order to allow him to recover his self-possession. This was soon done, as +good impressions were not lasting in Rupert; and I knew him so well, as +soon to read in his countenance, gleanings of satisfaction at the prospect +of being master of so large a sum. At the proper moment, I arose and +resumed the subject. + +"My sister's wishes would be sacred with me," I said, even had she not +received my promise to see them executed. "When a thing of this character +is to be done the sooner it is done the better. I have drawn a note at ten +days, payable at the Bank of New York, and in your favour, for $20,000: it +will not inconvenience me to pay it when due, and that will close the +transaction." + +"I am not certain, Wallingford, that I ought to receive so large a sum--I +do not know that my father, or Lucy or indeed the world, would altogether +approve of it." + +"Neither your father, nor Lucy, nor the world will know anything about it, +sir, unless you see fit to acquaint them I shall not speak of the bequest; +and I confess that, on my sister's account, I should prefer that _you_ +would not." + +"Well, Mr. Hardinge," answered Rupert, coolly putting the note into his +wallet, "I will think of this request of poor Grace's, and if I can +possibly comply with her wishes, I will certainly do so. There is little +that she could ask that I would deny, and my effort will be to honour her +memory. As I see you are distressed, I will now retire; you shall know my +determination in a few days." + +Rupert did retire, taking my note for $20,000 with him. I made no effort +to detain him, nor was I sorry to hear he had returned to the rectory to +pass the night, whither his sister went with him. The next day he +proceeded to New York, without sending me any message, retaining the note +however; and, a day or two later, I heard of him on his way to the springs +to rejoin the party of the Mertons. + +John Wallingford left me the morning of the day after the funeral, +promising to see me again in town. "Do no forget the will, Miles," said +that singular man, as he shook my hand, "and be certain to let me see that +provision in it about Clawbonny, before I go west of the bridge, again. +Between relations _of the same name_, there should be no reserves in +such matters." + +I scarce knew whether to smile or to look grave, at so strange a request; +but I did not change my determination on the subject of the will, itself: +feeling that justice required of me such a disposition of the property. I +confess there were moments when I distrusted the character of one who +could urge a claim of this nature in so plain a manner; and that, too, at +an instant when the contemplated contingency seemed the more probable from +the circumstance that death had so recently been among us. +Notwithstanding, there was so much frankness in my kinsman's manner, he +appeared to sympathize so sincerely in my loss, and his opinions were so +similar to my own, that these unpleasant twinges lasted but for brief +intervals. On the whole, my opinion was very favourable to John +Wallingford, and, as will be seen in the sequel, he soon obtained my +entire confidence. + +After the departure of all my kindred, I felt, indeed, how completely I +was left alone in the world. Lucy passed the night at the rectory, to keep +her brother company, and good Mr. Hardinge, though _thinking_ he remained +with me to offer sympathy and consolation, found so many demands on his +time, that I saw but little of him. It is possible he understood me +sufficiently well to know that solitude and reflection, while the +appearance of the first was avoided, were better for one of my temperament +than any set forms of condolence. At any rate, he was at hand, while he +said but little to me on the subject of my loss. + +At last I got through the day; and a long and dreary day it was to me. The +evening came, bland, refreshing, bringing with it the softer light of a +young moon. I was walking on the lawn, when the beauty of the night +brought Grace and her tastes vividly to my mind, and, by a sudden impulse, +I was soon swiftly walking towards her now silent grave. The highways +around Clawbonny were never much frequented; but at this hour, and so soon +after the solemn procession it had so lately seen, no one was met on the +road towards the church-yard. It was months, indeed, after the funeral, +that any of the slaves ventured into the latter by night; and, even during +the day, they approached it with an awe that nothing could have inspired +but the death of a Wallingford. Perhaps it was owing to my increased age +and greater observation, but I fancied that these simple beings felt the +death of their young mistress more than they had felt that of my mother. + +St. Michael's church-yard is beautifully ornamented with flourishing +cedars. These trees had been cultivated with care, and formed an +appropriate ornament for the place. A fine cluster of them shaded the +graves of my family, and a rustic seat had been placed beneath their +branches, by order of my mother, who had been in the habit of passing +hours in meditation at the grave of her husband. Grace and I, and Lucy, +had often repaired to the same place at night, after my mother's death, +and there we used to sit many an hour, in deep silence; or, if utterance +were given to a thought, it was in a respectful whisper. As I now +approached this seat, I had a bitter satisfaction in remembering that +Rupert had never accompanied us in these pious little pilgrimages. Even in +the day of her greatest ascendancy, Grace had been unable to enlist her +admirer in an act so repugnant to his innate character. As for Lucy, her +own family lay on one side of that cluster of cedars, as mine lay on the +other; and often had I seen the dear young creature weeping, as her eyes +were riveted on the graves of relatives she had never known. But _my_ +mother had been _her_ mother, and for this friend she felt an attachment +almost as strong as that which was entertained by ourselves. I am not +certain I ought not to say, an attachment _quite_ as strong as our own. + +I was apprehensive some visitors might be hovering near the grave of my +sister at that witching hour, and I approached the cedars cautiously, +intending to retire unseen should such prove to be the case. I saw no one, +however, and proceeded directly to the line of graves, placing myself at +the foot of the freshest and most newly made. Hardly was this done, when I +heard the word "Miles!" uttered in a low, half-stifled exclamation. It was +not easy for me to mistake the voice of Lucy; she was seated so near the +trunk of a cedar that her dark dress had been confounded with the shadows +of the tree. I went to the spot, and took a seat at her side. + +"I am not surprised to find _you_ here," I said, taking the dear girl's +hand, by a sort of mechanical mode of manifesting affection which had +grown up between us from childhood, rather than from, any sudden +impulse--"_you_ that watched over her so faithfully during the last hours +of her existence." + +"Ah! Miles," returned a voice that was filled with sadness, "how little +did I anticipate this when you spoke of Grace in the brief interview we +had at the theatre!" + +I understood my companion fully. Lucy had been educated superior to cant +and false morals. Her father drew accurate and manly distinctions between +sin and the exactions of a puritanical presumption that would set up its +own narrow notions as the law of God; and, innocent as she was, no thought +of error was associated with the indulgence of her innocent pleasures. But +Grace, suffering and in sorrow, while she herself had been listening to +the wonderful poems of Shakspeare, did present a painful picture to her +mind, which, so far from being satisfied with what she had done in my +sister's behalf, was tenderly reproachful on account of fancied omissions. + +"It is the will of God, Lucy," I answered. "It must be our effort to be +resigned." + +"If _you_ can think thus, Miles, how much easier ought it to be for me! +and, yet--" + +"Yet, what, Lucy? I believe you loved my sister as affectionately as I did +myself, but I am sensitive on this point; and, tender, true, warm as I +know your heart to be, I cannot allow that even you loved her more." + +"It is not that, Miles--it is not that. Have I no cause of particular +regret--no sense of shame--no feeling of deep humility to add to my grief +for her loss?" + +"I understand you, Lucy, and at once answer, no. You are not Rupert any +more than Rupert is you. Let all others become what they may, you will +ever remain Lucy Hardinge." + +"I thank you, Miles," answered my companion, gently pressing the hand that +still retained hers, "and thank you from my heart. But your generous +nature will not sae this matter as others might. We were aliens to your +blood, dwellers under your own roof, received into the bosom of your own +family, and were bound by every sacred obligation to do you no wrong. I +would not have my dear, upright father know the truth for worlds." + +"He never will know it, Lucy, and it is my earnest desire that we all +forget it. Henceforth Rupert and I must be strangers, though the tie that +exists between me and the rest of your family will only be drawn the +closer for this sad event." + +"Rupert is my brother--" Lucy answered, though it was in a voice so low +that her words were barely audible. + +"You would not leave me quite alone in the world!" I said, with something +like reproachful energy. + +"No, Miles, no--_that_ tie, as you have said, must and should last for +life. Nor do I wish you to regard Rupert as of old. It is +impossible--improper even--but you can concede to us some of that same +indulgence which I am so willing to concede to you." + +"Certainly--Rupert is your brother, as you say, and I do not wish you ever +to regard him, otherwise. He will marry Emily Merton, and I trust he may +be happy. Here, over my sister's grave, Lucy, I renew the pledge already +made to you, never to act on what has occurred." + +I got no answer to this declaration in words, but Lucy would actually have +kissed my hand in gratitude had I permitted it. This I could not suffer, +however, but raised her own hand to my lips, where it was held until the +dear girl gently withdrew it herself. + +"Miles," Lucy said, after a long and thoughtful pause, "it is not good for +you to remain at Clawbonny, just at this time. Your kinsman, John +Wallingford, has been here, and I think you like him. Why not pay him a +visit? He resides near Niagara, 'West of the Bridge,'[3] as he calls it, +and you might take the opportunity of seeing the 'Falls.'" + + [Footnote 3: In the western part of the State of New York, there are + several small lakes that lie nearly parallel to each other, and not far + asunder, with lengths that vary from fifteen to forty miles. The outlet + of one of these lakes--the Cayuga--lies in the route of the great + thorough-fare to Buffalo, and a bridge of a mile in length was early + thrown across it. From this circumstance has arisen the expression of + saying, "West of the Bridge;" meaning the frontier counties, which + include, among-other districts, that which is also known as the + "Genessee Country."] + +"I understand you, Lucy, and am truly grateful for the interest you feel +in my happiness. I do not intend to remain long at Clawbonny, which I +shall leave to-morrow--" + +"To-morrow!" interrupted Lucy, and I thought like one who was alarmed. + +"Does that appear too early? I feel the necessity of occupation, as well +as of a change of scene. You will remember I have a ship and interests, of +moment to myself, to care for: I must turn my face, and move towards the +east, instead of towards the west." + +"You intend then, Miles, to pursue this profession of yours!" Lucy said, +as I thought, with a little like gentle regret in her manner and tones. + +"Certainly--what better can I do? I want not wealth, I allow; am rich +enough already for all my wants, but I have need of occupation. The sea is +to my liking, I am still young, and can afford a few more years on the +water. I shall never marry--" Lucy started--"and having now no heir nearer +than John Wallingford"-- + +"John Wallingford!--you have cousins much nearer than he!" + +"That is true; but not of the old line. It was Grace's wish that I should +leave our cousin John the Clawbonny property at least, whatever I do with +the rest. You are so rich now as not to need it, Lucy; else would I leave +every shilling to you." + +"I believe you would, dear Miles," answered Lucy, with fervent warmth of +manner. "You have ever been all that is good and kind to me, and I shall +never forget it." + +"Talk of my kindness to you, Lucy, when you parted with every cent you had +on earth to give me the gold you possessed, on my going to sea. I am +almost sorry you are now so much richer than myself, else would I +certainly make you my heir." + +"We will not talk of money any longer in this sacred place," Lucy answered +tremulously. "What I did as a foolish girl you will forget; we were but +children then, Miles." + +So Lucy did not wish me to remember certain passages in our earlier youth! +Doubtless her present relations to Andrew Drewett rendered the +recollection delicate, if not unpleasant. I thought this less like herself +than was her wont--Lucy, who was usually so simple-minded, so +affectionate, so frank and so true. Nevertheless, love is an engrossing +sentiment, as I could feel in my own case, and it might be that its +jealous sensitiveness took the alarm at even that which was so innocent +and sincere. The effect of these considerations, added to that of Lucy's +remark, was to change the discourse, and we conversed long, in melancholy +sadness, of her we had lost, for this life, altogether. + +"We may live, ourselves, to grow old, Miles," Lucy observed, "but never +shall we cease to remember Grace as she was, and to love her memory, as we +loved her dear self in life. There has not been an hour since her death, +that I have not seen her sitting at my side, and conversing in sisterly +confidence, as we did from infancy to the day she ceased to live!" + +As Lucy said this, she rose, drew her shawl around her, and held out her +hand to take leave, for I had spoken of an intention to quit Clawbonny +early in the morning. The tears the dear girl shed might have been +altogether owing to our previous conversation, or I might have had a share +in producing them. Lucy used to weep at parting from me, as well as Grace, +and she was not a girl to change with the winds. But I could not part +thus: I had a sort of feeling that when we parted this time, it would +virtually be a final separation, as the wife of Andrew Drewett never could +be exactly that which Lucy Hardinge had now been to me for near +twenty years. + +"I will not say farewell now, Lucy," I observed. "Should you not come to +town before I sail, I will return to Clawbonny to take leave of you. God +only knows what will become of me, or whither I shall be led, and I could +wish to defer the leave-takings to the last moment. You and your excellent +father must have my final adieus." + +Lucy returned the pressure of my hand, uttered a hasty good-night, and +glided through the little gate of the rectory which by this time we had +reached. No doubt she fancied I returned immediately to my own house. So +far from this, however, I passed hours alone, in the church-yard, +sometimes musing on the dead, and then with all my thoughts bent on the +living. I could see the light in Lucy's window, and not till that was +extinguished did I retire. It was long past midnight. + +I passed hours teeming with strange emotions among hose cedars. Twice I +knelt by Grace's grave, and prayed devoutly to God. It seemed to me that +petitions offered in such a place must be blessed. I thought of my mother, +of my manly, spirited father, of Grace, and of all the past. Then I +lingered long beneath Lucy's window, and, in spite of this solemn visit to +the graves of the dead, the brightest and most vivid image that I carried +away with me was of the living. + + + +Chapter X. + + + + _Shy_. Three thousand ducats--well. + _Bass_. Ay, sir, for three months. + _Shy_. For three months--well. + _Bass_ For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall become bound. + _Shy_. Antonio shall become bound--well. + + Merchant of Venice. + + +I found John Wallingford in town, awaiting my appearance. He had taken +lodgings at the City Hotel, on purpose to be under the same roof with me, +and we occupied adjoining rooms. I dined with him; and after dinner he +went with me to take a look at the Dawn. The second-mate told me that +Marble had made a flying visit to the ship, promised to be back again in a +few days, and disappeared. By comparing dates, I ascertained that he would +be in time to meet the mortgage sale, and felt no further concern in +that behalf. + +"Miles," said John Wallingford, coolly, as we were walking up Pine street, +on our way back towards the tavern, "did you not tell me you employed +Richard Harrison as a legal adviser?" + +"I did. Mr. Hardinge made me acquainted with him, and I understand he is +one of the oldest lawyers in the country. That is his office, on the other +side of the street--here, directly opposite." + +"I saw it, and that was the reason I spoke. It might be well just to step +in and give some directions about your will. I wish to see Clawbonny put +in the right line. If you would give me a deed of it for one dollar, I +would not take it from you, the only son of an eldest son; but it would +break my heart to hear of its going out of the name. Mr. Harrison is also +an old adviser and-friend of mine." + +I was startled with this plain-dealing; yet, there was something about the +manner of the man that prevented my being displeased. + +"Mr. Harrison would not be visible at this hour, but I will cross to the +office, and write him a letter on the subject," I answered, doing as I +said on the instant, and leaving John Wallingford to pursue his way to the +house alone. The next day, however, the will was actually drawn up, +executed, and placed in my cousin's hands, he being the sole executor. If +the reader should ask me why I did this, especially the last, I might be +at a loss to answer. A strange confidence had come over me, as respects +this relative, whose extraordinary frankness even a more experienced man +might have believed to be either the height of honesty, or the perfection +of art. Whichever was the case, I not only left my will with him, but, in +the course of the next week, I let him into the secret of all my pecuniary +affairs; Grace's bequest to Rupert, alone, excepted. John Wallingford +encouraged this confidence, telling me that plunging at once, heart and +hand, into the midst of business, was the most certain mode of forgetting +my causes of sorrow. Plunge into anything with my whole heart, I could +not, then, though I endeavoured to lose my cares in business. + +One of my first acts, in the way of affairs, was to look after the note I +had given to Rupert. It had been made payable at the bank where I kept my +deposits, and I went thither to inquire if it had been left for +collection. The following conversation passed between myself and the +cashier on this occasion: + +"Good morning, Mr.----," I said, saluting the gentleman; "I have come to +inquire if a note for $20,000, made by me in favour of Rupert Hardinge, +Esquire, at ten days, has been left for collection. If so, I am ready to +pay it now." + +The cashier gave me a business smile,--one that spoke favourably of my +standing as a moneyed man,--before he answered the question. This smile +was, also, a sign that money was plenty. + +"Not absolutely for collection, Captain Wallingford, as nothing would give +us more pleasure than to renew it, if you would just go through the form +of obtaining a city endorser." + +"Mr. Hardinge has then left it for collection," I observed, pained, in +spite of all that had passed, at Rupert's giving this conclusive evidence +of the inherent meanness of his character. + +"Not exactly for collection, sir," was the cashier's answer, "for, wishing +to anticipate the money, by a few days, and being under the necessity of +leaving town, we discounted it for him." + +"Anticipate!--you have discounted the note, sir!" + +"With the greatest pleasure, knowing it to be good. Mr. Hardinge remarked +that you had not found it convenient to draw for so large a sum on the +spot, and had given this note at short date; and the consideration having +been received in full, he was desirous of being put in cash, at once. We +did not hesitate, of course." + +"Consideration received in full!" escaped me, spite of a determination to +be cool; but, luckily, the appearance of another person on business +prevented the words, or the manner, from being noted. "Well, Mr. Cashier, +I will draw a check, and take up the note, now." + +More smiles followed. The check was given; the note was cancelled and +handed to me, and I left the bank with a balance in my favour of rather +more than $10,000, instead of the $30,000 odd, which I had held previously +to entering it. It is true, I was heir at law to all Grace's assets, which +Mr. Hardinge had handed over to me, the morning I left Clawbonny, duly +assigned and transferred. These last consisted of stocks, and of bonds and +mortgages, drawing interest, being on good farms in our own county. + +"Well. Miles, what do you mean to do with your ship," demanded Jack +Wallingford, that evening. "I understand the freight for which you +bargained has been transferred to another owner, on account of your late +troubles; and they tell me freights, just now, are not very high." + +"Really, cousin Jack, I am hardly prepared to answer the question. +Colonial produce commands high prices in the north of Germany, they tell +me; and, were I in cash, I would buy a cargo on my own account. Some +excellent sugars and coffees, &c., were offered me to-day, quite +reasonably, for ready money." + +"And how much cash would be necessary to carry out that scheme, my man?" + +"Some $50,000, more or less, while I have but about $10,000 on hand; +though I can command $20,000 additional, by selling certain securities; so +I must abandon the notion." + +"That does not follow necessarily. Let me think a night on it, and we will +talk further in the morning. I like quick bargains, but I like a cool +head. This hot town and old Madeira keep me in a fever, and I wish a +night's rest before I make a bargain." + +The next morning, John Wallingford returned to the subject, at breakfast, +which meal we took by ourselves, in order to be at liberty to converse +without any auditors. + +"I have thought over that sweet subject, the sugars, Miles," commenced my +cousin, "and approve of the plan. Can you give me any further security if +I will lend you the money?" + +"I have some bonds and mortgages, to the amount of twenty-two thousand +dollars, with me, which might be assigned for such a purpose." + +"But $22,000 are an insufficient security for the $30,000, or $35,000, +which you may need to carry out your adventure." + +"That is quite true, but I have nothing else worth mentioning--unless it +be the ship, or Clawbonny." + +"Tut for the ship!--she is gone, if you and your cargo go; and as for +insurances, I want none of them--I am a landed man, and like landed +securities. Give me your note at three months, or six months if you will, +with the bonds and mortgages you mention, and a mortgage on Clawbonny, +and you can have $40,000, this very day, should you need them." + +I was surprised at this offer, having no notion my kinsman was rich enough +to lend so large a sum. On a further conversation, however, I learned he +had near double the sum he had mentioned, in ready money, and that his +principal business in town was to invest in good city securities. He +professed himself willing, however, to lend me half, in order to help +along a kinsman he liked. I did not at all relish the notion of mortgaging +Clawbonny, but John soon laughed and reasoned me out of that. As for +Grace's securities, I parted with them with a sort of satisfaction; the +idea of holding her effects being painful to me. + +"Were it out of the family, or even out of the name, I should think +something of it myself. Miles," he said, "but a mortgage from _you_ to +_me_ is like one from _me_ to _you_. You have made me your heir, and to be +honest with you, boy, _I have made you mine_. If you lose my money, you +lose your own." + +There was no resisting this. My kinsman's apparent frankness and warmth of +disposition overcame all my scruples, and I consented to borrow the money +on his own terms. John Wallingford was familiar with the conveyancing of +real estate, and, with his own hand, he filled up the necessary papers, +which I signed. The money was borrowed at 5 per cent.; my cousin +positively refusing to receive the legal rate of interest from a +Wallingford. Pay-day was put at six months' distance, and all was done +in due form. + +"I shall not put this mortgage on record, Miles," Jack Wallingford +remarked, as he folded and endorsed the paper. "I have too much confidence +in your honesty to believe it necessary. You have given one mortgage on +Clawbonny with too much reluctance, to render it probable you will be in a +hurry to execute another. As for myself, I own to a secret pleasure in +having even this incomplete hold on the old place, which makes me feel +twice as much of a Wallingford as I ever felt before." + +For my part, I wondered at my kinsman's family pride, and I began to think +I had been too humble in my own estimate of our standing in the world. It +is true, it was not easy to deceive myself in this particular, and, in +point of fact, I was certainly right; but when I found a man who was able +to lend $40,000 at an hour's notice, valuing himself on coming from Miles +the First, I could not avoid fancying Miles the First a more considerable +personage than I had hitherto imagined. As for the money, I was gratified +with the confidence John Wallingford reposed in me, had really a wish to +embark in the adventure for which it supplied the means, and regarded the +abstaining from recording the mortgage an act of delicacy and feeling that +spoke well for the lender's heart. + +My cousin did not cast me adrift as soon as he had filled my pockets. On +the contrary, he went with me, and was a witness to all the purchases I +made. The colonial produce was duly bought, in his presence, and many a +shrewd hint did I get from this cool-headed and experienced man, who, +while he was no merchant, in the common sense of the term, had sagacity +enough to make a first-class dealer. As I paid for everything in ready +money, the cargo was obtained on good terms, and the Dawn was soon stowed. +As soon as this was done, I ordered a crew shipped, and the hatches +battened on. + +As a matter of course, the constant and important business with which I +was now occupied, had a tendency to dull the edge of my grief, though I +can truly say that the image of Grace was never long absent from my mind, +even in the midst of my greatest exertions. Nor was Lucy forgotten. She +was usually at my sister's side; and it never happened that I remembered +the latter, without seeing the beautiful semblance of her living friend, +watching over her faded form, with sisterly solicitude. John Wallingford +left me, at the end of a week, after seeing me fairly under way as a +merchant, as well as ship-owner and ship-master. + +"Farewell, Miles," he said, as he shook my hand with a cordiality that +appeared to increase the longer he knew me, "farewell, my dear boy, and +may God prosper you in all your lawful and just undertakings. Never forget +you are a Wallingford, and the owner of Clawbonny. Should we meet again, +you will find a true friend in me; should we never meet, you will have +reason to remember me." + +This leave-taking occurred at the inn. A few hours later I was in the +cabin of the Dawn, arranging some papers, when I heard a well-known voice, +on deck, calling out to the stevedores and riggers, in a tone of +authority--"Come, bear a hand, and lay aft; off that forecastle; to this +derrick,--who ever saw a derrick standing before, after the hatches were +battened down, in a first-class ship!--a regular A. No. 1? Bear a +hand--bear a hand; you've got an old sea-dog among you, men." + +There was no mistaking the person. On reaching the deck, I found Marble, +his coat off, but still wearing all the rest of his "go-ashores," +flourishing about among the labourers, putting into them new life and +activity. He heard my footsteps behind him, but never turned to salute me, +until the matter in hand was terminated. Then I received that honour, and +it was easy to see the cloud that passed over his red visage, as he +observed the deep mourning in which I was clad. + +"Good morning to you, Captain Wallingford," he said, making a mate's +bow,--"good morning, sir. God's will be done! we are all sinners, and so +are some of the stevedores, who've left this derrick standing as if the +ship needed it for a jury-mast. Yes, sir, God's will must be submitted to; +and sorry enough was I to read the obittery in the newspapers--Grace, &c., +daughter, &c., and only sister, &c.--You'll be glad to hear, however, sir, +that Willow Cove is moored head and starn in the family, as one might say, +and that the bloody mortgage is cut adrift." + +"I am glad to hear this, Mr. Marble," I answered, submitting to a twinge, +as I remembered that a mortgage had just been placed on my own paternal +acres; "and I trust the place will long remain in your blood. How did you +leave your mother and niece?" + +"I've not left 'em at all, sir. I brought the old lady and Kitty to town +with me, on what I call the mutual sight-seeing principle. They are both +up at my boarding-house." + +"I am not certain, Moses, that I understand this mutual principle, of +which you speak." + +"God bless you, Miles," returned the mate, who could presume to be +familiar, again, now we had walked so far aft as not to have any +listeners; "call me Moses as often as you possibly can, for it's little I +hear of that pleasant sound now. Mother will dub me Oloff, and little +Kitty calls me nothing but uncle. After all, I have a bulrush feelin' +about me, and Moses will always seem the most nat'ral. As for the mutual +principle, it is just this; I'm to show mother the Dawn, one or two of the +markets--for, would you believe it, the dear old soul never saw a market +and is dying to visit one, and so I shall take her to see the Bear first, +and the Oswego next, and the Fly last, though she cries out ag'in a market +that is much visited by flies. Then I must introduce her to one of the +Dutch churches;--after that 't will go hard with me, but I get the dear +soul into the theatre; and they tell me there is a lion, up town, that +will roar as loud as a bull. _That_ she must see, of course." + +"And when your mother has seen all these sights, what will she have to +show you?" + +"The tombstone on which I was laid out, as a body might say, at five +weeks old. She tells me they traced the stone, out of feelin' like, and +followed it up until they fairly found it, set down as the head-stone of +an elderly single lady, with a most pious and edifying inscription on it. +Mother says it contains a whole varse from the bible! That stone may yet +stand me in hand, for anything I know to the contrary, Miles." + +I congratulated my mate on this important discovery, and inquired the +particulars of the affair with the old usurer; in what manner the money +was received, and by what process the place had been so securely "moored, +head and starn, in the family." + +"It was all plain sailing when a fellow got on the right course," Marble +answered. "Do you know, Miles, that they call paying off one of your heavy +loads on land, '_lifting_ the mortgage;' and a lift it is, I can tell you, +when a man has no money to do it with. The true way to get out of debt is +to 'arn money; I've found that much out since I found my mother; and, the +cash in hand, all you have to do is to hand it over. Old Van Tassel was +civil enough when he saw the bag of dollars, and was full of fine +speeches. He didn't wish to distress the 'worthy Mrs. Wetmore, not he; and +she was welcome to keep the money as long as she pleased, provided the +interest was punctually paid;' but I'd have none of his soft words, and +laid down the Spaniards, and told him to count them. I 'lifted his +encumbrance,' as they call'd it, as easily as if it had been a pillow of +fresh feathers, and walked off with that bit of paper in my hands, with +the names tore off it, and satisfaction give me, as my lawyer said. This +law is droll business, Miles; if money is paid, they give you +satisfaction, just as gentlemen call on each other, you know, when a +little cross. But, whatever you do, never put your hand and seal to a +mortgage; for land under such a curse is as likely to slide one way as the +other. Clawbonny is an older place than Willow Cove, even; and both are +too venerable and venerated to be mortgaged." + +The advice came too late. Clawbonny _was_ mortgaged already, and I confess +to several new and violent twinges, as I recalled the fact, while Marble +was telling his story. Still I could not liken my kinsman, plain-talking, +warm-hearted, family-loving, John Wallingford, to such a griping usurer as +Mrs. Wetmore's persecutor. + +I was glad to see my mate on every account. He relieved me from a great +deal of irksome duty, and took charge of the ship, bringing his mother and +Kitty; that very day, to live in the cabin. I could perceive that the old +woman was greatly surprised at the neatness she found in all directions. +According to her notions, a ship floated nearly as much in tar as in the +water; and great was her pleasure in finding rooms _almost_ (conscience +will not allow me to say quite) as clean as her own residence. For one +whole day she desired to see no more than the ship, though it was easy to +discover that the good woman had set her heart on the Dutch church and the +lion. In due time her son redeemed all his pledges, not forgetting the +theatre. With the last, good Mrs. Wetmore was astounded, and Kitty +infinitely delighted. The pretty little thing confessed that she should +like to go every night, wondered what Horace Bright would think of it, and +whether he would dare venture alone to a play-house, should he happen to +come to York. In 1803 this country was still in the palmy state of +unsophistication. There were few, scarcely any, strolling players, and +none but those who visited the _cities_, properly so called, enjoyed +opportunities of witnessing the wonders of paint, patch and candle-light, +as auxiliary to the other wonders of the stage. Poor little Kitty! There +was a day, or two, during which the sock and buskin wrought their usual +effect on her female nature, and almost eclipsed the glories of Horace +Bright, in her own bright eyes. + +I could not refrain from accompanying Marble's party to the museum. In +that day, this was a somewhat insignificant collection of curiosities, in +Greenwich Street, but it was a miracle to the aunt and niece. Even the +worthy Manhattanese were not altogether guiltless of esteeming it a +wonder, though the greater renown of the Philadelphia Museum kept this of +New York a little in the shade. I have often had occasion to remark that, +in this republic, the people in the country are a little less country, and +the people of the towns a good deal less town, than is apt to be the case +in great nations. The last is easily enough accounted for: the towns +having shot up so rapidly, and receiving their accessions of population +from classes not accustomed to town lives from childhood. Were a thousand +villages to be compressed into a single group of houses, their people +would long retain the notions, tastes and habits of villagers, though they +would form a large town in the aggregate. Such, in a measure, is still the +fact with our American towns; no one of them all having the air, tone or +appearance of a capital, while most of them would be paragons in the eyes +of such persons as old Mrs. Wetmore and her grand-daughter. Thus it was, +that the Greenwich Street Museum gave infinite satisfaction to these two +unsophisticated visitors. Kitty was most struck with certain villainous +wax-figures, works of art that were much on a level with certain similar +objects that were lately, if they are not now, exhibited for the benefit +of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey, above the tombs of the +Plantagenets, and almost in contact with that marvel of gothic art, Henry +VII's. chapel! It is said that "misery makes a man acquainted with strange +bed-fellows." So, it would seem, do shillings and sixpences. To return to +Kitty: After admiring divers beauties, such as the New York Beauty, the +South Carolina Beauty, and the Pennsylvania Beauty, she fastened her own +pretty eyes on a nun, wondering who a female in such an attire could be. +In 1803, a nun and a nunnery would be almost as great curiosities, in +America, as a rhinoceros, though the country has since undergone some +changes in this respect. + +"Grandmother," exclaimed Kitty, "who _can_ that lady be--it isn't _Lady_ +Washington, is it?" + +"It looks more like a clergyman's wife, Kitty," answered the worthy Mrs. +Wetmore, not a little '_non-plushed,_' herself, as she afterwards +admitted. "I should think Madam Washington went more gaily dressed, and +looked happier like. I'm sure if any woman could be happy, it was she!" + +"Ay," answered her son, "there is truth in that remark. This woman, here, +is what is called a nun in the Roman Catholic quarters of the world." + +"A nun!" repeated little Kitty. "Isn't that the sort of woman that shuts +herself up in a house, and promises never to get married, uncle?" + +"You're quite right, my dear, and it's matter of surprise to me how you +should pick up so many useful idees, in an out-of-the-way place, like +Willow Cove." + +"It was not out of _your_ way, uncle," said Kitty, a little reproachfully, +"or you never would have found us." + +"In that partic'lar it was well enough, my dear. Yes, a nun is a sort of +she-hermit, a breed that I detest altogether." + +"I suppose, Kitty," I inquired, "you think it wicked in man or woman to +take a vow never to get married." + +The poor girl blushed, and she turned away from the nun without making any +reply. No one can say what turn the conversation might have taken, had not +the grandmother's eye fell on an indifferent copy of Leonardo's celebrated +picture of the Last Supper, receiving at the same time a printed +explanation, one got up by some local antiquary, who had ventured to affix +names to the different personages of the group, at his own suggestion. I +pointed out the principal figure of the painting, which is sufficiently +conspicuous by the way, and then referred the good woman to the catalogue +for the rest of the names. + +"Bless me, bless me!" exclaimed the worthy mother, "that I should live +ever to see paintings of such people! Kitty, my dear, this bald-headed old +man is St. Peter. Did you ever think that St. Peter was bald! And there is +St. John, with black eyes.--Wonderful, wonderful, that I should ever live +to see likenesses of such blessed men!" + +Kitty was as much astonished as her grandmother, and even the son was a +little mystified. The latter remarked that "the world was making great +head-way in all such things, and, for his part, he did not see how the +painters and authors found out all they drew and recorded." + +The reader may easily imagine that half a day spent in such company was +not entirely thrown away. Still, half a day sufficed; and I went to the +Old Coffee-house at one, to eat a sandwich and drink a glass of porter; +that being the inn then most frequented for such purposes, especially by +the merchants. I was in my box, with the curtain drawn, when a party of +three entered that which adjoined it, ordering as many glasses of punch; +which in that day was a beverage much in request of a morning, and which +it was permitted even to a gentleman to drink before dining. It was the +sherry-cobbler of the age; although I believe every thing is now +pronounced to be out of fashion before dinner. + +As the boxes were separated merely by curtains, it was impossible to avoid +hearing any conversation that passed in the one adjoining my own, +especially when the parties took no pains to speak low, as happened to be +the case with my three neighbours. Consequently, I recognised the voices +of Andrew Drewett and Rupert Hardinge in an instant;--that of the third +person being unknown to me. + +"Well, Norton," said Rupert, a little affectedly as to manner, "you have +got Drewett and myself down here among you traders, and I hope you will do +the honours of the place, in a way to confer on the latter some credit. A +merchant is nothing without credit, you know." + +"Have no apprehensions for your gentility, Hardinge," returned the person +addressed. "Many of the first persons in town frequent this house, at this +hour, and its punch is renowned. By-the-way, I saw in a paper, the other +day, Rupert, that one of your relatives is dead--Miss Grace Wallingford, +your sister's old associate." + +A short pause followed, during which I scarcely breathed. + +"No, not a relation," Rupert at length answered. "Only my father's ward. +You know how it is in the country: the clergyman being expected to take +care of all the sick, and all the orphans." + +"But these Wallingfords are people altogether above standing in need of +favours," Drewett hastily observed. "I have been at their place, and +really it is a respectable spot. As for Miss Wallingford, she was a most +charming girl, and her death will prove a severe blow to your sister, +Hardinge." + +This was said with so much feeling, that I could almost forgive the +speaker for loving Lucy; though I question if I could ever truly forgive +him for being beloved by her. + +"Why, yes," rejoined Rupert, affecting an indifference that I could detect +he was far from feeling, "Grace _was_ a good creature; though, living so +much with her in childhood, she had less interest in my eyes, perhaps, +than she might have had in those of one less accustomed to see her. +Notwithstanding, I had a certain sort of regard for Grace, I +will confess." + +"Respect and esteem her!--I should think all who knew her must," added +Drewett, as if determined to win my heart; "and, in my opinion, she was +both beautiful and lovely." + +"This from a man who is confessedly an admirer--nay, engaged to your own +sister, as the world says, Hardinge, must be taken as warm praise," said +the third. "But, I suppose, Drewett sees the dear departed with the eyes +of her friend--for Miss Hardinge was very intimate with her, I believe." + +"As intimate as sisters, and loving each other as sisters," returned +Drewett, with feeling. "No intimate of Miss Hardinge's can be anything but +meritorious?" + +"Grace Wallingford had merit beyond a question," added Rupert, "as has her +brother, who is a good, honest fellow enough. When a boy, _I_ was rather +intimate with _him_." + +"The certain proof of his excellencies and virtues;" put in the stranger, +laughing. "But, if a ward, there must be a fortune. I think I have heard +these Wallingfords were richish." + +"Yes, that is just it--_richish_" said Drewett. "Some forty or fifty +thousand dollars between them, all of which the brother must now inherit; +and glad am I it falls to so good a fellow." + +"This is generous praise from _you_, Drewett; for I have heard this +brother might prove your rival." + +"I had some such fears myself, once, I will confess," returned the other; +"but they are all vanished. I no longer fear _him_, and can see and +acknowledge his merits. Besides, I am indebted to him for my life." + +"No _longer_ fear _him_."--This was plain enough, and was proof of the +understanding that existed between the lovers. And why should I be +feared?--I, who had never dared to say a word to the object nearest my +heart, that might induce her to draw the ordinary distinction between +passion and esteem--love, and a brotherly regard? + +"Ay, Drewett is pretty safe, I fancy," Rupert remarked, laughing; "though +it will hardly do for me to tell tales out of school." + +"This is a forbidden subject," rejoined the lover, "and we will talk of +Wallingford. He must inherit his sister's fortune." + +"Poor Grace!--it was little she had to leave, I fancy," Rupert quietly +observed. + +"Ay, little in your eyes, Hardinge," added the third person, "but a good +deal in those of her brother, the ship-master, one might think. Ever since +you have fallen heir to Mrs. Bradfort's estate, a few thousands count +for nothing." + +"Were it a million, that brother would think it dearly purchased by the +loss of his sister!" exclaimed Drewett. + +"It's plain enough there is no rivalry between Andrew and Miles," added +the laughing Rupert. "Certainly money is not quite of so much account with +me now, as it used to be when I had nothing but a clergyman's salary to +glean from. As for Mrs. Bradfort's fortune, it came from a common +ancestor, and I do not see who has a better right to it, than those who +now enjoy it." + +"Unless it might be your father," said the third man, "who stood before +you, according to the laws of primogeniture. I dare say Rupert made love +to his venerable cousin, if the truth were known, and induced her to +overlook a generation, with his oily tongue." + +"Rupert did nothing of the sort; it is his glory to love Emily Merton, and +Emily Merton only. As my worthy cousin could not take her fortune with +her, she left it among her natural heirs. How do you know I have got any +of it. I give you my honour, my account in bank is under $20,000." + +"A pretty fair account, that, by Jove!" exclaimed the other. "It must be a +rapping income that will permit a fellow like you to keep up such +a balance." + +"Why, some persons say my sister has the whole fortune. I dare say that +Drewett can satisfy you on this head. The affair concerns him quite as +much, as it does any other person of my acquaintance." + +"I can assure you I know nothing about it;" answered Drewett, honestly. +"Nor do I desire to know. I would marry Miss Hardinge to-morrow, though +she had not a cent." + +"It's just this disinterestedness, Andrew, that makes me like you," +observed Rupert, magnificently. "Depend on it, you'll fare none the worse, +in the long run, for this admirable trait in your character. Lucy knows +it, and appreciates it as she should." + +I wished to hear no more, but left the box and the house, taking care not +to be seen. From that moment, I was all impatience to get to sea. I forgot +even the intention of visiting my sister's grave; nor did I feel that I +could sustain another interview with Lucy herself. That afternoon I told +Marble the ship must be ready to sail the succeeding morning. + + + +Chapter XI. + + + "Go tenderness of years; take this key. Give enlargement to the + swain--bring him festinately hither. I must employ him in a letter to my + love." + + Love's Labour Lost. + + +I will not attempt to analyze the feelings which now impelled me to quit +America. I had discovered, or thought I had discovered, certain qualities +in Andrew Drewett which rendered him, in some measure, at least worthy of +Lucy; and I experienced how painful it is to concede such an advantage to +a rival. Still, I must be just enough to add, that, in my cooler moments, +when I came to consider that Lucy could never be mine, I was rejoiced to +find such proofs of a generous disposition in her future husband. On the +other hand, I could not divest myself of the idea that perfect confidence +in his own position, could alone enable him to be so liberal in his +opinions of myself. The reader will understand how extravagant was this +last supposition, when he remembers that I had never given Lucy herself, +or the world, any sufficient reason to suppose that I was a suitor for the +dear girl's hand. + +I never saw Marble so industrious as he proved to be when he received my +hurried orders for sailing, that afternoon. He shipped his mother and +niece for Willow Cove, by an Albany sloop, the same evening, got the crew +on board, and the Dawn into the stream, before sunset, and passed half +the night in sending off small stores. As for the ship, she had been +cleared the day the hatches were battened down. According to every rule of +mercantile thrift, I ought to have been at sea twenty-four hours, when +these orders were given; but a lingering reluctance to go further from the +grave of Grace, the wish to have one more interview with Lucy, and a +disposition to indulge my mate in his commendable zeal to amuse his +new-found relatives, kept me in port beyond my day. + +All these delays, however, were over, and I was now in a feverish hurry to +be off. Neb came up to the City Hotel as I was breakfasting, and reported +that the ship was riding at single anchor, with a short range, and that +the fore-top-sail was loose. I sent him to the post-office for letters, and +ordered my bill. All my trunks had gone aboard before the ship hauled off, +and,--the distances in New York then being short,--Neb was soon back, and +ready to shoulder my carpet-bag. The bill was paid, three or four letters +were taken in my hand, and I walked towards the Battery, followed by the +faithful black, who had again abandoned home, Chloe, and Clawbonny, to +follow my fortunes. + +I delayed opening the letters until I reached the Battery. Despatching Neb +to the boat, with orders to wait, I took a turn among the trees,--still +reluctant to quit the native soil--while I broke the seals. Two of the +letters bore the post-marks of the office nearest Clawbonny; the third was +from Albany; and the fourth was a packet of some size from Washington, +franked by the Secretary of State, and bearing the seal of office. +Surprised at such a circumstance, I opened the last of these +communications first. + +The official letter proved to be an envelope containing,--with a civil +request to myself to deliver the enclosures,--dispatches addressed to the +Consul at Hamburg, for which port my ship had been advertised some time. +Of course, I could only determine to comply; and that communication was +disposed of. One of the Clawbonny letters was in Mr. Hardinge's hand, and +I found it to contain some excellent and parental advice. He spoke of my +sister, but it was calmly, and with the humble hope that became his sacred +office. I was not sorry to find that he advised me not to visit Clawbonny +before I sailed. Lucy, he said, was well, and a gentle sadness was +gradually taking the place of the livelier grief she had endured, +immediately after the loss of her friend. "You were not aware, Miles, how +keenly she suffered," my good old guardian continued, "for she struggled +hard to seem calm in your presence; but from me my dear child had no +secrets on this subject, whatever she may see fit to have on another. +Hours has she passed, weeping on my bosom, and I much doubt if the image +of Grace has been absent from her waking thoughts a single minute, at any +one time, since we first laid your sister's head in the coffin. Of you she +does not speak often, but, when she does, it is ever in the kindest and +most solicitous manner; calling you 'Miles,' 'poor Miles,' or 'dear +Miles,' with all that _sisterly_ frankness and affection you have known in +her from childhood." The old gentleman had underscored the +"_sisterly_" himself. + +To my delight and surprise, there was a long, very long, letter from Lucy, +too! How it happened that I did not recognise her pretty, delicate, +lady-like handwriting, is more than I can say; but the direction had been +overlooked in the confusion of receiving so many letters together. That +direction, too, gave me pleasure. It was to "Miles Wallingford, Esquire;" +whereas the three others were addressed to "Capt. Miles Wallingford, ship +Dawn, New York." Now a ship-master is no more entitled, in strict usage, +to be called a "captain," than he is to be called an "esquire." Your +man-of-war officer is the only true _captain_; a 'master' being nothing +but a 'master.' Then, no American is entitled to be called an 'esquire,' +which is the correlative of "knight," and is a title properly prohibited +by the constitution, though most people imagine that a magistrate is an +"esquire" ex officio. He is an "esquire" as a member of congress is an +"honourable," by assumption, and not of right; and I wish the country had +sufficient self-respect to be consistent with itself. What should we think +of Mark Anthony, Esquire? or of 'Squire Lucius Junius Brutus? or His +Excellency Julius Cæsar, Esquire?[4] Nevertheless, "esquire" is an +appellation that is now universally given to a gentleman, who, in truth, +is the only man in this country that, has any right to it at all, and he +only by courtesy. Lucy had felt this distinction, and I was grateful for +the delicacy and tact with which she had dropped the "captain," and put in +the "esquire." To me it seemed to say that _she_ recognised me as one of +her own class, let Rupert, and his light associates, think of me as they +might. Lucy never departed a hair's breadth from the strictly proper, in +all matters of this sort, something having been obtained from education, +but far more from the inscrutable gifts of nature. + + [Footnote 4: A few years since, the writer saw a marriage announced in a + _coloured_ paper, which read, "Married, by the Rev. Julius + Cæsar.--Washington, to Miss--------."] + +As for the letter itself, it is too long to copy; yet I scarce know how to +describe it. Full of heart it was, of course, for the dear girl was all +heart; and it was replete with her truth and nature. The only thing in it +that did not give me entire satisfaction, was a request not to come again +to Clawbonny, until my return from Europe. "Time," she added, "will lessen +the pain of such a visit; and, by that time, you will begin to regard our +beloved Grace as I already regard her, a spotless spirit waiting for our +union with it in the mansions of bliss. It is not easy, Miles, to know how +to treat such a loss as this of ours. God may bless it to our lasting +good, and, in this light, it is useful to bear it ever in mind; while a +too great submission to sorrow may only serve, to render us unhappy. +Still, I think, no one who knew Grace, as _we_ knew her, can ever recall +her image without feeling himself drawn nearer to the dread being who +created her, and who has called her to himself so early. _We_, alone, +thoroughly understood the beloved creature My dear, excellent father loved +her as he loves me, but he could not, did not know all the rare virtues of +her heart. These could be known only to those who knew her great secret, +and, God be praised! even Rupert has little true knowledge of that." + +"My father has spoken to me of Grace's wish, that he and I should accept +some memorials of the affection she bore us. These were unnecessary, but +are far too sacred to be declined, I sincerely wish that their value, in +gold, had been less, for the hair I possess (some of which is reserved for +you) is far more precious to me, than any diamonds, or stones, could +possibly become. As, however, something must be purchased, or procured, I +have to request that my memorial may be the pearls you gave Grace, on your +return from the Pacific. Of course I do not mean the valuable necklace you +have reserved for one who will one day be still dearer to you than any of +us, but the dozen or two of pearls that you bestowed on your sister, in my +presence, at Clawbonny. They are sufficiently valuable in themselves, to +answer all the purposes of Grace's bequest, and I know they were very much +prized by her, as _your_ gift, dear Miles. I am certain you will not +believe they will be the less valuable in my eyes, on that account. As I +know where they are, I shall go to Clawbonny and take possession of them +at once, so you need give yourself no further concern on account of the +memorial that was to be presented to me. I acknowledge its reception, +unless you object to my proposition." + +I scarce knew what to think of this. I would gladly have bestowed on Lucy +pearls of equal value to those I had given Grace, but she refused to +receive them; and now, she asked for these very pearls, which, +intrinsically, were not half the value of the sum I had informed Mr. +Hardinge Grace had requested me to expend in purchasing a memorial. This +avidity to possess these pearls--for so it struck me--was difficult to +account for, Grace having owned divers other ornaments that were more +costly, and which she had much oftener worn. I confess, I had thought of +attempting to persuade Lucy to receive my own necklace as the memorial of +Grace, but, a little reflection satisfied me of the hopelessness of +success, and nothing had been said on the subject. Of course I acquiesced +in the wish of the dear girl to possess the pearls; but, at the same time, +I determined to make an additional purchase, more thoroughly to carry out +the wishes of my sister. + +On the whole, the letter of Lucy gave me a great and soothing pleasure. I +came to a resolution to answer it, and to send that answer back by the +pilot. I had no owner to feel any solicitude in the movements of the ship; +had no longer a sister to care for myself; and to whom else could my last +words on quitting the land be so appropriately addressed, as to this +constant and true-hearted friend? That much, at least, I could presume to +call Lucy, and even to that I clung as the ship-wrecked mariner clings to +the last plank that floats. + +The fourth letter, to my astonishment, bore the signature of John +Wallingford, and the date of Albany. He had got this far on his way home, +and written me a line to let me know the fact. I copy his epistle in +full, viz:-- + + "Dear Miles, + + "Here I am, and sorry am I to see, by the papers, _there_ you are still. + Recollect, my dear boy, that sugars will melt. It is time you were off: + this is said for your own sake, and not for mine, as you well know I am + amply secured. Still, the markets may fall, and he who is first in them + can wait for a rise, while he who is last must take what offers." + + "Above all, Miles, do not take it into your head to alter your will. + Things are now arranged between us precisely as they should be, and I + hate changes. I am your heir, and you are mine. Your counsel, Richard + Harrison, Esquire, is a man of great respectability, and a perfectly + safe repository of such a secret. I leave many of my papers in his + hands, and he has now been my counsel ever since I had need of one; and + treads so hard on Hamilton's heels, that the last, sometimes feels his + toes. This is as counsel, however, and not as an advocate. + + "Adieu, my dear boy: we are both Wallingfords, and the nearest of kin to + each other, _of the name_. Clawbonny will be safe with either of us, and + either of us will be safe with Clawbonny. + + "Your affectionate cousin, + John Wallingford." + +I confess that all this anxiety about Clawbonny began to give me some +uneasiness, and that I often wished, I had been less ambitious, or less +hasty would be the better word, and had been content to go to sea again, +in my simple character of ship-master, and ship-owner; leaving the +merchant to those who better understood the vocation. + +I now went to the boat, and to the ship. Marble was all ready for me, and +in ten minutes the anchor was clear of the bottom; in ten more, it was +catted and fished, and the Dawn was beating down the bay, on a young +flood, with a light breeze, at south-west. The pilot being in charge, I +had nothing to do but go below, and write my letters. I answered +everybody, even to the Secretary of State, who, at that time, was no less +a man than James Madison. To him, however, I had nothing to say, but to +acknowledge the receipt of the dispatches, and to promise to deliver them. +My letter to Mr. Hardinge, was, I hope, such as a son might have written +to a revered parent. In it, I begged he would allow me to add to his +library, by a purchase of theological works of value, and which, in that +day, could only be procured in Europe. This was to be his memorial of my +sister. I also begged of his friendship an occasional look at Clawbonny, +though I did not venture to speak of the mortgage, of which I now felt a +sort of conviction he would not approve. + +The letter to John Wallingford, was as pithy as his own to me. I told him +my will was made, on a conviction of its perfect propriety, and assured +him it would not be altered in a hurry; I told him the sugars were safe, +and let him understand that they were already on their way to Hamburg, +whence I hoped, ere long, to send him a good account of their sale. + +To Lucy, I was by no means so laconic. On the subject of the pearls of +Grace, I begged her to do just as she pleased; adding a request, however, +that she would select such others of my sister's ornaments, as might be +most agreeable to herself. On this point I was a little earnest, since the +pearls were not worth the sum Grace had mentioned to me; and I felt +persuaded Lucy would not wish me to remain her debtor. There was a pair of +bracelets, in particular, that Grace had highly prized, and which were +very pretty in themselves. My father had purchased the stones--rubies of +some beauty--in one of his voyages, for my mother, who had fancied them +too showy for her to wear. I had caused them to be set for Grace, and they +would make a very suitable ornament for Lucy; and were to be so much the +more prized, from the circumstance, that Grace had once worn them. It is +true, they contained a little, though very little of my hair; for on this +Grace had insisted; but this hair was rather a blemish, and might easily +be removed. I said as much in my letter. + +On the subject of my sister's death, I found it impossible to write much. +The little I did say, however, was in full accordance with her own +feelings, I felt persuaded, and I had no difficulty in believing she would +sympathize in all I did express, and in much that I had not words +to express. + +On the subject of the necklace, I did find language to communicate a +little, though it was done in the part of the letter where a woman is said +to give her real thoughts,--the postscript. In answer to what Lucy had +said on the subject of my own necklace, I wrote as follows, viz:--"You +speak of my reserving the more valuable pearls for one, who, at some +future day, may become my wife. I confess this was my own intention, +originally; and very pleasant was it to me to fancy that one so dear would +wear pearls that had been brought up out of the sea by my own hands. But +dearest Lucy, all these agreeable and delusive anticipations have +vanished. Depend on it, I shall never marry. I know that declarations of +this sort, in young men of three and twenty, like those of maidens of +nineteen, excite a smile oftener than they produce belief; but I do not +say this without reflection, and, I may add, without feeling. She whom I +once did hope to persuade to marry me, although much my friend, is not +accustomed to view me with the eyes that lead to love. We were brought +together under circumstances that have probably induced her to regard me +more as a brother than as a suitor, and while the golden moments have +passed away, her affections have become the property of another. I +resemble, in this particular at least, our regretted Grace, and am not +likely to change. My nature may be sterner, and my constitution stronger, +than those of my poor sister proved to be, but I feel I cannot love twice; +not as I have, and still do love, most certainly. Why should I trouble you +with all this, however? I know you will not accept of the necklace--though +so ready to give me your own last piece of gold, when I went to sea, you +have ever been so fastidious as to refuse every thing from us that had the +least appearance of a pecuniary obligation--and it is useless to say more +about it. I have no right to trouble you with my griefs, especially at a +moment when I know your affectionate heart is suffering so deeply from our +recent loss." + +I will confess that, while writing this, I fancied I was making a sort of +half-declaration to Lucy; one that might, at least, give her some faint +insight into the real state of my heart; and I had a melancholy +satisfaction in thinking that the dear girl might, by these means, learn +how much I had prized and still did prize her. It was only a week later, +while pondering over what I had written, the idea occurred to me that +every syllable I had said would apply just as well to Emily Merton as to +Lucy Hardinge. Peculiar circumstances had made me intimately acquainted +with our young English friend, and these circumstances might well have +produced the very results I had mentioned. We all believed Emily's +affections to be engaged to Rupert, who must have succeeded during my +absence at sea. A modest and self-distrusting nature, like that of Lucy's, +would be very apt to turn to any other than herself in quest of the +original of my picture. + +These letters occupied me for hours. That to Lucy, in particular, was very +long, and it was not written wholly without care. When all were done, and +sealed, and enveloped to the address of the post-master, I went on deck. +The pilot and Marble had not been idle while I had been below, for I +found the ship just weathering the south-west Spit, a position that +enabled me to make a fair wind of it past the Hook and out to sea. + +Certainly I was in no haste to quit home. I was leaving my native land, +Clawbonny, the grave of my sister, and Lucy, dearest Lucy, all behind me; +and, at such an instant, one feels the ties that are about to be +separated. Still, every seaman is anxious for an offing, and glad was I to +see the head of the Dawn pointing in the right direction, with her yards +nearly square, and a fore-top-mast studding-sail set. The pilot was all +activity, and Marble, cool, clear-headed in his duty, and instinctively +acquainted with everything belonging to a vessel, was just the man to +carry out his views to his heart's content. + +The ship went, rising and falling on the swells of the ocean, that now +began to make themselves felt, past the light and the low point of the +Hook within a few minutes after we had squared away, and, once more, the +open ocean lay before us. I could not avoid smiling at Neb, just as we +opened the broad waste of waters, and got an unbroken view of the rolling +ocean to the southward. The fellow was on the main-top-sail yard, having +just run out, and lashed the heel of a top-gallant-studding-sail boom, in +order to set the sail. Before he lay in to the mast, he raised his +Herculean frame, and took a look to windward. His eyes opened, his +nostrils dilated, and I fancied he resembled a hound that scented game in +the gale, as he snuffed the sea-air which came fanning his glistening +face, filled with the salts and peculiar flavours of the ocean. I question +if Neb thought at all of Chloe, for the next hour or two! + +As soon as we got over the bar, I gave the pilot my package, and he got +into his boat. It was not necessary to shorten sail in order to do this, +for the vessel's way did not exceed five knots. + +"Do you see the sail, hereaway in the south-eastern board," said the +pilot, as he went over the side, pointing towards a white speck on the +ocean; "take care of that fellow, and give him as wide a berth as +possible, or he may give you a look at Halifax, or Bermuda." + +"Halifax, or Bermuda! I have nothing to do with either and shall not go +there. Why should I fear that sail?" + +"On account of your cargo, and on account of your men. That is His +Majesty's ship Leander; she has been off here, now, more than a week. The +inward-bound craft say she is acting under some new orders, and they name +several vessels that have been seen heading north-east after she had +boarded them. This new war is likely to lead to new troubles on the coast, +and it is well for all outward-bound ships to be on the look-out." + +"_His Majesty's_ ship" was a singular expression for an American to use, +towards any sovereign, twenty years after the independence of the country +was acknowledged. But, it was common then, nor has it ceased entirely even +among the newspapers of the present hour; so much harder is it to +substitute a new language than to produce a revolution. Notwithstanding +this proof of bad taste in the pilot, I did not disregard his caution. +There had been certain unpleasant rumours, up in town for more than a +month, that the two great belligerents would be apt to push each other +into the old excesses, England and France at that day having such a +monopoly of the ocean as to render them somewhat independent of most of +the old-fashioned notions of the rights of neutrals. As for America, she +was cursed with the cant of economy--an evil that is apt to produce as +many bad consequences as the opposite vice, extravagance. The money paid +as _interest_ on the sums expended in the war of 1812, might have +maintained a navy that would have caused both belligerents to respect her +rights, and thereby saved the principal entirely, to say nothing of all +the other immense losses dependent on an interrupted trade; but demagogues +were at work with their raven throats, and it is not reasonable to expect +that the masses can draw very just distinctions on the subject of remote +interests, when present expenditure is the question immediately before +them. It is true, I remember a modern French logician, who laid down the +dogma that the tendency of democracies being to excesses, if you give a +people the power, they would tax themselves to death; but, however true +this theory may be in the main, it certainly is not true _quoad_ the good +citizens of the great model republic. It was bad enough to be accursed +with a spurious economy; but this was not the heaviest grievance that then +weighed upon the national interests. The demon of faction, party spirit, +was actively at work in the country; and it was almost as rare to find a +citizen who was influenced purely by patriotic and just views, as it would +be to find an honest man in the galleys. The nation, as a rule, was either +English or French. Some swore by the First Consul, and some by Billy Pitt. +As for the commercial towns, taken in connection with the upper classes, +these were little more than so many reflections of English feeling, +exaggerated and rendered still more factitious, by distance. Those who did +not swallow all that the English tories chose to pour down their throats, +took the _pillules Napoleons_ without gagging. If there were exceptions, +they were very few, and principally among travelled men--pilgrims who, by +approaching the respective idols, had discovered they were made by +human hands! + +Impressment at sea, and out of neutral vessels, was revived, as a matter +of course, with the renewal of the war and all American ships felt the +expediency, of avoiding cruisers that might deprive them of their men. +Strange as it may seem, a large and leading class of Americans justified +this claim of the English, as it was practised on board their own +country's vessels! What will not men defend when blinded and excited by +faction? As this practice was to put the mariner on the defensive, and to +assume that every man was an Englishman who could not prove, out on the +ocean, a thousand miles from land perhaps, that he was an American, it +followed that English navy officers exercised a jurisdiction over +foreigners and under a foreign flag, that would not be tolerated in the +Lord High Chancellor himself, in one of the streets of London; that of +throwing the burthen of proving himself innocent, on the accused party! +There was an abundance of other principles that were just as obvious, and +just as unanswerable as this, which were violated by the daily practices +of impressment, but they all produced no effect on the members of Congress +and public writers that sustained the right of the English, who as blindly +espoused one side of the main question as their opponents espoused the +other. Men acting under the guidance of factions are not _compos mentis_. + +I think I may say, without boasting unreasonably of my own good sense, +that I have kept myself altogether aloof from the vortex of parties, from +boyhood to the present hour. My father had been a federalist, but a +federalist a good deal cooled off, from having seen foreign countries, and +no attempts had ever been made to make me believe that black was white in +the interest of either faction. I knew that impressment from foreign +vessels, out of the waters of Great Britain at least, could be defended on +no other ground but that of power; and as for colonial produce, and all +the subtleties that were dependent on its transportation, I fancied that a +neutral had a perfect right to purchase of one belligerent and sell to +another, provided he found it his interest so to do, and he violated no +positive--not paper--blockade, or did not convey articles that are called +contraband of war. + +With these views, then, it is not surprising that I easily came into the +pilot's opinion, and determined to give the Leander a sufficient berth, as +sailors express it. + +The Leander was a fifty, on two decks, a very silly sort of a craft; +though she had manfully played her part at the Nile, and on one or two +other rather celebrated occasions, and was a good vessel of the build. +Still, I felt certain the Dawn could get away from her, under tolerably +favourable circumstances, The Leander afterwards became notorious, on the +American coast, in consequence of a man killed in a coaster by one of her +shot, within twenty miles of the spot where I now saw her; an event that +had its share in awakening the feeling that produced the war of 1812; a +war of which the effects are just beginning to be made manifest in the +policy of the republic: a fact, by-the-way, that is little understood, at +home or abroad. The Leander was a fast ship of her kind, but the Dawn was +a fast ship of any kind; and I had great faith in her. It is true, the +fifty had the advantage of the wind; but she was a long way off, well to +the southward, and might have something in sight that could not be seen +even from our top-gallant yards, whither Neb was sent to take a look at +the horizon. + +Our plan was soon laid. The south side of Long Island trending a little to +the north of east, I ordered the ship to be steered east by south, which, +with the wind at south-south-west, gave me an opportunity to carry all +our studding-sails. The soundings were as regular as the ascent on the +roof of a shed, or on that of a graded lawn; and the land in sight less +than two leagues distant. In this manner we ran down the coast, with about +six knots' way on the ship, as soon as we got from under the Jersey shore. + +In less than an hour, or when we were about four leagues from Sandy Hook +Light, the Englishman wore short round, and made sail to cut us off. By +this time, he was just forward of our weather beam, a position that did +not enable him to carry studding-sails on both sides; for, had he kept off +enough for this, he would have fallen into our wake; while, by edging away +to close with us, his after-sails becalmed the forward, and this at the +moment when every thing of ours pulled like a team of well-broken +cart-horses. Notwithstanding all this, we had a nervous afternoon's and +night's work of it. These old fifties are great travellers off the wind; +and more than once I fancied the Leander was going to lay across my bows, +as she did athwart those of the Frenchman, at the Nile. The Dawn, however, +was not idle, and, as the wind stood all that day, throughout the night, +and was fresher, though more to the southward, than it had hitherto been, +next morning, I had the satisfaction of seeing Montauk a little on my +lee-bow, at sunrise, while my pursuer was still out of gun-shot on my +weather beam. + +Marble and I now held a consultation on the subject of the best mode of +proceeding. I was half disposed to let the Leander come up, and send a +boat on board us. What had we to fear? We were bound to Hamburg, with a +cargo, one half of which came from the English, while the other half came +from French islands.--But what of that? Marble, however, would not listen +to such a project. He affirmed that he was a good pilot in all the sounds, +and that it would be better to risk everything, rather than let that fifty +close with us. + +"Keep the ship away, for Montauk, sir," exclaimed the mate--"keep her away +for Montauk, and let that chap follow us if he dare! There's a reef or +two, inside, that I'll engage to lead him on, should he choose to try the +game, and that will cure him of his taste for chasing a Yankee." + +"Will you engage, Moses, to carry the ship over the shoals, if I will do +as you desire, and go inside?" + +"I'll carry her into any port, east of Block Island, Cap tain +Wallingford. Though New York born, as it now turns out, I'm 'down east' +edicated, and have got a 'coasting pilot' of my own in my head." + +This settled the matter, and I came to the resolution to stand on. + + + + + +Chapter XII. + + + + "The wind blows fair, the vessel feels + The pressure of the rising breeze, + And, swiftest of a thousand keels + She leaps to the careering seas--" + + Willis. + + +Half an hour later, things drew near a crisis. We had been obliged to luff +a little, in order to clear a reef that even Marble admitted lay off +Montauk, while the Leander had kept quite as much away, with a view to +close. This brought the fifty so near us, directly on our weather beam, as +to induce her commander to try the virtue of gunpowder. Her bow-gun was +fired, and its shot, only a twelve-pounder, richochèd until it fairly +passed our fore-foot, distant a hundred yards, making its last leap from +the water precisely in a line with the stem of the Dawn. This was +unequivocal evidence that the game could not last much longer, unless the +space between the two vessels should be sensibly widened. Fortunately, we +now opened Montauk fort, and the option was offered us of doubling that +point, and entering the sound, or of standing oh towards Block Island, and +putting the result on our heels. After a short consultation with Marble, I +decided on the first. + +One of the material advantages possessed by a man-of-war in a chase with a +merchant vessel, is in the greater velocity with which her crew can make +or take in sail. I knew that the moment we began to touch our braces, +tacks and sheets, that the Leander would do the same, and that she would +effect her objects in half the time in which we could effect ours. +Nevertheless, the thing was to be done, and we set about the preparations +with care and assiduity. It was a small matter to round in our weather +braces, until the yards were nearly square, but the rigging out of her +studding-sail booms, and the setting of the sails, was a job to occupy the +Dawn's people several minutes. Marble suggested that by edging gradually +away, we should bring the Leander so far on our quarter as to cause the +after-sails to conceal what we were about forward, and that we might steal +a march on our pursuers by adopting this precaution. I thought the +suggestion a good one, and the necessary orders were given to carry +it out. + +Any one might be certain that the Englishman's glasses were levelled on us +the whole time. Some address was used, therefore, in managing to get our +yards in without showing the people at the braces. This was done by +keeping off first, and then by leading the ropes as far forward as +possible, and causing the men to haul on them, seated on deck. In this +manner we got our yards nearly square, or as much in as our new course +required, when we sent hands aloft, forward, to get out the lee booms. But +we reckoned without our host. John Bull was not to be caught in that way. +The hands were hardly in the lee fore rigging, before I saw the fifty +falling off to our course, her yards squared, and signs aboard her that +she had larboard studding sails as well as ourselves. The change of course +had one good effect, however: it brought our pursuer so far on our +quarter, that, standing at the capstan, I saw him through the mizen +rigging. This took the Dawn completely from under the Leander's broadside, +leaving us exposed to merely four or five of her forward guns, should she +see fit to use them. Whether the English were reluctant to resort to such +very decided means of annoyance, so completely within the American waters, +as we were clearly getting to be, or whether they had so much confidence +in their speed, as to feel no necessity for firing, I never knew; but they +did not have any further recourse to shot. + +As might have been foreseen, the fifty had her extra canvass spread some +time before we could open ours, and I fancied she showed the advantage +thus obtained in her rate of sailing. She certainly closed with us, though +we closed much faster with the land: still, there was imminent danger of +her overhauling us before we could round the point, unless some decided +step were promptly taken to avoid it. + +"On the whole, Mr. Marble," I said, after my mates and myself had taken a +long and thoughtful look at the actual state of things--"On the whole, Mr. +Marble, it may be well to take in our light sails, haul our wind, and let +the man-of-war come up with us. We are honest folk, and there is little +risk in his seeing all we have to show him." + +"Never think of it!" cried the mate. "After this long pull, the fellow +will be as savage as a bear with a sore head. He'd not leave a hand on +board us, that can take his trick at the wheel; and it's ten chances to +one that he would send the ship to Halifax, under some pretence or other, +that the sugars are not sweet enough, or that the coffee was grown in a +French island, and tastes French. No--no--Captain Wallingford--here's +the wind at sou'-sou'-west, and we're heading nothe-east, +and-by-nothe-half-nothe already, with that fellow abaft the mizen riggin'; +as soon as we get a p'int more to the nor'ard, we'll have him fairly in +our wake." + +"Ay, that will do very well as a theory, but what can we make of it in +practice? We are coming up towards Montauk at the rate of eight knots, and +you have told me yourself there is a reef off that point, directly towards +which we must this moment be standing. At this rate, fifteen minutes might +break us up into splinters." + +I could see that Marble was troubled, by the manner in which he rolled his +tobacco about, and the riveted gaze he kept on the water ahead. I had the +utmost confidence in his seaman-like prudence and discretion, while I knew +he was capable of suggesting anything a ship could possibly perform, in an +emergency that called for such an exercise of decision. At that moment, he +forgot our present relations, and went back, as he often did when excited, +to the days of our greater equality, and more trying scenes. + +"Harkee, Miles," he said, "the reef is dead ahead of us, but, there is a +passage between it and the point. I went through that passage in the +revvylution-war, in chase of an English West Injyman, and stood by the +lead the whole way, myself. Keep her away, Neb--keep her away, another +pint: so--steady--very well, dyce (anglice, thus)--keep her so, and let +John Bull follow us, if he dare." + +"You should be very sure of your channel, Mr. Marble," I said gravely, "to +take so much responsibility on yourself. Remember my all is embarked in +this ship, and the insurance will not be worth a sixpence, if we are lost +running through such a place as this in broad daylight. Reflect a moment, +I beg of you, if not certain of what you do." + +"And what will the insurance be worth, ag'in Halifax, or Bermuda? I'll put +my life on the channel, and would care more for _your_ ship, Miles, than +my own. If you love me, stand on, and let us see if that lubberly +make-believe two-decker dare follow." + +I was fain to comply, though I ran a risk that I find impossible, now, to +justify to myself. I had my cousin John Wallingford's property in charge, +as well as my own, or what was quite as bad, I placed Clawbonny in +imminent jeopardy. Still, my feelings were aroused, and to the excitement +of a race, was added the serious but vague apprehensions all American +seamen felt, in that day, of the great belligerents. It is a singular +proof of human justice, that the very consequences of these apprehensions +are made matter of reproach against them. + +It is not my intention to dwell further on the policy of England and +France, during their great contest for superiority, than is necessary to +the narrative of events connected with my own adventures; but a word in +behalf of American seamen in passing, may not be entirely out of place or +season. Men are seldom wronged without being calumniated, and the body of +men of which I was then one, did not escape that sort of reparation for +all the grievances they endured, which is dependent on demonstrating that +the injured deserve their sufferings. We have been accused of misleading +English cruisers by false information, of being liars to an unusual +degree, and of manifesting a grasping love of gold, beyond the ordinary +cupidity of man. Now, I will ask our accusers, if it were at all +extraordinary that they who felt themselves daily aggrieved, should resort +to the means within their power to avenge themselves? As for veracity, no +one who has reached my present time of life, can be ignorant that truth is +the rarest thing in the world, nor are those who have been the subjects +of mystifications got up in payment for wrongs, supposed or real, the most +impartial judges of character or facts. As for the charge of an undue love +of money, it is unmerited. Money will do less in America than in any other +country of my acquaintance, and infinitely less than in either France or +England. There is truth in this accusation, as applied either to a +particular class, or to the body of the American people, only in one +respect. It is undeniable that, as a new nation, with a civilization that +is wanting in so many of its higher qualities, while it is already so far +advanced in those which form the basis of national greatness, money does +not meet with the usual competition among us. The institutions, too, by +dispensing with hereditary consideration, do away with a leading and +prominent source of distinction that is known to other systems, thus +giving to riches an exclusive importance, that is rather apparent, +however, than real. I acknowledge, that little or no consideration is yet +given among us to any of the more intellectual pursuits, the great bulk of +the nation regarding literary men, artists, even professional men, as so +many public servants, that are to be used like any other servants, +respecting them and their labours only as they can contribute to the great +stock of national wealth and renown. This is owing, in part, to the youth +of a country in which most of the material foundation was so recently to +be laid, and in part to the circumstance that men, being under none of the +factitious restraints of other systems, coarse and vulgar-minded +declaimers make themselves heard and felt to a degree that would not be +tolerated elsewhere. Notwithstanding all these defects, which no +intelligent, and least of all, no travelled American should or can justly +deny, I will maintain that gold is not one tittle more the goal of the +American, than it is of the native of other active and energetic +communities. It is true, there is little _besides_ gold, just now, to aim +at in this country, but the great number of young men who devote +themselves to letters and the arts, under such unfavourable circumstances, +a number greatly beyond the knowledge of foreign nations, proves it is +circumstances, and not the grovelling propensities of the people +themselves, that give gold a so nearly undisputed ascendency. The great +numbers who devote themselves to politics among us, certainly any thing +but a money-making pursuit, proves that it is principally the want of +other avenues to distinction that renders gold apparently the sole aim of +American existence. To return from this touch of philosophy to our ships. + +The progress of the Dawn soon left us no choice in the course to be +steered. We could see by the charts that the reef was already outside of +us, and there was now no alternative between going ashore, or going +through Marble's channel. We succeeded in the last, gaining materially on +the Leander by so doing, the Englishman hauling his wind when he thought +himself as near to the danger as was prudent, and giving up the chase. I +ran on to the northward an hour longer, when, finding our pursuer was hull +down to the southward and westward, I took in our larboard studding-sails, +and brought the ship by the wind, passing out to sea again, to the +eastward of Block Island. + +Great was the exultation on board the Dawn at this escape; for escape it +proved to be. Next morning, at sunrise, we saw a sail a long distance to +the westward, which we supposed to be the Leander; but she did not give +chase. Marble and the people were delighted at having given John Bull the +slip; while I learned caution from the occurrence; determining not to let +another vessel of war get near enough to trouble me again, could I +possibly prevent it. + +From this time, for twenty days, the passage of the Dawn had nothing +unusual. We crossed the Banks in forty-six, and made as straight a course +for the western extremity of England, as the winds would allow. For +several days, I was uncertain whether to go north-about, or not, believing +that I should fall in with fewer cruisers by doubling Scotland, than by +running up channel. The latter was much the nearest route; though so much +depends on the winds, that I determined to let these last govern. Until we +had made two-thirds of our distance across the ocean, the winds had stood +very much at south-west; and, though we had no heavy weather, our progress +was good; but in 20° east from Greenwich, we got north-easters, and our +best tack being the larboard, I stood for ten days to the southward and +eastward. This brought us into the track of every thing going to, or +coming from, the Mediterranean; and, had we stood on far enough, we +should have made the land somewhere in the Bay of Biscay. I knew we should +find the ocean dotted with English cruisers, however, as soon as we got +into the European waters, and we tacked to the north-west, when about a +hundred leagues from the land. + +The thirty-third day out proved one of great importance to me. The wind +had shifted to south-west, and it was blowing fresh, with very thick +weather--rain, mingled with a fine mist, that often prevented one's seeing +a quarter of a mile from the ship. The change occurred at midnight, and +there was every prospect of the wind's standing until it shoved us into +the chops of the channel, from which we were then distant about four +hundred miles, according to my own calculation. Marble had the watch at +four o'clock, and he sent for me, that I might decide on the course to be +steered and the sail to be carried. The course was N. N. East; but, as for +the sail, I determined to stand on under our top-sails and fore-course, +spanker and jib, until I could get a look by daylight. When the sun was +fairly up, there was no change, and I gave orders to get along some of the +larger studding-sails, and to set the main-top-gallant sail, having my +doubts whether the spars would bear any more canvass, under the stiff +breeze that was blowing. + +"This is no great distance from the spot where we surprised the Lady of +Nantes, Captain Wallingford," Marble observed to me, as I stood +overlooking the process of bending a fore-top-mast studding-sail, in which +he was engaged with his own hands; "nor was the weather any thicker then +than it is now, though that was a haze, and this is a mist." + +"You are out of your longitude a few hundred miles, Master Moses, but the +comparison is well enough, otherwise. We have twice the wind and sea we +had then, moreover, and that was dry weather, while this is, to speak more +gingerly, a little moist." + +"Ay, ay, sir; there is just that difference. Them were pleasant days, +Captain Wallingford--I say nothing ag'in these--but them 'ere _were_ +pleasant times, as all in the Crisis must allow." + +"Perhaps we shall think the same of these some five or six years hence." + +"Well, that's natur', I must confess. It's amazing how the last v'yge +hangs in a man's memory, and how little we think of the present! I suppose +the Lord made us all of this disposition, for it's sartain we all manifest +it. Come, bear a hand Neb, on that fore-yard, and let us see the length of +the stun-sail boom." + +But, Neb, contrary to his habits, stood upright on the yard, holding on by +the lift, and looking over the weather leach of the top-sail, apparently at +some object that either was just then visible, or which had just before +been visible. + +"What is it?" cried Marble, struck with the black's attitude and manner. +"What d'ye see?" + +"I don't see him now, sir; nuttin' now; but dere _was_ a ship." + +"Where-away?" I demanded. + +"Off, here, Masser Mile--larboard bow, well forrard; look sharp and soon +see him, yourself, sir." + +Sharp enough we did look, all hands of us on deck, and, in less than a +minute, we caught a pretty good view of the stranger from the forecastle. +He might have been visible to us half a minute, in one of those momentary +openings in the mist, that were constantly occurring, and which enabled +the eye to command a range around the ship of half a mile, losing it +again, however, almost as soon as it was obtained. Notwithstanding the +distance of time, I can perfectly recall the appearance of that vessel, +seen as she was, for a moment only, and seen too so unexpectedly. It was a +frigate, as frigates then were; or a ship of that medium size between a +heavy sloop-of-war and a two-decker, which, perhaps, offers the greatest +proportions for activity and force. We plainly saw her cream-coloured, or +as it is more usual to term it, her _yellow_ streak, dotted with fourteen +ports, including the bridle, and gleaming brightly in contrast to the dark +and glistening hull, over which the mist and the spray of the ocean cast a +species of sombre lustre. The stranger was under his three top-sails, +spanker and jib, each of the former sails being double reefed. His courses +were in the brails. As the wind did not blow hard enough to bring a vessel +of any size to more than one reef, even on a bow-line, this short canvass +proved that the frigate was on her cruising ground, and was roaming about +in quest of anything that might offer. This was just the canvass to give a +cruiser a wicked look, since it denoted a lazy preparation, which might, +in an instant, be improved into mischief. As all cruising vessels, when on +their stations doing nothing, reef at night, and the hour was still early, +it was possible we had made this ship before her captain, or +first-lieutenant, had made his appearance on deck. There she was, at all +events, dark, lustrous, fair in her proportions, her yards looming square +and symmetrical, her canvass damp, but stout and new, the copper bright as +a tea-kettle, resembling a new cent, her hammock-cloths with the undress +appearance this part of a vessel of war usually offers at night, and her +quarter-deck and forecastle guns frowning through the lanyards of her +lower rigging like so many slumbering bull-dogs muzzled in their kennels. + +The frigate was on an easy bow-line, or, to speak more correctly, was +standing directly across our fore-foot, with her yards nearly square. In a +very few minutes, each keeping her present course, the two ships would +have passed within pistol-shot of each other. I scarce knew the nature of +the sudden impulse which induced me to call out to the man at the wheel to +starboard his helm. It was probably from instinctive apprehension that it +were better for a neutral to have as little to do with a belligerent as +possible, mingled with a presentiment that I might lose some of my people +by impressment. Call out I certainly did, and the Dawn's bows came up to +the wind, looking to the westward, or in a direction contrary to that in +which the frigate was running, as her yards were square, or nearly so. As +soon as the weather leeches touched, the helm was righted, and away we +went with the wind abeam, with about as much breeze as we wanted for the +sail we carried. + +The Dawn might have been half a mile to windward of the frigate when this +manoeuvre was put in execution. We were altogether ignorant whether our +own ship had been seen; but the view we got of the stranger satisfied us +that he was an Englishman. Throughout the whole of the long wars that +succeeded the French Revolution, the part of the ocean which lay off the +chops of the channel was vigilantly watched by the English, and it was +seldom, indeed, a vessel could go over it, without meeting more or less of +their cruisers. + +I was not without a hope that the two ships would pass each other, +without our being seen. The mist became very thick just as we hauled up, +and, had this change of course taken place after we were shut in, the +chances were greatly in favour of its being effected. Once distant a mile +from the frigate, there was little danger of her getting a glimpse of us, +since, throughout all that morning, I was satisfied we had not got an +horizon with that much of diameter. + +As a matter of course, the preparations with the studding-sails were +suspended. Neb was ordered to lay aloft, as high as the cross-trees, and +to keep a vigilant look-out, while all eyes on deck were watching as +anxiously, in the mist, as we had formerly watched for the shadowy outline +of _la Dame de Nantes_. Marble's long experience told him best where to +look, and he caught the next view of the frigate. She was directly under +our lee, gliding easily along under the same canvass; the reefs still in, +the courses in the brails, and the spanker rolled up, as it had been for +the night. + +"By George," cried the mate, "all them Johnny Bulls are still asleep, and +they haven't seen us! If we can give this fellow the slip, as we did the +old Leander, Captain Wallingford, the Dawn will become as famous as the +Flying Dutchman! See, there he jogs on, as if going to mill, or to church, +and no more stir aboard him than there is in a Quaker meetin'! How my good +old soul of a mother would enjoy this!" + +There the frigate went, sure enough, without the smallest sign of any +alarm having been given on board her. The vessels had actually passed each +other, and the mist was thickening again. Presently, the veil was drawn, +and the form of that beautiful ship was entirely hid from sight. Marble +rubbed his hands with delight; and all our people began to joke at the +expense of the Englishman. 'If a merchantman could see a man-of-war,' it +was justly enough said, 'a man-of-war ought certainly to see a +merchantman.' Her look-outs must have all been asleep, or it would not +have been possible for us to pass so near, under the canvass we carried, +and escape undiscovered. Most of the Dawn's crew were native Americans, +though there were four or five Europeans among them. Of these last, one +was certainly an Englishman, and (as I suspected) a deserter from a +public ship; and the other, beyond all controversy, was a plant of the +Emerald Isle. These two men were particularly delighted, though well +provided with those veracious documents called protections, which, like +beggars' certificates, never told anything but truth; though, like +beggars' certificates, they not unfrequently fitted one man as well as +another. It was the well-established laxity in the character of this +testimony, that gave the English officers something like a plausible +pretext for disregarding all evidence in the premises. Their mistake was +in supposing they had a right to make a man prove anything on board a +foreign ship; while that of America was, in permitting her citizens to be +arraigned before foreign judges, under any conceivable circumstances. If +England wanted her own men, let her keep them within her own jurisdiction; +not attempt to follow them into the jurisdiction of neutral states. + +Well, the ship had passed; and I began myself to fancy that we were quit +of a troublesome neighbour, when Neb came down the rigging, in obedience +to an order from the mate. + +"Relieve the wheel, Master Clawbonny," said Marble, who often gave the +negro his patronymic, "we may want some of your touches, before we reach +the foot of the danse. Which way was John Bull travelling when you +last saw him?" + +"He goin' eastward, sir."--Neb was never half as much "nigger" at sea, as +when he was on shore,--there being something in his manly calling that +raised him nearer to the dignity of white men.--"But, sir, he was gettin' +his people ready to make sail." + +"How do you know that?--No such thing, sir; all hands were asleep, taking +their second naps." + +"Well, you see, Misser Marble; den you _know_, sir." + +Neb grinned as he said this; and I felt persuaded he had seen something +that he understood, but which very possibly he could not explain; though +it clearly indicated that John Bull was not asleep. We were not left long +in doubt on this head. The mist opened again, and, distant from us about +three-quarters of a mile, bearing on our lee quarter, we got another look +at the frigate, and a look that satisfied everybody what she was about. +The Englishman was in stays, in the very act of hauling his head-yards, a +certain sign he was a quick and sure-working fellow, since this manoeuvre +had been performed against a smart sea, and under double-reefed top-sails. +He must have made us, just as we lost sight of him, and was about to shake +out his reefs. + +On this occasion, the frigate may have been visible from our decks three +minutes. I watched all her movements, as the cat watches the mouse. In the +first place her reefs were shaken out, as the ship's bows fell off far +enough to get the sea on the right side of them, and her top-sails appeared +to me to be mast-headed by instinct, or as the bird extends its wings. The +fore and main-top-gallant sails were fluttering in the breeze at this very +moment,--it blew rather too fresh for the mizen,--and then their bosoms +were distended, and their bow-lines hauled. How the fore and main-tacks got +aboard I could not tell, though it was done while my eyes were on the +upper sails. I caught a glimpse of the fore-sheet, however, as the clew +was first flapping violently, and then was brought under the restraint of +its own proper, powerful purchase. The spanker had been hauled out +previously, to help the ship in tacking. + +There was no mistaking all this. We were seen, and chased; everything on +board the frigate being instantly and accurately trimmed, "full and by." +She looked up into our wake, and I knew must soon overtake a heavily-laden +ship like the Dawn, in the style in which she was worked and handled. +Under the circumstances, therefore, I motioned Marble to follow me aft, +where we consulted together, touching our future proceedings. I confess I +was disposed to shorten sail, and let the cruiser come alongside; but +Marble, as usual, was for holding on. + +"We are bound to Hamburg," said the mate, "which lies, hereaway, on our +lee-beam, and no man has a right to complain of our steering our course. +The mist has shut the frigate in again, and, it being very certain he will +overhaul us on a bow-line, I advise you, Miles, to lay the yards perfectly +square, edge away two points more, and set the weather stun'-sails. If we +do not open John very soon again, we may be off three or four miles to +leeward before he learns where we are, and then, you know, a +'starn-chase' is always a 'long-chase.'" + +This was good advice, and I determined to follow it. It blew rather fresh +at the instant, and the Dawn began to plunge through the seas at a famous +rate as soon as she felt the drag of the studding-sails. We were now +running on a course that made an obtuse angle with that of the frigate, +and there was the possibility of so far increasing our distance as to get +beyond the range of the openings of the mist, ere our expedient were +discovered. So long did the density of the atmosphere continue, indeed, +that my hopes were beginning to be strong, just as one of our people +called out "the frigate!" This time she was seen directly astern of us, +and nearly two miles distant! Such had been our gain, that ten minutes +longer would have carried us clear. As we now saw her, I felt certain she +would soon see us, eyes being on the look-out on board her, beyond a +question. Nevertheless, the cruiser was still on a bow-line, standing on +the course on which we had been last seen. + +This lasted but a moment, however. Presently the Englishman's bow fell +off, and by the time he was dead before the wind, we could see his +studding-sails flapping in the air, as they were in the act of being +distended, by means of halyards, tacks and sheets, all going at once. The +mist shut in the ship again before all this could be executed. What was to +be done next? Marble said, as we were not on our precise course, it might +serve a good turn to bring the wind on our starboard quarter, set all the +studding-sails we could carry on the same side, and run off +east-north-east: I inclined to this opinion, and the necessary changes +were made forthwith. The wind and mist increased, and away we went, on a +diverging line from the course of the Englishman, at the rate of quite ten +knots in the hour. This lasted fully forty minutes, and all hands of us +fancied we had at last given the cruiser the slip. Jokes and chuckling +flew about among the men, as usual, and everybody began to feel as happy +as success could make us, when the dark veil lifted at the south-west; the +sun was seen struggling through the clouds, the vapour dispersed, and +gradually the whole curtain which had concealed the ocean throughout that +morning arose, extending the view around the ship, little by little, +until nothing limited it but the natural horizon. + +The anxiety with which we watched this slow rising of the curtain need +scarcely be described. Every eye was turned eagerly in the direction in +which its owner expected to find the frigate, and great was our +satisfaction as mile after mile opened in the circle around us, without +bringing her beautiful proportions within its range. But this could not +last for ever, there not being sufficient time to carry so large a vessel +over the curvature of the ocean's surface. As usual, Marble saw her first. +She had fairly passed to leeward of us, and was quite two leagues distant, +driving ahead with the speed of a race-horse. With a clear horizon, an +open ocean, a stiff breeze, and hours of daylight, it was hopeless to +attempt escape from as fast a vessel as the stranger, and I now determined +to put the Dawn on her true course, and trust altogether to the goodness +of my cause: heels being out of the question. The reader who will do me +the favour to peruse the succeeding chapter, will learn the result of this +resolution. + + + +Chapter XIII. + + + + "Whom have we here? Buckingham, to disturb + The King hath sent him, sure: I must dissemble." + + _King Henry VI_. + + +At first, the frigate took single reefs in her top-sails, set +topgallant-sails over them, and hauled up on taut bow-lines. But seeing no +signs of our studding-sails coming down, she shook out her reefs, squared +her yards, set top-mast studding-sails, and kept off to a course that would +be certain to intercept us. She was up on our line of sailing some little +time before we got down to her, and she kept standing off and on, hauling +up her courses, and furling her topgallant-sails and hauling down all of +her light sails, the jib excepted As for the Dawn, she kept steadily on, +carrying everything she could bear. We had top-mast and lower +studding-sails, and not a tack or sheet had been touched when we got +within a quarter of a mile of the frigate. The Englishman now showed his +colours, when we let him see the stars and stripes. Still no sail was +touched on board us. As if surprised at our obstinacy, John Bull let fly a +chase-gun, taking good care not to send the shot very near us. I thought +it time, now, to shorten sail and to pretend to see him. We began to haul +down our studding-sails, merchant-fashion, and were fairly alongside of +the frigate before even this preliminary step to heaving-to was effected. +As we approached, the frigate bore up, and ran off in company with us, +keeping a hundred fathoms distance from us, and watching us closely. At +this instant, I ordered the topgallant-sails settled on the caps, as a +sign we intended to let him board us. + +At length, having reduced the sail to the three top-sails, reefed, I +hove-to the Dawn, and waited for a visit from the Englishman's boat. As +soon as the frigate saw us fairly motionless, she shot up on our weather +quarter, half a cable's length distant, swung her long, saucy-looking +yards, and lay-to herself. At the same instant her lee-quarter boat +dropped into the water, with the crew in it, a boy of a mid-shipman +scrambled down the ship's side and entered it also, a lieutenant followed, +when away the cockle of a thing swept on the crest of a sea, and was soon +pulling round under our stern. I stood on the lee quarter, examining my +visiters, as they struggled against the swell, in order to get a boat-hook +into our main chains. The men were like any other man-of-war's men, neat, +sturdy, and submissive in air. The reefer was a well-dressed boy, +evidently a gentleman's son; but the lieutenant was one of those old +weather-beaten sea-dogs, who are seldom employed in boats, unless +something more than common is to be done. He was a man of forty, +hard-featured, pock-marked, red-faced, and scowling. I afterwards +ascertained he was the son of some underling about the Portsmouth +dock-yard, who had worked his way up to a lieutenancy, and owed his +advancement principally to his readiness in impressing seamen. His name +was Sennit. + +We threw Mr. Sennit a rope, as a matter of course, and Marble met him at +the gangway with the usual civilities. I was amused with the meeting +between these men, who had strictly that analogy to each other which is +well described as "diamond cut diamond." Each was dogmatical, positive, +and full of nautical conceit, in his own fashion; and each hated the +other's country as heartily as man could hate, while both despised +Frenchmen. But Sennit knew a mate from a master, at a glance; and, without +noticing Marble's sea-bow, a slight for which Marble did not soon forgive +him, he walked directly aft to me, not well pleased, as I thought, that a +ship-master had neglected to be at the gangway to meet a sea lieutenant. + +"Your servant, sir," commenced Mr. Sennit, condescending to notice my bow; +"your servant, sir; I suppose we owe the pleasure of your company, just +now, to the circumstance of the weather's clearing." + +This sounded hostile from the go off; and I was determined to give as good +as I received. + +"Quite likely, sir," was my answer, uttered as coolly as I could speak--"I +do not think you got much the advantage, as long as there was +thick weather." + +"Ay, you 're a famous fellow at hide and go seek, and I do not doubt would +make a long chase in a dark night. But his Majesty's ship, Speedy, is not +to be dodged by a Yankee." + +"So it would seem, sir, by your present success." + +"Men seldom run away without there is a cause for it. It's my business to +find out the reason why you have attempted it; so, sir, I will thank you +for the name of your ship, to begin with?" + +"The Dawn, of New York." + +"Ay, full-blooded Yankee--I knew you were New England, by your tricks." + +"New York is not in New England; nor do _we_ call a New York ship, a +Yankee," put in Marble. + +"Ay, ay--if one were to believe all you mates from the t' other side, say, +he would soon fancy that King George held his throne by virtue of a +commission from President Washington." + +"President Washington is dead, Heaven bless him!" retorted Marble--"and +if one were to believe half of what you English say, he would soon fancy +that President Jefferson held his office as one of King George's +waiting men." + +I made a sign for Marble to be silent, and intimated to the lieutenant I +was ready to answer any further inquiries he wished to make. Sennit did +not proceed, however, without giving a significant look at the mate, which +to me, seemed to say, "I have pressed a mate in my time." + +"Well, sir, the Dawn, of New York," he continued, noting the name in his +pocket-book--"How are you called yourself?" + +"The Dawn, of New York, Miles Wallingford, master." + +"Miles Wallingford, master. Where from, whither bound, and with what +laden?" + +"From New York; bound to Hamburg; cargo sugars, coffee, and cochineal." + +"A very valuable cargo, sir," observed Mr. Sennit, a little drily. "I +wish for your sake, it had been going to any other part of the world, as +this last war has sent the French into that part of Germany, and Hamburg +is suspected of being rather too much under Boney's influence." + +"And were we bound to Bordeaux, sir, what power have you to stop a +neutral, at this distance at sea?" + +"If you put it on _power_, Mr. Wallingford, you depend on a crutch that +will betray you. We have power enough to eat you, should that be +necessary--I suppose you mean _right."_ + +"I shall not dispute with you, sir, about words." + +"Well, to prove to you that I am as amicably disposed as yourself, I will +say no more on the subject. With your permission, I will now examine your +papers; and to show you that I feel myself among friends, I will first +send my own boat back to the Speedy." + +I was infinitely disgusted with this man's manner. It had the vulgar sort +of witticism about even his air, that he so much affected in his speech; +the whole being deformed by a species of sly malignancy, that rendered him +as offensive as he seemed to me to be dangerous. I could not refuse to let +a belligerent look at my papers, however, and went below to get them, +while Sennit gave some private orders to his reefer, and sent him away to +the frigate. + +While on this subject, the reader must excuse an old man's propensity to +gossip, if I say a word on the general question of the right of search. As +for the pretence that was set up by some of the advocates of impressment +out of neutral ships, which laid down the position, that the belligerent +being on board in the exercise of an undoubted right to inquire into the +character of the ship and cargo, he took with him the right to lay hands +on all the subjects of his own sovereign he might happen to find there, it +is not worthy of a serious reply. Because a man has a right to take the +step preliminary to the discharge of an admitted power, as an incident of +that power, it does not follow that he can make the incident a principle, +and convert it into a justification of acts, unlawful in themselves. On +this head, therefore, I shall say nothing, holding it to be beyond dispute +among those who are competent to speak on the subject at all. But the +abuse of that admitted power to board and ascertain the character of a +ship, has created so lively a feeling in us Americans, as to induce us to +forego some of the wholesome principles that are necessary to the +well-being of all civilized nations. It is thus, in my judgment, that we +have quite recently and erroneously laid down the doctrine that foreign +vessels of war shall not board American ships on the coast of Africa, in a +time of peace, in order to ascertain their character. + +On this subject I intend to speak plainly. In the first place, I lay no +claim to that spurious patriotism which says, "our country, right or +wrong." This may do for the rabble; but it will not do for God, to whom +our first and highest obligations are due. Neither country, nor man, can +justify that which is wrong; and I conceive it to be wrong, in a political +if not in a moral sense, to deny a vessel of war the privilege which +England here claims. I can see but one plausible argument against it, and +that is founded on the abuses which may arise from the practice. But it +will not do to anticipate abuses in this instance, more than in any other. +Every right, whether national or international, may be abused in its +exercise; and the argument, if good for anything, is as good against every +other right of international law, as it is against this. Abuse, after it +has occurred, might be a justifiable reason for suspending the exercise of +an admitted right, until some remedies were applied to prevent their +recurrence, but it can never be urged as a proper argument against the +right itself. If abuses occur, we can get them remedied by proper +representations; and, if these last fail, we have the usual appeal of +nations. As well might it be said, the law of the land shall not be +administered, because the sheriff's officers are guilty of abuses, as to +say the law of nations shall cease because we apprehend that certain +commercial rivalries may induce others to transcend them. When the wrong +is done, it will be time enough to seek the remedy. + +That it is the right of a vessel of war to ascertain the character of a +ship at sea, is dependent on her right to arrest a pirate, for instance. +In what manner can this be done, if a pirate can obtain impunity, by +simply hoisting the flag of some other country, which the cruiser is +obliged to respect? All that the latter asks is the power to ascertain if +that flag is not an imposition; and this much every regularly commissioned +public ship should be permitted to do, in the interests of civilization, +and in maintenance of the police of the seas. + +The argument on the other side goes the length of saying, that a public +cruiser is in the situation of a sheriff's officer on shore, who is +compelled to arrest his prisoner on his own responsibility. In the first +place, it may be questioned if the dogma of the common law which asserts +the privilege of the citizen to conceal his name, is worthy of a truly +enlightened political freedom. It must not be forgotten that liberty first +took the aspect of franchises, in which men sought protection from the +abuses of power in any manner they could, and often without regarding the +justness of the general principles with which they were connected; +confusion in these principles arising as a consequence. But, admitting the +dogma of the common law to be as inherently wise, as it is confessedly a +practice, there is no parallel in the necessity of the case of an arrest +on shore and of an arrest at sea. In the former instance the officer may +apply to witnesses;--he has the man before him, and compares him with the +description of the criminal; and, should he make an erroneous arrest, +under misleading circumstances, his punishment would be merely nominal--in +many cases, nothing. But the common law, whilst it gives the subject this +protection, does not deny the right of the officer to arrest. It only +punishes the abuse of this power, and that is precisely what nations +ought to do, in a case of the abuse of the right to examine a merchantman. + +The vessel of war cannot apply to witnesses, and cannot judge of national +character by mere external appearances, since an American-built ship can +be sailed by Portuguese. The actual necessities of the case are in favour +of the present English claim, as well as that great governing principle, +which says that no great or principal right can exist, in international +law, without carrying with it all the subordinate privileges which are +necessary to its discreet exercise. + +Thus much I could not refrain from saying, not that I think John Bull is +very often right in his controversies with ourselves, but because I think, +in this case, he is; and because I believe it far safer, in the long run, +for a nation, or an individual, to have justice on his side, than always +to carry his point. + +I was soon on deck, carrying my writing-desk under my arm, Mr. Sennit +preferring to make his examination in the open air, to making it below. He +read the clearance and manifest with great attention. Afterwards he asked +for the shipping articles. I could see that he examined the names of the +crew with eagerness, for the man was in his element when adding a new hand +to his frigate's crew. + +"Let me see this Nebuchadnezzar Clawbonny, Mr. Wallingford," he said, +chuckling. "The name has an alias in its very absurdity, and I doubt not +I shall see a countryman--perhaps a townsman." + +"By turning your head, sir, you can easily see the man. He is at the +wheel." + +"A black!--umph--yes; those fellows do sometimes sail under droll titles. +I do not think the lad was born at Gosport." + +"He was born in my father's house, sir, and is my slave." + +"Slave! A pretty word in the mouth of a free and independent son of +liberty, Mr. Wallingford. It is lucky you are not bound to that land of +despotism, old England, or you might see the fetters fall from about the +chap's limbs." + +I was nettled, for I felt there was some justice in this sarcasm, and +this, too, at the very moment I felt it was only half-merited: and not at +all, perhaps, from an Englishman. But Sennit knew as much of the history +of my country as he did of his own, having obtained all he had learned of +either out of newspapers. Nevertheless, I succeeded in keeping silent. + +"Nathan Hitchcock; this chap has a suspiciously Yankee name; will you let +me see _him_, sir," observed the lieutenant. + +"The chap's name, then, does him no more than justice, for I believe he is +strictly what _we_ call a Yankee." + +Nathan came aft at the call of the second-mate, and Sennit no sooner saw +him than he told him to go forward again. It was easy to see that the man +was perfectly able to distinguish, by means of the eye alone, between the +people of the two countries, though the eye would sometimes deceive even +the most practised judges. As the Speedy was not much in want of men, he +was disposed not to lay his hands on any but his own countrymen. + +"I shall have to ask you, sir, to muster all your people in the gangway," +said Sennit, rising, as he passed me the ship's papers. "I am only a +supernumerary of the Speedy, and I expect we shall soon have the pleasure +of seeing her first on board, the Honourable Mr. Powlett. We are a nob +ship, having Lord Harry Dermond for our captain, and lots of younger sons +in the cock-pit." + +I cared little who commanded or officered the Speedy, but I felt all the +degradation of submitting to have my crew mustered by a foreign officer, +and this, too, with the avowed object of carrying away such portions of +them as he might see fit to decide were British subjects. In my judgment +it would have been much more creditable and much wiser for the young +Hercules to have made an effort to use his club, in resisting such an +offensive and unjustifiable assumption of power, than to be setting up +doubtful claims to establish principles of public law that will render the +exercise of some of the most useful of all international rights perfectly +nugatory. I felt a disposition to refuse compliance with Sennit's request, +and did the result only affect myself I think I should have done so; but, +conscious that my men would be the sufferers, I thought it more prudent to +comply. Accordingly, all the Dawn's people were ordered to muster near the +quarter-deck. + +While I endeavour to do justice to principles, I wish to do no injustice +to Sennit. To own the truth, this man picked out the Englishman and +Irishman as soon as each had answered his first questions. They were +ordered to get their things ready to go on hoard the Speedy, and I was +coolly directed to pay them any wages that might be due. Marble was +standing near when this command was given; and seeing disgust, most +likely, in my countenance, he took on himself the office of replying: + +"You think accounts should be balanced, then, before these men quit the +ship?" he asked, significantly. + +"I do, sir; and it's my duty to see it done. I will thank you to attend to +it at once," returned the lieutenant. + +"Well, sir, that being the case, we shall be receivers, instead of payers. +By looking at the shipping articles, you will see that each of these men +received fifty dollars, or two months' advance," [seamen's wages were as +high, frequently, in that day, as twenty or thirty dollars;] "and quite +half of the 'dead-horse' remains to be worked out. We will, therefore, +thank His Majesty to pay us the odd twenty-five dollars for each of +the men." + +"What countryman are _you_?" demanded the lieutenant, with a menacing +look. "Cornish, by your impudence: have a care, sir; I have carried off +mates, before now, in my day." + +"I came from the land of tombstones, which is an advantage; as I know the +road we all must travel, sooner or later. My name is Marble, at your +service; and there's a hard natur' under it, as you'll find on trial." + +Just at this moment, the frigate's boat came round her stern, carrying the +Hon. Mr. Powlett, or the gentleman whom Sennit had announced as her +first-lieutenant. I thought the rising anger of the last was a little +subdued by the appearance of his senior officers: social position and +private rank making even a greater difference between the two, than mere +date of commission. Sennit suppressed his wrath, therefore; though I make +no doubt the resentment he felt at the contumelious manner of my mate, had +no little influence on what subsequently occurred. As things were, he +waited, before he proceeded any further, for the Speedy's boat to come +alongside. + +Mr. Powlett turned out to be a very different sort of person from his +brother lieutenant. There was no mistaking him for anything but a +gentleman, or for a sailor. Beyond a question, he owed his rank in his +ship to family influence, and he was one of those scions of aristocracy +(by no means the rule, however, among the high-born of England) who never +was fit for anything but a carpet-knight, though trained to the seas. As I +afterwards learned, his father held high ministerial rank; a circumstance +that accounted for his being the first-lieutenant of a six-and-thirty, at +twenty, with a supernumerary lieutenant under him who had been a sailor +some years before he was born. But, the captain of the Speedy, himself, +Lord Harry Dermond, was only four-and-twenty; though he had commanded his +ship two years, and fought one very creditable action in her. + +After making my best bow to Mr. Powlett, and receiving a very +gentleman-like salutation in return, Sennit led his brother officer aside, +and they had a private conference of some little length together. + +"I shall not meddle with the crew, Sennit," I overheard Powlett say, in a +sort of complaining tone, as he walked away from his companion. "Really, I +cannot become the master of a press-gang, though the Speedy had to be +worked by her officers. You are used to this business, and I leave it +all to you." + +I understood this to be a _carte blanche_ to Sennit to carry off as many +of my people as he saw fit; there being nothing novel or surprising in +men's tolerating in others, acts they would disdain to perform in person. +As soon as he left his junior in rank, the youthful first-lieutenant +approached me. I call him youthful, for he appeared even younger than he +was, though I myself had commanded a ship when only of his own age. It was +easy to see that this young man felt he was employed on an affair of some +importance. + +"It is reported to us, on board the Speedy, sir," the Hon. Mr. Pewlett +commenced, "that you are bound to Hamburg?" + +"To Hamburg, sir, as my papers will show." + +"Our government regards all trade with that part of the continent with +great distrust, particularly since the late movements of the French. I +really wish, sir, you had not been bound to Hamburg." + +"I believe Hamburg is still a neutral port, sir; and, if it were not, I do +not see why an American should not enter it, until actually blockaded." + +"Ah! these are some of your very peculiar American ideas on such subjects! +I cannot agree with you, however, it being my duty to obey my orders. Lord +Harry has desired us to be very rigorous in our examination, and I trust +you will understand we must comply, however unpleasant it may be, sir. I +understand, now, sugar and coffee are exceedingly suspicious!" + +"They are very innocent things rightly used, as I hope mine will be." + +"Have you any particular interest in the cargo, Captain Wallingford?" + +"Only that of owner, sir. Both ship and cargo are my own private +property." + +"And you seem to be English, or American--for, I confess myself unable to +tell the difference between the people of the two countries, though I dare +say there is a very great difference." + +"I am an American by birth, as have been my ancestors for generations." + +"I declare that is remarkable! Well, I can see no difference. But, if +_you_ are American, I do not see why the sugar and coffee are not +American, too. Lord Harry, however, desired us to be very particular about +these things, for some reason or other. Do you happen to know, now, where +this sugar grew?" + +"The canes of which it was made grew, I believe, in St. Domingo." + +"St. Domingo!--Is not that a French Island?" + +"Certainly, in part, sir; though the Spaniards and the negroes dispute the +possession with the French." + +"I declare I must send Lord Harry word of this! I am exceedingly sorry, +Captain Wallingford, to detain your ship, but my duty requires me to send +a young gentleman on board the Speedy for orders." + +As I could urge no plausible objection, the young gentleman was again sent +back to the frigate. In the mean time, Sennit had not been idle. Among my +crew were a Swede and a Prussian, and both these men having acquired their +English in London or Liverpool, he affected to believe they were natives +of the old island, ordering them to get their dunnage ready to go under +the pennant. Neither of the men, however, was disposed to obey him, and +when I joined the group, leaving the Hon. Mr. Powlett waiting the return +of his boat, on the quarter-deck, I found the three in a warm discussion +on the subject. + +"I'll tell you what it is, Mr. Wallingford," Sennit cried, as I +approached, "we will compromise matters. Here are two fellows who are +Lancashire men, if the truth were known, that pretend to be Norwegians, or +Fins, or to come from some other outlandish country or other, and I wish +to place them under His Majesty's pennant, where they properly belong; as +they are so reluctant to receive this honour, I will consent to take that +fine-looking Kentish man, who is worth them both put together." + +As this was said, Sennit pointed to Tom Voorhees, an athletic, handsome +young North River man, of Dutch extraction, a fellow who had not a drop of +English blood in his veins, and the ablest-bodied and the best seaman in +the Dawn; a fact that the lieutenant's nautical tact had not been slow +to detect. + +"You are asking me to let you have a man who was born within ten miles of +myself," I answered, "and whose family I know to be American, for near two +centuries." + +"Ay, ay; you're all of _old_ families in America, as everybody knows. The +chap is English born, for a hundred guineas; and I could name a spot in +Kent, not ten miles distant from that where he first saw the light. I do +not say, however, you were not his neighbour--for you have a Dover look, +yourself." + +"You might be less disposed to pleasantry, sir, were this a thirty-six, or +were you and I on shore." + +Sennit gave me a disdainful look, and terminated the affair by ordering +Voorhees to get his chest ready, and to join the two other men he had +pressed. Taking example, however, from the Swede and the Prussian, +Voorhees walked away, using no measures to obey. As for myself, thoroughly +disgusted with this man, a vulgar rogue, I walked aft to the other +lieutenant, who was only a gentleman-like dunce. + +Mr. Powlett now began to converse of London; and he told me how often he +had been at the opera when last in town,--and remarked what an exceedingly +delightful _fête champêtre_ was lady somebody's entertainment of that +sort. This occupied us until the boat returned, with a very civil request +from the captain of the Speedy, that I would do him the favour to pay him +a visit, bringing with me the ship's papers. As this was what no +belligerent had a right to demand, though privateersmen constantly did it, +I could comply or not. Fancying it might expedite matters, regarding the +civility of the request as a good omen, and feeling a desire to deal with +principals, in an affair that was very needlessly getting to be serious, I +consented to go. Marble was called, and formally told to take charge of +the ship. I could see a smile of contempt on Sennit's face, at this little +ceremony, though he made no objection in terms. I had expected that the +first-lieutenant would go to the frigate with me, but, after a short +consultation with his junior, the last was deputed to do me this honour. + +Sennit now appeared disposed to show me every slight and indignity it was +in his power to manifest. Like all vulgar-minded men, he could not refrain +from maltreating those whom he designed to injure. He made me precede him +into the boat, and went up the Speedy's side first, himself, on reaching +that vessel. His captain's conduct was very different. Lord Harry was not +a very noble _looking_ personage, as your worshippers of rank imagine +nobility to appear, but he was decidedly well-mannered; and it was easy +enough to see he commanded his own ship, and was admirably fitted so to +do. I have had occasion to learn that there is a vast deal of aristocratic +and democratic cant, on the subject of the appearance, abilities, +qualities and conduct of Europeans of birth and station. In the first +place, nature has made them very much as she makes other people; and the +only physical difference there is proceeds from habit and education. Then, +as to the enervating effects of aristocracy, and noble effeminacy, I have +seen ten times as much of it among your counter-jumpers and dealers in bob +binet, as I have seen in the sons of dukes and princes; and, in my later +days, circumstances have brought me much in contact with many of these +last. Manliness of character is far more likely to be the concomitant of +aristocratic birth, than of democratic, I am afraid; for, while those who +enjoy the first feel themselves above popular opinion, those who possess +the last bow to it, as the Asiatic slave bows to his master. I wish I +could think otherwise; but experience has convinced me of these facts, and +I have learned to feel the truth of an axiom that is getting to be +somewhat familiar among ourselves, viz.--"that it takes an aristocrat to +make a true democrat." Certain I am, that all the real, manly, independent +democrats, I have ever known in America, have been accused of aristocracy, +and this simply because they were disposed to carry out their principles, +and not to let that imperious sovereign, "the neighbourhood," play the +tyrant over them. As for personal merit, quite as fair a proportion of +talent is found among the well-born as among the low; and he is but an _ad +captandum vulgus_ sort of a philosopher who holds the contrary doctrine. +Talleyrand was of one of the most ancient and illustrious houses of +Europe, as was Turenne; while Mansfield, Erskine, Grey, Wellington, and a +host of Englishmen of mark of our time, come of noble blood. No--no--The +cause of free institutions has much higher and much juster distinctions to +boast of, than this imaginary superiority of the humbly born over those +who come of ancient stock. + +Lord Harry Dermond received me just as one of his station ought to receive +one of mine; politely, without in the least compromising his own dignity. +There was a good-natured smile on his face, of which, at first, I did not +know what to make. He had a private conversation with Sennit, too; but the +smile underwent no change. In the end, I came to the conclusion that it +was habitual with him and meant nothing. But, though so much disposed to +smile Lord Harry Dermond was equally disposed to listen to every +suggestion of Sennit, that was likely to favour the main chance. +Prize-money is certainly a great stain on the chivalry of all navies, but +it is a stain with which the noble wishes to be as deeply dyed as the +plebeian. Human nature is singularly homogeneous on the subject of money; +and younger-son nature, in the lands of _majorats_ and entails, enjoys a +liveliness of longing on the subject, that is quite as conspicuous as the +rapacity of the veriest plebeian who ever picked a pocket. + +"I am very sorry, Captain Wallingford," Captain Lord Harry Dermond +observed to me, when his private conference with Sennit was ended, and +altogether superior to the weakness of Powlett, who would have discussed +the point, "that it is my duty to send your ship into Plymouth. The French +have got such an ascendency on the continent, that we are obliged to use +every act of vigilance to counteract them: then, your cargo is of +enemy's growth"." + +"As for the ascendency, my lord, you will see we Americans have nothing to +do with it; and my cargo, being necessarily of last year's crops, must +have been grown and manufactured in a time of general peace. If it were +not, I do not conceive it would legalize my capture." + +"We must leave Sir William Scott to decide that, my good sir," answered +the captain,'with his customary smile; "and there is no use in our +discussing the matter. An unpleasant duty"--as if he thought the chance of +putting two or three thousand pounds in his pocket, unpleasant!--"an +unpleasant duty, however, need not be performed in a disagreeable manner. +If you will point out what portion of your people you could wish to keep +in your ship, it shall be attended to. Of course, you remain by your +property your self; and I confess, whatever may be done with the cargo, I +think the ship will be liberated. As the day is advancing, and it will +require some little time to exchange the people, I should be exceedingly +happy if you would do me the favour to lunch in my cabin." + +This was gentlemanly conduct, if it were not lawful. I could foresee a +plenty of evil consequences to myself in the delay, though I own I had no +great apprehensions of a condemnation. There was my note to John +Wallingford to meet, and two months' detention might keep me so long from +home, as to put the payment at maturity quite out of the question. Then +came the mortgage on Clawbonny, with its disquieting pictures; and I was +in anything but a good humour to enjoy Lord Harry Dermond's hospitality. +Still, I knew the uselessness of remonstrances, and the want of dignity +there would be in repining, and succeeded in putting a good face on the +matter. I simply requested that my chief mate, the cook, and Neb, might be +left in the Dawn, submitting it to the discretion of my captors to take +out of her as many of the remainder of her people as they saw fit. Lord +Harry remarked it was not usual to leave a mate, but to oblige me, he +would comply. The frigate would go in for water, in the course of a +fortnight, when I might depend on having the entire crew, His Majesty's +subjects excepted, restored to my command. + + + +Chapter XIV. + + + + _1st Gent_. What is my ransom, master? Let me know. + _Mast_. A thousand crowns, or else lay down your head. + _Mate_. And so much shall you give, or off goes yours. + + King Henry VI. + + +I never saw a man more astounded, or better disposed to fly into a +passion, than was the case with Mr. Moses Oloff Van Duzen Marble, when he +was told that the Dawn was to be sent into England, for adjudication. +Nothing kept his tongue within the bounds of moderation, and I am far from +certain I might not add his fists, but my assurances he would be sent on +board the Speedy, unless he behaved with prudence. As our people were sent +out of the ship, I thought, several times, he would break out in open +hostilities; and he did actually propose to me to knock Sennit down, and +throw him overboard. With a significant look, I told him it was not time +for this. The mate now laid a finger on his nose, winked, and from that +moment he not only seemed cheerful, but he assisted in hoisting in and out +the different articles that were exchanged, in shifting the crews. + +When all was ready, it appeared that Sennit was to be our prize-master. +Although a lieutenant in commission, he had only been lent to Lord Harry +Dermond by the admiral, in order to fill up the crew of that favoured +officer; the Speedy having her regular complement of lieutenants without +him. As the cruise was so nearly up, and the ship had experienced great +success in impressing since she sailed, Sennit could be spared; and, if +the truth were said, I make no doubt his mess-mates in the frigate were +glad to be rid of him, now they had no further occasion for his peculiar +skill and services. + +Mr. Sennit brought on board with him, as a prize-crew, ten foremast men, +besides a master's-mate, of the name of Diggens. Under ordinary +circumstances, this last dignitary would have been of sufficient skill to +take the ship in: but this was the first prize Lord Harry had taken; she +promised to be valuable if condemned; and I suppose he and his young, +gentleman-like luffs were desirous of getting rid of their vulgar +associate. At any rate, Messrs. Sennit and Diggens both came on board us, +bag and baggage. + +The various changes, the lunch, and the chase of the morning, had so far +worn away the day, that the two vessels did not make sail until four +o'clock, P.M., when both ships filled at the same time; the Speedy on a +wind, with two reefs in her top-sails, as when first seen, to play about +for more prizes, and the Dawn under studding-sails, with the wind nearly +over the taffrail. When all was ready, each ship started away from the +vacant point on the ocean, where they had been lying for hours, moving on +diverging lines, at a rate that soon put a wide expanse of water +between them. + +I felt the circumstance of being left under the command of such a man as +Sennit almost as sensibly as I felt the loss of my ship. He and the mate +established themselves in my cabin, within the first hour, in a way that +would have brought about an explosion, had not policy forbade it, on my +part. Sennit even took possession of my state-room, in which he ordered +his own cot to be swung, and from which he coolly directed my mattress to +be removed. As the lockers were under locks and keys, I permitted him to +take possession without a remonstrance. Diggens stowed his bedding in +Marble's berth, leaving my mate and myself to shift for ourselves. At a +suggestion from Marble, I affected great indignation at this treatment, +directing Neb to clear away a place in the steerage, in which to live, and +to swing hammocks there for Marble and myself. This movement had some +effect on Sennit, who was anxious to get at the small-stores; all of which +were under good locks, and locks that he did not dare violate, under an +order from the admiralty. It was, therefore, of much importance to him to +belong to my mess; and the necessity of doing something to appease my +resentment became immediately apparent to him. He made some apologies for +his cavalier conduct, justifying what he had done on the score of his rank +and the usages of navies, and I thought it prudent to receive his excuses +in a way to avoid an open rupture. Sennit was left in possession of the +state-room, but I remained in the steerage; consenting, however, to mess +in the cabin. This arrangement, which was altogether premeditated on my +part, gave me many opportunities of consulting privately with Marble; and +of making sundry preparations for profiting by the first occasion that +should offer to re-take the ship. In that day, re-captures were of pretty +frequent occurrence; and I no sooner understood the Dawn was to be sent +in, than I began to reflect on the means of effecting my purpose. Marble +had been kept in the ship by me, expressly with this object. + +I suppose the reader to have a general idea of the position of the vessel, +as well as of the circumstances in which she was placed. We were just +three hundred and fifty-two miles to the southward and westward of Scilly, +when I observed at meridian, and the wind blowing fresh from the +south-south-west, there was no time to lose, did I meditate anything +serious against the prize crew. The first occasion that presented to speak +to my mate offered while we were busy together in the steerage, stowing +away our effects, and in making such dispositions as we could to be +comfortable. + +"What think you, Moses, of this Mr. Sennit and his people?" I asked, in a +low voice, leaning forward on a water-cask, in order to get my head nearer +to that of the mate. "They do not look like first-rate man-of-war's-men; +by activity and surprise, could we not handle them?" + +Marble laid a finger on his nose, winked, looked as sagacious as he knew +how, and then went to the steerage door, which communicated with the +companion-way, to listen if all were safe in that quarter. Assured that +there was no one near, he communicated his thoughts as follows: + +"The same idee has been at work here," he said, tapping his forehead with +a fore-finger, "and good may come of it This Mr. Sennit is a cunning chap, +and will want good looking after, but his mate drinks like a coal-heaver; +I can see that in his whole face; a top-lantern is not lighter. _He_ must +be handled by brandy. Then, a more awkward set of long-shore fellows were +never sent to manage a square-rigged craft, than these which have been +sent from the Speedy. They must have given us the very sweepings of +the hold." + +"You know how it is with these dashing young man-of-war captains; they +keep all their best materials for a fight. French frigates are tolerably +plenty, they tell me, and this Lord Harry Dermond, much as he loves sugar +and coffee, would like to fall in with a la Vigilante, or a la Diane, of +equal force, far better. This is the secret of his giving Sennit such a +set of raw ones. Besides, he supposes the Dawn will be at Plymouth in +eight-and-forty hours, as will certainly be the case should this +wind stand." + +"The fellows are just so many London loafers. (I have always thought +Marble had the merit of bringing this word into fashion.) There are but +three seamen among them, and _they_ are more fit for a hospital than for a +lowyer-yard or a jib-boom." + +There was a good deal of truth, blended with some exaggeration, mixed up +with this statement of tire mate. As a matter of course, the captain of +the Speedy had not sent away his best men, though they were not quite as +bad as Marble, in his desire to overcome them, was disposed to fancy. It +is true, there were but three of their number whom the quick, nautical +instinct of the mate had recognised as real seamen, though all had been on +board ship long enough to render them more or less useful. + +"Whatever we do must be done at once," I rejoined. "We are four athletic +men, to act against twelve. The odds are heavy, but we shall have the +advantage of being picked men, and of attacking by surprise." + +"I wish you had thought of asking to keep Voorhees in the ship, Miles; +that fellow would be worth three ordinary men to us." + +"I did think of it, but the request would never have been granted. One +could ask for a cook, or a mate, or a servant like Neb, but to ask for an +able seaman or two would have been to declare our object." + +"I believe you're right, and we must be thankful for the good stuff we +have, as it is. How far will the law bear us out in knocking men on the +head in such an undertaking? It's peace for America, and we must steer +clear of piracy!" + +"I've thought of all that, Moses, and see no great cause of apprehension. +A man has certainly a right to recover that by the strong hand which he +lost by the strong hand. Should blood be spilt, which I hope to avert, the +English courts might judge us harshly, while the American would acquit us. +The law would be the same in both cases, though its administration would +be very different. I am ready to cast my own fortune on the issue, and I +wish no man to join me who will not do so, heart and hand. I see no reason +to suppose it will be necessary to take life, to which I have as strong +reluctance as you can have yourself." + +"There's my hand!" exclaimed Marble, "and as for its owner's heart, you +well know where that is to be found, Miles. Enough has been said for a +beginning. We will look about us this afternoon, and talk further +after supper." + +"Good. Do you say a word to Billings, the cook, and I will open the matter +to Neb. Of the last we are certain, but it may be well to make some +promises to your man." + +"Leave that to me, Miles. I know my chap, and will deal with him as I +would with an owner." + +Marble and myself now separated, and I went on deck to observe how things +promised in that quarter. By this time, the Speedy's top-sails were +beginning to dip, and the Dawn was driving forward on her course, with +everything drawing that she could carry. All the English were on deck, +Sennit included. The last gave me a sufficiently civil salute as I put my +foot on the quarter-deck, but I avoided falling into any discourse with +him. My cue was to note the men, and to ascertain all I could concerning +their distribution during the approaching night. Diggens, I could see, was +a red-faced fellow who probably had lost his promotion through love of the +bottle, though, as often happens with such persons, a prime seaman and a +thorough man-of-war's-man. Of him, I thought I could make sure by means +of brandy. Sennit struck me as being a much more difficult subject to get +along with. There were signs of cogniac about his face too, but he had +more rank, more at stake, and brighter hopes than the master's-mate. Then +he was evidently better practised in the ways of the world than his +companion, and had constantly a sort of uneasy vigilance about his eye and +manner that gave me no little concern. + +It was my wish to strike a blow, if possible, that very night, every +minute carrying us fast towards the chops of the channel, where the +English had so many cruisers in general, as to render ultimate escape next +to impossible, should we even be so lucky as to regain command of our own +ship. I was afraid, moreover, Sennit might take it into his head to have +all hands all night, under the pretext of drawing in with the land. Should +he actually adopt this course, our case was nearly hopeless. + +"Your mate seems to love the cupboard, Mr. Wallingford," Sennit remarked +to me, in a good-natured manner, with an evident wish to establish still +more amicable relations between us than had yet existed; "he has been in +and about that galley these ten minutes, fidgeting with his tin-pot, like +a raw hand who misses his mother's tea!" + +Sennit laughed at his own humour, and I could hardly answer with a smile, +for I knew my mate had adopted this experiment to open communications +with the cook. + +"Mr. Marble is famous for his love of slops," I answered, evasively. + +"Well, he does not _look_ it. I have seldom seen a more thorough-looking +sea-dog than your mate, Captain Wallingford,"--this was the first time +Sennit had dignified me with this title,--"and I took a fancy to him on +that account, as soon as I saw him. You will do me the favour to sup with +us in the cabin, I hope, for I see signs at the galley that it will soon +be ready?" + +"I shall expect to join your mess, sir, now explanations have passed +between us. I suppose _my_ mate is to be one of my party, as well +as yours?" + +"Certainly. I shall ask the favour of you to let Mr. Marble relieve +Diggens, for half an hour or so, while the poor fellow gets a bite. We'll +do as much for you another time." + +This was said in a dry, laughing, sort of a way, which showed that Mr. +Sennit was fully aware he was making a request a little out of rule, to +ask a man to aid in carrying his own ship into port, as a prize; but I +took it, as it was meant, for a rough joke that had convenience at +the bottom. + +It was not long ere Neb came to announce that supper was ready. Sennit had +made but an indifferent dinner, it would seem, and he appeared every way +disposed to take his revenge on the present occasion. Calling out to me to +follow, he led the way, cheerfully, into the cabin, professing great +satisfaction at finding we were to make but one mess of it. Strictly +speaking, a prize crew, under circumstances like those in which the Dawn +was now placed, had no right to consume any portion of the vessel's own +stores, condemnation being indispensable to legalize Lord Harry Dermond's +course, even according to the laws of his own country. But I had ordered +Neb to be liberal with my means, and a very respectable entertainment was +spread before our eyes, when we reached the cabin. Sennit was soon hard at +work; but, under pretence of looking for some better sugar than had been +placed on the table, I got three bottles of brandy privately into Neb's +hands, whispering him to give one to the master's-mate on deck, and the +other two to the crew. I knew there were too many motives for such a +bribe, connected with our treatment, the care of our private property, and +other things of that nature, to feel any apprehension that the true object +of this liberality would be suspected by those who were to reap its +advantages. + +Sennit, Marble, and myself, sate quite an hour at table. The former drank +freely of wine; though he declined having anything to do with the brandy. +As he had taken two or three glasses of the rejected liquor in my presence +before the two ships parted, I was convinced his present forbearance +proceeded from a consciousness of the delicate circumstances in which he +was placed, and I became rather more wary in my own movements. At length +the lieutenant said something about the "poor devil on deck," and Marble +was sent up, to look out for the ship, while Diggens came below to eat. +The instant the master's-mate appeared, I could see the brandy had been +doing its work on him, and I was fearful his superior might notice it. He +did not, however, being too well pleased with the Madeira I had set before +him, to trouble himself about a few drams, more or less, that might have +fallen to the share of his subordinate. + +At length this memorable supper, like everything else of earth, came to an +end, and all of us went on deck in a body: leaving Neb and the cook to +clear away the fragments. It was now night, though a soft star-light was +diffused over the surface of the rolling water. The wind had moderated a +little, and the darkness promised to pass without any extra labour to the +people, several of the studding-sails having been taken in by Diggens' +orders, when he first went below. + +When seamen first come on deck at sea, there is usually a pause in the +discourse, while each notes the weather, the situation of the ship, and +the signs of the hour. Sennit and myself did this, almost as a matter of +course, separating, in order that each might make his observations at +leisure. As for Marble, he gave up the command of the deck to Diggens, +walking forward by himself. Neb and the cook were keeping up the customary +clattering with plates, knives, and forks. + +"Have the people had their suppers yet, Mr. Diggens?" demanded the +lieutenant. + +"Not yet, sir. We have no cook of our own, you know, sir, and so have been +obliged to wait, sir." + +"The King's men wait for nobody. Order that black fellow to let them have +their suppers at once; while that is doing, we'll tell off the watches for +the night." + +Diggens was evidently getting more and more under the influence of brandy, +keeping the bottle hid somewhere near him, by which means he took frequent +draughts unperceived. He gave the necessary orders, notwithstanding; and +presently the men were mustered aft, to be told off into the two watches +that were required for the service of the ship. This was soon done. Sennit +choosing five, and Diggens his five. + +"It's past eight o'clock," said Sennit, when the selections were made. "Go +below the watch, and all but the man at the wheel of the watch on deck can +go below to the lights, to eat. Bear a hand with your suppers, my lads; +this is too big a craft to be left without look-outs forward, though I +dare say the Yankees will lend us a hand while you are swallowing a +mouthful?" + +"To be sure we will, sir," cried Marble, who had come to the gangway to +witness the proceedings. "Here, you Neb--come out of that galley and play +forecastle-man, while John Bull gets his supper. He's always cross when +he's hungry, and we'll feed him well to make a good neighbourhood." + +This caused some who heard it to laugh, and others to swear and mutter. +Every one, nevertheless, appeared willing to profit by the arrangement, +the Englishmen being soon below, hard at work around the kids. It now +struck me that Marble intended to clap the forecastle-hatch down suddenly, +and make a rush upon the prize officers and the man at the wheel. Leaving +one hand to secure the scuttle, we should have been just a man apiece for +those on deck; and I make no doubt the project would have succeeded, had +it been attempted in that mode. I was, by nature, a stronger man than +Sennit, besides being younger and in my prime; while Diggens would not +have been more than a child in Marble's hands. As for the man at the +wheel, Neb could have thrown him half-way up to the mizen-top, on an +emergency. But it seemed that my mate had a deeper project in view; nor +was the other absolutely certain, as I afterwards learned, one of the +Englishmen soon coming out of the forecastle, to eat on deck, quite likely +aware that there might be some risk in letting all hands remain below. + +It was now sufficiently dark for our purposes, and I began to reflect +seriously on the best mode of proceeding, when, all at once, a heavy +splash in the water was heard, and Marble was heard shouting, "Man +overboard!" + +Sennit and I ran to the lee main-rigging, where we just got a glimpse of +the hat of the poor fellow, who seemed to be swimming manfully, as the +ship foamed past him. + +"Starboard, your helm!" shouted Marble.--"Starboard, your helm! Come to +these fore-braces, Neb--bear a hand this a-way, you cook. Captain +Wallingford, please lend us a pull. Look out for the boat, Mr. Sennit; +we'll take care of the head-yards." + +Now all this had been regularly concocted in the mate's mind in advance. +By these means he not only managed to get all our people together, but he +got them away from the boat. The whole was done so naturally, as to +prevent the smallest suspicion of any design. To do Sennit justice, I must +acknowledge that he behaved himself particularly well on this sudden +appeal to his activity and decision. The loss of a _man_ was, to him, a +matter of deep moment; all his habits and propensities inclining him to be +solicitous about the manning of ships. A man saved was as good as a man +impressed; and he was the first person in the boat. By the time the ship +had lost her way, the boat was ready; and I heard Sennit call out the +order to lower. As for us Americans, we had our hands full, to get the +head-yards braced up in time, and to settle away the top-gallant halyards, +aft, in order to save the spars. In two minutes, however, the Dawn +resembled a steed that had suddenly thrown his rider, diverging from his +course, and shooting athwart the field at right angles to his former +track, scenting and snuffing the air. Forward all was full, but the +after-yard having been square from the first, their sails lay aback, and +the ship was slowly forging ahead, with the seas slapping against her +bows, as if the last were admonishing her to stop. + +I now walked aft to the taffrail, in order to make certain of the state of +things. Just as I reached the stern, Sennit was encouraging the men to +"give way" with the oar. I saw that he had six of his people with him, and +no doubt six of his best men--the boldest and most active being always the +most forward on such occasions. There was no time to be lost; and I turned +to look for Marble. He was at my elbow, having sought me with the same +object. We walked away from the man at the wheel together, to get out +of ear-shot. + +"Now's your time, Miles," the mate muttered, slipping one of my own +pistols into my hands, as he spoke.--"That master's-mate is as muzzy as a +tapster at midnight, and I can make him do what I please. Neb has his +orders, and the cook is ready and willing. You have only to say the word, +to begin." + +"There seems little necessity for bloodshed," I answered "If you have the +other pistol, do not use it unnecessarily; we may want it for +the boat----" + +"Boat!" interrupted Marble. "What more have we to do with the boat? +No--no--Miles; let this Mr. Sennit go to England where he belongs. Now, +see how I'll manage Diggens," he added; "I want to get a luff purchase up +out of the forecastle;--will you just order two or three of your fellows +forward, to go down and pass it up for me?" + +"D'ye hear there, forward," called out Diggens, with a very thick +tongue.--"Tumble down into that forecastle, three or four of you, and pass +up the tackle for Mr. Marble." + +Now, there were but three of the Englishmen left in the ship, exclusively +of the master's-mate himself, and the man at the wheel. This order, +consequently, sent all three immediately into the forecastle. Marble +coolly drew over the hatch, secured it, ordered the cook to keep a general +look-out forward, and walking aft, as if nothing occurred, said in his +quiet way-- + +"The ship's yours, again, Captain Wallingford." + +"Mr. Diggens," I said, approaching the master's-mate, "as I have a +necessity for this vessel, which is my property, if you please, sir, I'll +now take charge of her in person. You had better go below, and make +yourself comfortable; there is good brandy to be had for the asking, and +you may pass an agreeable evening, and turn in whenever it suits you." + +Diggens was a sot and a fool, but he did not want for pluck. His first +disposition was to give battle, beginning to call out for his men to come +to his assistance, but I put an end to this, by seizing him by the collar, +and dropping him, a little unceremoniously, down the companion-way. Half +an hour later, he was dead drunk, and snoring on the cabin floor. + +There remained only the man at the wheel to overcome He was a seaman, of +course, and one of those quiet, orderly men, who usually submit to the +powers that be. Approaching him, I said-- + +"You see how it is, my lad; the ship has again changed owners. As for you, +you shall be treated as you behave. Stand to the wheel, and you'll get +good treatment and plenty of grog, but, by becoming fractious, you'll find +yourself in irons before you know where you are." + +"Ay--ay, sir--" answered the man, touching his hat, and contenting +himself with this brief and customary reply. + +"Now, Mr. Marble," I continued, "it is time to have an eye on the boat, +which will soon find the man, or give him up. I own, that I wish we had +recovered the ship without tossing the poor fellow overboard." + +"Fellow overboard!" cried Marble, laughing--"I'd ha' thrown all England +into the sea had it been necessary and in my power, but it wasn't +necessary to throw overboard so much as a child. The chap they're arter is +nothing but one of the fenders, with the deep sea lashed to its smaller +end, and a tarpaulin stopped on the larger! Mr. Sennit need be in no great +hurry, for I'll engage his 'man overboard' will float as long as +his yawl!" + +The whole of Marble's expedient was thus explained, and I confess I was +much relieved by a knowledge of the truth. Apart from the general relief +that accompanied the consciousness of not having taken human life, should +we again fall into English hands, a thing by no means improbable, in the +situation in which we were placed, this circumstance might be of the last +importance to us. In the mean time, however, I had to look to the boat +and the ship. + +The first thing we did was to clew up the three top-gallant-sails. This +gave us a much easier command of the vessel, short-handed as we were, and +it rendered it less hazardous to the spars to keep the Dawn on a wind. +When this was done, I ordered the after-braces manned, and the leaches +brought as near as possible to touching. It was time; for the oars were +heard, and then I got a view of the boat as it came glancing down on our +weather quarter. I instantly gave the order to fill the after sails, and +to keep the ship full and by. The braces were manned, as well as they +could be, by Marble, Neb and the cook, while I kept an eye on the boat, +with an occasional glance at the man at the wheel. + +"Boat ahoy!" I hailed, as soon as the lieutenant got near enough for +conversation. + +"Ay, boat ahoy!" sure enough, growled Sennit; "some gentleman's back will +pay for this trick. The 'man overboard' is nothing but a d----d paddy +made out of a fender with a tarpaulin truck! I suspect your mate of this, +Mr. Wallingford." + +"My mate owns the offence, sir; it was committed to get you out of the +ship, while we took charge of her, again. The Dawn is under my orders once +more, Mr. Sennit; and before I permit you to come on board her, again, we +must have an understanding on the subject." + +A long, meaning, whistle, with a muttered oath or two, satisfied me that +the lieutenant had not the slightest suspicion of the truth, until it was +thus abruptly announced to him. By this time the boat was under our stern, +where she was brought in order to be hooked on, the men intending to come +up by the tackles. For this, I cared not, however, it being an easy matter +for me, standing on the taffrail, to knock any one on the head, who should +attempt to board us, in that fashion. By way of additional security, +however, Neb was called to the wheel, Marble taking the English sailor +forward to help haul the bow-lines, and trim the yards. The ship beginning +to gather way, too, I threw Sennit the end of a lower-studding-sail +halyards, that were brought aft for the purpose, ordered his bowman to let +go his hold of the tackle, and dropped the boat a safe towing distance +astern. Neb being ordered to keep the weather leaches touching, just way +enough was got on the ship to carry out the whole of this plan, without +risk to anybody. + +"You'll not think of leaving us out here, on the Atlantic, Mr. +Wallingford, five hundred miles from the Land's End," Sennit at length +called out, time having been taken to chew the cud of reflection. + +"That's as you behave, sir. I wish you no harm personally, Mr. Sennit, +though I much wish my own ship. The night promises to be good and the wind +is moderating, so that the boat will be perfectly safe. I will have you +hauled up, and we will throw you a spare sail for a covering, and you will +have the consolation of knowing that _we_ shall have to keep watch, while +you are sleeping." + +"Ay, sir, I understand it all; Job's comfort that will be. As I do not +suppose you are to be coaxed out of the advantage you have obtained, we +have no choice but compliance. Give us some food and water in addition, +and, for God's sake! don't cast us adrift in this boat, so far +from land." + +I gave Sennit an assurance that we would take care of him, and orders were +issued to comply with his wishes. We passed the sail into the boat, and +lowered a bread-bag, a kid full of beef and pork, and a breaker of fresh +water. I took all these precautions the more readily, as I did not know +but we might be compelled to cast the boat adrift, and one would not wish +to resort to such a step, without desiring to leave his crew the best +possible chance for their lives. I will do Marble the justice to say, he +was active in making these arrangements, though, had the question of +destroying the entire prize-crew presented itself, on one side, and that +of losing the ship on the other, he would not have hesitated about sinking +Great Britain itself, were it possible to achieve the last. I was more +human, and felt exceedingly relieved when I again found myself in command +of the Dawn, after an interregnum of less than ten hours, without a drop +of blood having been spilled. + +As soon as everything required was passed into the boat, she was dropped +astern, nearly to the whole length of the studding-sail halyards. This +would make her tow more safely to both parties: to those in her, because +there was less risk of the ship's dragging her under; and to ourselves, +because it removed all danger of the Englishmen's returning our favour, by +effecting a surprise in their turn. At such a distance from the ship, +there would always be time for us to rally and defeat any attempt to get +alongside. + + + +Chapter XV. + + + + _Capt._ "And as for these whose ransome we have set, + It is our pleasure, one of them depart:-- + Therefore come you with us, and let him go." + + King Henry VI. + + +By such simple means, and without resistance, as it might be, did I +recover the possession of my ship, the Dawn. But, now that the good vessel +was in my power, it was by no means an easy thing to say what was to be +done with her. We were just on the verge of the ground occupied by the +channel cruisers, and it was preposterous to think of running the gauntlet +among so many craft, with the expectation of escaping. It is true, we +might fall in with twenty English man-of-war vessels, before we met with +another Speedy, to seize us and order us into Plymouth, had everything +been in order and in the usual state; but no cruiser would or could board +us, and not demand the reasons why so large a ship should be navigated by +so small a crew. It was over matters like these that Marble and I now +consulted, no one being on the quarter-deck but the mate, who stood at the +wheel, and myself. The cook was keeping a look-out on the forecastle. The +Englishman had lain down, in full view, by my orders, at the foot of the +main-mast; while Neb, ever ready to sleep when not on duty, was catching a +nap on the booms. + +"We have got the ship, Moses," I commenced, "and the question next arises, +what we are to do with her?" + +"Carry her to her port of destination, Captain Wallingford, to be sure. +What else _can_ we do with her, sir?" + +"Ay, that is well enough, if it can be done. But, in addition to the +difficulty of four men's taking care of a craft of five hundred tons, we +have a sea before us that is covered with English cruisers." + +"As for the four men, you may safely set us down as eight. I'll engage we +do as much in a blow, as eight such fellows as are picked up now-a-days +'long shore. The men of the present time are mere children to those one +met with in my youth, Miles!" + +"Neither Neb, nor the cook, nor I, am a man of other times, but are all +men of to-day; so you must call us but three, after all. I know we can do +much; but a gale may come that would teach us our insignificance. As it +is, we are barely able to furl the main-top-gallant-sail in a squall, +leaving one hand at the wheel, and another to let go rigging. No, no, +Moses; we must admit we are rather short-handed, putting the best face on +the matter." + +"If you generalize in that mode, Miles, my dear boy, I must allow that we +are. We can go up channel, and ten chances to one but we fall in with +some Yankee, who will lend us a hand or two." + +"We shall be twice as likely to meet with King George's ships, who will +overhaul our articles, and want to know what has become of the rest of +our people." + +"Then we'll tell 'em that the rest of the crew has been pressed; they know +their own tricks too well, not to see the reasonableness of such an idee." + +"No officer would leave a vessel of this size with only her master, mate, +cook, and one man, to take care of her, even had he found a crew of +deserters from his own ship in her. In such a case, and admitting a right +to impress from a foreigner at all, it would be his duty to send a party +to carry the craft into port. No, no, Moses--we must give all the English +a wide berth, now, or they will walk us into Plymouth, yet." + +"Blast the hole! I was in it, a prisoner, during the revvylushun, and +never want to see its face ag'in. They've got what they call the Mill +Prison there, and it's a mill that does grinding less to my taste, than +the thing of your'n at Clawbonny. Why not go north-about, Miles? There +must be few cruisers up that-a-way." + +"The road is too long, the weather is apt to be too thick, and the coast +is too dangerous for us, Moses. We have but two expedients to choose +between--to turn our heads to the westward, and try to get home, trusting +to luck to bring us up with some American who will help us, or steer due +east and run for a French port--Bordeaux for instance--where we might +either dispose of the cargo, or ship a new crew, and sail for our port of +destination." + +"Then try the last, by all means. With this wind, we might shove the ship +in with the land in the course of two or three days, and go clear of +everything! I like the idee, and think it can be carried out. Burdux is +always full of Americans, and there must be men enough, to be had for the +asking, knocking about the quays." + +After a little further conversation, we determined on this plan, and set +about carrying it into execution on the spot. In rounding-to, the ship had +been brought by the wind on the larboard tack, and was standing to the +northward and westward, instead of to the eastward, the course we now +wished to steer. It was necessary, therefore, to ware round and get the +ship's head in the right direction. This was not a difficult manoeuvre at +all, and the Englishman helping us, with seeming good-will, it was soon +successfully executed. When this was accomplished, I sent the English +sailor into the cabin to keep Diggens company, and we set a watch on deck +of two and two, Marble and myself taking charge four hours and four hours, +in the old mode. + +I acknowledge that I slept little that night. Two or three limes we +detected Sennit attempting to haul close up under the ship's stern, out of +all question with a view to surprise us, but as often would he drop to the +length of his tow-rope, us he saw Marble's head, or mine, watching him +above the taffrail. When the day dawned I was called, and was up and on +the look-out as our horizon enlarged and brightened round the ship. The +great object was to ascertain, as early as possible, what vessels might be +in our neighbourhood. + +But a solitary sail was visible. She appeared to be a ship of size, +close-hauled, heading to the southward and eastward: by steering on our +proper course, or certainly by diverging a little to the northward, it +would be an easy matter to speak her. As I could plainly see she was not a +ship of war, my plan was formed in a moment. On communicating it to +Marble, it met with his entire approbation. Measures were taken, +accordingly, to carry it into immediate execution. + +In the first place, I ordered Sennit, who was awake, and had been, I +believe, the whole night, to haul the boat up and to lay hold of one of +the boat-tackles. This he did willingly enough, no doubt expecting that he +was to be received into the ship, under a treaty. I stood on the look-out +to prevent an attack, one man being abundantly able to keep at bay a dozen +who could approach only by ascending a rope hand over hand, while Marble +went below to look after the two worthies who had been snoring all night +in the cabin. In a minute my mate reappeared, leading up the seaman, who +was still more asleep than awake. This man was directed to lay hold of the +tackle and slide down into the boat. There being no remedy, and descending +being far easier than ascending, this exploit was soon performed, and we +were well rid of one of our enemies. Sennit now began to remonstrate, and +to point out the danger there was of being towed under, the ship going +through the water the whole time at the rate of five or six knots. I knew, +however, that the English were too skilful to run the risk of being +drowned, unnecessarily, and that they would let go of the tackle before +they would suffer the boat to be swamped. It was ticklish work, I allow; +but they succeeded surprisingly well in taking care of themselves. + +We had more difficulty with Diggens. This fellow had been so beastly +drunk, that he scarce knew what he was about when awoke; and Marble rather +dragged him on deck, and aft to the taffrail, than assisted him to walk. +There we got him at last; and he was soon dangling by the tackle. So +stupid and enervated was the master's mate, however, that he let go his +hold, and went into the ocean. The souse did him good, I make no doubt; +and his life was saved by his friends, one of the sailors catching him by +the collar, and raising him into the boat. + +Sennit availed himself of this accident, to make further remonstrances on +the subject of having any more men put in the boat. It was easy to see, it +was as much his policy to get everybody out of that little conveyance, as +it was mine to get all the English into her. + +"For God's sake, Captain Wallingford, knock off with this, if you please;" +cried the lieutenant, with a most imploring sort of civility of +manner.--"You see how it is; we can barely keep the boat from swamping, +with the number we have in her; and a dozen times during the night I +thought the ship would drag her under. Nothing can be easier than for you +to secure us all, if you will let us come on board, one at a time." + +"I do not wish to see you in irons, Mr. Sennit; and this will remove any +necessity for resorting to an expedient so unpleasant. Hold on upon the +tackle, therefore, as I shall feel obliged to cast you off entirely, +unless you obey orders." + +This threat had the desired effect. One by one, the men were let up out of +the forecastle, and sent into the boat. Cooked meat, bread, rum and water, +were supplied to the English; and, to be ready to meet any accident, we +lowered them a compass, and Sennit's quadrant. We did the last at his own +earnest request, for he seemed to suspect we intended sending him adrift, +as indeed was my plan, at the proper moment. + +Although the boat had now twelve men in her, she was in no danger, being a +stout, buoyant six-oared yawl, that might have held twenty, on an +emergency. The weather looked promising, too,--the wind being just a good +top-gallant breeze, for a ship steering full and by. The only thing about +which I had any qualms, was the circumstance that south-west winds were +apt to bring mists, and that the boat might thus be lost. The emergency, +nevertheless, was one that justified some risks, and I pursued my +plan steadily. + +As soon as all the English were in the boat, and well provided with +necessaries, we felt at more liberty to move about the ship, and exert +ourselves in taking care of her. The man at the wheel could keep an eye on +the enemy,--the Dawn steering like a pilot-boat. Neb was sent aloft, to do +certain necessary duty, and the top-gallant-sails being loose, the +clew-lines were overhauled, and the sails set. I did this more to prevent +the English ship from suspecting something wrong, at seeing a vessel +running off, before the wind, under such short canvass, than from any +desire to get ahead, since we were already going so fast as to render it +probable we should pass the other vessel, unless we altered our course +to meet her. + +Diogenes Billings, the cook, had now a little leisure to serve us a warm +breakfast. If Mr. Sennit were living, I think he would do us the justice +to say he was not forgotten. We sent the people in the boat some good hot +coffee, well sweetened, and they had a fair share of the other comfortable +eatables of which we partook ourselves. We also got out, and sent them the +masts and regular sails of the boat, which was fitted to carry two sprits. + +By this time the stranger ship was within two leagues of us, and it became +necessary to act. I sent Marble aloft to examine the horizon, and he came +down to report nothing else was in sight. This boded well. I proceeded at +once to the taffrail, where I hailed the boat, desiring Sennit to haul her +up within comfortable conversing distance. This was done immediately. + +"Mr. Sennit," I commenced, "it is necessary for us to part here. The ship +in sight is English, and will take you up. I intend to speak her, and will +take care that she knows where you are. By standing due east you will +easily cut her off, and there cannot be a doubt of her picking you up." + +"For heaven's sake, consider a moment, Capt. Wallingford," Sennit +exclaimed, "before you abandon us out here, a thousand miles from land." + +"You are just three hundred and twenty-six miles from Scilly, and not much +more from the Land's End, Mr. Sennit, with a wind blowing dead for both. +Then your own countrymen will pick you up, of a certainty, and carry you +safe into port." + +"Ay--into one of the West-India Islands; if an Englishman at all, yonder +vessel is a running West-Indiaman; she may take us all the way +to Jamaica." + +"Well, then you will have an opportunity of returning at your leisure. You +wished to take me almost as much out of my course; or, if not absolutely +out of my course, quite as much out of my time. I have as little relish +for Plymouth as you seem to have for Jamaica." + +"But, the stranger may be a Frenchman--now, I look at him, he has a French +look." + +"If he should be French, he will treat you well. It will be exchanging +beef for soup-maigre for a week or two. These Frenchmen eat and drink as +well as you English." + +"But, Capt. Wallingford, their prisons! This fellow, Bonaparte, exchanges +nobody this war, and if I get into France I am a ruined man!" + +"And if I had gone into Plymouth, I fear I should have been a ruined man, +too." + +"Remember, we are of the same blood, after all--people of the same +stock--just as much countrymen as the natives of Kent and Suffolk. Old +Saxon blood, both of us." + +"Thank you, sir; I shall not deny the relationship, since it is your +pleasure to claim it. I marvel, however, you did not let your cousin's +ship pass without detaining her." + +"How could I help it, my dear Wallingford? Lord Harry is a nobleman, and a +captain, and what could a poor devil of a lieutenant, whose commission is +not a year old, do against such odds! No--no--there should be more feeling +and good-fellowship between chaps like you and me, who have their way to +make in the world." + +"You remind me of the necessity of being in motion.--Adieu, Mr. +Sennit--cut, Moses!" + +Marble struck a blow with the axe on-the studding-sail halyards, and away +the Dawn glided, leaving the boat tossing on the waves, twenty fathoms +further astern, on the very first send of the sea. What Mr. Sennit _said_, +I could not hear, now, but I very plainly saw him shake his fist at me, +and his head, too; and I make no manner of doubt, if he called me +anything, that he did not call me a gentleman. In ten minutes the boat was +fully a mile astern. At first Sennit did not appear disposed to do +anything, lying motionless on the water, in sullen stillness; but wiser +thoughts succeeded, and, stepping his two masts, in less than twenty +minutes I saw his sails spread, and the boat making the best of its way to +get into the track of the stranger. + +It had been my intention, originally, to speak the strange ship, as I had +told Sennit; but seeing there was no probability of her altering her +course, so as to pass the boat, I changed my purpose, and stood directly +athwart her fore-foot, at about half a mile's distance. I set the Yankee +bunting, and she showed the English ensign, in return. Had she been +French, however, it would have made no odds to me; for, what did I care +about my late captors becoming prisoners of war? They had endeavoured to +benefit themselves at my cost, and I was willing enough to benefit myself +at theirs. + +We made our preparations for setting studding sails now, though I thought +there were signs of a desire in the Englishman to speak me. I knew he must +be armed, and felt no wish to gratify him, inasmuch as he might take it +into his head to make some inquiries concerning the boat, which if not +already visible from his decks, soon must be. I was certain the Dawn, deep +as she was, would go four feet to the Indiaman's three, and, once past +him, I had no apprehensions in the event of a chase. + +The English ship caught sight of the boat, when we were about a mile on +his lee quarter, with lower and top-mast studding-sails set, going quite +eight knots, on a due east course. We became aware of the fact, by her +hoisting a jack at the fore. From that moment I gave myself no concern on +the subject of Sennit and his prize-crew. Twenty minutes later, we saw the +ship back her main-top-sail, and, by means of the glasses, we plainly +perceived the boat alongside of her. After some delay, the yawl was +hoisted on the deck of the ship, and the latter filled her top-sail. I had +some curiosity to ascertain what would come next. It would seem that +Sennit actually induced the master of the West-Indiaman to give chase; +for, no sooner did the vessel gather way, than she bore up, after us, +packing on everything that would draw. We were greatly rejoiced at having +improved the leisure time, in making sail ourselves; for, having a lower +studding-sail and two top-mast studding-sails on the ship, when this race +began, I did not feel much apprehension of being overtaken. By way of +making more sure of an escape, however, we set the royals. + +When the West-Indiaman bore up in chase, we were about two leagues ahead +of our pursuer. So far from lessening this distance, though she carried +royal studding-sails, we gradually increased it to three, until, satisfied +he could do nothing, the master of the strange ship took in his light +sails, and hauled by the wind again, carrying the late prize-crew in a +direct line from England. I afterwards learned that Sennit and his +companions were actually landed in the island of Barbadoes, after a +pleasant passage of only twenty-six days. I make no doubt it took them much +longer to get back again; for it was certain not one of them had +reappeared in England six months from that day. + +We now had the ship to ourselves, though with a very diminished crew. The +day was the time to sleep; and relieving each other at the wheel, those +who were off duty, slept most of the time, when they were not eating. At +six in the evening, however, all hands were up, making our preparations +for the night. + +At that hour, the wind was steady and favourable; the horizon clear of +vessels of every sort, and the prospects of a pleasant night were +sufficiently good. The run in the course of the day was equal to one +hundred miles, and I computed the distance to Brest, at something less +than four hundred miles. By getting in nearer with the land, I should +have the option of standing for any French port I pleased, that lay +between Cherbouig and Bayonne. + +"Well, Moses," I observed to my old friend and shipmate, when we had +finished our survey, "this looks promising! As long as the wind remains in +this quarter, we shall do well enough; should we actually get in safely, I +shall not regret the delay, the credit of having done so good a thing, and +of having done it so well, being worth as much to me, as any interest on +capital, or wear and tear of gear, can possibly be. As for Mr. Sennit, I +fancy he is some sixty or eighty miles off here at the southward and +westward, and we've done with him for the voyage." + +"Suppose he should fall in with the Speedy, and report what has happened, +Miles?" returned the mate. "I have been calculating that chance. The +stranger was standing directly for the frigate's cruising ground, and he +may meet her. We will not halloo, 'till we're out of the woods." + +"That risk is so remote, I shall not let it give me any trouble. It is my +intention to run in for the land at our fastest rate of sailing, and, then +profit by the best wind that offers, to get into the nearest haven. If you +can suggest a better scheme, Moses, I invite you to speak." + +Marble assented, though I perceived he was not entirely free from the +apprehension he had named until the next morning arrived, bringing with it +no change, and still leaving us a clear sea. That day and the succeeding +night, too, we made a capital run, and at meridian of the third day after +the recapture of the Dawn, I calculated our position to be just one +hundred and four miles to the southward and eastward of Ushant. The wind +had shifted, however, and it had just come out light at north-east. We +went to work, all hands of us, to get in the studding-sails, and to brace +up and haul aft; an operation that consumed nearly two hours. We were so +busily employed, indeed, as to have little or no time to look about us, +and my surprise was the less, therefore, when the cook called out "sail +ho!" I was busy trimming the main-yard, when this announcement was made, +and looking up, I saw a lugger standing towards us, and already within +long gun-shot. I afterwards ascertained that perceiving us to be +approaching her, this craft had lain like a snake in the grass, under +bare poles, until she thought us sufficiently near, when she made sail in +chase. I saw, at a glance, several important facts: in the first place, +the lugger was French beyond all dispute; in the second, she was a +cruiser, public or private; in the third, escape from her, under any +circumstances, was highly improbable, under those which actually existed +impossible. But, why should we endeavour to escape from this vessel? The +countries were at peace: we had just bought Louisiana from France, and +paid fifteen millions of dollars for it, thereby not only getting the +country ourselves, but keeping it out of the hands of John Bull, and we +were said to be excellent friends, again. Then the Dawn had extricated +herself from English clutches, only a day or two before; no doubt the +lugger would give us all the aid we could require. + +"She is French, for a thousand dollars, Miles!" I cried, lowering my glass +from the first good look of the stranger; "and by keeping away two points, +we shall speak her in fifteen minutes." + +"Ay, French," rejoined the mate, "but, blast 'em all round, I'd much +rather have nothing to do with any of the rogues. I'll tell you how it is, +Miles, these are onmoralizing times, and the sea is getting to be +sprinkled with so many Van Tassels, that I'm afeard you and I'll be just +that dear, good old soul, my mother, and little Kitty, to be frightened, +or, if not exactly frightened, to be wronged out of our just rights." + +"Little fear of that this time, Moses--this is a Frenchman; as we are +bound in to a French port, he'll not hesitate to lend us half-a-dozen +hands, in order to help us along." + +"Ay, and take half the ship and cargo for salvage! I know these +piccaroons, and you ought to know 'em too, Miles, for it's only two or +three years since you were a prisoner of war among 'em. That was a +delightful feelin', I rather conclude." + +"Times are altered, Moses, and I'll show confidence in the change. Keep +the ship away, Neb--so; meet her--steer for the lugger's foremast; +that will do." + +Of course, these orders soon brought the two vessels alongside of each +other. As the lugger approached, we made her out to be a stout, but +active craft, of sixteen guns, and apparently full of men. She set the +'_tri-color,_' when half a mile distant, sure of her prey, should we turn +out to be a prize. We showed-him the stars and stripes of course, fancying +he would treat them as a friend. + +It was not long before both vessels had rounded-to, and preparations were +made to hail. + +"What sheep's zat?" demanded one in good broken English. + +"The Dawn, of New-York--may I ask the name of your lugger?" + +"Le Polisson--corsair Francois--what you load, eh?" + +"Sugar and coffee, with cochineal, and a few other articles." + +"Peste!--Vere you boun', Monsieur, s'il vous plait." + +"Hamburg." + +"Diable!--zis is _non_ ze _chemin_.--How you come her, sair, viz ze vin' +at sow-vess?" + +"We are going in to Brest, being in need of a little succour." + +"You vish salvage, eh! Parbleu, we can do you zat mosh good, as veil as +anodair." + +I was then ordered, privateer fashion, to lower a boat, and to repair on +board the lugger with my papers. When old I had no stern or quarter-boat +to lower, the Frenchman Manifested surprise; but he sent his own yawl for +me. My reception on board the Polisson was a little free for Frenchmen. +The captain received me in person, and I saw, at a glance, I had to deal +with men who were out on the high seas, with the fear of English +prison-ships constantly before their eyes, in quest of gold. I was not +invited into the cabin, a crowded, dark and dirty hole, for, in that day, +the French were notoriously foul in their vessels, but was directed to +show my papers seated on a hen-coop. + +As everything was regular about the register, manifest and clearance, I +could see that Monsieur Gallois was not in a particularly good humour. He +had one, whom I took to be a renegade Englishman, with him, to aid in the +examination, though, as this man never spoke in my presence, I was unable +precisely to ascertain who he was. The two had a long consultation in +private, after the closest scrutiny could detect no flaw in the papers. +Then Monsieur Gallois approached and renewed the discourse. + +"Vy you have no boat, sair?" he asked. + +"I lost my boat, three days since, about a hundred leagues to the +southward and westward." + +"It is not have bad veddair!--Why you got no more _marins_ in your +sheep?--eh!" + +I saw it would be best to tell the whole truth, at once; for, were I to +get any aid from this lugger, the facts, sooner or later, must be made +known. Accordingly, I gave the Frenchman, and his English-looking +companion, a full account of what had occurred between us and the Speedy. +After this narrative, there was another long conference between Mons. +Gallois and his friend. Then the boat was again manned, and the captain of +the lugger, accompanied by his privy-counsellor and myself, went on board +the Dawn. Here, a very cursory examination satisfied my visiters of the +truth of my story. + +I confess, I expected some commendation from a French man, when he heard +the ready manner in which we had got our vessel out of the hands of the +Philistines. No such thing; an expressive '_bon_' had escaped Mons. +Gallois, once or twice, it is true; but it was apparent he was looking +much sharper for some pretext to make us a prize himself, than for reasons +to commend our conduct. Each new aspect of the affair was closely scanned, +and a new conference with the adviser was held, apart. + +"Sair," said Mons. Gallois, "I have mosh regret, but your sheep is _bon_ +prize. You have been _prisonnier_ to ze English, ze enemy of la France, +and you shall not capture yourself. L'Amérique is not at war--is neutral, +as you shall say, and ze Américains cannot make ze prize. I considair your +ship, monsieur, as in ze hand of ze English, and shall capture him. _Mes +regrets sont vifs, mais, que voulez vous_? Ze corsair most do his devoir, +ze same as ze sheep _national_. I shall send you to Brest, vere, if you be +not sold _par un décret_, I shall be too happy to restore _votre +batiment--Allons_!" + +Here was a _dénouement_ to the affair, with a vengeance! I _was_ to be +captured, because I _had_ been captured. "Once a corporal, always a +corporal." As the English had taken me, the French would take me. A prize +to-day, you must be a prize to-morrow. I have always thought the case of +the Dawn was the first of the long series of wrongs that were subsequently +committed on American commerce, in virtue of this same principle, a little +expanded and more effectually carried out, perhaps, and which, in the end +terminated by blockading all Europe, and interdicting the high seas, +on paper. + +I knew the uselessness of remonstrating with a rapacious privateersman. +"Let him send me in," I thought to myself, at first; "it is just where I +wish to go; once in, the minister must get me clear. The fellow will only +be the dupe of his own covetousness, and I shall profit by it, in the +degree that he will be a loser!" + +I presume Mons. Gallois entertained a very different view of the matter, +for he manifested great alacrity in throwing a crew of no less than +seventeen souls, big and little, on board us. I watched these operations +in silence, as did Neb and Diogenes. As for Marble, he lighted a segar, +took his seat on the windlass, and sat in dignified anger, ready to +explode on the slightest occasion, yet apprehensive he might be sent out +of the ship, should he betray one-half of what he felt. Out of the ship +neither of us was sent, however, the French probably feeling indisposed to +be troubled with passengers in the narrow quarters they had for +themselves. + + + +Chapter XVI. + + + + You are safe; + Nay, more,--almost triumphant. Listen, then, + And hear my words of truth. + + Marino Falierlo. + + +It was just four o'clock, P.M., when the Dawn and the Polisson parted +company; the former steering on her old course for Brest, while the latter +continued her cruise. The lugger sailed like a witch, and away she went +towards the chops of the channel, on a bow-line; leaving us to stand +towards the French coast--close-hauled, also, but on the opposite tack. + +It is scarcely necessary to dwell on the feelings with which we four, who +were eye-witnesses of all that passed, witnessed the proceedings. Even +Diogenes was indignant. As for Marble, I have already alluded to his state +of mind; and, if I had not, the following dialogue, which took place at +sunset, (the first that occurred between us in private since the second +capture,--while the French were eating their suppers,) would serve to +explain it. + +"Well, Miles," the mate drily observed, "whatever we have to do, must be +done at once. When shall we begin?--in the middle, or in the +morning watch?" + +"Begin _what_, Moses?" I asked, a little surprised at the settled manner +in which he put his question. + +"To throw these Frenchmen overboard.--Of course, you don't mean to let +them carry your ship into Brest?" + +"Why not? We were bound to Brest when we fell in with them; and, if they +_will_ take us there, it will only save us the trouble of doing it +ourselves." + +"Don't be deceived by any such hope, Miles. I've been in the hands of +Frenchmen, before I knew you; and there is little hope of getting out of +them, so long as the ship and cargo will pay for detention. No, no, my +dear boy; you know I love you better than anything on 'arth, my dear, old +soul of a mother, and little Kitty, excepted,--for it wouldn't be +religious to like you better than my own flesh and blood,--but, after +these two, I like you better than any one on 'arth; and I can't be quiet, +and see you run your property into the fire. Never let the ship go into +France, after what has happened, if you can help it." + +"Can we possibly help it? Or do you propose that four men shall re-take +this vessel from seventeen?" + +"Well, the odds are not so great, Miles," Marble rejoined, looking coolly +round at the noisy set of little Frenchmen, who were all talking together +over their soup; certainly not a very formidable band in a hand-to-hand +encounter, though full of fire and animation. "There are four of us, and +only seventeen of them, such as they are. I rather think we could handle +'em all, in a regular set-to, with fists. There's Neb, he's as strong as a +jackass; Diogenes is another Hercules; and neither you nor I am a kitten. +I consider you as a match, in a serious scuffle, for the best four among +them chaps." + +This was not said in the least boastingly, though certainly the estimate +of comparative force made by my mate was enormously out of the way. It was +true, that we four were unusually powerful and athletic men; but it was +also true, that six of the French might very well be placed in the same +category. I was not subject to the vulgar prejudice of national +superiority, I hope; one of the strongest of all the weaknesses of our +very weak nature. I have never yet been in a country, of which the people +did not fancy themselves, in all particulars, the salt of the earth; +though there are very different degrees in the modes of bragging on such +subjects. In the present instance, Marble had not the least idea of +bragging, however; for he really believed we four, in an open onslaught, +fire-arms out of the question, might have managed those seventeen +Frenchmen. I think, myself, we might have got along with twice our number, +taking a fair average of the privateer's men, and reducing the struggle to +the arms of nature; but I should have hesitated a long time in making an +open attack on even them. + +Still, I began to regard my chances of escaping, should we be sent into a +French port by the privateer, as far less certain than they had appeared +at first. Marble had so much to say of the anarchists in France, as he had +known them in the worst period of the revolution, and so many stories to +tell of ships seized and of merchants ruined, that my confidence in the +right was shaken. Bonaparte was then in the height of his consular +power,--on the point of becoming Emperor, indeed,--and he had commenced +this new war with a virulence and disregard of acknowledged rights, in the +detention of all the English then resident in France, that served to +excite additional distrust. Whatever may be said of the comprehensiveness +and vastness of the genius of Napoleon, as a soldier and statesman, I +presume few upright and enlightened men can now be found to eulogize his +respect for public law. At any rate, I began to have lively misgivings on +the subject; and the consultation between my mate and myself terminated in +our coming to a resolution to serve the French prize-crew substantially as +we had served the English prize-crew, if possible; varying the mode only +to suit the new condition of things. This last precaution was necessary, +as, in the fulness of my confidence, I had made Mons. Gallois acquainted +with all the circumstances of throwing the fender overboard, and the +manner in which we had got possession of the ship. It was not to be +expected, therefore, that particular artifice could be made to +succeed with him. + +It must have been the result of prejudice, and of constant reading of +articles extracted from the English journals, that influenced me; but I +confess it seemed a much easier matter to re-take my ship from seventeen +Frenchmen, than from twelve Englishmen. I was not so besotted as to +suppose surprise, or artifice, would not be necessary in either case; but, +had the issue been made up on brute force, I should have begun the fray +with greater confidence in the first than in the last case. All this would +have been very wrong in our particular situation, though, as a rule and as +applied to sea-faring men, it might be more questionable. How often, and +how much, have I seen reason to regret the influence that is thus +silently obtained amongst us, by our consenting to become the retailers of +other people's prejudices! One of the reasons why we have so long been +mere serviles on this point, is owing to the incompleteness of the +establishments of the different leading presses of the country. We +multiply, instead of enlarging these enterprises. The want of +concentration of talent compels those who manage them to resort to the +scissors instead of the pen; and it is almost as necessary for an American +editor to be expert with the shears, as it is for a tailor. Thus the +public is compelled to receive hashes, instead of fresh dishes; and things +that come from a distance, notoriously possessing a charm, it gets the +original cookery of London, instead of that of their own country. + +Prejudice or not, confidence is not a bad thing when a conflict is +unavoidable. It may be well to respect your enemy down to the very moment +of making the charge; but, that commenced, the more he is despised, the +better. When Diogenes and Neb were told it would be necessary to go over +again the work so lately thought to be completed, neither of the negroes +manifested the least concern. Diogenes had been in the Crisis, as well as +Neb, and he had got to entertain a very Anglican sort of notion of French +prowess on the water; and, as for my own black, he would have followed +without the slightest remonstrance, wherever "Masser Mile please to lead." + +"They's only French," said Diogenes, in a philosophical sort of way; "we +can handle 'em like children." + +I would not discourage this notion, though I saw its folly. Telling our +two supporters to hold themselves ready for an attack, Marble and I left +them, to cogitate and commence the manner of proceeding. Whatever was +done, must be done that night; there being reason to think the ship would +get in somewhere, next day. + +The name of our prize-master was Le Gros. He was not aptly designated, +however, being a little, shrivelled, yellow-faced fellow, who did not seem +to be a Hercules at all. Nevertheless, unlike Sennit, he was all vigilance +and activity. He never left the deck, and, being so near in with the +coast, I felt pretty certain we should have his company above board all +night. Whatever was attempted, therefore, must be attempted in defiance +of his watchfulness. Nor was this all; additional prudence was necessary, +since we were so near the coast as greatly to increase the chance of our +being picked up by some other French cruiser, should we even escape from +this. Extreme caution was our cue, therefore, and Marble and I separated, +seemingly each to take his repose with a perfect understanding on all +these points. + +Mons. Le Gros paid no attention to the state-rooms, or to the +accommodations below. His whole care was bestowed on the ship. +Apprehension of falling in with some British cruiser, kept his eyes wide +open, and his gaze constantly sweeping the horizon, so far as the +obscurity would allow. I was incessantly on the alert myself, stealing up +from the cabin, as far as the companion-way, at least a dozen times in the +course of the night, in the hope of finding him asleep; but, on each +occasion, I saw him moving up and down the quarter-deck, in rapid motion, +armed to the teeth, and seemingly insensible to fatigue, and all the other +weaknesses of nature. It was useless to attempt to find him off his guard, +and worn out, Marble and myself fell into deep sleep, about three in the +morning, out of pure exhaustion. As for the two negroes they slept the +entire night, waiting our summons for their rallying to the work. Neb, in +particular, had all the absence of responsibility that distinguishes the +existence of a slave, feeling very much the same unconcern as to the +movements of the vessel, as any other human being feels in connection with +those of the earth in which he is a passenger. + +It was ten o'clock when I awoke, refreshed, but disappointed. Marble was +still snoring in his berth, and I was compelled to give him a call. I +could perceive there was a breeze, and that the ship was going through the +water fast; by her lurching, she was close hauled. It takes a seaman but a +minute or two to throw on his loose attire, and no time was lost on the +present occasion. While my mate and I were thus engaged, the former +happened to cast a look out of the cabin windows, which were open on +account of the warmth of the weather, and offered no obstruction to a long +view of the ocean directly in our wake. + +"Halloo, Miles!" Marble exclaimed; "by Jove, we are chased! Such is the +secret of Mr. Frog's being so much alive this fine morning. Yonder comes +a frigate, or my name is not Oloff Marble." + +A frigate there was, sure enough. She was about two leagues astern of us, +and resembled a pyramidal cloud, moving along the water, so completely +were her spars covered with canvass. That she was an Englishman was more +than probable, from the cruising ground, as well as from the fact of the +prize-crew running from her. In that day, no French ship-of-war loitered +long at any particular point, her enemies being so numerous as to render +pursuit certain, ere many hours could elapse. After determining these +facts in our minds, Marble and I went on deck. + +My first look was ahead. To my deep regret there lay the land, actually +within three leagues of us! The wind was fresh at north-east, and Monsieur +Le Gros appeared to be steering for a group of islands that lay a little, +and ever so little, on our lee bow. Brest was out of the question; if we +could get in with the land, among these islands, it was as much as we +could do, before the racer astern would be up to us. The Frenchmen were +evidently alarmed; an English prison-ship, with all its known horrors, +being very vividly placed before their eyes. Monsieur Le Gros screamed, +and gave twenty orders in a minute, while the other sixteen men made more +noise than would be heard among a thousand Americans. Heavens! what a +clamour these chaps kept up, and all about nothing, too, the ship having +every stitch of canvass on her that would draw. I felt like the Arab who +owned the rarest mare in the desert, but who was coming up with the thief +who had stolen her, himself riding an inferior beast, and all because the +rogue did not understand the secret of making the mare do her best. "Pinch +her right ear, or I shall overtake you," called out the Arab; and more +than twenty times was I disposed to trim the Dawn's sails, and send Neb to +the wheel, in order to escape the disgrace of being overhauled by the +frigate. There _was_ a chance for me, however, in this second recapture, +and I thought it preferable to let things take their course. My new +conquerors might be mystified, whereas, there was little hope for us, +should Monsieur Le Gros get in, after such an uproar. + +In little more than an hour's time, the Dawn began to shorten sail, +hauling up her courses and top-gallant-sails, rocks showing themselves +within half a mile of her. A large boat met as here, coming alongside, as +soon as certain who we were. The people in this boat were fishermen, and +were so much accustomed to all the movements of the coast, that they +understood the nature of the affair as soon as they were apprised of our +character. Of course they were eagerly questioned touching the possibility +of the Dawn's being carried in through any of the rocky-looking passages +that lay before us. Monsieur Le Gros looked very blank when he was told +that all his hopes lay in there being sufficient water in one channel, and +of that the fishermen confessed their own ignorance. If the noise and +confusion were annoying before these men came alongside, it was astounding +afterwards. All this time the frigate was drawing near, fast, and half an +hour would certainly bring her within gun-shot. There is something +intoxicating in a race. I felt a strong desire to get away from the +Englishman at the very moment I believed my chances for justice would be +worst in the hands of the French. Feeling the necessity of losing no time, +I now made a lively appeal to Monsieur Le Gros, myself, proposing that we +should both go in with the fishing-boat and examine the passage ourselves. +By using proper activity, the whole might be done in a quarter of an hour; +we should then know whether to carry the ship in, or to run on the rocks +and save what we could of the cargo, by means of lighters. + +Order on board ship is out of the question without coolness, silence and +submission. A fussy sailor is always a bad sailor; calmness and quiet +being the great requisites for the profession, after the general knowledge +is obtained. No really good officer ever makes a noise except when the +roar of the elements renders it indispensable, in order to be heard. In +that day, French ships of war did not understand this important secret, +much less French privateers. I can only liken the clamour that was now +going on in the Dawn's lee-gangway, to that which is raised by Dutch +fish-women, on the arrival of the boats from sea with their cargoes. To +talk of Billingsgate in comparison with these women, is to do the Holland +and Flemish ladies gross injustice, English phlegm being far more silent +than Dutch phlegm. No sooner was my proposition made than it was accepted +by acclamation, and the privateersmen began to pour into the boat, heels +over head, without order, and I may say without orders. Monsieur Le Gros +was carried off in the current, and, when the fishermen cast off, but +three Frenchmen were left in the ship; all the others had been swept away +by a zeal to be useful, that was a little quickened, perhaps, by the +horrors of an English prison-ship. + +Even Diogenes laughed at the random manner in which we were thus left in +possession of our own. There is no question that the French intended to +return; while there is no question it was also their intention to go. In +short, they were in a tumult, and acted under an impulse, instead of under +the government of their reasons. + +"You will have the complaisance, Mons. Wallingford," cried Le Gros, as the +boat started away from the ship's side, "to fill the top-sail, and run for +the passage, when we wave our hats." + +"Ay--ay," I answered; "leave it to me to fill the top-sails, and to give +the John Bulls the slip." + +This was said in French, and it drew cries of "Bon!" and of "Vive la +France!" from all in the boat. What the fellows thought, I will not +pretend to say; but if they thought they were to get on board the Dawn +again, they did not know the men they left behind them. As for the +Frenchmen who remained, Marble and I could have managed them alone; and I +was glad they were with us, since they could be made to pull and haul. + +The ship was under her three top-sails, spanker and jib, when Mons. Le +Gros thus singularly gave her up to my control; the main-yard lying +square. My first step was to fill the top-sail, and gather way on the +vessel. This was soon done; and, keeping away, I stood on towards the +rocks, which soon bore on our weather bow, determined to run as near them +as I dared, thinking to frighten the Englishman so much, as to induce him +to keep at arm's-length. I might cast away the ship, it is true; but even +this would be preferable to falling again into English hands, with all the +occurrences still so recent. A year or two later, the affair of the +Speedy's men might be forgotten; but while a thing is fresh, there is +always some danger of its creating feeling. At least, thus I reasoned, and +thus I acted. + +Once more I had the Dawn under my own orders; and, could I keep the +frigate out of gun-shot, I cared very little for Mons. Le Gros. At first, +the privateersmen supposed that, in filling away, I merely intended to +further their views; but, no sooner did they perceive the ship standing on +to leeward of the passage, than the truth seemed to flash on their +befogged faculties. This was not until the depth of water was ascertained +to be sufficient for their purposes; and such a flourishing of tarpaulins +and greasy caps as succeeded, I had not witnessed for many a day. All +these signals and calls, however, were disregarded; but away went the +Dawn, with her yards just rounded in a point, with the wind fairly abeam, +coasting along as near the islands as I thought it at all prudent to +venture. As for the frigate, she was still keeping her luff, in order to +get far enough to windward to make sure of her prey. At this moment, the +two ships might have been a league asunder. + +Mons. Le Gros was no sooner aware of the trick I had played him, than out +he dashed with his fishing-boat, making sail in chase, and helping his +dull craft along with half a dozen oars. Seeing this, I let the fore-sail +drop, and sheeted home and hoisted the main-top-gallant-sail; not that I +felt at all afraid of the boat, but because it was my wish to avoid +bloodshed, if possible. Among the other absurdities the French had +committed, in their haste to get away from the frigate, was that of +leaving six or eight muskets, with several cartridge-boxes, behind them. +With these weapons, it would have been easy for us to have given the +privateersmen such a hint, as would not fail to keep them at bay. Then I +always had my pistols, which were not only valuable implements, but were +double-barrelled and well loaded. Our only ground of alarm, therefore, +came from the Englishman. + +Possibly, Monsieur Le Gros thought differently; for his chase was +animated, and apparently in earnest. But, notwithstanding all his zeal, +the Dawn left him astern, going through the water at the rate of about six +knots. But the frigate was coming up at the rate of eight knots, making it +certain that she would get us under her guns in an hour or two at most, +unless some great advantage was obtained over her by means of the +complicated navigation, and shallow water. + +When at Bordeaux, the previous year, I had purchased a chart of the French +coast, with a book containing directions similar to those which are to be +found in our own "Coasting Pilot." As a matter of course, I had them both +with me, and I found them of great service on this occasion. The text +described the islands we were near as being separated by narrow channels +of deep water, in which the danger was principally owing to sunken rocks. +It was these rocks that had induced the fishermen to pronounce the +passages impracticable; and my coasting directions cautioned all +navigators to be wary in approaching them. The Dawn, however, was in +precisely the situation which might render these rocks of the last service +to her; and, preferring shipwreck to seeing my vessel in either English or +French hands, again, I determined to trust to the very dangers of the +navigation as my safeguard. I might go clear of the bottom, but it was +certain, if I kept outside, I could not escape from the frigate. An +accidental occurrence, in connection with the boat, favoured us, and I was +not slow to profit by the advantage it offered. Finding it impossible to +come up with the ship by keeping in her wake, Monsieur Le Gros had taken a +short cut, in the boat, between some islets that we were obliged to round, +and he actually came out ahead of us. Instead of endeavouring to close +with the ship, however, he led into an excessively narrow passage, making +furious gestures for us to follow. This was at the instant when the +frigate fired her first gun at us, the shot of which just fell a very +little short. Did we pass the channel in which Monsieur Le Gros had +carried the boat, we should fall to leeward of the whole group of islands, +--or _islets_, would be the better word,--when all would literally depend +on our heels. There was but a moment in which to decide; in another +minute, the ship would be past the opening, which could only be regained +by tacking, if it could be regained at all. I gave the order to luff. + +Our three Frenchmen, fancying themselves now certainly bound to _la belle_ +France, were as active as cats. Neb and Diogenes throwing their powerful +force on the braces with a good-will, too, we soon had the Dawn braced +sharp up, heading well to windward of the passage. Monsieur Le Gros was +delighted. Apparently, he thought all was right, again; and he led the +way, flourishing both hands, while all in the boat, fishermen inclusive, +were bawling, and shouting, and gesticulating, in a way that would +certainly have confused us, had I cared a straw about them. I thought it +well enough to follow the boat; but, as for their cries, they were +disregarded. Had Monsieur Le Gros seen fit to wait for the ship in the +narrowest part of the inlet, he might have embarrassed us; but, so far +from this, he appeared to be entirely carried away by the excitement of +the chase, and was as eager to push ahead, as a boy who was struggling to +be first in at the goal. + +It was a nervous instant when the Dawn's bow first entered the narrow +passage. The width, from rock to rock, speaking only of visible things, +might have been thirty fathoms; and this strait narrowed, rather than +widened, for several hundred feet, until it was reduced fully one-third. +The tide ran like a mill-tail, and it was, perhaps, lucky for us that +there was no time for reflection or irresolution; the aspect of things +being so serious as might well have thrown the most decided man into +uncertainty and doubt. The current sucked the vessel in, like the +Maelstrom, and we were whirling ahead at a rate that would have split the +ship from her keel to her top-timbers, had we come upon a sunken rock. The +chances were about even; for I regarded the pilotage as a very random sort +of an affair. We glanced on in breathless expectation, therefore; not +knowing but each instant would involve us in ruin. + +This jeopardy endured about five minutes. At the end of that brief space, +the ship had run the gauntlet for the distance of a mile, driven onward by +the current rather than by the wind. So tremendous was our velocity in the +narrowest part, that I actually caught myself grasping the rail of the +ship, as we glanced past the rocks, as if to keep myself from a fall. The +French gave a loud and general shout just as the boat issued out of this +race-way into a wide capacious bay, within the group of islands, which had +the appearance of forming a roadstead of some note. There was a battery on +the end of the last island, a light-house and a cluster of fishermen's +huts; all indicating that the place was one of considerable resort. + +Monsieur Le Gros was waiting for us, about two cable's-lengths from the +place where we issued into the bay, having considerately chosen an +anchorage for us, at a point commanded by the four six-and-thirty pounders +of the battery. The distance enabled me to look about. Within the range of +islands was a sort of sound, quite a league in width, and on this sound +the main coast presented several bays in which coasters were at anchor. +Most of the prominent points had small batteries, of no great force as +against a fleet, or even against a single heavy ship, but which were +sufficiently formidable to keep a sloop of war or a frigate at a +respectable distance. As all the guns were heavy, a vessel passing through +the middle of this sound would hardly be safe; more especially did the +gunners do their duty. By anchoring at the spot where the boat waited for +us, we at once gave up the ship to the privateersmen, the battery first +mentioned commanding that point completely. As good luck would have it, +however, an expedient offered, in the direction of the wind and tide, +which were opposed to each other, and I availed myself of the circumstance +as promptly as possible. + +Do our best, the Dawn could not fetch the spot where the boat had dropped +her kedge. We passed within hail of it, notwithstanding, and loud were the +calls to us to shorten sail and anchor, as we came within hearing. +Affecting to be anxious to get up to the precise point where the boat lay, +I mystified Monsieur Le Gros in my answers, telling him I would stand on a +short distance, or until I could fetch him, when I would tack. As this was +intelligible it satisfied my captors, though a hundred "_n'importes_" were +yelled after us; and "_n'importe_" it was, in fact, one spot being just as +good to anchor in as another, for half a league all round us. + +The Dawn did her duty that day; and there was occasion for it, the frigate +still continuing the chase. The circuit she had to make, and the berth she +thought it prudent to give the first battery, enabled us to gain on her +materially. When we passed the boat, the Englishman's upper sails were +visible on the outside of the island, flying along the rocks at a rate +that spoke well of his heels. He rounded the point when we were +mid-sound, but here the battery served us a good turn, for, instead of +hauling up close by the wind, the English were obliged to run off with the +wind free, to keep out of harm's way. Their presence, notwithstanding, was +probably of great service to the Dawn, for here had been a communication +between Monsieur Le Gros and the battery, by means of a small boat sent +from the latter, and we should have been very likely to have a messenger, +in the shape of a shot, sent after us, when it was seen we continued to +stand across for the main instead of tacking for the designated anchorage, +had not the men in the battery had the higher game of the frigate in view. +As soon as John Bull got within range, the gunners began to play on him, +but it was at a distance that rendered their fire next to useless. + +Any one in the least acquainted with the movements of ships, will +understand the advantage we now possessed. The Dawn was beating through a +good wide passage, with a young flood breasting her to windward, and a +steady six-knot breeze blowing. The passage between these islands and the +main was about four leagues long, while that which the fishermen had +wished us first to enter was near the middle of the group. We were already +a mile from the boat, and considerably to windward of her, the tide having +done that much for us, when Mons. Le Gros saw fit to lift his kedge, and +commence a new pursuit. He had the sagacity to see that we should soon be +obliged to tack, on account of the main coast, and to stand over towards +the island, again: accordingly, instead of following in our wake, he +profited by the set of the current, and pulled directly to windward, with +a view to cut us off. All this we very plainly saw, but we cared very +little for Mons. Le Gros and his boat. The ship could out-sail the last, +very easily, in such a breeze, and it was always in our power to tack in +mid-channel, instead of crossing her, or coming near her, at all. The +frigate gave me much more trouble. + +The Englishman, as I afterwards learned, was a French-built ship called +the Fortunée; or, as Jack termed her, now she had got to be designated in +the Anglo-Saxon dialect, the Fortu_nee_ which was liberally rendered into +the vernacular as the "Happy-Go-Lucky." She was an old ship, but an +exceedingly fast one, and her commander had rendered himself famous by the +manner in which he ventured about on the French coast. This was the third +time he had gone through this very sound in spite of the batteries; and +having some experience in the windings and turnings, he was now much +better able to get along scatheless, than on the two former occasions. As +soon as he thought himself at a safe distance from the six-and-thirties, +he hauled up, and made five short stretches near the main, where he had +much the best of the tide, and the whole strength of the breeze, and where +there was nothing to molest him; the usual roadstead being under the +island of course. + +The first hour sufficed to let me understand there was no chance of +escaping the frigate; if we continued to beat up through the passage, we +might reach its western end a little in advance of her it is true, but no +hope at all of getting away, would remain when we again reached the open +ocean, and she in-shore of us. In this dilemma, Marble made one of his +happy suggestions, my merit amounting to no more than seizing the right +moment, and carrying out his idea with promptitude. The passage first +named lay in a line with us, and we had every reason to believe the ship +could go through it. When we were invited to enter, the tide was not as +high by six feet, as it had now risen to be, and my mate suggested the +expedient of trying it, in going out. + +"The Englishman will never dare follow on account of the battery which +lies on the side of it," he added, "whereas the French will not fire at +us, believing us to be escaping from a common enemy." + +The whole force of what had been said flashed upon me, in an instant. I +set the tri-color over a British ensign, to cause the people of this +second battery to think us an English prize, and stood straight for the +pass, just without which lay a small brig at anchor. In order to make the +deception more complete, we hauled up our courses, and let run the +top-gallant halyards, as if ready to bring up. Seeing this, Mons. Le Gros +fancied we were about to anchor under the battery, and that we had hoisted +our flags to taunt the English, for caps and hats were waved in exultation +in the boat, then distant from us a quarter of a mile. We passed close to +the brig; which greeted us with acclamations and "_vives la France_," as +we swept by her. My eye was on the battery, the whole time. It was built +to command the roadstead, and without any reference to the pass, which no +enemy would be apt to attempt. It is true, two heavy guns bore on this +entrance, but they were in a detached work, that was never manned except +in emergencies. + +I drew a long breath, and felt a mountain removed from my very soul, as +the ship passed out of the range of the last gun in the little +semi-circle. The soldiers were making gestures to us to indicate we were +getting too far west for a good berth, but we heeded them not. Instead of +shortening sail, the fore and main tacks were boarded, and the +top-gallant-sails set. This revealed our intention, and the clamour on the +shore even reached the ship. Preparations were making to get a piece of +light artillery to bear on us, and some twenty gunners began to scamper +towards the detached battery. The whole thing was now reduced to a sheer +race. We passed the last battery ten minutes before the French could reach +it, the latter having to go round a considerable bay; and six minutes +later, we went out to sea, with the American ensign, and jacks, and +pennants flying at each mast-head, and wherever else such an emblem of +triumph could be shown! + + + +Chapter XVII. + + + + "O, I am out of breath in this fond chase! + The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace." + + Shakspeare. + + +Marble and I looked each other in the face, and then burst into a laugh, +as the French fired a single shot from the two-gun battery, which flew +beyond us, but which could scarcely hit us on account of some intervening +rocks. I altered the course of the ship in order to get a little more out +of the range; after this, we had nothing to fear from the French. The boat +did not attempt to follow us, and thus ended our communication with _le +Polisson_ and her people, a that time. As for la Fortunée, it would +require at least four hours for her to beat round the end of the cluster +of islands, and seeing the hopelessness of doing this in time to overtake +such a ship as the Dawn, her commander made a dash in at the unfortunate +brig, which he actually succeeded in cutting out from the roadstead, in +spite of all the defences of the place. The last I _heard_ of these +gentlemen, was the reports of the guns that were exchanged between the +battery and the frigate, while the last I _saw_ of them, was the smoke +that floated over the spot, long after the islands had sunk beneath the +horizon. The Dawn stood directly out to sea, with the wind still at the +northward, though it had drawn more through the pass in-shore. + +"Well, Miles," cried Marble, as he and I sat eating our dinner on deck, +where Neb had been ordered to serve it, "you know what I've always said of +your luck. It's proof ag'in every thing but Providence! Die you must and +will, some of these times; but, not until you've done something +remarkable. Sail with you, my boy! I consider your company a standing +policy of insurance, and have no sort of consarn about fortin, while I'm +under your orders. With any other man, I should be nothing but a bloody +hermit, instead of the dutiful son and affectionate uncle I am. But, what +do you mean to perform next?" + +"I have been thinking, Moses, our best step will be to shape our course +for Hamburg, whither we are bound. This northerly wind can't last long at +this season, and another south-wester would just serve our turn. In ten +days, or a fortnight, we might make our haven." + +"And then those French chaps that are attacking yonder kid of pork, as if +it were a wild beast; the fellows never saw good solid food before!" + +"Feed them well,--treat them well--and make them work. They would never +think of troubling us; nor do I suppose they know anything of navigation. +I see they smoke and chew; we will give 'em as much tobacco as their +hearts can wish, or their mouths hold; and this will keep them in +good humour." + +"And John Bull?" + +"Why, John is another sort of a person to deal with, certainly, I am not +sure that a third English cruiser would molest us. We can keep our own +secret concerning Sennit and his party; and we may not meet with another, +after all. My plan is to run close in with the English coast, and show our +colours boldly;--now, nine in ten of the British men-of-war will let us +pass unquestioned, believing we are bound to London, unless they happen to +have one of those pressing gentry, like Sennit, on board. I have often +been told that ships which pass close in with the English coast, generally +pass unquestioned; by the large craft, uniformly;--though they may have +something to apprehend from the brigs and cutters. Your small-fry always +give the most trouble, Moses." + +"We have not found it so this v'y'ge, Miles. However, you're not only +captain, but you're owner; and I leave you to paddle your own canoe. We +must go somewhere; and I will not say your plan is not as good as any I +can start, with thirty years more of experience." + +We talked the matter over, canvassing it in all its bearings, until it was +settled to adopt it. + +The ship was steered large, until the French coast was entirely sunk; and +then we trimmed her by the wind, heading up as near to our course as the +breeze would permit. Nothing occurred in the course of the remainder of +the day to produce either trouble or uneasiness, though my three Frenchmen +came to certain explanations with me, that at first menaced a little +difficulty. They refused to work; and I was compelled to tell them, I +should put them on board the first English vessel of war we met. This had +the desired effect; and, after an amicable discussion, I agreed to pay +them high wages on our arrival in a friendly port: and they agreed to +serve me as well as they knew how. Seven men were rather less than half a +crew for a vessel of the Dawn's size, but it was possible to get along +with that number. The steering was the hardest part of the duty--neither +of the Frenchmen being able to take his trick at the helm. We got along +with the necessary work, however; and so glad were we all to be rid of +both English and French, that I hazard little in saying, we would have +endured twice as much, cheerfully, could we be certain of meeting no more +of their cruisers. Providence had ordered matters very differently. + +That night the wind shifted again to the southward and westward. We +braced in the yards, and brought the ship to her course; but I thought it +best not to carry sail hard in the dark. Accordingly, I left orders to be +called at sunrise, Marble having the watch at that hour. When I came on +deck, in consequence of this summons, I found my mate examining the +horizon with some earnestness, as if be were looking for strangers. + +"We are a merry party this morning, Captain Wallingford," Marble cried +out, as soon as he saw me. "I have found no less than six sail in sight, +since the day dawned." + +"I hope that neither is a lugger. I feel more afraid of this Polisson, +just now, than of all the names in christendom. That fellow must be +cruising in the chops of the channel, and we are working our way well in +towards that part of the world." + +"I hope so too, sir; but this chap, out here at north-west has a +suspicious, lugger-like look. It may be that I see only the heads of his +top-sails, but they are amazingly like luggs!" + +I now took a survey of the ocean for myself. The vessel Marble distrusted, +I unhesitatingly pronounced to be a lugger; quite as likely the Polisson +as any other craft. The other four vessels were all ships, the five +forming a complete circle, of which the Dawn was in the centre. The +lugger, however, was some miles the nearest to us, while as to the +strangers, if they saw each other across the diameter of the circle at +all, it was as much as was possible. Under the circumstances, it struck me +our wisest way was to keep steadily on our course, like honest people. +Marble was of the same opinion, and to say the truth, there was little +choice in the matter, the ship being so completely surrounded. The worst +feature of the case was our position, which would be certain to draw all +the cruisers to the centre, and consequently to ourselves. + +Two hours produced a material change. All five of the strangers had closed +in upon us, and we were now able to form tolerably accurate notions of +their characters. The two astern, one on our larboard, and one on our +starboard quarter, were clearly heavy vessels and consorts, though of what +nation it was not yet so easy to decide. That they were consorts was +apparent by their signalling one another, and by the manner in which they +were closing; as they carried studding-sails, alow and aloft, they were +coming up with us fast, and in all probability would be alongside in two +or three hours more. + +Two of the ships ahead struck me as frigates, having their broadsides +exposed to us: we had raised one line of ports, but it was possible they +might turn out to be two-deckers; ships of war they were, beyond all +question, and I fancied them English from the squareness of their upper +sails. They, too, were consorts, making signals to each other, and closing +fast on opposite tacks. The lugger was no longer equivocal: it was the +Polisson, and she was standing directly for us, though it was ticklish +business, since the remaining ship, a corvette, as I fancied, was already +in her wake, carrying sail hard, going like a witch, and only about two +leagues astern. + +Monsieur Gallois had so much confidence in his heels, that he stood on, +regardless of his pursuer. I thought it best to put a bold face on the +matter, knowing that sufficient time might be wasted to enable the sloop +of war to get near enough to prevent the privateer from again manning us. +My principal apprehension was, that he might carry us all off, in revenge +for what had happened, and set fire to the ship. Against either of these +steps, however, I should offer all the resistance in my power. + +It was just ten o'clock when the Polisson ranged up abeam of us the second +time, and we hove-to. It was evident the French recognised us, and the +clamour that succeeded must have resembled that of Babel, when the people +began first to converse without making themselves understood. Knowing we +had no small boat, Monsieur Gallois lost no time, but lowering a yawl of +his own, he came alongside of us in person. As I had commanded the three +Frenchmen to remain below, he found no one on deck but Marble, Diogenes, +Neb and myself. + +"Parbleu, Monsieur Vallingfort!" exclaimed the privateersman, saluting me +very civilly notwithstanding appearances--"_c'est bien extraordinaire_! +Vat you do vid me men--eh! Put 'em in ze zea, _comme avec le Anglais_?" + +I was spared the necessity of any explanation, by the sudden appearance +of my own three prisoners, who disregarded my orders, and came rushing up +to their proper commander, open-mouthed and filled with zeal to relate all +that had passed. The whole three broke out at once, and a scene that was +sufficiently ludicrous followed. It was a continued volley of words, +exclamations, oaths, and compliments to the American character, so +blended, as to render it out of the question that Mons. Gallois could +understand them. The latter found himself obliged to appeal to me. I gave +a very frank account of the whole affair, in English; a language that my +captor understood much better than he spoke. + +Mons. Gallois had the rapacity of a highwayman, but it was singularly +blended with French politeness. He had not always been a privateersman--a +calling that implies an undue love of gold; and he was quite capable of +distinguishing between right and wrong, in matters in which his own pocket +had no direct concern. As soon as he comprehended the affair, he began to +laugh, and to cry "Bon!" I saw he was in a good humour, and not likely to +resent what had happened; and I finished my history in somewhat sarcastic +language, portraying Mons. Le Gros's complaisance in quitting the ship and +in piloting her about the bay, a little drily, perhaps. There were sundry +"_sacr-r-r-es_" and "_bêtes_" uttered the while; but all came out freely +and without anger, as if Mons. Gallois thought a good joke the next thing +to a good prize. + +"_Tenez, mon ami!_" he cried, squeezing my hand, as he looked round at the +corvette, now less than a league distant. "You are vat you Anglais call +'good fellow.' _J'admire votre esprit!_ You have escape _admirablement_, +and I shall have _vifs regrets_ now to 'ave _opportunité_ to _cultiver +votre connaissance. Mais_, I most laafs,--_mille pardons_,--you àve _non_ +too moch peep's, _mais c'est impossible d'abandonner mes compatriots. +Allons, mes enfants; au cânot_." + +This was the signal for the French to quit us; the three men I had shipped +taking their departure without ceremony. Mons. Gallois was the last in the +boat, of course; and he found time to squeeze my hand once more, and to +renew his "_vifs regrets_" at not having more leisure to cultivate my +acquaintance. The corvette was already so near, as to render it necessary +for the Polisson to be in motion; another time, perhaps, we might be more +fortunate. + +In this manner did I part from a man who had not scrupled to seize me in +distress, as he would a waif on a beach. By manning me, the prize-crew +would have fallen into the hands of the enemy; and, making a merit of +necessity, Mons. Gallois was disposed to be civil to those whom he could +not rob. Odd as it may seem, I felt the influence of this manner, to a +degree that almost reconciled me to the act before committed, although the +last was just as profligate and illegal as any that could well be +committed. Of so much more importance, with the majority of men, is manner +than matter; a very limited few alone knowing how to give to the last its +just ascendency. + +The Polisson was not long in gathering way, after her boat was hoisted in. +She passed, on the crest of a wave, so near, that it was easy to +distinguish the expressions of her people's faces, few of which discovered +the equanimity of that of their commander's; and to hear the incessant +gabbling that was kept up on board her, day and night, from "morn 'till +dewy eve." M. Gallois bowed complaisantly, and he smiled as amiably as if +he never had put a hand in another man's pocket; but his glass was +immediately turned towards the corvette, which now began to give him some +little uneasiness. Manning us, indeed, with that fellow surging ahead at +the rate he was, would have been quite out of the question. + +Being reduced to our old number of four, I saw no use in working ourselves +to death, by filling the top-sail, with the certainty the sloop-of-war +would make us round-to again. The Dawn, therefore, remained stationary, +wailing the issue with philosophical patience. + +"There is no use, Moses, in endeavouring to escape," I remarked; "we are +not strong-handed enough to get sail on the ship before the fellow will be +up with us." + +"Ay, and there goes his bunting, and a gun," answered the mate. "The white +English ensign, a sign the chap is under some admiral, or vice, or rear of +the white, while, if I mistake not, the two frigates show blue flags--if +so, 'tis a sign they're not consorts." + +The glass confirmed this, and we were left to suppose that all three +Englishmen did not belong to the same squadron. At this moment, the state +of the game was as follows:--The Dawn was lying-to, with her fore-course +up, main-sail furled, main-top-sail aback, and top-gallant yards on the +caps, jib and spanker both set. The Polisson was flying away on the crests +of the seas, close-hauled, evidently disposed to make a lee behind the two +frigates to windward, which we took for, and which it is probable she +_knew_ to be, French. The ships to leeward were passing; each other within +hail; the one to the eastward tacking immediately after, and coming up in +her consort's wake; both vessels carrying everything that would draw. The +ships to the southward, or the supposed Frenchmen, might then have been +two leagues from us, while those to leeward were three. As for the +corvette, her course seemed to lie directly between our masts. On she +came, with everything beautifully trimmed, the water spouting from her +hawse-holes, as she rose from a plunge, and foaming under her bows, as if +made of a cloud. Her distance from us was less than a mile. + +It was now that the corvette made signals to the ships to windward. They +were answered, but in a way to show the parties did not understand each +other. She then tried her hand with the vessels to leeward, and, +notwithstanding the distance, she succeeded better. I could see these two +frigates, or rather the one that led, sending questions and answers to the +corvette, although my best glass would hardly enable me to distinguish +their ensigns. I presume that the corvette asked the names of the English +vessels, communicated her own, and let the fact be known that the ships to +windward were enemies. + +A few minutes later, our affairs, as they were connected with the +sloop-of-war, came to a crisis. This ship now came on, close under our +lee, losing a little of her way in passing, an expedient probably thought +of to give her a little more time to put her questions, and to receive the +desired answers. I observed also, that she let go all her bow-lines, which +seemed much to deaden her way, of which there still remained sufficient, +notwithstanding, to carry her well clear of us. The following dialogue +then passed, the Englishman asking the questions, of course, that being a +privilege expressly appropriated to the public vessel on occasions of +this sort: + +"What ship's that?--and whither bound?" + +"Dawn, of New York, Miles Wallingford, from home to Hamburg." + +"Did not the lugger board you?" + +"Ay--ay--for the second time, in three days." + +"What is she called?--and what is her force?" + +"Le Polisson, of Brest--sixteen light guns, and about a hundred men." + +"Do you know anything of the ships to windward?" + +"Nothing, at all; but I suppose them to be French." + +"Pray, sir, why do you sup--um--um--ook--ook--" + +The distance prevented my hearing more. Away went the sloop, steadying her +bow-lines; the call piping belay, as each sail was trimmed to the officer +of the deck's fancy. In a few more minutes, we could not distinguish even +the shrill notes of that instrument. The corvette continued on in chase of +the lugger, regardless of the four other vessels, though the two to +windward now showed the _tri-color,_ and fired guns of defiance. + +Mons. Gallois soon after tacked, evidently disposed to stand for the +frigates of his country; when the sloop-of-war immediately went round, +also, heading up towards these very vessels, determined to cut off the +lugger, even if it were to be done by venturing within range of the shot +of her protectors. It was a bold manoeuvre, and deserved success, if it +were only for its spirit and daring. + +I thought, however, that the frigates of the tri-color paid very little +attention to the lugger. By altering their course a trifle, it would have +been in their power to cover her completely from the attempts of the +corvette; but, instead of doing this, they rather deviated a little the +other way, as if desirous of approaching the two ships to leeward, on the +side that would prevent their being cut off from the land. As neither +party seemed disposed to take any notice of us, we filled our top-sail, +and stood out of the circle, under easy canvass, believing it bad policy +to have an appearance of haste. Haste, however, was a thing out of our +power, it requiring time for four men to make sail. + +About eleven, or half-past eleven, the four frigates were distant from +each other rather more than a league--the Dawn being just then half a +league from the two Frenchmen, and rather more distant from the English. +Had an action then commenced, we might have been a mile out of the line of +fire. Curious to know the result, I stood on a short distance farther, and +backed my top-sail, to await the issue. I was influenced to take this +course, from an expectation that either party, after a conflict with an +equal, would be less disposed to molest a neutral, and that I might +possibly obtain assistance from the conqueror--few cruisers being found at +that day, without having foreigners on board, that they would be willing +to give to a vessel in distress. As for the account I meant to give to the +party to whom I intended to apply, it would depend on circumstances. If +the French remained on the spot, I could relate the affair with the +prize-crew of the Speedy; if the English, that of the Polisson. In neither +case would an untruth be told, though certain collateral facts might be, +and probably would have been, suppressed. + +The Frenchmen began to haul down their light sails, just as we hove-to. +This was done in a lubberly and irregular manner, as if little concert or +order prevailed on board them. Marble prowled out his remarks, deeming the +whole proceeding a bad omen for the _tri-color._ It is certain that the +French marine, in 1803, was not a service to boast of. The English used to +say, that they seldom got a French ship without working for her; and this +was probably true, as the nation is warlike, and little disposed to submit +without an effort. Still, France, at that day, could hardly be said to be +maritime; and the revolutions and changes she had undergone were not +likely to favour the creation of a good corps of naval officers. Brave men +were far more plenty than skilful seamen; and then came the gabbling +propensity, one of the worst of all human failings, to assist in producing +a disorderly ship. + +It was a pretty sight to see those four ships strip for the fight; +although the French canvass did not come down exactly according to rule. +The English, however, were in no hurry; the two tri-color men being under +their three top-sails, spankers, and jibs, with the top-gallant-sails +clewed up, before John Bull reduced even a royal. The latter, it will be +remembered, were to leeward, and had to close with their adversaries. In +doing this, they made one stretch so far in our direction, in the hope of +tacking in their enemies wakes, that I saw they would probably speak us. I +confess this was more than I had bargained for; but it was now too late to +run, which would probably have led to our seizure I determined, therefore, +to await the result with dignity. + +Just as the English ships were coming within musket-shot of the Dawn, the +French,--then distant about a mile and a half to the eastward, and half a +mile south of us,--wore ship, and came round with their heads to the +westward--or, in our direction. As this was coming nearer, instead of +moving from them, the Englishmen began to start their tacks and sheets, in +order to be ready. Their six royals were all flying at the same instant, +as were their flying-jibs; at the next, the canvass was rolled up, and out +of sight. Then, the yards, themselves, came down, and all the light sails +about the ships vanished as a bird shuts its wings. After this the courses +were hauled up snug, but the sails were not handed. By this time, the +leading ship of these two frigates was within a cable's-length of us, just +luffing up sufficiently to give our weather-quarter the necessary berth. + +"By George, Miles," Marble said, as he stood at my side, watching the +movements of the stranger, "that second frigate is the Speedy! I know her +by the billet, and the distance of her bridle-port from her head. You +never saw such a space for anchors, before! Then, you may see she is a +six-and-thirty, with white hammock-cloths. Who ever saw that twice, +at sea?" + +Marble was right! There came the Speedy, sure enough; and doubtless the +eyes of Lord Harry Dermond and his officers would be on us, in a very few +more minutes--the distance between the two frigates being less than two +cable's-lengths. In the mean time, I had to attend to the headmost vessel. + +"Can you tell me anything of the two ships to the southward of us?" +demanded the stranger, through his trumpet, without any preamble. + +"Nothing but what you see, sir. I _suppose_ them to be French; and _see_ +that they are coming after you," + +"_After_ us!" exclaimed the English captain, in a voice loud enough, and +now near enough, to be heard without the aid of the trumpet. "_After_ us, +indeed! Ready about--helms a-lee--main-top-sail haul, there! Hawl, +of all--" + +These orders came out at brief intervals, and in a voice of +thunder--producing prompt obedience. The consequence was, that this ship +tacked directly on our weather-beam, and so near us that one might have +thrown a biscuit aboard her. But she went round beautifully, scarce losing +her way at all; and away she started again, looking her enemies directly +in the face. + +"Now's our time to fill, Miles, and draw ahead. The Speedy will think +we've been spoken, and all's right. She must come here to tack into her +consort's wake, and a blind man could not avoid reading our name--she +would be so close. Man the lee-braces, and right the helm, Neb." + +Fill we did; and what is more, we put our helm up so much, as to leave +quite a cable's-length between us and the Speedy, when that ship got far +enough ahead to tack, or at the point which we had just left. I believe we +were recognised! Indeed, it is not easy to imagine otherwise; as the +commonest glass would enable the dullest eyes to read our name, were other +means of recognition wanting. But a sailor knows a ship by too many signs +to be easily deceived. + +The Speedy was in stays when we saw the proofs of our being known. Her +head-yards were not swung, but there she lay, like one who lingers, +uncertain whether to go or to remain. An officer was in her gangway, +examining us with a glass; and when the ship fell off so much as to bring +us out of the range of sight, he ran off and reappeared on the taffrail. +This was the junior lieutenant; I could plainly recognise him with my own +glass. Others soon joined him, and among them was Lord Harry Dermond, +himself. I fancied they even knew me, and that all their glasses were +levelled directly at my face. What a moment of intense uncertainty was +that! The ships were not a quarter of a mile apart, though the Dawn was +increasing that distance fast, and by paying broad off, the Speedy would +have me under her broadside. Where was her prize crew I Not in the Dawn, +or certainly Sennit would have communicated with his commander; and, if +not in the ship, they must be in the ocean! Or, were they prisoners below +and kept purposely out of sight? All these thoughts must have passed +through the minds of the English officers. + +I thought we were lost, again, but Providence once more saved us. All this +time the leading English frigate and the two Frenchmen were fast +approaching each other. In a few minutes, they must engage, while the +Speedy was left further and further astern of her consort. At this +critical instant, one of the Frenchmen fired a gun of defiance. That +report seemed to arouse the Speedy as from a trance. Her head-yards came +furiously round, all the officers vanished from her taffrail, and down +went both fore and main-tacks, and to the mast-head rose all three of her +top-gallant-sails. Thus additionally impelled, the lively craft dashed +ahead, and was soon in her allotted berth, or half a cable's-length astern +of the Black Prince, as I afterwards heard was the name of the commanding +English ship, on this occasion. I may as well add here, that the French +Commodore's ship was named La Désirée, and _her_ consort Le Cerf. Mons. +Menneval was senior officer of the French, and Sir Hotham Ward of the +English. I never knew the name of the other French captain; or, if I did, +I have forgotten it. + +My object had been, in bearing up, to get as far as possible from the +Speedy, in order that she might not recognise us, and especially that she +might not read the name on our stern. But this running off so much to +leeward, was not precisely the berth that one would wish to occupy, when a +sea-fight is going on directly to windward, and within half gun-shot. No +sooner was my Lord Harry Dermond in motion again, therefore, than we +hauled the Dawn up with her head to the westward, with a view to get as +soon as possible out of the probable range of the fire. It was true, the +combatants might vary their manoeuvres, so as to render all parts of the +periphery of a certain circle around them, anything but agreeable; but the +chances were greatly in favour of the battle's beginning, with one party +to windward of the other. + +Our ship behaved well on this occasion, getting out of the way with +sufficient rapidity. While this was in the course of execution, I had an +opportunity to look after the corvette and the lugger. The last was still +leading, having managed, by means of short tacks, to work up considerably +to windward of the two French frigates. Here she had made a last tack to +the eastward, intending to run for the coast. The sloop-of-war was still +in her wake, and was following on her heels, at a rapid rate. + + + +Chapter XVIII. + + + + "You and I have known, sir." + "At sea, I think." + "We have, sir." + "You have done well by water." + "And you by land." + + Antony and Cleopatra. + + +The reader will understand that I offer to his view a shifting panorama. +As soon as the Dawn had got about a mile and a half from the English +frigates, a distance that was a little increased by the advance of the +last towards their enemies, we again backed our top-sails, for I had an +ungovernable desire to be a spectator of what was to follow. This feeling +was common to all four of us, it being next to impossible to get either +Neb, or Diogenes, to pull a rope, for gazing at the frigates. As for +steering, it would have been out of the question, I really believe, as no +one among us could keep his eyes long enough from the combatants to look +after our own ship. + +Some persons may think it was foolish not to make the most of our time in +endeavouring to get as far as possible from the Speedy. Perhaps it was; +but, two miles distant, there was really less to apprehend than might at +first appear. It was not probable the English would abandon the French +vessels as long as they could stick by them, or, until they were captured; +and I was not so completely ignorant of my trade as to imagine that +vessels like those of la Grande Nation, which were in sight, were to be +taken without doing their adversaries a good deal of harm. Then, the +prizes themselves would require looking after, and there were many other +chances of our now going scot-free, while there was really very small +ground of danger. But, putting aside all these considerations, curiosity +and interest were so active in us all, as to render it almost morally +impossible we should quit the place until the battle was decided. I am not +absolutely certain the Dawn _would_ have moved, had we been disposed to +make her. With these brief explanations, then, we will turn our attention +exclusively to the frigates. + +By the time we had got the Dawn just where we wished her to be, the +combatants were drawing quite near to each other. The Speedy had carried +sail so long, as to be a little to windward of her consort's wake, though +half a cable's-length astern of her. The French were in still closer +order, and they would soon be far enough advanced to bring the leading +ship on each side, under fire. I supposed the opposing vessels would pass +about a cable's-length apart. All four were under their top-sails, jibs, +and spankers, with the courses in the brails. The Black Prince and the +Speedy had their top-gallant-sails clewed up, while la Désirée and le Cerf +had theirs still sheeted home, with the yards on the caps. All four +vessels had sent down royal-yards. This was fighting sail, and everything +indicated that Monsieur Menneval intended to make a day of it. + +The first gun was fired, on this occasion, from the Désirée, the leading +French ship. It was directed at the Black Prince, and the shot probably +told, as Sir Hotham Ward immediately kept away, evidently with a desire to +escape being raked. The French did the same to keep square with their +adversaries, and the four vessels now ran on parallel lines, though going +different ways, and a short cable's-length asunder. La Désirée followed up +her single gun with each division as it would bear, until her whole +broadside was delivered. The Black Prince stood it all without answering, +though I could see that she was suffering considerably, more especially +aloft. At length Sir Hotham Ward was heard in the affair. He let fly his +whole broadside, almost simultaneously; and a spiteful, threatening roar +it was. The smoke now began to hide his ship, though la Désirée, by moving +towards us, kept ahead of her own sulphurous canopy. + +The Speedy soon opened on the French Commodore; then, by the roar astern, +I knew Le Cerf was at work in the smoke. All four ships shivered their +top-sails, to pass more slowly; and there was a minute during which, as it +appeared to me, all four actually stopped under the fiery cloud they had +raised, in order to do each other all the harm they could. The Frenchmen, +however, soon issued from behind the curtain, and the cessation in the +firing announced that the ships had parted. I could not see much of the +English, at first, on account of the smoke; but their antagonists came out +of the fray, short as it had been, with torn sails, crippled yards, and Le +Cerf had her mizen top-mast actually hanging over to leeward. Just as I +got a view of this calamity, I caught a glimpse of the Black Prince, +close-hauled, luffing up athwart the wake of her enemies, and manifestly +menacing to get the wind. The Speedy followed with the accuracy of +clock-work, having rather closed with her leader, instead of falling +farther behind. Presently, the Black Prince tacked; but, in so doing, down +came her main-top-gallant-mast, bringing with it the yard and the sail, as +a matter of course. This was a sign that Mr. Menneval had not been +firing a salute. + +The French stood on, after this first rude essay with their enemies, for +several minutes, during which time we could see their people actively, but +irregularly, employed, in clearing away the wrecks, stoppering rigging, +and otherwise repairing damages. Le Cerf, in particular, was much troubled +with the top-mast that was dangling over her lee-quarter; and her people +made desperate and tolerably well-directed efforts to get rid of it. This +they effected; and about ten minutes after the firing had ceased, the +French ships put their helms up, and went off to the northward, dead +before the wind, as if inviting their enemies to come on and fight it out +fairly in that manner, if they felt disposed to pursue the affair +any farther. + +It was time something of this sort was done, for the delay had brought all +four of the vessels so far to the westward, as to leave them within a mile +of the Dawn; and I saw the necessity of again getting out of the way. We +filled and stood off, as fast as possible. It was time something of the +sort was done, in another sense, also. When M. Menneval bore up, his +antagonists were closing fast on his weather-quarter, and unless he meant +to fight to leeward, it was incumbent on him to get out of the way, in +his turn. + +Sir Hotham Ward, however, was too skilful a seaman to neglect the +advantage Mons. Menneval had given him. The instant the French kept away, +he did the same; but instead of falling broad off before the wind, he +luffed again in time, not having touched a brace, and crossed the wakes of +his enemies, giving a most effective broadside into the cabin-windows of +Le Cerf. To my surprise, La Desiree held on her course, until the Speedy +had repeated the dose. The English then wore short round, and were +seemingly on the point of going over the same thing, when Mons. Menneval, +finding this a losing game, hauled up, firing as his guns bore, and Le +Cerf did the same, with her head the other way, destroying everything like +concert in their movements. The English closed, and, in a minute, all four +of the ships were enveloped in a common cloud of white smoke. All we could +now see, were the masts, from the trucks down, sometimes as low as the +tops, but oftener not lower than the top-sail-yards. The reports of the +guns were quite rapid for a quarter of an hour, after which they became +much less frequent, though a hundred pieces of ordnance were still at work +behind that cloudy screen. + +Several shot flew in our direction; and two actually passed between our +masts. Notwithstanding, so keen was the interest we continued to feel, +that the top-sail was again backed, and there we lay, lookers-on, as +indifferent to the risks we ran, as if we had been ashore. Minute passed +after minute, until a considerable period had been consumed; yet neither +of the combatants became fairly visible to us. Occasionally a part of a +hull pushed itself out of the smoke, or the wind blew the latter aside; +but at no time was the curtain sufficiently drawn, to enable us to tell to +which nation the vessel thus seen belonged. The masts had disappeared,-- +not one remaining above the smoke, which had greatly enlarged its +circle, however. + +In this manner passed an hour. It was one of the most intensely +interesting of my whole life; and to me it seemed a day, so eager was I to +ascertain some result. I had been several times in action, as the reader +knows; but, then, the minutes flew: whereas, now, this combat appeared +drawn out to an interminable length. I have said, an hour thus passed +before we could even guess at the probable result. At the end of that +time, the firing entirely ceased. It had been growing slacker and slacker +for the last half-hour, but it now stopped altogether. The smoke which +appeared to be packed on the ocean, began to rise and disperse; and, +little by little, the veil rose from before that scene of strife. + +The vessel first seen by us was our old acquaintance, the Speedy. All +three of her top-masts were gone; the fore, just below the cross-trees; +and the two others near the lower caps. Her main-yard had lost one +yard-arm, and her lower rigging and sides were covered with wreck. She had +her fore-sail, mizen, and fore-stay-sail, and spanker set, which was +nearly all the canvass she could show. + +Our eyes had barely time to examine the Speedy, ere the dark hull of Le +Cerf made its appearance. This ship had been very roughly +treated,--nothing standing on board her, twenty feet from the deck, but +her foremast: and the head of that was gone, nearly down to the top. The +sea all around her was covered with wreck; and no less than three of her +boats were out, picking up men who were adrift on the spars. She lay about +a cable's-length from the Speedy, and appeared to be desirous of being +still farther off, as she had no sooner got her boats up, than she dropped +her fore-sail, and stood off dead before it. + +It was in watching the movements of Le Cerf, that we first got a glimpse +of La Désirée. This ship reappeared almost in a line with her consort; +and, like her, steering off before the wind. Their common object seemed to +be, to get within close supporting distance of each other, and to increase +the space between them and their enemies. Both these vessels had the +tri-colored flag flying at the stumps of their masts. As respects the +last, however, La Désirée was a little better off than her consort--having +her foremast and main-mast standing entire;--though her mizen-mast was +gone, close to the deck. What was a very bad affair for her, her fore-yard +had been shot away in the slings, the two inner ends lying on the +forecastle, while the yard-arms were loosely sustained by the lifts. This +ship kept off under her main-sail and fore-stay-sail. + +The Black Prince was the last to get clear of the smoke. She had +everything in its place, from her top-mast cross-trees, down. The three +top-gallant-masts were gone, and the wrecks were already cleared; but all +the top-sail-yards were on the caps, and her rigging, spars and tops, were +alive with men; as, indeed, were those of the Speedy. This was the secret +of the cessation in the action;--the two English frigates having turned +their hands up to secure their spars, while the Frenchmen, by running off +dead before the wind, were in positions not to bring a broadside gun to +bear; and the cabin-chasers of a frigate were seldom of much use in that +day, on account of the rake of the stern. It always appeared to me, that +the Spaniards built the best ships in this respect,--the English and +Americans, in particular, seeming never to calculate the chances of +running away. I do not say this, in reference to the Spanish ships, +however, under any idea that the Spanish nation wants courage,--for a +falser notion cannot exist,--but, merely to state their superiority in one +point of naval architecture, at the very moment when, having built a fine +ship, they did not know how to make use of her. + +The first ten minutes after the four combatants were clear of the smoke, +were actively employed in repairing damages, on the part of the French +confusedly, and I make no doubt clamorously; on that of the English with +great readiness and a perfect understanding of their business. +Notwithstanding this was the general character of the exertions of the +respective parties, there were exceptions to the rule. On board le Cerf, +for instance, I observed a gang of men at work clearing the ship from the +wreck of the main-mast, who proceeded with a degree of coolness, vigour +and method, which showed what materials were thrown away in that service, +for want of a good system; and chiefly, as I shall always think, because +the officers did not understand the immense importance of preserving +silence on board a crowded vessel. The native taciturnity of the English, +increased by the social discipline of that well-ordered--perhaps +over-ordered--nation, has won them as many battles on the ocean, as the +native loquacity of their enemies--increased possibly during the reign of +_les citoyens_ by political exaggeration--has lost. It is lucky for us, +that the American character inclines to silence and thoughtfulness, in +grave emergencies: we are noisy, garrulous, and sputtering, only in +our politics. + +Perceiving that the storm was likely to pass to leeward, we remained +stationary a little time, to watch the closing scene. I was surprised at +the manner in which the Black Prince held aloof after the Speedy had bore +up and was running down in the track of her enemies, sheering first upon +one quarter of le Cerf, and then on the other, pouring in a close and +evidently a destructive fire. At length Sir Hotham Ward bore up, and went +off before the wind also, moving three feet to the Speedy's two, in +consequence of being able to carry all three of her top-sails. It would +seem that Monsieur Menneval was not satisfied with the manner in which his +consort was treated; for, instead of waiting to be assailed in the same +way, he put his helm to port and came by the wind, delivering a broadside +as his ship luffed, that soon explained the reason of the Black Prince's +delay. That ship had been getting up preventers to save her masts, and +something important must have been cut by this discharge from la Desiree, +as her main-mast went immediately after she received the fire, dragging +down with it her mizen-top-mast. The English ship showed stuff, however, +under circumstances so critical. Everything on the foremast still drew, +and she continued on, heading direct for her enemy, nor did she attempt to +luff until within two hundred yards of her, when she came by the wind +slowly and heavily; a manoeuvre that was materially aided by the +fore-top-mast's following the spars aft, just as her helm must have been +put to-port. Le Cerf finding the battle was again to be stationary, also +came by the wind, and then all four of the ships went at it again, as +ardently as if the affair had just commenced. + +It would not be easy to relate all the incidents of this second combat. +For two hours the four ships lay within a cable's-length of each other, +keeping up as animated a contest as circumstances would allow. I was +particularly struck with the noble behaviour of the Black Prince, which +ship was compelled to fire through the wreck of her masts notwithstanding +which, she manifestly got the best of the cannonading, as against Tier +particular antagonist, la Desiree. I cannot say that either of the four +vessels failed of her duty, though, I think, as a whole, Sir Hotham Ward +showed the most game; probably from the fact that he had the most need of +it. Encumbered by so much wreck, of which it was impossible to get rid, +while exposed to so heavy a fire, the Black Prince, however, was finally +dropped by her adversary, la Desiree drawing gradually ahead, until +neither of those two vessels could bring a gun to bear. The English now +turned to, to clear away wreck again, while the Frenchman bent a new +fore-course, and a new spanker; those that had been standing being +reduced to rags. + +The Speedy and Cerf had not been idle the while. The French vessel played +her part manfully, nor was there much to choose between them, when the +latter wore round, and followed her consort, exchanging a fire with the +Black Prince in passing her. + +Had not the real superiority of the English over the French on the ocean, +now come in play, this combat would have been a drawn battle, though +accompanied by the usual characteristics of such struggles, at the close +of the last and the beginning of the present century; or the latter +considering an escape ti sort of victory. But both parties were reduced to +the necessity of repairing damages, and this was the work to prove true +nautical skill. Any man may load and fire a gun, but it needs a trained +seaman to meet the professional emergencies of warfare. A clodhopper might +knock a mast out of a vessel, but a sailor must replace it. From the +beginning of this affair, all of us in the Dawn had been struck with the +order, regularity and despatch with which the Black Prince and Speedy had +made and shortened sail, and the quickness and resource with which they +had done all that seamanship required in securing wounded spars and torn +sails; while, there had been no end to Marble's sneers and comments on the +bungling confusion of the French. This difference now became doubly +apparent, when there was no smoke nor any cannonading to divert the +attention of the respective crews. In half an hour the Black Prince was +clear of the wreck, and she had bent several new sails, while the +difficulties on board her antagonist appeared just then to be at their +height. This same difference existed between the two other vessels, +though, on the whole, le Cerf got out of her distress sooner and more +skilfully than her consort. As to the Speedy, I must do my old +acquaintance, Lord Harry Dermond, the justice to say, that he both fought +his ship, and repaired his damages, in a highly seaman-like manner. I'll +answer for it, the Hon. Lieut. Powlett had not much to do with either. He +had much better been in his mother's drawing-room, that day, and permitted +a more fitting man to fill his place. Sennit was then on his way to +Barbadoes, however, nor do I believe your master of a press-gang ever does +much before an enemy. + +Fully two hours passed, during which the combatants were busy in repairing +damages. At the end of this time, La Desirée and le Cerf had drawn more +than a mile to the eastward of the English ships; the latter following +them, as soon as clear of their wrecks, but under diminished sail. The +Black Prince had actually got up three spare top-masts, in the interval, +and was now ready to set their sails. The Speedy was less active, or less +skilful, though she, too, had not been idle. Then the English drove fast +towards their enemies. Mons. Menneval bore up in good season, this time, +edging away, and opening the fire of both ships on his adversaries, when +they were about half a mile distant. The effect of this early movement was +soon apparent, it being a great mistake to reserve a ship's fire, as +against an enemy that approaches nearly bows on. M'Donough owed his +victory in Plattsburg Bay, to having improved so favourable a chance; and +the French were beaten at the Nile, because they did not; though Nelson +probably would have overcome them, under any circumstances; the energy +imparted by one of his character, more than counterbalancing any little +advantage in tactics. + +On the present occasion, we could see the fire of the French taking effect +on the Black Prince's spars, as soon as they opened her batteries. As the +mattter was subsequently explained in the official account, that ship's +lower masts were badly wounded before she sent up the new top-masts, and, +receiving some further injuries, stick began to come down after stick, +until nothing was left of all her hamper, but three stumps of lower masts, +the highest less than twenty feet above the deck. Sir Hotham Ward was now +in the worst plight he had been, in that day, his ship being unable to +advance a foot, her drift excepted, until everything was cut away. To the +landsman it may appear a small job to cut ropes with axes, and thus +liberate a vessel from the encumbrance and danger of falling spars; but +the seaman knows it is often a most delicate and laborious piece of duty. +The ocean is never quiet; and a vessel that is not steadied by the +pressure of her sails, frequently rolls in a way to render it no slight +task even to maintain one's footing on her decks; frigates and ships of +the line frequently proving more inconvenient than smaller vessels, under +such circumstances. + +There was one fortunate occurrence to the British, connected with this +disaster. The French had been so thoroughly bent on dismasting the Black +Prince, that they paid little attention to the Speedy; that ship actually +passing a short distance to windward of her consort, unnoticed and +unharmed. As the French were going to leeward the whole time, it enabled +the Speedy to get out of the range of their guns, before she bore up. As +soon as this was effected, she followed her enemies, under twice as much +canvass as they carried themselves. Of course, in less than half an hour, +she was enabled to close with le Cerf, coming up on one of her quarters, +and opening a heavy fire close aboard her. All this time, the Black Prince +remained like a log upon the water, trying to get clear of her wreck, the +combat driving slowly away from her to leeward. Her men worked like ants, +and we actually heard the cheers they raised, as the hull of their ship +forged itself clear of the maze of masts, yards, sails, and rigging, in +which it had been so long enveloped. This was no sooner done, than she let +fall a sail from her sprit-sail-yard, one bent for the occasion, and a +top-gallant-sail was set to a light spar that had been rigged against the +stump of the main-mast; the stick that rose highest from her deck. + +As the battle, like a gust in the heavens, was passing to leeward, Marble +and I determined to fill, and follow the combatants down, the course being +precisely that we wished to steer. With a view, however, to keep out of +the range of shot, we hauled the Dawn up to the eastward, first, intending +to keep her away in the wake of the Black Prince. Of course we were in no +hurry, it now being in our power to go six feet to that ship's one. + +In executing our purpose, we passed close to the wreck of the English +frigate's spars. There they were rolling about on the troubled water, and +we actually saw the body of a man caught in some of the rigging, as the +sea occasionally tossed it to the surface. The poor fellow had probably +gone over with the mast and been drowned before assistance could be +rendered. With an enemy escaping, man-of-war's-men are not very particular +about picking up the bodies of their dead. + +I did not venture to run the Dawn directly down in the Englishman's wake, +but we kept her off and on, rather, taking good care not to go within a +mile of her. All this time the Speedy was playing upon the Cerf's quarter. +The latter ship becoming too crippled to luff, while Mons. Menneval was +travelling off to leeward, unmolested, having obtained an advantage in the +way of speed, that he was unwilling to put in any jeopardy, by coming +again under fire. This officer did not want for spirit, but the French had +got to be so accustomed to defeat, in their naval encounters with the +English, that, like several other nations on the land, they Had begun to +look upon victory as hopeless. The Cerf was very nobly fought. +Notwithstanding the disadvantages under which she laboured, that ship held +out until the Black Prince had actually given her a close broadside on her +larboard quarter; the Speedy being kept the whole time on her starboard, +with great skill, pouring in a nearly unresisted fire. The Cerf struck +only as she found that the battle was to be two to one, and under so many +other disadvantages, in the bargain. + +This closed the affair, so far as the fighting was concerned. La Desiree +standing on unmolested, though, as I afterwards learned, she was picked up +next morning by a homeward-bound English two-decker, hauling down her +colours without any resistance. + +The reader may feel some curiosity to know how we fell on board the Dawn, +during the five hours that elapsed between the firing of the first and the +last guns, on this occasion; what was said among us, and how we proceeded +as soon as the victory was decided. The last he will learn, in the +regular course of the narrative; as for the first, it is soon told. It was +not easy to find four men who were more impartial, as between the +combatants, than those in the Dawn. My early preferences had certainly +been in favour of England, as was very generally the case among all the +better-educated Americans of my period, at least as low down as the war of +1812. But going beyond the scene of internal political discussion, and +substituting observation for the eulogies and sophisms of the newspapers, +had wrought divers changes in my opinion. England was then no more to me +than any other nation; I was not of the French school of politics, +however, and kept myself as much aloof from one of these foreign schools +of political logicians as from the other. I may be said to have been born +a Federalist; but this change of sentiment had prevented my ever giving a +Federal vote since attaining my majority. + +Marble had entertained a strong dislike for England, ever since the +Revolution. But, at the same time, he had inherited the vulgar contempt of +his class for Frenchmen; and I must own that he had a fierce pleasure in +seeing the combatants destroy each other. Had we been near enough to +witness the personal suffering inflicted by the terrible wounds of a naval +combat, I make no doubt his feelings would have been different; but, as +things were, he only saw French and English ships tearing each other to +pieces. During the height of the affair, he observed to me:--"If this +Monsieur Gallois, and his bloody lugger, could only be brought into the +scrape, Miles, my mind would be contented. I should glory in seeing the +corvette and the Polisson scratching out each other's eyes, like two +fish-women, whose dictionaries have given out." + +Neb and Diogenes regarded the whole thing very much as I suppose the +Caesars used to look upon the arena, when the gladiators were the most +blood-thirsty. The negroes would laugh, cry "golly!" or shake their heads +with delight, when half-a-dozen guns went off together; receiving the +reports as a sort of evidence that crashing work was going on, on board +the vessels. But I overheard a dialogue between these two children of +Africa, that may best explain their feelings: + +"Which you t'ink whip, Neb?" Diogenes asked, with a grin that showed +every ivory tooth in his head. + +"I t'ink 'em bot' get it smartly," answered my fellow. "You see how a +Speedy make quick work, eh?" + +"I wish 'em go a _leetle_ nearer, Neb.--Some shot nebber hit, at all." + +"Dat always so, cook, in battle. Dere! dat a smasher for John Bull!" + +"He won't want to press more men just now. Eh! Neb?" + +"Now you see Johnny Crepaud catch it! Woss! Dat cracks 'e cabin winders!" + +"What dat to us, Neb? S'pose he eat one anoder, don't hurt us!" + +Here the two spectators broke out into a loud fit of laughter, clapping +their hands, and swinging their bodies about, as if the whole thing were +capital fun. Diogenes was so much delighted when all the Black Prince's +spars went, that he actually began to dance; Neb regarding his antics with +a sort of good-natured sympathy. There is no question that man, at the +bottom, has a good deal of the wild beast in him, and that he can be +brought to look upon any spectacle, however fierce and sanguinary, as a +source of interest and entertainment. If a criminal is to be executed, we +always find thousands, of both sexes and all ages, assembling to witness a +fellow-creature's agony; and, though these curious personages often have +sentimental qualms during the revolting spectacle itself, they never turn +away their eyes, until satisfied with all that there is to be seen of the +terrible, or the revolting. + +A word must be added concerning an acquaintance-Monsieur Gallois. Just as +the Black Prince's masts went, I saw him, a long way to windward, +stretching in towards the coast, and carrying sail as hard as his lugger +would bear. The corvette was still close at his heels; and Marble soon +after drew my attention towards him, to observe the smoke that was rising +above the sloop-of-war. The distance was so great, and the guns so light, +that we heard no reports; but the smoke continued to rise until both +vessels went out of sight, in the south-western board. I subsequently +learned that the lugger escaped, after all. She was very hard pressed, +and would have been captured, had not the English ship carried away her +main-top-gallant-mast, in her eagerness to get alongside. To that +accident, alone, did M. Gallois owe his escape. I trust he and M. le Gros +had a happy meeting. + + + +Chapter XIX. + + + + "The sea wax'd calm, and we discovered + Two ships from far making amain to us, + Of Corinth that, of Epidaurus this: + But on they came,--O, let me say no more! + Gather the sequel by that went before." + + Comedy of Errors. + + +It was high time for the Dawn to be doing. Of all the ships to leeward, +the Speedy, the vessel we had most reason to apprehend, was in the best +condition to do us harm. It was true that, just then, we might outsail +her, but a man-of-war's crew would soon restore the balance of power, if +it did not make it preponderate against us. I called to my mate, and we +went aft to consult. + +"It will not do for us to remain any longer here, Moses," I began; "the +English are masters of the day, and the Speedy's officers having +recognised us, beyond all doubt, she will be on our heels the moment +she can." + +"I rather think, Miles, her travelling, for some hours to come, is over. +There she is, however, and she has our crew on board her, and it would be +a good thing to get some of them, if possible. If a body had a boat, now, +I might go down with a flag of truce, and see what tarms could be made." + +I laughed at this conceit, telling Marble he would be wise to remain where +he was. I would give the Speedy four hours to get herself in tolerable +sailing trim again, supposing her bent on pursuit. If in no immediate +hurry, it might occupy her four-and-twenty hours. + +"I think she may be disposed to follow the other French frigate, which is +clearly making her way towards Brest," I added, "in which case we have +nothing to fear. By George! there goes a gun, and here comes a shot in our +direction--you can see it, Moses, skipping along the water, almost in a +line between us and the frigate.--Ay, here it comes!" + +All this was literally true. The Speedy lay with her bows towards us, and +she had suddenly fired the shot to which I alluded, and which now came +bounding from wave to wave, until it struck precisely in a line with the +ship, about a hundred yards distant. + +"Halloo!" cried Marble, who had levelled his glass towards the +frigates.--"There's the deuce to pay down there, Miles--one boat pulling +this-a-way, for life or death, and another a'ter it. The shot was intended +for the leading boat, and not for us." + +This brought my glass down, too. Sure enough, there was a small boat +pulling straight for us, and of course directly to windward of the +frigate; the men in it exerting every nerve. There were seven seamen in +this boat; six at the oars, and one steering. The truth flashed on me in +a moment. These were some of our own people, headed by the second-mate, +who had availed themselves of the circumstance of one of the Speedy's +boats being in the water, without a crew, to run away with it in the +confusion of the moment. The Black Prince had taken possession of the +prize, as we had previously noted, and that with a single boat, and the +cutter in pursuit appeared to me to be coming from the Frenchman. I +immediately acquainted Marble with my views of the matter, and he seized +on the idea eagerly, as one probable and natural. + +"Them's our fellows, Miles!" he exclaimed; "we must fill, and meet 'em +half-way!" + +It was certainly in our power to lessen the distance the fugitives had to +run, by standing down to meet the leading boat. This could not be done, +however, without going within reach of the English guns; the late +experiment showing unanswerably, that we lay just without the drop of +their shot, as it was. I never saw men in a greater excitement, than that +which now came over us all in the Dawn. Fill we did immediately; that, at +least, could do no harm, whereas it might do much good. I never supposed +for a moment the English were sending boats after us, since, with the +wind that was blowing, it would have been easy for the Dawn to leave them +miles behind her, in the first hour. Each instant rendered my first +conjecture the most likely to be true. There could be no mistaking the +exertions of the crews of the two boats; the pursuers seemingly doing +their best, as well as the pursued. The frigate could no longer fire, +however, the boats being already in a line, and there being equal danger +to both from her shot. + +The reader will understand that large ships seldom engage, when the ocean +will permit it, without dropping one or more of their boats into the +water; and that warm actions at sea rarely occur, without most of the +boats being, more or less, injured. It often happens that a frigate can +muster only one or two boats that will swim, after a combat; and +frequently only the one she had taken the precaution to lower into the +water, previously to engaging. It was owing to some such circumstance that +only one boat followed the fugitives in the present instance. The race +must necessarily be short; and it would have been useless to send a second +boat in pursuit, could one be found, after the first two or three +all-important minutes were lost. + +The Dawn showed her ensign, as a sign we saw our poor fellows struggling +to regain us, and then we filled our main-top-sail, squaring away and +standing down directly for the fugitives. Heavens! how that main-yard went +round, though there were but three men at the braces. Each of us hauled +and worked like a giant. There was every inducement of feeling, interest +and security to do so. With our present force, the ship could scarcely be +said to be safe; whereas, the seven additional hands, and they our own +people, who were straining every nerve to join us, would at once enable us +to carry the ship direct to Hamburg. + +Our old craft behaved beautifully. Neb was at the wheel, the cook on the +forecastle, while Marble and I got ropes cleared away to throw to the +runaways, as soon as they should be near enough to receive them. Down we +drove towards the boat, and it was time we did, for the cutter in pursuit, +which pulled ten oars, and was full manned, was gaining fast on the +fugitives. As we afterwards learned, in the eagerness of starting, our men +had shipped the crest of a sea, and they were now labouring under the +great disadvantage of carrying more than a barrel of water, which was +washing about in the bottom of their cutter, rendering her both heavy +and unsteady. + +So intense was the interest we all felt in the result of this struggle, +that our feelings during the battle could not be compared to it. I could +see Marble move his body, as a sitter in a boat is apt to do, at each jerk +of the oars, under the notion it helps the party along. Diogenes actually +called out, and this a dozen times at least, to encourage the men to pull +for their lives, though they were not yet within a mile of us. The +constant rising and setting of the boats prevented my making very minute +observations with the glass; but I distinguished the face of my +second-mate, who was sitting aft, and I could see he was steering with one +hand and bailing with the other. We now waved our hats, in hopes of being +seen, but got no answering signal, the distance being still too great. + +At that moment I cared nothing for the guns of the English ship, though we +were running directly for them. The boat--the boat, was our object! For +that we steered as unerringly as the motion of the rolling water would +allow. It blew a good working breeze; and, what was of the last importance +to us, it blew steadily. I fancied the ship did not move, notwithstanding, +though the rate at which we drew nearer to the boat ought to have told us +better. But, anxiety had taken the place of reason, and we were all +disposed to see things as we felt, rather than as we truly found them. + +There was abundant reason for uneasiness; the cutter astern certainly +going through the water four feet, to the other's three. Manned with her +regular crew, with everything in order, and with men accustomed to pull +together, the largest boat, and rowing ten oars to the six of my mate's, I +make no doubt that the cutter of the Black Prince would have beaten +materially in an ordinary race, more especially in the rough water over +which this contest occurred. But, nearly a tenth full of water, the boat +of the fugitives had a greatly lessened chance of escape. + +Of course, we then knew no more than we could see; and we were not slow to +perceive how fast the pursuers were gaining on the pursued, I really began +to tremble for the result; and this so much the more, as the larger +cutter was near enough, by this time, to permit me to discover, by means +of the glass, the ends-of several muskets, rising out of her stern-sheets. +Could she get near enough for her officers to use these weapons, the +chance of our people was gone,--since it was not to be even hoped they +had any arms. + +The end approached. The Dawn had got good way on her--Marble and Diogenes +having dragged down the main-top-gallant sheets, and hoisted the sail. +The water foamed under our bows; and the boat was soon so near, it became +indispensable to haul our wind. This we did with the ship's head to the +westward, without touching a brace, though we luffed sufficiently to throw +the wind out of all the square sails. The last was done to deaden the +vessel's way, in order that the fugitives might reach her. + +The struggle became frightful for its intenseness! Our men were so near, +we could recognise them without the aid of a glass; with it, I could read +the glowing anxiety that was in my second-mate's countenance. Each +instant, the pursuers closed, until they were actually much nearer to the +pursued than the latter were to the Dawn. For the first time, now, I +suspected the truth, by the heavy movement of the flying cutter, and the +water that the second-mate was constantly bailing out of her, using his +hat. Marble brought up the muskets left by the privateersmen, and began to +renew their primings. He wished to fire at once on the pursuing boat--she +being within range of a bullet; but this I knew would not be legal. I +promised to use them should the English attempt to board the ship, but did +not dare to anticipate that movement. + +Nearer and nearer came the boats, the chasing gaining always on the +chased; and now, the Black Prince and the Speedy each threw a shot quite +over us. We were about a mile from the three frigates--rather increasing +than lessening that distance, however, as they drifted to leeward, while +we were slightly luffing, with our yards a little braced up, the leeches +lifting. Neb steered the ship, as one would have guided a pilot-boat. He +had an eye for the boats, as well as for the sails--knew all that was +wanted, and all that to be done. I never saw him touch a wheel with so +delicate a hand, or one that better did its duty. The Dawn's way was so +much deadened as to give the fugitives every opportunity to close, while +she was steadily coming up abreast of their course, in readiness to +meet them. + +At this instant, the officer in the Black Prince's cutter fired into that +of the Speedy; and one of our men suddenly dropped his oar. He was hit. I +thought the poor fellow's arm was broken, for I could see him lay a hand +on the injured part, like a man who suffered pain. He instantly changed +places with the second-mate, who, however, seized his oar, and began to +use it, with great power. Three more muskets were fired, seemingly without +doing any harm. But the leading boat lost by this delay, while its +pursuers held steadily on. Our own people were within a hundred and fifty +yards of us--the English less than twenty behind them. Why the latter did +not now fire, I do not actually know; but I suppose it to be, because +their muskets were all discharged, and the race was now too sharp to allow +their officer to re-load. Possibly he did not wish to take life +unnecessarily, the chances fast turning to his side. + +I called out to Marble to stand by with a rope. The ship was slowly +drawing ahead, and there was no time to be lost. I then shouted to my +second-mate to be of good heart, and he answered with a cheer. The English +hurrahed, and we sent back the cry from the ship. + +"Stand by in the boat, for the rope!" I cried--"Heave, Moses--Heave!" + +Marble hove from the mizen chains, the rope was caught, and a motion of my +hand told Neb to keep the ship off, until everything drew. This was done, +and the rattling of the clew-garnet blocks announced that Diogenes was +hauling down the main-tack with the strength of a giant. The sail opened, +and Moses and I hauled in the sheet, until the ship felt the enormous +additional pressure of this broad breadth of canvass. At this instant +there was a cheer from the boat. Leaping upon the taffrail, I saw the men +erect, waving their hats, and looking toward the pursuing cutter, then +within a hundred feet of them, vainly attempting to come up with a boat +that was now dragging nearly bows under, and feeling all the strength of +our tow. The officer cheered his men to renewed exertion, and he began to +load a musket. At this moment the tow-line slipped from the thwart of the +boat, and we shot away, as it seemed to me, a hundred feet, on the send of +the very next sea. There was not time for the Americans to get seated at +their oars again, before the other cutter grappled. All that had been +gained was lost, and, after so near and close a chance of recovering the +most valuable portion of my crew, was I again left on the ocean with the +old four to manage the Dawn! + +The English lieutenant knew his business too well, to abandon the ship +while there was a chance of recovering her. The wind lulled a little, and +he thought the hope of success worth an effort. Merely taking all the oars +out of the Speedy's cutter, he dashed on in our wake. At first he gained, +nor was I unwilling he should, for I wished to speak him. The main and +fore-sheets were eased off, and Neb was told to keep the top-sails +lifting. Thus favoured, he soon got within fifty yards of us, straining +every nerve to get nearer. The officer pointed a musket at me, and ordered +me to heave-to. I jumped off the taffrail, and, with my body covered to +the shoulders, pointed one of the French muskets at him, and warned him +to keep off. + +"What have you done with the prize-crew put on board you from the Speedy, +the other day?" called out the lieutenant. + +"Sent them adrift," I answered. "We've had enough of prize-crews in this +ship, and want no more." + +"Heave-to, sir, on the pain of being treated as a pirate also." + +"Ay, ay--" shouted Marble, who could keep silent no longer--"first catch +a pirate. Fire, if you are tired of your cruise. I wish them bloody +Frenchmen had stopped all your grog!" + +This was neither dignified nor politic, and I ordered my mate to be +silent. In a good-natured tone I inquired for the names of the late +combatants, and the losses of the different ships, but this was too cool +for our pursuer's humour, and I got no answer. He did not dare fire, +however, finding we were armed, and, as I supposed, seeing there was no +prospect of his getting easily on board us, even should he get alongside, +he gave up the chase, returning to the captured boat. We again filled and +trimmed everything, and went dashing through the water at the rate of +seven knots. + +The frigates did not fire at us, after the guns already mentioned. Why, I +cannot positively say; but I thought, at the time, that they had too many +other things to attend to, besides seeing the little chance there was of +overtaking us, should they even happen to cripple a spar or two. + +Great was the disappointment on board the Dawn, at the result of the final +incidents of this eventful day. Marble swore outright; for no +remonstrances of mine could cure him of indulging in this habit, +especially when a little excited. Diogenes grinned defiance, and fairly +shook his fists at the boat; while Neb laughed and half-cried in a +breath--the sure sign the fellow's feelings were keenly aroused. + +As for myself, I felt as much as any of the party, but preserved more +self-command. I saw it was now necessary to quit that vicinity, and to +take some definite steps for the preservation of my own ship and property. +There was little to apprehend, however, from the frigates, unless indeed +it should fall calm. In the latter case, they might board us with their +boats, which an hour or two's work would probably enable them to use +again. But I had no intention of remaining in their neighbourhood, being +desirous of profiting by the present wind. + +The sails were trimmed accordingly, and the ship was steered +northwesterly, on a course that took us past the three vessels of war, +giving them so wide a berth as to avoid all danger from their batteries. +As soon as this was done, and the Dawn was travelling her road at a good +rate, I beckoned to Marble to come near the wheel, for I had taken the +helmsman's duty on myself for an hour or two: in other words, I was doing +that which, from my boyish experience on the Hudson, I had once fancied it +was not only the duty, but the _pleasure_, of every ship-master to do, +viz: steering! Little did I understand, before practice taught me the +lesson, that of all the work on board ship, which Jack is required to do, +his trick at the wheel is that which he least covets, unless indeed it may +be the office of stowing the jib in heavy weather. + +"Well, Moses," I began, "this affair is over, and we've the Atlantic +before us again, with all the ports of Europe to select from, and a +captain, one mate, the cook, and one man to carry the ship where we please +to take her." + +"Ay, ay--'t has been a bad job, this last. I was as sure of them lads, +until the lieutenant fired his musket, as ever I was of a good land-fall +with a fair wind. I can't describe to you, Miles, the natur' of the +disapp'intment I felt, when I saw 'em give up. I can best compare it to +that which came over me, when I discovered I was nothing but a bloody +hermit, after all my generalizing about being a governor and a lord high +admiral of an island, all to myself, as it might be." + +"It can't be helped, and we must take things as we find them. The question +is, what is to be done with the ship? Should we venture into the channel, +yonder chaps will be after us with the news of a Yankee, on board of whom +they put a prize-crew, being adrift without the men; and there are fifty +cruisers ready to pick us up. The news will spread all over the channel in +a week, and our chances of getting through the Straits of Dover will be so +small as not to be worth naming: nay, these fellows will soon repair +damages, and might possibly overtake us themselves. The Speedy is only +half-crippled." + +"I see--I see. You've a trick with you, Miles, that makes a few words go a +great way. I see, and I agree. But an idee has come to my mind, that +you're welcome to, and after turning it over, do what you please with it. +Instead of going to the eastward of Scilly, what say you to passing to the +westward, and shaping our course for the Irish Channel? The news will not +follow us that-a-way, for some time; and we may meet with some American, +or other, bound to Liverpool. Should the worst come to the worst, we can +pass through between Ireland and Scotland, and work our way round Cape +Wrath, and go into our port of destination. It is a long road, I know, and +a hard one in certain seasons of the year, but it may be travelled in +midsummer, comfortably enough." + +"I like your notion well enough, Marble, and am ready to carry it out, as +far as we are able. It must be a hard fortune, indeed, that will not throw +us in the way of some fisherman, or coaster, who will be willing to let us +have a bend or two, for double wages." + +"Why, on that p'int, Miles, the difficulty is in the war, and the hot +press that must now be going. The English will be shy in visiting the +opposite coast; and good men are hard to find, just now, I'm thinking, +floating about the coasts of England, unless they are under a pennant." + +"A hand, or two, that can steer, will be an immense relief to us, Moses, +even though unable to go aloft. Call Neb to the wheel, then, and we'll go +look at the chart, so as to lay our course." + +All was done, accordingly. In half an hour, the Dawn was steering for the +western coast of England, with everything set we thought it prudent to +carry. Two hours after we began to move away from the spot where they lay, +the frigates had sunk behind the curvature of the earth, and we lost sight +of them altogether. The weather continued good, the breeze steady and +fresh, and the Dawn did her duty admirably. We began to get accustomed to +our situations, and found them less arduous than had been apprehended. The +direction of the wind was so favourable, that it kept hope alive; though +we trebled our distance by going round the British islands, instead of +passing directly up channel. Twenty-four hours were necessary to carry us +as far north as the Land's End, however; and I determined to be then +governed by circumstances. Should the wind shift, we always had the direct +route before us; and I had my doubts whether putting a bold face on the +matter, running close in with the English shore, and appearing to be bound +for London, were not the wisest course. There certainly was the danger of +the Speedy's telling our story, in which case there would be a sharp +look-out for us; while there was the equal chance that she might speak +nothing for a week. Eight-and-forty hours ahead of her, I should not have +feared much from her account of us. + +It is unnecessary to dwell minutely on the events of the next few days. +The weather continued good, the wind fair and our progress was in +proportion. We saw nothing until we got within two leagues of Scilly +Light, when we were boarded by a pilot-boat out from those islands. This +occurred at sunrise, with the wind light at north-east, and one sail in +sight to windward, that had the appearance of a brig-of-war, though she +was still hull down, and not heading for us. + +I saw that the smallness of our crew, and the course we were steering, +struck these pilots, the moment they had time to ascertain the first fact. +It was not usual, in that day, nor do I suppose it is now, for deep-laden +Americans to pass so near England, coming from the south-east and steering +to the north-west. A remark to this effect fell from the mouth of the +principal pilot, as soon as I told him I did not wish to go in to any of +the neighbouring ports. + +"I am short of hands, and am desirous of obtaining three or four good +men," I said, "who shall be well paid for their services, and sent back, +without cost, to the place whence they came." + +"Ay, I see you've a small crew for so stout a craft, master," the pilot +answered. "May I ask what has happened to bring you down so low?" + +"Why, you know how it is among your cruisers, in war-time--an English +frigate carried away all hands, with the exception of these you see." + +Now, this was true to the ear, at least, though I saw, plainly enough, +that I was not believed. + +"It's not often His Majesty's officers shave so close," the pilot +answered, with a sort of sneer I did not like. "They commonly send in +hands with a ship, when they find it necessary to take her own men." + +"Ay, I suppose the laws require this with English vessels; with Americans, +they are less particular; at all events, you see the whole of us, and I +should be very glad to get a hand or two, if possible, out of +your cutter." + +"Where are you bound, master?--Before we ship, we'd like to know the port +we sail for." + +"Hamburg." + +"Hamburg! Why, master, you're not heading for Hamburg, at all, which lies +up the _English_, not up the _Irish_ channel." + +"I am well aware of all that. But I am afraid to go into the English +channel so short-handed. Those narrow waters give a man trouble, unless he +has a full crew." + +"The channel is a good place to find men, master. However, none of us can +go with you, and no words be necessary. As you've no occasion for a +pilot, we must be off a'ter something else." + +The fellow now left me, without more words, and I saw there was no use in +attempting to detain him. He had got a league from us, and we were jogging +on our course, before we discovered he was making signals to the brig, +which had kept dead away, and had set studding-sails on both sides. As +this was carrying much more sail than we could venture to show, I thought +our chance of escape small indeed. There was the whole day before us, with +a light, and doubtless fast-sailing cruiser in chase of a heavily-loaded +merchantman. As a stern-chase is, proverbially, a long chase, however, I +determined to do all we could to avoid the gentleman. Sail was made, +accordingly, so far as we dared, and the ship was steered a little off, as +her best mode of sailing, in her present trim. We saw the brig speak the +pilot-boat, and, from that moment, were certain her commander had all the +conjectures of the Scilly man added to his own. The effect was soon to be +noted, for when the two separated, the cutter stood in for her own rocks, +while the brig renewed her chase. + +That was an uneasy day. The man-of-war gained, but it was quite slowly. +She might beat us by a knot in the hour, and, being ten miles astern, +there was still the hope of its falling dark before she could close. The +wind, too, was unsteady, and towards noon it grew so light, as to reduce +both vessels to only two or three knots way. Of course, this greatly +lessened the difference in our rate of sailing, and I had now strong hopes +that night might come, before our pursuers could close. + +Nor was I disappointed. The wind continued light until sunset, when it +came out a fine breeze at north-west, bringing us dead to windward of the +brig, which was then distant some six miles. We got the proper sail on the +ship, as fast as we could, though the cruiser was dashing ahead under +everything she could carry, long before we could get through with the +necessary work. When we did get at it, notwithstanding, I found she had +not much the advantage of us, and now began to entertain some hopes of +shaking her off in the course of the night. Marble was confident of it, +and his confidence, on points of seamanship, was always entitled +to respect. + +About ten, both vessels were on the starboard tack, standing to the +southward and westward, or out towards the broad Atlantic, with the brig +about a league under the Dawn's lee, and a little forward of her beam. +This was the most favourable position for us to be in, in order to effect +our purpose, since the cruiser had already passed her nearest point to us, +on that tack. The horizon to windward, and all along the margin of the sea +at the northward, was covered with clouds, which threatened, by the way, a +capfull of wind. This dark back-ground would be likely to prevent our +being seen; and the instant the night shut in the outline of the brig's +canvass, I ordered our helm put down. + +It was lively business, tacking such a ship as the Dawn, under so much +canvass, and in such a breeze, with four men! The helm was lashed hard +down, and at it we went, like so many tigers. The after-yards swung +themselves though the main-tack and sheet gave us a good deal of trouble. +We braced everything aft, sharp up, before we left it, having first +managed to get the fore-yard square. When this was done, we filled all +forward, and dragged the yards and bow-lines to their places, with a will +that seemed irresistible. + +There were no means of knowing whether the brig came round, about this +time, or not. Agreeably to the rule of chasing, she should have tacked +when directly abeam, unless she fancied she could eat us out of the wind +by standing on. We knew she did not tack when directly abeam, but we could +not see whether she came round after us, or not. At all events, tack or +not, she must still be near a league under our lee; and we drove on, +towards the English coast, until the day reappeared, not a man of us all +sleeping a wink that night. How anxiously we watched the ocean astern, and +to leeward, as the returning light slowly raised the veil of obscurity +from before us! Nothing was in sight, even when the sun appeared, to bathe +the entire ocean in a flood of glory. Not even a white speck in-shore; and +as for the brig, we never saw or heard more of her. Doubtless she stood +on, on the old course, hoping gradually to close with us, or to draw so +far ahead and to windward, as to make certain of her prey in the morning. + +According to our reckoning, the ship was now heading well up towards the +coast of Wales, which we might expect to make in the course of the next +four-and-twenty hours, should the wind stand. I determined, therefore, to +make the best of the matter, and to go directly up the Irish channel, +hoping to fall in with some boat from the north shore, that might not have +as apt intellects on board it, as those of our Scilly pilot had proved to +be. We stood on, consequently, all that day; and another sun set without +our making the land. We saw several vessels at a distance, in the +afternoon; but we were now in a part of the ocean where an American ship +would be as little likely to be disturbed as in any I know. It was the +regular track of vessels bound to Liverpool,--and these last were as +little molested as the want of men would at all permit. Could we get past +that port, we should then be in the way of picking up half a +dozen Irishmen. + + + +Chapter XX. + + + + "Och! botheration--'T is a beautiful coost + All made up of rocks and deep bays; + Ye may sail up and down, a marvellous host, + And admire all its beautiful ways." + + Irish Song. + + +Little did we, or could we, anticipate all that lay before us. The wind +held at north-west until the ship had got within twenty miles of the Welsh +coast; then, it came out light, again, at the southward. We were now so +near Liverpool, that I expected, every hour, to make some American bound +in. None was seen, notwithstanding, and we stood up channel, edging over +towards the Irish coast at the same time, determined to work our way to +the northward as well as we could. This sort of weather continued for two +days and nights, during which we managed to get up as high as Whitehaven, +when the wind came dead ahead, blowing a stiff breeze. I foresaw from the +commencement of this new wind, that it would probably drive us down +channel, and out into the Atlantic once more, unless we could anchor. I +thought I would attempt the last, somewhere under the Irish coast, in the +hope of getting some assistance from among the children of St. Patrick. We +all knew that Irish sailors, half the time, were not very well trained, +but anything that could pull and haul would be invaluable to us, in heavy +weather. We had now been more than a week, four of us in all, working the +ship, and, instead of being in the least fagged, we had rather got settled +into our places, as it might be, getting along without much trouble; +still, there were moments when a little extra force would be of great +moment to us, and I could see by the angry look of the skies, that these +moments were likely to increase in frequency and in the magnitude of their +importance to us. + +The waters we were in were so narrow, that it was not long before we drew +close in with the Irish coast. Here, to my great joy, we saw a large +fishing-boat, well out in the offing, and under circumstances that +rendered it easy for those in it to run close under our lee. We made a +signal, therefore, and soon had the strangers lying-to, in the smooth +water we made for them, with our own main-yard aback. It is scarcely +necessary to say, that we had gradually diminished our own canvass, as it +became necessary, until the ship was under double-reefed top-sails, the +fore-course, jib and spanker. We had brought the top-sails down lower than +was necessary, in order to anticipate the time when it might be +indispensable. + +The first of the men who came on board us was named Terence O' something. +His countenance was the droll medley of fun, shrewdness, and blundering, +that is so often found in the Irish peasant, and which appears to be +characteristic of entire races in the island. + +"A fine marnin', yer honour," he began, with a self-possession that +nothing could disturb, though it was some time past noon, and the day was +anything but such a one as a seaman likes. "A fine marnin', yer honour, +and _as_ fine a ship! Is it fish that yer honour will be asking for?" + +"I will take some of your fish, my friend, and pay you well for them." + +"Long life to yees!" + +"I was about to say, I will pay you much better if you can show me any +lee, hereabouts, which has good holding-ground, where a ship might ride +out the gale that is coming." + +"Shure yer honour!--will I _not_? Shure, there's nivver the lad on the +coost, that knows betther what it is yer honour wants, or who'll supply +yees, with half the good will." + +"Of course you know the coast; probably were born hereabouts?" + +"Of coorse, is it? Whereabouts should Terence O' something, be born, if +it's not hereabouts? Is it know the coost, too? Ah, we're ould +acquaintances." + +"And where do you intend to take the ship, Terence?" + +"It's houlding ground, yer honour asked for?" + +"Certainly.--A bottom on which an anchor will not drag." + +"Och! is it _that_? Well, _all_ the bottom in this counthry is of that +same natur'. None of it will drag, without pulling mighty hard. I'll swear +to any part of it." + +"You surely would not think of anchoring a ship out here, a league from +the land, with nothing to break either wind or sea, and a gale +commencing?" + +"I anchor! Divil the bit did I ever anchor a ship, or a brig, or even a +cutther. I've not got so high up as that, yer honour: but yon's ould +Michael Sweeny, now; many's the anchor he's cast out, miles at a time, +sayin' he's been a sayman, and knows the says from top to bottom. It's +Michael ye'll want, and Michael ye shall have." + +Michael was spoken to, and he clambered up out of the boat, as well as he +could; the task not being very easy, since the fishermen with difficulty +kept their dull, heavy boat out of our mizen chains. In the mean time, +Marble and I found time to compare notes. We agreed that Mr. Terence +McScale, or O' something,--for I forget the fellow's surname,--would +probably turn out a more useful man in hauling in mackerel and John Dorys, +than in helping us to take care of the Dawn. Nor did Michael, at the first +glance promise anything much better. He was very old,--eighty. I should +think,--and appeared to have nullified all the brains he ever had, by the +constant use of whiskey; the scent of which accompanied him with a sort of +parasitical odour, as that of tannin attends the leather-dresser. He was +not drunk just then, however, but seemed cool and collected. I explained +my wishes to this man; and was glad to find he had a tolerable notion of +nautical terms, and that he would not be likely to get us into difficulty, +like Terence, through any ignorance on this score. + +"Is it anchor ye would, yer honour?" answered Michael, when I had +concluded. "Sure, that's aisy enough, and the saison is good for that +same; for the wind is getting up like a giant. As for the guineas yer +honour mintions, it's of no avail atween fri'nds. I'll take 'em, to +obleege ye, if yer honour so wills: but the ship should be anchored if +there niver was a grain of goold in the wur-r-r-ld. Would ye like a berth +pratty well out, or would yer honour choose to go in among the rocks, and +lie like a babby in its cradhle?" + +"I should prefer a safe roadstead, to venturing too far in, without a +professed pilot. By the look of the land in-shore, I should think it would +be easy to find a lee against this wind, provided we can get good +holding-grounds That is the difficulty I most apprehend." + +"Trust ould Ireland for that, yer honour, yes, put faith in us, for that +same. Ye've only to fill your top-sail, and stand in; ould Michael and +ould Ireland together, will take care of yees." + +I confess I greatly disliked the aspect of things in-shore, with such a +pilot; but the aspect of things outside was still worse. Short-handed as +we were, it would be impossible to keep the ship in the channel, should +the gale come on as heavily as it threatened; and a single experiment +satisfied me, the four men in the boat would be of very little use in +working her: for I never saw persons who knew anything of the water, more +awkward than they turned out to be on our decks. Michael knew something, +it is true; but he was too old to turn his knowledge to much practical +account, for when I sent him to the wheel, Neb had to remain there to +assist him in steering. There was no choice, therefore, and I determined +to stand close in, when, should no suitable offer, it would always be in +our power to ware offshore. The fishing-boat was dropped astern, +accordingly, the men were all kept in the ship, and we stood in nearer to +the coast: the Dawn bending to the blasts, under the sail we carried, in a +way to render it difficult to stand erect on her decks. + +The coast promised well as to formation, though there was much to +apprehend on the subject of the bottom. Among rocks an anchor is a +ticklish thing to confide in, and I feared it might be a difficult matter +to find a proper bottom, as far out as I deemed it prudent to remain. But +Michael, and Terence, and Pat, and Murphy, or whatever were the names of +our protesting confident friends, insisted that 'ould Ireland' would never +fail us. Marble and I stood on the forecastle, watching the formation of +the coast, and making our comments, as the ship drove through the short +seas, buried to her figure-head. At length, we thought a head-land that was +discernible a little under our lee-bow, looked promising, and Michael was +called from the wheel and questioned concerning it. The fellow affirmed he +knew the place well, and that the holding-ground on each side of it was +excellent, consenting at once to a proposition of mine to bring up under +its lee. We edged off, therefore, for this point, making the necessary +preparations for bringing up. + +I was too busy in getting in canvas to note the progress of the ship for +the next twenty minutes. It took all four of us to stow the jib, leaving +Michael at the wheel the while. And a tremendous job it was, though (I say +it in humility) four better men never lay out on a spar, than those who +set about the task on this occasion. We got it in, however, but, I need +scarcely tell the seaman, it was not "stowed in the skin." Marble insisted +on leading the party, and never before had I seen the old fellow work as +he did on that day. He had a faculty of incorporating his body and limbs +with the wood and ropes, standing, as it might be, on air, working and +dragging with his arms and broad shoulders, in a way that appeared to give +him just as much command of his entire strength, as another man would +possess on the ground. + +At length we reduced the canvass to the fore-top-mast stay-sail, and +main-top-sail, the latter double-reefed. It was getting to be time that +the last should be close reefed, (and we carried four reefs in the Dawn), +but we hoped the cloth would hold out until we wanted to roll it up +altogether. The puffs, however, began to come gale-fashion, and I foresaw +we should get it presently in a style that would require good looking to. + +The ship soon drove within the extremity of the head-land, the lead giving +us forty fathoms of water. I had previously asked Michael what water we +might expect, but this he frankly owned he could not tell. He was certain +that ships sometimes anchored there, but what water they found was more +than he knew. He was no conjuror, and guessing might be dangerous, so he +chose to say nothing about it. It was nervous work for a ship-master to +carry his vessel on a coast, under such pilotage as this. I certainly +would have wore round as it was, were it not for the fact that there was a +clear sea to leeward, and that it would always be as easy to run out into +the open water, as the wind was at that moment. + +Marble and I now began to question our fisherman as to the precise point +where he intended to fetch up. Michael was bothered, and it was plain +enough his knowledge was of the most general character. As for the +particulars of his calling, he treated them with the coolest indifference. +He had been much at sea in his younger days, it is true; but it was in +ships of war, where the ropes were put into his hands by captains of the +mast, and where his superiors did all the thinking. He could tell whether +ships did or did not anchor near a particular spot, but he knew no reason +for the one, or for the other. In a word, he had just that sort of +knowledge of seamanship as one gets of the world by living in a province, +where we all learn the leading principles of humanity, and trust to +magazines and works of fiction for the finesse of life. + +The lead proved a better guide than Michael, and seeing some breakers +in-shore of us, I gave the order to clew up the main-top-sail, and to luff +to the wind, before the ship should lose her way. Our Irishmen pulled and +hauled well enough, as soon as they were directed what to do; which +enabled Marble and myself each to stand by a stopper. We had previously +got the two bowers a-cock-bill, (the cables were bent as soon as we made +the land); and nothing remained but to let run. Neb was at the wheel, +with orders to spring to the cables as soon as he heard them running out, +and everything was in readiness. I shouted the order to "let run," and +down both our anchors went, at the same instant, in twenty-two fathoms' +water. The ship took cable at a fearful rate; but Marble and Diogenes +being at one bower, and Neb and I at the other, we succeeded in snubbing +her, with something like twenty fathoms within the hawse-holes. There was +a minute, when I thought the old bark would get away from us; and when, by +desperate efforts, we did succeed in checking the mass, it seemed as if +she would shake the windlass out of her. No time was lost in stoppering +the cables, and in rolling up the main-top-sail. + +Michael and his companions now came to wish us good luck, get the guineas, +and to take their leave. The sea was already so rough that the only mode +that remained of getting into their boat was by dropping from the end of +the spanker boom. I endeavoured to persuade two or three of these fellows +to stick by the ship, but in vain. They were all married, and they had a +certain protection against impressment in their present manner of life; +whereas, should they be found at large, some man-of-war would probably +pick them up; and Michael's tales of the past had not given them any great +zest for the sort of life he described. + +When these Irish fishermen left us, and ran in-shore, we were thrown again +altogether on our own resources. I had explained to Michael our want of +hands, however, attributing it to accidents and impressments, and he +thought he could persuade four or five young fellows to come off, as soon +as the gale abated, on condition we would take them to America, after +discharging at Hamburg. These were to be mere peasants, it is true, for +seamen were scarce in that part of the world; but they would be better +than nothing. Half a dozen athletic young Irishmen would relieve us seamen +from a vast deal of the heavy, lugging work of the ship, and leave us +strength and spirits to do that which unavoidably fell to our share. With +the understanding that he was to receive, himself, a guinea a-head for +each sound man thus brought us, we parted from old Michael, who probably +has never piloted a ship since, as I strongly suspect he had never +done before. + + + +Chapter XXI. + + + + "The power of God is everywhere, + Pervades all space and time: + The power of God can still the air, + And rules in every clime;-- + Then bow the heart, and bend the knee, + And worship o'er both land and sea." + + Duo. + + +I never knew precisely the point on the coast of Ireland where we +anchored. It was somewhere between Strangford and Dundrum Bay; though the +name of the head-land which gave us a sort of protection, I did not learn. +In this part of the island, the coast trends north and south, generally; +though at the place where we anchored, its direction was nearly from +north-north-east to south-south-west,--which, in the early part of the +gale, was as close as might be the course in which the wind blew. At the +moment we brought up, the wind had hauled a little further to the +northward, giving us a better lee; but, to my great regret, Michael had +scarcely left us, when it shifted to due north-east, making a fair rake of +the channel. This left us very little of a lee--the point ahead of us +being no great matter, and we barely within it. I consulted such maps as I +had, and came to the conclusion that we were off the county Down, a part +of the kingdom that was at least civilized, and where we should be apt to +receive good treatment, in the event of being wrecked. Our fishermen told +us that they belonged to a Bally-something; but what the something was I +have forgotten, if I ever understood them. "_Told_ us," I say out of +complaisance, but "_tould_" would be the better word, as all they uttered +savoured so much of the brogue, that it was not always easy to get at +their meaning. + +It was past noon when the Dawn anchored; and the wind got more to the +eastward, about half an hour afterwards. It was out of the question to +think of getting under way again, with so strong a wind, and with our +feeble crew. Had it been perfectly smooth water, and had there been +neither tide, nor air, it would have taken us half a day, at least, to +get out two bowers. It was folly, therefore, to think of it, situated as +we were. It only remained, to ride out the gale in the best manner +we could. + +Nothing occurred, for several hours, except that the gale increased +sensibly in violence. Like an active disease, it was fast coming to a +crisis. Towards sunset, however, a little incident took place, that gave +me great uneasiness of itself, though I had forebodings of evil from the +commencement of that tempest. Two sail appeared in sight, to windward, +being quite near us, close in with the Irish coast before either was +observed on board the Dawn. The leading vessel of the two was a +man-of-war cutter, running nearly before it, under a close-reefed +square-sail,--canvass so low that it might easily be confounded with the +foam of the sea, at a little distance. She rounded the head-land, and was +edging away from the coast, apparently for sea-room, when she took a +sudden sheer in our direction. As if curious to ascertain what could have +taken so large a square-rigged vessel as the Dawn, into her present berth, +this cutter actually ran athwart our hawse, passing inside of us, at a +distance of some fifty yards. We were examined; but no attempt was made to +speak us. I felt no uneasiness at the proximity of these two cruisers, for +I knew a boat could not live,--our ship fairly pitching her martingale +into the water at her anchors. + +The frigate followed the cutter, though she passed us outside, even nearer +than her consort. I got my first accurate notion of the weight of the +gale, by seeing this large ship drive past us, under a reefed fore-sail, +and a close-reefed main-top-sail, running nearly dead before it. As she +came down, she took a sheer, like a vessel scudding in the open ocean; +and, at one moment, I feared she would plunge directly into us, though she +minded her helm in time to clear everything. A dozen officers on board her +were looking at us, from her gangway, her quarter-deck guns, and rigging. +All were compelled to hold on with firm grasps; and wonder seemed painted +in every countenance. I could see their features for half a minute only, +or even a less time; but I could discern this expression in each face. +Some looked up at our spars, as if to ascertain whether all were right; +while others looked back at the head-land they had just rounded, like +those who examined the roadstead. Most shook their heads, as remarks +passed from one to the other. The captain, as I took him to be, spoke us. +"What are you doing here?" came to me through a trumpet, plainly enough; +but answering was out of the question. Before I could even get a trumpet +to my mouth, the frigate had gone foaming by, and was already beyond the +reach of the voice. Heads appeared over her taffrail for some time, and we +fancied these man-of-war's men regarded us as the instructed are apt to +regard the ignorant, whom they fancy to be in danger. Marble sneered a +little at the curiosity betrayed by these two crafts; but, as for myself, +it caused great uneasiness. I fancied they acted like those who were +acquainted with the coast, manifesting surprise at seeing a stranger +anchored in the berth we occupied. + +I slept little that night. Marble kept me company most of the time, but +Neb and Diogenes were as tranquil as if sleeping on good French +mattresses--made of hair, not down--within the walls of a citadel. Little +disturbed these negroes, who followed our fortunes with the implicit +reliance that habit and education had bred in them, as it might be, in and +in. In this particular, they were literally dyed in the wool, to use one +of the shop expressions so common among us. + +There was a little relaxation in the force of the gale in the middle of +the night; but, with the return of day, came the winds howling down upon +us, in a way that announced a more than common storm. All hands of us were +now up, and paying every attention to the vessel. My greatest concern had +been lest some of the sails should get adrift, for they had been furled by +few and fatigued men. This did not happen, however, our gaskets and +lashings doing all of their duty. We got our breakfasts, therefore, in the +ordinary way, and Marble and myself went and stood on the forecastle, to +watch the signs of the times, like faithful guardians, who were anxious to +get as near as possible to the danger. + +It was wonderful how the ship pitched! Frequently her Aurora was +completely submerged, and tons of water would come in upon the forecastle, +washing entirely aft at the next send, so that our only means of keeping +above water was to stand on the windlass-bitts, or to get upon the heart +of the main-stay. Dry we were not, nor did we think of attempting to be +so, but such expedients were necessary to enable us to remain stationary; +often to enable us to breathe. I no longer wondered at the manner in which +the cutter and frigate had examined our position. It was quite clear the +fishermen knew very little about finding a proper berth for a ship, and +that we might pretty nearly as well have brought up in the middle of St. +George's channel, could our ground-tackle reach the bottom, as to have +brought up where we were. + +Just about nine o'clock, Marble and I had got near each other on the +fife-rail, and held a consultation on the subject of our prospects. +Although we both clung to the same top-sail-sheet, we were obliged to +hallow to make ourselves heard, the howling of the wind through the +rigging converting the hamper into a sort of tremendous Eolian Harp, while +the roar of the water kept up a species of bass accompaniment to this +music of the ocean. Marble was the one who had brought about this +communication, and he was the first to speak. + +"I say, Miles," he called out, his mouth within three feet of my ear--"she +jumps about like a whale with a harpoon in it! I've been afraid she'd jerk +the stem out of her." + +"Not much fear of that, Moses--my great concern is that starboard +bower-cable; it has a good deal more strain on it than the larboard, and +you can see how the strands are stretched." + +"Ay, ay--'t is generalizing its strength, as one may say. S'pose we clap +the helm a-port, and try the effects of a sheer?" + +"I've thought of that; as there is a strong tide going, it may possibly +answer"-- + +These words were scarcely out of my mouth, when three seas of enormous +height came rolling down upon us, like three great roistering companions +in a crowd of sullen men, the first of which raised the Dawn's bows so +high in the air, as to cause us both to watch the result in breathless +silence. The plunge into the trough was in a just proportion to the toss +into the air; and I felt a surge, as if something gave way under the +violent strain that succeeded. The torrent of water that came on the +forecastle prevented any thing from being seen; but again the bows rose, +again they sunk, and then the ship seemed easier. + +"We are all adrift, Miles!" Marble shouted, leaning forward to be heard. +"Both bowers have snapped like thread, and here we go, head-foremost, in +for the land!" + +All this was true enough! The cables had parted, and the ship's head was +falling off fast from the gale, like the steed that has slipped his +bridle, before he commences his furious and headlong career. I looked +round for the negroes; but Neb was already at the wheel. That noble +fellow, true as steel, had perceived the accident as soon as any of us, +and he sprang to the very part of the vessel where he was most needed. He +had a seaman's faculties in perfection, though ratiocination was certainly +not his forte. A motion of my hand ordered him to put the helm hard up, +and the answering sign let me know that I was obeyed. We could do no more +just then, but the result was awaited in awful expectation. + +The Dawn's bows fell off until the ship lay broadside to the gale, which +made her reel until her lee lower yard-arms nearly dipped. Then she +overcame the cauldron of water that was boiling around her, and began to +draw heavily ahead. Three seas swept athwart her decks, before she minded +her helm in the least, carrying with them every thing that was not most +firmly lashed, or which had not animal life to direct its movements, away +to leeward. They swept off the hen-coops, and ripped four or five +water-casks from their lashings, even, as if the latter had been +pack-thread. The camboose-house went also, at the last of these terrific +seas; and nothing saved the camboose itself, but its great weight, added +to the strength of its fastenings. In a word, little was left, that could +very well go, but the launch, the gripes of which fortunately held on. + +By the time this desolation was completed, the ship began to fall off, and +her movement through the water became very perceptible. At first, she +dashed in toward the land, running, I make no doubt, quite half a mile +obliquely in that direction, ere she got fairly before the wind; a course +which carried her nearly in a line with the coast. Marble and myself now +got aft without much trouble, and put the helm a little to starboard, +with a view to edge off to the passage as far as possible. The wind blew +so nearly down channel, that there would have been no immediate danger, +had we an offing; but the ship had not driven before the gale more than +three or four hours, when we made land ahead; the coast trending in this +part of the island nearly north and south. Marble suggested the prudence +of taking time by the forelock, and of getting the main-top-sail on the +ship, to force her off the land, the coast in the neighbourhood of Dublin +lying under our lee-bow. We had taken the precaution to close-reef +everything before it was furled, and I went aloft myself to lower this +sail. If I had formed a very respectful opinion of the power of the gale, +while on deck, that opinion was materially heightened when I came to feel +its gusts, on the main-top-sail-yard. It was not an easy matter to hold on +at all; and to work, required great readiness and strength. Nevertheless, +I got the sail loose, and then I went down and aided Marble and the cook +to drag home the sheets. Home, they could not be dragged by us, +notwithstanding we got up a luff; but we made the sail stand +reasonably well. + +The ship immediately felt the effect of even this rag of canvass. She +drove ahead at a prodigious rate, running, I make no question, some eleven +or twelve knots, under the united power collected by her hamper and this +one fragment of a sail. Her drift was unavoidably great, and I thought the +current sucked her in towards the land; but, on the whole, she kept at +about the same distance from the shore, foaming along it, much as we had +seen the frigate do, the day before. At the rate we were going, twelve or +fifteen hours would carry us down to the passage between Holy Head and +Ireland, when we should get more sea-room, on account of the land's +trending again to the westward. + +Long, long hours did Marble and I watch the progress of our ship that day +and the succeeding night, each of us taking our tricks at the wheel, and +doing seaman's duty, as well as that of mate and master. All this time, +the vessel was dashing furiously out towards the Atlantic, which she +reached ere the morning of the succeeding day. Just before he light +returned we were whirled past a large ship that was lying-to, under a +single storm-stay-sail, and which I recognised as the frigate that had +taken a look at us at our anchorage. The cutter was close at hand, and the +fearful manner in which these two strong-handed vessels pitched and +lurched, gave me some idea of what must be our situation, should we be +compelled to luff to the wind. I supposed they had done so, in order to +keep as long as possible, on their cruising ground, near the chops of the +Irish channel. + +A wild scene lay around us, at the return of light. The Atlantic resembled +a chaos of waters, the portions of the rolling sheet that were not white +with foam, looking green and angry. The clouds hid the sun, and the gale +seemed to be fast coming to its height. At ten, we drove past an American, +with nothing standing but his foremast. Like us, he was running off, +though we went three feet to his two. Half an hour later, we had the awful +sight before our eyes of witnessing the sudden disappearance of an English +brig. She was lying-to, directly on our course, and I was looking at her +from the windlass, trying to form some opinion as to the expediency of our +luffing-to, in order to hold our own. Of a sudden, this brig gave a +plunge, and she went down like a porpoise diving. What caused this +disaster I never knew; but, in five minutes we passed as near as possible +over the spot, and not a trace of her was to be seen. I could not discover +so much as a handspike floating, though I looked with intense anxiety, in +the hope of picking up some fellow-creature clinging to a spar. As for +stopping to examine, one who did not understand the language might as well +hope to read the German character on a mile-stone, while flying past it in +a rail-road car. + +At noon, precisely, away went our fore-top-sail out of the gaskets. One +fastening snapped after another, until the whole sail was adrift. The tugs +that this large sheet of canvass gave upon the spars, as it shook in the +wind, threatened to jerk the foremast out of the ship. They lasted about +three minutes, when, after a report almost as loud as that of a small +piece of ordnance, the sail split in ribands. Ten minutes later, our +main-top-sail went. This sail left us as it might be bodily, and I +actually thought that a gun of distress was fired near us, by some vessel +that was unseen, The bolt-rope was left set; the sheets, earings, and reef +points all holding on, the cloth tearing at a single rent around the four +sides of the sail. The scene that followed I scarcely know how to +describe. The torn part of the main-top-sail flew forward, and caught in +the after-part of the fore-top, where it stood spread, as one might say, +held by the top, cat-harpins, rigging, and other obstacles. This was the +feather to break the camel's back. Bolt after bolt of the fore-rigging +drew or broke, each parting with a loud report, and away went everything +belonging to the foremast over the bows, from the deck up. The +main-top-mast was dragged down by this fearful pull, and that brought the +mizen-top-gallant-mast after it. The pitching of so much hamper under the +bows of the ship, while her after-masts stood, threw the stern round, in +spite of the manner in which Marble steered; and the ship broached-to. In +doing this, the sea made a fair breach over her, sweeping the deck of even +the launch and camboose, and carrying all the lee-bulwarks, in the waist, +with them. Neb was in the launch at the time, hunting for some article +kept there; and the last I saw of the poor fellow, he was standing erect +in the bows of the boat, as the latter drove over the vessel's side, on +the summit of a wave, like a bubble floating in a furious current. +Diogenes, it seems, had that moment gone to his camboose, to look after +the plain dinner he was trying to boil, when probably seizing the iron as +the most solid object near him, he was carried overboard with it, and +never reappeared. Marble was in a tolerably safe part of the vessel, at +the wheel, and he kept his feet, though the water rose above his waist; as +high, indeed, as his arms. As for myself, I was saved only by the +main-rigging, into which I was driven, and where I lodged. + +I could not but admire the coolness and conduct of Marble even at that +terrific moment! In the first place, he put the helm hard down, and lashed +the wheel, the wisest thing that could be done by men in our situation. +This he did by means of that nautical instinct, which enables a seaman to +act, in the direst emergencies, almost without reflection, or, as one +closes his eyes to avoid danger to the pupils. Then he gave one glance at +the state of things in-board, running forward with the end of a rope to +throw to Diogenes, should the cook rise near the ship. By the time he was +satisfied the hope of doing anything in that way, was vain, I was on +deck, and we two stood facing each other, in the midst of the scene of +desolation and ruin that was around us. Marble caught my hand with a look +that spoke as plainly as words. It told me the joy he felt at seeing I was +spared, his determination to stick by me to the last; yet, how low were +his hopes of ultimate preservation! It was such a look as any man would be +glad to receive from a comrade in the heat of battle; nevertheless, it was +not a look that promised victory. + +The situation of the ship would now have been much better than it had +been, in many respects, were it not for the wreck. All the masts forward +had gone over the lee bow, and would have lain in a sufficiently +favourable situation for a strong crew to get rid of them; but in our case +we were compelled to let things take their course. It is true, we could +cut away, and this we began to do pretty freely, but the lower-end of the +foremast lay on the forecastle, where it was grinding everything near it +to pieces, with the heaving and setting of the waves. All the bulwarks in. +that part of the ship threatened soon to be beaten down, and I felt afraid +the cat-head would be torn violently out of the ship, leaving a bad leak. +Leaks enough there were, as it was. The launch, camboose, water-casks, and +spare spars, in driving overboard, having forced out timber-heads, and +other supports, in a way to split the plank sheer, which let in the water +fast, every time the lee gunwale went under. I gave up my sugars and +coffees from the first, bringing my hopes down as low as the saving of the +ship, the instant I saw the state of the upper works. + +Marble and I had not been educated in a school that is apt to despair. As +for my mate, had he found himself on a plank in the middle of the +Atlantic, I do believe he would have set about rigging a jury-mast, by +splitting off a piece of the hull of his craft and spreading his shirt by +way of sail. I never knew a more in-and-in-bred seaman, who, when one +resource failed, invariably set about the next best visible expedient. We +were at a loss, however, whether to make an effort to get rid of the +foremast, or not. With the exception of the damages it did on the +forecastle, it was of use to us, keeping the ship's bow up to the wind, +and making better weather for us, on deck. The after-masts standing, +while those forward were gone, had the effect to press the stern of the +vessel to leeward, while this support in the water prevented her bows from +falling off, and we rode much nearer to the wind, than is usual with a +ship that is lying-to. It is true, the outer end of the fallen spars began +to drive to leeward; and, acting as a long lever, they were gradually +working the broken end of the foremast athwart the forecastle, ripping and +tearing away everything on the gunwale, and threatening the foot of the +main-stay. This made it desirable to be rid of the wreck, while on the +other hand, there was the danger of the ship's bottom beating against the +end of the mast, did the latter get overboard. Under all these +circumstances, however, we determined to cut as much of the gear as +possible, and let the fallen spars work themselves clear of us, if they +could. Our job was by no means easy. It was difficult to stand, even, on +the deck of the Dawn, in a time like that; and this difficulty was greatly +increased forward, by having so little to hold on by. But work we did, and +in a way that cleared most of the rigging from the ship, in the course of +the next half hour. We were encouraged by the appearances of the weather +too, the gale having broken, and promising to abate. The ship grew a +little easier, I thought, and we moved about with more confidence of not +being washed away by the seas that came on board us. After a time, we took +some refreshments, eating the remains of a former meal, and cheered our +hearts a little with a glass or two of good Sherry. Temperance may be very +useful, but so is a glass of good wine, when properly used. Then we went +at it, again, working with a will and with spirit. The wreck aft wanted +very little to carry it over the side, and going aloft with an axe, I +watched my opportunity, cut one or two of the shrouds and stays, just as +the ship lurched heavily to leeward, and got rid of the whole in the sea +handsomely, without further injury to the ship. This was a good +deliverance, the manner in which the spars had threshed about, having +menaced our lives, before. We now attacked the wreck forward, for the last +time, feeling certain we should get it adrift, could we sever the +connection formed by one or two of the larger ropes. The lee-shrouds, in +particular, gave us trouble, it being impossible to get at them, in-board, +the fore channels being half the time under water and the bulwarks in +their wake being all gone. It was, in fact, impossible to stand there to +work long enough to clear, or cut, all the lanyards. Marble was an +adventurous fellow aloft, on all occasions; and seeing good footing about +the top, without saying a word to me, he seized an axe, and literally ran +out on the mast, where he began to cut the collars of the rigging at the +mast-head. This was soon done; but the spars were no sooner clear, than, +impelled by a wave that nearly drowned the mate, the end of the foremast +slid off the forecastle into the sea, leaving the ship virtually clear of +the wreck, but my mate adrift on the last; I say virtually clear, for the +lee fore-top-sail-brace still remained fast to the ship, by some oversight +in clearing away the smaller ropes. The effect of this restraint was to +cause the whole body of the wreck to swing slowly round, until it rode by +this rope, alone. + +Here was a new and a most serious state of things! I knew that my mate +would do all that man could perform, situated as he was, but what man +could swim against such a sea, even the short distance that interposed +between the, spars and the ship? The point of the wreck nearest the +vessel, was the end of the top-sail-yard, to which the brace led, and this +was raised from the water by the strain (the other end of the brace +leading aloft), fathoms at a time, rendering it extremely difficult for +Marble to reach the rope, by means of which I could now see, +notwithstanding all the difficulties, he hoped to regain the vessel. The +voice could be heard by one directly to leeward, the howling of the winds +and the roar of the waters having materially lessened within the last few +hours. I shouted to Marble, therefore, my intentions-- + +"Stand by to get the brace as I ease it off, in-board," I cried; "then you +will be safe!" + +The mate understood me, giving a gesture of assent with his arm. When both +were ready, I eased off the rope suddenly, and Marble, partly by crawling, +and partly by floating and dragging himself by the hands, actually got to +the yard-arm, which was immediately raised from the water, however, by the +drift made by the spars, while he was achieving his object. I trembled as +I saw this stout seaman, the water dripping from his clothes, thus +elevated in the air, with the angry billows rolling beneath him, like +lions leaping upward to catch the adventurer in their grasp. Marble's hand +was actually extended to reach the brace, when its block gave way with the +strain. The eye of the strap slipping from the yard, down went the spar +into the water. Next the trough of the sea hid everything from my sight, +and I was left in the most painful doubt of the result, when I perceived +the mate lashing himself to the top, as the portion of the wreck that +floated the most buoyantly. He had managed to get in again, and coolly +went to work to secure himself in the best berth he could find, the +instant he regained the main mass of the wreck. As he rose on the crest of +a sea, the poor fellow made a gesture of adieu to me; the leave-taking of +the mariner! + +In this manner did it please Divine Providence to separate us four, who +had already gone through so much in company! With what moody melancholy +did I watch the wreck, as it slowly drifted from the ship. I no longer +thought of making further efforts to save the Dawn, and I can truly say, +that scarce a thought in connection with my own life, crossed my mind. +There I stood for quite an hour, leaning against the foot of the +mizen-mast, with folded arms and riveted eyes, regardless of the pitches, +and lurches, and rolling of the ship, with all my faculties and thoughts +fastened on the form of Marble, expecting each time that the top rose to +view to find it empty. He was too securely lashed, however, to strike +adrift, though he was nearly half the time under water. It was impossible +to do anything to save him. No boat was left; had there been one, it could +not have lived, nor could I have managed it alone. Spars he had already, +but what must become of him without food or water? I threw two breakers of +the last into the sea, and a box of bread, in a sort of idle hope they +might drift down near the wreck, and help to prolong the sufferer's life. +They were all tossed about in the cauldron of the ocean, and disappeared +to leeward, I knew not whither. When Marble was no longer visible from +deck, I went into the main-top and watched the mass of spars and rigging, +so long as any portion of it could be seen. Then I set it by compass, in +order to know its bearing, and an hour before the sun went down, or as +soon as the diminished power of the wind would permit, I showed an ensign +aloft, as a signal that I bore my mate in mind. + +"He knows I will not desert him as long as there is hope--so long as I +have life!" I muttered to myself; and this thought was a relief to my +mind, in that bitter moment. + +Bitter moment, truly! Time has scarcely lessened the keenness of the +sensations I endured, as memory traces the feelings and incidents of that +day. From the hour when I sailed from home, Lucy's image was seldom absent +from my imagination, ten minutes at a time; I thought of her, sleeping and +waking; in all my troubles; the interest of the sea-fight I had seen could +not prevent this recurrence of my ideas to their polar star, their +powerful magnet; but I do not remember to have thought of Lucy, even, once +after Marble was thus carried away from my side. Neb, too, with his +patient servitude, his virtues, his faults, his dauntless courage, his +unbounded devotion to myself, had taken a strong hold on my heart, and his +loss had greatly troubled me, since the time it occurred. But I remember +to have thought much of Lucy, even after Neb was swept away, though her +image became temporarily lost to my mind, during the first few hours I was +thus separated from Marble. + +By the time the sun set, the wind had so far abated, and the sea had gone +down so much, as to remove all further apprehensions from the gale. The +ship lay-to easily, and I had no occasion to give myself any trouble on +her account. Had there been light, I should now have put the helm up, and +run to leeward, in the hope of finding the spars, and at least of keeping +near Marble; but, fearful of passing him in the darkness, I deferred that +duty until the morning. All I could do was to watch the weather, in order +to make this effort, before the wind should shift. + +What a night I passed! As soon as it was dark, I sounded the pumps, and +found six feet water in the hold. It was idle for one man to attempt +clearing a vessel of the Dawn's size; and I gave myself no further thought +in the matter. So much injury had been done the upper works of the ship, +that I had a sort of conviction she must go down, unless fallen in with by +some other craft. I cannot say apprehension for my own fate troubled me +any, or that I thought of the rum to my fortunes that was involved in the +loss of the ship. My mind reverted constantly to my companions; could I +have recovered them, I should have been happy, for a time, at least. + +I slept two or three hours, towards morning, overcome will fatigue. When I +awoke, it was in consequence of receiving the sun's rays in my face. +Springing to my feet, I cast a confused and hurried glance around me. The +wind was still at north-east, but it barely blew a good whole-sail breeze. +The sea had gone down, to the regular roll of the ocean; and a finer day +never shone upon the Atlantic. I hurried eagerly on deck, and gazed on the +ocean to leeward, with longing eyes, to ascertain if anything could be +seen of the wreck of our spars. Nothing was visible. From the main-top, I +could command a pretty wide horizon; but the ocean lay a bright, +glittering blank, the crests of its own waves excepted. I felt certain the +Dawn was so weatherly, that the spars were to leeward; but the ship must +have forged miles ahead, during the last twelve hours; and there was +almost the equal certainty of her being a long distance to the southward +of the floating hamper, her head having lain in that direction since the +time she broached-to. To get her off before the wind, then, was my first +concern, after which I could endeavour to force her to the northward, +running the chance of falling in with the spars. Could I find my mate, we +might still die together, which would hove been a melancholy consolation +just then. + + + +Chapter XXII. + + + + Father of all! In every age, + In every clime, adored; + By saint, by savage, or by sage-- + Jehovah! Jove! or Lord! + + Pope. + + +Feeling the necessity of possessing all my strength I ate a breakfast +before I commenced work. It was with a heavy heart, and but little +appetite, that I took this solitary meal; but I felt that its effects were +good. When finished, I knelt on the deck, and prayed to God, fervently, +asking his divine assistance in my extremity. Why should an old man, whose +race is nearly run, hesitate to own, that in the pride of his youth and +strength, he was made to feel how insufficient we all are for our wants? +Yes, I prayed; and I hope in a fitting spirit, for I felt that this +spiritual sustenance did me even more good than the material of which I +had just before partaken. When I rose from my knees, it was with a sense +of hope, that I endeavoured to suppress a little, as both unreasonable and +dangerous. Perhaps the spirit of my sainted sister was permitted to look +down on me, in that awful strait, and to offer up its own pure petitions +in behalf of a brother she had so warmly loved. I began to feel myself +less alone, and the work advanced the better from this mysterious sort of +consciousness of the presence of the souls of those who had felt an +interest in me, while in the body. + +My first measure was to lead the jib-stay, which had parted near the head +of its own mast, to the head of the main-mast. This I did by bending on a +piece of another rope. I then got up the halyards, and loosened and set +the jib; a job that consumed quite two hours. Of course, this sail did not +set very well, but it was the only mode I had of getting forward canvass +on the ship at all. As soon as the jib was set, in this imperfect manner, +I put the helm up, and got the ship before the wind. I then hauled out the +spanker, and gave it sheet. By these means, aided by the action of the +breeze on the hull and spars, I succeeded in getting something like three +knots' way on the ship, keeping off a little northerly, in which +direction I felt sensible it was necessary to proceed in quest of the +spars. I estimated the drift of the wreck at a knot an hour, including the +good and moderate weather; and, allowing for that of the ship itself, I +supposed it must be, by that time, some twelve miles to leeward of +me. These twelve miles I managed to run by noon, when I hauled up +sufficiently to bring the wind abeam, heading northwardly. As +the ship would now steer herself, that is as small as it was necessary for +me to go, I collected some food, took a glass, and went up into the +main-top, to dine, and to examine the ocean. + +The anxious, anxious hours I passed in that top! Not an object of any sort +appeared on the surface of the wide ocean. It seemed as if the birds and +the fishes had abandoned me to my loneliness. I watched and examined the +surrounding sea, until my hands were tired with holding the glass, and my +eyes became weary with their office. Fortunately, the breeze stood, though +the sea went down fast; giving me every opportunity I could desire of +effecting my object. The ship yawed about a good deal, it is true; but, on +the whole, she made a very tolerable course. I could see by the water that +she had a motion of about two knots, for most of the time; though, as the +day advanced, the wind began to fall, and her rate of going diminished +quite one half. + +At length, after passing hours aloft, I went below, to look after things +there. On sounding the pumps, I found ten feet water in the hold; though +the upper works were now not at all submerged, and the motion of the +vessel was very easy. That the Dawn was gradually sinking under me, was a +fact too evident to be denied; and all the concerns of thir life began to +narrow into a circle of some four-and-twenty hours. That time the ship +would probably float,--possibly a little longer, should the weather +continue moderate. The wind was decreasing still, and, thinking I might +have a tranquil night, I determined to pass that time in preparing for the +last great change. I had no will to make--little to leave, indeed, after +my vessel was gone: for the debt due to John Wallingford would go far +towards absorbing all my property. When his $40,000 were paid, under a +forced sale, little, indeed, would be the residue. + +The state of things would have been somewhat different, under a fair sale, +perhaps; but a forced sale would probably sweep away everything. It is true +my creditor was my heir; for, a legacy to Lucy and a few bequests to +my slaves excepted, I had fairly bequeathed all I owned to my cousin. +As for the blacks themselves, under the new policy of New York, they would +soon be free; and I had no other interest in their fate than that of habit +and affection. + +But why speak of property, in the situation in which I was placed? Had I +owned the whole of Ulster county, my wishes, or any new will I might make, +must die with me. The ocean would soon engulf the whole. Had I no desire +to make an effort to save myself, or at least to prolong my existence, by +means of a raft?--of boat, there was none in the ship. The English had the +yawl, and the launch had been driven away. The spare spars were swept +overboard, as well as all the water-casks that had been lashed on deck. I +might have done something with the hatches, and mizen-top-mast, possibly, +could I have gotten the last into the water; but the expedient was so +desperate, it did not hold out any hopes to be encouraged. Even the +handspikes had gone in the launch, and two of the buoys had been left with +the anchors, on the Irish coast. Under all the circumstances, it appeared +to me, that it would be more manly and resigned, to meet my fate at once, +than to attempt any such feeble projects to prolong existence for a few +hours. I came to the resolution, therefore, to go down in my ship. + +What was there to make life particularly dear to me?--My home, my +much-beloved Clawbonny, must go, at all events; and I will own that a +feeling of bitter distrust crossed my mind, as I thought of these things, +and that I began to fancy John Wallingford might have urged me to borrow +his money, expressly to obtain a chance of seizing an estate that was so +much prized by every Wallingford. I suppressed this feeling, however; and +in a clear voice I asked my cousin's pardon, the same as if he had been +within hearing. Of Lucy, I had no longer any hope;--Grace was already in +heaven; and the world contained few that cared for me. After Mr. Hardinge, +Lucy always excepted I now loved Marble and Neb the most; and these two +were probably both dead, or doomed, like myself. We must all yield up our +lives once; and, though my hour came rather early, it should be met as a +man meets everything, even to death itself. + +Some time before the sun set, I went aloft to take a last look at the +ocean. I do not think any desire to prolong my existence carried me up the +mast, but there was a lingering wish to look after my mate. The ocean +beamed gloriously that eventide, and I fancied that it was faintly +reflecting the gracious countenance of its divine Creator, in a smile of +beneficent love. I felt my heart soften, as I gazed around me, and I +fancied heavenly music was singing the praises of God, on the face of the +great deep. Then I knelt in the top, and prayed. + +Rising, I looked at the ocean, as I supposed, for the last time. Not a +sail was anywhere to be seen. I cannot say that I felt disappointed;--I +did not expect relief from that quarter. My object was, to find my mate, +that we might die together. Slowly I raised the glass, and the horizon was +swept with deliberation. Nothing appeared. I had shut the glass, and was +about to sling it, when my eye caught the appearance of something floating +on the surface of the ocean, within a mile of the ship; well to leeward, +and ahead. I had overlooked it, in consequence of ranging above it with +the glass, in the desire to sweep the horizon. I could not be mistaken: it +was the wreck. In a moment the glass was levelled, and I assured myself of +the fact. The top was plainly visible, floating quite high above the +surface, and portions of the yards and masts were occasionally seen, as +the undulations of the ocean left them bare. I saw an object, lying +motionless across the top-rim, which I supposed to be Marble. He was +either dead or asleep. + +What a revulsion of feeling came over me at this sight! A minute before, +and I was completely isolated; cut off from the rest of my species, and +resigned to a fate that seemed to command my quitting this state of being, +without further communion with mankind. Everything was changed. Here was +the companion of so many former dangers, the man who had taught me my +profession, one that I can truly say I loved, quite near me, and possibly +dying for the want of that aid which I might render! I was on deck in the +twinkling of an eye; the sheets were eased off, and the helm put up. +Obedient to my wishes, the ship fell off, and I soon got a glimpse, from +the spot where I stood, at the wheel, of the wreck a little clear of the +weather cat-head. By this time, the wind was so light, and the ship had +got to be so deep in the water, that the motion of the last was very slow. +Even with the helm up, it scarce equalled half a knot; I began to fear I +should not be able to reach my goal, after all! + +There were, now, intervals of dead calm; then the air would return in +little puffs, urging the great mass heavily onward. I whistled, I prayed, +I called aloud for wind; in short, I adopted all the expedients known, +from that of the most vulgar nautical superstition, up to profound +petitions to the Father of Mercies. I presume all this brought no change, +though the passage of time did. About half an hour before the sun dipped +into the ocean, the ship was within a hundred yards of the wreck. This I +could ascertain by stolen glances, for the direction I was now compelled +to steer, placed the forward part of the ship between me and my object, +and I did not dare quit the wheel to go forward, lest I should miss it +altogether. I had prepared a grapnel, by placing a small kedge in the +lee-waist, with a hawser bent, and, could I come within a few feet of the +floating hamper, I felt confident of being able to hook into something. It +appeared to me, now, as if the ship absolutely refused to move. Go ahead +she did, notwithstanding, though it was only her own length in five or six +minutes. My hasty glances told me that two more of these lengths would +effect my purpose. I scarce breathed, lest the vessel should not be +steered with sufficient accuracy. It was strange to me that Marble did not +hail, and, fancying him asleep, I shouted with all my energy, in order to +arouse him. 'What a joyful sound that will be in his ears,' I thought to +myself, though to me, my own voice seemed unearthly and alarming. No +answer came. Then I felt a slight shock, as if the cut-water had hit +something, and a low scraping sound against the copper announced that the +ship had hit the wreck. Quitting the wheel, I sprang into the waist, +raising the kedge in my arms. Then came the upper spars wheeling strongly +round, under the pressure of the vessel's bottom against the extremity of +the lower mast. I saw nothing but the great maze of hamper and wreck, and +could scarcely breathe in the anxiety not to miss my aim. There was much +reason to fear the whole mass would float off, leaving me no chance of +throwing the kedge, for the smaller masts no longer inclined in, and I +could see that the ship and wreck were slowly separating. A low thump on +the bottom, directly beneath me, drew my head over the side, and I found +the fore-yard, as it might be, a cock-bill, with one end actually scraping +along the ship's bottom. It was the only chance I had, or was likely to +have, and I threw the kedge athwart it. Luckily, the hawser as it +tautened, brought a fluke directly under the yard, within the Flemish +horse, the brace-block, and all the other ropes that are fitted to a lower +yard-arm. So slow was the motion of the ship, that my grapnel held, and +the entire body of the wreck began to yield to the pressure. I now jumped +to the jib-halyards and down-haul, getting that sail reduced; then I +half-brailed the spanker; this was done lest my hold on the yard +should give way. + +I can say, that up to this instant, I had not even looked for Marble. So +intense had been my apprehensions of missing the wreck, that I thought of +nothing else, could see nothing else. Satisfied, however, that my fast +would hold, I ran forward to look down on the top, that the strain of the +hawser had brought directly under the very bow, over which it had fallen. +It was empty! The object I had mistaken for Marble, dead or asleep, was a +part of the bunt of the main-top-sail, that had been hauled down over the +top-rim, and secured there, either to form a sort of shelter against the +breaking seas, or a bed. Whatever may have been the intention of this +nest, it no longer had an occupant. Marble had probably been washed away, +in one of his adventurous efforts to make himself more secure or more +comfortable. + +The disappointment that came over me, as I ascertained this fact, was +scarcely less painful than the anguish I had felt when I first saw my mate +carried off into the ocean There would have been a melancholy satisfaction +in finding his body, that we might have gone to the bottom together, at +least, and thus have slept in a common grave, in the depths of that ocean +over which we had sailed so many thousands of leagues in company. I went +and threw myself on the deck, regardless of my own fate, and wept in very +bitterness of heart. I had arranged a mattress on the quarter-deck, and it +was on that I now threw myself. Fatigue overcame me, in the end, and I +fell into a deep sleep. As my recollection left me, my last thought was +that I should go down with the ship, as I lay there. So complete was the +triumph of nature, that I did not even dream. I do not remember ever to +have enjoyed more profound and refreshing slumbers; slumbers that +continued until returning light awoke me. To that night's rest I am +probably indebted, under God, for having the means of relating these +adventures. + +It is scarcely necessary to say that the night had been tranquil; +otherwise, a seaman's ears would have given him the alarm. When I arose, I +found the ocean glittering like a mirror, with no other motion than that +which has so often been likened to the slumbering respiration of some +huge animal. The wreck was thumping against the ship's bottom, announcing +its presence, before I left the mattress. Of wind there was literally not +a breath. Once in a while, the ship would seem to come up to breathe, as a +heavy groundswell rolled along her sides, and the wash of the element told +the circumstance of such a visit; else, all was as still as the ocean in +its infancy. I knelt, again, and prayed to that dread Being, with whom, it +now appeared to me, I stood alone, in the centre of the universe. + +Down to the moment when I arose from my knees, the thought of making an +effort to save myself, or to try to prolong existence a few hours, by +means of the wreck, did not occur to me. But, when I came to look about +me, to note the tranquil condition of the ocean, and to heed the chances, +small as they were, that offered, the love of life was renewed within me, +and I seriously set about the measures necessary to such an end. + +The first step was to sound the pumps, anew. The water had not gained in +the night as rapidly as it had gained throughout the preceding day. But it +had gained; there being three feet more of it than when I last +sounded--the infallible evidence of the existence of a leak that no means +of mine could stop. It was, then, hopeless to think of saving the ship. +She had settled in the water, already, so as to bring the lower bolts of +both fore and main channels awash; and I supposed she might float for +four-and-twenty hours longer, unless an injury that I had discovered under +the larboard cat-head, and which had been received from the wreck, should +sooner get under water. It appeared to me that a butt had been started +there: such a leak would certainly hasten the fate of the vessel by some +hours, should it come fairly into the account. + +Having made this calculation as to the time I had to do it in, I set +seriously about the job of making provisions with my raft. In one or two +particulars, I could not much improve the latter; for, the yards lying +underneath the masts, it rendered the last as buoyant as was desirable in +moderate weather. It struck me, however, that by getting the top-gallant +and royal masts, with their yards, in, around the top, I might rig a +staging, with the aid of the hatches, that would not only keep me entirely +out of water, in mild weather, but which would contain all one man could +consume, in the way of victuals and drink, for a month to come. To this +object, then, I next gave my attention. + +I had no great difficulty in getting the spars I have mentioned, loose, +and in hauling them alongside of the top. It was a job that required time, +rather than strength; for my movements were greatly facilitated by the +presence of the top-mast rigging, which remained in its place, almost as +taut as when upright. The other rigging I cut, and having got out the fids +of the two masts, one at a time, I pushed the spars through their +respective caps with a foot. Of course, I was obliged to get into the +water to work; but I had thrown aside most of my clothes for the occasion, +and the weather being warm, I felt greatly refreshed with my bath. In two +hours' time, I had my top-gallant-mast and yard well secured to the +top-rim and the caps, having sawed them in pieces for the purpose. The +fastenings were both spikes and lashings, the carpenter's stores +furnishing plenty of the former, as well as all sorts of tools. + +This part of the arrangement completed, I ate a hearty breakfast, when I +began to secure the hatches, as a sort of floor, on my primitive joists. +This was not difficult, the hatches being long, and the rings enabling me +to lash them, as well as to spike them. Long before the sun had reached +the meridian, I had a stout little platform, that was quite eighteen +inches above the water, and which was surrounded by a species of low +ridge-ropes, so placed as to keep articles from readily tumbling off it. +The next measure was to cut all the sails from the yards, and to cut loose +all the rigging and iron that did not serve to keep the wreck together. +The reader can easily imagine how much more buoyancy I obtained by these +expedients. The fore-sail alone weighed much more than I did myself, with +all the stores I might have occasion to put on my platform. As for the +fore-top-sail, there was little of it left, the canvass having mostly +blown from the yard, before the mast went. + +My raft was completed by the time I felt the want of dinner; and a very +good raft it was. The platform was about ten feet square, and it now +floated quite two feet clear of the water. This was not much for a sea; +but, after the late violent gale, I had some reason to expect a +continuation of comparatively good weather. I should not have been a true +seaman not to have bethought me of a mast and a sail. I saved the +fore-royal-mast, and the yard, with its canvass, for such a purpose; +determining to rig them when I had nothing else to do. I then ate my +dinner, which consisted of the remnants of the old cold meat and fowls I +could find among the cabin eatables. + +This meal taken, the duty that came next was to provision my raft. It took +but little time or labour. The cabin stores were quite accessible; and a +bag of pilot-bread, another of that peculiarly American invention, called +crackers--some smoked beef, a case of liquors, and two breakers of water, +formed my principal stock. To this I added a pot of butter, with some +capital smoked herrings, and some anchovies. We lived well in the cabin of +the Dawn, and there was no difficulty in making all the provision that six +or eight men would have needed for a month. Perceiving that the raft, now +it was relieved from the weight of the sails and rigging, was not much +affected by the stores, I began to look about me in quest of anything +valuable I might wish to save. The preparations I had been making created +a sort of confidence in their success; a confidence (hope might be the +better word) that was as natural, perhaps, as it was unreasonable. I +examined the different objects that offered, with a critical comparison +of their value and future usefulness, that would have been absurd, had it +not afforded a melancholy proof of the tenacity of our desires in matters +of this nature. It is certainly a sad thing to abandon a ship, at sea, +with all her appliances, and with a knowledge of the gold that she cost. +The Dawn, with her cargo, must have stood me in eighty thousand dollars, +or even more; and here was I about to quit her, out on the ocean, with an +almost moral certainty that not a cent of the money could be, or would be, +recovered from the insurers. These last only took risks against the +accidents of the ocean, fire included; and there was a legal obligation on +the insured to see that the vessel was properly found and manned. It was +my own opinion that no accident would have occurred to the ship, in the +late gale, had the full crew been on board; and that the ship was not +sufficiently manned was, in a legal sense my own fault. I was bound to let +the English carry her into port, and to await judgment,--the law supposing +that justice would have been done in the premises. The law might have been +greatly mistaken in this respect; but potentates never acknowledge their +blunders. If I was wronged in the detention, the law presumed suitable +damages. It is true, I might be ruined by the delay, through the debts +left behind me; but the law, with all its purity, cared nothing for that. +Could I have shown a loss by means of a falling market, I might have +obtained redress, provided the court chose to award it, and provided the +party did not appeal; or, if he did, that the subsequent decisions +supported the first; and provided,--all the decrees being in my +favour,--my Lord Harry Dermond could have paid a few thousands in +damages:--a problem to be solved, in itself. + +I always carried to sea with me a handsome chest, that I had bought in one +of my earlier voyages, and which usually contained my money, clothes and +other valuables. This chest I managed to get on deck, by the aid of a +purchase, and over the ship's side, on the raft. It was much the most +troublesome task I had undertaken. To this I added my writing-desk, a +mattress, two or three counterpanes, and a few other light articles, which +it struck me might be of use--but, which I could cast into the sea at any +moment, should it become necessary. When all this was done, I conceived +that my useful preparations were closed. + +It was near night, and I felt sufficiently fatigued to lie down and sleep. +The water had gained very slowly during the last few hours, but the ship +was now swimming so low, that I thought it unsafe to remain in the vessel, +while asleep. I determined, therefore, to take my leave of her, and go on +the raft for that purpose. It struck me too, it might be unsafe to be too +near the vessel when she went down, and I had barely time to get the spars +a short distance from the ship, before darkness would come. Still, I was +unwilling to abandon the Dawn altogether, since the spars that stood on +board her, would always be a more available signal to any passing vessel, +than the low sail I could set on the raft. Should she float during the +succeeding day, they would increase the chances of a rescue, and they +offered an advantage not to be lightly thrown away. + +To force the spars away from the ship was not an easy task of itself. +There is an attraction in matter, that is known to bring vessels nearer +together in calms, and I had this principle of nature first to overcome; +then to neutralize it, without the adequate means for doing either. Still +I was very strong, and possessed all the resources of a seaman. The raft, +too, now its length was reduced, was much more manageable than it had been +originally, and in rummaging about the twixt-decks, I had found a set of +oars belonging to the launch, which had been stowed in the steerage, and +which of course were preserved. These I had taken to the raft, to +strengthen my staging, or deck, and two of them had been reserved for the +very purpose to which they were now applied. + +Cutting away the kedge, then, and casting off the other ropes I had used +with which to breast-to the raft, I began to shove off, just as the sun +was dipping. So long as I could pull by the ship, I did very well, for I +adopted the expedient of hauling astern, instead of pushing broad off, +under the notion that I might get a better drift, if quite from under the +lee of the vessel, than if lying on her broadside. I say the 'lee,' though +there wasn't a breath of air, nor scarcely any motion of the water. I had +a line fast to a stern-davit, and placing myself with my feet braced +against the chest, I soon overcame the _vis inertia_ of the spars, and, +exerting all my force, when it was once in motion, I succeeded in giving +the raft an impetus that carried it completely past the ship. I confess I +felt no personal apprehension from the suction, supposing the ship to sink +while the raft was in absolute contact with it, but the agitation of the +water might weaken its parts, or it might wash most of my stores away. +This last consideration induced me, now, to go to work with the oars, and +try to do all I could, by that mode of propelling my dull craft. I worked +hard just one hour, by my watch; at the expiration of that time, the +nearest end of the raft, or the lower part of the foremast, was about a +hundred yards from the Dawn's taffrail. This was a slow movement, and did +not fail to satisfy me, that, if I were to be saved at all, it would be by +means of some passing vessel, and not by my own progress. + +Overcome by fatigue, I now lay down and slept. I took no precautions +against the wind's rising in the night; firstly, because I thought it +impossible from the tranquil aspects of the heavens and the ocean; and +secondly, because I felt no doubt that the wash of the water and the sound +of the winds would arouse me, should it occur differently. As on the +previous night, I slept sweetly, and obtained renewed strength for any +future trials. As on the preceding morning, too, I was awaked by the warm +rays of the rising sun falling on my face. On first awaking, I did not +know exactly where I was. A moment's reflection, however, sufficed to +recall the past to my mind, and I turned to examine my actual situation. + +I looked for the ship, towards the end of the mast, or in the direction +where I had last seen her; but she was not visible. The raft had swung +round in the night, I thought, and I bent my eyes slowly round the entire +circle of the horizon, but no ship was to be seen. The Dawn had sunk in +the night, and so quietly as to give no alarm! I shuddered, for I could +not but imagine what would have been my fate, had I been aroused from the +sleep of the living, only to experience the last agony as I passed away +into the sleep of the dead. I cannot describe the sensation that came over +me, as I gazed around, and found myself on the broad ocean, floating on a +little deck that was only ten feet square, and which was raised less than +two feet above the surface of the waters. It was now that I felt the true +frailty of my position, and comprehended all its dangers. Before, it had +been shaded by the ship, as it might be, and I had found a species of +protection in her presence. But, the whole truth now stood before me. Even +a moderate breeze would raise a sea that could not fail to break over the +staging, and which must sweep everything away. The spars had a specific +lightness, it is true, and they would never sink; or, if they did sink, it +would only be at the end of ages, when saturated with water and covered +with barnacles; but, on the other hand, they possessed none of the +buoyancy of a vessel, and could riot rise above the rolling waters, +sufficiently to clear their breakers. + +These were not comfortable reflections; they pressed on my mind even while +engaged at my morning devotions. After performing, in the best manner I +could, this never-ceasing duty, I ate a little, though I must admit it was +with a small appetite. Then I made the best stowage I could of my effects, +and rigged and stepped the mast, hoisting the sail, as a signal to any +vessel that might appear. I expected wind ere long; nor was I +disappointed; a moderate breeze springing up from the north-west, about +nine o'clock. This air was an immense relief to me, in more ways than one. +It cooled my person, which was suffering from the intense heat of a +summer's sun beating directly on a boundless expanse of water, and it +varied a scene that otherwise possessed an oppressively wearisome +sameness. Unfortunately this breeze met me in the bows; for I had stepped +my mast in the foremast, lashed it against the bottom of the top, which it +will be remembered was now perpendicular, and stayed it to the mast-heads +and dead-eyes of the top-mast rigging, all of which remained as when +erect, though now floating on the water. I intended the fractured part of +the foremast for my cut-water, and, of course, had to ware ship before I +could gather any way. This single manoeuvre occupied a quarter of an hour, +my braces, tacks, and sheets not working particularly well. At the end of +that time, however, I got round, and laid my yard square. + + + +Chapter XXIII. + + + "There was speech in their dumbness, language in their very gesture; + they looked, as they had heard of a world ransomed, or one destroyed: A + notable passion of wonder appeared in them; but the wisest beholder, + that knew no more but seeing, could not say, if the importance were joy, + or sorrow;--but in the extremity of the one, it must needs be." + + Winter's Tale. + + +As soon as the raft got fairly before the wind, and the breeze had +freshened, I had an opportunity of ascertaining what it would do. The +royal was a large one, and it stood well. I had brought a log-line and the +slow-glass with me, as well as my quadrant, slate, &c., and began to think +of keeping a reckoning. I had supposed the ship to be, when it fell calm, +about two hundred miles from the land, and I knew her to be in latitude +48° 37''. The log-line told me, the raft moved through the water, all that +forenoon, at the rate of about half a knot in the hour; and could I keep +on for fifteen or sixteen days, in a straight course, I might yet hope to +get ashore. I was not so weak, however, as to expect any such miracle to +be wrought in my favour, though, had I been in the trades, the thing might +have occurred. By cutting adrift the two yards, or by getting them fore +and aft, in a line with the water, my rate of sailing might be doubled; +and I began seriously to think of effecting this great change. Cut the +yards adrift I did not like to do, their support in keeping me out of +water being very important. By hauling on the lift, I did get them in a +more oblique position, and in a measure thus lessened their resistance to +the element. I thought that even this improvement made a difference of +half a knot in my movement. Nevertheless, it was tedious work to be a +whole hour in going less than a single mile, when two hundred remained to +be travelled, and the risks of the ocean were thus constantly +impending over one! + +What a day was that! It blew pretty fresh at one time, and I began to +tremble for my staging, or deck, which got washed several times, though +the top-sail-yard made for it a sort of lee, and helped to protect it. +Towards the decline of the day, the wind went down, and at sunset +everything was as tranquil as it had been the previous evening. I thought +I might have been eight or nine miles from the spot where the Dawn went +down, without computing the influence of the currents, which may have set +me all that distance back again, or so much further ahead, for anything I +knew of the matter. At sunset I took an anxious survey of the horizon, to +see if any sail were in sight; but nothing was visible. + +Another tranquil night gave me another tranquil night's rest. I call the +last tranquil, as it proved to be in one sense, though I was sorely +troubled with dreams. Had I been suffering for nourishment, I certainly +should have dreamed of food; but, such not being the case, my thoughts +took the direction of home and friends. Much of the time, I lay half +asleep and half awake; then my mind would revert to my sister, to Lucy, to +Mr. Hardinge, and to Clawbonny--which I fancied already in the possession +of John Wallingford, who was triumphing in his ownership, and the success +of his arts. Then I thought Lucy had purchased the place, and was living +there with Andrew Drewett, in a handsome new house, built in the modern +taste. By modern taste, I do not mean one of the Grecian-temple school, as +I do no think that even all the vagaries of a diseased imagination that +was suffering under the calamities of shipwreck, could induce me to +imagine Lucy Hardinge silly enough to desire to live in such a structure. + +Towards morning, I fell into a doze, the fourth or fifth renewal of my +slumbers that night; and I remember that I had that sort of curious +sensation which apprises us itself, it was a dream. In the course of the +events that passed through my mind, I fancied I overheard Marble and Neb +conversing. Their voices were low, and solemn, as I thought; and the words +so distinct, that I still remember every syllable. + +"No, Neb," said Marble, or seemed to say, in a most sorrowful tone, one I +had never heard him use even in speaking of his hermitage. "There is +little hope for Miles, now. I felt as if the poor boy was lost when I saw +him swept away from me, by them bloody spars striking adrift, and set him +down as one gone from that moment. You've lost an A. No. 1. master, +Mister Neb, I can tell you, and you may sarve a hundred before you fall in +with his like ag'in." + +"I nebber sarve anoder gentleum; Misser Marble," returned the black; +"_dat_ as sartain as gospel. I born in 'e Wallingford family, and I lib +an' die in 'e same family, or I don't want to lib and die, at all. My real +name be Wallingford, dough folk do call me Clawbonny." + +"Ay, and a slim family it's got to be!" rejoined the mate. "The nicest, +and the handsomest, and the most virtuous young woman in all York State, +is gone out of it, first: I knew but little of her; but, how often did +poor Miles tell me all about her; and how he loved her, and how she loved +him, and the like of all that, as is becoming; and something in the way +that I love little Kitty, my niece you know, Neb, only a thousand times +more; and hearing so much of a person is all the same, or even better than +to know them up and down, if a body wants to feel respect with all his +heart. Secondly, as a person would say, now there's Miles, lost too, for +the ship is sartainly gone down, Neb: otherwise, she would have been seen +floating hereabouts, and we may log him as a man lost overboard." + +"P'rhaps not, Misser Marble," said the negro. "Masser Mile swim like a +fish, and he isn't the gentleum to give up as soon as trouble come. +P'rhaps he swimming about all dis time." + +"Miles could do all that man could do, Neb, but he can't swim two hundred +miles--a South sea-man might do something like that, I do suppose, but +they're onaccountably web-footed. No, no, Neb; I fear we shall have to +give him up. Providence swept him away from us, like, and we've lost him. +Ah's me!--well, I loved that boy better, even, than a Yankee loves +cucumbers." + +This may be thought an odd comparison to cross a drowsy imagination, but +it was one Marble often made; and if eating the fruit, morning, noon and +night, will vindicate its justice, the mate stood exonerated from +everything like exaggeration. + +"Ebbry body lub Masser Mile," said the warm-hearted Neb, or I thought he +so said. "I nebber see dat we _can_ go home to good old Masser Hardinge, +and tell him how we lose Masser Mile!" + +"It will be a hard job, Neb, but I greatly fear it must be done. However, +we will now turn in and try to catch a nap, for the wind will be rising +one of these times, and then we shall have need of keeping our eyes +wide open." + +After this I heard no more; but every word of that which I have related, +sounded as plainly in my ears as if the speakers were within fifty feet of +me. I lay in the same state, some time longer, endeavouring, as I was +curious myself, of catching, or fancying, more words from those I loved so +well; but no more came. Then I believe I fell into a deeper sleep, for I +remember no more, for hours. + +At dawn I awoke, the care on my mind answering for a call. This time, I +did not wait for the sun to shine in my eyes, but, of the two, I rather +preceded, than awaited the return of the light. On standing erect, I found +the sea as tranquil as it had been the previous night, and there was an +entire calm. It was still so dusky that a little examination was necessary +to be certain nothing was near. The horizon was scarcely clear, though, +making my first look towards the east, objects were plainest in that +quarter of the ocean. I then turned slowly round, examining the vast +expanse of water as I did so; until my back was towards the approaching +light, and I faced the west. I thought I saw a boat within ten yards of +me! At first, I took it for illusion, and rubbed my eyes to make sure that +I was awake. There it was, however, and another look satisfied me it was +my own launch, or that in which poor Neb had been carried overboard. What +was more, it was floating in the proper manner, appeared buoyant, and had +two masts rigged. It is true, that it looked dusky, as objects appear just +at dawn, but it was sufficiently distinct. I could not be mistaken; it was +my own launch thus thrown within my reach by the mercy of divine +Providence! + +This boat, then, had survived the gale, and the winds and currents had +brought it and the raft together. What had become of Neb? He must have +rigged the masts, for none were stepped, of course, when the boat was in +the chocks. Masts, and sails, and oars were always kept in the boat, it is +true; but the first could not be stepped without hands. A strange, wild +feeling came over me, as a man might be supposed to yield to the +appearance of supernatural agencies and, almost without intending it, I +shouted "boat ahoy!" + +"Yo hoy!" answered Marble;--"who hails?" + +The form of the mate appeared rising in the boat; at the next instant, Neb +stood at his side. The conversation of the previous night had been real, +and those whom I had mourned as lost stood within thirty feet of me, hale, +hearty, and unharmed. The boat and raft had approached each other in the +darkness; and, as I afterwards learned, the launch having fanned along for +several hours of the night, stopped for want of wind nearly where I now +saw her, and where the dialogue, part of which I overheard while half +asleep, had taken place. Had the launch continued on its course only ten +yards further, it would have hit the fore-top-mast. That attraction of +which I have already spoken, probably kept the boat and raft near each +other throughout the night, and quite likely had been slowly drawing them +together while we slept. + +It would not be easy to say which party was the most astonished at this +recognition. There was Marble, whom I had supposed washed off the raft, +safe in the launch; and here was I, whom the other two had thought to have +gone down in the ship, safe on the raft! We appeared to have changed +places, without concert and without expectation of ever again meeting. +Though ignorant of the means through which all this had been brought +about, I very well know what we did, as soon as each man was certain that +he saw the other standing before him in the flesh. We sat down and wept +like three children. Then Neb, too impatient to wait for Marble's +movements, threw himself into the sea, and swam to the raft. When he got +on the staging, the honest fellow kissed my hands, again and again, +blubbering the whole time like a girl of three or four years of age. This +scene was interrupted only by the expostulations and proceedings of +the mate. + +"What's this you're doing, you bloody nigger!" cried Marble. "Desarting +your station, and leaving me here, alone, to manage this heavy launch, by +myself. It might be the means of losing all hands of us again, should a +hurricane spring up suddenly, and wreck us over again." + +The truth was, Marble began to be ashamed of the weakness he had +betrayed, and was ready to set upon anything, in order to conceal it. Neb +put an end to this sally, however, by plunging again into the water, and +swimming back to the boat, as readily as he had come to the raft. + +"Ay, here you are, Neb, nigger-like, and not knowing whether to stay or to +go," growled the mate, busy the whole time in shipping two oars. "You put +me in mind of a great singer I once heard in Liverpool; a chap that would +keep shaking and quavering at the end of a varse, in such a style that he +sometimes did not know whether to let go or to hold on. It is onbecoming +in men to forget themselves, Neb; if we have found him we thought to be +lost, it is no reason for desarting our stations, or losing our +wits--Miles, my dear boy," springing on the raft, and sending Neb adrift +again, all alone, by the backward impetus of the leap--"Miles, my dear +boy, God be praised for this!" squeezing both my hands as in a vice--"I +don't know how it is--but ever since I 've fallen in with my mother and +little Kitty, I've got to be womanish. I suppose it's what you call +domestic affection." + +Here, Marble gave in once more, blubbering just as hard as Neb, himself, +had done. + +A few minutes later, all three began to know what we were about. The +launch was hauled up alongside of the stage, and we sat on the latter, +relating the manner in which each of us had been saved. First, then, as to +Neb: I have already told the mode in which the launch was swept overboard, +and I inferred its loss from the violence of the tempest, and the height +of the seas that were raging around us. It is true, neither Marble, nor I, +saw anything of the launch after it sunk behind the first hill of water to +leeward, for we had too much to attend to on board the ship, to have +leisure to look about us. But, it seems the black was enabled to maintain +the boat, the right side up, and, by bailing, to keep her afloat. He drove +to leeward, of course, and the poor fellow described in vivid terms his +sensations, as he saw the rate at which he was driving away from the ship, +and the manner in which he lost sight of her remaining spars. As soon as +the wind would permit, however, he stepped the masts, and set the two +luggs close-reefed, making stretches of three or four miles in length, to +windward. This timely decision was the probable means of saving all our +lives. In the course of a few hours, after he had got the boat under +command, he caught a glimpse of the fore-royal-masts sticking out from the +cap of a sea, and watching it eagerly, he next perceived the whole of the +raft, as it came up on the same swell, with Marble, half-drowned, lashed +to the top. It was quite an hour, before Neb could get near enough to the +raft, or spars, to make Marble conscious of his presence, and sometime +longer ere he could get the sufferer into the boat. This rescue did not +occur one minute too soon, for the mate admitted to me he was half +drowned, and that he did not think he could have held out much longer, +when Neb took him into the boat. + +As for food and water, they fared well enough. A breaker of fresh water +was kept in each boat, by my standing orders, and it seems that the cook, +who was a bit of an epicure in his way, was in the habit of stowing a bag +of bread, and certain choice pieces of beef and pork, in the bows of the +launch, for his own special benefit. All these Neb had found, somewhat the +worse for salt-water, it is true, but still in a condition to be eaten. +There was sufficient in the launch, therefore, when we thus met, to +sustain Marble and Neb, in good heart, for a week. + +As soon as the mate was got off the raft, he took direction of the launch. +Unluckily, he made a long stretch to the northward, intending to tack and +cross what he supposed must have been the position of the ship, and come +to my relief. While the launch was thus working its way to windward, I +fell in with, and took possession of, the raft, as has been described. +Marble's calculation was a good one, in the main; but it brought him near +the Dawn the night she sank, and the raft and boat were both too low to be +seen at any distance, the one from the other. It is probable we were not +more than ten or twelve miles asunder the most of the day I was on the +raft, Marble putting up his helm to cross the supposed position of the +ship, about three in the afternoon. This brought him down upon the raft, +about midnight, when the conversation I have related took place, within a +few yards of me, neither party having the least notion of the proximity of +the other. + +I was touched by the manner in which Marble and Neb spoke of my supposed +fate. Neither seemed to remember that he was washed away from a ship, but +appeared to fancy that I was abandoned alone, on the high seas, in a +sinking vessel. While I had been regretting their misfortunes, they had +both thought of me as the party to be pitied; each fancying his own +fortune more happy than mine. In a word, their concern for me was so +great, that they altogether forgot to dwell on the hardships and dangers +of their own particular cases. I could not express all I felt on the +occasion; but the events of that morning, and the feelings betrayed by my +two old shipmates, made an impression on my heart, that time has not, nor +ever can, efface. Most men who had been washed overboard, would have +fancied themselves the suffering party; but during the remainder of the +long intercourse that succeeded, both Marble and Neb always alluded to +this occurrence as if I were the person lost and rescued. + +We were an hour or more intently occupied in these explanations, before +either recollected the future. Then I felt it was time to have some +thought for our situation, which was sufficiently precarious, as it was; +though Marble and Neb made light of any risks that remained to be run. I +was saved, as it might be, by a miracle; and that was all that they could +remember, just then. But a breeze sprang up from the eastward, as the sun +appeared, and the agitation of the raft soon satisfied me that my berth +would have been most precarious, had I not been so providentially +relieved. It is true, Marble made light of the present state of things, +which, compared to those into which he had been so suddenly +launched,--without food, water, or provisions, of any sort,--was a species +of paradise. Nevertheless, no time was to be wasted; and we had a long +road to travel in the boat, ere we could deem ourselves in the least safe. + +My two associates had got the launch in as good order as circumstances +would allow. But it wanted ballast to carry sail hard, and they had felt +this disadvantage; particularly Neb, when he first got the boat on a wind. +I could understand, by his account of the difficulties and dangers he +experienced,--though it came out incidentally, and without the smallest +design to magnify his own merits,--that nothing but his undying interest +in me, could have prevented him from running off before the wind, in +order to save his own life. An opportunity now offered to remedy this +evil, and we went to work to transfer all the effects I had placed on the +stage, to the launch. They made a little cargo that gave her stability at +once. As soon as this was done, we entered the boat, made sail, and hauled +close on a wind, under reefed luggs; it beginning to blow smartly +in puffs. + +I did not part from the raft without melancholy regrets. The materials of +which it was composed were all that now remained of the Dawn. Then the few +hours of jeopardy and loneliness I had passed on it, were not to be +forgotten. They still recur vividly to my thoughts with deep, and, I +trust, profitable, reflections. The first hour after we cast off, we stood +to the southward. The wind continuing to increase in violence, and the sea +to get up, until it blew too fresh for the boat to make any headway, or +even to hold her own against it, Marble thought he might do better on the +other tack,--having some reason to suppose there was a current setting to +the southward and eastward,--and we wore round. After standing to the +northward for a sufficient length of time, we again fell in with the +spars; a proof that we were doing nothing towards working our way to +windward. I determined, at once, to make fast to them, and use them as a +sort of floating anchor, so long as the foul wind lasted. We had some +difficulty in effecting this object; but we finally succeeded in getting +near enough, under the lee of the top, to make fast to one of its +eye-bolts--using a bit of small hawser, that was in the boat, for that +purpose. The boat was then dropped a sufficient distance to leeward of the +spars, where it rode head to sea, like a duck. This was a fortunate +expedient; as it came on to blow hard, and we had something very like a +little gale of wind. + +As soon as the launch was thus moored, we found its advantage. It shipped +no more water, or very little, and we were not compelled to be on the +look-out for squalls, which occurred every ten or fifteen minutes, with a +violence that it would not do to trifle with. The weather thickened at +these moments; and there were intervals of half an hour at a time, when we +could not see a hundred yards from the boat, on account of the drizzling, +misty rain that filled the atmosphere. There we sat, conversing sometimes +of the past, sometimes of the future, a bubble in the midst of the raging +waters of the Atlantic, filled with the confidence of seamen. With the +stout boat we possessed, the food and water we had, I do not think either +now felt any great concern for his fate; it being possible, in moderate +weather, to run the launch far enough to reach an English port in about a +week. Favoured by even a tolerably fair wind, the object might be effected +in even two or three days. + +"I take it for granted, Miles," Marble remarked, as we pursued our +discourse, "that your insurance will completely cover your whole loss? You +did not forget to include freight in the risks?" + +"So far from this, Moses, I believe myself to be nearly or quite a ruined +man. The loss of the ship is unquestionably owing to the act of the +Speedy, united to our own, in setting those Englishmen adrift on the +ocean. No insurers will meet a policy that has thus been voided." + +"Ah! the blackguards!--This is worse than I had thought;--but you can +always make a harbour at Clawbonny?" + +I was on the point of explaining to Marble how I stood in relation to the +paternal acres, when a sort of shadow was suddenly cast on the boat, and I +fancied the rushing of the water seemed to be increased at the same +instant. We all three sat with our faces to leeward, and all turned them +to windward under a common impulse. A shout burst from Marble's throat, +and a sight met my eyes, that caused the blood to rush in a torrent +through my heart. Literally within a hundred feet of us, was a large ship, +ploughing the ocean with a furrow that rose to her hawse-holes, and piling +before her, in her track, a mound of foam, as she came down upon us, with +top-mast and lower studding-sails set--overshadowing the sea, like some +huge cloud. There was scarcely time for more than a glance, ere this ship +was nearly upon us. As she rose on a swell, her black sides came up out of +the ocean, glittering and dripping, and the tine of frowning guns seemed +as if just lacquered. Neb was in the bow of the launch, while I was in the +stern. My arm was extended involuntarily, or instinctively would be the +better word, to avert the danger, when it seemed to me that the next send +of the ship would crush us beneath the bright copper of her bottom. +Without Neb's strength and presence of mind, we had been lost beyond a +hope; for swimming up to the spars against the sea that was on, would have +been next to hopeless; and even if there, without food, or water, our fate +would have been sealed. But Neb seized the hawser by which we were riding, +and hauled the launch ahead her length, or more, before the frigate's +larboard bower-anchor settled down in a way that menaced crushing us. As +it was, I actually laid a hand on the muzzle of the third gun, while the +ship went foaming by. At the next instant she was past; and we were safe. +Then all three of us shouted together. Until that moment, none in the +frigate were aware of our vicinity. But the shout gave the alarm, and as +the ship cleared us, her taffrail was covered with officers. Among them +was one grey-headed man, whom I recognised by his dress for the captain. +He made a gesture, turning an arm upward, and I knew an order was given +immediately after, by the instantaneous manner in which the taffrail +was cleared. + +"By George!" exclaimed Marble, "I had a generalizing time of it, for half +a dozen seconds, Miles." + +"There was more risk," I answered, "than time to reflect on it. However, +the ship is about to round-to, and we shall be picked up, at last. Let us +thank God for this." + +It was indeed a beautiful sight for a seaman, to note the manner in which +that old captain handled his vessel. Although we found the wind and sea +too much for a boat that had to turn to windward, neither was of much +moment to a stout frigate, that carried fifty guns, and which was running +off, with the wind on her quarter. + +She was hardly past us, when I could see preparations making to take in +canvass. At the instant she overshadowed us with her huge wings, this +vessel had top-gallant-sails set, with two top-mast, and a lower +studding-sail, besides carrying the lee-clew of her main-sail down, and +the other customary cloth spread. Up went her main-sail, almost as soon as +the captain made the signal with his arm; then all three of the +top-gallant-sails were flying at the same moment. Presently, the yards +were alive with men, and the loose canvass was rolled up, and the gaskets +passed. While this was doing, down came all the studding-sails together, +much as a bird shuts its wings. The booms disappeared immediately after. + +"Look at that, Miles!" cried the delighted Marble. "Although a bloody +Englishman, that chap leaves nothing to be done over again. He puts +everything in its place, like an old woman stowing away her needles and +thread. I'll warrant you, the old blade is a keen one!" + +"The ship is well handled, certainly, and her people work like mariners +who are trying to save the lives of mariners." + +While this was passing between us, the frigate was stripped to her three +top-sails, spanker, jib, and fore-course Down came her yards, next; and +then they were covered with blue-jackets, like bees clustering around a +hive. We had scarcely time to note this, ere the men lay in, and the yards +were up again, with the sails reefed. This was no sooner done, than the +frigate, which had luffed the instant the steering-sails were in, was +trimmed close on a wind, and began to toss the water over her +sprit-sail-yard, as she met the waves like one that paid them no heed. No +sooner was the old seaman who directed all this, assured of the strength +of the wind he had to meet, than down went his main-sail again, and the +tack was hauled aboard. + +The stranger was then under the smartest canvass a frigate can carry; +reefs in her top-sails, with the courses set. Her sail could be shortened +in an instant, yet she was under a press of it; more than an ordinary +vessel would presume to carry, perhaps, in so strong a breeze. + +Notwithstanding the great jeopardy from which we had just escaped, and the +imminent hazard so lately run, all three of us watched the movements of +the frigate with as much satisfaction as a connoisseur would examine a +fine painting. Even Neb let several nigger expressions of pleasure +escape him. + +By the time sail could be shortened and the ship hauled close on a wind, +the frigate was nearer half than a quarter of a mile off. We had to wait, +therefore, until she could beat up to the place where we lay. This she +soon did, making one stretch to the southward, until in a line with the +boat, when she tacked, and came toward us, with her yards braced up, but +having the wind nearly abeam. As she got within a cable's-length, both +courses were hauled up and left hanging in the brails. Then the noble +craft came rolling by us, in the trough, passing so near that we might be +spoken. The old officer stood in the weather gangway, with a trumpet, and +he hailed, when near enough to be heard. Instead of asking questions, to +satisfy his own curiosity, he merely communicated his own intentions. + +"I'll heave-to, when past you," he cried out, "waring ship to do so. You +can then drop down under my stern, as close as possible, and we'll throw +you a rope." + +I understood the plan, which was considerate, having a regard to the +feebleness of our boat's crew, and the weight of the boat itself. +Accordingly, when she had room enough, the frigate wore, hauling up close +on the other tack, and laying her main-yard square. As soon as the ship +was stationary, Neb cast off the hawser, and Marble and he manned two +oars. We got the boat round without much risk, and, in less time than it +takes to write it, were sending down towards the ship at a furious rate. I +steered, and passed so near the frigate's rudder, that I thought, for an +instant, I had gone too close. A rope was hove as we cleared the +lee-quarter of the frigate, and the people on board hauled us alongside. +We caught the man-ropes, and were soon on the quarter-deck. A +respectable-looking elderly man, of a square, compact frame, and a fine +ruddy English face, in a post-captain's undress, received me, with an +extended hand, and a frank, generous, hearty manner. + +"You are welcome on board the Briton," he said, warmly; "and I thank God +that he has put it in our power to relieve you. Your ship must have been +lost quite recently, as you do not seem to have suffered. When you feel +equal to it, I should like to hear the name of your vessel, and the +particulars of her disaster. I suppose it was in the late blow, which was +a whacker, and did lots of mischief along the coast. I see you are +Americans, and that your boat is New York built; but all men in distress +are countrymen." + +This was a hearty reception, and one I had every reason to extol. So long +as I stayed with Captain Rowley, as this officer was named, I had no +reason to complain of any change in his deportment. Had I been his son, he +could not have treated me more kindly, taking me into his own cabin, and +giving me a seat at his own table. I gave him an outline of what had +happened to us, not deeming it necessary to relate the affair with the +Speedy, however; simply mentioning the manner in which we had escaped from +a French privateer, and leaving him to infer, should he see fit, that the +rest of our crew had been carried away on that occasion. My reserve on the +subject of the other capture, the reader will at once see, was merely a +necessary piece of prudent caution. + +Captain Rowley had no sooner heard my story, which I made as short as +possible, knowing that Marble and Neb had been cautioned on the subject, +than he again took my hand, and welcomed me to his ship. The mate was sent +into the gun-room, and recommended to the hospitality of the lieutenants; +while Neb was placed in the care of the cabin servants. A short +consultation was then held about the boat, which it was decided must be +sent adrift, after its effects were passed out of it; the Briton having no +use for such a launch, nor any place to stow it. I stood at the gangway, +and looked with a melancholy eye at this last remnant of the Dawn that I +ever beheld: a large eighty thousand dollars of my property vanishing from +the earth, in the loss of that ship and her cargo. + + + +Chapter XXIV. + + + + Some shout at victory's loud acclaim, + Some fall that victory to assure, + But time divulges that in name, + Alone, our triumphs are secure. + + Duo. + + +The Briton had come out of the Cove of Cork, only a few days before, and +was bound on service, with orders to run off to the westward, a few +hundred miles, and to cruise three months in a latitude that might cover +the homeward-bound running ships, from the American provinces, of which +there were many in that early period of the war. This was not agreeable +news to us, who had hoped to be landed somewhere immediately, and who had +thought, at first, on seeing the ship carrying a press of sail to the +westward that she might be going to Halifax. There was no remedy, however, +and we were fain to make the best of circumstances. Captain Rowley +promised to put us on board the first vessel that offered, and that was as +much as we had a right, to ask of him. + +More than two months passed without the Briton's speaking, or even seeing +a single sail! To these vicissitudes is the seaman subject; at one time he +is in the midst of craft, at another the ocean seems deserted to himself +alone. Captain Rowley ascribed this want of success to the fact that the +war was inducing the running ships to collect in convoys, and that his +orders carried him too far north to permit his falling in with the +Americans, bound to and from Liverpool. Whatever may have been the reason, +however, the result was the same to us. After the gale of the equinox, the +Briton stood to the southward, as far as Madeira, such a change of ground +being included in her instructions; and thence, after cruising three weeks +in the neighbourhood of that island, she shaped her course for Plymouth. +In the whole, the frigate had, at that time, brought-to and boarded some +thirty sail, all of whom were neutrals, and not one of whom was bound to a +port that would do us any good. The ship's water getting low, we were now +compelled to go in, and, as has been said, we made sail to the northward. +The afternoon of the very day the Briton left her second cruising ground, +a strange ship was seen directly on our course, which was pronounced to be +a frigate, before the sun set. + +The Briton manoeuvred all night to close with the stranger, and with +success, as he was only a league distant, and a very little to windward of +her, when I went on deck early the next morning. I found the ship clear +for action, and a degree of animation pervading the vessel, that I had +never before witnessed. The people were piped to breakfast just as I +approached the captain to salute him with a 'good morning.' + +"Good morning to you, Wallingford," cried the old man, in a cheerful way; +"you are just in time to take a look at yonder Frenchman in his glory. Two +hours hence I hope he'll not appear quite as much of a beau as he is a' +this moment. She's a noble craft, is she not, and quite of our +own force." + +"As for the last, sir," I answered, "there does not seem much to +choose--she is what you call a thirty-eight, and mounts fifty guns, I dare +say. Is she certainly French?" + +"As certainly as this ship is English. She can do nothing with our +signals, and her rig is a character for her. Whoever saw an Englishman +with such royal-masts and yards? So, Master Wallingford, you must consent +to take your breakfast an hour earlier than common, or go without it, +altogether. Ah--here is the steward to say it waits for us." + +I followed Captain Rowley to the cabin, where I found he had sent for +Marble, to share our meal. The kind-hearted old gentleman seemed desirous +of adding this act of civility to the hundred others that he had already +shown us. I had received much generous and liberal treatment from Captain +Rowley, but never before had he seemed so much disposed to act towards me +as a father would act to a son as on that morning. + +"I hope you have done justice to Davis's cookery, gentlemen," he said, +after the assault on the eatables began to abate a little in ardour, "for +this may be the last opportunity that will offer to enjoy it. I am an +Englishman, and have what I hope is a humble confidence in the superiority +of an English over a French ship; but I very well know we never get even a +French ship without working for it; and yonder gentleman may not leave us +any crockery, for to-morrow. He evidently means to fight us, and I think +will do himself credit." + +"I believe you English always go into action against the French with a +confidence of victory," I remarked. + +"Why, we have brought our lads up to that feeling, certainly, though I +would not have you fancy I am quite of that way of thinking. I am too old, +and have seen too much service, Wallingford, not to know that every battle +is liable to accidents and vicissitudes. There is some difference in +service, I must suppose, though not half as much in men as is vulgarly +imagined. The result is in the hands of God, and I _do_ think we are +fighting his battles, in this fearful war: therefore, I trust he will take +care of us." + +I was surprised to find Captain Rowley, who was usually cheerful and gay, +talking in this manner; but it did not become me to pursue the subject. In +a minute or two, we rose from table, and I heard the order given to the +steward to report to the first-lieutenant as soon as the table was cleared +away, that the cabin bulkheads might be removed. Marble and I then passed +below, into a canvass berth that had been made for him, where we could +consult together without danger of interruption. Just as we reached the +place, the drum beat to quarters. This carried nearly every one else on +deck, and left us virtually alone. + +"Well, Miles," commenced Marble, "this v'y'ge will beat any other of our +v'y'ges, and give it fifty. We have been twice captured, once wrecked, +have seen a fight, and are about to _feel_ another. What do you think +patriotism, and republican vartoo, require us to do, in such a crisis?" + +This was the first time I had ever heard my mate mention republicanism, +his habits being certainly as much opposed to liberty, as those of +Napoleon himself. Although the reader probably will not understand the +drift of his question, it was not lost on me. I answered, therefore, like +one who fully comprehended him. + +"I am afraid, Moses," said I, "there is very little republicanism in +France just now, nor do I know that resemblance in governments makes +nations friends. Unless the resemblance be complete, I rather think they +are more disposed to quarrel about the differences, than to allow the +merits of the points of affinity. As between England and France, however, +since we are at peace with both, we Americans have nothing to do with +their quarrels." + +"I thought that would be your idee, Miles, and yet it would be awkward to +be in the midst of a fight, and take no part in it. I'd give a hundred +dollars to be on board that Frenchman, this minute." + +"Are you so much in love with defeat, as to wish to be flogged?" + +"I don't know how it is, but it goes ag'in the grain to take sides with a +John Bull." + +"There is no necessity for taking sides with either, though we can +remember how these people have saved our lives, how kind they have been to +us, and that we have literally lived three months on their bounty. Neb, +I'm glad to see, makes fair weather of it, on the berth-deck." + +"Ay, there's more in that than you dream of, perhaps. Mr. Clements, the +first-lieutenant of this ship, is a sly one; and he thinks more of a good +seaman than some priests do of piety. If I'm not greatly misled, he +intends that Neb shan't quit this ship till the peace." + +"How! They surely cannot pretend that the black is an Englishman?" + +"There are all kinds of Englishmen, black and white, when seamen grow +scarce. Hows'ever, there is no use in looking out for the worst--we shall +know all about it, when the ship gets in. How are we to behave, Miles, in +this here battle? It goes ag'in my feelin's to help an Englishman; and yet +an old salt don't like to keep under hatches, while powder is burning +on deck." + +"It would be wrong for either of us to take any part in the action, since +we have nothing to do with the quarrel. Still, we may appear on deck, +unless ordered below; and I dare say opportunities will offer to be of +use, especially in assisting the hurt. I shall go on the quarter-deck, but +I would advise you not to go higher than the gun-deck. As for Neb, I shall +formally offer his services in helping to carry the wounded down." + +"I understand you--we shall all three sarve in the humane gang--well, when +a man has no business with any other, that may be better than none. Your +standing idle in a fight must be trying work!" + +Marble and I conversed a little longer on this subject, when a gun fired +from the upper-deck gave us notice that the game was about to begin. Each +hastened to his intended post without more words. When I reached the +quarter-deck, everything denoted the eve of a combat. The ship was under +short canvass, the men were at quarters, the guns were cast loose, and +were levelled; the tompions were all out, shot was distributed about the +deck; and here and there some old salt of a captain might be seen +squinting along his gun, as if impatient to begin. A silence like that of +a deserted church reigned throughout the ship. Had one been on board her +intended adversary, at that same instant, be would have been deafened by +the clamour, and confused with the hurried and disorderly manner in which +preparations that were long before completed on board the British, were +still in progress on board the Frenchman. Four years earlier, the same +want of preparation had given Nelson his great victory at the Nile. The +French, in order to clear their outer batteries, had lumbered those +in-shore; and when half their enemies unexpectedly passed inside, they +found their ships were not prepared to fire; ships that were virtually +beaten, before they had discharged an effective shot. + +"Wallingford," said my old friend the captain, as soon as I approached +him, "you have nothing to do here. It would not be proper for you to take +a part in this action, and it would be folly to expose yourself without +an object." + +"I am quite aware of all this, Captain Rowley, but I have thought your +kindness to me was so great as to permit me to be a looker-on. I may be of +some service to the wounded, if to nothing else; and I hope you think me +too much of an officer to get in the way." + +"I am not certain, sir, I ought to permit anything of the sort," returned +the old man, gravely. "This fighting is serious business, and no one +should meddle with it whose duty does not command it of him. See here, +sir," pointing at the French frigate, which was about two cable's-lengths +distant, with her top-gallant-sails clewed up and the courses in the +brails; "in ten minutes we shall be hard at it, and I leave it to yourself +to say whether prudence does not require that you should-go below." + +I had expected this; and, instead of contesting the matter, I bowed, and +walked off the quarter-deck, as if about to comply. "Out of sight, out of +mind," I thought;--it would be time enough to go below, when I had seen +the beginning of the affair! In the waist I passed the marines, drawn up +in military array, with their officer as attentive to dressing them in +line as if the victory depended on its accuracy. On the forecastle I found +Neb, with his hands in his pockets, watching the manoeuvres of the French +as the cat watches those of the mouse. The fellow's eye was alive with +interest; and I saw it was useless to think of sending him below. As for +the officers, they had taken their cue from the captain, and only smiled +good-naturedly as I passed them. The first-lieutenant, however, was an +exception. He never had appeared well-disposed towards us, and, I make no +doubt, had I not been so hospitably taken into the cabin, we should all +have got an earlier taste of his humour. + +"There is too much good stuff in that fellow," he drily remarked, in +passing, pointing towards Neb at the same time, "for him to be doing +nothing, at a moment like this." + +"We are neutrals, as respects France, Mr. Clements," I answered, "and it +would not be right for us to take part in your quarrels. I will not +hesitate to say, however, that I have received so much kindness on board +the Briton, that I should feel miserable in not being permitted to share +your danger. Something may turn up, that will enable me to be of +assistance--ay, and Neb, too." + +The man gave me a keen look, muttered something between his teeth, and +walked aft, whither he was proceeding when we met. I looked in the +direction in which he went, and could see he was speaking in a surly way +to Captain Rowley. The old gentleman cast a look forward, shook a finger +at me, then smiled in his benevolent way, and turned, as I thought, to +look for one of the midshipmen who acted as his aids. At that moment, the +Frenchman went in stays, delivering his whole broadside, from aft forward, +as the guns bore. The shot told on the British spars smartly, though only +two hulled her. As a matter of course, this turned the thoughts of Captain +Rowley to the main business in hand, and I was forgotten. As for Neb, he +immediately made himself useful. A shot cut the main-spring-stay, just +above his head; and before I had time to speak, the fellow seized a +stopper, and caught one of the ends of the stay, applied the stopper, and +was hard at work in bringing the rope into its proper place, and in +preparing it again to bear a strain. The boatswain applauded his activity, +sending two or three forecastle-men to help him. From that moment, Neb was +as busy as a bee aloft, now appearing through openings in the smoke, on +this yard-arm, now on that, his face on a broad grin, whenever business of +more importance than common was to be done. The Briton might have had +older and more experienced seamen at work in her rigging, that day, but +not one that was more active, more ready when told what to do, or more +athletic. The _gaité de coeur_ with which this black exerted himself in +the midst of that scene of strife, clamour and bloodshed, has always +presented itself to my mind as truly wonderful. + +Captain Rowley did not alter his course, or fire a gun, in answer to the +salute he received, though the two ships were scarcely a cable's-length +asunder when the Frenchman began. The Briton stood steadily on, and the +two ships passed each other, within pistol-shot, a minute or two later, +when we let fly all our larboard guns. This was the beginning of the real +war, and warm enough it was, for half an hour or more,--our ship coming +round as soon as she had fired, when the two frigates closed broadside and +broadside, both running off nearly dead before the wind. I do not know how +it happened, but when the head-yards were swung, I found myself pulling at +the fore-brace, like a dray horse. The master's mate, who commanded these +braces, thanked me for my assistance, in a cheerful voice, saying, "We'll +thrash 'em in an hour, Captain Wallingford." This was the first +consciousness I had, that my hands had entered into the affair at all! + +I had now an opportunity of ascertaining what a very different thing it is +to be a spectator in such a scene, from being an actor. Ashamed of the +forgetfulness that had sent me to the brace, I walked on the quarter-deck, +where blood was already flowing freely. Everybody, but myself, was at +work, for life or death. In 1803, that mongrel gun, the carronade, had +come into general use, and those on the quarter-deck of the Briton were +beginning to fly round and look their owners in the face, when they +vomited their contents, as they grew warm with the explosion. Captain +Rowley, Clements, and the master, were all here, the first and last +attending to the trimming of the sails, while the first-lieutenant looked +a little after the battery, and a little at everything else. Scarce a +minute passed, that shot did not strike somewhere, though it was +principally aloft; and the wails of the hurt, the revolting part of every +serious combat, began to mingle in the roar of the contest. The English, I +observed, fought sullenly, though they fought with all their hearts. +Occasionally, a cheer would arise in some part of the ship; but these, and +the cries of the hurt, were fire on the Briton, as well as the manner in +which the English repaid all they received. While standing near the +main-mast, in the battery that was not engaged, Marble made me out in the +smoke, and came-up to speak to me. + +"Them Frenchmen are playing their parts like men," he said. "There's a +shot just gone through the cook's coppers, and another through the boats. +By the Lord Harry, if the boys on this deck do not bestir themselves, we +shall get licked. I wouldn't be licked by a Frenchman on any account, +Miles.--Even little Kitty would point her finger at me." + +"We are only passengers, you know, Moses; and can have little concern with +victory, or defeat, so long as the striped and starred bunting has nothing +to do with the credit of the thing." + +"I am not so sure of that, Miles.--I do not like being flogged, even as a +passenger. There! just look at that, now! Two or three more such raps, and +half our guns will be silenced!" + +Two shot had come in together, as Marble thus interrupted himself; one of +them knocking away the side of a port, while the other laid four men of +its gun on the deck. This gun was on the point of being discharged, as the +injury was inflicted; but the loss of its captain prevented it from being +fired. The lieutenant of the division caught the match from the fallen +seaman, gave it a puff with his breath, and applied it to the priming. As +the gun came leaping in, the lieutenant turned his head to see where he +could best find men to supply the place of those who had been killed, or +wounded. His eyes fell on us. He asked no questions; but merely looked in +our direction. + +"Ay, ay, sir," said Marble, stripping off his jacket, and taking the +tobacco from his mouth. "In one moment.--Just hold on, till I'm ready." + +I scarce knew whether to remonstrate, or not: but hard at it he went; and, +delighted by his zeal, the officer clapped him on the back, leaving him to +act as captain of the gun. Afraid the contagion might extend to myself, I +turned, ascended the ladder, and was immediately on the quarter-deck +again. Here I found old Captain Rowley, with his hat off, cheering his +men,--the Frenchman's main-top-mast having just gone over his side. It +was not a time to make my report, nor was any needed just then; so I +walked aft as far as the taffrail, in order to get out of the way, and to +make my observations as much removed from the smoke as possible. This was +the only opportunity I enjoyed of noting the relative positions, as well +as conditions, of the two vessels. + +The Briton had suffered heavily aloft; but all her principal spars still +stood. On the other hand, her antagonist had lost both main and +mizen-top-masts, and her fire had materially slackened within the last +fifteen minutes. She was falling more under a quarter-raking fire, too, +from her people's losing command of their ship; the two frigates having, +some time before, come by the wind--the Englishman a little on the +Frenchman's weather-quarter. As is usual, in a heavy cannonade and a +moderate breeze, the wind had died away, or become neutralized, by the +concussions of the guns, and neither combatant moved much from the +position he occupied. Still the Briton had her yards knowingly braced, +while those of her enemy were pretty much at sixes and sevens. Under such +circumstances, it was not difficult to predict the result of the +engagement; more especially as the spirits of the Britons seemed to be +rising with the duration of the combat. + +I was still making my observations, when I heard the crack of a shot, and +the ripping of plank, on the forward part of the quarter-deck. A little +group collected around a falling man, and I thought I caught a glimpse of +Captain Rowley's uniform and epaulettes, in the sufferer. In an instant I +was on the spot. Sure enough, there was my old friend grievously wounded. +Clements was also there. Catching my eye, he observed-- + +"As you are doing nothing, sir, will you assist in carrying Captain Rowley +below?" + +I did not like the manner in which this was said, nor the expression of +the first-lieutenant's eye while saying it. They seemed to me to add, "I +shall now command this ship, and we shall see if new lords don't produce +new laws," I complied, however, of course, and, aided by two of his own +servants, I got the poor old man into the gun-room. The instant the +surgeon cast his eyes on the injuries, I saw by his countenance, there +was no hope. His words soon confirmed the bad news. + +"The captain cannot live half an hour," this gentleman said to me aside, +"and all we can do will be to give him what he asks for. At present he is +stupified by the shock of the blow, but, in a few minutes, he will +probably ask for water, or wine and water; I wish, sir, you would indulge +him in his wishes, for you can have no duty to call you on deck. This will +be a lucky hit for Clements, who will run off with more than half the +credit of the battle, though I fancy the Frenchman has as much as he +wants already." + +And so it turned out, literally, in the end. About twenty minutes after I +went below, during which time the Briton did most of the fighting, we +heard the cheer of victory on deck. These sounds appeared to cause the +wounded man to revive. + +"What means that, Wallingford?" he asked in a stronger voice than I could +have thought it possible for him to use, "What do these cheers mean, my +young friend?" + +"They mean, Captain Rowley, that you have conquered--that you are master +of the French frigate." + +"Master!--am I master of my own life? Of what use is victory to me, now? I +shall die--die soon, Wallingford, and there will be an end of it, all! My +poor wife will call this a melancholy victory." + +Alas! what I could say? These words were only too true as respects +himself, and, I dare say, as respected his wife, also. Die he did, and in +my presence, and that calmly, with all his senses about him; but, I could +see, he had his doubts whether a little lustre like that which attended +his end, was fulfilling all the objects of his being. The near view of +death places a man on a moral eminence, whence he commands prospects +before and behind, on each side and on every side, enabling him to +overlook the whole scene of life from its commencement to its close, and +to form an opinion of his own place in a drama that is about to close. +Like many of those who exhibit themselves for our amusement, and to +purchase our applause, he is only too apt to quit the stage less satisfied +with his own performances, than the thoughtless multitude, who, regarding +merely the surfaces of things, are too often loudest in their approbation +when there is the least to praise. + +I shall pass over the next ten days, with a very brief allusion to their +events. The first proof I had of Mr. Clements being commanding officer, +was my being transferred from the cabin to the gun-room. It is true, there +was no want of space in my new apartment, for officering and manning the +prize had left several state-rooms vacant in the Briton's gun-room, which +fell to the shares of the French prisoners and myself. Poor Captain Rowley +was preserved in spirits and then things went on pretty much as before, +with the exception that our crippled condition and reduced crew rendered +us no longer anxious to fall in with Frenchmen. I may say, in this place, +also, that now the excitement which had carried him away was gone, Marble +was profoundly ashamed of the part he had taken in the late affair. He had +fought under English colours, once more; and, though I seldom dared to +allude to the thing, it is my opinion he heartily regretted his conduct, +to his dying day. As for Neb, all seemed right enough in his eyes; for, +though he well understood the distinctions between flags and countries, he +always imagined it a duty to stick by the craft in which he happened +to be. + +Ten days after I had been living under the _régime_ of "new lords and new +laws," we fell in with a frigate, in the chops of the channel, and +exchanged signals with her. The reader will judge of Marble's and my +dissatisfaction, when we heard it announced that the ship which was then +fast approaching us, was the Speedy. There was no help for it, however; +she was already within gun-shot, and soon rounded-to, within hail of the +Briton, which ship had hove-to, to wait for her. In a few minutes, Lord +Harry Dermond, in person, was alongside of us, in a boat, to show his +orders to Captain Rowley, and report himself, as the junior captain. I +could not quit the quarter-deck, from a desire to ascertain, if possible, +what had become of Sennit and his companions, though prudence dictated +concealment. + +Clements met the young nobleman at the gangway, and, apologizing for not +going on board the Speedy, on account of the state of his boats, reported +the late action and its results. Lord Harry then found himself the senior, +instead of the junior commander, and he immediately began to ask +questions. He was in the midst of these interrogatories, when his eye +suddenly fell on me. He and Clements were walking on the quarter-deck +together, and I had gone into the gangway, to escape his notice, when this +unexpected recognition took place. It occurred as the two were turning in +their walk, and were so near me that I could hear what was said +between them. + +"Who have you there, leaning against the cutter, Mr. Clements?" demanded +the captain of the Speedy. "It's a face I know--some old ship-mate of +mine, I fancy." + +"I rather think not, my lord--it's a-Yankee we picked up at sea in a boat, +a Captain Wallingford, of the American ship Dawn. His vessel foundered in +a gale, and all hands were lost but this gentleman, his mate, and a negro. +We have had them on board, now, more than three months." + +A long, low whistle escaped from Lord Harry Dermond, who immediately +walked up to me, raised his hat, and commenced a very disagreeable sort of +a dialogue, by saying--"Your servant, Mr. Wallingford! We meet under very +unusual circumstances, and somewhat often. The last time was at a rather +interesting moment to me, and one in which I was so much engaged, that I +had not leisure properly to pay my respects to you. Mr. Clements, I have a +little business to transact with this gentleman, and must ask the favour +of your company and his, for a few minutes, in your cabin." + +No objection could be raised to this request; and I followed the two +officers into the Briton's cabin. + + + + +Chapter XXV. + + + + O I hae scarce to lay me on, + If kingly fields were ance my ain; + Wi' the moor-cock on the mountain-bree, + But hardship na'er can daunton me. + + Scottish Song. + + +There was an air of cool deliberation about Lord Harry Dermond, which +satisfied me I should have to pass through a trying ordeal; and I prepared +myself for the occasion. Nothing was said until all three of us were in +the after-cabin, when Clements and his visiter took seats on the sofa, and +a motion was made to me to occupy a chair. Then Lord Harry Dermond +commenced the discourse, in a manner more serious than I could +have wished. + +"Mr. Wallingford," he said, "there is little need of preliminaries between +you and me. I recollected your ship, when the Black Prince and Speedy were +in the act of closing with the Frenchmen, three months since; and I need +scarcely say that the manner in which she got back to the place where I +then saw her, requires an explanation at your hands." + +"It shall be given to you, my lord. Believing you had no right to send in +the Dawn, and knowing that a detention of any length would prove my ruin, +I regained possession of my own by the best means that offered." + +"This is at least frank, sir. You mean to be understood that you rose on +my people in the night, murdered them, and that you subsequently lost your +vessel from a want of force to take care of her." + +"This is partly true, and partly a mistake. I certainly should not have +lost my ship had I been as strong-handed in the gale in which she was +destroyed, as she was the day she left home: and she would have been as +strong-handed in that gale, had we never fallen in with the Speedy." + +"Which is an indirect manner of saying that the wreck was owing to us?" + +"I shall very directly say, that I think it was; though by indirect +means." + +"Well, sir, on that point it is not probable we shall ever agree. You +cannot suppose that the servants of the king of Great Britain will submit +to your American mode of construing public law; but will easily understand +that we leave such matters to our own admiralty judges. It is a matter of +more moment to me, just now, to ascertain what has become of the officers +and men that were put in charge of your ship. I saw the vessel, some time +after I put Mr. Sennit and his party on board you, in your possession, +(that we ascertained by means of our glasses;) and you now admit that you +retook your vessel from these men. What has become of the prize-crew?" + +I briefly related the manner in which we had regained the possession of +the Dawn. The two English officers listened attentively, and I could +discern a smile of incredulity on the countenance of Clements; while the +captain of the Speedy seemed far from satisfied--though he was not so much +disposed to let his real opinion be known. + +"This is a very well-concocted and well-told tale, my lord," said the +first, with a sneer; "but I doubt whether it find many believers in the +British service." + +"The British service, sir," I coldly retorted, "is, like all others, +liable to reverses and accidents." + +"Not exactly of this nature, Mr. Wallingford, you will yourself admit, on +reflection. But I beg pardon, my lord: this is your affair--not mine; and +I have been indiscreet in speaking." + +Lord Harry Dermond looked as if he concurred in this sentiment. He had the +pride of official rank, and that of private rank, to the usual degree; and +did not exactly like the notion that one so much his inferior in both +should take an affair so peculiarly his own out of his hands. He made a +cold acknowledging bow, therefore, in reply, and paused a moment, like a +man who reflected, ere he continued the discourse. + +"You must be aware, Mr, Wallingford, it is my duty to inquire closely into +this matter," he at length resumed. "I am just out of port, where my ship +has been lying to refit, several weeks, and it is not probable that either +of my officers would be in England without reporting himself, had he +reached home." + +"It is quite probable, my lord, that neither has reached home. I saw them +picked up, with my own eyes, and by what appeared to me to be an +outward-bound West Indiaman. In that case, they have, most probably, all +been carried to one of the West India islands." + +Here Clements handed Lord Harry Desmond a paper with something written on +it, in pencil, which the latter read. After running his eyes over it, the +captain nodded his head, and the lieutenant quitted the cabin. While he +was absent, my companion, in a polite manner, gave me the particulars of +the combat I had witnessed, going so far as to direct my attention to a +paper he had brought on board, to show to Captain Rowley, and which +contained the English official account of the whole affair. On glancing at +it, I saw that the presence of the Dawn, on that occasion, was mentioned +in ihe report; the name of the ship being given, with an allusion that was +not very clear to the general reader, but which was plain enough to me. It +was not long, however, before Clements returned, and, without much +ceremony, he informed me that the gun-room mess waited my appearance to +sit down to dinner. On this hint, I rose and took my leave, though I had +time to see Marble enter the cabin, and Neb standing by the scuttle-butt, +under the charge of the sentinel, ere I dipped my head under hatches. + +The dinner lasted near an hour, and Lord Harry Dermond civilly waited all +that time, before he again summoned me to the cabin. I was surprised to +find Marble in the outer-cabin, Neb near the door, in waiting, and the two +officers with pen, ink, and paper before them, where they had been left +by me. + +"Mr. Wallingford," Lord Harry commenced, "I hold it to be no more than +fair to let you know that your mate's account of the manner in which the +Speedy's people got out of the Dawn, and your own, do not agree in a +single particular. Here is his statement, taken down by myself from his +own words; if you are disposed to hear it, I will read you what he says." + +"I do not well see how Mr. Marble can contradict me and tell the truth, my +lord--but it were better I should hear his statement." + +"'I was first-mate of the Dawn, of New York, Miles Wallingford master and +owner. Captured and ordered in by Speedy, as known. Three days after +parting company with the frigate, with Mr. Sennit as prize-master, +Captain Wallingford and I commenced reasoning with that gentleman on the +impropriety of sending in a neutral and breaking up a promising voyage, +which so overcame the said Lieutenant Sennit, in his mind, that he +consented to take the ship's yawl with a suitable stock of provisions and +water, and give us up the ship. Accordingly, the boat was lowered, +properly stowed, the most tender anxiety manifested for the party that was +to go in her, when the English took their leave with tears in their eyes, +and hearty good wishes for our safe arrival at Hamburg.'" + +"Am I to understand you seriously, Lord Harry Dermond, that my mate has +actually given you this account of the affair, for fact?" + +"Most seriously, sir. I believe he even offered to swear to it, though I +dispensed with that ceremony. Here is the statement of the black. Perhaps +you would wish to hear that also?" + +"Anything, my lord, it is your pleasure to communicate." + +"Nebuchadnezzar Clawbonny says, 'he belonged to the Dawn--was left in her, +when captured by Speedy, and was in her when wrecked. Captain Wallingford +ordered Mr. Sennit to quit his ship, or he would make him; and Mr. Sennit +obeyed Master Miles, of course,' But I will read no more of this, as a +slave's statement can hardly be relied on. Perhaps we ought not to have +received it, Mr. Clements?" + +"Your pardon, my lord; it is our duty to protect his Majesty's subjects, +in the best mode we can." + +"That may be true, sir; but certain great principles ought never to be +overlooked, even when doing our duty. You perceive, Mr. Wallingford, that +your companions contradict your own account of this affair; and the most +unpleasant suspicions are awakened. I should never justify myself to my +superiors, were I to neglect putting you under arrest, and carrying you +all in for trial." + +"If my companions have been so ill-judging as to make the statements you +say, I can only regret it. I have told you the truth; and I can add no +more. As for the future, I do not suppose any representation of mine will +induce you to change your decision." + +"You carry it off well, sir; and I hope you will maintain the same +appearance of innocence to the end. The lives of the king's subjects are +not to be taken with impunity, nevertheless." + +"Nor is the property of an American citizen, I trust, my lord. _Had_ I +used force to regain my ship, and _had_ I thrown the prize-crew into the +sea, I conceive I would have been doing no more than was my duty." + +"This is well, sir; and I hope, for your sake, that an English jury will +view the affair in the same light. At present, prepare to go on board the +Speedy--for you must not be separated from the important testimony we can +find in that ship. As for the citizens you mention, they are bound to +submit to the decision of the admiralty courts, and not to take the law +into their own hands." + +"We shall see, my lord. When this case reaches my own country, we shall +probably hear more of it." + +I uttered this in a sufficiently magnificent manner; and, to own the +truth, I felt a little magnificently at the time. I was then young, not +three-and-twenty; and I thought of my country, her independence, her +justice, her disposition to do right, her determination to submit to no +wrongs, and her disregard of the expedient when principles were +concerned,--much as young people think of the immaculate qualities of +their own parents. According to the decisions of judges of this latter +class, there would not be a liar, a swindler, a cheat, or a mercenary +scoundrel living; but the earth would be filled with so many suffering +saints that are persecuted for their virtues. According to the notions of +most American citizens of my age, the very name they bore ought to be a +protection to them in any part of the world, under the penalty of +incurring the republic's just indignation. How far my anticipations were +realized, will be seen in the sequel;--and I beg the American reader, in +particular, to restrain his natural impatience, until he can learn the +facts in the regular order of the narrative. I can safely promise him, +that should he receive them in the proper spirit, with a desire to +ascertain truth only and not to uphold bloated and untenable theories, he +will be a wiser, and probably a more modest man, for the instruction that +is to be thus gleaned from the incidents it will be my painful office to +record. As for Lord Harry Dermond, the threatened indignation of the great +American nation gave him very little concern. He probably cared a vast +deal more for one frown from the admiral who commanded at Plymouth, than +for the virtuous resentment of the President and Congress of the United +States of America. I am writing of the close of the year 1803, it will be +remembered;--a remote period in the history of the great republic; though +I will not take it on myself to say things have materially altered, except +it be in the newspapers, in this particular interest. The order to prepare +to quit the Briton was repeated, and I was dismissed to the outer cabin, +where was Marble, while Mr. Clements attempted to shut the door that +separated us, though, from some cause or other, he did not exactly effect +his object. In consequence of this neglect, I overheard the +following dialogue: + +"I hope, my lord," said Clements, "you will not think of taking away the +mate and the black. They are both first-rate men, and both well affected +to his Majesty's service. The negro was of great use aloft, during the +late action, while the mate fought at a gun, like a tiger, for the better +part of an hour. We are somewhat short of hands, and I have counted on +inducing both these men to enter. There is the prize-money for the +Frenchman under our lee, you know, my lord; and I have little doubt of +succeeding." + +"I'm sorry duty compels me to take all three, Clements, but I'll bear what +you say in mind; perhaps we can get them to enter on board the Speedy. You +know it--" + +Here Mr. Clements discovered that the door was not shut, and he closed it +tight, preventing my hearing any more. I now turned to Marble, whose +countenance betrayed the self-reproach he endured, at ascertaining the +injury he had done, by his ill-judged artifice. I made no reproaches, +however, but squeezed his hand in token of my forgiveness. The poor +fellow, I plainly saw, had great difficulty in forgiving himself; though +he said nothing at the moment. + +The conference between Lord Harry Dermond and Mr. Clements, lasted half an +hour. At the end of that time, both appeared in the forward cabin, and I +saw by the countenance of the last, that he had failed in his object. As +for us, we were transferred, with the few articles we possessed, to the +Speedy, on board which ship our arrival made as much of a sensation as the +discipline of a man-of-war would permit. I was put in irons, the moment we +reached the quarter-deck, and placed under the charge of a sentinel near +the cabin-door. Some little attention was paid to my comfort, it is true, +and a canvass screen was fitted for me, behind which I ate and slept, with +some sort of retirement. My irons were of so large a sort, that I found +means to take them off, and to put them on, at pleasure. I was disposed to +think that the officers were aware of the fact, and that the things were +used as much for the sake of appearance as for anything else. Apart from +the confinement, and the injury done my affairs, I had no especial causes +of complaint, though this imprisonment lasted until the month of April +1804, or quite five months. During this time, the Speedy arrived as far +south as the line; then she hovered about the Canaries and the Azores, on +her way homeward, looking in vain for another Frenchman. I was permitted +to take exercise, twice a day, once in the gangway, and once on the +gun-deck, and my table was actually supplied from the cabin. On no head, +had I any other cause to complain, than the fact that my ship had been +wrongfully seized in the first place, and that I was now suffering +imprisonment for a crime--if crime indeed it would have been--that I +certainly had not been obliged to commit. + +During the five months I thus remained a prisoner on the gun-deck of the +Speedy, I never exchanged a syllable with either Marble or Neb. I saw them +both occasionally, employed on duty, like the crew, and we often exchanged +significant looks, but never any words. Occasionally I had a visit from an +officer; these gentlemen sitting down and conversing with me, on general +topics, evidently to relieve the tedium of my confinement, without making +any allusion to its cause. I cannot say that my health suffered, a +circumstance that was probably owing to the cleanliness of the ship, and +the admirable manner in which she was ventilated. + +At length we went into port, carrying with us a French ship from one of +the islands to the eastward of the Cape, as a prize. The Speedy captured +this vessel, after a smart chase to the northward of the Azores, and +Marble and Neb having volunteered to do so, were sent on board her, as two +of the prize-crew. That day I got a visit from the purser, who was the +most attentive of all my acquaintances, and I took the liberty of asking +him if it were possible my two shipmates had entered into the +British service. + +"Why not exactly that," he said, "though they seem to like us, and we +think both will ship rather than lose the prize-money they might get, for +their services in the Briton. Your old mate is a prime fellow, the master +tells me; but my lord fancying we might meet some French cruiser in the +chops of the channel, thought it better to send these two chaps in the +prize, lest they should take the studs and refuse to fight at the pinch. +They have done duty, they say, to keep themselves in good health; and we +humour them, to be frank with you, under the notion they may get to like +us so well, as not to wish to quit us." + +This gave me an insight into the true state of the case, and I felt much +easier on the subject. That Marble ever intended to serve under the +British flag, I had not supposed for a moment; but I was not sure that +regret for the blunder he had already made, might not lead him into some +new mistake of equally serious import, under the impression that he was +correcting the evil. As for Neb, I knew he would never desert me; and I +had not, from the first, felt any other concern on his account, than an +apprehension his ignorance might be imposed on. + +The day we anchored in Plymouth sound, was thick and drizzling, with a +fresh breeze at south-west. The ship came-to just at sunset, her prize +bringing up a short distance in-shore of her, as I could see from the +port, that formed a sort of window to my little canvass state-room. Just +as the ship was secured, Lord Harry Dermond passed into his cabin, +accompanied by his first-lieutenant, and I overheard him say to +the latter-- + +"By the way, Mr. Powlett, this prisoner must be removed to some other +place in the morning. Now we are so near the land, it is not quite safe to +trust him at a port." + +I was still musing on the purport of this remark, when I heard the noise +of a boat coming alongside. Putting my head out of the port, I could just +see that the prize, master of the French ship had come on board, and that +Marble and Neb were two of the four men who pulled the oars. Marble saw +me, and gave a sign of recognition, though it was so dark as to render it +difficult to distinguish objects at a trifling distance. This sign I +returned in a significant manner. It was this answering signal from me, +that induced my mate not to quit the boat, and to keep Neb with him. The +other two men were so accustomed to do duty with the Americans, that they +did not scruple to run up the frigate's side, after their officer, eager +to get a gossip with their old mess-mates on the berth-deck. Almost at the +same instant the officer of the deck called out-- + +"Drop _la Manerve's_ boat astern, out of the way of the captain's gig, +which will be hauling up in a minute." + +This was on the larboard side, it is true; but a smart sea slapping +against the starboard. Lord Harry was willing to dispense with ceremony, +in order to escape a wet jacket. I cannot tell the process of reasoning +that induced me to take the step I did; it was, however, principally owing +to the remark I had so lately heard, and which brought all the danger of +my position vividly to my mind. Whatever may have been the moving cause, I +acted as follows: + +My irons were slipped, and I squeezed myself between the gun and the side +of the port, where I hung by my hands, against the ship's side. I might be +seen, or I might not, caring little for the result. I was not seen by any +but Marble and Neb, the former of whom caught me by the legs, as he passed +beneath, and whispering to me to lie down in the bottom of the boat, he +assisted me into the cutter. We actually rubbed against the captain's gig, +as it was hauling up to the gangway; but no one suspected what had just +taken place. This gig was the only one of the Speedy's boats that was in +the water, at that hour, it having just been lowered to carry the captain +ashore. In another minute we had dropped astern, Neb holding on by a +boat-hook to one of the rudder-chains. Here we lay, until the gig pulled +round, close to us, taking the direction toward the usual landing, with +the captain of the Speedy in her. + +In two minutes the gig was out of sight, and Marble whispered to Neb to +let go his hold. This was promptly done, when the boat of the prize began +to drift from the ship, swept by a powerful tide, and impelled by a stiff +breeze. No one paid any heed to us, everybody's thoughts being occupied +with the shore and the arrival at such a moment. The time was fortunate in +another particular: Lord Harry Dermond was a vigilant and good officer: +but his first-lieutenant was what is called on board ship "a poor devil;" +a phrase that is sufficiently significant; and the moment a vigilant +captain's back is turned, there is a certain ease and neglect in a vessel +that has an indifferent first-lieutenant. Every one feels at liberty to do +more as he pleases, than has been his wont; and where there is a divided +responsibility of this nature, few perform more duty than they can help. +When "the cat is away, the mice come out to play." + +At all events, our boat continued to drop astern unobserved, until the +ship itself became very faintly visible to us. I arose as soon as we were +fifty feet from the rudder, and I assumed the direction of affairs as soon +as on my feet. There were a mast and a lugg-sail in the boat, and we +stepped the former and set the last, as soon as far enough from the Speedy +to be certain we could not be seen. Putting the helm up, sufficiently to +bring the wind on the quarter, I then stood directly out to sea. All this +was accomplished in less than five minutes, by means of what the French +call a sudden inspiration! + +To be sure, our situation was sufficiently awkward, now we had obtained +something that had the semblance of freedom. Neither of us had a single +shilling of money, or an article of clothing but those we wore. There was +not a mouthful of food of any sort in the boat, nor a drop of water. The +night was lowering, and intensely dark; and the wind was blowing fresher +than was at all desirable for a boat. Still we determined to persevere, +and we ran boldly off the land, trusting our common fate to Providence. I +hoped we might fall in with some American, bound in or out: should that +fail us, France might be reached, if we had good luck, in the course of +less than eight-and-forty hours. + +Our situation afforded nothing to occupy the mind, but anxiety. We could +not see a hundred yards, possessed no compass or any other guide on our +way than the direction of the wind, and were totally without the means of +refreshment or shelter. Still, we managed to sleep, by turns, each having +entire confidence in the skill of both the others. In this manner we got +through the night, feeling no apprehensions of being pursued, the darkness +affording an effectual cover. + +When the light returned, we discovered nothing in pursuit, though the +weather was too thick to admit of our seeing any great distance around the +boat. All the morning we continued running to the northward and eastward, +under our single lugg reefed, only keeping clear of the seas that chased +us, by dint of good management. As for eating or drinking, the first was +out of the question; though we began to make some little provision to +slake our thirst, by exposing our handkerchiefs to the drizzle, in order +to wring them when they should become saturated with water. The coolness +of the weather, however, and the mist, contributed to prevent our +suffering much, and I do not know that I felt any great desire for either +food or water, until towards the middle of the day. Then we began to +converse together, on the subject of dinner, in a jocular way, however, +rather than with any very great longings on the subject. While thus +employed, Neb suddenly exclaimed, "dere a sail!" + +Sure enough a ship was meeting us, heading up on the larboard tack about +west-north-west, as she stretched in towards the English coast. I can see +that vessel, in my mind's eye, even at this distant day! She had two reefs +in her top-sails, with spanker, jib, and both courses set, like a craft +that carried convenient, rather than urgent canvass. Her line of sailing +would take her about two hundred yards to leeward of us, and my first +impulse was to luff. A second glance showed us she was an English frigate, +and we doused our lugg as soon as possible. Our hearts were in our mouths +for the next five minutes. My eye never turned from that frigate, as she +hove by us, now rising on the summit of a sea, now falling gracefully into +the trough, concealing everything but her spars from sight. Glad enough +were we, when she had got so far ahead as to bring us well on her +weather-quarter, though we did not dare set our sail again, until her +dark, glistening hull, with its line of frowning ports, was shut up in the +cloud of mist, leaving the spot on the ocean where she had last been +seen, as if she were not. That was one of those hair-breadth escapes that +often occur to men engaged in hazardous undertakings, without any direct +agency of their own. + +Our next adventure was of a more pleasing character. A good-sized ship was +made astern, coming up channel before the wind, and carrying top-mast +studding-sails. She was an American! On this point we were all agreed, and +placing ourselves in her track, we ran off, on her course, knowing that +she must be going quite two feet to our one. In twenty minutes she passed +close to us, her officers and crew manifesting the greatest curiosity to +learn who and what we were. So dexterously did Marble manage the boat, +that we got a rope, and hauled alongside without lessening the ship's way, +though she nearly towed us under water in the attempt. The moment we +could, we leaped on deck, abandoning the boat to its fate. + +We had not mistaken the character of the vessel. It was a ship from James' +river, loaded with tobacco, and bound to Amsterdam. Her master heard our +story, believed it, and felt for us. We only remained with him a week, +however, quitting his vessel off the coast of Holland, to go to Hamburg, +where I fancied my letters would have been sent, and whence I knew it +would be equally in our power to reach home. At Hamburg, I was fated to +meet with disappointment. There was not a line for me, and we found +ourselves without money in a strange place. I did not deem it prudent to +tell our story, but we agreed to ship together in some American, and work +our way home in the best manner we could. After looking about us a little, +necessity compelled us to enter in the first vessel that offered. This was +a Philadelphia ship, called the Schuylkill, on board which I shipped as +second-mate, while Marble and Neb took the berths of foremast Jacks. No +one questioned us as to the past, and we had decided among ourselves, to +do our duty and keep mum. We used our own names, and that was the extent +of our communication on the subject of our true characters. + +I found it a little hard to descend so much on the ladder of life, but an +early and capital training enabled me to act Dicky over again, with some +credit; and, before the ship went to sea, our chief mate was discharged +for drunkenness, and I got a lift. Marble was put in my place, and from +that time, for the next five months, things went on smoothly enough; I say +five months, for, instead of sailing for home direct, the ship went to +Spain, within the Straits, for a cargo of barilla, which she took up to +London, where she got a freight for Philadelphia. We were all a little +uneasy, at finding that our story, with sundry perversions and +exaggerations, were in the English papers; but, by the time we reached +England, it was forgotten; having been crowded out by the occurrence of +new events of interest, at a moment when every week was teeming with +incidents that passed into history. + +Nevertheless, I was glad when we left England, and I once more found +myself on the high seas, homeward bound. My wages had enabled me, as well +as Marble and Neb, to get new outfits, suited to our present stations, and +we sailed for Philadelphia with as good a stock of necessaries as usually +fall to the lot of men in our respective positions. These were all that +remained to me of a ship and cargo that were worth between eighty and +ninety thousand dollars! + +The passage proved to be very long, but we reached the capes of the +Delaware at last. On the 7th September, 1804, or when I wanted a few weeks +of being three-and-twenty, I landed on the wharves of what was then the +largest town in America, a ruined and disappointed man. Still I kept up my +spirits, leaving my companions in ignorance of the extent of my +misfortunes. We remained a few days to discharge the cargo, when we were +all three paid off. Neb, who had passed on board the Schuylkill for a free +black, brought me his wages, and when we had thrown our joint stock into a +common bag, it was found to amount to the sum of one hundred and +thirty-two dollars. With this money, then, we prepared to turn our faces +north, Marble anxious to meet his mother and little Kitty, Neb desirous of +again seeing Chloe, and I to meet my principal creditor John Wallingford, +and to gain some tidings of Mr. Hardinge and Lucy. + + + +Chapter XXVI. + + + + "You think, I'll weep. + No, I'll not weep:-- + I have full cause of weeping; but this heart + Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws, + Or ere I'll weep." + + Lear. + + +I pass over the manner and time of our being on the road between +Philadelphia and New York, as things belonging to a former age, and to be +forgotten. I will merely say that we travelled the South Amboy road, and +went through a part of the world called Feather-bed Lane, that causes my +bones to ache, even now, in recollection. At South Amboy, we got on board +a sloop, or packet, and entered the bay of New York, by the passage of the +Kills, landing near White-hall. We were superintending the placing of our +chests on a cart, when some one caught my hand, and exclaimed-- + +"God bless me!--Captain Wallingford come to life, as I live!" + +It was old Jared Jones, the man who had been miller at Clawbonny from my +infancy to the day I left home. I had supposed him to be at work there +still; but the look he gave me--the tears that I could see were forcing +themselves from his eyes--his whole manner, indeed,--gave me at once to +understand that all was not right. My countenance, rather than my tongue, +demanded an explanation. Jared understood me, and we walked together +towards the Battery; leaving Marble and Neb to proceed with the luggage to +the modest lodgings in which we had proposed to hide ourselves until I had +time to look about me--a house frequented by Moses for many years. + +"You perceive I do not return home, Jared, in precisely the condition in +which I went abroad. My ship and cargo are both lost, and I come among +you, now, a poor man, I fear." + +"We were afraid that something of the sort must have happened, or such bad +news would never have reached Clawbonny, sir. Some of your men got back +months ago and they brought the tidings that the Dawn was captivated by +the English. From that hour, I think, Mr. Hardinge gave the matter up. The +worst news, however, for us,--that of your death excepted,--was that of +the mortgage on Clawbonny." + +"The mortgage on Clawbonny! Has anything been done in connection with +that?" + +"Lord bless you, my dear Mr. Miles, it has been foreclosed, under the +statue I believe they call it; and it was advertised to be sold three +months. Then, when it _was_ sold, how much do you think the place, mill +and all, actually brought? Just give a guess, sir?" + +"Brought! Clawbonny is then sold, and I am no longer the owner of my +father's house!" + +"Sold, sir; and we have been sent adrift--niggers and all. They said the +freedom-laws would soon let all the older blacks be their own masters; +and, as to the young 'uns, why, your creditors might sell their times. But +Mr. Hardinge put the poor critturs into houses, near the rectory, and they +work about among the neighbours, until things are settled. It's to their +credit, Mr. Miles, that not one of 'em all thinks of runnin' away. With +the feelin' that's up in the country consarnin' blacks, and no master to +look arter them, every one of 'em might be off, without risk." + +"And Chloe, my sister's own girl, what has become of Chloe, Jared?" + +"Why, I believe Miss Lucy has tuck her. Miss Lucy is dreadful rich, as all +allow: and she has put it in her father's power to take care of all the +moveables. Every huff [hoof] of living thing that was on the place, has +been put on the Wright farm, in readiness for their owner, should he ever +come to claim them." + +"Has Miss Hardinge had the consideration to hire that farm, with such an +object?" + +"They say she has bought it, out of the savings of her income. It seems +she is mistress of her income, though under age. And this is the use she +has made of some of her money." + +"I had supposed she would have been married by this time. Mr. Drewett was +thought to be engaged to her when I sailed." + +"Yes: there is much talk about that, through the country; but they say +Miss Lucy will never marry, until she has been of age a few weeks, in +order that she may do what she pleases with her money, afore a husband can +lay his hand on it. Mr. Rupert is married, I s'pose you heard, sir--and +living away like a nabob with his bride, in one of the best houses in +town. Some people say, that he has a right in a part of old Mrs. +Bradfort's estate, which he will get as soon as Miss Lucy comes of age." + +I did not like to pursue this part of the discourse any further, though it +was balm to my wounds to hear these tidings of Lucy. The subject was too +sacred, however, to be discussed with such a commentator, and I turned the +discourse to Clawbonny, and the reports that might have circulated there +concerning myself. Green told me all he knew, which was briefly +as follows: + +It seems that the second-mate of the Dawn, and such of her crew as had +been put in the Speedy, and who had not been impressed either in the +frigate itself, or in England after they were turned ashore, had found +their way home, bringing with them an account of the capture of the ship, +her extraordinary appearance near the four combatants, and their own +attempt to escape. This last affair, in particular, had made some noise in +the journals--a warm discussion having taken place on the subject of the +right of Americans to run away with an English man-of-war's boat, under +the circumstances in which these poor fellows had found themselves placed. +In that day, parties in America took as lively an interest in the wars of +Europe, as if the country were a belligerent; and politicians, or _quasi_ +statesmen, were little more than retailers of the most ultra English and +ultra French opinions. It was sufficient for the Federalists to justify +any act, if England did it; while the Democrats had almost as strong a +disposition to defend all the enormities which the policy of Napoleon led +him to commit. I say _almost_--for, to deal honestly with posterity, I do +not think the French-American party was quite as French as the +English-American party was English. These last had returned to their +provincial dependence of thought; and, well-read in the English version of +all political and moral truths, and little read in those of any other +state of society, they believed, as he who worships at a distance from +the shrine is known implicitly to yield his faith. The English party had +actually a foundation in deeply-rooted opinion, and colonial admiration +for the ancient seat of power, whereas the French owed its existence +principally to opposition. The alliance of 1778 had some little influence +among men old enough to have been active in the events of the revolution, +it is true, but they existed as exceptions even in their own party. It was +the English feeling that was natural, hearty, dependent, and deep; the +other having been, as has just been stated, rooted as much in opposition, +as in any other soil. + +The public discussions of the fate of the Dawn, as a matter of course, had +drawn much speculation, among my acquaintances, to my own. As month passed +after month, and no letters reached America, the opinion became very +general that the vessel was lost. At length, a ship from Jamaica brought +in a blind story of the manner in which I had re-taken my vessel from +Sennit; and, it now being known that we were only four left in the vessel, +the conjecture was hazarded that we had been wrecked for want of force to +take care of the ship; and I was set down as a drowned man. + +Shortly after this opinion of my fate became general among my +acquaintances, John Wallingford had appeared at Clawbonny. He made no +change, however, spoke kindly to every one, told the slaves nothing should +be altered, and gave them every reason to suppose that they would continue +under a true Wallingford régime. It was generally understood he was to be +my heir, and no one saw any occasion for the acts of violence that +succeeded. + +But, two months after John Wallingford's visit, Mr. Hardinge, and all +connected with Clawbonny, had been astounded by the intelligence of the +existence of the mortgage. A foreclosure under the statute, or 'statue,' +as Jared had called it, was commenced, and a few months later the place +was publicly sold at Kingston, none bidding more than five thousand +dollars for it, less than a sixth of its worth. This sacrifice of real +estate, however, under forced sales, was, and is, common enough in +America, especially; it being generally understood that the creditor is +prepared to rise in his bids, as necessity presents. In my case there was +no one to protect my rights, Mr. Hardinge having attended the sale +prepared to reason with my cousin on the propriety and generosity of his +course, rather than prepared with good current coin to extinguish the +claim. John Wallingford did not appear, however, and the sale took place +without further competition, than one bid of Mr. Hardinge's; a bid that he +was not properly prepared to make, but which he hazarded on his knowledge +of Lucy's means and disposition. A man of the name of Daggett, a relative +of John Wallingford's, by his mother's side, was the ostensible purchaser, +and now professed to be the owner of my paternal acres. It was he who had +taken possession under the purchase, had dismissed the negroes, and sent +off the personal property; and he it was who had placed new servants on +the farm and in the mill. To the surprise of everybody, John Wallingford +had not appeared in the transaction, though it was understood he had a +legal right to all my remaining effects, in the event of my real death. No +will was proved or produced, however, nor was anything heard of, or +concerning, my cousin! Mr. Daggett was a close and reserved man, and +nothing could be learned on the subject from him. His right to Clawbonny +could not be disputed, and after consulting counsel in the premises, Mr. +Hardinge himself had been compelled, reluctantly, to admit it. Such was +the substance of what I gleaned from the miller, in a random sort of +conversation that lasted an hour. Of course, much remained to be +explained, but I had learned enough, to know that I was virtually a beggar +as to means, whatever I might be in feeling. + +When I parted from Jared I gave him my address, and we were to meet again +next day. The old man felt an interest in me that was soothing to my +feelings, and I wished to glean all I could from him; more especially +concerning Lucy and Mr. Hardinge. I now followed Marble and Neb to the +boarding-house, one frequented by masters and mates of ships, the masters +being of the humble class to condescend thus to mingle with their +subordinates. We consumed the rest of the morning in establishing +ourselves in our rooms, and in putting on our best round-abouts; for I was +not the owner of a coat that had skirts to it, unless, indeed there might +be a few old garments of that sort among the effects that had been removed +from Clawbonny to the Wright farm. Notwithstanding this defect in my +wardrobe, I would not have the reader suppose I made a mean or a +disagreeable appearance. On the contrary, standing as I did, six feel +one, in my shoes, attired in a neat blue round-about of mate's cloth, with +a pair of quarter-deck trowsers, a clean white shirt, a black silk +handkerchief, and a vest of a pretty but modest pattern, I was not at all +ashamed to be seen. I had come from England, a country in which clothes +are both good and cheap, and a trimmer-looking tar than I then was, seldom +showed himself in the lower part of the town. + +Marble and I had dined, and were preparing to sally forth on a walk up +Broadway, when I saw a meagre, care-worn, bilious-looking sort of a person +enter the house, and proceed towards the bar, evidently with an inquiry +concerning some of the inmates. The bar-tender pointed at once to me, when +the stranger approached, and with a species of confidence that seemed to +proclaim that he fancied news to be the great end of life, and that all +who were engaged in its dissemination were privileged beings, he announced +himself as Colonel Warbler, the Editor of the New York Republican Freeman. +I asked the gentleman into the common sitting-room, when the following +dialogue took place between us. + +"We have just heard of your arrival, Captain Wallingford," commenced the +_Colonel_, all New York editors of a certain calibre seeming to be, +ex-officio, of that blood-and-thunder rank, "and are impatient to place +you, as it might be, _rectus in curiâ_, before the nation. Your case +excited a good deal of feeling some months since, and the public mind may +be said to be prepared to learn the whole story; or, in a happy condition +to indulge in further excitement. If you will have the goodness to furnish +me with the outlines, sir," coolly producing pen, ink, and paper without +further ceremony, and preparing to write, "I promise you that the whole +narrative shall appear in the Freeman of to-morrow, related in a manner of +which you shall have no reason to complain. The caption is already +written, and if you please, I will read it to you, before we go any +further." Then without waiting to ascertain whether I did or did not +please to hear him, the colonel incontinently commenced reading what he +called his caption. + +"'In the Schuylkill, arrived lately at Philadelphia, came passenger our +esteemed fellow-citizen Captain Miles Wallingford"--in 1804, everybody had +not got to be '_esquires_,' even the editors not yet assuming that title +of gentility _ex officio_. "This gentleman's wrongs have already been laid +before our readers. From his own mouth we learn the following outline of +the vile and illegal manner in which he has been treated by an English +man-of-war called the Speedy, commanded by a sprig of nobility y'clepped +Lord"--I have left a blank for the name--"an account which will awaken in +the bosom of every true-hearted American sentiments of horror and feelings +of indignation, at this new instance of British faith and British +insolence on the high-seas. It will be seen by this account, that not +satisfied with impressing all his crew, and in otherwise maltreating them, +this scion of aristocracy has violated every article of the treaty between +the two countries, as respects Captain Wallingford himself, and otherwise +trodden on every principle of honour; in a word--set at naught all the +commandments of God. We trust there will be found no man, or set of men in +the country, to defend such outrageous conduct, and that even the minions +of England, employed around the Federal presses of _our_ country, will be +ready to join with us, on this occasion, in denouncing British aggression +and British usurpation.' There, sir, I trust that is quite to +your liking." + +"It is a little _ex parte_, Colonel, as I have quite as much complaint to +make of French as of English aggression, having been twice captured, once +by an English frigate, and again by a French privateer. I prefer to tell +the whole story, if I am to tell any of it." + +"Certainly, sir; we wish to relate all the enormities of which these +arrogant English were guilty." + +"I believe that, in capturing my ship, the English commander did me an act +of great injustice, and was the cause of my ruin--" + +"Stop, sir, if you please," interrupted Colonel Warbler writing with +rapidity and zeal, "and thus caused the ruin of an industrious and honest +man; ay, that ends a period beautifully--well, sir, proceed." + +"But, I have no personal ill treatment to complain of; and, the act of the +French was of precisely the same character; perhaps, worse, as I had got +rid of the English prize-crew, when the Frenchman captured us in his turn, +and prevented our obtaining shelter and a new crew in France." Colonel +Warbler listened with cold indifference. Not a line would he write against +the French, belonging to a very extensive school of disseminators of news +who fancy it is a part of their high vocation to tell just as much, or +just as little, of any transaction, as may happen to suit their own +purposes. I pressed the injuries I had received from the French, on my +visitor, so much the more warmly, on account of the reluctance he +manifested to publish it; but all to no purpose. Next morning the +Republican Freeman contained just such an account of the affair as +comported with the consistency of that independent and manly journal; not +a word being said about the French privateer, while the account of the +proceedings of the English frigate was embellished with sundry facts and +epithets that must have been obtained from Colonel Warbler's general stock +in trade, as it was certainly not derived from me. + +As soon as I got rid of this gentleman, which was not long after he +discovered my desire to press the delinquency of the French on his notice, +Marble and I left the house, on the original design of strolling up +Broadway, and of looking at the changes produced by time. We had actually +got a square, when I felt some one touch my elbow; turning, I found it was +an utter stranger with a very eager, wonder-mongering sort of a +countenance, and who was a good deal out of breath with running. + +"Your pardon, sir; the bar-tender of the house where you lodge, tells me +you are Captain Wallingford." I bowed an assent, foreseeing another +application for _facts_. + +"Well, sir. I hope you'll excuse the liberty I am taking, on account of +its object. I represent the public, which is ever anxious to obtain the +earliest information on all matters of general concernment, and I feel +emboldened by duty, to introduce myself--Colonel Positive of the Federal +Truth Teller, a journal that your honoured father once did us the favour +to take--we have this moment heard of the atrocities committed on you, +Captain Wallingford, by 'a brigand of a French piratical, picarooning, +plundering vagabond,'" reading from what I dare say was another caption, +prepared for the other side of the question; "a fresh instance of Gallic +aggression, and republican, jacobinical insolence; atrocities that are of +a character to awaken the indignation of every right-thinking American, +and which can only find abettors among that portion of the community, +which, possessing nothing, is never slow to sympathize in the success of +this robber, though it be at the expense of American rights, and American +prosperity." + +As soon as Col. Positive had read this much, he stopped to take breath, +looking at me, as if expecting some exclamations of admiration +and delight. + +"I have suffered by means of what I conceive to be a perfectly +unauthorized act of a French privateer, Col. Positive," I replied; "but +this wrong would not have been done me, had I not suffered previously by +what I conceive to be an equally unjustifiable act of the English frigate, +the Speedy, commanded by Captain Lord Harry Dermond, a son of the Irish +Marquis of Thole." + +"Bless me, sir, this is very extraordinary! An English frigate, did you +say? It is very unusual for the vessels of that just nation ever to be +guilty of an aggression, particularly as our common language, common +descent, Saxon ancestors, and Saxon English, and all that sort of thing, +you know, operate against it; whereas, sorry I am to say, each new arrival +brings us some fresh instance of the atrocities of the myrmidons of this +upstart Emperor of the French; a man, sir, whose deeds, sir, have never +been paralleled since the day of Nero, Caligula, and all the other tyrants +of antiquity. If you will favour me, Captain Wallingford, with a few of +the particulars of this last atrocity of Bonaparte, I promise you it shall +be circulated far and near, and that in a way to defy the malignant and +corrupt perversions of any man, or set of men." + +I had the cruelty to refuse compliance. It made no difference, however; +for, next day, the Federal Truth Teller had an account of the matter, that +was probably about as accurate as if I had related all the events myself, +and which was also about as true as most of the jeremiads of the journals +that are intended for brilliant effect. It was read with avidity by all +the federalists of America; while its counterpart in the Republican +Freeman, passed, _pari passu_, through all the democratic papers, and was +devoured, with a similar appetite, by the whole of that side of the +question. This distinction, I afterwards ascertained, was made by nearly +the whole country. If a federalist was my auditor, he would listen all day +to that part of my story which related to the capture by the French +privateer; while it was _vice versâ_ with the democrats. Most of the +merchants being federalists, and the English having so much more +connection with my narrative than the French, I soon found I was making +myself exceedingly unpopular by speaking on the subject at all; nor was it +long before a story got in circulation, that I was nothing but a runaway +English deserter myself--I, the fifth Miles of my name, at Clawbonny! As +for Marble, men were ready to swear he had robbed his captain, and got off +from an English two-decker only four years before. It is unnecessary to +tell people of the world the manner in which stories to the prejudice of +an unpopular man are fabricated, and with what industry they are +circulated; so I shall leave the reader to imagine what would have been +our fate, had we not possessed the prudence to cease dwelling on our +wrongs. Instead of thinking of appealing to the authorities of my country +for redress, I felt myself fortunate in having the whole affair forgotten, +as soon as possible, leaving me some small portion of character. + +I confess, while returning home, I had sometimes fancied I might be +protected by the country of which I was a native, for which I had fought, +and to which I paid taxes; but I was only three-and-twenty, and did not +then understand the workings of laws, particularly in a state of society +that submits to have its most important interests under foreign control. +Had I received a wrong from only a Frenchman, or an Englishman, I should +have fared a little better, in appearance, at least, though my money was +irretrievably gone; for one political party, or the other, as the case +might have been, would have held me up to _ex parte_ sympathy, so long as +it suited its purposes, or until the novelty of some new case offered an +inducement to supplant me. But I had been wronged by both belligerents; +and it was soon agreed, by mutual consent, to drop the whole subject. As +for redress or compensation, I was never fool enough to seek it. On the +contrary, finding how unpopular it made a man among the merchants, to +_prove_ anything against Great Britain, just at that moment, I was wisely +silent, thus succeeding in saving my character, which would otherwise have +followed my property, as the shortest method of making a troublesome +declaimer hold his tongue. + +Most young persons will doubtless hesitate to believe that such a state of +things could ever have existed in a nation calling itself independent; +but, in the first place, it must be remembered, that the passions of +factions never leave their followers independent of their artifices and +designs; and, in the next place, all who knew the state of this country in +1804, must admit it was not independent in mind of either England or +France. Facts precede thought in everything among us; and public opinion +was as much in arrears of the circumstances of the country, then, +as--as--to what shall I liken it?--why, as it is to-day. I know no better +or truer parallel. I make no doubt that the same things would be acted +over again, were similar wrongs to be committed by the same powerful +belligerents. + +Marble was ludicrously enraged at these little instances of the want of +true nationality in his countrymen. He was not a man to be bullied into +holding his tongue; and, for years afterwards, he expressed his opinions +on the subject of an American's losing his ship and cargo, as I had lost +mine, without even a hope of redress, with a freedom that did more credit +to his sense of right, than to his prudence. As for myself, as has just +been said, I never even attempted to procure justice. I knew its utter +hopelessness; and the Dawn and her cargo went with the hundreds of other +ships and cargoes, that were sunk in the political void created by the +declaration of war, in 1812. + +This is an unpleasant subject to me. I could gladly have passed it over, +for it proves that the political association of this country failed in one +of the greatest ends of all such associations;--but nothing is ever gained +by suppressing truth, on such a matter. Let those who read reflect on the +past: it may possibly have a tendency to render the future more secure, +giving to the American citizen in reality, some of those rights which it +so much accords with our habits to boast of his possessing. If concealment +did any good, I would gladly be silent; but diseases in the body politic +require a bold and manly treatment, even more than those in the physical +system. I remember the tone of the presses of the trading towns of this +country on the subject of the late French treaty,--one of the most +flagitious instances of contempt, added to wrong, of which history +supplies an instance, and will own I do not feel much encouraged to hope +for any great improvement. + +After we got rid of Colonel No. 2, Marble and I continued our walk. We +passed several persons of my acquaintance, but not one of them recognised +me in my present attire. I was not sorry to see this, as I was wearied of +my story, and could gladly remain in a species of incognito, for a few +days. But, New York was comparatively a small town in 1804, and everybody +knew almost everybody's face who was anybody. There was little real hope, +therefore, of my escaping recognition for any great length of time. + +We strolled up above St. Paul's, then a high quarter of the town, and +where a few houses had been erected in what was then a new and enlarged +style. On the stoop of one of these patrician residences--to use a word +that has since come much into use--I saw a fashionably pressed man, +standing, picking his teeth, with the air of its master. I had nearly +passed this person, when an exclamation from him, and his calling my mate +by name, caused me to stop. It was Rupert! + +"Marble, my dear fellow, why, how fare you?" said our old ship-mate, +descending the steps, with an indolent, half-cordial, half-condescending +manner; extending his hand at the same time, which Moses received and +shook heartily.--"The sight of you reminds me of old times, and +salt water!" + +"Mr. Hardinge," answered my mate, who knew nothing of Rupert's defects, +beyond his want of aptitude for the sea, "I'm heartily glad to fall in +with you. Do your father and handsome sister live here?" + +"Not they, old Moses;" answered Rupert, still without casting his eyes on +me. "This is my own house, in which I shall be very happy to see you, and +to make you acquainted with my wife, who is also an old acquaintance of +yours--Miss Emily Merton that was--the daughter of Gen. Merton, of the +_British_ army." + +"Blast the British army! and blast the British navy, too!" cried Marble, +with more feeling than manners. "But for the last, our old friend Miles, +here, would now be a rich man." + +"Miles!" Rupert repeated, with an astonishment that had more nature in it +than had been usual with him of late years. "This is true, then, and you +have not been lost at sea, Wallingford?" + +"I am living, as you may see, Mr. Hardinge, and glad of this opportunity +to inquire after your father and sister?" + +"Both are well, I thank you: the old gentleman, in particular, will be +delighted to see you. He has felt your misfortunes keenly, and did all he +could to avert the sad affair about Clawbonny. You know he could as well +raise a million, as raise five or ten thousand dollars; and poor Lucy is +still a minor, and can only touch her income, the savings of which were +insufficient, just then. We did all we could, I can assure you, +Wallingford; but I was about commencing house-keeping, and was in want of +cash at the moment,--and you know how it is under such circumstances. Poor +Clawbonny! I was exceedingly sorry when I heard of it; though they say +this Mr. Daggett, your successor, is going to do wonders with it,--a +capitalist, they tell me, and able to carry out all his plans." + +"I am glad Clawbonny has fallen into good hands, since it has passed out +of mine. Good evening, Mr. Hardinge, I shall take an early opportunity to +find your father, and to learn the particulars." + +"Yes; he'll be exceedingly glad to see you, Wallingford; and I'm sure it +will always afford me pleasure to aid you, in any way I can. I fear it +must be very low water with you?" + +"If having nothing to meet a balance of some twenty or thirty thousand +dollars of unpaid debt is what you call low water, the tide is out of my +pocket, certainly. But, I shall not despair; I am young, and have a +noble, manly profession." + +"Yes, I dare say, you'll do remarkably well, Wallingford," Rupert +answered, in a patronizing manner. "You were always an enterprising +fellow; and one need have no great concern for _you_. It would hardly be +delicate to ask you to see Mrs. Hardinge, just as you are--not but what +you appear uncommonly well in your round-about, but I know precisely how +it is with young men when there are ladies in the case; and Emily _is_ a +little over-refined, perhaps." + +"Yet, Mrs. Hardinge has seen me often in a round-about, and passed hours +in my company, when I have been dressed just as I am at this moment." + +"Ay, at sea. One gets used to everything at sea. Good evening; I'll bear +you in mind, Wallingford, and may do something for you. I am intimate with +the heads of all the principal mercantile houses, and shall bear you in +mind, certainly. Good evening, Wallingford.--A word with you, Marble, +before we part." + +I smiled bitterly--and walked proudly from before Rupert's door. Little +did I then know that Lucy was seated within thirty feet of me, listening +to Andrew Drewett's conversation and humour. Of the mood in which she was +listening, I shall have occasion to speak presently. As for Marble, when +he overtook me, I was informed that Rupert had stopped him in order to +ascertain our address;--a piece of condescension for which I had not the +grace to be thankful. + + + +Chapter XXVII. + + + + "The weary sun hath made a golden set, + And, by the bright track of his fiery car, + Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow." + + Shakspeare. + + +I was quite as much surprised at my own manner towards Rupert, as he could +be himself. No doubt he ascribed it to my fallen fortune, for, at the +commencement of the interview, he was a good deal confused, and his +confidence rose in proportion as he fancied mine was lessened. The +moderation I manifested, however, was altogether owing to Lucy, whose +influence on my feelings never ceased. As for Marble, he thought all was +right, and was very decided in his approval of Rupert's behaviour and +appearance. + +"'Tisn't every man that _can_ make a seaman, Miles," he said, "for it's a +gift that comes nat'rally, like singing, or rope-dancing. I dare say +Rupert will do very well ashore, in the gentleman line, though he's no +great catch afloat, as all will admit who ever sailed with him. The lad +don't want for stuff; but it's shore stuff, a'ter all; and that will never +pass muster in blue water. I dare say, now, this Imperor-Gineral, +Bonaparte, would make a bloody poor shipmaster, if a body was to try him." + +I made no answer, and we strolled on until dark. Then we returned to our +lodgings, and turned-in. Next morning we breakfasted with the rest, and I +was about to set out in search of a lawyer, to take his opinion on the +subject of my insurance, though I had little or no hope of recovering +anything, when I was told two gentlemen wished to see me. At first sight, +I fancied that more editors were in quest of news; but we were no sooner +alone together, than one of these persons let me into the secret of his +errand, in a way that was well enough as respects the _suaviter in modo_, +while it could not be said to be in the least deficient in the +_fortiter in re_. + +"I am sorry to say, Capt. Wallingford," this person commenced "that I have +a writ to arrest you, for a sum that will require very respectable +bail--no less than sixty thousand dollars." + +"Well done, my upright cousin," I muttered; "this is losing no time, +certainly. I owe half that money, I admit, sir, if my farm only sold for +five thousand dollars, as I hear, and I suppose I am arrested for the +penalty of my bond. But, at whose suit am I thus pursued?" + +Here, the second person announced himself as the attorney of the +plaintiff, excusing his presence on the pretence that he hoped to be of +service in amicably arranging the affair. + +"My client is Mr. Thomas Daggett, of Clawbonny, Ulster county, who holds +your bonds as the administrator of the estate of the late John +Wallingford, deceased, a gentleman to whom I believe you were related." + +"The _late_ John Wallingford! Is my cousin then dead?" + +"He departed this life eight months since, dying quite unexpectedly. +Letters of administration have been granted to Mr. Daggett, who is a son +of his mother's sister, and a principal heir, the party dying intestate. +It is a great pity that the law excludes you from the succession, being as +you are of the name." + +"My kinsman gave me reason to think I _was_ to be his heir, as it was +understood he was to be mine. My will in his favour was left in +his hands." + +"We are aware of that, sir, and your death being supposed, for a +considerable period, it was thought your personals would descend to us, in +part, by devise, which might have prevented the necessity of taking the +unpleasant step to which we are now driven. The question was, which died +first, you, or your cousin, and that fact, you will easily understand, we +had no means of establishing. As it is, the duty of the administrator +compels him to proceed, with as little delay as possible." + +"I have no alternative, then, but to go to gaol. I know not the person on +earth, I can or could ask to become my bail for a sum as large as even +that I justly owe, to say nothing of the penalty of the bond,'" + +"I am very sorry to hear this, Captain Wallingford," Mr. Meekly, the +attorney, very civilly replied. "We will walk together, leaving the +officer to follow. Perhaps the matter may be arranged amicably." + +"With all my heart, sir. But, before quitting this house, I will discharge +my bill, and communicate my position to a couple of friends, who are +waiting in the passage." + +Neb was one of these friends: for I felt I was fast getting into a +condition which rendered the friendship of even my slaves of importance to +me. That worthy fellow and Marble joined us on a signal from me, when I +simply let them into the secret of my affairs. + +"Arrested!" said Moses, eyeing the sheriff's officer with sovereign +contempt; though he was a sturdy fellow, and one who had every disposition +to do his duty. "Arrested! Why, Miles, you can handle both these chaps, +yourself; and, with Neb's and my assistance, could work 'em up into +spun-yarn without a winch!" + +"That may be true, Moses: but I cannot handle the law, even with your +powerful aid; nor should I wish to, if I could. I am bound to gaol, my +friends,--having no bail,--so----" + +"Bail! Why _I_'ll be your bail; and, if you want two, there's Neb." + +"I fancy the gentleman don't much understand being taken on a writ," the +attorney simpered. + +"I not understand it! That's a bloody poor guess of your'n, my +friend.--When we had the scrape with the Hamburghers, in +Philadelphy,--it's now coming thirty years,--" + +"Never mind all that just now, Moses. I wish you to pay my bill here; give +Neb the small bag of my clothes to bring up to the gaol, and keep my other +effects under your own care. Of course you will come to see me, by-and +bye: but I now _order_ you not to follow us." + +I then left the house, with a rapidity that gave the officer some +uneasiness, I believe. Once in the street, however, my pace became more +moderate; and dropping alongside of the attorney, we fell into discourse +on the subject of the arrangement. + +"To be frank with you, Captain Wallingford," said Meekly, "my client never +expects to recover the full amount of his demand: it being understood your +personals are now limited to certain jewelry; the stock of your late +farm; a few negroes; a sloop; some furniture, &c. No, sir, we do not +expect to obtain the whole of our demand. Certain securities in our hands +will extinguish much of it, though a large balance will remain." + +"As Mr. Daggett has already got real estate richly worth five-and-thirty +thousand dollars, and which brings a clear two thousand a-year,--to say +nothing of its advantages as a residence,--besides bonds and mortgages for +twenty odd thousand more, I am fully sensible of his moderation. The forty +thousand dollars I owed my cousin will be amply repaid to his heirs, +though I pass my life in jail." + +"You misapprehend the affair, entirely. Mr. Daggett does not hold +Clawbonny as administrator at all; but as a purchaser under a mortgage +sale. He did not buy it himself, of course; but has received a deed from a +nephew of his, who was a _bond fide_ bidder. The amount bid,--five +thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars,--is duly endorsed on your bond, +and you have credit for it. If no one bid higher, the property had to go." + +"Yes, sir: I very well understand how property goes, in the absence of the +debtor, at forced sales. But what is the nature of the proposition you +intend to make?" + +"Mr. Daggett understands you possess some very valuable pearls, that are +supposed to be worth one thousand dollars, with a good deal of plate, &c., +&c. Now he proposes that you assign to the estate he represents all your +personals at an appraisal, when he will credit you with the amount, and +suspend proceedings for the balance. In a word--give you time." + +"And what idea has Mr. Daggett of the sum I should thus receive?" + +"He is disposed to be liberal, and thinks you might get credit for about +four thousand dollars." + +"My personal property, including the pearls of which you speak, quite a +thousand dollars worth of plate, even at the price of old silver, the +sloop, the stock, horses, carriages, farming utensils, and without +counting the slaves, all of whom I intend to set free, if the law will +allow it, must nearly or quite double that sum, sir. Unless Mr. Daggett is +disposed to raise his views of the value of my effects, I should prefer +to remain in custody, and see what I can do by private sale. As he will +receive every cent of the securities received from my sister's estate, +quite $22,000, and now possesses more than $5,000 from Clawbonny, the +balance I shall really owe cannot exceed $13,000." + +"Were you to confess judgment, sir, and leave the property under +execution--" + +"I'll do nothing of the sort, Mr. Meekly--on that subject my mind is made +up. One forced sale is quite enough for a novice." + +"We shall soon reach the jail, sir--perhaps its sight may--" + +"It will not, sir. Whenever Mr. Daggett shall be disposed to receive my +property at a just valuation, I may be ready to arrange the matter with +him, for I have no disposition to deny the debt, or to avoid its payment; +but, as he has adopted his own mode of proceeding, I am ready to abide by +it. Good morning, Mr. Meekly; I see no use in your accompanying me +any further." + +I was thus decided, because I saw I had to deal with an extortioner. A +rogue himself, Mr. Daggett was afraid I might get rid of my personal +property before he could issue an execution by the regular mode; and he +anticipated frightening or constraining me into an arrangement. It would +be my business to disappoint him; and I assumed an air of confidence that +soon shook off my companion. A few minutes later, the key of the old stone +debtor's jail was turned upon me. I had a little money, and reluctant to +be shut up with the company I found in the building, I succeeded in +procuring a small, ill-furnished room, to myself. + +These preliminaries were hardly settled, when Neb was admitted with the +bag. The poor fellow had been in tears; for he not only felt for me, but +he felt for the disgrace and misfortune which had alighted on the whole +Clawbonny stock. He had yet to learn that the place itself was gone, and I +shrank from telling him the fact; for, to his simple mind, it would be +like forcing body and soul asunder. All the negroes considered themselves +as a part of Clawbonny, and a separation must have appeared in their eyes +like some natural convulsion. Neb brought me a letter. It was sealed with +wax, and bore the impression of the Hardinge arms. There was also an +envelop, and the address had been written by Rupert. In short, everything +about this letter denoted ease, fashion, fastidiousness, and the +observance of forms. I lost no time in reading the contents, which I +copy, verbatim. + + "_Broadway, Wednesday morning._ + + "Dear Wallingford, + + "It has just occurred to me that the enclosed may be of service to you; + and I reproach myself for not having bethought me of your probable + necessities when I saw you. I regret it is not in my power to ask you to + dine with me, _en famille_, to-day; but Mrs. Hardinge has company, and + we are engaged out every other day this week. I shall fall in with you + again, some day, however, when I hope to be less engaged. Lucy has just + heard of your safety and arrival, and has gone to write a note to my + father, who will be glad to learn you are still in the land of the + living. The General, who lives with us, desires to be mentioned, and + hopes when he returns to England, it may be as your passenger. Adieu, + dear Wallingford; I shall never forget our boyish pranks, which, I dare + say, sometimes cause you to smile. + + "Your's, &c. + + "Rupert Hardinge." + +This letter contained a bank-note for twenty dollars! Yes, the man to whom +I had given twenty thousand dollars, sent me, in my distress, this +generous donation, to relieve my wants. I need hardly say, I sent the +bank-note back to him, by the hands of Neb, on the instant, with a cold +note of acknowledgment. I had no occasion for _his_ charity, at least. + +I passed a most uncomfortable hour alone, after Neb was gone. Then a +turnkey came to inform me that a gentleman and lady--a clergyman, he +believed--were in the private parlour, and wished to see me. It was +doubtless Mr. Hardinge--_could_ his companion be Lucy? I was too anxious, +too eager, to lose any time, and, rushing toward the room, was at once +admitted. There they were--Lucy and her father. Neb had seen Chloe, in +calling at Rupert's door--had heard much and told much. Mr. Hardinge was +on the point of going in quest of me; but, learning where I was, he had +barely given his daughter time to put on a hat and shawl, and conducting +her across the Park, brought her himself to visit me in prison. I saw, at +a glance, that Lucy was dreadfully agitated; that she was pale, though +still handsomer than ever; and that she was Lucy herself, in character, as +in person. + +"Miles, my dear, dear boy!" cried the good old divine, folding me in his +arms, "for this mercy, may God alone receive the praise! Everybody gave +you up, but Lucy and myself, and we could not, _would_ not believe you, +too, were lost to us for ever!" + +As my former guardian still clasped me to his bosom, as if I still +remained a child, I could perceive that dear Lucy was weeping as if ready +to break her heart. Then she looked up, and tried to smile; though I could +see the effort was made solely on my account. I caught her extended hand, +and kissed it over and over again. The dear, dear girl trembled in every +fibre of her body. + +"All my misfortunes are forgotten," I cried, "in finding you thus, in +finding you unchanged, in finding you still Lucy Hardinge!" + +I scarce knew what I was uttering, though I saw Lucy's face was covered +with blushes, and that a smile, which I found of inexplicable +signification, now rose readily enough to her beautiful mouth. On the +whole, I think there must have been some eight or ten minutes, during +which neither of the three knew particularly well what was said or done. +Lucy was both smiles and tears; though keen anxiety to know what had +occurred, and how I came to be in gaol, was strongly expressed in her +countenance, as well as in some of her words. As for myself, I was beside +myself, and acted like a fool. + +After a time, we were all seated, when I narrated the manner in which I +had lost my ship, and the reason why Clawbonny had been sold, and why I +supposed I was thus arrested. + +"I am glad my cousin, John Wallingford, had no concern with these +transactions; though I deeply regret the reason why my bond has passed +into other hands. It would have rendered my misfortunes still harder to be +borne, could I suppose that a kinsman had laid so deep a plot to ruin me, +under the semblance of kindness. His death, however, sets that point +at rest." + +"I do not like his talking of making you his heir, and neglecting to do +it," rejoined Mr. Hardinge. "Men should never promise, and forget to +redeem their words. It has a suspicious look." + +Lucy had not spoken the whole time I was relating my story. Her serene eye +beamed on me in a way to betray the interest she felt; but not a syllable +escaped her until her father had made the observation just given. + +"It is of no moment, now," she then said, "what may have been the motive +of Mr. John Wallingford. With Miles, I thought him a rough, but an honest +man; but honest men may be pardoned for not foreseeing their own sudden +deaths. The question, now, my dear father, is, how Miles can be got out of +this wretched place, in the shortest possible time." + +"Ay, Miles, my dear boy: heaven forbid you should sleep in such a spot. +How shall we go to work?" + +"I am afraid, sir, I shall sleep many nights here. The debt I really owe +is about thirteen thousand dollars; and the writ, I believe, is issued for +the entire penalty of the bond. As the motive for arresting me is, +probably, to drive me into a compromise, by confessing judgment, and +giving up my personal property to be sacrificed, as Clawbonny has been, it +is not probable that bail for a less amount than the law allows the +plaintiff to claim, will be received. I do not know the man who will +become surety for me in that amount." + +"Well, I know two.--Rupert and myself." + +The idea of receiving such a favour from Rupert was particularly +unpleasant to me; and I saw by the expression of Lucy's face that she +entered into my feelings. + +"I am afraid, sir," I said, after thanking Mr. Hardinge by a warm pressure +of the hand, "that _you_ are not rich enough. The deputy sheriff has told +me he has instructions to be rigid about the bail; and I apprehend neither +you, nor Rupert, can swear he is worth fifty thousand dollars." + +"Bless me!--bless me! Is that really necessary, Miles?" + +"If required, I believe the law insists on security to the amount of the +judgment claimed. Rupert lives largely, I see, and yet I doubt if he would +be willing to swear to that." + +Mr. Hardinge's face became very sorrowful; and he paused a moment before +answering. + +"I am not in Rupert's secrets, neither is Lucy," he then said. "I hope all +is right: though the thought that he might possibly play, has sometimes +crossed my anxious mind. He is married to Miss Merton; has purchased and +furnished a Broadway house, and is living at a large rate. When I spoke to +him on the subject, he asked me if I thought 'English ladies of condition +gave empty hands in marriage?' I don't know how it is, my dear Miles, but +I always fancied that the Mertons had nothing but the Colonel's salary +to live on." + +"_Major_ Merton," I answered, laying an emphasis on the brevet rank the +worthy individual actually possessed, "_Major_ Merton has told me as much +as this, himself." + +Mr. Hardinge actually groaned, and I saw that Lucy turned pale as death. +The former had no knowledge of the true character of his son; but he had +all the apprehensions that a father would naturally feel under such +circumstances. I saw the necessity--nay, the humanity, of relieving both. + +"You know me too well, my dear guardian--excellent Lucy--to think that I +would deliberately deceive either of you. What I now tell you, is to +prevent Rupert from being too harshly judged. I _know_ whence Rupert +derived a large sum of money, previously to my sailing. It was legally +obtained, and is, or was, rightfully his. I do not say it was large enough +long to maintain him in the style in which he lives; but it can so +maintain him a few years. You need fear neither cards, nor positive +dishonesty. Rupert has no disposition for either: he dislikes the first, +and is too prudent for the last." + +"God be thanked for this!" the divine exclaimed devoutly. "I had really +frightened myself, with my own folly. So, so, Master Rupert; you have been +making money and holding your peace! Well, I like his modesty; Rupert _is_ +clever, Miles, and I trust will one day take an honourable station at the +bar. His marriage has been a little too early, for one of his means, +perhaps; but I feel encouraged now that I find he can make money +honourably, and legally, and justly." + +I had said nothing of the honourable, or the just; but what weakness will +not parental affection encourage? As for Lucy, her countenance told me she +suspected the truth. Never before had I seen on those usually placid, and +always lovely features, an expression of so much humiliation. For a single +instant, it almost amounted to anguish. Recovering her self-possession, +however, she was the first to turn the discourse to its proper channel. + +"All this time, we are forgetting Miles," she said. "It would seem, +father, that he thinks neither you, nor Rupert, rich enough to be his +bail--can _I_ be of any use, in this way?" + +Lucy spoke firmly, and in the manner of one who was beginning to be +accustomed to consider herself of some account in the way of money; but, a +bright flush suffused her face, as she thus seemed to make herself of more +moment than was her wont--to pass out of her sex, as it might be. + +"A thousand thanks, dearest Lucy, for the offer," I said, eagerly, "but +_could_ you become my bail, I certainly would not permit it. It is enough +that you come to visit me here, without further connecting your name with +my debts. A minor, however, cannot become security. Mr. Daggett will keep +me here a few weeks; when he finds I am employing agents to sell my +effects, I fancy he is sufficiently a rogue himself to apprehend the money +will get beyond the reach of his execution, and he will offer to +compromise. Once at large, I can always go to sea; if not as master, at +least as a mate." + +"Had we been as proud as yourself, Miles, Clawbonny would have been less +dear to us." + +"It is not pride, but propriety, Lucy, to prevent you from doing a thing +for which there is no necessity, and which might subject you to +impertinent observations. No, I'll set about disposing of my personal +property at once; that will soon bring Mr. Daggett to some sense +of decency." + +"If a minor cannot be received as bail, there is no more to be said," Lucy +answered; "else would I prove to you, Miles, that I can be as obstinate as +you are yourself. At all events, I can be a purchaser of jewels, if +wanting a few months of my majority; fortunately, I have nearly a year's +income on hand. You see, Miles,"--Lucy again blushed brightly, though she +smiled--"what an accountant I am getting to be--but, I can commence at +once by purchasing your pearls. They are already in my possession for safe +keeping, and many is the covetous glance they have received from me. Those +precious pearls! I think you valued them at three thousand dollars, +Miles," Lucy continued, "and my father will at once pay you that sum on my +behalf. Then send for the lawyer of your persecutor, for I can call him +nothing else, and offer to pay that much on his demand provided he will +accept my father as bail. If he be the son of being you fancy him, and so +his acts I think prove him to be, he will be glad to accept the offer." + +I was delighted at the readiness of resources this proved in Lucy, nor was +the project in the least unlikely to succeed. Could I get four or five +thousand dollars together, I had no doubt Daggett would accept Mr. +Hardinge for bail, as it was only as surety for my appearance in court. +That was then required, and no one could really think I would abscond and +leave my old guardian in the lurch. Still, I could not think of thus +robbing Lucy. Left to her own sense of propriety, I well knew she would +never dream of investing so large a sum as the pearls were really worth, +in ornaments for her person; and the pearls were worth but little more +than half the sum she had named. + +"This will not do," I answered, expressing my gratitude with my eyes, "and +no more need be said about it. I cannot rob you, dearest Lucy, because you +are so ready to submit to be robbed. Leave me here a few days, and Mr. +Meekly will come to volunteer a plan of setting me free." + +"I have it!" exclaimed Mr. Hardinge, jumping up and seizing his hat. +"Lucy, I'll be back in fifteen minutes; then we'll bear Miles off in +triumph, to your own house. Yes, yes, the scheme cannot fail, with a +lawyer of any respectability." + +"May I know what it is, dear papa?" Lucy asked, glancing expressively +towards me. + +"Why, it's just this. I'll go and find the bishop, who'll do anything to +oblige me, and he and I'll go, in company, to this Mr. Meekly's office, +and pledge our words as divines, that Miles shall appear in court, as the +under-sheriff told me would be required, when all will be settled to our +heart's content. On my way to the bishop's, I'll just stop in at Richard +Harrison's office, and take his opinion in the matter." + +"Well, sir, the notion of seeing Richard Harrison is a good one. He may +suggest something in the way of practice that will be useful to us. If you +could step across the way, and get him to pay me a short visit, I should +be infinitely obliged to you. I was about to take his advice on the +subject of my insurance when arrested, and I wish that point disposed of." + +Mr. Hardinge listened attentively, and then he left the room, telling Lucy +he would be back in a few minutes. It might have been an awkward situation +for most young ladies, thus to be left alone with a prisoner in gaol; but +Lucy was so much accustomed to the intimacy that bound us together, I do +not think its peculiarities struck her at the moment. When her father went +out of the room, she was in deep thought, nor did she appear to rouse +herself from it, until he had been gone some little time. Lucy was seated, +but I had risen to see Mr. Hardinge to the door of the room, and was +walking slowly back and forth. The dear girl arose, came to me, took one +of my hands in both her own, and looked anxiously into my face, for some +little time, ere she spoke. + +"Miles," she said, "I will say no more of the pearls, no more of my own +money, and will prevent all allusion to Rupert's appearing in your behalf, +if you will accept the bail I can provide for you. I know a gentleman who +will accept my word as his surety, who is rich enough to be received, and +who is under a deep obligation to you, for I have often heard him say as +much. You may not know how ready he will be to oblige you, but I do; and I +now ask you to give me your word; you will not refuse his assistance, even +though he should be an utter stranger to you?" + +"How is it possible, Lucy, that you can have any knowledge of such a +person?" + +"Oh! you cannot imagine what a woman of business I am becoming! You would +not refuse me for your bail, were I a man and of age, Miles?" + +"Certainly not--feeling as I do towards you, Lucy, I would sooner receive +such a favour from you, than from any human being. But you are not a man, +thank God, nor of age." + +"Then promise me the small favour of accepting this service from the +person I shall send to you. It would break all our hearts to think you +were remaining here in gaol, while we are living in luxury. I will not +relinquish your hand, till you give me a promise." + +"That look is sufficient, Lucy; I promise all you can ask." + +So intense had the feelings of the dear girl become, that she burst into +tears, the moment her mind was relieved, and covered her face with both +hands. It was but a passing burst of feeling, and a radiant smile soon +chased every trace of sorrow from her sweet, sweet countenance. + +"Now, Miles, I am certain we shall soon have you out of this horrid +place," she cried; "and before the execution they tell us of, can issue, +as they call it, we shall have time to make some proper arrangement for +you. I shall be of age, by that time; and I can at least become your +creditor, instead of that odious Mr. Daggett. You would not hesitate to +owe me money, Miles, in preference to him?" + +"Dearest Lucy, there is nothing I would not be willing to owe to you, and +that in preference to any other living creature, not even excepting your +revered and beloved father." + +Lucy looked deeply gratified; and I saw another of those inexplicable +smiles lurking around her lovely mouth, which almost tempted me to demand +an explanation of its meaning. Ere there was time for this, however, her +countenance became very, very sad, and she turned her tearful eyes +toward me. + +"Miles, I fear I understood your allusion, when you spoke of Rupert's +money," she said. "I feared poor, sainted Grace would do this; and _I_ +knew you would strip yourself of every dollar to comply with her wishes. I +wonder the idea never occurred to me before; but it is so hard to think +ill of a brother! I ask no questions, for I see you are determined not to +answer them--perhaps have given a pledge to your sister to that effect: +but we cannot live under this disgrace; and the day I am twenty-one, this +grievous, grievous wrong must be repaired. I know that Grace's fortune had +accumulated to more than twenty thousand dollars; and that is a sum +sufficient to pay all you owe, and to leave you enough to begin the +world anew." + +"Even were what you fancy true, do you think I would consent to rob _you_, +to pay Rupert's debts?" + +"Talk not of robbery. I could not exist under the degradation of thinking +any of us had your money, while debt and imprisonment thus hung over you. +There is but one thing that can possibly prevent my paying you back +Grace's fortune, the day I am of age, as you will see, Miles." + +Again that inexplicable smile passed over Lucy's face, and I was resolved +to ask its meaning, when the approaching footstep of Mr. Hardinge +prevented it. + +"Mr. Harrison is not in," cried the divine, as he entered the room; "but I +left a note for him, telling him that his old acquaintance, Captain +Wallingford, had pressing need of his services. He has gone to Greenwich, +to his country place, but will be back in the course of the day, and I +have desired he will come to Wall street, the instant he can. I would not +blazon your misfortunes, Miles; but the moment he arrives, you shall hear +from him. He is an old school-fellow of mine, and will be prompt to oblige +me. Now, Miss Lucy, I am about to release you from prison. I saw a certain +Mr. Drewett walking in the direction of Wall-street, and had the charity +to tell him you would be at home in ten minutes." + +Lucy arose with an alacrity I could hardly forgive. The colour deepened on +her face, and I thought she even hurried her father away, in a manner that +was scarcely sufficiently reserved. Ere they left the room, however, the +dear girl took an opportunity to say, in a low voice, "Remember, Miles, I +hold you strictly to your promise: in one hour, you shall be free." + + + +Chapter XXVIII. + + + + "She half-enclosed me in her arms, + She pressed me with a meek embrace; + And bending back her head, looked up + And gazed upon my face." + + Coleridge. + + +I saw no one for the next two hours. A window of the parlour, where I was +permitted to remain, overlooked the _soi-disant_ park--or rather +_Manhattan_-disant--and it was not long before I caught a glimpse of my +mate and Neb, lying off and on, or blockading the jail, lest I should be +secretly carried to parts unknown, or some other great evil should +approach me from without. What these two honest and affectionate fellows +meant by thus maintaining their post, I did not know, it is true; but such +was my conjecture. At length Neb disappeared, and was absent an hour. When +he retained, he had a coil of rope over his shoulder, when the two took a +station at a safe distance from my prison, and began to measure off +fathoms, to cut, knot and splice. I was amused with their diligence, which +made no abatement until it was interrupted by myself. Of the manner in +which that was effected I shall have occasion to speak presently. + +About two hours after I was left by Lucy and her father, a keeper came to +announce another visitor. I was expecting my own attorney or Mr. Harrison; +but the reader will judge of my surprise when Andrew Drewett entered the +room. He was accompanied by the jailer, who held a letter in his hand, and +who astounded me by saying-- + +"Captain Wallingford, I have instructions here to open the door for +you--bail has been entered." + +The jailer disappeared. + +"And this I owe to you, Mr. Drewett!" + +"I wish I could say as much, with all my heart, my dear sir," Andrew +replied, taking my hand, and giving it a warm, cordial shake; "but it +would not be strictly true. After saving my life, I should not have +suffered you to lie in jail for want of so small a favour as giving bail +for your appearance in court, certainly; but would, and will, gladly be +your special bail, at the proper time. Let the credit fall, however, only +where it is due. Miss Hardinge asked me to obtain your release, and her +wishes are second only to my own gratitude." + +This was said in a frank, manly manner; and I wondered I had never viewed +Andrew Drewett in a light so favourable before. He had improved in person, +bore himself like a gentleman I now thought, and was every way a pleasing, +well-mannered, well-dressed, and intelligent-looking young man. I could do +all justice to him but pardon him Lucy's preference. + +"Lucy can never forget our childish intimacy," I said, a little confused. +"She left me, declaring an intention to do something of the sort; though I +confess I was not exactly prepared for this. You are a man to be envied, +Mr. Drewett, if any man on earth is!" + +Andrew looked embarrassed. He glanced at me, coloured, turned his look out +at the window, then, by a vast effort, seemed to regain his self-command. + +"I believe I understand you, Wallingford," he said. "You mean, in being +engaged to Lucy Hardinge?" + +"I can mean nothing else--all I hear--all I have seen--this last act, in +particular, tells me as much." + +"All have then told you wrong. I am not so fortunate as to possess the +affections of Miss Hardinge; and no man will gain her hand who does not +first obtain her heart; ay, and her whole heart, too." + +I was astounded! What! Lucy not engaged to Drewett; not loving him, by his +own admission; not likely to love him! I believe Andrew had no difficulty +in comprehending my feelings in part, for he seemed disposed to continue +the subject; and, what was infinitely to his credit, to continue it in a +way that should leave no unpleasant uncertainty hanging about the real +position of the dear girl. + +"It is only quite lately," he said, "that I have seen the great injustice +that I and my family have unconsciously committed towards Miss Hardinge. +As you are an old--a _very_ old friend of hers, I will be explicit with +you, and endeavour, in some small degree, to excuse myself; though I feel +that it can never be done fully. You tell me, that you have heard I was +engaged to Miss Hardinge?" + +"Unquestionably: I think it was the opinion of her own father; though he +must have believed the promise conditional, as Lucy never would marry +without his approbation." + +"Mr. Hardinge has then been strangely misled. It is true, Mr. Wallingford, +that I have long admired Miss Hardinge, and that I offered myself years +ago. I was refused from the first. But, Lucy had the frankness to own that +she was free to dispose of her hand; and I persevered contrary to her +advice, her wishes, and I may say her entreaties. I think she esteems me; +and I know she has a strong regard for my mother, who is almost as fond of +her as I am myself. This esteem and regard I hoped might ripen into love, +and my presumption has brought its own punishment, It is now about six +months--I remember it was shortly after we heard of your probable +loss--that I had a final conversation with her on the subject, when I +became convinced my prospects were hopeless. Since that time, I have +endeavoured to conquer my passion; for love unrequited, I suppose you +know, will not last for ever; and I have so far succeeded, as to tell you +all this without feeling the pain it would once have cost me. Still, I +retain the deepest respect for Miss Hardinge; and a single encouraging +look would even now recall me. I am of opinion, however, she intends never +to marry. But, let us quit this place, which has no longer any claim +on you." + +I was in a state scarcely to know what. I did. It was comparatively little +to me to learn I was free myself, after so unexpectedly learning that Lucy +was also free. Lucy--whom I had for years supposed to be irrevocably +engaged; and whom I had continued to love, even against hope Andrew +Drewett, I fancied, had never loved as I did, or he would not have made +the speech he did; or, his love for Lucy had not been a part of his +existence from boyhood, as mine had certainly been. While all these +thoughts were passing through my mind, I gave a few directions, took +Drewett's arm, and hurried out of the gaol. + +I confess that I respired more freely when I found myself in the open +air. My companion took my direction, and I led him to the spot where +Marble and Neb were still at work on their rope. Great was their surprise +on seeing me at large; and I thought the mate looked a little +disappointed, though he comprehended the matter at once, as soon as he +saw Drewett. + +"If you had only waited till night, Miles," Marble said, shaking his head +as one menaces, "Neb and I would have shown that bloody gaol a seaman's +fashion of quitting it. I'm almost sorry the occasion is lost, for it +would have done their stomachs good to wake up at two bells, and find +their cage empty. I've half a mind to ask you to go back, boy!" + +"But I've no mind to comply with the request; so do me the favour to have +my bag carried back to our lodgings, where I intend to swing my hammock, +again, to-night.--Mr. Drewett, I must hasten to thank her to whom I owe my +freedom;--will you accompany me?" + +Andrew excused himself; and receiving my thanks, once more we parted with +a hearty shake of the hands. I then hastened towards Wall street, and +knocked at Lucy's door; (there were knockers to good houses in New York, +in 1804, a vile nuisance having been since well gotten rid of,) and I +knocked at Lucy's door, scarce conscious of the manner in which I had got +there. It was near the dinner-hour, and the footman was demurring about +admitting a sailor-man, who hardly knew what he said, when a little scream +from Chloe, who happened to see me, soon disposed of my claim for +an entrance. + +"Masser Mile!--Masser Mile!--I _so_ grad--dat feller, Neb, say you come +home--Oh! Masser Mile, now I know dat de rascal at Clawbonny get +druv' off!" + +This speech, confident as it was, a little cooled my ardour by reminding +me I was a beggar, in the figurative meaning of the word. Chloe led the +way, however, and I was soon in the drawing-room, and in the presence of +the youthful mistress of the house. How gloriously beautiful did Lucy then +appear! She had dressed for dinner, as usual, but it was in the simplest +and neatest manner. Her face was radiant with the pleasure of seeing me +where I was, and excitement had deepened the colour on her cheeks, which +were never pale, except with emotions. As for her eyes, I can only +describe _them_ by the homely phrase, that "they danced for joy." + +"Now, Miles," she said, holding out both hands to meet me, "_this_ is +redeeming your pledge, and behaving as you should. Andrew Drewett was +delighted with an opportunity of doing something for the man who saved his +life, and my only fear was of your obstinacy." + +"After all I have heard from Andrew Drewett, beloved Lucy, you never need +fear anything from my obstinacy hereafter. He not only has released my +body from prison but he has released my spirits from the weight of a +mountain, by honestly confessing you do not love him." + +The play of roseate light on an autumnal sky at evening, is not more +beautiful, than the changing tints that passed over Lucy's beautiful face. +She did not speak, at first; but so intent, so inquiring was her look, +while at the same time, it was so timid and modest, that I scarce needed +the question that she finally succeeded in asking. + +"What _is_ it, you wish to say, Miles?" at length came from her in +faltering tones. + +"To ask to be permitted to keep these hands for ever. Not one, Lucy; one +will not satisfy a love like mine, a love that has got to be interwoven +with my being, from having formed a part of my very existence from +boyhood; yes, I ask for _both_." + +"You have them both, dear, _dear_ Miles, and can keep them as long as you +please." + +Even while this was in the course of utterance, the hands were snatched +from me to be applied to their owner's face, and the dear girl burst into +a flood of tears. I folded her in my arms, seated myself at her side on a +sofa, and am not ashamed to say that we wept together. I shall not reveal +all that passed during the next quarter of an hour, nor am I quite certain +that I could were I to make the attempt, but I well recollect my arm was +around Lucy's slender waist, at the end of that brief period. What was +said was not very coherent, nor do I know that anybody would care to hear, +or read it. + +"Why have you so long delayed to tell me this, Miles?" Lucy at length +inquired, a little reproachfully. "You who have had so many opportunities, +and might have known how it would have been received! How much misery and +suffering it would have saved us both!" + +"For that which it has caused _you_, dearest, I shall never forgive +myself; but as for that _I_ have endured, it is only too well merited. But +I thought you loved Drewett; everybody said you were to marry him; even +your own father believed and told me as much--" + +"Poor, dear papa!--He little knew my heart. One thing, however, he did +that would have prevented my ever marrying any one, Miles, so long as +you lived." + +"Heaven for ever bless him for that, as well as for all his other good +deeds? What was it, Lucy?' + +"When we heard of the supposed loss of your ship, he believed it, but I +did not. Why I did not believe what all around me thought was true, is +more than I can explain, unless Providence humanely sustained me by hope. +But when my father thought you dead, in conversing of all your good +qualities, Miles,--and he loved you almost as well as his daughter"-- + +"God bless him, dear old gentleman!--but what did he tell you, Lucy?" + +"You will never learn, if you thus interrupt me, Miles," Lucy answered, +smiling saucily in my face, though she permitted me still to hold both her +hands, as if I had taken possession of them literally with an intent to +keep them, blushing at the same time as much with happiness, I thought, as +with the innate modesty of her nature. "Have a little patience, and I will +tell you. When my father thought you dead, he told me the manner in which +you had confessed to him the preference you felt for me; and _do_ you, +_can_ you think, after I was thus put in possession of such a secret, I +could listen to Andrew Drewett, or to any one else?" + +I shall not reveal what followed this speech; but I may say that, in the +course of the next ten minutes, Lucy mildly reproached me again for having +so long delayed my declaration. + +"I knew you so well, Miles," she continued, smiling--as for blushing, that +she did nearly the whole of the remainder of the day--"I know you so well, +Miles, that I am afraid I should have made the declaration myself, had you +not found your tongue. Silly fellow! how _could_ you suppose I would ever +love any but you?--see here!" + +She drew the locket I had given her from her dress, and placed it in my +hands, still warm from lying near her heart! I had no choice, but to kiss +Lucy again, or to kiss this locket; and I did both, by way of leaving no +further grounds for self-reproach. I say, kiss her again, for, to own the +truth, I had already done so many times in that interview. + +At length, Chloe put her head in at the door, having taken the precaution +first to give a gentle tap, to inquire if dinner should be served. Lucy +dined at four, and it was now drawing toward five. + +"Has my father come in?" demanded the young mistress of her attendant. + +"Not yet, Miss Lucy; but he nebber t'ink much of dinner, Miss Lucy, ma'am; +and masser Mile been _so_ long a sailor, dat I t'ink he _must_ be hungry. +I hear dat he hab berry hard time, dis v'y'ge, Miss Lucy--too hard for old +masser and missus son!" + +"Ay, you have seen Neb, if the truth were told, Miss Chloe," I cried; "and +he has been charming your ear with Othello-tales, of his risks and +hardships, to make you love him." + +I cannot say that Chloe actually blushed, or, if she did, the spectators +were none the wiser for the weakness. But dark as was the skin of this +honest-hearted girl, she had most affectionate feelings, and even her +features could betray the emotions she entertained. + +"De feller!" she exclaimed.--"What Miss Lucy please order? Shall 'e cook +dish up?" + +"We will have dinner," Lucy answered, with a smile Chloe's eyes dancing +with a sort of wild delight. "Tell John to serve it. Mr. Hardinge will be +home soon, in all probability. We shall be only us three, at table." + +The mentioning of the table caused me to cast an eye at my dress; and the +sight of my mate's attire, neat and in truth becoming as it was, to one +who had no reason to be ashamed of his figure, caused me to recollect my +poverty, and to feel one twinge at the distance that the world might fancy +its own opinions placed between us. As for birth, my own family was too +respectable, and my education had been too good, to leave me now any very +keen regrets on such a subject, in a state of society like ours; but there +was truly a wide chasm between the heiress of Mrs. Bradfort and a +penniless mate of a ship. Lucy understood me; and, slipping her arm +through mine, she walked into the library, saying archly, as she drew me +gently along-- + +"It is a very easy thing, Miles, to get skirts made to your round-about." + +"No doubt, Lucy; but, with whose money? I have been in such a tumult of +happiness, as to have forgotten that I am a beggar; that I am not a +suitable match for you! Had I only Clawbonny, I should feel less +humiliated. With Clawbonny I could feel myself entitled to some portion of +the world's consideration." + +We were in the library by this time. Lucy looked at me a moment, intently; +and I could see she was pained at my allusion. Taking a little key from a +cabinet where she kept it, she opened a small drawer, and showed me the +identical gold pieces that had once been in my possession, and which I had +returned to her, after my first voyage to sea. I perceived that the pearls +she had obtained under Grace's bequest, as well as those which were my own +property, if I could be said to own anything, were kept in the same place. +Holding the gold in the palm of a little hand that was as soft as velvet +and as white as ivory, she said-- + +"You once took _all_ I had, Miles, and this without pretending to more +than a brother's love; why should you hesitate to do it again, now you say +you wish to become my husband?" + +"Precious creature! I believe you will cure me of even my silly pride." +Then taking up the pearls, I threw them on her neck, where they hung in a +long chain, rivalling the skin with which they came in contact--"There--I +have said these pearls should be an offering to my wife, and I now make +it; though I scarce know how they are to be kept from the grasp +of Daggett." + +Lucy kissed the pearls--I knew she did not do it on account of any love +for them--and tears came into her eyes. I believe she had long waited to +receive this gift, in the precise character in which it was now received. + +"Thank you, dear Miles," she said. "You see how freely I accept _your_ +gifts; and why should you hesitate to receive mine? As for this Mr. +Daggett, it will be easy enough to get rid of his claim. I shall be of age +before he can bring his cause to trial, as I learn; then nothing will be +easier than for Miles Wailingford to pay all his debts; for by that time, +all that is now mine will be yours. No--no--this Mr. Daggett shall not +easily rob me of this precious gift." + +"Rupert"--I said, by way of getting her answer. + +"Rupert will not influence my conduct, any further than I shall insist on +returning every dollar he has received from you, in the name of our +sainted Grace. But I hear my father's voice, and speaking to some other +person. I had hoped we should dine alone!" + +The door of the library opened, and Mr. Hardinge entered, followed by a +grave-looking, elderly man, of respectable mien, and a manner that denoted +one accustomed to deal with matters of weight. I knew this person at once +to be Richard Harrison, then one of the most distinguished lawyers of +America, and the gentleman to whom I had been carried by John Wallingford, +when the latter pressed me to make my will. Mr. Harrison shook me +cordially by the hand, after saluting Lucy, whom he knew intimately. I saw +at once that something unusual was working in his mind. This highly +respectable advocate was a man of method and of great coolness of manner +in the management of affairs, and he proceeded to business at once, using +very little circumlocution. + +"I have been surprised to hear that my worthy client and friend, Mr. John +Wailingford, is dead," he observed. "I do not know how his decease should +have escaped my notice in the papers, unless it were owing to a pretty +severe illness I suffered myself about the time it occurred. My good +friend, Mr. Hardinge, told it to me for the first time, only half an +hour since." + +"It is true, sir," I answered. "I understand my kinsman died eight months +since." + +"And he held your bond for forty thousand dollars at the time he died?" + +"I regret to say he did; a bond secured by a mortgage on my paternal +place, Clawbonny, which has since been sold, by virtue of the power +contained in the clauses, under the statute, and sold for a song; less +than a fourth of its value." + +"And you have been arrested, at the suit of the administrator, for the +balance due on the bond?" + +"I have, sir; and am liberated on general bail, only within an hour or +two." + +"Well, sir, all these proceedings can be, and _must_ be set aside. I have +already given instructions to prepare an application to the chancellor for +an injunction, and, unless your kinsman's administrator is a great dunce, +you will be in peaceable possession of Clawbonny, again, in less than a +month--if a moderately sensible man, in less than twenty-four hours." + +"You would not raise hopes that are idle, Mr. Harrison; yet I do not +understand how all this well can be!" + +"Your kinsman, Mr. John Wallingford, who was a much esteemed client of +mine, made a will, which will I drew myself, and which will being left in +my possession for that purpose, I now put in your hands as his sole +executor. By that will, you will perceive that he especially forgives you +the debt of forty thousand dollars, and releases the claim under the +mortgage. But this is not all. After giving some small legacies to a few +of his female relatives, he has left you the residuary legatee, and I know +enough of his affairs to be certain that you will receive an addition to +your estate of more than two hundred thousand dollars. John Wallingford +was a character, but he was a money-making character; had he lived twenty +years longer, he would have been one of the richest men in the state. He +had laid an excellent foundation, but he died too soon to rear the golden +structure." + +What a change of circumstances was here! I was not only virtually released +from debt, but had Clawbonny restored to me, and was master of all I had +ever owned, my earnings and the money invested in the Dawn excepted. This +last was irretrievably gone, it was true, but, in its place I had the +ample legacy of John Wallingford as a compensation. This legacy consisted +of a large sum in the three per cents, which then sold at about sixty, but +were subsequently paid off at par, of good bank and insurance stocks, +bonds and mortgages, and a valuable and productive real property in the +western part of the State, with several buildings in town. In a word, I +was even richer than Lucy, and no longer need consider myself as one +living on her generosity. It is not difficult to believe I was made +supremely happy by this news, and I looked to Lucy for sympathy. As for +the dear girl herself, I do believe she felt anything but pleasure, at +this new accession of riches; for she had a deep satisfaction in thinking +that it was in her power to prove to me how completely I possessed her +confidence, by placing all she had in my hands. Nevertheless, she loved +Clawbonny as well as I did myself, and my restoration to the throne of my +fathers was a subject of mutual delight. + +Mr. Harrison went on to say that he had ascertained Daggett was in town, +to conduct the expected arrangement with me, on the subject of my +personals, and that he had already sent a messenger to his attorney, to +let the existence of the will be known. He had, consequently, strong hopes +of arranging matters, in the course of the next twenty-four hours. We were +still at table, in effect, when the messenger came to let us know an +interview was appointed at the office of this eminent counsel, and we all +adjourned to that place, Lucy excepted, as soon as the cloth was removed; +for, in that day, cloths were always removed. At the office, we found Mr. +Daggett, whom I now saw for the first time, and his legal adviser, already +waiting for us. One glance sufficed to let us into the secret of the +consternation both were in, for the lawer had committed himself in the +course of the proceedings he had had an agency in conducting, almost as +much as his client. + +"This is strange news to us, Mr. Harrison," the attorney commenced; +"though your character and reputation, I will confess, make it look +serious. Is there no mistake in the matter, sir?" + +"None whatever, Mr. Meekly. If you will have the goodness to read this +will, sir, you will perceive that the facts have been truly laid before +your client; and, as to the authenticity of the document, I can only say, +it was not only drawn up by myself, under precise instructions from Mr. +Wallingford,--which instructions I still possess, in his own +hand-writing,--but the will was copied by my client, as well as signed and +sealed in my presence, as one of the witnesses. So far as relates to the +personals, this will would be valid, though not signed by the testator, +supposing no other will to exist. But, I flatter myself, you will find +everything correct as to forms." + +Mr. Meekly read the will aloud, from beginning to end, and, in returning +it to me, he cast a very give-it-up-sort of look at Daggett. The latter +inquired, with some anxiety,-- + +"Is there any schedule of the property accompanying the will?" + +"There is, sir," returned Mr. Harrison; "and directions on it where to +find the certificates of stock, and all the other evidences of debts--such +as bonds and mortgages. Of the last, several are in my own possession. I +presume the bond of this Mr. Wallingford was kept by the testator himself, +as a sort of family thing." + +"Well, sir, you will find that none of the stock has been touched; and I +confess this bond, with a few notes given in Genessee, is all that I have +been able to find. We have been surprised at discovering the assets to be +so small." + +"So much the better for you, Mr. Daggett. Knowing what I do, I shall only +give up the assets I hold to the executor and heir. Your letters of +administration will be set aside, as a matter of course, even should you +presume to oppose us,--which I should hardly think advisable." + +"We shall not attempt it, Mr. Harrison," Meekly said, hastily; "and we +expect equal liberality from your client." + +So much for having a first-rate lawyer and a man of character on my side. +Daggett gave the whole thing up, on the spot,--re-conveying to me +Clawbonny before he quitted, though the sale would unquestionably be set +aside, and subsequently was set aside, by means of an amicable suit. A +great deal remained to be done, however; and I was obliged to tear myself +away from Lucy, in order to do it. Probate of the will was to be made in +the distant county of Genessee--and distant it was from New York, in 1804! +The journey that could be made, to day, in about thirty hours, took me ten +days: and I spent near a month in going through the necessary forms, and +in otherwise settling my affairs at the west, as that part of the State +was then called. The time, however, was not wasted below. Mr. Hardinge +took charge of everything at Clawbonny, and Lucy's welcome +letters,--three of which reached me weekly,--informed me that everything +was re-established in the house, on the farm, and at the mill. The +Wallingford was set running again, and all the oxen, cows, horses, hogs, +&c., &c., were living in their old haunts. The negroes were reinstated, +and Clawbonny was itself again! The only chants made wore for the better; +the occasion having been improved, to paint and new-vamp the house, which +Mr. Daggett's parsimony had prevented him from defacing by modern +alterations. In a word, 'Masser Mile' was alone wanting to make all at the +farm happy. Chloe had communicated her engagement to 'Miss Lucy,' and it +was understood Neb and his master were to be married about the same time. +As for Moses, he had gone up to Willow Cove, on a leave of absence. A +letter received from him, which now lies before me, will give a better +account of his proceedings and feelings than I can write myself. It was in +the following words, viz.: + + "_Willow Cove, Sept. 18th_, 1804. + + "Captain Wallingford: + + "Dear Sir, and my dear Miles--Here I have been, moored head and starn, + these ten days, as comfortable as heart could wish, in the bosom of my + family. The old woman was right down glad to see me, and she cried like + an alligator, when she heard my story. As for Kitty, she cried, and she + laughed in the bargain; but that young Bright, whom you may remember we + fell in with, in our cruise after old Van Tassel, has fairly hauled + alongside of my niece, and she does little but laugh from morning to + night. It's bloody hard to lose a niece in this way, just as a man finds + her, but mother says I shall gain a nephew by the trade. + + "Now, for old Van Tassel. The Lord will never suffer rogues to prosper + in the long run. Mother found the old rascal's receipt, given to my + father for the money, years and years ago, and sending for a Hudson + lawyer, they made the miserly cheat off with his hatches, and hoist out + cargo enough to square the yards. So mother considers the thing as + settled at last; but I shall always regard the account as open until I + have threshed the gentleman to my heart's content. The old woman got the + cash in hard dollars, not understanding paper, and I wasn't in the house + ten minutes, before the good old soul roused a stocking out of a + drawer, and began to count out the pieces to pay me off. So you see, + Miles, I've stepped into my estate again, as well as yourself. As for + your offer to pay me wages for the whole of last v'y'ge"--this word + Marble could only spell as he pronounced it--"it's generous, and that's + a good deal in these bloody dishonest times, but I'll not touch a + copper. When a ship's lost, the wages are lost with her, and that's law + and reason. It would be hard on a marchant to have to pay wages for work + done on board a craft that's at the bottom of the ocean; so no more on + that p'int, which we'll consider settled. + + "I am delighted to learn you are to be married as soon as you get back + to Clawbonny. Was I in your place, and saw such a nice young woman + beckoning me into port, I'd not be long in the offing. Thank you, + heartily, for the invitation to be one of the bride's-maids, which is an + office, my dear Miles, I covet, and shall glory in. I wish you to drop + me a line as to the rigging proper for the occasion, for I would wish to + be dressed as much like the rest of the bride's-maids as possible; + uniformity being always desirable in such matters. A wedding is a + wedding, and should be dealt with as a wedding; so, waiting for further + orders, I remain your friend and old ship-mate to command, + + "Moses Van Dusen Marble." + +I do not affirm that the spelling of this letter was quite as accurate as +that given in this copy, but the epistle was legible, and evidently gave +Marble a great deal of trouble. As for the letters of dear Lucy, I forbear +to copy any. They were like herself, however; ingenuous, truthful, +affectionate and feminine. Among other things, she informed me that our +union was to take place in St. Michael's; that I was to meet her at the +rectory, and that we might proceed to Clawbonny from the church-door. She +had invited Rupert and Emily to be present, but the health of the last +would prevent their accepting the invitation. Major, or general, Merton, +as he was universally called in New York, had the gout, and could not be +there; and I was asked if it would not be advisable under all the +circumstances, to have the affair as private as possible. My answer +conveyed a cheerful compliance, and a week after that was despatched, I +left the Genessee country, having successfully completed all my business. +No one opposed me, and so far from being regarded as an intruder, the +world thought me the proper heir of my cousin. + + + +Chapter XXIX. + + + + "I calmed her fears, and she was calm, + And told her love with virgin pride; + And so I won my Genevieve, + My bright and beauteous bride." + + Coleridge. + + +By arrangement, I stopped at the Willow Cove, to pick up Marble. I found +the honest fellow happy as the day was long; but telling fearfully long +and wonderful yarns of his adventures, to the whole country round. My old +mate was substantially a man of truth; but he did love to astonish +"know-nothings." He appears to have succeeded surprisingly well, for the +Dutchmen of that neighbourhood still recount anecdotes, of the +achievements and sufferings of Captain Marvel, as they usually call him, +though they have long ceased to think the country belongs to the United +Provinces. + +Moses was glad to see me; and, after passing a night in the cottage of his +mother, we proceeded towards Clawbonny, in a conveyance that had been sent +to Willow Cove to meet me. It was a carriage of my own, one of my own +negroes acting as driver. I knew the old team, and will acknowledge that +tears forced themselves to, my eyes as I thus saw myself, as it might be, +reinstated in my own. The same feeling came powerfully over me, as we +drove to the summit of an elevation in the road, that commanded a view of +the vale and buildings of Clawbonny. What a moment was that in my +existence! I cannot say that I was born to wealth, even as wealth was +counted among us sixty years since, but I was born to a competency. Until +I lost my ship, I had never known the humiliating sensations of poverty; +and the feeling that passed over my heart, when I first heard that +Clawbonny was sold, has left an impression that will last for life. I +looked at the houses, as I passed them in the streets, and remembered that +I was houseless. I did not pass a shop in which clothes were exposed, +without remembering that, were my debts paid, I should literally be +without a coat to my back. Now, I had my own once more; and there stood +the home of my ancestors for generations, looking comfortable and +respectable, in the midst of a most inviting scene of rural quiet and +loveliness. The very fields seemed to welcome me beneath its roof! There +is no use in attempting to conceal what happened; and I will honestly +relate it. + +The road made a considerable circuit to descend the hill, while a +foot-path led down the declivity, by a shorter cut, which was always taken +by pedestrians. Making an incoherent excuse to Moses, and telling him to +wait for me at the foot of the hill, I sprang out of the carriage, leaped +a fence, and I may add, leaped out of sight, in order to conceal my +emotion. I was no sooner lost to view, than, seating myself on a fragment +of rock, I wept like a child. How long I sat there is more than I can say; +but the manner in which I was recalled from this paroxysm of feeling will +not soon be forgotten. A little hand was laid on my forehead, and a soft +voice uttered the word "Miles!" so near me, that, at the next instant, I +held Lucy in my arms. The dear girl had walked to the hill, as she +afterwards admitted, in the expectation of seeing me pass on to Clawbonny; +and, comprehending my feelings and my behaviour, could not deny herself +the exquisite gratification of sharing in my emotions. + +"It is a blessed restoration to your rights, dear Miles," Lucy at length +said, smiling through her tears. "Your letters have told me that you are +rich; but I would rather you had Clawbonny, and not a cent besides, than, +without this place, you had the riches of the wealthiest man in the +country. Yours it should have been, at all events, could my means have +compassed it." + +"And this, Lucy, without my becoming your husband, do you mean?" + +Lucy blushed brightly; though I cannot say the sincere, ingenuous girl +ever looked embarrassed in avowing her preference for me. After a moment's +pause, she smiled, and answered my question. + +"I have not doubted of the result, since my father gave me an account of +your feelings towards me," she said, "and that, you will remember, was +before Mr. Daggett had his sale. Women have more confidence in the +affections than men, I fear; at least, with us they are more engrossing +concerns than with you--for we live for them altogether, whereas you have +the world constantly to occupy your thoughts. I have never supposed Miles +Wallingford would become the husband of any but Lucy Hardinge, except on +one occasion, and then only for a very short period; and, ever since I +have thought on such subjects at all, I have _known_ that Lucy Hardinge +would never--_could_ never be the wife of any one but Miles Wallingford." + +"And that one exception, dearest,--that 'very short period?' Having +confessed so much, I am eager to know all." + +Lucy became thoughtful, and she moved the grass at her feet with the end +of her parasol, ere she replied. + +"The one exception was Emily Merton; and the short period terminated when +I saw you together, in your own house. When I first saw Emily Merton, I +thought her more worthy of your love than I could possibly be; and I +fancied it impossible that you could have lived so long in a ship +together, without discovering each other's merits. But, when I was placed +with you both, under the same roof, I soon ascertained that, while your +imagination had been a little led aside, your heart was always true +to me." + +"Is this possible, Lucy! Are women really so much more discriminating, so +much more accurate in their opinions, than us men? While I was ready to +hang myself for jealousy of Andrew Drewett, did you really know that my +heart was entirely yours?" + +"I was not without misgivings, Miles, and sometimes those that were keenly +painful; but, on the whole, I will not say I felt my power, but that I +felt we were dear to each other." + +"Did you never suppose, as your excellent father has done, that we were +too much like brother and sister, to become lovers--too much accustomed +to be dear to each other as children, to submit to passion? For that which +I feel for you, Lucy, I do not pretend to dignify with the name of esteem, +and respect, and affection--it is a passion, that will form the misery, or +happiness of my life." + +Lucy smiled archly, and again the end of her parasol played with the grass +that grew around the rock on which we were seated. + +"How could I think this for you," she said, "when I had a contrary +experience of my own constantly present, Miles? I saw that you thought +there was some difference of condition between us, (silly fellow!) and I +felt persuaded you had only your own diffidence to overcome, to tell your +own story." + +"And knowing and seeing all this, cruel Lucy, why did you suffer years of +cruel, cruel doubt to hang over me?" + +"Was it a woman's part to speak, Miles? I endeavoured to act +naturally,--believe I did act naturally,--and I left the rest to God. +Blessed be his mercy, I am rewarded!" + +I folded Lucy to my heart, and, passing a moment of sweet sympathy in the +embrace, we both began to talk of other things, as if mutually conscious +that our feelings were too high-wrought for the place in which we were. I +inquired as to the condition of things at Clawbonny, and was gratified +with the report. Everybody expected me. I had no tenantry to come forth to +meet me,--nor were American tenants much addicted to such practices, even +when they were to be found: though the miserable sophistry on the subject +of landlord and tenant,--one of the most useful and humanizing relations +of civilized life,--did not then exist among us, that I am sorry to find +is now getting into vogue. In that day, it was not thought 'liberty' to +violate the fair covenants of a lease; and attempts to cheat a landed +proprietor out of his rights were _called_ cheating, as they ought to +be--and they were called nothing else. + +In that day, a lease in perpetuity was thought a more advantageous bargain +for the tenant, than a lease for a year, or a term of years; and men did +not begin to reason as if one indulgence gave birth to a right, to demand +more. In that day, paying rent in chickens, and wood, and work, was not +fancied to be a remnant of feudality, but it was regarded as a favour +conferred on him who had the privilege: and even now, nine countrymen in +ten endeavour to pay their debts in everything they can, before they +resort to the purse. In that day, the audacious sophism of calling land a +monopoly, in a country that probably possesses more than a hundred acres +for every living soul within its limits, was not broached: and, in that +day, knots of men did not set themselves up as special representatives of +the whole community, and interpret the laws in their own favour, as if +they were the first principles of the entire republic. But my pen is +running away with me, and I must return to Lucy. A crisis is at hand; and +we are about to see the laws triumphant, or acts of aggression that will +far outdo all that has hitherto rested on the American name, as connected +with a want of faith in pecuniary transactions. + +Should I ever continue these adventures, occasions may offer to draw +certain pictures of the signs of the times; signs that have an ominous +aspect as regards real liberty, by substituting the most fearful of all +tyrannies, the spurious, in its place. God alone knows for what we are +reserved; but one thing is certain--there must be a serious movement +backward, or the nation is lost. + +I had no tenantry to come out and meet me; but there were the blacks. It +is true, the law was on the point of liberating these slaves, leaving a +few of the younger to serve for a term of years, that should requite their +owners for the care of their infancies and their educations; but this law +could not effect an immediate change in the condition of the Clawbonnys. +The old ones did not wish to quit me, and never did; while it took years +to loosen the tie which bound the younger portion of them to me and mine. +At this hour, near twenty of them are living round me, in cottages of +mine; and the service of my kitchen is entirely conducted by them. Lucy +prepared me for a reception by these children of Africa, even the outcasts +having united with the rest to do honour to their young master. Honour is +not the word; there was too much _heart_ in the affair for so cold a term; +the negro, whatever may be his faults, almost always possessing an +affectionate heart. + +At length, I remembered Marble, and, taking leave of Lucy, who would not +let me accompany her home, I threw myself down the path, and found my +mate cogitating in the carnage, at the foot of the hill. + +"Well, Miles, you seem to value this land of yours, as a seaman does his +ship," cried Moses, before I had time to apologize for having kept him so +long waiting. "Howsomever, I can enter into the feelin', and a blessed one +it is, to get a respondentia bond off of land that belonged to a feller's +grandfather. Next thing to being a bloody hermit, I hold, is to belong to +nobody in a crowded world; and I would not part with one kiss from little +Kitty, or one wrinkle of my mother's, for all the desert islands in the +ocean. Come, sit down now, my lad--why, you look as red as a rose-bud, and +as if you had been running up and down hill the whole time you've +been absent." + +"It is sharp work to come down such a hill as this on a trot. Well, here I +am at your side; what would you wish to know?" + +"Why, lad, I've been thinkin', since you were away, of the duties of a +bride's-maid,"--to his dying day, Moses always insisted he had acted in +this capacity at my wedding;--"for the time draws near, and I wouldn't +wish to discredit you, on such a festivity. In the first place, how am I +to be dressed? I've got the posy you mentioned in your letter, stowed away +safe in my trunk. Kitty made it for me last week, and a good-looking posy +it was, the last time I saw it." + +"Did you think of the breeches?" + +"Ay, ay--I have them, too, and what is more I've had them bent. Somehow or +other, Miles, running under bare poles does not seem to agree with my +build. If there's time, I should like to have a couple of bonnets fitted +to the articles." + +"Those would be gaiters, Moses, and I never heard of a bride's-maid in +breeches and gaiters. No, you'll be obliged to come out like +evervbody else." + +"Well, I care less for the dress than I do for the behaviour. Shall I be +obliged to kiss Miss Lucy?" + +"No, not exactly Miss Lucy, but Mrs. Bride--I believe it would not be a +lawful marriage without that." + +"Heaven forbid that I should lay a straw in the way of your happiness, my +dear boy; but you'll make a signal for the proper time to clear ship, +then--you know I always carry a quid." + +I promised not to desert him in his need, and Moses became materially +easier in his mind. I do not wish the reader to suppose my mate fancied he +was to act in the character of a woman at my nuptials, but simply that he +was to act in the character of a bride's-maid. The difficulties which +beset him will be best explained by his last remark on this occasion, and +with which I shall close this discourse. "Had I been brought up in a +decent family," he said, "instead of having been set afloat on a +tombstone, matrimony wouldn't have been such unknown seas to me. But, you +know how it is, Miles, with a fellow that has no relations. He may laugh, +and sing, and make as much noise as he pleases, and try to make others +think he's in good company the whole time; but, after all, he's nothing +but a sort of bloody hermit, that's travelling through life, all the same +as if he was left with a few pigs on a desert island. Make-believe is much +made use of in this world, but it won't hold out to the last. Now of all +mortal beings that I ever met with, you've fallen in with her that has +least of it. There's some make-believe about you, Miles, as when you +looked so bloody unconcerned all the time you were ready to die of love, +as I now l'arn, for the young woman you're about to marry: and mother has +a little of it, dear old soul, when she says she's perfectly satisfied +with the son the Lord has given her, for I'm not so blasted virtuous but I +might be better; and little Kitty has lots of it when she pretends she +would as soon have one kiss from me as two from young Bright; but, as for +Lucy Hardinge, I will say that I never saw any more make-believe about +her, than was becoming in a young woman." + +This speech proved that Moses was a man of observation. Others might have +drawn seemingly nicer shades of character, but this sincerity of feeling, +truth of conduct, and singleness of purpose, formed the distinguishing +traits of Lucy's virtues. I was excessively gratified at finding that +Marble rightly appreciated one who was so very, very dear to me, and took +care to let him know as much, as soon as he had made his speech. + +We were met by the negroes, at the distance of half a mile from the +house. Neb acted as master of the ceremonies, or, commodore would be the +better word, for he actually carried a bit of swallow-tail bunting that +was borrowed from the sloop, and there was just as much of ocean in the +symbols used, as comported with the honours manifested to a seaman. Old +Cupid carried the Wallingford's ensign, and a sort of _harlequinade_ had +been made out of marlinspikes, serving mallets, sail-maker's palms, and +fids. The whole was crowned with a plug of tobacco, though I never used +the weed, except in segars. Neb had seen processions in town, as well as +in foreign countries, and he took care that the present should do himself +no discredit. It is true, that he spoke to me of it afterwards as a +"nigger procession," and affected to hold it cheap; but I could see that +the fellow was as much pleased with the conceits he had got up for the +occasion, as he was mortified at the failure of the whole thing. The +failure happened in this wise: no sooner did I approach near enough to the +elder blacks to have my features fairly recognised, than the women began +to blubber, and the men to toss their arms and shout "Masser Mile," +"Masser Mile;" thereby throwing everything into confusion, at once placing +feeling uppermost, at the expense of 'law and order.' + +To descend from the stilts that seemed indispensable to do credit to Neb's +imagination, the manner in which I was received by these simple-minded +beings was infinitely touching. All the old ones shook hands with me, +while the younger of both sexes kept more aloof, until I went to each in +succession, and went through the ceremony of my own accord. As for the +boys, they rolled over on the grass, while the little girls kept making +curtsies, and repeating "welcome home to Clawbonny, Masser Mile." My heart +was full, and I question if any European landlord ever got so warm a +reception from his tenantry, as I received from my slaves. + +And welcome I was indeed to Clawbonny, and most welcome was Clawbonny to +me! In 1804, New York had still some New York feeling left in the State. +Strangers had not completely overrun her as has since happened; and New +York names were honoured; New York feelings had some place among us; life, +homes, firesides, and the graves of our fathers, not yet being treated as +so many incidents in some new speculation. Men then loved the paternal +roof, and gardens, lawns, orchards and church-yards, were regarded as +something other than levels for rail-roads and canals, streets for +villages, or public promenades to be called batteries, or parks, as might +happen to suit aldermanic ambition, or editorial privilege. + +Mr. Hardinge met me at the gate of the little lawn, took me in his arms, +and blessed me aloud. We entered the house in silence, when the good old +man immediately set about showing me, by ocular proof, that everything was +restored as effectually as I was restored myself. Venus accompanied us, +relating how dirty she had found this room, how much injured that, and +otherwise abusing the Daggetts, to my heart's content. Their reign had +been short, however; and a Wallingford was once more master of the five +structures of Clawbonny. I meditated a sixth, even that day, religiously +preserving every stone that had been already laid, however, in my mind's +intention. + +The next day was that named by Lucy as the one in which she would unite +herself to me for ever. No secret was made of the affair; but notice had +been duly given that all at Clawbonny might be present. I left home at ten +in the morning, in a very handsome carriage that had been built for the +occasion, accompanied by Moses attired as a bride's-maid. It is true his +dumpy, square-built frame, rather caricatured the shorts and silk +stockings; and, as we sat side by side in this guise, I saw his eye +roaming from his own limbs to mine. The peculiarity of Moses's toilette +was that which all may observe in men of his stamp, who come out in full +dress. The clothes a good deal more than fit them. Everything is as tight +as the skin; and the wearer is ordinarily about as awkward in his +movements and sensations, as if he had gone into society, in _puris +naturalibus_. That Moses felt the embarrassment of this novel attire, was +sufficiently apparent by his looks and movements, to say nothing of +his speech. + +"Miles, I do suppose," he remarked, as we trotted along, "that them that +haven't had the advantage of being brought up at home never get a fair +growth. Now, here's these legs of mine; there's plenty of them, but they +ought to have been put in a stretcher when I was a youngster, instead of +being left to run about a hospital. Well, I'll sail under bare poles, +this once, to oblige you, bride-maid fashion; but this is the first and +last time I do such a thing. Don't forget to make the signal when I'm to +kiss Miss Lucy." + +My thoughts were not exactly in the vein to enjoy the embarrassment of +Moses, and I silenced him by promising all he asked. We were not elegant +enough to meet at the church, but I proceeded at once to the little +rectory, where I found the good divine and my lovely bride had just +completed their arrangements. And lovely, indeed, was Lucy, in her simple +but beautiful bridal attire! She was unattended, had none of those gay +appliances about her that her condition might have rendered proper, and +which her fortune would so easily have commanded. Yet it was impossible to +be in her presence without feeling the influence of her virgin mien and +simple elegance. Her dress was a spotless but exquisitely fine India +muslin, well made and accurately fitting; and her dark glossy hair was +embellished only by one comb ornamented with pearls, and wearing the usual +veil. As for her feet and hands, they were more like those of a fairy than +of one human; while her countenance was filled with all the heartfelt +tenderness of her honest nature. Around her ivory throat, and over her +polished shoulders, hung my own necklace of pearls, strung as they had +been on board the Crisis, giving her bust an air of affluent decoration, +while it told a long story of distant adventure and of well-requited +affection. + +We had no bride's-maids, (Marble excepted), no groom's-men, no other +attendants than those of our respective households. No person had been +asked to be present, for we felt that our best friends were with us, when +we had these dependants around us. At one time, I had thought of paying +Drewett the compliment of desiring him to be a groom's-man; but Lucy set +the project at rest, by quaintly asking me how I should like to have been +_his_ attendant, with the same bride. As for Rupert, I never inquired how +he satisfied the scruples of his father, though the old gentleman made +many apologies to me for his absence. I was heartily rejoiced, indeed, he +did not appear; and, I think, Lucy was so also. + +The moment I appeared in the little drawing-room of the rectory, which +Lucy's money and taste had converted into a very pretty but simple room, +my "bright and beauteous bride" arose, and extended to me her long-loved +hand. The act itself, natural and usual as it was, was performed in a way +to denote the frankness and tenderness of her character. Her colour went +and came a little, but she said nothing. Without resuming her seat, she +quietly placed an arm in mine, and turned to her father, as much as to say +we were ready. Mr. Hardinge led the way to the church, which was but a +step from the rectory, and, in a minute or two, all stood ranged before +the altar, with the divine in the chancel. The ceremony commenced +immediately, and in less than five minutes I folded Lucy in my arms, as my +wife. We had gone into the vestry-room for this part of the affair, and +there it was that we received the congratulations of those humble, +dark-coloured beings, who then formed so material a portion of nearly +every American family of any means. + +"I wish you great joy and ebbery sort of happiness, Masser Mile," said old +Venus, kissing my hand, though I insisted it should be my face, as had +often been her practice twenty years before. "Ah! dis was a blessed day to +_old_ masser and missus, could dey saw it, _but._ And I won't speak of +anoder blessed saint dat be in heaven. And you too, _my_ dear young +missus; now, we all so grad it be _you,_ for we did t'ink, a one time, +_dat_ would nebber come to pass." + +Lucy laid her own little white velvet-like hand, with the wedding ring on +its fourth finger, into the middle of Venus's hard and horny palm, in the +sweetest manner possible; reminding all around her that she was an old +friend, and that she knew all the good qualities of every one who pressed +forward to greet her, and to wish her happiness. + +As soon as this part of the ceremony was over, we repaired to the rectory, +where Lucy changed her wedding robe, for what I fancied was one of the +prettiest demi-toilette dresses I ever saw. I know I am now speaking like +an old fellow, whose thoughts revert to the happier scenes of youth with a +species of dotage, but it is not often a man has an opportunity of +pourtraying such a bride and wife as Lucy Hardinge. On this occasion she +removed the comb and veil, as not harmonizing with the dress in which she +reappeared, but the necklace was worn throughout the whole of that +blessed day. As soon as my bride was ready, Mr. Hardinge, Lucy, Moses and +myself, entered the carriage, and drove over to Clawbonny. Thither all +Lucy's wardrobe had been sent, an hour before, under Chloe's +superintendence, who had barely returned to the church in time to witness +the ceremony. + +One of the most precious moments of my life, was that in which I folded +Lucy in my arms and welcomed her to the old place as its mistress. + +"We came very near losing it, love," I whispered; "but it is now ours, +unitedly, and we will be in no hurry to turn our backs on it." + +This was in a tête-a-tête, in the family room, whither I had led Lucy, +feeling that this little ceremony was due to my wife. Everything around us +recalled former scenes, and tears were in the eyes of my bride as she +gently extricated herself from my arms. + +"Let us sit down a moment, Miles, and consult on family affairs, now we +_are_ here," she said, smiling. "It may be early to begin, but such old +acquaintances have no need of time to discover each other's wishes and +good and bad qualities. I agree with you, heart and mind, in saying we +will never turn our backs on Clawbonny--dear, dear Clawbonny, where we +were children together, Miles; where we knew so well, and loved so well, +our departed Grace,--and, I hope and trust, it will ever be our principal +residence. The country-house I inherit from Mrs. Bradfort is better suited +to modern tastes and habits, perhaps, but it can never be one half so dear +to either of us. I would not speak to you on this subject before, Miles, +because I wished first to give you a husband's just control over me and +mine, in giving you my hand; but, now, I may and will suggest what has +been passing in my mind on this subject. Riversedge"--so was Mrs. +Bradfort's country-house called--"is a good residence, and is sufficiently +well furnished for any respectable family. Rupert and Emily must live +somewhere, and I feel certain it cannot long be in Broadway. Now, I have +thought I would reserve Riversedge for their future use. They can take it +immediately, as a summer residence; for I prize one hour passed here more +than twenty-four hours passed there." + +"What, rebel!--Even should I choose to dwell in your West-Chester house?" + +"You will be here, Miles; and it is on your account that Clawbonny is so +dear to me. The place is yours,--I am yours,--and all your possessions +should go together." + +"Thank you, dearest. But will Rupert be able to keep up a town and country +house'!" + +"The first, not long, for a certainty; how long, you know better than I. +When I have been your wife half-a-dozen years, perhaps you will think me +worthy of knowing the secret of the money he actually has." + +This was said pleasantly; but it was not said without anxiety. I reflected +on the conditions of my secresy. Grace wished to keep the facts from Lucy, +lest the noble-hearted sister should awaken a feeling in the brother that +might prevent her bequest from being carried into effect. Then, she did +not think Lucy would ever become my wife, and circumstances were changed, +while there was no longer a reason for concealing the truth from the +present applicant, at least. I communicated all that had passed on the +subject to my-deeply-interested listener. Lucy received the facts with +sorrow, though they were no more than she had expected to learn. + +"I should be covered with shame, were I to hear this from any other than +you, Miles," she answered, after a thoughtful pause; "but I know your +nature too well, not to feel certain that the sacrifice scarce cost you a +thought, and that you regretted Rupert's self-forgetfulness more than the +loss of the money. I confess this revelation has changed all my plans for +the future, so far as they were connected with my brother." + +"In what manner, dearest? Let nothing that has happened to me influence +your decisions." + +"In so much as it affects my views of Rupert's character, it must, Miles. +I had intended to divide Mrs. Bradford's fortune equally with my brother. +Had I married any man but you, I should have made this a condition of our +union; but _you_ I know so well, and so well know I could trust, that I +have found a deep satisfaction in placing myself, as it might be, in your +power. I know that all my personal property is already yours, without +reserve, and that I can make no disposition of the real, even after I come +of age, without your consent. But I had that faith in you, as to believe +you would let me do as I pleased." + +"Have it still, love. I have neither need, nor wish, to interfere." + +"No, Miles; it would be madness to give property to one of such a +character. If you approve, I will make Rupert and Emily a moderate +quarterly allowance, with which, having the use of my country-place, they +may live respectably. Further than that, I should consider it wrong +to go." + +It is scarcely necessary to say how much I approved of this decision, or +the applause I lavished on the warm-hearted donor. The sum was fixed at +two thousand dollars a year, before we left the room; and the result was +communicated to Rupert by Lucy herself, in a letter written the very +next day. + +Our wedding-dinner was a modest, but a supremely happy meal; and in the +evening, the blacks had a ball in a large laundry, that stood a little +apart, and which was well enough suited to such a scene. Our quiet and +simple festivities endured for several days; the "uner" of Neb and Chloe +taking place very soon after our own marriage, and coming in good time to +furnish an excuse for dancing the week fairly out. + +Marble got into trowsers the day after the ceremony, and then he entered +into the frolic with all his heart. On the whole, he was relieved from +being a bride's-maid,--a sufficiently pleasant thing,--but having got +along so well with Lucy, he volunteered to act in the same capacity to +Chloe. The offer was refused, however, in the following +classical language: + +"No, Misser Marble; colour is colour," returned Chloe. "You's white, and +we's black. Mattermony is a berry solemn occerpashun; and there mustn't be +no improper jokes at my uner with Neb Clawbonny." + + + +Chapter XXX. + + + "This disease is beyond my practice: yet I have known those which have + walked in their sleep, who have died holily in their beds." + + Macbeth. + + +The honeymoon was passed at Clawbonny, and many, many other honeymoons +that have since succeeded it. I never saw a man more delighted than Mr. +Hardinge was, at finding me actually his son-in-law. I really believed he +loved me more than he did Rupert, though he lived and died in ignorance of +his own son's true character. It would have been cruel to undeceive him; +and nothing particular ever occurred to bring about an _éclaircissement_. +Rupert's want of principle was a negative, rather than an active quality, +and was only rendered of account by his vanity and selfishness. +Self-indulgence was all he aimed at, and he was much too self-indulgent +and shrewd to become an active rogue. He would have spent Lucy's and my +joint fortunes, had they been put at his control; but, as they never were, +he was fain to limit his expenditures to such sums as we saw fit to give +him, with certain extra allowances extorted by his debts. Our intercourse +was very much restricted to visits of ceremony, at least on my part; +though Lucy saw him oftener; and no allusion was ever made to the past. I +called him "Mr. Hardinge" and he called me "Mr. Wallingford." "Rupert" +and "Miles" were done with for ever, between us. I may as well dispose of +the history of this person and his wife, at once; for I confess it gives +me pain to speak of them, even at this distance of time. + +Rupert lived but four years, after my marriage to his sister. As soon as +he found it necessary to give up the Broadway house, he accepted the use +of Riversedge and his sister's $2000 a-year, with gratitude, and managed +to get along on that sum, apparently, down to the hour of his death. It is +true, that I paid his debts, without Lucy's knowledge, twice in that short +period; and I really think he was sensible of his errors, to a certain +extent, before his eyes were closed. He left one child, a daughter, who +survived him only a few months. Major Merton's complaints had carried him +off previously to this. Between this old officer and myself, there had +ever existed a species of cordiality; and I do believe he sometimes +remembered his various obligations to me and Marble, in a proper temper. +Like most officials of free governments, he left little or nothing behind +him; so that Mrs. Hardinge was totally dependent on her late husband's +friends for a support, during her widowhood. Emily was one of those +semi-worldly characters, that are not absolutely wanting in good +qualities, while there is always more or less of a certain disagreeable +sort of calculation in all they do. Rupert's personal advantages and +agreeable manners had first attracted her; and believing him to be Mrs. +Bradfort's heir, she had gladly married him. I think she lived a +disappointed woman, after her father's death; and I was not sorry when she +let us know that she was about to "change her condition," as it is termed +in widow's parlance, by marrying an elderly man, who possessed the means +of giving her all that money can bestow. With this second, or, according +to Venus's nomenclature, _step_-husband, she went to Europe, and there +remained, dying only three years ago, an amply endowed widow. We kept up a +civil sort of intercourse with her to the last, actually passing a few +weeks with her, some fifteen years since, in a house, half-barn, +half-castle, that she called a palace, on one of the unrivalled lakes of +Italy. As _la Signora Montiera,_ (Montier) she was sufficiently respected, +finishing her career as a dowager of good reputation, and who loved the +"pomps and vanities of this wicked world." I endeavoured, in this last +meeting, to bring to her mind divers incidents of her early life, but with +a singular want of success. They had actually passed, so far as her memory +was concerned, into the great gulf of time, keeping company with her sins, +and appeared to be entirely forgot. Nevertheless, la Signora was disposed +to treat me and view me with consideration, as soon as she found me living +in credit, with money, horses, and carriages at command, and to forget +that I had been only a skip-master. She listened smilingly, and with +patience, to what, I dare say, were my prolix narratives, though her own +recollections were so singularly impaired. She did remember something +about the wheelbarrow and the canal in Hyde Park; but as for the voyage +across the Pacific, most of the incidents had passed out of her mind. To +do her honour, Lucy wore the pearls, on an occasion in which she gave a +little _festa_ to her neighbours; and I ascertained she did remember them. +She even hinted to one of her guests, in my hearing, that they had been +intended for _her_ originally; but "we cannot command the impulses of the +heart, you know, _câra mia_," she added, with a very self-complacent sort +of a sigh. + +What of all this? The _ci-devant_ Emily was no more than a summary of the +feelings, interests, and passions of millions, living and dying in a +narrow circle erected by her own vanities, and embellished by her own +contracted notions of what is the end and aim of human existence, and +within a sphere that _she_ fancied respectable and refined. + +As for the race of the Clawbonnys, all the elderly members of this +extensive family lived and died in my service; or, it might be better to +say, I lived in theirs. Venus saw several repetitions of her own charms in +the offspring of Neb and Chloe, though she pertinaciously insisted to the +last, that Cupid, as a step-husband, had no legitimate connection with any +of the glistening, thick-lipped, chubby set. But, even closer family ties +than those which bound my slaves to me, are broken by the pressure of +human institutions. The conscript fathers of New York had long before +determined that domestic slavery should not continue within their borders; +and, one by one, these younger dependants dropped off, to seek their +fortunes in town, or in other portions of the State; until few were left +beside Neb, his consort, and their immediate descendants. Some of these +last still cling to me; the parents having instilled into the children, in +virtue of their example and daily discourse, feelings that set at naught +the innovations of a changeable state of society. With them, Clawbonny is +still Clawbonny; and I and mine remain a race apart in their perception of +things. I gave Neb and Chloe their freedom-papers, the day the faithful +couple were married, and at once relieved their posterity from the +servitude of eight-and-twenty, and five-and-twenty years, according to +sex, that might otherwise have hung over all their elder children, until +the law, by a general sweep, manumitted everybody. These papers Neb put in +the bottom of his tobacco-box, not wishing to do any discredit to a gift +from me; and there I accidentally saw them, in rags, seventeen years +later, not having been opened, or seen by a soul, as I firmly believe, in +all that time. It is true, the subsequent legislation of the State +rendered all this of no moment; but the procedure showed the character and +disposition of the man, demonstrating his resolution to stick by me to the +last. He has had no intention to free _me_, whatever may have been my +plans for himself and his race. + +I never had more than one conversation with either Neb or his wife, on the +subject of wages, and then I discovered how tender a thing it was, with +the fellow, to place him on a level with the other hired people of my farm +and household. + +"I won'er what I done, Masser Mile, dat you want to pay me wages, like a +hired man!" said Neb, half-disposed to resent, and half-disposed to grieve +at the proposal. "I was born in de family, and it seem to me dat quite +enough; but, if dat isn't enough, I went to sea wid you, Masser Mile, de +fuss day you go, and I go ebbery time since." + +These words, uttered a little reproachfully, disposed of the matter. From +that hour to this, the subject of wages has never been broached between +us. When Neb wants clothes he goes and gets them, and they are charged to +"Masser Mile;" when he wants money he comes and gets it, never manifesting +the least shame or reluctance, but asking for all he has need of, like a +man. Chloe does the same with Lucy, whom she regards, in addition to her +having the honour to be my wife, as a sort of substitute for "Miss Grace." +With this honest couple, Mr. and Mrs. Miles Wallingford, of Clawbonny, and +Riversedge; and Union Place, are still nothing but "Masser Mile" and "Miss +Lucy;"--and I once saw an English traveller take out her note-book, and +write something very funny, I dare say, when she heard Chloe thus address +the mother of three fine children, who were hanging around her knee, and +calling her by that, the most endearing of all appellations. Chloe was +indifferent to the note of the traveller, however, still calling her +mistress "Miss Lucy," though the last is now a grandmother. + +As for the children of the house of Nebuchadnezzar, truth compels me to +say, that they have been largely influenced by the spirit of the age, and +that they look on the relation that existed for more than a century, +between the Wallingfords and the Clawbonnys, with eyes somewhat different +from those of their parents. They have begun to migrate; and I am not +sorry to see them go. Notwithstanding, the tie will not be wholly broken, +so long as any of the older stock remain, tradition leaving many of its +traces among them. Not one has ever left my rule without my consent; and I +have procured places for them all, as ambition, or curiosity, has carried +them into the world. + +As for this new spirit of the age that is doing so much among us, I am not +twaddler enough to complain of all change, for I know that many of these +changes have had the most beneficial effects. I am far from thinking that +domestic slavery, as it once existed at Clawbonny, is a picture of +domestic slavery as it existed throughout the land; but I do believe that +the institution, as it was formerly known in New York, was quite as much +to the disadvantage of the white man, as to that of the black. There was +always something of the patriarchal character in one of our households, +previously to the change in the laws; and the relation of master and +slave, in old, permanent families, in which plenty was no stranger, had +ever more or less of that which was respectable and endearing. It is not +so much in relation to the abolition spirit, (if it would only confine its +exertions to communities over which it may happen to possess some right of +control,) that I feel alarmed as in reference to a certain spirit, which +appears to think there always must be more and more change, and that in +connection with any specific interest, whatever may have been its +advancement under previous _régimes_; nothing in social life being fully +developed, according to the creed of these movement philosophers. Now, in +my view of the matter, the two most dangerous of all parties in a state, +are that which sets up conservatism as its standard, and that which sets +up progress: the one is for preserving things of which it would be better +to be rid, while the other crushes all that is necessary and useful in its +headlong course. I now speak of these opposing principles, as they are +marshalled in _parties_, opposition giving pertinacity and violence to +each. No sane man can doubt that, in the progress of events, much is +produced that ought to be retained, and much generated that it would be +wiser to reject. He, alone, is the safe and wise legislator, who knows +how, and when, to make the proper distinctions. As for conservatism, +Lafayette once characterized it excellently well, in one of his happiest +hits in the tribune. "Gentlemen talk of the just medium (_juste milieu_)" +he said, "as if it embraced a clear political creed. We all know what the +just medium is, as relates to any particular question; it is simply the +truth, as it is connected with that question. But when gentlemen say, that +they belong to the _juste milieu_, as a _party_, and that they intend to +steer a middle course in all the public events of the day, they remind me +of a case like this--A man of exaggerated notions lays down the +proposition that four and four make ten; another of more discretion and +better arithmetic combats this idea, by maintaining that four and four +make only eight; whereupon, your gentleman of the _juste milieu_, finds +himself obliged to say, 'Messieurs, you are equally in the wrong; the +truth never lies in extremes, and four and four make nine.'" + +What is true of conservatism, as a principle, is still more true as to the +movement; for it often happens in morals, as well as in physics, that the +remedy is worse than the disease. The great evil of Europe, in connection +with interests of this nature, arises from facts that have little or no +influence here. There, radical changes have been made, the very base of +the social edifice having been altered, while much of the ancient +architecture remains in the superstructure. Where this is the case, some +errors may be pardoned in the artisans who are for reducing the whole to +the simplicity of a single order. But, among ourselves, the man who can +see no end to anything earthly, ever maintaining that the best always lies +beyond, if he live long enough to succeed, may live long enough to +discover that truth is always on an eminence, and that the downward course +is only too easy to those who rush in so headlong a manner at its goal, as +to suffer the impetus of the ascent to carry them past the apex. A social +fact cannot be carried out to demonstration like a problem in Euclid, the +ramifications being so infinite as to reduce the results to something very +like a conclusion from a multitude of interests. + +It is next incumbent to speak of Marble. He passed an entire month at +Clawbonny, during which time he and Neb rigged the Grace and Lucy, seven +different ways, coming back to that in which they found her, as the only +rig in which she would sail; no bad illustration, by the way, of what is +too often the winding up of experiments in overdone political movements. +Moses tried shooting, which he had heard belonged to a country life; and +he had a sort of design to set up as a fourth or fifth class country +gentleman; but his legs were too short to clamber over high rail-fences +with any comfort, and he gave up the amusement in despair. In the course +of a trial of ten days, he brought in three robins, a small squirrel, and +a crow; maintaining that he had also wounded a pigeon, and frightened a +whole flock of quails. I have often bagged ten brace of woodcocks of a +morning, in the shooting-grounds of Clawbonny, and as many quails in +their season. + +Six weeks after our marriage, Lucy and I paid Willow Cove a visit, where +we passed a very pleasant week. To my surprise, I received a visit from +Squire Van Tassel, who seemed to bear no malice. Marble made peace with +him, as soon as he paid back the amount of his father's bond, principal +and interest, though he always spoke of him contemptuously to me in +private. I must confess I was astonished at the seemingly forgiving temper +of the old usurer; but I was then too young to understand that there are +two principles that govern men's conduct as regards their associations; +the one proceeding from humility and Christian forgiveness, and the other +from an indifference to what is right. I am afraid the last produces more +of what is called a forgiving temper than the first; men being often +called vindictive, when they are merely honest. + +Marble lost his mother about a twelvemonth after we returned from our +unfortunate voyage in the Dawn. A month or two earlier, he lost his niece, +little Kitty, by a marriage with the son of 'neighbour Bright.' After +this, he passed much of his time at Clawbonny, making occasional visits to +us, in Chamber street, in the winter. I say in Chamber street, as trade +soon drove us out of Lucy's town residence in Wall street. The lot on +which the last once stood is still her property, and is a small fortune of +itself. I purchased and built in Chamber street, in 1805, making an +excellent investment. In 1825, we went into Bleecker street, a mile higher +up town, in order to keep in the _beau quartier;_ and I took advantage of +the scarcity of money and low prices of 1839, to take up new ground in +Union Place, very nearly a league from the point where Lucy commenced as a +house-keeper in the good and growing town of Manhattan. + +After Marble found himself an orphan again, he complained that he was +little better off than a 'bloody hermit' at Willow Cove, and began to talk +about seeing the world. All of a sudden, he made his appearance at +Clawbonny, bag and baggage, and announced an intention to look for a +mate's berth, in some East Indiaman. I heard his story, kept him a day or +two with me, while I superintended the masons who were building _my_ +addition to the house, which was then nearly-completed, and then we +proceeded to town in company. I took Moses to the ship-yards, and carried +him on board a vessel that was just receiving her spars, (she was coppered +and copper-fastened, A. No. 1, of live-oak frame, and southern pine decks, +&c.,) asking him how he liked her. He hoped she had a good name. "Why, she +is called the Smudge," I answered. "I hope you fancy it." Moses jerked a +finger over his shoulder, as much as to say he understood me, and inquired +where I intended to send the craft. "To Canton, with you for master." I +saw that my old mate was touched with this proof of confidence, and that +his self-esteem had so much risen with the discovery of his origin that he +made no objections to the trust. I did not intend to go regularly into +commerce, but I kept the Smudge running many years, always under Marble, +and made a vast deal of money by her. Once she went to Europe, Lucy and I +going in her as passengers. This was after the death of my dear old +guardian, who made such an end, as became his virtuous and Christian life. +We, that is Lucy and I, remained abroad several years, returning home in +the Smudge, on the last voyage she ever made as belonging to me. Neb had +often been out in the ship, just to vary the scene; and he came to Havre +in her, as a matter of course, when 'Masser Mile,' 'Miss Lucy,' and their +two 'young Massers,' and two 'young Missuses,' were ready to come home. I +was a good deal shocked at meeting my old friend, Moses, on this +occasion, for he was breaking up fast, being now hard on upon seventy; a +time of life when most seamen are unfit for their calling. Moses, however, +had held on, with a determination to convey us all back to Clawbonny. +Three days after we had sailed, the man of stone had to give up, and take +to his berth. I saw that his days were numbered, and felt it to be a duty +to let him know his real situation. It was an unpleasant office, but +became less so by the resigned and manly manner in which the invalid heard +me. It was only when I ceased speaking, that he made an attempt to reply. + +"I have known that the v'y'ge of life was pretty near up, Miles," he then +answered, "for many a day. When the timbers complain and the new +tree-nails hit only decayed wood, it is time to think of breaking up the +hull for the craft's copper, and old iron. I've pretty much worn out the +Smudge, and the Smudge has pretty much worn out me. I shall never see +Ameriky, and I now give up charge of the craft to you. She is your own, +and nobody can take better care of her. I own I should like to be cased in +something that once belonged to her. There's the bulk-head that was taken +down, to alter the state-rooms for your family--it would make as +comfortable a coffin as a body could want." + +I promised the old man all should be done, as he desired. After a short +pause, it struck me the present might be a favourable moment to say a ward +on the subject of the future. Marble was never a vicious man, nor could he +be called a particularly wicked man, as the world goes. He was thoroughly +honest, after making a few allowances for the peculiar opinions of seamen, +and his sins were principally those of omission. But, of religious +instruction he had literally known none, in early life. That which he had +picked up in his subsequent career, was not of the most orthodox +character. I had often thought Marble was well disposed on such subjects, +but opportunity was always wanting to improve this hopeful disposition. +Accordingly, I now spoke plainly to him, and I could see his still keen +eyes turned wistfully towards me, more than once, as he listened with an +absorbed attention. + +"Ay, ay, Miles," he answered, when I was through, "this may all be true +enough, but it's rather late in the day for me to go to school. I've heard +most of it before, in one shape or another, but it always came so much in +scraps and fragments, that before I could bend one idee on to another, so +as to make any useful gear of the whole, some of the pieces have slipped +through my fingers. Hows'ever, I've been hard at work at the good book, the +whole of this v'y'ge, and you know it's been a long one; and I must say +that I've picked up a good deal that seems to me to be of the right +quality. Now I always thought it was one of the foolishest things a man +could do, to forgive one's enemies, my rule having been to return +broadside for broadside, as you must pretty well know; but, I now see that +it is more like a kind natur' to pardon, than to revenge." + +"My dear Moses, this is a very hopeful frame of mind; carry out this +feeling in all things, leaning on the Saviour alone for your support, and +your dying hour may well be the happiest of your life." + +"There's that bloody Smudge, notwithstanding; I hardly think it will be +expected of me to look upon him as anything but a 'long-shore pirate, and +a fellow to be disposed of in the shortest way possible. As for old Van +Tassel, he's gone to square the yards in a part of the univarse where all +his tricks will be known; and I hold it to be onreasonable to carry spite +ag'in a man beyond the grave. I rather think I have altogether forgiven +him; though, to speak the truth, he desarved a rope's-ending." + +I understood Marble much better than he understood himself. He felt the +sublime beauty of the Christian morality, but, at the same time, he felt +there were certain notions so rooted in his own heart, that it exceeded +his power to extract them. As for Smudge, his mind had its misgivings +concerning the propriety of his own act, and, with the quickness of his +nature, sought to protest itself against its own suggestions, by making an +exception of that wretch, as against the general mandates of God. Van +Tassel he probably could, in a manner, pardon, the mischief having been in +a measure repaired; though it was a forgiveness that was strangely +tinctured with his own deep contempt for the meanness of the transgressor. + +Our conversation lasted a long time. At length Lucy joined in it, when I +thought it wisest to leave the old tar in the hands of one so well fitted +by nature and education to be the instrument, under the providence of God, +of bringing him to a more healthful view of his condition. I had the ship +to take care of, and this was a good excuse for not interfering much with +what passed between the dying man and her who might almost be termed his +ministering angel. I overheard many of their conferences, and was present +at some of their prayers, as were my sons and daughters; being thus +enabled to understand the progress that was made, and the character of the +whole procedure. + +It was an admirable sight, truly, to see that still lovely woman, using +all the persuasion of her gentle rhetoric, all the eloquence of her warm +feelings and just mind, devoting herself for days and days, to the labour +of leading such a spirit as that of Marble's to entertain just and humble +view's of his own relation to the Creator and his Son, the Saviour of men. +I will not say that complete success crowned the pious efforts of the +single-hearted woman it was my blessed fortune to call my wife: this, +perhaps, was not to be expected. It required a power exceeding hers to +guide the human heart at seventy, after a seaman's life, to a full +repentance of its sins; but, by the grace of God, so much seemed to be +accomplished, as to give us all reason to hope that the seed had taken +root, and that the plant might grow under the guidance of that Spirit in +whose likeness the most lowly of the race has been created. + +The passage was long, but very tranquil, and there was ample time for all +that has been related. The ship was still to the eastward of the Grand +Banks, when Marble ceased to converse much; though it is evident his +thoughts were intently musing. He fell away fast, and I began to look +forward to his final departure, as an event that might occur at any hour. +He did not seem to suffer, but his hold of life gradually gave way, and +the spirit was about to take its departure, purely on account of the +decayed condition of the earthly tenement in which it had so long dwelt, +as the stork finally deserts the tottering chimney. + +About a week after this change, my son Miles came to me on deck, and +informed me his dear mother desired to see me in the cabin. On going +below, I was met by Lucy, with a face that denoted how solemn she felt +was the character of the intelligence she had to communicate. + +"The moment is at hand, dear Miles," she said.--"Our old friend is about +to be called away." + +I felt a pang at this speech, though I had long expected the result. Many +of the earlier and more adventurous years of my life passed rapidly in +review before me, and I found the image of the dying man blended with +nearly all. Whatever may have been his peculiarities, to me he had always +been true. From the hour when I first shipped, as a runaway boy, on board +the John, down to that hour, Moses Marble had proved himself a firm and +disinterested friend to Miles Wallingford. + +"Is he conscious?" I asked, anxiously. "When I last saw him, I thought his +mind wandered a little." + +"Perhaps it did; but he is now more collected, if not entirely so. There +is reason to think he has at length felt some of the influence of the +Redeemer's sacrifice. For the last week, the proofs of this have been +increasing." + +No more passed between Lucy and me, on the subject, at that time; but I +entered the cabin in which the cot of Marble had been slung. It was a +spacious, airy room, for a ship; one that had been expressly fitted by my +orders, for the convenience of Lucy and her two daughters, but which those +dear, self-denying creatures had early and cheerfully given up to the +possession of their old friend. + +As yet, I have not particularly spoken of these two girls, the eldest of +whom was named Grace, and the youngest Lucy. At that time, the first was +just fifteen, while her sister was two years younger. By a singular +coincidence, Grace resembled the women of my family most; while the +latter, the dear, ingenuous, frank, pretty little thing, had so much +likeness to her mother, when at the same time of life, that I often caught +her in my arms, and kissed her, as she uttered some honest sentiment, or +laughed joyously and melodiously, as had been the practice of her who bore +her, twenty years before. On those occasions, Lucy would smile, and +sometimes a slight blush would suffuse her face; for I could see she well +understood the impulse which would so suddenly carry me off to the days of +my boyhood and boyish affection. + +On the present solemn occasion both the girls were in the cabin, +struggling to be calm, and doing all that lay in their power to solace the +dying man. Grace, the oldest, was the most active and efficient, of +course, her tender years inducing diffidence in her sister; still, that +little image of her mother could not be kept entirely in the back-ground, +when the heart and the desire to be useful were urging her to come out of +herself, in order to share in her sister's duties. + +I found Marble quite sensible, and the anxious manner in which he slowly +examined all the interested faces that were now gathered about his bed, +proved how accurately he noted the present and the absent. Twice did he go +over us all, ere he spoke in the husky tones that usually precede death-- + +"Call Neb," he said--"took leave of my mates, and of all the rest of the +men, yesterday; but I consider Neb as one of the family, Miles, and left +him for the last." + +This I knew to be true, though I purposely absented myself from a scene +that I well understood would have to be repeated in my case. Neb was +summoned accordingly, not a syllable being uttered among us, until the +black stood just without the circle of my own wife and children. Moses +watched the arrangement jealously, and it seems he was dissatisfied at +seeing his old shipmate keeping so much aloof at that solemn and +absorbing moment. + +"You are but a nigger, I know, Neb," the old seaman got out, "but your +heart would do honour to a king. It's next to Miles's, and that's as much +as can be said of any man's. Come nearer, boy; none here will grudge you +the liberty." + +Little Lucy drew back in an instant, and fairly pulled Neb into the place +she herself had just before occupied. + +"Bless you for that, young 'un," said Marble. "I didn't know your mother +when she was of your age, but I can see that one cat-block is not more +like another than you are like what she was at your age; keep that +likeness up, my dear, and then your father will be as happy and fortunate +in his darter as he has been in his wife. Well, nobody desarves his luck +better than Miles--Providential luck, I mean, my dear madam Wallingford," +interpreting a sorrowful expression of Lucy's eyes aright; "for, thanks to +your teaching, I now understand there is a divine director of all our +fortins, whether ashore, or afloat, black or white." + +"There is not a sparrow falls, Captain Marble," said the gentle, earnest +voice of my wife, "that he does not note it." + +"Yes, so I understand it, now, though once I thought little of such +things. Thus, when we were wracked in the Dawn, Neb, it was by God's will, +and with a design, like, to bring us three all on to our present fortin, +and present frame of mind; should I ever use the word luck, ag'in, which I +may be likely enough to do from habit, you are all to understand I mean +what I call Providential luck. Yes, madam Wallingford, I comprehend it +parfectly, and shall never forget _your_ kindness, which has been to me +the best turn of Providential luck that has ever happened. I've sent for +you, Neb, to have a parting word, and to give you the advice of an old man +before I quit this world altogether." + +Neb began to twist his fingers, and I could see tears glistening in his +eyes; for his attachment to Marble was of very long standing and of proof. +When men have gone through, together, as much as we three had experienced +in company, indeed, the most trifling griefs of everyday life get to +appear so insignificant, that our connection seems to be one of a nature +altogether stronger than the commoner ties. + +"Yes, sah, Cap'in Marble, sah; what please to be your wish, sah?" asked +the negro, struggling to subdue his grief. + +"To say a few words of advice, Neb, to take leave of my friends, and then +to be struck off the shipping articles of life. Old age and hard sarvice, +Neb, has made me veer cable to the better end. The stopper is working +loose, and a few more surges will leave the hulk adrift. The case is +different with you, who are in your prime,--and a prime chap be you, on a +yard or at the wheel. My parting advice to you, Neb, is, to hold out as +you've begun. I don't say you're without failin's, (what nigger is?) but +you're a good fellow, and as sartain to be found in your place as the +pumps. In the first place, you're a married man; and, though your wife is +only a negress, she's your wife, and you must stick to her through thick +and thin. Take your master as an example, and obsarve how he loves and +cherishes your mistress," [here Lucy pressed, gently, closer to my side;] +"and then, as to your children, bring 'em up according' to the advice of +Madam Wallingford. You can never sail under better instructions than hern, +as I know, by experience. Be particular to make that Hector of yours knock +off from swearing: he's begun, and what's begun in sin is pretty sartain +to have an indin'. Talk to him, first, and, if that won't do, rope's-end +it out of him. There's great vartue in ratlin stuff, among boys. As for +yourself, Neb, hold on as you have begun, and the Lord will have marcy on +you, before the v'y'ge is up." + +Here Marble ceased from exhaustion; though he made a sign to Neb not to +move, as he had more to say. After resting a little, he felt under his +pillow, whence he produced a very old tobacco-box, fumbled about until he +had opened it, took a small bite, and shut the box again. All this was +done very slowly, and with the uncertain, feeble movements of a dying man. +When the lid was replaced, Marble held the box towards Neb, and resumed +his address. + +"Use that for my sake, Neb," he said. "It is full of excellent tobacco, +and the box has the scent of thirty years in it--that being the time it +has sailed in my company. That box has been in nine fights, seven wracks, +and has seen more boat-sarvice than most London watermen, or any +Whitehaller of 'em all. Among other explites, it has been round the world +four times, besides having run the Straits of Magellan in the dark, as +might be; as your master and you know as well as I do. Take that box, +therefore, lad, and be particular, always, to put none but the best of +pig-tail in it--for it's used to that only. And now, Neb, a word about a +little duty you're to do for me, when you get in. Ask your master, first, +for leave, and then go up to Willow Cove, and carry my blessin' to Kitty +and her children. It's easy done, if a man sets about it in the right +spirit. All you have to do is to go up to the Cove, and say that I prayed +to God to bless 'em all, before I died. Do you think you can +remember that?" + +"I try, Cap'in Marble, sah--yes, sah, I try all I can, dough I'm no +scholar." + +"Perhaps you had better confide this office to me," said the musical +voice of my wife. + +Marble was pleased, and he seemed every way disposed to accept the offer. + +"I didn't like to trouble you so much," he answered, "though I feel +grateful for the offer. Well, then, Neb, you may leave the blessin' +unsaid, as your mistress is so kind--hold on a bit: you can give it to +Chloe and her little family; all but Hector, I mean--but not to him, +unless he knocks off swearing! As soon as he does that, why let him have +his share. Now, Neb, give me your hand. Good bye, boy: you've been true to +me, and God bless you for it. You are but a nigger, I know; but there's +One in whose eyes your soul is as precious as that of many a prince +and priest." + +Neb shook hands with his old commander, broke out of the circle, rushed +into the steerage, and blubbered like a baby. In the meantime Marble +paused to recover his own self-possession, which had been a little +disturbed by the feeling manifested by the black. As soon as he felt +himself a little composed, he hunted about his cot until he found two +small paper boxes, each of which contained a very pretty ring, that it +seemed he had purchased for this express purpose when last in port. These +rings he gave to my daughters, who received the presents sobbing, though +with strong natural exhibitions of the friendly sentiments they +entertained for him. + +"Your father and I have gone through many hardships and trials together," +he said, "and I love you all even more than I love my own relations. I +hope this is not wrong, madam Wallingford, for it's out of my power to +help it. I've already given my keep-sakes to the boys, and to your +parents, and I hope all of you will sometimes remember the poor old +sea-dog that God, in his wisdom, threw like a waif in your way, that he +might be benefited by your society. There's your polar star, young 'uns," +pointing to my wife. "Keep God in mind always, and give to this righteous +woman the second place in your hearts; not that I say a word, or think +anything ag'in your father, who's a glorious fellow in his way, but, a'ter +all, young women should copy a'ter their mothers, when they've such a +mother as your'n, the best of fathers fallin' far astern, in gentleness and +other vartues." + +The girls wept freely, and Marble, after waiting a few minutes took a +solemn leave of all my children, desiring everybody but Lucy and myself +to quit the cabin. An hour passed in discourse with us two, during which +Moses frequently exhorted me to give ear to the pious counsels of my wife, +for he manifested much anxiety for the future welfare of my soul. + +"I've generalized a great deal over that affair of Smudge, the whole of +this v'y'ge," he continued, "and I've had sore misgivings consarning the +explite. Madam Wallingford, however, has eased my mind on that score, by +showing me how to lay the burthen of this, with all the rest of the load +of my sins, on the love of Christ. I am resigned to go, Miles, for it is +time, and I'm getting to be useless. It's wicked to wish to run a ship +after her frame has worked loose, and nothing now fastens me to life but +you. I own it's hard to part, and my mind has had some weakness on the +matter. However, Miles, my dear boy, for boy you are still in my eyes, +there is comfort in looking ahead. Go by your wife's rules, and when the +v'y'ge is up, we shall all find ourselves in the same haven." + +"It gives me much happiness, Moses, to find you in this frame of mind," I +answered. "Since you must quit us, you will not leave one behind of the +name of Wallingford, that will not rejoice at this prospect for the +future. As for your sins, God has both the power and the will to lighten +you of their weight, when he finds you disposed to penitence, and to make +use of the mediation of his blessed Son. If there is anything you desire +to have done, hereafter, this is a very proper time to let me know it." + +"I've made a will, Miles, and you'll find it in my desk. There are some +trifles given to you and yourn, but you want not gold, and the rest all +goes to Kitty and her children. There is a p'int, however, on which my +mind is very ondetarmined, and I will now lay it before you. Don't you +think it more becoming for a seaman to be buried in blue water, than to be +tuck'd up in a church-yard? I do not like tombstones, having had too much +of them in 'arly youth, and feel as if I want sea-room. What is your +opinion, Miles?" + +"Decide for yourself. Your wishes will be our law." + +"Then roll me up in my cot, and launch me overboard, in the old way. I +have sometimes thought it might be well to lie at my mother's side; but +she'll excuse an old tar for preferring blue water to one of your country +church-yards." + +After this, I had several interviews with the old man, though he said +nothing more on the subject of his interment, that of his property, or +that of his departure. Lucy read the bible to him, two or three times +every day, and she prayed with him often. On one occasion, I heard a low, +sweet voice, near his cot, and taking a look, ascertained it was my little +pet, my daughter Lucy, then only thirteen, reading a second time a chapter +that her mother had gone through, only an hour before, with some of her +own remarks. The comments were wanting now, but the voice had the same +gentle earnestness, the same sweet modulations, and the same impressive +distinctness as that of the mother! + +Marble lived until we had passed within the Gulf-Stream, dying easily and +without a groan, with all my family, Neb and the first-mate, assembled +near his cot. The only thing that marked his end was a look of singular +significance that he cast on my wife, not a minute before he breathed his +last. There he lay, the mere vestige of the robust hardy seaman I had once +known, a child in physical powers, and about to make the last great +change. Material as were the alterations in the man, from what he had been +when in his pride, I thought the spiritual or intellectual part of his +being was less to be recognised than the bodily. Certainly that look was +full of resignation and hope; and we had reason to believe that this rude +but honest creature was spared long enough to complete the primary object +of his existence. + +In obedience to his own earnest request, though sorely against the +feelings of my wife and daughters, I buried the body of my old friend in +the ocean, six days before we made the land. + +And now it remains only to speak of Lucy. I have deferred this agreeable +duty to the last, passing over long years that were pregnant with many +changes, in order to conclude with this delightful theme. + +The first few years of my married life were years of bliss to me. I lived +under a constant sense of happiness; a happiness that man can derive only +from a union with a woman of whom his reason and principles as much +approve, as his tastes and passion cherish. I do not mean to be +understood that the years which have succeeded were a whit less happy; +for, in a certain sense, they have been more so, and have gone on +increasing in happiness down to the present hour, but because time and use +finally so far accustomed me to this intimate connection with purity, +virtue, female disinterestedness and feminine delicacy, that I should have +missed them, as things incorporated with my very existence, had I been +suddenly deprived of my wife, quite as much as in the first years of my +married life, I enjoyed them as things hitherto unknown to me. + +As I ride over the fields of Clawbonny, even at this day, I recall with +tranquil delight, and I trust with humble gratitude, the manner in which +those blessed early years of our marriage passed. That was the period when +every thought of mine was truly shared by Lucy. She accompanied me in my +daily rides or drives, and listened to every suggestion that fell from my +lips, with kind interest and the most indulgent attention, rendering me +back thought for thought, feeling for feeling, laugh for laugh; and, +occasionally, tear for tear. Not an emotion could become aroused in my +breast that it did not meet with its reflection in her's; or a sense of +the ludicrous be awakened, that her keen but chastened humour did not +increase its effect by sympathy. Those were the years in which were +planned and executed the largest improvements for the buildings, +pleasure-grounds, and fields of Clawbonny. We built extensively, not only +out-houses and stables better suited to our present means, and more +enlarged mode of living, than those which existed in my father's time, +but, as has been stated before, we added to the dwelling, preserving its +pleasing confusion and irregularity of architecture. After passing the +first summer which succeeded our marriage in this manner, I told Lucy it +was time to stop building and improving my own place, in order that some +attention might be bestowed on that she had inherited from Mrs. Bradfort, +and which was also old family property. + +"Do not think of it, Miles," she said. "Keep Riversedge in good order, and +no more. Rupert," who was then living, and in possession, "will see that +nothing goes to waste; but Clawbonny, dear Clawbonny, is the true home of +a Wallingford--and I am now a Wallingford, you will remember. Should this +precious boy of ours live to become a man, and marry, the old West-Chester +property can be used by him, until we are ready to give him up +possession, here." + +This plan has not been literally carried out; for Miles, my eldest son, +lives with us at Clawbonny, in the summer; and his noisy boys are at this +moment playing a game of ball in a field that has been expressly devoted +to their amusements. + +The period which succeeded the first half-dozen years of my union with +Lucy, was not less happy than the first had been; though it assumed a new +character. Our children then came into the account, not as mere +playthings, and little beings to be most tenderly loved and cared for, but +as creatures that possess the image of God in their souls, and whose +future characters, in a measure, depended on our instruction. The manner +in which Lucy governed her children, and led them by gentle means to +virtue and truth, has always been a subject of the deepest admiration and +gratitude with me. Her rule has been truly one of love. I do not know that +I ever heard her voice raised in anger, to any human being, much less to +her own offspring; but whenever reproof has come, it has come in the +language of interest and affection, more or less qualified by severity, as +circumstances may have required. The result has been all that our fondest +hopes could have led us to anticipate. + +When we travelled, it was with all our young people, and a new era of +happiness, heightened by the strongest domestic affection, opened on us. +All who have seen the world have experienced the manner in which our +intellectual existences, as it might be, expand; but no one, who has not +experienced it, can tell the deep, heartfelt satisfaction there is, in +receiving this enlargement of the moral creature, in close association +with those we love most on earth. The manner in which Lucy enjoyed all she +saw and learned, on our first visit to the other hemisphere; her youngest +child--all four of our children were born within the first eight years of +our marriage--her youngest child was then long past its infancy, and she +had leisure to enjoy herself, in increasing the happiness of her +offspring. She had improved her mind by reading; and her historical lore, +in particular, was always ready to be produced for the common advantage. +There was no ostentation in this; but everything was produced just as if +each had a right to its use. Then it was, I felt the immense importance of +having a companion, in an intellectual sense, in a wife. Lucy had always +been intelligent; but I never fully understood her superiority in this +respect, until we travelled together, amid the teeming recollections and +scenes of the old world. That America is the greatest country of ancient +or modern times, I shall not deny. Everybody says it; and what everybody +says, must be true. Nevertheless, I will venture to hint, that, _cæteris +paribus_, and where there is the disposition to think at all, the +intellectual existence of every American who goes to Europe, is more than +doubled in its intensity. This is the country of action, not of thought, +or speculation. Men _follow_ out their facts to results, instead of +_reasoning_ them out. Then, the multiplicity of objects and events that +exist in the old countries to quicken the powers of the mind, has no +parallel here. It is owing to this want of the present and the past, which +causes the American, the moment he becomes speculative, to run into the +future. That future promises much, and, in a degree, may justify the +weakness. Let us take heed, however, that it do not lead to +disappointment. + +After all, I have found Lucy the most dear to me, and the most valuable +companion, since we have both passed the age of fifty. Air is not more +transparent, than her pure mind, and I ever turn to it for counsel, +sympathy, and support, with a confidence and reliance that experience +could alone justify. As we draw nearer to the close of life, I find my +wife gradually loosening the ties of this world, her love for her husband +and children excepted, and fastening her looks on a future world. In thus +accomplishing, with a truth and nature that are unerringly accurate, the +great end of her being, nothing repulsive, nothing that is in the least +tinctured with bigotry, and nothing that is even alienated from the +affections, or her duties in life, is mingled with her devotion. My +family, like its female head, has ever been deeply impressed by religion; +but it is religion in its most pleasing aspect; religion that has no taint +of puritanism, and in which sin and innocent gaiety are never confounded +It is the most cheerful family of my acquaintance; and this, I must +implicitly believe, solely because, in addition to the bounties it enjoys, +under the blessing of God, it draws the just distinction between those +things that the word of God has prohibited, and those which come from the +excited and exaggerated feelings of a class of theologians, who, +constantly preaching the doctrine of faith, have regulated their moral +discipline solely, as if, in their hearts, they placed all their reliance +on the efficacy of a school of good works that has had its existence in +their own diseased imaginations. I feel the deepest gratitude to Lucy for +having enstilled the most profound sense of their duties into our +children, while they remain totally free from cant, and from those +exaggerations and professions which so many mistake for piety of purer +emanation. + +Some of my readers may feel a curiosity to know how time has treated us +elderly people, for elderly we have certainly become. As for myself, I +enjoy a green old age, and I believe look at least ten years younger than +I am. This, I attribute to temperance and exercise. Lucy was positively an +attractive woman until turned of fifty, retaining even a good deal of her +bloom down to that period of life. I think her handsome still; and old +Neb, when in a flattering humour, is apt to speak of either of my +daughters as his "handsome young missus," and of my wife as his "handsome +ole missus." + +And why should not Lucy Hardinge continue to retain many vestiges of those +charms which rendered her so lovely in youth? Ingenuous, pure of mind, +sincere, truthful, placid and just, the soul could scarcely fail to +communicate some of its blessed properties to that countenance which even +now so sensitively reflects its best impulses. I repeat, Lucy is still +handsome, and in my eyes even her charming daughters are less fair. That +she has so long been, and is still my wife, forms not only the delight but +the pride of my life. It is a blessing, for which, I am not ashamed to +say, I daily render thanks to God, on my knees. + + +The End. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Miles Wallingford, by James Fenimore Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MILES WALLINGFORD *** + +***** This file should be named 11243-8.txt or 11243-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/2/4/11243/ + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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