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diff --git a/14222-h/14222-h.htm b/14222-h/14222-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..738f6dc --- /dev/null +++ b/14222-h/14222-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14038 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Poor Jack, by Frederick Marryat</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + a:link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:#ff0000} + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14222 ***</div> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Poor Jack, by Frederick Marryat</h1> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><a name="illus001.jpg" id= +"illus001.jpg"></a> <a href="images/illus001.jpg"><img src= +"images/thumb001.jpg" width="50%" alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>POOR JACK—FRONTISPIECE.<br /> +—Marryat Vol. X.</b><br /></div> +<h3>WORKS OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT</h3> +<h4><i>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS</i></h4> +<h3><i>VOLUME TEN</i></h3> +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<h1>POOR JACK</h1> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_ONE"><b>[1]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TWO"><b>[2]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_THREE"><b>[3]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FOUR"><b>[4]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FIVE"><b>[5]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_SIX"><b>[6]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_SEVEN"><b>[7]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_EIGHT"><b>[8]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_NINE"><b>[9]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TEN"><b>[10]</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_ELEVEN"><b>[11]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TWELVE"><b>[12]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_THIRTEEN"><b>[13]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FOURTEEN"><b>[14]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FIFTEEN"><b>[15]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_SIXTEEN"><b>[16]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN"><b>[17]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_EIGHTEEN"><b>[18]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_NINETEEN"><b>[19]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TWENTY"><b>[20]</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_TWENTY_ONE"><b>[21]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TWENTY_TWO"><b>[22]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TWENTY_THREE"><b>[23]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TWENTY_FOUR"><b>[24]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TWENTY_FIVE"><b>[25]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TWENTY_SIX"><b>[26]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TWENTY_SEVEN"><b>[27]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TWENTY_EIGHT"><b>[28]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_TWENTY_NINE"><b>[29]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_THIRTY"><b>[30]</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_THIRTY_ONE"><b>[31]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_THIRTY_TWO"><b>[32]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_THIRTY_THREE"><b>[33]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_THIRTY_FOUR"><b>[34]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_THIRTY_FIVE"><b>[35]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_THIRTY_SIX"><b>[36]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_THIRTY_SEVEN"><b>[37]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_THIRTY_EIGHT"><b>[38]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_THIRTY_NINE"><b>[39]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FORTY"><b>[40]</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_FORTY_ONE"><b>[41]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FORTY_TWO"><b>[42]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FORTY_THREE"><b>[43]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FORTY_FOUR"><b>[44]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FORTY_FIVE"><b>[45</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FORTY_SIX"><b>[46]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FORTY_SEVEN"><b>[47]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FORTY_EIGHT"><b>[48]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FORTY_NINE"><b>[49]</b></a> <a href= +"#CHAPTER_FIFTY"><b>[50]</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_FIFTY_ONE"><b>[51]</b></a> <a href= +"#FINALE"><b>[FINALE]</b></a></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> +<h4><i>VOLUME TEN.</i></h4> +<div class="center"> +<table summary=""> +<tr> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus001.jpg">Poor Jack</a> (Frontispiece)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus028.jpg">Fisher's Alley</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus074.jpg">I summoned all my strength, and called +out long before we floated past her</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus090.jpg">Anderson reading the Bible to +Jack</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus116.jpg">Anderson reading the news of the Battle +of the Nile</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus134.jpg">Jack's Father landing after the Battle +of the Nile</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus152.jpg">Jack in Nanny's Room</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus208.jpg">Jack and Bramble aboard the +Indiaman</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus212.jpg">The Fore-peak Yarn</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus232.jpg">"How's her head, Tom?"</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus238.jpg">Bramble saving Bessie</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus246.jpg">Jack heaving the lead</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus276.jpg">Nanny relating her story</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus290.jpg">Jack and his Father under the +Colonnade</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus298.jpg">A Surprise</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus332.jpg">Bramble and Jack carried into a French +Port</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus336.jpg">The Leith Smack and the +Privateer</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus342.jpg">The Arrival of the Privateer at +Lanion</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus346.jpg">The Prison</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus350.jpg">Jack a Prisoner</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus354.jpg">The Escape</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus408.jpg">Wreck of the Galley</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus410.jpg">We found both Bramble and Bessy +clinging to the rope</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus412.jpg">Bramble had knelt by the bedside, and +was evidently in prayer</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus454.jpg">I went down to the beach, ... and I was +soon on board</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus458.jpg">"Mr. Saunders, ... may I ask where you +procured this spyglass?"</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus468.jpg">Sir J. O'Connor and Mrs. St. +Felix</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#illus493.jpg">I met face to face a Frenchman</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>POOR JACK</h2> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_ONE" id="CHAPTER_ONE"></a>CHAPTER ONE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which, like most People who tell their own Stories, I begin +with the Histories of other People.</p> +</div> +<p>I have every reason to believe that I was born in the year of +our Lord 1786, for more than once I put the question to my father, +and he invariably made the same reply: "Why, Jack, you were +launched a few months before the Druids were turned over to the +Melpomene." I have since ascertained that this remarkable event +occurred in January 1787. But my father always reckoned in this +way: if you asked him when such an event took place, he would +reply, so many years or months after such a naval engagement or +remarkable occurrence; as, for instance, when I one day inquired +how many years he had served the King, he responded, "I came into +the sarvice a little afore the battle of Bunker's Hill, in which we +licked the Americans clean out of Boston<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id= +"FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class= +"fnanchor">[1]</a>." As for Anno Domini, he had no notion of it +whatever.</p> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href= +"#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> I have since +heard a different version of the result of this battle.</p> +</div> +<p>Who my grandfather was, I cannot inform the reader, nor is it, +perhaps, of much consequence. My father was a man who invariably +looked forward, and hated anything like retrospection: he never +mentioned either his father or his mother; perhaps he was not +personally acquainted with them. All I could collect from him at +intervals was, that he served in a collier from South Shields, and +that a few months after his apprenticeship was out, he found +himself one fine morning on board of a man-of-war, having been +picked up in a state of unconsciousness, and hoisted up the side +without his knowledge or consent. Some people may infer from this +that he was at the time tipsy; he never told me so; all he said +was, "Why, Jack, the fact is when they picked me up I was quite +altogether <i>non pompus</i>." I also collected at various times +the following facts—that he was put into the mizzentop, and +served three years in the West Indies; that he was transferred to +the maintop, and served five years in the Mediterranean; that he +was made captain of the foretop, and sailed six years in the East +Indies; and, at last, was rated captain's coxswain in the "Druid" +frigate, attached to the Channel fleet cruising during the peace. +Having thus condensed the genealogical and chronological part of +this history, I now come to a portion of it in which it will be +necessary that I should enter more into detail.</p> +<p>The frigate in which my father eventually served as captain's +coxswain was commanded by a Sir Hercules Hawkingtrefylyan, Baronet. +He was very poor and very proud, for baronets were not so common in +those days. He was a very large man, standing six feet high, and +with what is termed a considerable <i>bow-window</i> in front; but +at the same time portly in his carriage. He wore his hair well +powdered, exacted the utmost degree of ceremony and respect, and +considered that even speaking to one of his officers was paying +them a very high compliment: as for being asked to his table, there +were but few who could boast of having had that honor, and even +those few perhaps not more than once in the year. But he was, as I +have said, very poor; and moreover he was a married man, which +reminds me that I must introduce his lady, who, as the ship was on +Channel service, had lodgings at the port near to which the frigate +was stationed, and occasionally came on board to take a passage +when the frigate changed her station to the eastward or to the +westward. Lady Hercules, as we were directed to call her by Sir +Hercules, was as large in dimensions, and ten times more proud than +her husband. She was an excessive fine lady in every respect; and +whenever she made her appearance on board, the ship's company +looked upon her with the greatest awe. She had a great dislike to +ships and sailors; officers she seldom condescended to notice; and +pitch and tar were her abomination. Sir Hercules himself submitted +to her dictation; and, had she lived on board, she would have +commanded the ship: fortunately for the service, she was always +very seasick when she was taking a passage, and therefore did no +mischief. "I recollect," said my father to me, "once when we were +running down to Portsmouth, where we had been ordered for +provisions, that my Lady Hercules, who was no fool of a weight, +being one night seasick in her cot, the lanyard of the cot gave +way, and she came down with a run by the head. The steward was +called by the sentry, and there was a terrible shindy. I, of +course, was sent for, as I had the hanging up of the cot. There was +Sir Hercules with his shirt flapping in the wind, and a blanket +over his shoulders, strutting about in a towering passion; there +was the officer of the watch, who had been sent for by mistake, and +who was ordered to quit the cabin immediately; and there was I, +expecting to be put in irons, and have seven dozen for my +breakfast. As for Sir Hercules, he didn't know what to do; he did +nothing but storm at everybody, for my lady, with her head under +the clothes, was serving him out at no small rate. She wouldn't, +she declared, allow any man to come into the cabin to hoist her up +again. So indecent, so indelicate, so shocking—she was +ashamed of Sir Hercules—to send for the men; if they didn't +leave the cabin immediately, she'd scream and she'd +faint—that she would—there was no saying what she +wouldn't do! Well, there we waited just outside until at last Sir +Hercules and my lady came to a parley. She was too sick to get out +of bed, and he was not able to hoist her up without assistance; so +being, as I suppose, pretty well tired of lying with her head three +feet lower than her heels, she consented, provided that she was +properly kivered up, to allow us to come in and put all to rights. +Well, first she made Sir Hercules throw over her his two boat +cloaks, but that wouldn't do; so he threw the green cloth from off +the table, but that warn't enough for her delicate sensibility, and +she hollowed from under the clothes for more kivering; so Sir +Hercules sent for two of the ship's ensigns, and coiled away the +bunting on her till it was as high as a haycock, and then we were +permitted to come in and hoist her ladyship up again to the +battens. Fortunately it was not a slippery hitch that had let her +down by the run, but the lanyard had given way from my lady's own +weight, so my back was not scratched after all. Women ain't no good +on board, Jack, that's sartain."</p> +<p>But I must now introduce a more important personage than even +Lady Hercules, which is my mother. They say "like master, like +man," and I may add, "like lady, like maid." Lady Hercules was +fine, but her maid was still finer. Most people when they write +their biography, if their parents were poor, inform you that they +left them a good name and nothing else. Some parents cannot even do +that; but all parents can at all events leave their children a +<i>pretty</i> name, by taking a little trouble at their baptism. My +mother's name was Araminta, which, as my father truly observed, was +"a touch above the common." She had originally gone into service as +a nursery maid, living in her first situation one year and nine +months; in her second she remained two years and four months; then +she left to <i>better</i> herself, and obtained the situation of +nurse in a family where she remained two years and one month; after +which Lady Hercules then having a child of a year old, she was +received into her service. At three years old the child died, and +my mother was promoted to the situation of lady's maid. This +advancement quite spoiled her; she was prouder than her mistress, +and gave herself ten times more airs, and when, at first, my father +(who as coxswain was constantly up at the house) offered to speak +to her, she turned away from him in most ineffable disdain. Now my +father was at that time about thirty years of age, and thought no +small beer of himself, as the saying goes. He was a tall, handsome +man, indeed, so good-looking that they used to call him "Handsome +Jack" on board of the "Druid," and he had, moreover, a pigtail of +most extraordinary size and length, of which he was not a little +proud, as it hung down far below the waistband of his trousers. His +hair was black and glossy, and his lovelocks, as the sailors term +the curls which they wear on their temples, were of the most +insinuating description. Now, as my father told me, when he first +saw my mother with her sky-scraping cap at the back of her head, so +different from the craft in general, he was very much inclined to +board her; but when she boomed him off in that style, my father, +who was quite the rage and fancy man among the ladies of Sally Port +and Castle Rag, hauled his wind in no time, hitching up his white +trousers and turning short round on his heel so as to present his +back to her whenever they happened to meet. For a long time he gave +her a wide berth. Now this fact of my father returning her disdain +had the usual effect. At first she was very savage, and when she +spoke of him to Lady Hercules, she designated him as "that proud +coxswain, who seemed to think himself a greater man than Sir +Hercules himself—with his filthy pigtail, indeed!" My father +also, when he spoke of her to the boat's crew, termed her "that +proud —— of a lady's maid," the word not mentionable +being both canine and feminine. Thus matters went on for some time, +until my mother, by a constant survey of my father's handsome +proportions, every day thought him to be a more proper man, and a +few advances on her part at last brought them to a mutual +understanding.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus013.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWO" id="CHAPTER_TWO"></a>CHAPTER TWO</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>My Father does what most Sailors do—he makes a foolish +Marriage, one of the Consequences of which is brought to Light at +the End of the Chapter.</p> +</div> +<p>I have observed at the finale of my first chapter, that at last +my mother and father came to a good understanding; but at the same +time Madam Araminta (for so my mother insisted upon being called) +took good care to let my father understand that she considered that +she was lowering herself by surrendering up her charms to a +captain's coxswain. She informed him that her father might be said +to have been royally connected, being a king's messenger (and so, +indeed, he might be considered, having been a twopenny postman), +and that her mother had long scores against the first nobles in the +land (she was a milk-woman), and that she had dry-nursed a young +baronet, and was now not merely a ladies' maid, but a <i>lady's</i> +laides' maid. All this important and novel communication sunk deep +in my father's mind, and when he heard it he could hardly believe +his good fortune in having achieved such a conquest; but, as the +sequel will prove, his marriage did not turn out very happily. He +used to say to me, "Jack, take my advice, and never marry above +your condition as I did; nothing would please me but a <i>lady's +ladies'</i> maid; I had no right to look up to even a +<i>ladies'</i> maid, and had your mother only been a simple maid, +all might have been right." But these were after-reflections when +it was too late. I do not wonder at my poor father's senses being +dazzled, for, as he said to me, "You see, Jack, after being used to +see nothing but Point women, all so slack in stays and their +rigging out of order, to fall aboard of a craft like your mother, +so trim and neat, ropes all taut, stays well set up, white +hammock-cloths spread every day in the week, and when under way, +with a shawl streaming out like a silk ensign, and such a rakish +gaff topsail bonnet, with pink pennants; why, it was for all the +world as if I was keeping company with a tight little frigate after +rolling down channel with a fleet of colliers; but, howsomever, +fine feathers don't make fine birds, and handsome is as handsome +does."</p> +<p>My father's marriage was, however, precipitated by +circumstances. One afternoon, after he had been accepted, he had +taken his quid out of his cheek, wiped his mouth with the back of +his hand, and was in the act of giving and receiving a chaste +salute, when Lady Hercules happened to come down into the +kitchen—a most rare occurrence, and wholly unexpected from a +lady of her refined and delicate ideas. She caught my father and +mother in the very act; and (as my father expressed it) with an +exclamation of horror, "She 'bout ship, and sculled upstairs like +winkin'." A loud peal of the bell summoned up my mother, leaving my +father in a state of no pleasant suspense, for he was calculating +how far Sir Hercules could bring in "kissing a lady's ladies' maid" +under the article of war as "contempt of superiors," and, if so, +how many dozen kisses his back might receive from the cat in +return. While he was absorbed in this pleasing speculation, Lady +Hercules was pouring out anathemas against my mother's want of +delicacy and decency, informing her that it was impossible she +could submit the decoration of her person to one who has so +contaminated herself with a tobacco-chewing seaman—who was +all pigtail within and without; for, as the Scripture says, "Who +can touch pitch without being defiled?"</p> +<p>Although my mother had made up her mind that if it was to be a +question between a place and a husband, she should decide upon +retaining the latter, still she thought it advisable, if it were +possible, to conciliate my lady. She therefore pulled out a cambric +handkerchief, and while her ladyship scolded, she covered up her +face and wept. Lady Hercules continued to scold until she was out +of breath, and thereby compelled to stop. My mother then replied, +with deep humility and many tears, "that indeed she had been so +persuaded (sob) that she at last promised to (sob) marry; but only +on one condition—yes, indeed—(sob) that her ladyship +gave her consent—positively on no other (sob)—no, +indeed, upon her honor! Mr. Saunders +was—(sob)—excellent young man—(sob), so attached +to Sir Hercules (sob), and had such a great respect for her +ladyship, that—(sob—sob—sob)—he had won her +heart."</p> +<p>By this time her ladyship had regained her breath, and she +interrupted my mother by pointing out to her, that allowing all she +said to be correct, yet still that was no reason why she should +allow such indecent liberties; that Sir Hercules had never obtained +such favors from her until after the ring had been put on her +finger. Then, indeed, such things might be—that is, +occasionally; but the kitchen of all places!—And, besides, +how did she know how many wives the coxswain had already? She +shouldn't be surprised, if, with that long pigtail of his, he had +five at least—nay, perhaps, six or seven. Here my mother +replied that "it was out of gratitude to her (sob) for having +consented to permit him to (sob) speak to Sir Hercules (sob), who +would plead with her ladyship (sob), which had occasioned Mr. +Saunders (sob) to take—such—a—liberty +(sob—sob—sob)—which he had never—done +before—(sob)—No!—never—upon her +honor—never!—" And here my mother's sobs choked her +utterance.</p> +<p>This explanation somewhat pacified, and a little subsequent +humility and flattery gained the mistress, who consented to settle +the matter with Sir Hercules, alleging, as one principal reason for +so doing, that after the familiarity which had taken place between +them, the sooner they were married the better. The wishes of her +ladyship were tantamount to commands. Sir Hercules pronounced my +father to be a fool, and they were married.</p> +<p>My mother was a good-looking person, perhaps two or three years +older than my father; she was of a very bad temper, very vindictive +and revengeful, and in every way she had a pleasure in annoying +other people, and when she succeeded she invariably concluded her +remarks with, "There—now you're vexed!" Whenever out of humor +herself from the observations of others, she attempted to conceal +her vexation by singing; and having been so many years of her life +in the nursery, her songs were usually those little ditties used to +pacify or amuse children in arms. "Saunders," she would cry out, +"if you aren't the biggest fool that ever walked on two +legs—to look at that long tail of yours you're so proud of, +one would think I'd married a monkey—a +<i>hourang-howtang</i>, instead of a man. There—now you're +vexed! One can't open one's mouth." My mother knew where to strike; +and this attack upon his pigtail was certain to provoke my father, +who would retort in no measured language, till she, in her turn, +lost her temper, and then out she would sing, in a sort of +scream—</p> +<p><span style="margin-left: 5em;">"Hey diddle, diddle, the cat and +the fiddle,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">The cow jumped over the moon," +etc.</span></p> +<p>And thus she continued to sing (or squeal) until her wrath +cooled down.</p> +<p>The consequences of forming a matrimonial alliance with a +captain's coxswain soon became visible. Six months after they had +been married, Lady Hercules pronounced my mother's appearance to be +quiet indecent, and declared her no longer fit for the office of +lady's maid to a lady of her exquisite delicacy; and my mother, who +became less active every day, received notice to quit, which she +did, when her month was up, in great wrath, packing up her boxes, +and slamming the door as she left the house, singing at the very +highest pitch of her voice,</p> +<p>"Dickory, dickory, dock; the mouse ran up the clock," etc.</p> +<p>My father wished her to come and live with him on board the +frigate; but to that my mother would not consent, saying that she +had, it was true, degraded herself and her family by marrying a +coxswain, but she was not going to further contaminate herself by +mixing with the vulgar creatures on board. In this resolve I think +my mother was right; but her dismissal and disgrace was followed up +by my father being disrated and turned into the maintop, for no +other reason in the world than such being the will and pleasure of +Lady Hercules.</p> +<p>Her ladyship considered that she had lost a good servant through +my father's intervention; and having therefore taken a dislike to +him, did not choose that he should, as coxswain, come up to the +house as usual; and, as he no longer did the duty of coxswain, she +asserted that he was not entitled to the rating. Thus, seven months +had hardly passed away before my father's marriage became a source +of vexation and annoyance; his pay was decreased, and he was no +longer a petty officer. My mother's pride was hurt; and if she was +resolute in not going on board to remain with him when he was +captain's coxswain, she was still more so now that he was reduced +to a common seaman. As for my father, he was the picture of +misery—he had no consolation except turning his quid and +tying his pigtail.</p> +<p>But everything changes in this world, and among other changes +was that of the station of the frigate, which was ordered foreign. +Sir Hercules took leave of his lady, who retired to Tunbridge +Wells. My father took leave of my mother, who retired to Woolwich. +She had saved some money in service, and my father handed over to +her all the pay which he received, when the ship's company were +paid previous to the sailing of the ship. It is but justice to +observe that the moment he was out of soundings and away from the +influence of her ladyship, Sir Hercules reinstated my father, and +gave him back his rating as coxswain. My father was indeed the +smartest and best seaman in the ship; he could do his work from +stem to stern—mouse a stay, pudding an anchor, and pass a +gammoning, as well as he could work a Turk's head, cover a manrope, +or point a lashing for the cabin table. Besides which, he had seen +service, having fought under Rodney, and served at the siege of +Gibraltar.</p> +<p>But I must return to my mother, who, when she first went to +Woolwich, which she did in a transport that was ordered round, took +lodgings in the outskirts of the town; and not wishing to +acknowledge that she had married a common sailor, as she supposed +my father still to be, asserted that she was the wife of a captain +of a merchant vessel, which had been taken up as a transport to +convey troops to the West Indies. On this supposition, being +received into a society above her real station, she was compelled +to spend more money than she could afford, and her finances rapidly +wasted away. In the meantime I was born—a fine baby, but with +nothing to look up to but a penniless mother, an absent (if +existing) father, the workhouse, and the sky.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus020.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THREE" id="CHAPTER_THREE"></a>CHAPTER +THREE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which my Mother proves herself a tender Wife, and at the same +time shows her Patriotism and Devotion to her Country.</p> +</div> +<p>I had almost unconsciously arrived at the age of two years +before there were any tidings of my father. All the information +that my mother could obtain was, that the ship's company of the +"Druid" had been turned over to another frigate called the +"Melpomene," the former having been declared not seaworthy, and in +consequence condemned and broken up at Port Royal.</p> +<p>But no letter had been received from my father, who indeed was +not much of a scholar; he could read, but he could not write. By +this time my mother's savings were expended, and she was in great +tribulation lest the deceit she had practiced should be exposed. +Indeed, there were already many surmises as to the truth of her +story, it being so long that her husband had been absent. At last, +when she had changed her only remaining guinea, a letter arrived +from my father, dated from Portsmouth, stating that the ship was to +be paid off in a few days, and then "he would clap on all sail and +be on board of his old woman in no time."</p> +<p>My mother, although not a little disgusted at being called an +old woman—an affront which she determined to revenge upon a +more fitting occasion—was in raptures with the contents of +the letter. She therefore returned a kind answer, informing my +father what a promising child he was blessed with, and giving him a +direction to meet her at Greenwich, as she had resolved upon not +receiving him at Woolwich, where her false assertions would have +been exposed. Going round to all her acquaintances, she bade them +farewell, telling them that her husband had returned well, and +<i>well to-do</i>, and had ordered her to meet him at Greenwich. +Having thus satisfactorily, as she imagined, got out of this little +difficulty, she packed up and hastened to Greenwich, where she sunk +her assumed rank and waited very impatiently for her husband. He +came at last, seated with many others on the outside of a stage +coach—his hat bedecked with ribbons, a pipe in one hand and +flourishing a pewter pot in the other. It hardly need be added that +he was more than half tipsy. Nevertheless, even in this state, he +was well received; and after he had smothered her with kisses, +dandled me on his knee, thrown into her lap all the pay he had +left, and drank three more pots of porter, they went very peaceably +and lovingly to repose.</p> +<p>I regret to say that this amity did not last long. My father's +manners, which perhaps had been softened down by the awe which he +had of Lady Hercules when he first made my mother's acquaintance, +were now more coarse, and so was his language; and the neatness and +cleanliness of person which he was obliged to maintain while +performing the duties of a coxswain to a married captain were not +so observable. Besides which, being no longer under discipline, he +was almost every night intoxicated; and, being so, was more +self-willed and regardless of his wife's injunctions. The +consequences were that having received from my father fifty pounds, +my mother first locked that up, and then "unlocked her jaw." +Disputes were now hourly occurring; and it was "now you're vexed," +and "hey diddle diddle," from morning till night.</p> +<p>My father would repair to the grog-shops to have a dance and +carouse with his messmates, and my mother would not accompany him +to such a vulgar place; consequently he went alone, was out very +late, coming home very drunk, if indeed he came home at all. +Moreover, the wives and companions of the other seamen would insult +her when she walked out, for pretending to be better than they +were.</p> +<p>One day when she was walking out arm-in-arm with my father, +unluckily she was met by one of her Woolwich acquaintances. This +was the severest stroke of all, as she had intended to return to +Woolwich; but now she was discovered, and avoided by one party, as +well as insulted by the other. I cannot defend my mother's conduct; +nor indeed was she deserving of pity, as her treatment had been +brought about by her own folly and pride. The effect of all this +was, however, that of souring her temper still more; and the +constant vituperation poured out upon my father so roused his +indignation that one evening, when more than usually intoxicated, +the "lady's ladies' maid" received such a severe box on the ear +that the one candle turned to a general illumination. This blow was +never forgotten nor forgiven, although my father was very sorry for +it, and begged her pardon the next day, with promises of +amendment.</p> +<p>Just at this time the French Revolution commenced, and there was +expectation of a war with France; the press-gangs were ordered out, +and the seamen, aware of it, remained concealed until they should +leave the town. But my mother had made up her mind. She found out +an officer who commanded one of the press-gangs, gave her address, +and, having supplied my father with spirits until he was stupefied, +she let in the gang, and before morning my father was safe on board +of the tender lying off the Tower. This treachery on her part my +father did not discover until some time afterward; and it was the +occasion of a scene between them, as I shall hereafter show. The +next day my mother went on board of the tender to visit my father, +put her cambric handkerchief to her eyes, pressed his hand between +the iron bars, and lamented <i>his</i> hard fate, and <i>her</i> +hard fate; but when requested by him to smuggle a little liquor in +a bladder to comfort him with, she tossed up her head, and declared +"that nothing could induce her to do anything so ungenteel." +Whereupon my father turned away, lamenting the day that ever he had +married a lady's ladies' maid.</p> +<p>A day or two afterward my mother brought my father his kit of +clothes, and two pounds of his own money. As a war was expected, my +mother would have persuaded my father to give her his "will and +power" to receive his prize money; but my father, grown +comparatively wiser, positively refused. He turned away on his +heel, and they parted.</p> +<p>I shall, for the present, leave my father to his fortunes, and +follow those of my mother. Convinced by his refusal to sign the +deed, which she had brought ready prepared with her, that she had +little in future to expect from my father, and aware probably of +the risk incurred by a seaman from "battle, fire, and wreck," she +determined this time to husband her resources, and try if she could +not do something for herself. At first she thought of going again +into service and putting me out to nurse; but she discovered that +my father's return was not without its consequences, and that she +was again to be a mother. She therefore hired rooms in Fisher's +Alley, a small street still existing in Greenwich, and indeed still +a general thoroughfare. Here, in due time, she was brought to bed +of a daughter, whom she christened by the name of Virginia; not so +much out of respect to her last mistress, who bore that name, as +because she considered it peculiarly ladylike and genteel.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus025.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FOUR" id="CHAPTER_FOUR"></a>CHAPTER FOUR</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which I tell the Reader all I can recollect about myself, and +moreover prove the Truth of the old Adage, "That it is a wise Child +who knows its own Father".</p> +</div> +<p>My readers must not expect me to tell them much of what passed +during the first four years of my existence. I have a recollection +of a deal board put at the door of our house, which opened into +Fisher's Alley, to prevent me, and afterward my sister, from +crawling out. Fisher's Alley is a very narrow street, and what was +said in a room on one side of it can be heard on the other, and I +used to hang over the board and listen. There were drunken men and +drunken women, and occasionally scolding and fighting. My mother, +having made up her mind to be saving, had taken a lease of the +house and furnished it; and every day I heard her saying at the +door, "Walk in, gentlemen; I've a nice clean room and boiling hot +water"—for the seamen used to come in to take tea, drink, and +smoke; and so did the old pensioners occasionally, for my mother +had made acquaintance with several of them. I was always very +ragged and dirty, for my mother neglected and ill-treated me. As +soon as my sister was born she turned all her affections over to +Virginia, who was always very much petted, well dressed, and a very +beautiful child.</p> +<p>All this I recollect, but little more, except that my mother +gave me several beatings for calling my sister "Jenny," which I had +learned to do from others who knew her; but when my mother heard +them, she was always very angry, and told them that her child had +not such a vulgar name; at which many would laugh, and make a point +of calling out "Jenny" to Virginia whenever they passed and saw her +at the door. When I was a little more than four years old I would +climb over the board, for I had no pleasure at home. As I grew +older I used to hasten down to the landing-steps on the beach, +where the new inn called the Trafalgar now stands, and watch the +tide as it receded, and pick up anything I could find, such as bits +of wood and oakum; and I would wonder at the ships which lay in the +stream, and the vessels sailing up and down. I would sometimes +remain out late to look at the moon and the lights on board of the +vessels passing; and then I would turn my eyes to the stars, and +repeat the lines which I had heard my mother teach little Virginia +to lisp:</p> +<p class="blockquot">"Pretty little twinkling star,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">How I wonder what you +are;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">All above the earth so +high,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Like a diamond in the +sky;"</span></p> +<p>and when I did stay out late I was sure of having no supper, and +very often a good beating; and then Virginia would wake and cry, +because my mother beat me, for we were fond of each other. And my +mother used to take Virginia on her knee, and make her say her +prayers every night; but she never did so to me; and I used to hear +what Virginia said, and then go into a corner and repeat it to +myself. I could not imagine why Virginia should be taught to pray +and that I should not.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus028.jpg" id="illus028.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus028.jpg"><img src="images/thumb028.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>FISHER'S ALLEY.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X. p. 27.</b><br /></div> +<p>As I said before, my mother let lodgings, and kept the +ground-floor front room for people to drink tea and smoke in; and I +used to take my little stool and sit at the knees of the pensioners +who came in, and hear all their stories, and try to make out what +they meant, for half was to me incomprehensible; and I brought them +fire for their pipes, and ran messages. Old Ben the Whaler, as they +called him, was the one who took most notice of me, and said that I +should be a man one of these days, which I was very glad to hear +then. And I made a little boat for my sister, which cost me a great +deal of trouble and labor; and Ben helped me to paint it, and I +gave it to Virginia, and she and I were both so pleased; but when +my mother saw it, she threw it into the fire, saying it was "so +ungenteel," and we both cried; and old Ben was very angry, and said +something to my mother, which made her sing "High diddle diddle" +for the whole day afterward.</p> +<p>Such are the slight reminiscences, which must content the +reader, of my early existence.</p> +<p>When I was eight years old (about six years after his last +visit), my father made his appearance; and then, for the first +time, I knew that my father was alive, for I was but two years old +when he left, and I remembered nothing about him, and I had never +heard my mother mention his name as if he still existed.</p> +<p>My father came in one day very unexpectedly, for he had given no +notice of his return; and it so happened that as he came in, my +mother was beating me with the frying-pan, for having dipped my +finger in the grease in which she had been frying some slices of +bacon. She was very angry, and as she banged me with it, Virginia +was pulling at her skirts, crying and begging her to desist, "You +little wretch," cried my mother, "you'll be just such a sea-monster +as your father was—little wulgar animal, you must put your +finger into the frying-pan, must you? There, now you've got it." So +saying, she put down the frying-pan, and commenced singing as loud +as she could, "Hush-a-by, baby, Pussy's a lady." "Ay, now you're +vexed, I dare say," continued she, as she walked into the back +kitchen.</p> +<p>All this time my father had been at the door looking on, which +she had not perceived. My father then came in. "What's your name, +my lad?" said he.</p> +<p>"Tommy Saunders," replied I, rubbing myself; for the frying-pan +was very hot, and my trousers very much out of repair.</p> +<p>"And who is that little girl?" said he.</p> +<p>"That's my sister Virginia—but," continued I, "who are +you? Do you want my mother?"</p> +<p>"Not very particularly just now," said my father, taking up my +sister and kissing her, and then patting me on the head.</p> +<p>"Do you want any beer or 'baccy?" said I. "I'll run and get you +some, if you give me the money, and bring back your change all +right."</p> +<p>"Well, so you shall, Jack, my boy," replied he; and he gave me a +shilling. I soon returned with the pipes, tobacco, and beer, and +offered him the change, which he told me to keep, to buy apples +with. Virginia was on the knee of my father, who was coaxing and +caressing her, and my mother had not yet returned from the back +kitchen. I felt naturally quite friendly toward a man who had given +me more money than I ever possessed in my life; and I took my stool +and sat beside him; while, with my sister on his knee, and his +porter before him, my father smoked his pipe.</p> +<p>"Does your mother often beat you, Jack?" said my father, taking +the pipe out of his mouth.</p> +<p>"Yes, when I does wrong," replied I.</p> +<p>"Oh! only when you do wrong—eh?"</p> +<p>"Well, she says I do wrong; so I suppose I do."</p> +<p>"You're a good boy," replied my father. "Does she ever beat you, +dear?" said he to Virginia.</p> +<p>"Oh, no!" interrupted I; "she never beats sister, she loves her +too much; but she don't love me."</p> +<p>My father puffed away, and said no more.</p> +<p>I must inform the reader that my father's person was very much +altered from what I have described it to have been at the +commencement of this narrative. He was now a boatswain's mate, and +wore a silver whistle hung round his neck by a lanyard, and with +which little Virginia was then playing. He had grown more burly in +appearance, spreading, as sailors usually do, when they arrive to +about the age of forty; and, moreover, he had a dreadful scar from +a cutlass wound, received in boarding, which had divided the whole +left side of his face, from the eyebrow to the chin. This gave him +a very fierce expression; still he was a fine-looking man, and his +pigtail had grown to a surprising length and size. His ship, as I +afterward found out, had not been paid off, but he had obtained a +fortnight's leave of absence, while she was refitting. We were all +very sociable together, without there being the least idea, on the +part of my sister and myself, with whom we were in company, when in +rolled old Ben the Whaler.</p> +<p>"Sarvice to you," said Ben, nodding to my father. "Tommy, get me +a pipe of 'baccy."</p> +<p>"Here's pipe and 'baccy too, messmate," replied my father. "Sit +down, and make yourself comfortable, old chap."</p> +<p>"Won't refuse a good offer," replied Ben, "been too long in the +sarvice for that—and you've seen sarvice, too, I think," +continued Ben, looking my father full in the face.</p> +<p>"Chop from a French officer," replied my father; after a pause, +he added, "but he didn't live to tell of it."</p> +<p>Ben took one of the offered pipes, filled, and was soon very +busy puffing away, alongside of my father.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus032.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIVE" id="CHAPTER_FIVE"></a>CHAPTER FIVE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>My Father and Mother meet after an absence of Six +Years—She discovers that he is no longer a Coxswain but a +Boatswain's Mate.</p> +</div> +<p>While my father and Ben are thus engaged, I will give the reader +a description of the latter.</p> +<p>Ben was a very tall, broad-shouldered old fellow, but stooping a +little from age. I should think he must have been at least sixty, +if not more; still he was a powerful, sinewy man. His nose, which +was no small one, had been knocked on one side, as he told me, by +the flukes (<i>i.e.</i>, tail) of a whale, which cut in half a boat +of which he was steersman. He had a very large mouth, with very few +teeth in it, having lost them by the same accident; which, to use +his own expression, had at the time "knocked his figure-head all to +smash." He had sailed many years in the whale fisheries, had at +last been pressed, and served as quartermaster on board of a +frigate for eight or nine years, when his ankle was broken by the +rolling of a spar in a gale of wind. He was in consequence +invalided for Greenwich. He walked stiff on this leg, and usually +supported himself with a thick stick. Ben had noticed me from the +time that my mother first came to Fisher's Alley. He was the friend +of my early days, and I was very much attached to him.</p> +<p>A minute or two afterward my father pushed the pot of porter to +him. Ben drank, and then said:</p> +<p>"Those be nice children, both on 'em—I know them +well."</p> +<p>"And what kind of a craft is the mother?" replied my father.</p> +<p>"Oh! why, she's a little queer at times—she's always so +mighty particular about gentility."</p> +<p>"Do you know why?" replied my father.</p> +<p>Ben shook his head.</p> +<p>"Then I'll tell you: because she was once a lady's ladies' +maid."</p> +<p>"Well," replied Ben, "I don't understand much about titles and +nobility, and those sort of things; but I'm sorry she's gone down +in the world, for though a little particular about gentility, she's +a good sort of woman in her way, and keeps up her character, and +earns an honest livelihood."</p> +<p>"So much the better for her," replied my father, who refilled +his pipe and continued to smoke in silence.</p> +<p>My mother had gone into the back kitchen to wash, which was the +cause (not having been summoned) of her being so long absent.</p> +<p>Virginia, who had become quite sociable, was passing her little +fingers through my father's large whiskers, while he every now and +then put his pipe out of his mouth to kiss her. I had the +porter-pot on my knees, my father having told me to take a swig, +when my mother entered the room.</p> +<p>"Well, Mr. Benjamin, I shouldn't wonder—but—Oh! +mercy, it's he!" cried my mother. "Oh! be +quick—sal-wolatily!"</p> +<p>"Sail who? What the devil does she mean?" said my father, rising +up and putting my sister off his knee.</p> +<p>"I never heard of her," replied Ben, also getting up; "but +Mistress Saunders seems taken all aback, anyhow. Jack, run and +fetch a bucket of water!"</p> +<p>"Jack, stay where you are," cried my mother, springing from the +chair on which she had thrown herself. "Oh, dear me! the shock was +so sudden—I'm so flustered. Who'd have thought to have seen +you?"</p> +<p>"Are you her brother?" inquired Ben.</p> +<p>"No; but I'm her husband," replied my father.</p> +<p>"Well, it's the first time I've heard that she had one—but +I'll be off, for Mistress Saunders is too genteel to kiss, I see, +before company." Ben then took up his stick and left the house.</p> +<p>It may be as well here to remark that during his absence my +father had fallen in with one of the men who had been employed in +the press-gang. From him he learned that a woman had given the +information by which he was taken. He made the man, who was present +when my mother called upon the officer, describe her person, and +the description in every point was so accurate that my father had +no doubt in his mind but that it was my mother who had betrayed +him. This knowledge had for years rankled in his breast, and he had +come home, not only from a wish to see how things were going on, +but to reproach my mother with her treachery.</p> +<p>Whether my mother's conscience smote her, or that she perceived +by my father's looks that a squall was brewing, I know not; but as +soon as Ben had left the house, she shut the street-door that the +neighbors might not hear. Having so done, she turned to my father, +who had resumed his seat and his pipe.</p> +<p>"Well," said she, putting her apron to her eyes, "you have been +away a good six years, and left me to get on how I could with these +two poor orphanless children."</p> +<p>"You know best why I went," replied my father, "and by whose +means I was walked off in such a hurry."</p> +<p>"Me?" replied my mother.</p> +<p>"Yes, you," responded my father.</p> +<p>"Well, what next?" cried she.</p> +<p>"I'll tell you what next," said my father, rising, and taking +about eighteen inches of inch-and-a-half rope out of his pocket, +"Look you, ma'am, when I first found out that it was by your +peaching that I was sent on board of the tender, I made up this +colt, and I vowed that I would keep it in my pocket till I served +you out. Now the time's come."</p> +<p>Here my father flourished his rope's end. My mother would have +flown to the door, but my father was beforehand with her; he turned +the key, and, to the astonishment of Virginia and me, he seized my +mother, and, holding her at arm's length, gave her several +blows—not severe ones, I must acknowledge, indeed, they could +not have hurt her.</p> +<p>"There," said my father, "it's well for you, my Lady's ladies' +maid, that I did not fall in with you when I first made up this +colt; and it's well for you that I've heard a good character of you +from the old chap who has just now left the house, or you'd have +smarted for the false trick you played upon me. Howsomever, I've +kept my oath, and you may thank your stars that it's not +worse."</p> +<p>My mother, who had not uttered a cry during the punishment, but +only looked very indignant, now that my father had finished his +speech, and was rolling up his colt to put it in his pocket, +suddenly threw herself down on the floor, screaming murder with all +her might. The noise summoned the neighbors—all Fisher's +Alley was in an uproar, and our house was besieged with people, who +attempted to force their way in—for my mother continued her +screams, and poor little Virginia became so frightened that she +also roared as loud as her mother.</p> +<p>"I've more than two minds," said my father, taking the rope's +end out of his pocket again; "but howsomever, since you wish it, +all the world shall know it."</p> +<p>My father put his colt into his pocket, and went to unlock the +door. My mother, perceiving what he was about, immediately rose and +hastened upstairs to her own room. My father then told the +neighbors what had occurred, and why my mother had been punished, +and the verdict of Fisher's Alley was, "sarved her right." Ben the +Whaler, who was outside with the others, espoused my father's +cause, and as soon as the people dispersed my father invited him to +join him in his pipe and pot.</p> +<p>Little Virginia, still terrified, had crept up to her mother. I, +on the contrary, felt the highest respect for one who could dare to +punish my mother, who had so often punished me; and the knowledge +that he was my father inspired me with a feeling of tenderness +toward him which I could not repress. I was old enough to +understand why my mother had received such treatment, and I could +not feel angry with my father; I therefore stayed below, and went +for the porter as was required.</p> +<p>I believe that at first it had been my father's intentions to +have administered a much severer castigation to my mother, and then +to have left the house, taking me with him, for he had not been +apprised of the birth of Virginia; but whatever were his intentions +before he came, or for the morrow, it is certain that he continued +to smoke and talk with old Ben the Whaler till a very late hour, +while I sat by and listened.</p> +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SIX" id="CHAPTER_SIX"></a>CHAPTER SIX</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>A bright pleasant Evening after a Squall, in which the Art of +Angling is introduced in a way which would have added to the +Knowledge of Izaac Walton himself.</p> +</div> +<p>"I beg pardon, messmate," said Ben, as he and my father became +more sociable; "but may I make so bold as to ask you how you +contrived to get that seam across your figure-head? You did say +something about a Frenchman, if I heard right; and as the war is +now of two years' standing, I suppose you've had a rap or two at +Mounseer."</p> +<p>"'Xpect I have," replied my father. "Well, old chap, I'll just +wet my whistle, and then I'll tell you all about it, and it won't +take long, neither. The boats were ordered away—"</p> +<p>"Of what ship, messmate?"</p> +<p>"Very true, I began in the middle. Well, it was in the ship I +now belongs to, the 'Oudacious'—we were with the squadron off +Ferrol; signal made to chase southeast—clapped every stitch +on her after two gun-boats who were running down in-shore. Light +winds—got well in for the land, and then it fell calm. +Gun-boats four miles off using their sweeps—our boats in +chase—I was coxswain of the first pinnace—a devilish +fast boat, messmate, I can tell you, with a smart brass +gun—pulled two feet to their one, and came up with them +hand-over-hand—both cutters and the other pinnace well up +with us—the old launch half a mile astern. Now you see, sir, +I've got the picture for you, haven't I?"</p> +<p>"Just exactly," replied old Ben.</p> +<p>"Well, then, it was a long pull; and that reminds me that I'll +have a long pull now, so hand me the porter, messmate." My father +took a tremendous long pull at the pewter, and then handing it to +Ben, he recommenced:</p> +<p>"We were soon within gun-shot, and they turned their heads +toward us and blazed away: very pretty shot they fired, for they +cut away three of our starboard oars before we were near enough to +return the fire with our small gun. However, the second pinnace and +cutters came up and shared the shot with us; and at last the old +fat launch came grunting along, for all the world like an old +board, pitching into them round and grape. Now the first lieutenant +was in the launch, and, of course, commanded, and he ordered the +boats to separate more, which was very right, as it divided the +shot; and then he passed the word that when he sounded the bugle we +were all to pull to the headmost gun-boat and board her. D'ye +understand, messmate?"</p> +<p>"Perfectly," replied Ben, taking his pipe out to reply.</p> +<p>"Well, then, just hand me the pot." My father drained it this +time, and told me to go for another.</p> +<p>"Then I shall lose the story," replied I.</p> +<p>"No, boy, you won't," replied Ben; "I'll answer for it your +father will heave-to till you come back."</p> +<p>"So I will, Jack," replied my father. And having with every +expedition executed my task, my father then continued:</p> +<p>"Well, there we all were, waiting for the bugle, each boat +creeping on a little every moment, so as to have a fair start, as +they do in a race; when at last the signal was given, and away we +all went like smoke, with our oars bending double. The first +pinnace reached the gun-boat first; then the cutters banged +alongside of her—all three of us to windward—while the +second pinnace and launch took her to leeward. There's not much +climbing in getting on board of a gun-boat; indeed, we were at it +before we were out of the boat, for the Frenchmen had pikes as long +as the spanker-boom; but we soon got inside of their points, and +came to close work. They stood a good tussle, I will say that, and +so they always do. We may laugh at 'em, and call 'em Johnny +Crapows, but they are a right brave nation, if they aren't good +seamen; but that I reckon's the fault of their lingo, for it's too +noisy to carry on duty well with, and so they never will be sailors +till they larn English."</p> +<p>"I never heard them carry on duty in French," said Ben; "it +quite beats my comprehension how they can do it at all."</p> +<p>"Well, I have," replied my father; "and every word they use is +as long as the maintop bowling, and the mast is over the side +before they can get them out. Why, would you believe it? I once +asked one of those fellows what he called the foremast in his +language, and what d'ye think he said? Why, I'm blowed if he didn't +call it a <i>'Mar-darty-marng'</i> (and that's the only bit of +French I know); but how is it possible to work a ship in such +gibberish?"</p> +<p>"Quite unpossible," replied Ben.</p> +<p>"Well, as I've yawed a little out of my course, suppose we have +another swig before I takes a fresh departure?"</p> +<p>After they had both drunk, my father proceeded:</p> +<p>"Well, messmate, I was on the gunnel as soon as the others, and +a sword came down upon me like a flash of lightning. I had just +time to lift my cutlass and save my head, and then I found that it +was the sword of the French lieutenant who commanded the gun-boat. +He was a, tall, clean-built chap, with curls hanging down like a +poodle dog's—every curl not thicker than a rope yarn, and +mayhap a thousand of them—and he quite foamed at the mouth +(that's another fault of these Frenchmen, they don't take things +coolly, but puts themselves in a passion about nothing); so thinks +I to myself it won't do for you to go on chopping at that rate, for +when I fended off he made my whole hand tingle with the force of +his blow; so I darts at him and drives the hilt of my cutlass right +into his mouth, and he fell, and his own men trod him underfoot, +and on we went, hammer and tongs. By this time the boarding of the +launch and pinnace to leeward, for they could not get up as soon as +we did, created a divarsion, and bothered the Frenchman, who hardly +knew which way to turn; however, as there were more of our men on +the other side, they most on 'em faced about; and the French +officer was then able to get on his knees again, and while I was +busy and did not see him he just give me this cut across the +figure-head, which don't add to my beauty, anyhow. Well, it was cut +for cut, messmate. I just took one look at the beggar, and I drove +my cutlass into his skull, just as he was rising up, and he never +rose again. That's my story."</p> +<p>"I suppose you took the craft?"</p> +<p>"Yes; and her consort, too. But many lost the number of their +mess, and I lost all my beauty. Just hand me the 'baccy, messmate; +and, Jack, go for the next pot of beer."</p> +<p>I found them both smoking in silence when I returned; but, after +a few minutes, my father said, "Messmate, as I have told you how I +got this chalk, suppose you tell me in return how you got that nose +of yours fixed so hard a starboard? That's fair play."</p> +<p>"Exactly so," replied Ben. "Why, d'ye see? I sarved most of my +early life in the whaling line. I was three voyages to the north; +but taking the black whale counts for nothing; you must go south +arter the sparmacitty if you wish to see sport."</p> +<p>"I never was in that line," replied my father; "but I've heard +fellows spin the devil's own yarns about it."</p> +<p>"And so they may, and tell the truth, that's sartain, shipmate. +You see, the sparmacitty don't take the harpoon quite so quietly as +the black whale does; he fights hard to the last, and sometimes is +very free with his jaws. The very large ones are the most easy to +kill; so we always look out for them when we can, as they give less +trouble, and more oil; the most dangerous are the half-grown, which +we call 'forty-barrel bulls,' as that's about what oil we get out +of them."</p> +<p>"Well," said my father, "I'm blessed if ever I knew whales were +called bulls before this night."</p> +<p>"Yes, that's our term," replied Ben; "and now to my story. We +were down off the coast of Japan; when, about one hour after +daybreak, the man looking out at the masthead gave the usual word +when he sees a whale blowing—'There she spouts.' And this he +repeats every time the fish rises. We had a clean hold at the time, +for we had but just come to our fishing-ground, and we were mighty +eager. The boats were down in a jiffy, and away we pulled. We were +within a quarter of a mile of the whale, when, to our +disappointment, he peaked his flukes—"</p> +<p>"What's that, messmate?" inquired my father.</p> +<p>"Why, you see, it's the right term after all, for the tail of +sparmacitty is like the flukes of an anchor; and, of course, now +you understand me."</p> +<p>"Yes, you mean to say he went down, I suppose."</p> +<p>"Of course; for how could he go down headforemost, without +peaking his tail in the air?"</p> +<p>"One lives and larns as long as one lives," observed my father. +"Heave ahead again, old boy."</p> +<p>"Well, as you can't know what you haven't heard anything about, +I must now tell you that these animals be as regular as the bells +in a man-of-war; and whenever they goes down to fed, they always +stays exactly about the time allowed for dinner in a comfortable +ship; that is, seventy minutes exactly. An hour, you see, is the +regular time allowed, and the other ten minutes are by favor of the +officer of the watch, or first lieutenant. We knew that we must +wait that time for him, so we tossed up our oars, and laid by."</p> +<p>"I suppose them sparmacitty chaps have a watch in their +pockets," said my father, smiling.</p> +<p>"It's a true bill, nevertheless, messmate, and they never alter: +how and why they keep to their time, the Lord who gave them the +sense to do so only knows. It is one of the wonders of the deep, +which they only who go on the great waters can bear witness +to."</p> +<p>"It beats my comprehension quite entirely," replied my father; +"and yet I have seen animals with a great deal of sense. In one +ship, we had a sheep who would chew tobacco and drink grog. Now go +ahead again."</p> +<p>"Well, we had waited about half an hour, when we saw a whiff at +the masthead of the ship; we knew that it was to direct our +attention to some other point, so we looked round the horizon, and +perceived that there was a 'school' of young bulls, about three +miles from us. We were four boats in all; and the first mate +desired my boat and another to go in chase of them, while he +remained with the other two, for this old whale to come up again. +Well, off we went, and soon came up with the school: they are the +most awkward part of whale fishing; for they are savage, and, +moreover, easily 'gallied,' that is, frightened. I picked out one, +and tried to come up with him; but he was very shy, and at last he +raised his head clean out of the water, and set off at the rate of +ten miles an hour; this showed that he was aware of danger. I had +just thought of giving him up, and trying for another, when he +suddenly turned round and came right toward the boats. That we knew +meant mischief; but, in coming toward us, he passed close to the +other boat and the steersman gave him the harpoon right well into +him. This made him more savage, and he stood right for my boat, +plowing up the sea as he rushed on. I was all ready in the bow with +the harpoon, and the men were all ready with their oars to pull +back, so as to keep clear of him. On he came, and when his snout +was within six feet of us we pulled sharp across him; and as we +went from him, I gave him the harpoon deep into the fin. 'Starn +all!' was the cry as usual, that we might be clear of him. He +'sounded' immediately, that is, down he went, headforemost, which +was what we were afraid of, for you see we had only two hundred +fathoms of line in each boat; and having both harpoons in him, we +could not bend one to the other, in case he 'sounded' deep, for +sometimes they will go down right perpendicular, and take four +lines, or eight hundred fathoms, with them; so we expected that we +should this time lose the whale as well as our lines, for when they +were run out we must either cut or go down with him. Well, the +lines ran out so swift that we poured water on them that they might +not fire—and we thought that it was all over, for the lines +were two-thirds out, and he was going down as fast as ever, when +all of a sudden he stopped. We were hauling in the slack lines, +when we saw him rise again, about a quarter of a mile off. It was a +hurrah, for we now thought that we had him. Off he set with his +nose up, right in the wind's eye, towing the two boats at the rate +of twelve miles an hour; our stems cleaving through the sea, and +throwing off the water like a plume of feathers on each side of the +bows, while the sun's rays pierced through the spray and formed +bright rainbows. We hoped soon to tire him, and to be able to haul +in upon our lines, so as to get near enough to give him our lances; +but that was only hope, as you'll hear. Of a sudden, he stopped, +turned round, and made right for us, with his jaws open; then, all +we had to do was to balk him, and give him the lance. He did not +seem to have made up his mind which boat he would attack—we +were pretty near together, and he yawed at one, and then at the +other. At last he made right for the other boat, and the boatsetter +dodged him very cleverly, while we pulled up to him, and I put the +lance up to the stock into his side. He made a plunge as if he were +going to 'sound' again; and as he did so, with his flukes he threw +our boat into the air a matter of twenty feet, cutting it clean in +half, and one of the boat's thwarts came right athwart of my nose, +and it never has been straight since. So now you have it, messmate; +and I shouldn't mind if you passed the beer this way, for this long +yarn has made my throat somewhat dry."</p> +<p>"When you've had your swig, old chap, you may as well tell us +how the matter ended," observed my father.</p> +<p>"Why, it just ended in our losing the whale in the first place, +and the boat with her gear in the second. We were picked up by the +other boat, and there was no time to be lost, for the sharks were +brought together by the scent of the whale's blood; the whale +sounded again, and we were obliged to cut the line and return on +board. But God bless you, messmate, I could tell you many a longer +yarn than that, and mayhap I shall some day or another."</p> +<p>"Well, I hope you will," replied my father; "but your fishing +story has put me in mind of rather a curious fish, caught by a lad +on board of a man-of-war; and suppose I finish what's at the bottom +of this here pot; send Jack for another, and when he comes back, +I'll tell you all about it."</p> +<p>"There's nothing gives me more satisfaction," replied Ben, "than +to pass away the evening in a sober, quiet way, as we are doing +now, telling and listening to long yarns. Ain't you sleepy, +Jack?"</p> +<p>"Oh! no," replied I, "not a bit. I'll run for the porter; and +don't let father begin till I come back, Ben. The house will be +shut up soon: shall I get more than a pot?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Jack; but not more beer," replied my father, putting some +silver into my hand; "get one pot of beer and a bottle of rum. +We'll have that by way of a nightcap, old boy."</p> +<p>I ran for the beer and liquor, and was soon back. My father and +Ben refilled their pipes, and the former commenced as follows:</p> +<p>"When I was quartermaster on board of the 'Melpomene,' we had an +old chap for first lieutenant whose name was Fletcher. He was a +kind-hearted man enough, as he never worried the ship's company +when there was no occasion; but, at the same time, he was what you +call a great stickler for duty—made no allowances for neglect +or disobedience of orders, although he would wink at any little +skylarking, walking aft, shutting his eyes, and pretending not to +see or hear it. His usual phrase was, 'My man, you've got your duty +to do, and I've got mine.' And this he repeated fifty times a day; +so at last he went by the name of 'Old Duty.' I think I see him +now, walking up and down with his spy-glass under his left arm, and +the hand of the other pushed into his breast, as if he were +fumbling for a flea. His hat was always split and worn in the +front, from constantly taking it off, instead of touching it, when +he came on the quarter-deck; and, as soon as it was too far gone in +front to raise the purchase off his head, he used to shift it end +for end, bringing the back part in front, and then he would wear +it, until, as the Yankees say, it was in 'taterations altogether,' +and he was forced to bend a new one.</p> +<p>"Now, we had a boy on board, who entered one day when the +captain landed at Torquay to dine with a friend. His name was Jack +Jervis: his father and his whole tribe had been fishermen for as +long as could be remembered; and Jack himself had been drafted out +of his cradle into a coble; and there he had continued day and +night, from one year's end to another, helping his father to +fish—so, you see, it had become second nature to him; and, +after he came on board, his liking for his former calling still +remained with him, and he never was so happy as when his line was +overboard, or when he was snooding a hook in some corner or +another. He went by the name of Jack the Fisherman; and a smart, +active, willing lad he was, sure enough.</p> +<p>"Now, there was a little difficulty between Old Duty and Jack +the Fisherman. Old Duty would not allow the lines to be overboard +when the ship was in harbor; as he said it was untidy in +appearance, and that there was always plenty of work, and no time +for fishing. So Jack hadn't pulled up his line ten or a dozen times +before he was pulled up himself. 'Whose line's that?' says Old +Duty. 'Mine, sir,' says Jack, touching his hat. 'I don't allow +fishing, young man,' said the first lieutenant. 'You understand +me?—I don't allow fishing. You've your duty to do, sir, and +I've got mine.'</p> +<p>"Jack, who had only been two or three days on board, and who, I +believe, would never have entered, had he known that there would +have been such a '<i>weto</i>,' as the boatswain used to call it, +looked quite astonished, and said—</p> +<p>"'What, mayn't I fish, sir?'</p> +<p>"'No, my man, you must not fish without permission; and that I +never give in harbor. If I catch you fishing again, you get two +dozen at the gun, recollect that. You've got your duty to do, and +I've got mine.'</p> +<p>"Well, Jack could not give up his habit, so he used to fish at +night, and all night long, out of the fore-chains; but it so +happened that the ship's corporal caught Jack in the middle watch, +and reports him to the first lieutenant.</p> +<p>"'So, you've been fishing again, sir,' says Old Duty. 'No, sir,' +replied Jack, 'not fishing—only laying night lines.'</p> +<p>"'Oh! that's it,' replied the first lieutenant; 'only laying +night lines! Pray, what's the difference?'</p> +<p>"'Please, sir,' said Jack, touching his hat, 'the difference +is—that it's not the same thing.'</p> +<p>"'Well, sir, I see but one difference, and I'll meet it +accordingly. You've your duty to do, and I've got mine.'</p> +<p>"The boys' heads and ears having been pulled about and examined +by the master-at-arms, they were dismissed; and Jack thought that +he had got off—but he was mistaken.</p> +<p>"After the hammocks had been piped down, and it was dark, the +boys were ordered up by the master-at-arms; Jack was seized to the +gun, and had his two dozen. 'There, sir,' said Old Duty, as they +cast the seizings off, 'if fishing at night is not fishing, +punishment at night is not punishment. Now we're quits. You've your +duty to do, and I've got mine.'</p> +<p>"I don't think that Jack perceived any more difference in the +two dozen at night-time than the first lieutenant did between day +and night fishing; however, Jack did not fish for some time +afterward. But it so happened that the first lieutenant was asked +on shore to dine with the port-admiral; and, although he seldom +left the ship, he could not refuse such a compliment, and so he +went. As soon as it was dark, Jack thought his absence too good an +opportunity not to have a fish; so he goes into the mizzen-chains +and drops his line. Well, he fished (but I don't know whether he +caught any) till the boat was hailed in which the first lieutenant +was coming on board, and then Jack thought it time to haul in his +line; but, just at that moment, there was a jerk; and Jack, who +knew that fish was at the bait, could not for the life of him pull +up his line—for, you see, he was a fisherman heart and soul; +so Jack trusted to Providence and the first lieutenant's going down +below as soon as he came on deck.</p> +<p>"Now, you see, the ship was lying at the time 'cross the tide, +the wind blowing against the current: the starboard side (being to +leeward as to the wind, but to windward as to the tide) had been +cleared away, and manned for the boat, and Jack made sure that the +first lieutenant would pull to that side; but he was mistaken. +Whether it was that the first lieutenant wished to have a look +round the ship or not, I do not know, but he pulled across the +bows, and went round the stern, passing the larboard side: as he +passed, Jack shrunk under the lee of the deadeyes and lanyards, +hoping he might not be seen; but the first lieutenant, having the +clear horizon on the other side, perceived the line which Jack had +half hauled up, and, having an eye like a cat, makes out Jack +also.</p> +<p>"'I see you, sir—I see you, Mr. Jervis, fishing again, +sir. Very well,' cried the first lieutenant, from the sternsheets +of the boat, as he passed by. 'You've your duty to do, and I've got +mine.' 'That's as good as two dozen to-morrow morning at muster,' +thought Jack, who cursed his luck, and, in a very melancholy mood, +began to haul up his line, which, as soon as he had been +discovered, he had let go down to the bottom again. Now, it so +happened that, as Old Duty went up the other side, his foot +slipped; and, how it was I can't tell, for they say he wasn't the +least groggy, but down he fell, between the boat's gunnel and the +ship's side, just like a deep-sea lead, and disappeared. There +being so few men on deck, there was not much of a +bustle—there was a dive or two for him with the boat-hook, +but all in vain—Old Duty was gone.</p> +<p>"In the meantime, Jack on the other side was slowly hauling up +his line; but he had not got it half-way up when he felt a heavy +strain, and he thought that a large conger eel had followed the +bait up, as they do sometimes, and he hauled and hauled with all +his might. At last, who should he bring to the surface of the water +but Old Duty, who had been sucked under the ship's bottom by the +tide, and had been hooked by Jack, as he was pulling up. When Jack +saw it was the first lieutenant, as he told me, his first idea was +to let him down again; but that was only for a moment. The words of +the first lieutenant still rang in his ears, 'You've your duty to +do, and I've got mine'—so Jack did his duty. He hollows out +that he had caught Old Duty, and the boat shifted round and took +him on board. The old fellow was quite senseless; but as he had +been but a short time in the water, he was put to bed, and +resuscitated by the surgeon. The next morning he was all just as if +nothing had happened, walking the deck with his right hand in his +breast, and his spy-glass under his left arm, as usual.</p> +<p>"Well, we all told Jack that he was safe this time, but Jack +seemed to think otherwise. He shook his head; and now you'll learn +who was right.</p> +<p>"When the boys were all mustered next morning, toeing a line, +and holding out their paws, the first lieutenant turns round and +says, 'Jervis, you were fishing last night, against my orders.' +'Yes, sir,' said Jervis, 'and I catched a first lieutenant;' for +Jack had a good deal of fun in him. 'Yes, sir, and queer fishes +they are sometimes,' replies Old Duty; 'but you forget that you +have also catched two dozen. You have your duty to do, and I've got +mine.'</p> +<p>"Well, as you may suppose, there were many of us looking abaft, +just to see what would take place, and were not a little astonished +at the idea of his rewarding Jack with two dozen for saving his +life; however, of course, we were mum. Jack was tied up; and the +first lieutenant whispered a word into the ear of his +master-at-arms, who again whispered to Williams, the boatswain's +mate; and the effect of that whisper was, that the cat was laid on +so lightly that Jack hardly felt it; so lightly, indeed, that the +first lieutenant walked away aft, that he might not appear to be a +party in the consarn, and Jack was cast off without having half a +tear in either eye when Old Duty went up to him.</p> +<p>"'You fished last night against orders, and therefore you have +received your punishment. You saved my life last night, and +therefore it is my duty to reward you. I could not let you off this +punishment, as it would be making the King pay you for me, instead +of my paying you myself. I'm not a rich man, but here's ten guineas +for your purse, and here's my gold watch. Spend the first usefully, +and keep the other; and observe, Jack Jervis, if ever you are again +caught fishing in harbor, you will as surely get two dozen for your +pains. <i>You've your duty to</i> do, <i>and I've got +mine</i>.'"</p> +<p>"Well, messmate, that's a queer story altogether, and queerer +fellows in it. I wouldn't have minded sailing with that Old Duty. +Suppose we drink his health?"</p> +<p>"With all my heart; for you're right, old chap. When we knows +what we are to expect, we're always ready to meet-it; but some +officers I've sailed with shift about like a dog-vane, and there's +no knowing how to meet them. I recollect—But I say, Jack, +suppose you turn in—your eyes are winking and blinking like +an owl's in the sunshine. You're tired, boy, so go to bed. We +shan't tell any more yarns to-night."</p> +<p>I was very tired indeed, and could not keep my eyes open any +longer; so I went upstairs, and was asleep almost as soon as I laid +my head upon the pillow.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus052.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SEVEN" id="CHAPTER_SEVEN"></a>CHAPTER +SEVEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which my Mother gives my Father a Scriptural Lesson—My +Father's Grief at parting with an old Friend—He expostulates +with my Mother and quits the House.</p> +</div> +<p>I Woke early the next morning; for the whole night I had been +restless, and dreaming of the unusual occurrences of the day +before. It was just daylight, and I was recalling what had passed, +and wondering what had become of my father, when I heard a noise in +my mother's room. I listened—the door opened, and she went +downstairs.</p> +<p>This surprised me; and being conscious, even at my age, of the +vindictive temper shown by my mother upon every occasion, and +anxious to know where my father was, I could not remain in bed. I +put on my trousers, and crept softly downstairs without my shoes. +The door of the front room was ajar, and I looked in. The light was +dimly peering through the window which pointed to the alley; the +table was covered with the empty pipes, tobacco, and large pools of +beer and liquor which had been spilled on it; the sofa was empty, +and my father, who evidently had become deeply intoxicated the +night before, was lying on the sanded floor with his face downward; +my mother, in her short dressing-gown and flannel petticoat, was +standing over him, her teeth set, her fists clinched, and arms +raised, with a dire expression of revenge in her countenance. I +thought at the time that I never saw her look so ugly—I may +say so horrid; even now her expression at that moment is not +effaced from my memory. After a few minutes she knelt down and put +her ear close to his head, as if to ascertain whether he was in a +sound sleep. She then took a knife from off the table, felt the +edge, looked at my prostrate father, and raised it. I would have +screamed, but my tongue was glued to my lips with horror. She +appeared to reflect, and, after a time, laid the knife down on the +table, put the palm of her hand up to her forehead, and then a +smile gleamed over her moody features. "Yes, if he murders me; but +they will be better," muttered she at last. She went to the +cupboard, took out a large pair of scissors, and, kneeling down by +my father, commenced severing his long pigtail from his head. My +father was too sound asleep to be roused: in a minute the tail was +off, and my mother rose up, holding it, with an expression of the +utmost contempt, between her finger and thumb. She then very softly +laid it down by his side, and replaced the scissors in the +cupboard. As I expected that she would go upstairs again, I +concealed myself in the back kitchen. I was correct in my +supposition. A moment afterward I heard her ascending the stairs +and go into her own room.</p> +<p>I must say that I felt indignant at this conduct of my mother's, +as, so far from provocation, she had hardly received the reward of +previous treachery. I believe, however, that, like most people, I +was actuated by my own feelings toward my mother, who had treated +me so unkindly. I thought for a little while—what would my +mother do? She would hardly remain in the house, to meet the wrath +of my father, when he made the discovery. She would escape him; +this I had no wish that she should do; so I went softly into the +front parlor and pushed my father to awake him. For some time this +was useless; he muttered and growled, but it appeared impossible to +rouse him. There were the remains of a jug of water on the table; +and, as I had seen the same thing done before to a drunken sailor, +I took the jug, and poured the water softly on the nape of his +neck. In a minute or two this had the effect of waking him. He +turned over, opened his eyes, and, when I put my finger to my lips +to intimate silence, he looked at me with a vacant stare. Time +pressed; I heard my mother moving about upstairs, and I was afraid +that she would leave the house before my father had recovered his +senses. I therefore took his pigtail from the floor and held it up +before him. This appeared to surprise him. He fixed his eyes upon +it for a few seconds, and then, as if at last suspecting what had +taken place, he put his hand to the back of his head and found no +pigtail there. Suddenly he jumped up; he appeared to be sobered all +at once. He caught the tail out of my hand, looked at it, felt +convinced of his loss, threw himself down on the sofa and wept like +a child.</p> +<p>"I saw my mother do it, father," said I, whispering in his ear. +This appeared to recall him. He raised himself up, wiped his eyes +with the back of his hand, ground his teeth, and shook his head. He +threw his tail on the floor, and, as he eyed it, a deep melancholy +spread over his countenance. After a minute or two he folded his +arms, and thus lamented over it:</p> +<p>"Well, I never would have thought it had they told me that you +and I should have parted company. Many, many years has it taken you +to grow to your present length; often have you been handled, often +have you been combed, and often have you been tied. Many's the eel +has been skinned for your sarvice, and many's the yard of ribbon +which you have cost me. You have been the envy of my shipmates, the +fancy of the women, and the pride of poor Tom Saunders. I thought +we should never have parted on 'arth, and, if so be my sins were +forgiven me, and I could show a fair log, that I might be permitted +to wear you in the world which is to come. But there you +are—parted for all the world like a limb shot off in action, +never to be spliced again. What am I to say when I go on board? I +shall have a short tale to tell, instead of a long tail to show. +And the wife of my busum to do this! Well, I married too high, and +now my pride is laid low. Jack, never marry a lady's ladies' maid; +for it appears that the longer the names the more venomous the +cattle be."</p> +<p>Just as he had finished I heard my mother coming downstairs with +Virginia, whom she had taken up and dressed, to take away with her. +"Hush!" I heard her softly say to Virginia, "don't speak, dear, or +you'll wake your naughty father."</p> +<p>She had hardly said this when she made her appearance, with +Virginia on one arm and a large bundle on the other. But as soon as +she perceived that my father was awake, and cognizant of her +revenge, she uttered a loud scream, dropped Virginia and the +bundle, and, running upstairs to her own room, locked herself +in.</p> +<p>Poor little Virginia set up a roar at this very unusual (and I +believe felonious) act of child-dropping on the part of my mother. +I ran to her, and carried her to the sofa, while my father, with +compressed lips, first taking two or three quarter-deck strides up +and down the room, locked the street door, put the key in his +pocket, and then ascended the stairs to pay a visit to my mother, +who, I believe, would very willingly have been "not at home"; but +some people are importunate, and will take no refusal; and, when my +father retired three or four steps from the door, and with a sudden +run brought the whole weight of his foot to bear upon it, it flew +open. At first my mother was not visible, my father thought she had +escaped; but at last he spied her legs under the bed. Seizing her +by her extremities, he dragged her out, without any regard to +propriety, until he had her into the middle of the room with his +foot upon her. What a situation for a lady's ladies' maid! I had +put Virginia down on the sofa, and crept up the stairs to see what +took place. My father and mother were in these relative positions, +and he thus addressed her:</p> +<p>"I have heard say that a man mustn't thrash his wife with +anything thicker than his own thumb. That's as may be—and I +do recollect when the first lieutenant wanted to cut off the men's +hair that the purser told him that it was felony, under the Act of +cutting and maiming. I don't know whether the first lieutenant +would have made a felony or not; but this I'm sartain of—he'd +have made a mutiny. You desarve no mercy, and you shall have none. +This pigtail of mine shall be what I shall use upon you, and if the +colt is heavy, recollect you cut it for yourself; and as you may +not be able to hear what I say by the time I have done with you, +I'll just tell you now. I'll point the end, and work a mouse on +this pigtail of mine, and never part with it. I'll keep it for your +own particular use, and for nobody else's; and as sartain as I come +back, so sartain every time I come you shall have a taste of +pigtail without <i>chewing</i>', my lady's ladies' maid."</p> +<p>Having made this uncommon long speech, to which my mother +offered no reply, her eyes being fixed in terror upon the +brandished tail, which was nearly as thick as her own arm, my +father proceeded to put his threats into execution. Blow resounded +after blow; my mother's cries became feebler and feebler, until at +last she appeared senseless. Then I ran to my father, and, clinging +to his leg, cried, "Oh, father, she's dead!"</p> +<p>This observation induced him to leave off. He looked at my +mother's face; her eyes were closed, and her jaw had fallen. "Well, +she had enough of it this time," said my father, after a pause; +"maybe too much on it. But when I looks at this tail in my hand, I +feel as if I could still give her more. And if she be dead, I think +the judge would not hang me, if I showed him what I have lost. I'd +rather have parted with an arm or a leg any day of the week. +There's been provocation enough, at all events, if she be +dead—a saint in heaven couldn't stand it."</p> +<p>During these remarks my mother gave no signs of returning +animation, and at last my father became seriously alarmed. "Jack," +said he, "I must cut my stick, or they may put me into limbo. As +soon as I have cleared out, do you run for a doctor to look at your +mother; and mind you don't forget to tell that old chap who was +boozing with me last night everything which has happened, and the +people will say, come what will on it, that I was aggravated +sufficient; and, Jack, if there be a crowner's inquest, mind you +tell the truth. You know I didn't want to kill the old woman, don't +you, my boy? for didn't I say that I'd keep the tail to give her +another dose when I came back again?—that proves I didn't +intend that she should slip her wind, you know, boy. I said I'd +give her another dose, you know, Jack—and," continued my +father, "so I will, if I find her above ground when I comes back +again."</p> +<p>My father then went downstairs. Little Virginia had fallen +asleep again on the sofa; my father kissed her softly, shook hands +with me, and put a crown in my hand. He then unlocked the door, +and, thrusting the end of his pigtail into his breast, coiled it, +as it were, round his body, hastened down the alley, and was soon +out of sight.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus059.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_EIGHT" id="CHAPTER_EIGHT"></a>CHAPTER +EIGHT</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which the Doctor pays a Visit and receives no Fee; and I am +obliged to work very hard to procure myself a Livelihood.</p> +</div> +<p>I did not forget my father's injunctions, for I was very much +frightened. There was a doctor who lived half-way up Church Street, +a short distance from Fisher's Alley. He was a little man with a +large head sunk down between two broad shoulders. His eyes were +small and twinkling, his nose snubbed, his pate nearly bald; but on +the sides of his head the hair was long and flowing. But if his +shoulders were broad the rest of his body was not in the same +proportion—for he narrowed as he descended, his hips being +very small, and his legs as thin as those of a goat. His real name +was Todpoole, but the people invariably called him Tadpole, and he +certainly in appearance somewhat reminded you of one. He was a +facetious little fellow, and, it was said, very clever in his +profession.</p> +<p>"Dr. Tadpole," cried I, out of breath with running, "come quick, +my mother is very bad indeed."</p> +<p>"What's the matter?" said he, peering over a mortar in which he +was rubbing up something with the pestle. "External or +internal?"</p> +<p>Although I did not know what he meant, I replied, "Both, doctor, +and a great deal more besides."</p> +<p>"That's bad indeed," replied Tadpole, still rubbing away.</p> +<p>"But you must come directly," cried I. "Come +along—quick!"</p> +<p>"Festina lente, good boy—that's Latin for hat and boots. +Tom, are my boots clean?"</p> +<p>"Ye'es, sir," replied a carroty-haired boy, whom I knew +well.</p> +<p>The doctor laid down his pestle, and taking his seat on a chair, +began very leisurely to pull on his boots, while I stamped with +impatience.</p> +<p>"Now do be quick, doctor, my mother will be dead."</p> +<p>"Jack," said the doctor, grinning, as he pulled on his second +boot, "people don't die so quick before the doctor comes—it's +always afterward; however, I'm glad to see you are so fond of your +mother. Tom, is my hat brushed?"</p> +<p>"Ye'es, sir," replied Tom, bringing the doctor's hat.</p> +<p>"Now then, Jack, I'm all ready. Tom, mind the shop, and don't +eat the stick-liquorice—d'ye hear?"</p> +<p>"Ye'es, sir," said Tom, with a grin from ear to ear.</p> +<p>The doctor followed me very quick, for he thought from my +impatience that something serious must be the matter. He walked up +to my mother's room, and I hastened to open the door; when, to my +surprise, I found my mother standing before the glass arranging her +hair.</p> +<p>"Well!" exclaimed my mother, "this is very pretty +behavior—forcing your way into a lady's room."</p> +<p>The doctor stared, and so did I. At last I exclaimed, "Well! +father thought he'd killed her."</p> +<p>"Yes," cried my mother, "and he's gone away with it on his +conscience, that's some comfort. He won't come back in a hurry; he +thinks he has committed murder, the unfeeling brute! Well, I've had +my revenge."</p> +<p>And as she twisted up her hair, my mother burst out +screaming:</p> +<p class="blockquot">"Little Bopeep, she lost her sheep.<br /> +And couldn't tell where to find him;<br /> +She found him, indeed, but it made her heart bleed,<br /> +For he left his tail behind him."</p> +<p>"Why, then, doctor, it was all sham," exclaimed I.</p> +<p>"Yes; and the doctor's come on a fool's errand—</p> +<p class="blockquot">"'Goosey, Goosey Gander,<br /> +Whither dost thou wander?<br /> +Upstairs and downstairs,<br /> +And in a lady's chamber.'"</p> +<p>The doctor shrugged up his shoulders so that his head +disappeared between them. At last he said, "Your mother don't want +me, Jack, that's very clear. Good-morning, Mrs. Saunders."</p> +<p>"A very good-morning to you, Dr. Tadpole," replied my mother +with a profound courtesy; "you'll oblige me by quitting this room +and shutting the door after you, if you please." As the doctor and +I went down, my mother continued the song—</p> +<p class="blockquot">"And then I met a little man,<br /> +Couldn't say his prayers,<br /> +I took him by the left leg<br /> +And sent him downstairs."</p> +<p>As soon as we were in the parlor, I acquainted the doctor with +what had happened. "I'm sure I thought she was dead," said I, when +I had finished the story.</p> +<p>"Jack, when I asked you where your mother was bad, external or +internal, you replied both, and a great deal more besides. So she +is—internally, externally, and infernally bad," said the +doctor, laughing. "And so she amputated your father's pigtail, did +she, the Delilah? Pity one could not amputate her head, it would +make a good woman of her. Good-by, Jack; I must go and look after +Tom, he's swallowed a whole yard of stick-liquorice by this +time."</p> +<p>Soon afterward Ben the Whaler came in to inquire after my +father, and I told him what had occurred. He was very indignant at +my mother's conduct, and, as soon as the affair was known, so were +all the tenants of Fisher's Alley. When my mother went out, or had +words with any of her neighbors, the retort was invariably, "Who +sent the press-gang after her own husband?" or "Who cut off the +tail from her husband's back? Wasn't that a <i>genteel</i> trick?" +All this worried my mother, and she became very morose and +ill-tempered. I believe she would have left the alley if she had +not taken a long lease of the house. She had now imbibed a decided +hatred for me, which she never failed to show upon every occasion, +for she knew that it was I who had roused my father, and prevented +her escape from his wrath. The consequence was that I was seldom at +home, except to sleep. I sauntered to the beach, ran into the +water, sometimes rowed in the wherries, at others hauling them in +and holding them steady for the passengers to land. I was beginning +to be useful to the watermen, and was very often rewarded with a +piece of bread and cheese, or a drink of beer out of their pots. +The first year after my father's visit I was seldom given a meal, +and continually beaten—indeed, sometimes cruelly so—but +as I grew stronger, I rebelled and fought, and with such success +that, although I was hated more, I was punished less.</p> +<p>One scene between my mother and me may serve as a specimen for +all. I would come home with my trousers tucked up, and my +<i>high-lows</i> unlaced and full of water, sucking every time that +I lifted up my leg, and marking the white sanded floor of the front +room, as I proceeded through it to the back kitchen. My mother +would come downstairs, and perceiving the marks I had left, would +get angry, and as usual commence singing—</p> +<p class="blockquot">"'A frog he would a-wooing go,<br /> +Heigho, says Rowly.'</p> +<p>"I see here's that little wretch been here—</p> +<p class="blockquot">"'Whether his mother would let him or +no,<br /> +Heigho, says Rowly.'</p> +<p>"I'll rowly him with the rolling-pin when I get hold of him. +He's worse than that beastly water-spaniel of Sir Hercules', who +used to shake himself over my best cambric muslin. Well, we'll see. +He'll be wanting his dinner; I only wish he may get it.</p> +<p class="blockquot">"'Little Jack Horner sat in a corner,<br /> +Eating his Christmas pie;<br /> +He put in his thumb and pull'd out a plum,<br /> +And cried, What a good boy am I!'</p> +<p>"'Good boy am I!' good-for-nothing brat, just like his father. +Oh, dear!—if I could but get rid of him!</p> +<p class="blockquot">"'There was an old woman who lived in a +shoe,<br /> +She'd so many children she didn't know what to do;<br /> +She gave them some broth without any bread,<br /> +She whipped them all round, and sent them to bed.'</p> +<p>"And if I don't whip him, it's my fault, that's all. Virginia, +my love, don't spit—that's not genteel. It's only sailors and +Yankees who spit. Nasty little brute! Oh! here you are, are you?" +cried my mother, as I entered. "Do you see what a dirty mess you +have made, you little ungrateful animal? Take that, and that, and +that," continued she, running the wet bristles of the long broom +into my face, with sufficient force to make my nose bleed. I stood +the first push, and the second; but the third roused my +indignation—and I caught hold of the end of the broom toward +me, and tried to force it out of her hands. It was push against +push, for I was very strong—she, screaming as loud as she +could, as she tried to wrest the broom from my clutches—I, +shoving at her with all my force—like Punch and the devil at +the two ends of the stick. At last, after she had held me in a +corner for half a minute, I made a rush upon her, drove her right +to the opposite corner, so that the end of the handle gave her a +severe poke in the body, which made her give up the contest, and +exclaim as soon as she recovered her breath—"Oh! you nasty, +ungrateful, ungenteel brute! You little viper! Is that the way you +treat your mother—and nearly kill her? Oh, dear me!"</p> +<p>"Why don't you leave me alone, then? you never beats Jenny."</p> +<p>"Who's Jenny, you wicked good-for-nothing boy? you mean your +sister Virginia. Well, you'll have no dinner, I can tell you."</p> +<p>I put my hand in my pocket, took out a sixpence which I had +received, and held it up between my thumb and finger. "Won't +I?"</p> +<p>"You oudacious boy! that's the way you're spoiled by foolish +people giving you money."</p> +<p>"Good-by, mother." So saying, I leaped over the board fixed up +at the door, and was again down at the beach. Indeed, I was now +what is termed a regular <i>Mud-larker</i>, picking up halfpence by +running into the water, offering my ragged arm to people getting +out of the wherries, always saluting them with, "You haven't got +never a halfpenny for poor Jack, your honor?" and sometimes I did +get a halfpenny, sometimes a shove, according to the temper of +those whom I addressed. When I was not on the beach, I was usually +in company with Ben the Whaler, who, after my father's visit, was +more kind to me than ever; and there were several other pensioners +who were great friends of mine; and I used to listen to their long +yarns, which were now becoming a source of great delight to me; at +other times I would be with the watermen, assisting them to clean +out their wherries, or pay the seams. In fact, I was here, there, +and everywhere except at home—always active, always employed, +and, I may add, almost always wet. My mother used to scold whenever +I came in; but that I did not mind; her greatest punishment was +refusing me a clean shirt on a Sunday. At last I picked up +halfpence enough to pay, not only for my food, such as it was, but +for my own washing, and every day I became more independent and +more happy.</p> +<p>There were other ways by which money was to be obtained during +the summer season, which were from the company who used to come +down to the whitebait parties at the Ship and other taverns. There +were many other boys who frequented the beach besides me, and we +used to stand under the windows, and attract attention by every +means in our power, so as to induce the company to throw us +halfpence to scramble for. This they would do to while away their +time until their dinner was ready, or to amuse themselves and the +ladies by seeing us roll and tumble one over the other. Sometimes +they would throw a sixpence into the river, where the water was +about two feet deep, to make us wet ourselves through in groping +for it. Indeed, they were very generous when they wished to be +amused; and every kind of offer was made to them which we thought +suited to their tastes, or likely to extract money from their +pockets.</p> +<p>"Dip my head in the mud for sixpence, sir!" would one of us cry +out; and then he would be outbid by another.</p> +<p>"Roll myself all over and over, in the mud, face and all, +sir—only give me sixpence!"</p> +<p>Sometimes I would perceive a lovely countenance, beaming with +pity and compassion at our rags and apparent wretchedness, and then +the money thrown to me gave me much more pleasure; but the major +portion of those who threw us silver for their own amusement would +not have given us a farthing if we had asked charity for the love +of God.</p> +<p>It must not, however, be supposed that I gained the enviable +situation of <i>Poor Jack</i> until I had been some time on the +beach. There are competitors for every place, even the most humble; +and there was no want of competitors for this office among the many +idle boys who frequented the beach. When I first plied there, I was +often pushed away by those who were older and stronger than myself, +with a "Go along with you! He's not poor Jack—I'm poor Jack, +your honor." This, at first, I submitted to; taking my chance for a +stray halfpenny, which was occasionally thrown to me, trusting to +my activity in being the first down to the boat, or to my quickness +in a scramble. I never quarreled with the other boys, for I was +remarkable for my good temper. The first idea I had of resistance +was from oppression. One of the boys, who was older and taller than +myself, attempted to take away a sixpence which I had gained in a +scramble. Before that, I had not resented being pushed away, or +even when they threw water or mud at me; but this was an act of +violence which I could not put up with: the consequence was a +fight; in which, to my surprise (for I was not aware of my +strength), as well as to the surprise of the bystanders, I proved +victorious, beating my opponent until he reeled into the water, +following him up until he tumbled, and then holding his head down +in the mud until he was almost stifled. I then allowed him to get +up, and he went home crying to his mother. For this feat I was +rewarded with the plaudits of the old pensioners and others who +were looking on, and with a shilling which was thrown to me from +the window of the inn. Ben the Whaler, who had witnessed the fray, +told me, the next day, that I handled my fists remarkably well, and +that I had but to keep a higher guard and I should fight well. He +was an old pugilist himself, and he gave me a few directions which +I did not forget. I soon had occasion to put them into practice; +for, two days afterward, another boy, bigger than myself, as I was +plying as "Poor Jack," pushed me back so hard that I fell off the +steps into the deep water, and there was a general laugh against +me. I did not care for the ducking, but the laugh I could not bear: +as soon as I gained the steps again, I rushed upon him and threw +him off, and he fell into the wherry, and, as it afterward +appeared, he strained his back very much; nevertheless he came out +to thrash me; and this time it was a regular fight, as the +pensioners and watermen interfered, taking us both up on the higher +ground, and seeing that it was fair play. Ben the Whaler acted as +my second, and we set to. The boy was too powerful for me, had it +not been for the hurt he had received and the instructions I +obtained from Ben every time that I sat on his knee between each +round. Still it was a very hard fight, and I was terribly beaten; +but I could not give up, for so many betted upon my winning, and +Ben told me, at the end of every round, that if I only stood up one +more, I should be certain to beat him, and that then I should be +<i>Poor Jack forever!</i> The last inducement stimulated me to +immense exertion. We closed and wrestled, and my antagonist was +thrown; and, in consequence of the strain he had before received, +he could not stand up anymore. Poor fellow! he was in great pain; +he was taken home, and obliged to have a doctor, and an abscess +formed in his side. He was a long while getting well, and, when he +came out of doors again, he was so pale. I was very sorry for him, +and we were always the best friends afterward, and I gave him many +a halfpenny, until I had an opportunity of serving him.</p> +<p>I mention these two fights because they obtained for me a +greater reputation than I deserved: this reputation perhaps saved +me a great deal more fighting, and obtained me the mastery over the +other boys on the beach. Indeed, I became such a favorite with the +watermen that they would send the other boys away; and thus did I +become, at last, the acknowledged, true, lawful, and legitimate +"Poor Jack of Greenwich."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus069.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_NINE" id="CHAPTER_NINE"></a>CHAPTER NINE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which I take a Cruise contrary to the received Rules of +Navigation—On my Return from a cold Expedition, I meet with a +cold Reception.</p> +</div> +<p>As soon as I was fairly in possession of my office, I gained +sufficient money to render me almost entirely independent of my +mother. Occasionally I procured an old jacket or trousers, or a +pair of shoes, at the store of an old woman who dealt in everything +that could be imagined; and, if ever I picked up oakum or drifting +pieces of wood, I used to sell them to old Nanny—for that was +the only name she was known by. My mother, having lost her lodgers +by her ill temper and continual quarreling with her neighbors, had +resorted to washing and getting up of fine linen, at which she was +very expert, and earned a good deal of money. To do her justice, +she was a very industrious woman, and, in some things, very clever. +She was a very good dressmaker, and used to make up the gowns and +bonnets for the lower classes of people, to whom she gave great +satisfaction. She worked very hard for herself and my sister, about +whose dress and appearance she was more particular than ever; +indeed, she showed as much affection for her as she did ill-will +toward me. To look at me, with my old trousers tucked up above my +knees, my ragged jacket, and weatherbeaten cap; and then to see +Virginia, so neatly and even expensively dressed, no one could have +believed that we were brother and sister. My mother would always +try to prevent Virginia from noticing me, if we ever met when she +was walking out with her. But my sister appeared to love me more +and more; and, in spite of my mother, as soon as she saw me, would +run up to me, patting my dirty jacket with her pretty little hand; +and, when she did so, I felt so proud of her. She grew up handsomer +every day, and so sweet in disposition that my mother could not +spoil her.</p> +<p>It was in the autumn that I gained undisputed possession of the +office of "Poor Jack"; and that winter I had an adventure which +nearly occasioned my making a vacancy for somebody else, and which, +the reader will agree with me, was anything but pleasant.</p> +<p>It was in the month of January—the river was filled with +floating ice, for it had frozen hard for several days; and, of +course, there were but few people who trusted themselves in +wherries—so that I had little employment, and less profit. +One morning, as I was standing on the landing-steps, the breath +coming out of my mouth like the steam of a tea-kettle—rubbing +my nose, which was red from the sharpness of the frost—and +looking at the sun, which was just mounting above a bank of clouds, +a waterman called to me, and asked me whether I would go down the +river with him, as he was engaged to take a mate down to join his +ship, which was several miles below Greenwich; and, if so, he would +give me sixpence and a breakfast. I had earned little for many +days, and, hating to be obliged to my mother, I consented.</p> +<p>In an hour we started: there was no wind—the water was +smooth, and the sun's rays glittered on the floating patches of +ice, which grated against the sides of the wherry as we cut through +them with our sharp prow. Although we had the tide with us, it was +three hours before we gained the ship. The mate paid the fare, and +gave us something to drink; and we passed an hour or more warming +ourselves at the caboose and talking with the seamen. At last a +breeze sprung up, and the captain ordered the men to get the ship +under way. We shoved off, the tide having flowed some time, +expecting to be back to Greenwich before dark.</p> +<p>But it clouded over, and a heavy snowstorm came on, so that we +could not see in what direction we were pulling; the wind blew very +fresh, and it was piercing cold; however, we pulled as hard as we +could, not only to get back again, but to keep ourselves from +freezing. Unfortunately, we had lost too much time on board of the +vessel; and, what with that, and the delay arising from the +snowstorm preventing us pulling straight back, the ebb-tide made +again before we had gained more than two-thirds of our way. We were +now nearly worn out with the severe cold and fatigue, but we pulled +hard, keeping as close inshore as we could. It was necessary, at +the end of one reach, to cross over to the other side of the river; +and, in so doing, we were driven by the tide against a large buoy, +when the wherry filled and upset in an instant. We both contrived +to cling on to her, as she was turned bottom up; and away we were +swept down among the drifting ice, the snowstorm still continuing +to beat down on our heads. I was nearly frozen before I could climb +on the bottom of the wherry; which I at last contrived to do, but +the waterman could only hold on. There we both were, shivering and +shaking; the wind piercing through our wet clothes—the snow +beating down on us, and our feet freezing among the drifting +ice—borne away with the tide toward the mouth of the +river—not able to see two yards before us, or likely to be +seen by any one, so as to be assisted. We were too cold to speak, +but remained in silence, looking at each other, and with no +pleasant forebodings as to our fate. The ice now formed in large +masses; the icicles hung from our clothes and all sense was lost in +our extremities. It was now dark as pitch; and so feeble were we +that it was with difficulty we could keep in our positions. At last +the storm abated, the sky cleared up, and the bright full moon +shone in the heavens; but our case appeared hopeless—we felt +that before morning we must perish. I tried to say what prayers I +had learned by hearing my sister say them; but my teeth chattered, +and I could only think them. At last I perceived a vessel at +anchor: the tide was sweeping us past—we were close to her, +and I contrived to cry out; but there was no reply. Again I +screamed, but it was in vain. They were all in their warm beds, +while we floated past, freezing to death. My hopes, which had been +raised, and which had occasioned my heart to resume its beating, +now sank down again, and I gave myself up in despair. I burst into +tears; and, before the tears had rolled half-way down my cheeks, +they had frozen hard. "I am indeed 'Poor Jack,' now," thought I; "I +shall never see my father or Virginia any more." As I thought so, I +saw another vessel ahead of us. I summoned all my strength, and +called out long before we floated past her. The light wind bore my +voice down; there was a man on deck, and he heard it; he walked +forward, and I perceived him looking over the bows. I hallooed +again, to direct his attention to where we were; for our wherry was +so encrusted with ice that she might have been taken for a larger +piece floating by. I saw him turn away, and heard him thump with a +handspike on the deck. How my heart bounded! I almost felt warm. As +we were passing the vessel, I cried out again and again, and the +man answered me—</p> +<p>"Ay, ay, hold on for a minute or two, and I'll send for +you."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus074.jpg" id="illus074.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus074.jpg"><img src="images/thumb074.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>I SUMMONED ALL MY STRENGTH, AND CALLED OUT LONG BEFORE WE +FLOATED PAST HER.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 73.</b><br /></div> +<p>"We are saved," I cried to the waterman; but he was quite +insensible, apparently frozen stiff where he was clinging. In a few +minutes I heard the sound of oars, and then they stopped; the boat +came quietly alongside, that they might not by the shock throw us +off into the water; they dragged us both in, and took us on board, +poured a glass of brandy down our throats, stripped off our frozen +clothes, chafed our limbs, and put us between the hot blankets +which they had just left. As soon as I was in bed the mate made me +drink a tumbler of hot grog, and left me. I soon fell into a deep +sleep, long before they had ceased their attempts to restore +vitality to my companion, which at last they did. When I awoke the +next morning I was quite well, and the waterman was also +recovering, although not able to leave his hammock. The mate who +had had the watch and had saved us, told me that the wherry was +safe on board, and, as the ship was bound up the river, that we had +better remain where we were. I narrated our accident; and my +clothes having been dried at the caboose, I dressed myself and went +on deck. My companion, the waterman, did not escape so well; his +foot was frostbitten, and he lost four of his toes before he +recovered. It was singular that he, who was a man grown up, should +suffer so much more than I did. I cannot account for it, except +that my habit of always being in the water had hardened me more to +the cold. We remained on board two days, during which we were +treated with great kindness.</p> +<p>It was a fine bright morning, when, as the ship was passing the +hospital, we shoved the wherry off, and landed at the steps; and +when we jumped out we were greeted by all who were standing there. +We had very naturally been given up for lost. They supposed that we +had perished in the snowstorm. Old Ben was among those who were +standing at the steps, and he walked up with me toward my mother's +house.</p> +<p>"I did go to the old woman and break the matter to her in a +becoming way, Jack," said Ben; "but I can't say that she appeared +to take it much to heart, and that's the truth. Had it been little +Jenny, she'd have cried her eyes out."</p> +<p>I arrived at Fisher's Alley, and the neighbors looked out; and +as I nodded to them they cried, "Why, here's Jack come back again. +Where have you been to, Jack?" This passing from mouth to mouth at +last reached my mother's ears; she looked out and saw me and old +Ben close to the door.</p> +<p>"Here be your son, missus," said Ben; "so you may thank God for +His mercy."</p> +<p>But my mother did not appear to be very thankful. She turned +round and went in. I followed her, while Ben was standing at the +door in amazement at her not flying to me and kissing me. On the +contrary she must have been angry at my return, for she commenced +singing:</p> +<p class="blockquot">"Jack and Gill went up the hill<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To fetch a pail of +water;</span><br /> +Jack fell down and broke his crown,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And Gill came tumbling +after."</span></p> +<p>And then she broke out: "And where have you been, you +good-for-nothing boy, all this time? putting me to all this useless +expense that you have; all my money thrown away for nothing." I +looked at the table and perceived that she had been making a black +dress and bonnet, to put little Virginia into mourning; for she +never let slip an opportunity to dress out my sister.</p> +<p>"Fifteen good shillings thrown away and lost, all by your coming +back. Your sister would have looked so beautiful and interesting in +it. Poor child! and now she will be disappointed. Never mind, my +darling, you may have to wear them soon yet, if he goes on this +way."</p> +<p>Virginia did not seem to mind it at all; she was kissing and +patting me, and was delighted to see me again. But my mother took +her by the hand, and catching up the half-made dress and bonnet in +her other, walked away upstairs to her room, singing:</p> +<p class="blockquot">"There was an old man who lived under a +hill,<br /> +And if he's not dead, he lives there still."</p> +<p>"So much for motherly love! Dang it, what's her heart made of?" +said a voice. I turned round; it was old Ben, who had been an +unobserved spectator of the scene.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus077.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TEN" id="CHAPTER_TEN"></a>CHAPTER TEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which I narrate what I consider the most fortunate Incident +in my Life; and Ben the Whaler confides to me a very strange +History</p> +</div> +<p>Among the pensioners there was one with whom I must make the +reader acquainted, as he will be an important person in this +narrative. His name was Peter Anderson, a north countryman, I +believe, from Greenock; he had been gunner's mate in the service +for many years, and, having been severely wounded in an action, he +had been sent to Greenwich. He was a boatswain in Greenwich +Hospital; that is, he had charge of a ward of twenty-five men, and +Ben the Whaler had lately been appointed one of the boatswain's +mates under him. He was a very good scholar, and had read a great +deal. You could hardly put any question to him, but you would get +from him a satisfactory sort of an answer; and he was generally +referred to in all points of dispute, especially in matters +connected with the service, which he had at his fingers' ends; and, +moreover, he was a very religious good man. I never heard him +swear, but correct all those who did so in his presence. He had +saved some money in the service, the interest of which, with his +allowances as boatswain, enabled him to obtain many little +comforts, and to be generous to others. Before Ben was shifted over +to Anderson's ward, which he was when he was appointed boatswain's +mate under him, they had not been well acquainted; but, since that +time, they were almost always together; so that now I knew +Anderson, which I did not before, except by sight. He was a very +venerable looking old man, with gray locks curling down on his +shoulders, but very stout and hearty; and, as Ben had told him all +about me, he took notice of me, and appeared also to take an +interest. When I came back, after the providential escape I have +mentioned in the last chapter, Ben had narrated to him the conduct +of my mother; and a day or two afterward, when the frost had broken +up, and they were both sitting down, basking in the sun, which was +shining bright, I went up to them.</p> +<p>"Well, Jack," said old Ben, "are you ready for another trip down +the river?"</p> +<p>"I hope I shall earn my sixpence at an easier rate, if I do go," +replied I.</p> +<p>"It was wonderful that you were saved, boy," said Peter +Anderson, "and you ought to very thankful to the Omniscient."</p> +<p>I stared; for I had never heard that term applied to the +Diety.</p> +<p>"You mean God, don't you?" said I, at last; for I thought he +couldn't mean any other.</p> +<p>"Yes, boy; has not your mother taught you that name?"</p> +<p>"She never would teach me anything. All the prayers I know I +have stolen from my sister."</p> +<p>"And what do you know, Jack?"</p> +<p>"I know 'Our Father,' and 'Now I lay down to sleep,' and I +believe that is all."</p> +<p>"How old are you now, Jack?"</p> +<p>"I am three years older than Virginia; she, I heard my mother +say, was six the other day—then I suppose I'm nine."</p> +<p>"Do you know your letters?"</p> +<p>"Yes, some of them; I learned them on the boats."</p> +<p>"But you cannot read?"</p> +<p>"No, not a word."</p> +<p>"Has your mother ever told you of the Bible?"</p> +<p>"Not me; but I've heard her tell Virginia about it."</p> +<p>"Don't you ever go to church?"</p> +<p>"No, never. Mother takes little Virginia; but she says I'm too +ragged and ungenteel."</p> +<p>"Why does your mother neglect you? I suppose you are a bad +boy?"</p> +<p>"That he's not," interrupted Ben; "that's not the reason. But we +must not talk about that now; only I must take Jack's part. Go on, +Peter."</p> +<p>"Would you like to learn to read, Jack?" said Anderson; "and +would you like to hear me read the Bible to you, until you can read +it yourself?"</p> +<p>"Indeed I would," replied I. "There's many of the boys on the +beach, smaller than me, who can both read and write."</p> +<p>Peter Anderson then told me that he would teach me, provided I +behaved myself well. He desired that I would come to his cabin +every afternoon at six o'clock, a time which interfered little with +my avocation of "Poor Jack," and that he would give me a lesson. +Before he had finished talking, one of the lieutenants of the +hospital sent for him; and Ben remained behind, to point out to me +how valuable my knowing how to read and write might one day prove +to me.</p> +<p>"I've no larning myself, Jack," said he; "and I know the loss of +it. Had I known how to read and write, I might have been something +better than a poor Greenwich pensioner; but nevertheless I'm +thankful that I'm no worse. Ever since I've been a man grown I've +only regretted it once—and that's been all my life. Why, +Jack, I'd give this right arm of mine—to be sure, it's no +great things now, but once it could send a harpoon in, up to the +hilt—but still a right arm is a right arm to the end of your +days!—and I'd give it with pleasure, if I only knew how to +read and write. Nay, I wouldn't care about the writing; but, if I +could only read print, Jack, I'd give it; for then I could read the +Bible, as Peter Anderson does. Why, Jack, when we do go to chapel +on Sunday, there's not one in ten of us who can follow the parson +with his book; all we can do is to listen; and when he has done +speaking, we are done also, and must wait till he preaches again. +Don't I feel ashamed, then, Jack, at not being able to read? and +ought not they to feel proud who can—no, not proud, but +thankful<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href= +"#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a>? We don't think of the +Bible much in our younger days, boy; but, when we are tripping our +anchor for the other world, we long to read away our doubts and +misgivings; and it's the only chart you can navigate by safely. I +think a parent has much to answer for that don't teach its child to +read; but I must not blame my father or mother, for I never knew +them."</p> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href= +"#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Ben's +observations were true at the time he spoke; but this is no longer +the case. So much more general has education become, that now, in a +ship's company, at least five out of seven can read.</p> +</div> +<p>"Never knew them?"</p> +<p>"No, boy, no. My father and mother left me when I was one year +old: he was drowned, and my mother—she died too, poor +soul!"</p> +<p>"How did your mother die, Ben?"</p> +<p>"It's a sad, sad story, Jack, and I cannot bear to think of it; +it was told me long afterward, by one who little thought to whom he +was speaking."</p> +<p>"Do tell me, Ben."</p> +<p>"You're too young, boy, for such a tale; it's too shocking."</p> +<p>"Was it worse than being froze to death, as I nearly was the +other day?"</p> +<p>"Yes, my lad, worse than that; although, for one so young as you +are, that was quite bad enough."</p> +<p>"Well, Ben, I won't ask you to tell me if it pains you to tell +it. But you did not do wrong?"</p> +<p>"How could a baby of two years old do wrong, and five thousand +miles off at the time, you little fool? Well, I don't know if I +won't tell you, Jack, after all, because you will then find out +that there's a comfort in reading the Bible; but you must promise +me never to speak about it. I'm a foolish old fellow to tell it to +you, Jack, I do believe; but I'm fond of you, boy, and I don't like +to say 'no' to you. Now come to an anchor close to me. The bells +are ringing for dinner—I shall lose my meal, but you will not +lose your story, and there will be no fear of interruption.</p> +<p>"My father was brought up to the sea, Jack, and was a smart +young man till he was about thirty, when a fall from the mainyard +disabled him from hard duty and going aft; but still he had been +brought up to sea, and was fit for nothing on shore. So, as he was +a clean, likely fellow, he obtained the situation of purser's +steward in an Indiaman. After that he was captain's steward on +board of several ships. He sailed originally from Yarmouth, and +going home after a voyage to see his relations, he fell in with my +mother, and they were spliced. He was very fond of his wife, and I +believe she was a very true and good woman, equally fond of him. He +went to sea again, and I was born. He made another voyage to India, +and when he came back I was two years old. I do not recollect him +or my mother. My father had agreed to sail to the West Indies as +captain's steward, and the captain, with whom he had sailed before, +consented that he should take his wife with him, to attend upon the +lady passengers; so I was left at Yarmouth, and put out to nurse +till they came back. But they never came back, Jack; and, as soon +as I can recollect, I found myself in the workhouse, and, when old +enough, was sent to sea. I had been told that my father and mother +had been lost at sea, but no one could tell me how, and I thought +little more about it, for I had never known them, and those we +don't know we do not love or care for, be they father or +mother.</p> +<p>"Well, I had sailed four or five voyages to the north in the +whalers, and was then about twenty-five years old, when I thought I +would go back to Yarmouth and show myself, for I was 'harpooner and +steersman' at that early age, and not a little proud. I thought I +would go and look at the old workhouse, for it was the only thing I +could recollect, and see if the master and mistress were still +alive, for they were kind to me when I was living with them. I went +to Yarmouth, as I said. There was the workhouse, and the master and +mistress both alive; and I made myself known to them, and the old +people looked at me through their spectacles, and could not believe +that I could possibly be the little Ben who used to run to the pump +for water. I had money in my pocket, and I liked the old people, +who offered me all they could give without hopes of receiving any +thing in return, and, as I knew nobody else, I used to live much +with them, and pay them handsomely. I gave the old man some +curiosities and the old woman a teapot, and so on, and I remained +with them till it was time for me to sail again. Now, you see, +Jack, among the old folk in the workhouse was a man who had been at +sea; and I often had long talks with him, and gave him tobacco, +which he couldn't afford to buy—for they don't allow it in a +workhouse, which is a great hardship, and I have often thought that +I should not like to go into a workhouse because I never could have +a bit of tobacco. This man's hair was as white as snow, much too +white for his age, for he was more decrepit and worn out than, +perhaps, he was old. He had come home to his parish, and, being +unable to gain his living, they had sent him to the workhouse. I +can't understand why a place should be called a workhouse where +they do nothing at all. Well, Charley, as they called him, got very +ill, and they thought he would not last long; and, when the old +people were busy, I used to talk a great deal with him. He was +generally very quiet and composed, and said he was comfortable, but +that he knew he was going fast.</p> +<p>"'But,' says he, 'here's my comfort;' and he pointed to a Bible +that he had on his knees. 'If it had not been for this book,' said +he, 'I do think, at times, I should have made away with +myself.'</p> +<p>"'Why,' says I, 'what have you done? Have you been very +wicked?'</p> +<p>"'We are all very wicked,' said he; 'but that's not exactly it. +I have been <i>haunted</i> for so many years that I have been +almost driven mad.'</p> +<p>"'Why,' said I, 'what can you have done that you should have +been haunted? You haven't committed murder, have you?'</p> +<p>"'Well, I don't know what to say,' replied he; 'if a man looks +on and don't prevent murder, is it not the same? I haven't long to +live, and I feel as if I should be happier if I made a clean breast +of it; for I have kept the secret a long while, and I think that +you, as a sailor, and knowing what sailors suffer, may have a +fellow-feeling; and perhaps you will tell me (for I'm somewhat +uneasy about it) whether you think that I am so very much to blame +in the business? I've suffered enough for it these many years, and +I trust that it will not be forgotten that I have so, when I'm +called up to be judged—as we all shall, if this book is true, +as I fully believe it to be.'</p> +<p>"Here he appeared to be a good deal upset; but he took a drink +of water, and then he told me as follows:</p> +<p>"'About twenty-three years ago I was a seaman on board of the +"William and Caroline," West Indiaman, bound to Jamaica. We had two +or three passengers on board, and the steward's wife attended upon +them. She was a handsome, tall young woman; and when she and her +husband came on board, they told me they had one child, which they +had left at home. Now Yarmouth, you see, is my native place, and, +although I did not know her husband, I knew her family very well. +So we were very intimate, and used to talk about the people we +knew, and so on. I mention this in consequence of what occurred +afterward. We arrived very safe at Jamaica, and remained, as usual, +some time at the island before the drogers brought round our cargo, +and then we again sailed for England.</p> +<p>"'Well, we got clear of the islands, and were getting well +north, when there came on a terrible gale of wind which dismasted +us; and for three weeks we were rolling about gunnel under, for we +were very heavily laden, and we lost our reckoning. At last we +found out that we had been blown down among the reefs to the +southward of the Bahama Isles. We had at one time rigged +jury-masts, but unfortunately the gale had blown up again, and +carried them also over the side; and we had no means of doing +anything, for we had no more small spars or sails, and all our +hopes were of falling in with some vessel which might assist +us.</p> +<p>"'But we had no such good fortune; and one morning, when a heavy +sea was running, we discovered that it was bearing us down upon a +reef of rocks, from which there was no chance of escape. We had no +resource but to get the boats out, and take our chance in them. The +captain was very cool and collected; he ordered everything in which +might be requisite; called up the men, and explained to them his +intentions. All the water and provisions were put into the launch, +for the sea ran so high that the small boats could not carry them; +and it was intended that all the boats should keep company till it +moderated, and then each boat should have its own supply. When all +was ready, we were <i>told off</i> to our respective boats. The +steward and his wife were to be in the same boat with me, and I had +put her carefully in the sternsheets, for I was her great friend. +Now the steward was called out by the captain to go for something +which had been forgotten; and while he was away the ship was struck +by a heavy sea, which occasioned such a breach over her that all +was in confusion, and, to prevent the small boats from swamping, +they were pushed off. The launch still held on for the captain, who +hastened in with the mate and the steward, for they were the only +three left on board; and away we all went. I mention this as the +cause why the steward was separated (only for a time, as we +supposed) from his wife. We had not been clear of the ship more +than five minutes before we found that we, in our boat, could +hardly make head 'gainst the wind and swell, which bore down on the +reef close to us; the launch, which was a heavy-pulling boat and +deeply laden, could not; and in a quarter of an hour we had the +misery to see her in the breakers, swallowed up with all hands, +together with all the provisions and water for our sustenance. I +will not attempt to describe the agony of the steward's wife, who +saw her husband perish before her eyes. She fainted; and it was a +long time before she came to again; for no one could leave his oar +for a minute to assist her, as we pulled for our lives. At last she +did come to. Poor thing! I felt for her. Toward night the wind +lulled, and we had every appearance of fine weather coming on; but +we had nothing to eat, and only a barrico of water in the boat, and +we were quite exhausted with fatigue.</p> +<p>"'We knew that we must pull to the northward, and try and fetch +the Bahama Isles, or, perhaps, some of the small quays to the +southward of them, where we might procure turtle, and, perhaps, +water; and when the sea had gone down, which it did very fast, we +put the head of our boat in that direction, pulling all night. At +daybreak the other boat was not to be seen; it was a dead clam, but +there was still a long heavy swell. We shared out some water and +rested till the evening, and then we took to our oars again.</p> +<p>"'We rowed hard till the morning, but when the sun rose it +scorched us up. It was impossible for us to keep to our oars +without drinking, and, there being no one to take the command, our +water was all gone, and we had not gained fifty miles to the +northward. On the third morning we laid down exhausted at the +bottom of the boat—we were dying not only with thirst, but +with hunger; we had agreed that when night came on we would take to +the oars again; but some would and some would not; so that, at +last, those who had taken to their oars would pull no longer.</p> +<p>"'The steward's wife at times sang psalms, and at times wept. +She had a very sweet voice, but her lips were soon glued together +for want of water, and she could sing no longer.</p> +<p>"'When the sun rose on the fourth day there was no vessel to be +seen. Some were raving for water, and others sat crouched under the +boat's thwarts in silent despair. But, toward evening, the sky +clouded over, and there fell a heavy rain, which refreshed us. We +took the gown from off the steward's wife, and spread it, and +caught the water; and we all drank until our thirst was +quenched—even our wet clothes were a comfort to us; still we +were gnawed with hunger. That night we slept; but the next morning +every man's eyes flashed, and we all looked as if we would eat each +other; and there were whisperings and noddings going on in the bow +of the boat; and a negro who was with us took out his knife, and +sharpened it on the boat's gunnel. No one asked him why. We spoke +not, but we all had our own thoughts. It was dreadful to look at +our hollow cheeks—our eyes sunken deep, but glaring like +red-hot coals—our long beards and haggard faces—every +one ready to raise his hand against the other. The poor woman never +complained or said a word after she left off singing; her thoughts +appeared elsewhere. She sat for hours motionless, with her eyes +fixed on the still blue water, as if she would pierce its +depth.</p> +<p>"'At last the negro came aft; and we were each upon our guard as +he passed us, for we had seen him sharpen his knife. He went to the +sternsheets, where the poor woman sat, and we all knew what he +intended to do, for he only acted our own thoughts. She was still +hanging over the gunnel, with her eyes fixed downward, and she +heeded not his approach. He caught her by the hair, and dragged her +head toward him. She then held out her arms toward me, faintly +calling me by name; but I—shame on me!—remained sitting +on the afterthwart. The negro thrust his knife into her neck, below +the ear; and, as soon as he had divided the artery, he glued his +thick lips to the gash and sucked her blood.</p> +<p>"'When the deed was done, others rose up and would have shared; +but the negro kept his white eyes directed toward them—one +arm thrust out, with his knife pointed at them, as he slaked his +thirst, while, with his other round her waist, he supported her +dying frame. The attitude was that of fondness, while the deed +was—murder. He appeared as if he were caressing her, while +her life's blood poured into his throat. At last we all drew our +knives; and the negro knew that he must resign his prey or his +life. He dropped the woman, and she fell, with her face forward, at +my feet. She was quite dead. And then—our hunger was +relieved.</p> +<p>"'Three days passed away, and again we were mad for want of +water—when we saw a vessel. We shouted, and shook hands, and +threw out the oars, and pulled as if we had never suffered. It was +still calm, and, as we approached the vessel, we threw what +remained of the poor woman into the sea; and the sharks finished +what we had left. We agreed to say nothing about her, for we were +ashamed of ourselves.</p> +<p>"'Now I did <i>not</i> murder, but I did <i>not</i> prevent it; +and I have ever since been haunted by this poor woman. I see her +and the negro constantly before me, and then I think of what +passed, and I turn sick. I feel that I ought to have saved +her—she is always holding out her arms to me, and I hear her +faintly call "Charles"—then I read my Bible—and she +disappears, and I feel as if I were forgiven. Tell me, what do you +think, messmate?'</p> +<p>"'Why,' replied I, 'sarcumstances will make us do what we +otherwise would never think possible. I never was in such a +predicament, and therefore can't tell what people may be brought to +do. But tell me, messmate, what was the name of the poor +woman?'</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus090.jpg" id="illus090.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus090.jpg"><img src="images/thumb090.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>ANDERSON READING THE BIBLE TO JACK.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 89.</b><br /></div> +<p>"'The husband's name was Ben Rivers.'</p> +<p>"'<i>Rivers</i>, did you say?' replied I, struck all of a +heap.</p> +<p>"'Yes,' replied he; 'that was her name; she was of this town. +But never mind the name—tell me what you think, +messmate?'</p> +<p>"'Well,' says I (for I was quite bewildered), 'I'll tell you +what, old fellow—as far as I'm consarned, you have my +forgiveness, and now I must wish you good-by—and I pray to +God that we may never meet again.'</p> +<p>"'Stop a little,' said he; 'don't leave me this way. Ah! I see +how it is—you think I'm a murderer.'</p> +<p>"'No, I don't,' replied I; 'not exactly—still, there'll be +no harm in your reading your Bible.'</p> +<p>"And so I got up, and walked out of the room—for you see, +Jack, although he mayn't have been so much to blame, still I didn't +like to be in company with a man who had eaten up <i>my own +mother!</i>"</p> +<p>Here Ben paused, and sighed deeply. I was so much shocked with +the narrative that I could not say a word. At last Ben +continued:</p> +<p>"I couldn't stay in the room—I couldn't stay in the +workhouse. I couldn't even stay in the town. Before the day closed +I was out of it, and I have never been there since. Now, Jack, I +must go in—remember what I have said to you, and larn to read +your Bible."</p> +<p>I promised that I would, and that very evening I had my first +lesson from Peter Anderson, and I continued to receive them until I +could read well. He then taught me to write and cipher; but before +I could do the latter, many events occurred, which must be made +known to the reader.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_ELEVEN" id="CHAPTER_ELEVEN"></a>CHAPTER +ELEVEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which the Doctor lets out some very novel Modes of Medical +Treatment, which are attended with the greatest Success.</p> +</div> +<p>Such a change has taken place since I can first recollect +Greenwich that it will be somewhat difficult for me to make the +reader aware of my localities. Narrow streets have been pulled +down, handsome buildings erected—new hotels in lieu of small +inns—gay shops have now usurped those which were furnished +only with articles necessary for the outfit of the seamen. +Formerly, long stages, with a basket to hold six behind, and +dillies which plied at the Elephant and Castle, were the usual land +conveyances—now they have made place for railroads and +omnibuses. Formerly, the wherry conveyed the mariner and his wife, +with his sea-chest, down to the landing-place—now steamboats +pour out their hundreds at a trip. Even the view from Greenwich is +much changed, here and there broken in upon by the high towers for +shot and other manufactories, or some large building which rises +boldly in the distance; while the "Dreadnaught's" splendid frame +fills up half the river, and she that was used to deal out death +and destruction with her terrible rows of teeth, is now dedicated +by humanity to succor and relieve.</p> +<p>I mention this because the house in which Dr. Tadpole formerly +lived no longer exists; and I wish particularly to describe it to +the reader.</p> +<p>When I left Greenwich in 1817 or 1818, it was still standing, +although certainly in a very dilapidated state. I will, however, +give a slight sketch of it, as it is deeply impressed on my +memory.</p> +<p>It was a tall, narrow building of dark red brick, much +ornamented, and probably built in the time of Queen Elizabeth. It +had two benches on each side the door; for, previous to Tadpole's +taking possession of it, it had been an alehouse, and much +frequented by seamen. The doctor had not removed these benches, as +they were convenient, when the weather was fine, for those who +waited for medicine or advice; and moreover, being a jocular, +sociable man, he liked people to sit down there, and would often +converse with them. Indeed, this assisted much to bring him into +notice, and made him so well known among the humbler classes that +none of them, if they required medicine or advice, ever thought of +going to any one but Dr. Tadpole. He was very liberal and kind, and +I believe there was hardly a poor person in the town who was not in +his debt, for he never troubled them much about payment. He had +some little property of his own, or he never could have carried on +such a losing concern as his business really must have been to him. +In early life he had been a surgeon in the navy, and was said, and +I believe with justice, to be very clever in his profession. In +defending himself against some act of oppression on the part of his +captain—for in those times the service was very different to +what it is now—he had incurred the displeasure of the Navy +Board, and had left the service. His enemies (for even the doctor +had his enemies) asserted that he was turned out of the service; +his friends, that he left the service in disgust; after all, a +matter of little consequence. The doctor is now gone, and has left +behind him in the town of Greenwich a character for charity and +generosity of which no one can deprive him. He was buried in +Greenwich churchyard; and never was there, perhaps, such a numerous +procession as voluntarily followed his remains to the grave. The +poor fully paid him the debt of gratitude, if they did not pay him +their other debts; and when his will was opened, it was found that +he had released them all from the latter. Peace be to him, and +honor to his worth!</p> +<p>The shop of Dr. Tadpole was fitted up in a very curious manner, +and excited a great deal of admiration. During his service afloat +he had collected various objects of natural history, which he had +set up or prepared himself: the lower rows of bottles in the +windows were full of snakes, lizards, and other reptiles; the +second tier of bottles in the window were the same as are now +generally seen—large globes containing blue and yellow +mixtures, with gold hieroglyphics outside of them; but between each +of these bottles was a stuffed animal of some kind, generally a +small monkey, or of that description. The third row of bottles was +the most incomprehensible: no one could tell what was in them; and +the doctor, when asked, would laugh and shake his head: this made +the women very curious. I believe they were chiefly preparations of +the stomach, and other portions of the interior of the animal +frame; but the doctor always said that it was his row of "secrets," +and used to amuse himself with evading the questions of the other +sex. There were some larger specimens of natural history suspended +from the ceiling, chiefly skulls and bones of animals; and on the +shelves inside a great variety of stones and pebbles and fragments +of marble figures, which the doctor had picked up, I believe, in +the Mediterranean: altogether the shop was a strange medley, and +made people stare very much when they came into it. The doctor kept +an old woman to cook and clean the house, and his boy Tom, whom I +have already mentioned. Tom was a good-natured lad, and, as his +master said, very fond of liquorice; but the doctor used to laugh +at that (when Tom was not by), saying, "It's very true that Tom +cribs my <i>liquorice</i>; but I will say this for him, he is very +honest about <i>jalap</i> and <i>rhubarb</i>, and I have never +missed a grain."</p> +<p>Next door to the doctor lived another person, who kept a small +tobacconist's shop, which was a favorite resort of the pensioners +and other poor people. She was an Irishwoman, with a strong accent +of her country—a widow by her own account. Who her husband +had been was not satisfactorily known: if the question was put, she +always evaded it as much as possible. All she said was that his +name was St. Felix, and that he had been of no profession. She was +about twenty-two or twenty-three, very handsome, and very pleasing +in her manners, which was perhaps one cause of the surmises and +scandal which were continually afloat. Some said that her husband +was still alive; others that he had been transported for seven +years; and many (and among them my mother) declared that she could +not produce her "marriage lines." Indeed, there was no end to +ill-natured reports, as always will be the case when men are so +unfortunate as to have a reputation, or women so unfortunate as to +be pretty. But the widow appeared to be indifferent to what people +said: she was always lively and cheerful, and a great favorite with +the men, whatever she may have been with the women. Dr. Tadpole had +courted her ever since she had settled at Greenwich: they were the +best of friends, but the doctor's suit did not appear to advance. +Nevertheless, the doctor seldom passed a day without paying her a +visit, and she was very gracious to him. Although she sold every +variety of tobacco, she would not permit people to smoke, and had +no seats either in the shop or at the door—but to this rule +an exception was made in favor of the doctor. He seldom failed to +be there every evening; and, although she would not allow him a +chair, she permitted him to remain standing at the counter and +smoke his cigar while they conversed. It was this indulgence which +occasioned people to think that she would marry the doctor; but at +last they got tired of waiting, and it became a sort of proverb in +Fisher's Alley and its precincts, when things were put off to an +indefinite period, to say, "Yes, that will be done when the widow +marries the doctor."</p> +<p>One evening, Ben had sent me to fill his tobacco-box at Mrs. St. +Felix's, and when I went in, I found the doctor in her shop.</p> +<p>"Well, Master Tom Saunders or Mr. Poor Jack," said the widow, +"what may your pleasure be?"</p> +<p>"Pigtail," said I, putting down the penny.</p> +<p>"Is it for your father, Jack, for report tells me that he's in +want of it?"</p> +<p>"No," replied I, "it's for old Ben—father's a long way +from this, I expect."</p> +<p>"And do you intend to follow him, Jack? It's my opinion you'll +be the very revarse of a good sailor if you cruise bottom up as you +did on your first voyage."</p> +<p>"It's not the pleasantest way of sailing, is it, Jack?" observed +the doctor.</p> +<p>"Not in the winter-time," replied I.</p> +<p>The widow measured the length of the pigtail, as milliners do +tape, from the tip of the finger to the knuckle, and cut it +off.</p> +<p>"And now will you oblige me with a cigar?" said the doctor. "I +think this is the sixth, is it not, Mrs. St. Felix? so here's my +shilling."</p> +<p>"Really, doctor, if it were not that the wry faces I make at +physic would spoil my beauty, I'm almost in honor bound to send for +something to take out of your shop, just by the way of return for +your patronage."</p> +<p>"I trust you will never require it, Mrs. St. Felix. I've no +objection to your sending for anything you please, but don't take +physic."</p> +<p>"Well, my girl Jane shall have a dose, I declare, she is getting +so fat and lumpy. Only don't let it be laudanum, doctor, she's so +sleepy-headed already. I told her this morning that she was looking +pale, just by way of preparing her."</p> +<p>"Mrs. St. Felix, you must excuse me, but you've no right to +interfere with my practice. I prescribe physic when I think it +necessary, and Jane is perfectly well at present, and shall not +have any."</p> +<p>"And you've no right to interfere with my household, doctor. If +I choose, I'll physic Jane, and the dog, and the cat, and the +kitten, which I reckon to be the whole of my establishment, all +four of them on the same day. Tell me, doctor, how much ipecacuanha +will make a kitten sick?"</p> +<p>"Mrs. St. Felix, I am not a veterinary surgeon, and therefore +cannot answer."</p> +<p>"Veterinary! Well, I thought they only doctored horses."</p> +<p>"I beg your pardon, their practice extends further, as I can +prove to you. I was once at the establishment of one in London, and +I observed in a large room about a dozen little lap-dogs all tied +up with strings. The poor little unwieldy waddling things were sent +to him because they were asthmatic, and I don't know what all; and +how do you think he cured them?"</p> +<p>"It's for me to ask that question, doctor."</p> +<p>"Well, then, he told me his secret. He tied them all up, and +gave them nothing to eat, only water to drink; and in three weeks +they were returned in as beautiful condition, and as frisky as +young kids. Nothing but diet, Mrs. St. Felix."</p> +<p>"I should rather think it was <i>no</i> diet, doctor. Well, I do +declare, I'll tie up Jane for three weeks, and see if nothing but +water will cure her complaints. Well, Mr. Jack, why don't you take +the tobacco to Ben?"</p> +<p>"Oh! he's in at supper now; there's no hurry," replied I; "and I +like to hear you talk."</p> +<p>"Well, there'll be less scandal in your remaining to hear us +than there would be if we sent you away, anyhow. How's little Miss +Virginia, sister to Poor Jack."</p> +<p>"She's quite well, and wants to come and see you, only mother +won't let her."</p> +<p>"Many thanks to your sister for her compliment; and not +forgetting your mother for hers, also. So your mother has given up +'making <i>lay</i> on reasonable terms'?"</p> +<p>"'Cause people wouldn't come."</p> +<p>"And that is a sufficient reason, even if she had not another; +which is, that she's never out of hot water without boiling more. +Doctor, you're as mute as a fish. You told me how to cure Jane and +the dogs, now tell me what's the dose for a cat and a kitten?"</p> +<p>"A ha'p'orth of liver, cut into small pieces."</p> +<p>"There'll be no difficulty in getting that down their throats, +anyhow."</p> +<p>"Talking about liver, Mrs. St. Felix, I once knew a friend of +mine who cured some geese of a liver complaint."</p> +<p>"Had they been long in the East Indies, poor creatures?"</p> +<p>"No, but they had been in a very hot climate. You see, he was +over in France during the last peace, and he went to the baths at +Montpellier for the benefit of his health. He lodged with an old +Frenchman. Now, you see, Mrs. St. Felix, in the south of France +they have a custom of making certain pies, which are much esteemed, +and are called pâtes de foie gras—that means livers of +geese, in French."</p> +<p>"It don't sound much like livers in English, doctor; but never +mind that, go on with your story."</p> +<p>"Here's a customer, Mrs. St. Felix; serve him first, and then I +will go on with my story."</p> +<p>An old pensioner came in, and laying the coppers on the counter, +asked for a ha'p'orth of returns and a farthing of snuff.</p> +<p>"That's a large ready money order, doctor," said the widow, as +the man left the shop. "Ain't I making my fortune? Now go on; I'm +as eager about the liver as my own cat."</p> +<p>"Well, the great object is to increase the size of the geese's +livers, that is, to bring on a regular liver complaint; and, to +effect this, they put the poor animals in a hot closet next the +kitchen fire, cram the food into their mouths through a funnel, and +give them plenty of water to drink. This produces the disease; and +the livers of the geese, when they are killed, very often weigh +three or four pounds, while the animals themselves are mere +skeletons."</p> +<p>"And the French eat those liver complaints?" interrupted the +widow, making a face.</p> +<p>"Yes, they do, and are as fond of it as my boy Tom is of +liquorice. Well, this doctor, who is a friend of mine, quarreled +with his host, who boasted of his geese having the largest livers +in Montpellier, and was very proud of it. My friend knew that he +could not annoy him more than by preventing his success; so, having +a large quantity of Cheltenham salts with him, he used every +morning to put a quantity of them in the water which the geese were +given to drink. This had the same effect upon them as it has upon +men and women; and instead of becoming more diseased every day, the +geese recovered their health and spirits. The Frenchman crammed and +crammed, made his closet still hotter, and sacre bleu'd, and +actually tore his hair, because his geese would be well and hearty; +but, the more he tried to make them ill, the more salts were given +to them by the doctor, who gained his point and his revenge."</p> +<p>"Well, that's a funny story, doctor; and since you know how to +cure it, the first time I meet with a sick goose I'll send him to +you."</p> +<p>"Many thanks; but, as it is, there's plenty of geese to send for +the doctor."</p> +<p>"That's true enough. And now, Master Jack, you've had quite +enough for your penny, and I won't allow Ben to be kept waiting any +longer."</p> +<p>"You are not going to tell any more stories, doctor?" said +I.</p> +<p>"Why, you mud-larking vagabond, you don't mean to say that I've +told stories? Be off with you! And, I say, as you pass round the +corner, just tell Tom that I'm coming home directly."</p> +<p>"Won't that be a story, doctor?" said I, as I went out of the +door. I heard them both laugh, but I did not hear what they +said.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWELVE" id="CHAPTER_TWELVE"></a>CHAPTER +TWELVE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>I prefer a Suit to Old Nanny, and procure a new Suit of +Clothes—The advantage of being well dressed: you may walk out +with the Ladies</p> +</div> +<p>The reader must not give me too much credit when I tell him +that, ever since I had been under the tuition of Peter Anderson, I +had quite a craving to go to church. Although what I had gained +from his precepts and explanations had increased my desire, still I +must acknowledge that the strongest reason for my being so anxious +was that my mother would not take me, and did take Virginia. +Further, my curiosity was excited by my absolute ignorance of what +the church service consisted; I had heard the bells toll, and, as I +sauntered by, would stop and listen to the organ and the singing. I +would sometimes wait, and see the people coming out; and then I +could not help comparing my ragged dress with their clean and gay +attire.</p> +<p>This wish continually worried me; but the more I reflected, the +more impossible it appeared to be that I should be able to gratify +it. How could I possibly go to church in my tattered and dirty +clothes—and what chance had I of getting others? I certainly +gained, at an average, eighteenpence per week, but I saved nothing. +Would my mother give me clothes? No, that I was sure she would not, +for she grudged me even the little victuals which I did apply for. +I thought this matter over and over as I lay in bed. Ben had no +money. Anderson I could not ask for it. I thought that I would +apply to Dr. Tadpole, but I was afraid. At last it came into my +head that I had better first ascertain how much money I should +require before I took further measures. The next morning I went to +a fitting-out shop, and asked the lad who attended how much money I +should have to pay for a pair of blue trousers, waistcoat, and +jacket. The lad told me that I might have a very nice suit for +twenty-two shillings. Twenty-two shillings! What an enormous sum it +appeared to me then; and then there was a straw hat to buy, and a +pair of shoes and stockings. I inquired the price of these last +articles, and found that my dross could not be made complete under +thirty-three shillings. I was quite in despair, for the sum +appeared to be a fortune. I sat down to calculate how long it would +take me to save up so much money, at sixpence a week, which was all +that I could afford; but, at that time, never having learned +anything of figures, all I could make of it was that it was so long +a time as to be beyond my calculation.</p> +<p>It was Saturday evening. I sat down on the steps of the +landing-place, very melancholy, thinking that to-morrow was Sunday, +and abandoning all hopes of ever going to church, when a Thames +fisherman, of the name of Freeman, who lived at Greenwich, and with +whom I was acquainted—for I used to assist him on the +Saturday night to moor his coble off the landing-place, and hang up +his nets to dry—called out to me to come and help him. I did +so; we furled the sails, hauled on board his little boat for +keeping the fish alive, hoisted the nets up to the mast, and made +all secure; and I was thinking to myself that he would go to church +to-morrow, and I could not, when he asked me why I was so sad. I +told him.</p> +<p>"Why, Jack," said he, "I can't help you, for it is bad times +with me just now; indeed, I could help you but little if times were +ever so good—I've too many children of my own; but look ye, +here's a good long piece of four-inch, which I picked up, and it's +well worth a shilling. I'll give it you (for I do owe you +something), and do you take it to old Nanny. She's a queer body; +but suppose you try whether she'll let you have the money. She can +if she chooses, and, as you have dealt with her so long, perhaps +she will, if you promise to lay some by every week, and repay +her."</p> +<p>This idea had never occurred to me, for I knew old Nanny was +very close, and drove very hard bargains with me; however, I +thanked Freeman for his piece of rope and piece of advice, and when +we landed I determined, at all events, I would try.</p> +<p>I have before mentioned old Nanny, who kept a marine store, and +to whom I used to sell whatever I picked up on the beach. She was a +strange old woman, and appeared to know everything that was going +on. How she gained her information I cannot tell. She was very +miserly in general; but it was said she had done kind things in one +or two instances. Nobody knew her history: all that anybody knew +was that she was Old Nanny. She had no kith or kin that she ever +mentioned; some people said she was rich, if the truth were known; +but how are we to get at the truth in this world?</p> +<p>I was soon at old Nanny's store, with the piece of rope coiled +over my arm.</p> +<p>"Well, Jack, what have you got here? a piece of good junk? no, +it is not, for it is quite rotten. Why do you bring me such things? +What can I do with them?"</p> +<p>"Why, mother," says I, "it's new rope; not been used hardly; +it's the very best of junk."</p> +<p>"Boy, boy! do you pretend to teach me? Well, what do you want +for it?"</p> +<p>"I want a shilling," replied I.</p> +<p>"A shilling!" cried she, "where am I to find a shilling? And if +I could find one, why should I throw it away upon a thing not worth +twopence, and which will only lumber my store till I die? The boy's +demented!"</p> +<p>"Mother," says I, "it's worth a shilling, and you know it; so +give it to me, or I go elsewhere."</p> +<p>"And where will you go to, good-for-nothing that you are? where +will you go to?"</p> +<p>"Oh! the fishermen will give me more."</p> +<p>"The fishermen will give you a couple of stale flat-fish, to +take home to your mother."</p> +<p>"Well, I'll try that," said I, going.</p> +<p>"Not so fast, Jack, not so fast; if I make a penny by you one +day, I suppose, to keep your custom, I must lose something by you +the next. Now, I'll give you sixpence; and how I'm to get my money +back I don't know."</p> +<p>"No, Nanny," said I, "I must have a shilling."</p> +<p>"A shilling, you little cheat! I can't give it; but what do you +want? don't you want a key to your chest, or something of that +sort?"</p> +<p>"I've no chest, mother, and therefore don't want a key."</p> +<p>"But you want something out of all the pretty things in my shop; +boys always fancy something."</p> +<p>I laughed at the idea of "pretty things" in her shop, for it +contained nothing but old iron, empty bottles, dirty rags and +phials; so I told her there was nothing that I wanted.</p> +<p>"Well," says she, "sit down a little, and look about you; +there's no hurry. So Mrs. East has got another boy, worse luck for +the parish, with six children already!—Look about you, and +take your time.—Did you hear of Peter James giving his wife a +black eye last night because she wanted to get him out of the +alehouse?—I wonder who that letter was from that Susan Davis +had from the post-office. I think I could guess; poor girl! she has +looked rather peaking for some weeks.—Don't be in a hurry, +Jack; look about; there's plenty of pretty things in my +shop.—So Davis the butcher has been pulled up for bad meat; I +thought it would come to that, and I'm glad of it.—There's a +capital lock and key, Jack, to put to your chest, when you get one; +suppose you take that.—What's the doctor about? They say he +is always sitting with the widow.—Does your mother make +plenty of money by clear-starching? I know your sister had a +spotted muslin frock on last Sunday, and that must have cost +something.—There's a spade, Jack; very useful to dig on the +beach; you may find something—money, perhaps—who knows? +Take the spade, Jack, and then you'll owe me sixpence.—So +Bill Freeman pawned his wife's best gown last Saturday night. I +thought it would be so. He may say it's because he's caught no fish +this bad weather. But I know more than people think.—Here's a +nice glass bottle, Jack, wouldn't you like to give it to your +mother, to put pickles in? it's white glass, you see. Look about, +Jack; there's plenty of pretty things, you see.—So the +Governor's daughter's going to be married; at least I suppose so, +for I met her riding with a young gentleman; and nowadays the +quality always make love on horseback.—Well, Jack, have you +found anything?"</p> +<p>"No, mother, I haven't; and I must have my shilling or go. +Unless, indeed, you're inclined to help me to what I want, and then +I'll give you the rope for nothing."</p> +<p>"Give me the rope for nothing!" replied old Nanny. "Sit down, +Jack, and let me know what it is you want."</p> +<p>I thought it was of little use to make the application, but I +determined to try; so I explained my wishes.</p> +<p>"Humph!" said she, after a minute's thought, "so you want +thirty-three shillings to buy clothes—to go to church in. +Your mother dresses your sister in spotted muslin and leaves you in +rags; suppose you wait till your father comes home again?"</p> +<p>"That may not be for years."</p> +<p>"Why, Jack, I don't go to church—I am too old—too +poor to dress myself to go to church, even if I could go so +far—why should you go?"</p> +<p>"Well, mother," said I, rising up, "if you will not do it, I'm +very sorry; I would have paid you honestly, and have given you good +bargains, so good-by."</p> +<p>"Not so fast, Jack—sit down, sit down, boy—look +about the shop and see if you can find something that will suit +you." Here Nanny communed with herself aloud: "Thirty-three +shillings! that's a great deal of money—pay me +honestly—and good bargains! His mother called me an old cat +the other day—I think they could be got cheaper, they always +cheat boys—she'd be vexed to see him dressed clean at +church—honest boy, I do believe—a boy that wants to go +to church must be a good boy. Oh, dear me, it is so much +money!"</p> +<p>"I'll work day and night to pay you, Nanny."</p> +<p>"And mind, Jack, I'm to have good bargains, and this piece of +rope for nothing; something paid every week."</p> +<p>"If I can earn it, mother, as sure as I sit here."</p> +<p>"Well, the old cat will do more for you, Jack, than your mother +would. You shall have the money; but, Jack, I must bargain for the +things."</p> +<p>"Thank you, Nanny, thank you!" replied I, jumping off my seat +with delight.</p> +<p>"Well, we can do nothing to-night, Jack. Come to me on Monday, +and if I don't change my mind—"</p> +<p>"Change your mind!" said I, sorrowfully. "I thought you had +promised!"</p> +<p>"Well, so I did—and—and I'll keep my promise, Jack. +Come on Monday; and as you can't go to church to-morrow, see if you +can't pick up a little money."</p> +<p>I did not neglect her injunctions, and was fortunate enough to +be able to bring her sixpence on the Monday morning. Nanny went +with me to the clothing-shop, haggled and fought until she reduced +the articles to twenty-eight shillings, and then they were ordered +to be made and sent to her house. I earned but little money that +week, and more than once Nanny appeared to be very unhappy, and +repent of her kind offices; but when Sunday came she was very +cheerful; she washed me herself very carefully, and then put on my +clothes. I cannot express the delight I felt at that moment; when +Nanny said to me, as she placed the hat on my head:</p> +<p>"Well, Jack, I wouldn't have thought that you were such a +handsome boy as you are. Why, you may walk with your sister +Virginia, and she will have nothing to be ashamed of, pretty as she +is. There, go and show yourself; and, Jack, don't forget your +promise to pay me back soon and give me good bargains!"</p> +<p>I repeated my promise and hastened to the hospital to find Peter +Anderson. He did not know me when I came up to him. I told him how +and why I had got the clothes; he patted my head, said I was a good +lad, and that he would take me to the chapel at the hospital, where +I could sit with the school-children; he could manage that. Then I +met Ben and others, and they were all so surprised. I went to the +chapel, and although I could not hear well what was said, for I was +a long way off from the parson, and the old pensioners coughed so +much, I was very much pleased, although a little tired before it +was over. When the service was finished, I was proceeding to my +mother's, when I met her and little Virginia coming home from the +town church.</p> +<p>"There's a nice little boy, Virginia," said my mother; "wouldn't +you like to walk with him?"</p> +<p>My mother did not know me, but Virginia did immediately; she +burst away from her mother and ran into my arms, laughing and +crying as she clung to me, and then she cried out, "Mother, yes, +mother, I will walk with him!" and she hastened me away with her, +much to my mother's annoyance, who would have run after us to stop +her, but she didn't think it genteel to go so fast; so Virginia and +I went off together, leaving my mother very angry indeed. We walked +along toward the hospital, Virginia crying out to every one she +knew, her large hazel eyes beaming with delight, "Look, this is +brother Jack!" and I went with her to Peter Anderson and old Ben. I +was so proud to have my sister with me; and Peter Anderson +said:</p> +<p>"This is as it should have been a long while ago." And then he +continued, "Jack, you may happen not to earn any money in the week, +and if so, come to me, for old Nanny must not be disappointed; but, +recollect, you must pay for your own clothes out of your own +earnings."</p> +<p>When it was dinner-time Virginia and I went home together. As we +came to Fisher's Alley I said to her, "Mother will be angry with +you."</p> +<p>"I can't help it, Jack," replied she; "you are my own brother, +and we are not doing wrong."</p> +<p>When we went in my mother looked hard at me; but, to my +surprise, said nothing. She was sulky, but whether it was with +Virginia or with me, or with my new clothes, or whether her +conscience smote her for her neglect of me, I do not know. She put +the dinner on the table in silence, and after it was over she went +upstairs. Virginia and I did not neglect this opportunity. She put +on her bonnet, we slipped out, and walked about together till +tea-time. When we came back my mother seized my sister by the arm +and carried her up to bed. Little Virginia made no resistance, but +turned her head and smiled at me as she was led away. I never felt +so happy in my life as I did when I went to bed and thought over +the events of the day.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus109.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTEEN" id="CHAPTER_THIRTEEN"></a>CHAPTER +THIRTEEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>I am so Unfashionable as to pay my Debts—Ben's Opinion as +to my Father's Return—The Chances exemplified in the List of +killed and wounded—The "L'Orient" blowing up and the "Royal +George" going down.</p> +</div> +<p>Time passed, and three years of it certainly were not +unprofitably spent. Anderson had instructed me well. I could read, +write, and cipher, and, what the reader will consider of more +consequence, I was well acquainted with the Bible, and duly +admonished by my preceptor of my duty toward God and man. Nor was +my sister Virginia neglected. My mother, as soon as she was seven +years old, sent her as a day scholar to a young ladies' seminary, +where she was well taught, although the style of the school was +much above my sister's situation in life; but my mother would not +allow her to go anywhere else, although there were several schools +more appropriate. She declared that Virginia should not mix with +the vulgar, ungenteel girls of the place, and that, if <i>she</i> +had demeaned herself by marrying below her rank, at all events +<i>her</i> daughter should be brought up as she ought to be. The +neighbors laughed at her, but my mother did not care. She worked +hard, and always was ready to pay the quarter's bill for schooling +whenever it was due.</p> +<p>To me Sunday was a day of rejoicing; I was so glad to throw off +my ragged apparel of "Poor Jack" and put on my best clothes, that I +might walk with my sister, for my mother gradually softened down +her asperity (perhaps out of prudence), as she could raise no +objection to Virginia walking with her brother when he was clean +and well dressed, and Virginia was very firm in supporting me when +I requested permission. Indeed, latterly my requests were more like +demanding a right than a favor, and my mother appeared to wish to +avoid a contest with me. She knew that I was a good scholar, very +independent of her, and very much liked. The favorable opinion of +others induced her to treat me with more consideration; but we had +no regard for each other, only preserving a sort of armed +neutrality.</p> +<p>There are grades in all classes of life; and the young ladies' +seminary, to which Virginia went as a day scholar, had its +distinctions of rank. The first in consequence among the young +ladies were the two daughters of Mr. Tippet, the haberdasher; then +came the hatter's daughter, Miss Beaver. The grades appeared to be +as follows: manufactures held the first rank; then dry goods, as +the tea-dealers, grocers, etc.; the third class consisted of the +daughters of the substantial butchers and pastrycooks. The +squabbles between the young ladies about rank and precedence were +continual: what then must have been the position of poor little +Virginia, whose mother was a clear-starcher and getter-up of fine +linen? At first they called her the washerwoman's daughter, and +would not associate with her, which made her very uncomfortable; +and she used to tell me on the Sundays when we walked out how she +had been treated during the week. But it was all for her advantage, +and tended to correct the false pride and upstart ideas which in +time must have been engendered by my mother's folly. Neither, after +a few weeks, was my sister unhappy. She was too meek in disposition +to reply, so that she disarmed those who would assail her; and +being, as she was, of the lowest rank in the school, there could be +no contest with the others as to precedence. Her mildness, +humility, and sweetness of temper soon won upon both the +schoolmistress and the scholars; eventually the Misses Tippet took +Virginia under their protection, and this magnanimity on their part +silenced all opposition. My mother had desired my sister to take +lessons in dancing. At first the girls would not stand up with her; +but, when the elder Miss Tippet took her as a partner, my sister +became quite the fashion, and, what was better, a great favorite +and pet with everybody; and they all patronized her as "little +Virginia."</p> +<p>I very soon paid off my debt to old Nanny, without having to +apply to Peter Anderson. I had assistance (but without asking for +it) as follows: The second Sunday after I had obtained my clothes I +called, with Virginia, upon the widow of St. Felix. She was in the +back parlor, and the doctor, as usual, sitting with her. She +received us very kindly, spoke a deal to Virginia, and told me that +I looked very handsome for "Poor Jack."</p> +<p>"You'll be quite the fashion," continued she; "and I presume, +like most fashionable gentlemen, your clothes are not paid +for."</p> +<p>I replied, laughing, that they were not; but that they should +be, if I lived and could work.</p> +<p>"I've heard the whole story from old Ben," replied she. "Come in +to-morrow, Jack; I want to speak with you."</p> +<p>I did so in the forenoon, when she put a five-shilling piece in +my hand, and said, "That's from me, to help you to pay your debt to +old Nanny. But that's not all, Jack; I've coaxed the doctor (not +that he required much coaxing, to do him justice), and here's two +half-crowns from him, which, I believe, will go about as far as my +five shillings. Now, Jack, you look very happy; so, just out of +gratitude, run as fast as you can, and make poor old Nanny happy, +for she moans over her generous fit, and wonders all day long +whether you will ever pay her again."</p> +<p>I had listened all this while to Mrs. St. Felix, but I was so +moved by her kindness and generosity that I could not speak. I had +received money for services performed, and I had obtained it from +Nanny as a loan, to be repaid with interest; but so much money, as +a gift, had never entered into my imagination. I could not restrain +my feelings. I dropped my face on the counter to conceal the tears +which escaped.</p> +<p>"I can't say 'thank you,' as I wish, indeed I can't," said I, as +I looked up at her.</p> +<p>"Why, you foolish boy, you have said thank you," replied the +widow; "and now run away, for I must leave the shop a minute."</p> +<p>This assistance made me redouble my exertions, and in three +months I had repaid the whole. The last portion which was due I +received from Virginia. She knew how much I paid off every week; +and when on Sunday I told her that I had only one and sixpence +owing, she ran upstairs, and, when she came down again, put the sum +into my hand. She had been saving up all she could coax out of my +mother ever since I had first obtained the clothes; and great +indeed was her delight when she gave me the money—she kissed +me, and began to dance, although it was Sunday, and then she +proposed that we should walk together to old Nanny's, and close the +account. We found the old woman sitting on her steps; the door was +open, but the shop shutters were up. On the Saturday night I had +paid her two shillings, so that she did not expect to see me. +Virginia put the one and sixpence in her hand, saying, "Now brother +has paid you all."</p> +<p>"Yes, darling, he has," replied old Nanny; "but then he +promised—"</p> +<p>"I know I did," interrupted I; "and I will keep my promise. I +promised you good bargains."</p> +<p>"You're an honest boy, Jack, and what's more strange, your +sister isn't a spoiled girl; but that's not her mother's fault. My +dear, if it was not Sunday you would be able to see all the pretty +things in my shop, and perhaps you might like something. You must +come another day."</p> +<p>I thanked old Nanny once more for having trusted me, and then we +left her, I did keep my word with, her, and gave her good bargains +for a long while afterward.</p> +<p>I often thought of my father, who had been absent now for nearly +four years, and, as the time advanced, I became more anxious to +hear of him. I seldom met old Ben the Whaler without talking about +my father, and asking Ben what chance he thought there was of his +return.</p> +<p>"Why, you see, Jack," said Ben, "in these times it's hard to say +whether a man be alive or not. Every day we hear of some naval +action or another, and therefore every day some must lose the +number of their mess; and then you see, Jack, a man may be supposed +to be dead for years, and after all turn up in some French prison +or another; and then ships change their stations, and ships' +companies their ships; and then ships are sometimes wrecked, with +all hands, or take fire, and are blown up. Many a good seaman loses +his life by falling overboard in a gale—and who knows or +cares? Whether your father be alive or be dead, Jack, it is +impossible for me to say; but, howsomever, I hope he be."</p> +<p>This was not a satisfactory, although a cautious reply, and I +never could get Ben to give any other. I began to think that one of +the mischances enumerated in Ben's catalogue might have occurred, +and that I never should see my father again, when one morning, as I +was standing at the landing-place, Ben came up to me and said, +"Now, Jack, perhaps we may hear something of your father. Here's +been a famous action fought, and a matter of a thousand men killed +and wounded. I've only just heard about it. Nelson has licked the +French on the coast of Egypt" (Ben here referred to the battle of +the Nile), "and the 'Oudacious,' the ship on board of which your +father was boatswain's mate, was in the action. Now, you see, the +names of the killed will be sent into the office here, that their +relations may receive the pay and prize-money due to them. So now, +Jack, perhaps you'll hear something about your father."</p> +<p>"But I shall only hear of his being killed, by your account. I +don't want to hear that."</p> +<p>"No, boy, of course you don't; but if you do, you'll hear the +worst of it, and that's some comfort, and if he aren't killed, why, +perhaps he's wounded, and perhaps he aren't; all perhapses in this +world. Howsomever, come with me. I saw Anderson, with a paper in +his hand, walking up to his retreat, as he calls it; so let's make +all sail after him, and we shall overhaul him before he begins to +read it."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus116.jpg" id="illus116.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus116.jpg"><img src="images/thumb116.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>ANDERSON READING THE NEWS OF THE BATTLE OF THE NILE.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 115.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>There is a small hill just inside of the Greenwich Park gates, +commanding a beautiful view of the river and the hospital. Here +Anderson was accustomed to repair when the weather was fine, that, +as he told me, he might commune with himself. In this instance he +had retired there to avoid the excitement and confusion which +prevailed; he had, however, been accompanied by three other +pensioners, whom we found on the hill when we arrived, and, before +we had been there a minute, the pensioners had followed up so fast +that there was quite a crowd. We were just in time to hear him +commence reading the newspaper account. The wind was very high; old +Anderson had taken off his hat (out of respect, I presume, for the +service), and his long gray locks were swept by the wind, which, +indeed, carried away his voice, so that it was with difficulty that +I could hear what he said. "<i>Second Edition</i>. Glorious news! +We have the felicity to inform our readers that, by dispatches +received at the Admiralty this day, a splendid naval victory has +been gained over the French fleet lying in Aboukir Bay, by +Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, and the gallant seamen under his +command. We refer our readers to the dispatch of Sir Horatio Nelson +for the details. We have only to say, in few words, that the French +fleet of thirteen sail of the line and four frigates were, on the +1st of August last, when lying at anchor in Aboukir Bay, attacked +by the English fleet of twelve sail of the line and one fifty-gun +ship, and after a severe action, eleven sail of the line and two +frigates belonging to the French were taken or burned. The loss on +our side amounts to two hundred and eighteen killed, and six +hundred and seventy-seven wounded."</p> +<p>"Hurrah! three cheers, my lads!" cried Anderson, dropping the +hand which held the newspaper, and raising the other with his hat +in it above his head. The three hearty cheers were given by the +crowd which had now assembled; and then Ben said to me:</p> +<p>"You see, Jack, there's a lot of killed and wounded; so now, +perhaps, you will hear something about your father."</p> +<p>By this time I had been pushed back, first by one, and then by +another, until I was a long way off from where Anderson stood.</p> +<p>"I can't hear a word that Peter says," replied I to Ben.</p> +<p>"No, because the wind's so high, and I myself am a little hard +of hearing out of doors. Suppose we go now, and by-and-by you shall +get the paper from Anderson, and read it all over to me."</p> +<p>"Come away, Ben," replied I, impatiently, "I've got a shilling, +and I'll buy one."</p> +<p>We left the hill and went down into the town, directing our +course to where we heard the horns blowing. I had not, however, to +go to such an extraordinary expense, as "a full and particular +account" had been struck off for twopence; one of these I +purchased, and then Ben and I sat down on the bench outside of a +public-house, and I commenced reading.</p> +<p>"How good that porter looks!" observed Ben, after a pause, as he +eyed a man near to him who was blowing off the froth from the top +of the pot he held in his hand.</p> +<p>"Well, Ben, as I have bought the account of the battle for +twopence, suppose I spend the rest of the money I intended to pay +for it in a pot of porter, to drink the health of Nelson?"</p> +<p>"Ay, my boy, and of those who fought with him," replied Ben; +"your own father, Jack, whether he be dead or alive."</p> +<p>I sighed at the idea of my father being dead, for I had a great +regard for him, although I had not seen much of him. The porter was +brought, and after we had both drunk I recommenced reading. Having +concluded Admiral Nelson's dispatch and the list of the ships +taken, we then came to the loss in killed and wounded on board of +the respective English ships.</p> +<p>"'Vanguard'—thirty killed, seventy-five wounded; total, a +hundred and five."</p> +<p>"Yes, Jack, that was Nelson's own ship; and he is always to be +found where the shot fly thickest."</p> +<p>"'Bellerophon'—forty-nine killed, a hundred and +forty-eight wounded; total, a hundred and ninety-seven."</p> +<p>"Well, she was in the thick of it, anyhow!" observed Ben.</p> +<p>"'Majestic'—fifty killed, a hundred and forty-three +wounded; total, a hundred and ninety-three."</p> +<p>"Why, she and the 'Bellyruffron' seem to have pretty well shared +and shared alike. You see, Jack, they led into the action, and had +all the cream of the fire."</p> +<p>I went on reading and Ben remarking, until I came to the +"Audacious."</p> +<p>"'Audacious'"—one killed, and thirty-five wounded; total, +thirty-six."</p> +<p>"Well now, Jack, that's all in favor of your father being alive; +'cause why should he be the one killed, more than any one else? I'd +bet two pots of beer that he's among the wounded—but it's +impossible to say; for you see, Jack, although they give us the +names of the officers killed and wounded, they always <i>lump</i> +the petty officers and common seamen. Well, here's to your father's +health, Jack, anyhow; we shall soon hear something about him."</p> +<p>"I hope so," replied I, folding up the paper.</p> +<p>"And now, Jack," continued Ben, handing me the pot, "don't you +feel how proud a thing it is to know how to read? Here I am, you +see, old enough almost to be your grandfather, and don't I look +like a helpless babby beside you? you can inform me of what is +going on, but I cannot help myself. Don't I feel it, as I sit here, +as if you were the man and I were the boy? indeed I do, Jack, and +no mistake; but, arter all, there was no one to blame in my case; +that's some comfort."</p> +<p>I certainly did acknowledge to myself how much I had gained by +the tuition of Peter Anderson, and what advantage it was to me that +I had been instructed; and I could not help for a moment feeling +that I had the advantage over my good friend Ben.</p> +<p>According to the usual custom on the occasion of a great +victory, the pensioners had, on the following day, what was called +a holiday, that is, a day of rejoicing, on which they were supplied +with an extra quantity of beer, to make merry with. On these +occasions the rules of the hospital, with respect to sobriety, are, +of course, not strictly observed. Most of those who prefer smoking +collect in what is called the smoking-room, where they sit and +enjoy themselves; but very often, as there is so much noise on +these occasions, those who belong to the same ward collect +together, club for some spirits to add to their extra allowance, +and sit by the fire, which is in the corridor of the ward. The +fireplace is generally a very large one, and surrounded by benches +with high backs, to serve as screens against the cold and wind; +and, as there are tables inside, you are very snug and comfortable. +On this occasion many of the Warriors' Ward, of which Anderson was +boatswain, and Ben one of the boatswain's mates, had repaired to +their own fire, for it was now October, and very chilly after the +sun went down.</p> +<p>Ben, I suppose, in return for the pot of porter which I had +given him, invited me to be of the party; they drank the health of +Nelson, and talked about the different ships which were in the +action. Some drank very fast, and then reeled off to their beds, +which were close at hand; others were taken to bed by Peter +Anderson and Ben; and at last there were but four or five left. One +of these was the other boatswain's mate of the ward. I knew very +little of him at that time, except that his name was James Turner. +He was a very quiet well-behaved man, and seemed to be more fond of +sitting or walking alone than of being in company; never was known +to drink too much; and, indeed, as boatswain's mate, was more +relied upon by Anderson than even Ben was—although, perhaps, +Ben was his more constant companion. The conversation relative to +the particulars of the battle of the Nile was resumed, and Anderson +observed—</p> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"What an awful sight it must have been to behold the blowing up +of the 'L'Orient' French three-decker, with upward of a thousand +men on board! Merciful Heaven! so many poor fellows launched into +eternity in one moment! They say there were but seventy-three +saved."</p> +<p>"There were nearly as many souls lost when the 'Royal George' +went down at Spithead, with all the fleet at anchor round about +her," replied Ben; "were there not, Turner, for you were on board +of her?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I should think there were," replied Turner; "but it is +impossible to say how many people were on board at the time."</p> +<p>"Messmate," said Anderson, "as all the noisy ones are gone, and +we shall be able to hear you, suppose that you let us know all +about it? I have heard a good deal, but, I suspect, not the rights +of it."</p> +<p>"With all my heart," replied Turner. "It was a sad affair, and +was all owing to the pride of an officer, who was not much of a +sailor, at all events."</p> +</div> +<p>I drew nearer, that I might not lose a word of what Turner said; +and then he narrated, in the following words,</p> +<p>THE LOSS OF THE "ROYAL GEORGE"</p> +<p>"Well, messmates, the 'Royal George' was a hundred-gun ship; and +what we don't often see now, when I first belonged to her her guns +were all brass. We had brass twenty-four-pounders on our +quarter-deck, forecastle, poop, and main deck, brass thirty-twos on +our middle deck, and brass forty-two-pounders on our lower deck. In +the spring of '82, when we were at Plymouth (about six months +before she sunk), it was considered that the brass forty-twos on +the lower deck were too heavy for her, so they were put on shore, +and we had iron thirty-twos instead. I don't think, myself, it made +much difference in the weight of metal, and we were sorry to part +with them. We were a flagship, you know—old Kempenfelt +carrying his blue at the mizzen—and our poop lanterns were so +large that the men used to get inside them to clean them. She was +rather a top-heavy sort of ship, in my opinion, her upper works +were so high—why, we measured sixty-six feet from the keelson +up to the taffrail; but still, with proper attention, there was +nothing to fear on that score.</p> +<p>"Well, it was on the twenty-ninth of August, '82—that's +just fourteen years and about six weeks ago—that we were +lying at Spithead, in company with Lord Howe's fleet of between +twenty and thirty sail of the line: there was the 'Victory,' +'Barfleur,' 'Ocean,' and 'Union,' all three-deckers, I recollect, +close to us. We were in good repair, not at all leaky, and were to +have sailed in two days to join the fleet in the Mediterranean. We +had been paid, in consequence of our being about to sail foreign; +and we had been paid in golden guineas. I think that, could all the +money be collected together, from the pockets of the seamen, the +women, and the Jews, who went down in the ship, it would be a very +pretty fortune even for a duke's daughter."</p> +<p>Here Ben shoved the ale to Turner, who drank a little and +proceeded, while Ben took a swig and passed it round.</p> +<p>"Well, you see, messmates, the first lieutenant had been washing +the decks on the morning before, and the carpenter had been ordered +to let the water in, when it was found that the water-cock, which +was about three feet below the water-line, was out of order, and it +was necessary that it should be repaired. The foreman came off from +the dockyard, and stated that it was necessary that the ship should +be careened over to port sufficiently to raise the mouth of the +pipe—which went through the ship's timbers below—clean +out of the water, that they might work at it; so, between seven and +eight o'clock on that morning, the whole of the larboard guns were +run out as far as they could be, and of course the larboard lower +deck ports were open; the starboard guns were also run in +amidships, and secured by the tackles; the shifting over of this +great weight of metal brought the larboard lower deck port-cills +just level with the water; the men were then able to get at the +mouth of the pipe to the water-cock on the starboard side, as it +was clean out of water, and for about an hour they were working +away hard at it.</p> +<p>"It was about nine o'clock, we had just finished our breakfasts, +and the hands had been turned up, when the last lighter, with the +rum on board, came alongside. She was a sloop of fifty tons, called +the 'Lark,' and belonged to three brothers, whose names I forget. +She was secured to the larboard side of the ship; and the hands +were piped 'clear lighter.' Some of our men were in the lighter +slinging the casks, others at the yard tackle and stay-falls +hoisting in, some in the spirit-room stowing away. I was in the +waist, bearing the casks over, down the hatchway; none of us +thinking that we should never mix our grog out of that liquor."</p> +<p>"No, I suppose not," observed Anderson; "but we little know what +the day may bring forth."</p> +<p>"That's true as Gospel," said Ben.</p> +<p>"That's a very old saying, that every little helps. I did not +think of it at the time; but, you see, as we were clearing the +lighter, almost all the men were on the larboard side, and that +must have brought the ship down still more to port. Then, again, +the water was not so smooth as it was when we first careened her, +and it began to wash into the lower deck ports, and of course had +no escape, so that there was very soon a good weight of water in +the lower deck. There were mice in the ship, and they were +disturbed by the water entering into their quarters, and the men +were catching them, and laughing as they swam about, little +thinking that it was to be a general swim so shortly afterward. But +the carpenter was the first that perceived that there was danger; +for again, you see, the casks of rum, hoisted in, and lying on the +decks on the larboard side, before it could be lowered into the +hold, made also a difference; and so the carpenter went on deck to +the lieutenant, who was officer of the watch, requesting that he +would be pleased to order the ship to be righted somewhat, as she +could not bear it; but the lieutenant gave a very short answer to +the carpenter, who then went down below."</p> +<p>"Who was the lieutenant on deck?" inquired Anderson.</p> +<p>"I don't recollect his right name—he was, I think, the +third lieutenant—he went by the name of 'Jib and Foresail +Jack,' for, whenever he had the watch, he did nothing but up jip +and down jib, up foresail, down foresail, every five minutes, +always worrying the men for nothing. He was not considered as a +good officer, but a very troublesome one. He had a knack of +twisting and moving his fingers about as he walked the deck, and +the men were wont to say that 'he must have been a forty piany +teacher.'"</p> +<p>"And where were the captain and first lieutenant?" said +Anderson.</p> +<p>"The first lieutenant was at the time busy in the wing, I +believe; and as for the captain, I don't know where he +was—but, you know, a captain seldom interferes in +harbor."</p> +<p>"Where was the admiral?" inquired Ben.</p> +<p>"The admiral was in his cabin. I saw the barber, who had been in +to shave him, come out just before she went down."</p> +<p>"What sort of a man was the admiral?" said Anderson.</p> +<p>"He was a thin tall man, upward of seventy years of age, and he +stooped a good deal in his walk."</p> +<p>"Wet your whistle, Jim," said Ben, "for this is a long +yarn."</p> +<p>"Well," continued Turner, as soon as he had put down his pot, +"the carpenter came up a second time on the quarter-deck to the +lieutenant, and said to him—</p> +<p>"'If you please, sir, to right the ship, it's my duty to tell +you she will not bear it any longer.' He spoke in a very positive +way, as was his duty; but the lieutenant answered, with an +oath—</p> +<p>"'If you think, sir, that you can manage the ship better than I +can, you had better take the command.' I was in the waist at the +time, with a good many more men, and we heard what the carpenter +said, and what answer the lieutenant gave. Indeed, we were all +aware of the danger, and felt very uncomfortable; there were plenty +of good seamen on board, who knew what they were about almost as +well as the officers, and certainly better than the one who had the +watch.</p> +<p>"A few minutes afterward (whether it was that he had remained +that time doing nothing, merely because he would not be dictated to +by the carpenter, I know not) the lieutenant ordered the drummer to +be called to beat to quarters, that the guns might be run into +their places and the ship righted. The drummer's name was passed +along quick enough, for we were all alarmed at our situation, for +the ship just then heeled over still more. I jumped down off the +gangway as soon as the drummer was called, and hastened down to my +quarters. The drum was not beat, for the man had not time to get +his drum. All hands were now tumbling down the hatchways as fast as +they could to their quarters, that they might run their guns into +their places, and so right the ship. The gun I was stationed at was +the third gun from forward on the starboard side of the lower +gundeck. I said to Carroll, the second captain of the gun, 'I say, +let us try to get our gun out without waiting for the drum, as the +sooner we right the better.' We boused out our gun, which had been +run in amidships; but the ship heeled over so much that, do all we +could, it ran in again upon us, and at the same time the water made +a heavy rush into the larboard lower deck ports. 'The ship is +sinking, Carroll!' cried I. 'Lay hold of the ring-bolt and jump +out; we shall all be drowned!' He made for the ring-bolt, caught +it, climbed out of the port, and jumped into the sea. I presume he +was drowned, for I never saw him afterward. I followed him as fast +as I could out of the same port, which was the one belonging to our +gun (the third from forward on the starboard side), and when I was +outside I perceived that all the other port-holes were crowded as +full as they could be with the heads of the men, all trying to +escape, and jamming one another so that they could scarcely move +either one way or the other. I caught hold of the sheet anchor, +which was just above me, to prevent falling back inboard; and +perceiving a woman struggling at the port, I caught hold of her, +dragged her out, and threw her from me. The ship was now lying down +so completely on her larboard broadside that the heads of the men +in the ports disappeared all at once; they all dropped back into +the ship, for the port-holes were now upright, and it was just as +if men were trying to get out of the tops of so many chimneys, with +nothing for their feet to purchase upon. Just after the men fell +inboard, there came a rush of air through the ports, so violent as +to blow my hat off. It was the air from the hold and lower deck, +which, having no other vent, escaped as the water which poured in +took up its space. The ship then sunk in a moment, righting as she +went down. I was a good swimmer and diver, and when she was sinking +I attempted to keep above water, but it was impossible; I was drawn +down with the ship until she reached the bottom. As soon as she +grounded, the water boiled and bubbled a great deal, and then I +found that I could swim, and began to rise to the surface. A man +tried to grapple me as I went up; his forefinger caught in my shoe, +between the shoe and my foot. I succeeded in kicking off my shoe, +and thus got rid of him, and then I rose to the surface of the +water."</p> +<p>"Take breath after that, Jim," said Ben, handing him the +ale.</p> +<p>"I can tell you that I could hardly take breath when I came to +the surface, for my head came up through a quantity of tar, which +floated like fat on a boiler, and it nearly smothered me; for, you +see, there had been one or two casks of tar on the decks, which had +stove when the ship was going down, and the tar got up to the top +of the water before I did. It prevented me from seeing at first, +but I heard the guns firing as signals of distress." Here Turner +drank some ale.</p> +<p>"Well," said he, after a short pause, "I may as well finish my +story. As soon as I could clear the tar from my eyes, I saw the +main topsail halyard-block about level with the water's edge about +eight or ten yards from me; so I swam to it and rode on it, holding +on by the halyards, and then I looked about me. The fore, main, and +mizzentops were all above water, as was a part of the bowsprit, and +also part of the ensign-staff, with the flag hoisted—for, you +see, messmates, we went down in only thirteen and a half fathom +water, that is, about eighty feet; and, as I said before, she +measured sixty-six feet from the keelson up to the taffrail; and +she grounded as nearly upright as a vessel could; for the lighter, +which was fast to leeward when she went down, caught the main yard, +which helped to right her as she sank—but the lighter went +down with her. Well, as I looked round, I saw the admiral's baker +in the mizzen shrouds, and there was the body of the woman I had +dragged out of the port rolling about close to him. The baker was +an Irishman, of the name of Claridge; and I called out to him, +'Bob, reach out your hand and catch hold of that woman, I daresay +she is not dead.'</p> +<p>"He said, 'She's dead enough; it's no use to lay hold of +her.'</p> +<p>"I answered, 'She is not dead.' He caught hold of the woman and +hung her head over one of the rattlings of the mizzen shrouds, and +there she swung by her chin till a wash came and lifted her off, +and then she rolled about again. Just then one of the captains of +the frigates came up in his boat. I waved my hand toward the +woman—he stopped pulling, the men dragged her into the boat, +and laid her in the sternsheets.</p> +<p>"'My man,' said the captain, 'I must pick up those who are in +more danger than you.'</p> +<p>"'All right, sir,' said I; 'I'm safe moored here.'</p> +<p>"There was one of our men hanging on the mainstay, and roaring +like a bull, as he tried to climb by it out of the water. Had he +only remained quiet, he would have done well enough. The boat took +him off first, and the others of the people who were clinging about +the masts and rigging, including the baker and myself. It then +pulled on board the 'Victory' with us; and I once more found a good +dry plank between me and the salt water."</p> +<p>"Was the captain and admiral saved?"</p> +<p>"Captain Waghorn was. He could not swim; but one of the seamen +held him up. The admiral was drowned in his cabin. Captain Waghorn +tried to acquaint him that the ship was sinking; but the heeling +over of the ship had so jammed the doors of the cabin that they +could not be opened."</p> +<p>"What became of the lieutenant of the watch and the +carpenter?"</p> +<p>"The lieutenant of the watch was drowned—and so indeed was +the carpenter. His body was taken up, I believe, by the same boat +which picked up Lieutenant Durham<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id= +"FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class= +"fnanchor">[3]</a>. When I went on board of the 'Victory,' I saw +the carpenter's body before the galley fire—some women were +attempting to recover him, but he was quite dead. There was a +strong westerly breeze, although the day was fine; and the wind +made the water so rough that there was great danger of the boats +getting entangled in the rigging and spars, when they came to take +the men off, or more would have been saved."</p> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href= +"#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Afterward +Admiral Sir Philip Durham.</p> +</div> +<p>"How many do you think were lost altogether?" inquired +Anderson.</p> +<p>"We had our whole complement on board, eight hundred and +sixty-five men; and there were more than three hundred women on +board, besides a great many Jews with slops and watches; as there +always are, you know, when a ship is paid and the men have any +money to be swindled out of. I don't exactly know how many men were +saved, but there was only one woman, which was the one I dragged +out of the port. There was a great fat old bumboat woman, whom the +sailors used to call the 'Royal George'—she was picked up +floating, for she was too fat to sink; but she had been floating +the wrong way uppermost, and she was dead. There was a poor little +child saved rather strangely. He was picked up by a gentleman who +was in a wherry, holding on to the wool of a sheep which had +escaped and was swimming. His father and mother were drowned, and +the boy did not know their names; all that he knew was that his own +name was Jack; so they christened him John <i>Lamb</i>, and the +gentleman took care of him."</p> +<p>"Have you no idea how many men were saved, Turner?"</p> +<p>"I only know this—that the Admiralty ordered five pounds a +man to be given to the seamen who were saved, as a recompense for +the loss of their clothes, and I heard that only seventy-five +claimed it; but how many marines were saved, or other people who +were on board, I do not know; but perhaps, altogether, there might +be two hundred or more—for you see the seamen had the worst +chance of being saved, as they were almost all down in the hold, or +on the lower and main decks at their guns. A few days after the +ship went down the bodies would come up, eight or ten almost the +same time—rising to the top of the water so suddenly as to +frighten people who were passing near. The watermen made a good +thing of it; for, as the bodies rose, they took from them their +shoe-buckles, money, and watches, and then towed them on shore to +be buried."</p> +<p>"That lieutenant had much to answer for," observed Ben. "His +false pride was the cause of it all."</p> +<p>"It would seem so—but God only knows," replied Anderson. +"Come, my lads, the beer is out, and it's two bells in the middle +watch. I think we had better turn in. Jack, what's to become of +you?"</p> +<p>"Oh, I'll find a plank," said I.</p> +<p>"So you shall, boy, and a bed upon it," replied Ben. "Come and +turn in with me, and don't you dream that the larboard lower deck +ports are open."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus131.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FOURTEEN" id="CHAPTER_FOURTEEN"></a>CHAPTER +FOURTEEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>My Father makes his Appearance, having left his Leg, but not his +Tail, behind him—My Father is pensioned off by my Mother as +well as by his Country.</p> +</div> +<p>About six weeks after the intelligence of the battle of the +Nile, as I was sweeping away from the steps the mud which had been +left by the tide, a King's tender, that I had been watching as she +came up the river, dropped her anchor in the stream, abreast of the +hospital.</p> +<p>Shortly afterward the lieutenant who commanded her pulled on +shore in his boat, and, landing at the steps, proceeded to the +governor's house. The men having orders not to leave the boat, +requested me to procure them some porter, which I did; and on my +return with it, they informed me that they had come round from +Portsmouth with sixty-three men, who had lost their limbs, or had +been otherwise so severely wounded in the late action as to have +been recommended for Greenwich.</p> +<p>I felt very anxious for the men to land, as it was possible that +my father might be one of them. The lieutenant soon returned, +jumped into the boat, and shoved off. I perceived that the disabled +men were getting ready to land, hauling their chests and kits on +deck. In about half-an-hour a boat full of them came to the steps. +I ran down to assist; and as I held on to the gunnel of the boat, +while they threw out their gang-board, the first person who stumped +out was my father, minus his left leg.</p> +<p>"Father!" cried I, half sorry and half pleased.</p> +<p>"Who calls me father?" replied he, looking at me. "Why, you +don't mean to say that you're my boy Tom?"</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed!" said I.</p> +<p>"Ah! yes—I recollect your smile now. Why, what a big +fellow you've grown!"</p> +<p>"It's four years since you left, father."</p> +<p>"Well! I suppose it is, since you say so," replied he, taking me +by the arm, and stumping a little to one side, when he said in a +low tone, "I say, Jack, what became of the old woman? Did I settle +her?"</p> +<p>"Oh, no," replied I, laughing, "she was only shamming."</p> +<p>"Shamming was she? Well! it's all the better—for she has +been a little on my conscience, that's truth. Shamming? Heh! She +won't sham next time, if I fall foul of her. How does she get +on?"</p> +<p>"Oh, very well indeed."</p> +<p>"And how's your little sister? What's her name—Jenny +lengthened at both ends? I never could recollect it, though I've +often thought of her sweet little face."</p> +<p>"She's quite well, and as pretty and as good as ever."</p> +<p>"Well, Tom, my boy, you stood by your father when he was in +trouble, and now he'll stand by you. How does your mother treat +you?"</p> +<p>"We get on pretty well—not over-fond of each other."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus134.jpg" id="illus134.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus134.jpg"><img src="images/thumb134.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>JACK'S FATHER LANDING AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE NILE.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol X., p. 133.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"Well, Tom, I've only one pin left; but I say," continued my +father, with a wink of his eye, "I haven't left my tail behind me, +'cause it may be useful, you know. Now we must all go up to the +governor of the hospital for inspection, and I suppose we shall be +kept for some time; so you may run home and tell your mother that +I've come back in a perfect good-humor, and that it will be her +fault if she puts me out—that's all."</p> +<p>"I will, father; and then I'll come to you at the hospital."</p> +<p>I ran home to communicate the important intelligence to my +mother and to Virginia, who had as usual come from school for her +dinner.</p> +<p>"Mother," says I, out of breath, "who do you think has come +back?"</p> +<p>"Comeback?" said she. "<i>Back?</i> Not your father?"</p> +<p>"Yes," says I, "my father. I just left him."</p> +<p>My mother turned deadly pale, and dropped the hot iron from her +hand, so as to spoil a frilled nightcap belonging to one of her +lady customers. She staggered to a chair, and trembled all over. I +really believe that had she been aware of his being about to +return, she would have quitted Greenwich before his arrival; but +now it was too late. Virginia had run for the salts as soon as she +perceived that her mother was unwell, and as she smelled them she +gradually recovered. At last she inquired how my father looked and +what he said.</p> +<p>I told her that he had lost his leg, and had been sent as a +pensioner to the hospital; that he had looked very well, and that +he had told me to say that "he was in a perfect good humor, and it +would be her fault if she put him out of it; and that if she +did—"</p> +<p>"Well, what then?" inquired my mother.</p> +<p>"Oh, the <i>tail</i>—that's all."</p> +<p>At the mention of the tail my mother very nearly went off in a +swoon—her head fell back, and I heard her mutter, "So vulgar! +so ungenteel!" However, she recovered herself, and appeared to be +for some time in deep thought. At last she rose up, ordered me to +fetch something extra for supper, and recommenced her ironing.</p> +<p>As soon as I had executed her commission I went to the hospital, +where I found my father, who, with the other men, had just been +dismissed. He accompanied me to my mother, shook hands with her +very good-humoredly, kissed Virginia, whom he took on his knee, +praised the supper, drank only one pot of porter, and then returned +to the hospital, to sleep in the cabin which had been allotted to +him in the Warriors' Ward, of which Anderson was the boatswain. My +mother, although not very gracious, was much subdued, and for a few +days everything went on very comfortably; but my mother's temper +could not be long restrained. Displeased at something which she +considered as very vulgar, she ventured to assail my father as +before, concluding her tirade as usual, with "There—now +you're vexed!"</p> +<p>My father looked at her very sternly.—At last he said, +"You're just right—I am vexed; and whenever you tell me so in +future I'll prove that it's no lie." He then rose, stumped upstairs +to my room, in which he had deposited his sea-chest, and soon made +his appearance with the formidable and never-to-be-forgotten tail +in his hand. "Mistress," said he, as my mother retreated, "you +said, 'Now you're vexed' to me just now. I ask you again, am I +vexed, or am I not?" and my father flourished the tail over his +head.</p> +<p>My mother looked at the strange weapon: the remembrance of the +past was too painful; she was conquered by her fear.</p> +<p>"Oh, no," cried she, falling on her knees. "You're not +vexed—indeed you are not."</p> +<p>"You're quite sure of that?" responded my father +authoritatively, as he advanced toward her.</p> +<p>"Oh! yes, yes," cried my mother, trembling; "indeed you're +not."</p> +<p>"Ain't I in a very good humor?" continued my father.</p> +<p>"Yes, you are in the best of humors, and always are so, +unless—I aggravate you," replied my mother, whimpering.</p> +<p>"Well," replied my father, lowering his tail, "I expect we've +come to a right understanding at last. So now get up and wipe your +eyes; but recollect, that whenever you dare to tell me that I'm +vexed, I won't be so ungenteel as to contradict you."</p> +<p>Thus was the mastery gained by my father, and never lost. It is +true that sometimes my mother would forget herself, and would get +on as far as "There now, you're—," but she would stop there, +and correct herself, saying, "No, you're not," and allow her temper +to evaporate by singing one of her usual ditties, as "Hush-a-by, +baby, on the tree-top;" but my father never took notice of her +singing; and being really a very good-tempered man, my mother's +temper gradually became improved.</p> +<p>The return of my father made some alteration in our mode of +life. He might, if he had pleased, have lived as an out-pensioner +with my mother; but this he would not do. He used to come in almost +every evening to see her, and she used to provide for him a pot of +porter, which he seldom exceeded. If he had friends with him, they +paid for what they drank. This pot of porter per diem was the only +demand made upon my mother for permission to remain separate, and +she did not grumble at it. His tobacco he found himself out of the +tobacco money allowed at the hospital. He had received some pay, +which, contrary to his former custom, he had laid by in the charge +of one of the lieutenants of the hospital, for at that time there +were no savings banks.</p> +<p>As a married man my father had the liberty to introduce his wife +and children into the hospital at meal-times, to share his +allowance with them. This my mother would not listen to, as +regarded herself and my sister; but my father messed in what is +called the married men's room, on my account, and instead of buying +my own dinner, or applying to my mother for it, I now always took +it with my father in the hospital. In consequence of my father's +admittance as a pensioner, both I and my sister might have been +instructed at the hospital school; but my mother would not premit +Virginia to go there, and I found it much more convenient to go to +Peter Anderson in the evening, when I had nothing to do. On the +whole, we all went on much more comfortably than we did before my +father's return.</p> +<p>One evening I was, as usual, with Anderson in his cabin; my +father having been drafted into his ward, I could not help asking +Anderson how he liked him. His reply was, "I like your father, +Jack, for he is a straightforward, honest, good-tempered man, and, +moreover, has a good natural judgment. I think it a great pity that +such a man as he is should be so early in life lost, as it were, to +the country. He is a first-rate seaman; and although there are many +like him, still there are none to spare. However, if his country +loses, he may himself gain, by being so soon called away from a +service of great temptation. The sailor who has fought for his +country, Jack, has much to be thankful for when he takes in +moorings at Greenwich Hospital. He is well fed, well clothed, +tended in sickness, and buried with respect; but all these are +nothing compared with the greatest boon. When I reflect what lives +sailors live, how reckless they are, how often they have been on +the brink of eternity, and wonderfully preserved, without even a +feeling of gratitude to Him who has watched over them, or taking +their escapes as warnings; when I consider how they pass their +whole lives in excess, intemperance, and, too often, blasphemy, it +is indeed a mercy that they are allowed to repose here after such a +venturous and careless career; that they have time to reflect upon +what has passed, to listen to the words of the Gospel, to hate +their former life, and trusting in God's mercy to secure their +salvation. This is the greatest charity of this institution, and +long may it flourish, a blessing to the country which has endowed +it, and to the seamen, who are not only provided for in this world, +but are prepared in it for the next."</p> +<p>Such were continually the style of admonitions given me by this +good old man, and I need not point out to the reader how fortunate +it was for me that I had secured such a preceptor.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus139.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIFTEEN" id="CHAPTER_FIFTEEN"></a>CHAPTER +FIFTEEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which is proved the Truth of the Proverb, "When your own +House is made of Glass, you never should be the first to throw +Stones"</p> +</div> +<p>One evening, when I went to the shop of the widow St. Felix to +purchase some tobacco for my father, she said, "Why don't your +father come himself, Jack? I want to make his acquaintance, and see +how he looks without his pigtail."</p> +<p>"Why, you never saw him when he had it on," replied I.</p> +<p>"No, that's the truth; but still I wish to have a sight of him: +the fact is, I want to laugh at him."</p> +<p>"Very well, I'll bring him here; but, recollect, it's a very +sore subject with him," replied I, "and that you may have a sharp +answer."</p> +<p>"That I'll take my chance of, Jack," replied the widow, +laughing.</p> +<p>In consequence of this intimation, one evening when my father +was walking in the hospital, I persuaded him to call at the +shop.</p> +<p>"This is my father, Mrs. St. Felix," said I.</p> +<p>"Most happy to see him. What shall I have the pleasure of +assisting you to, Mr. Saunders?" said the widow.</p> +<p>"My sarvice to you, marm—if you please, to two penn'orth +of pigtail and a paper of shorts."</p> +<p>"Much obliged to you, Mr. Saunders," replied she. "Sure we're +much indebted to Admiral Lord Nelson for sending us such +fine-looking pensioners. I shouldn't wonder if I were to choose a +husband out of the hospital yet."</p> +<p>"I'm afeard we're all too mauled, marm, to suit a pretty young +woman like you," replied my father, very gallantly.</p> +<p>"Thank you for that, Mr. Saunders; but you're mistaken entirely. +I don't consider the loss of a leg, for instance, as anything; I +never look at men's legs, and therefore care little whether they +are made of wood or not, provided they don't tread on my +corns."</p> +<p>"Well, marm, I'm glad that you don't consider a timber toe as +any obstacle to matrimony; but, I fear, having a wife already may +be considered by you a sort of objection."</p> +<p>"Why, sure, I must have the whole of my husband; I couldn't +afford to share him, especially when one limb is gone already. That +puts me in mind of my want of manners. I hope Mrs. Saunders is +quite well. I hear from Jack that you have a separate +maintenance—that's very genteel."</p> +<p>"Why, yes, marm," replied my father; "the King maintains me, and +my wife maintains herself; so, as you say, we have a separate +maintenance."</p> +<p>"Well, that's the best way when married people don't agree. What +are you laughing at, Mr. Jack? did I hint that your father and +mother ever had any little matrimonial differences? I certainly did +hear that there was a trifling dispute when they last parted; but +when they bring me such tales I always <i>cut them short</i>. +Here's your <i>pigtail</i>, Mr. Saunders," continued the widow, +laughing, as she put the tobacco on the counter.</p> +<p>I looked at my father, who did not seem to relish the hint, but +he answered very frankly, "If you cut them as short as my wife cut +mine, why, then you won't be troubled with them any more. I see, +marm, you know all about it, and you may have your laugh if it +pleases you; but I can tell you that my tail has done me better +sarvice since it was off than when it hung down my back."</p> +<p>"Become useful, instead of ornamental, I presume, Mr. +Saunders."</p> +<p>"Just made this difference—when it was on it made my +wife's tongue to go; now it is off, it has stopped it."</p> +<p>"An extraordinary powerful instrument, to stop a woman's +tongue!"</p> +<p>"Well, you've only to ax Mistress Saunders, she'll tell you all +its virtues."</p> +<p>"Well, Mr. Saunders, I don't know whether you have any idea of +taking another wife some future day. If so, say nothing about it, +or you'll never get one."</p> +<p>"Well, marm—I don't know whether you ever think of taking +another husband; but if so, I think it would be kind on my part to +lend it to him. Can you tell me why widows' tongues run so much +faster than other women's?"</p> +<p>"Mercy! what put that idea in your head, Mr. Saunders?"</p> +<p>"You, and half a dozen more that I happen to know. May I make so +bold as to ask you, marm, how long you may have been a widow?" +continued my father.</p> +<p>"Bless me! so long that I quite forget all about it," replied +Mrs. St. Felix, turning away from the counter to the jars +behind.</p> +<p>I gave my father a wink to let him know that it was his turn +now: he understood me, hitched up his waistband and nodded.</p> +<p>"How did you lose your first husband, marm? What did he die +of?"</p> +<p>The widow colored, and my father perceiving it, followed up his +question.</p> +<p>"Did he die of a fever, marm?"</p> +<p>"I'm not exactly sure," replied she, hurriedly.</p> +<p>"May I ask how long it is since he died?" continued my +father.</p> +<p>"Oh! Mr. Saunders," replied the widow, confusedly, "I really +don't recollect just now. It's very painful to answer such +questions."</p> +<p>"Not if you've been a widow so long that you forget all about +it; that's all sham and nonsense. So you ain't sure <i>what</i> he +died of, nor <i>when</i> it was that he died? Are you quite sure, +marm, that your husband <i>is</i> dead?"</p> +<p>Mrs. St. Felix started, turned very red, and then very pale.</p> +<p>"My sarvice to you for the present, marm," said my father, after +a pause, taking off his hat. "I suspect that I've found a way to +stop your tongue as well as my wife's. Broadside for broadside, +that's fair play."</p> +<p>So saying, my father stumped away out of the shop door. Mrs. St. +Felix put her apron up to her eyes, with her elbows resting on the +counter. I waited a little, and then I said, "What is the matter, +Mrs. St. Felix?"</p> +<p>She started at my voice.</p> +<p>"You here, Jack? I thought you had gone out with your father. +Well," continued she, wiping her eyes, "it serves me right. I +forgot that in amusing myself I annoyed him. Jack, don't you +mention anything about this. Do you think your father will?"</p> +<p>"I don't think he will, for he cannot do so without talking +about having his pigtail cut off, and I know he cannot bear to +think of it."</p> +<p>"Well, then, pray don't you, that's a good boy."</p> +<p>"I never will, I promise you."</p> +<p>"Then, good-night, Jack; you must leave me now, I don't feel +quite well."</p> +<p>I wished the widow good-night, and went back to my mother's +house. My father was there, but he never hinted at the conversation +which had taken place, neither at that time nor afterward.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus144.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SIXTEEN" id="CHAPTER_SIXTEEN"></a>CHAPTER +SIXTEEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Showing how Old Nanny fell Sick and got Well again</p> +</div> +<p>Before I fell asleep that night I thought a great deal of what +had passed between the widow St. Felix and my father. Why should +she have shown such emotion, and why should she request of me not +to mention what had passed? I had heard reports about her, as I +have before mentioned; I had heard them from old Nanny, but I did +not put any confidence in what she said. Thinking of old Nanny +reminded me that I had not called upon her for some time, and I +resolved that I would visit her the next day.</p> +<p>It was not until late in the evening that I could spare time to +call upon her, and, what was not usual, I went empty-handed. I +found to my surprise that the door was shut to, and the shutters of +the shop not taken down. I tried the latch, the door opened, and I +went in.</p> +<p>"Who's there?" screamed old Nanny from the inner room. "What do +you want?"</p> +<p>"It's only Poor Jack, mother," replied I, "come to see how you +are."</p> +<p>"Come in," replied she; "I'm very bad. Oh! oh! I thought it was +some thief or another come to steal all the things in my shop."</p> +<p>I entered the room and found old Nanny in bed; she looked very +ill and miserable, and everything was very dirty.</p> +<p>"Are you not well, mother?" said I.</p> +<p>"Well, boy? No, very ill, very ill indeed, haven't left my bed +these three days. Reach me a little water, Jack, there's a good +boy. I've been dying for water."</p> +<p>I handed her a broken jug which had some water in it. She drank +greedily, so as to spill nearly half of it on the coverlid.</p> +<p>"Oh, how good it is!" exclaimed the old woman, as soon as she +recovered her breath. "I'm better now. I could not reach it myself. +I've the rheumatiz so bad! I've been in such a fright because I +could not lock the door; it kept me awake all night long. Oh, my +poor back!"</p> +<p>"But why did you not send for the doctor, mother?"</p> +<p>"Doctor! Eh? who's to pay him? I've got no money, Jack."</p> +<p>"Well, but Dr. Tadpole's very kind."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, kind to the widow; but not to old women like me, +without any money."</p> +<p>"But why not have some one to sit up with you, and help +you?"</p> +<p>"Sit up with me! Who'd sit up with me? Yes, if I paid them. But +I've no money, Jack; and then, I don't know them. They might rob +me—there's a great many pretty things in my shop."</p> +<p>"But you might die, mother, lying here without any one to help +you."</p> +<p>"Die! Well, and who would care if a poor old woman like me died, +Jack?"</p> +<p>"I should care, for one, mother; and so would my sister +Virginia, and many others besides."</p> +<p>"You might care, Jack, for you're a good boy, and so might your +little sister, for she has a kind heart; but nobody else, +Jack—no, not one!"</p> +<p>I could not reply to this remark, as I really did not know +anybody who would have cared; so I said, "You must see the doctor, +mother. I will go for him."</p> +<p>"No, Jack, I can't afford it, it's no use; besides, I'm better +now."</p> +<p>"Well, if you can't afford it, you shall not pay him; and, if he +will not come for nothing, I'll pay him myself."</p> +<p>"Will you pay him, Jack? that's a good boy. You promised me +bargains, you know; that shall be one of them."</p> +<p>"Well, mother, I'll make the bargain that I'll pay him, if +you'll see him—so good-by now. Do you want anything before I +go?"</p> +<p>"No, Jack, no; I don't want anything, only just lock the door +and take the key with you when you go out, and then no one can rob +me, Jack, while you're gone."</p> +<p>I complied with her request, and ran for Dr. Tadpole, whom I +found smoking his cigar in the widow's shop.</p> +<p>"Doctor," said I, "old Nanny has been ill in bed these three +days, and I want you to go and see her."</p> +<p>"Does she send you to me, or do you ask it yourself?" said the +doctor, "for I think she would die rather than pay the doctor."</p> +<p>"As for that, Mr. Tadpole," said the widow, "there are many of +your patients who send for the doctor without ever intending to pay +him. Perhaps old Nanny may go on the same plan."</p> +<p>"Certainly; that alters the case. Well, Jack, what's the matter +with her?"</p> +<p>"Rheumatism, and, I believe, fever; for her hand is hot, and her +tongue very white. She was lying in bed with no one to help her, +and had not strength to reach a drop of water, until I gave it to +her."</p> +<p>"Poor old soul!" said the widow. "And yet they say that she has +money?"</p> +<p>"I don't think that she has much," replied I; "for when she lent +me the twenty-eight shillings, she had not ten shillings more in +the bag. But, doctor, I'll pay you; I will, indeed. How much will +it be?"</p> +<p>"Now, doctor, just put on your hat, and set off as soon as you +please; for if Poor Jack says he'll pay you, you know that your +money is as safe as mine was in the bank—before it +failed."</p> +<p>"Well, I'll just finish my cigar."</p> +<p>"Of course you will—as you walk along, Mr. Tadpole," +replied the widow; "it's very pleasant to smoke in the air, and +just as unpleasant to others your smoking in the house. So, doctor, +just be off and see the poor old wretch directly, or—I'll be +affronted."</p> +<p>Hereupon the doctor took up his hat, and without reply walked +off with me. When we arrived, I unlocked the door and we went +in.</p> +<p>"Well, old Nanny, what's the matter now?" said Dr. Tadpole.</p> +<p>"Nothing, doctor, nothing; you've come on a useless message; I +didn't send for you, recollect that; it was Jack who would go; I +did not send, recollect that, doctor; I can't afford it; I've no +money."</p> +<p>"Very well, I shan't look to you for money. Put out your +tongue," replied the doctor, as he felt her pulse.</p> +<p>"Recollect, doctor, I did not send for you. Jack, you are +witness—I've no money," repeated old Nanny.</p> +<p>"Put out your tongue," repeated the doctor.</p> +<p>"No, I won't, till it's all clearly settled."</p> +<p>"It is, you old fool," said the doctor, impatiently; "put out +your tongue."</p> +<p>"Jack, you're witness it's all by force," said Nanny, who at +last put out her tongue; "and now, doctor, I'll tell you."</p> +<p>Whereupon Nanny commenced with a narrative of her ills; and by +her own account there was not a portion of her body from top to toe +which had not some ailment.</p> +<p>"You've a very bad complaint," said the doctor; "what d'ye think +it is? It's old age. I hardly know whether I can cure it."</p> +<p>"Can your draw the pain out of my old bones?" said Nanny, +groaning.</p> +<p>"Why, I'll try, at all events. I must send you something to take +inwardly."</p> +<p>"Who's to pay for it?" said old Nanny.</p> +<p>"I will, mother," said I.</p> +<p>"You're witness, doctor—Jack says he'll pay for it. You're +a good boy, Jack."</p> +<p>"Well, that's settled—but now, we must have some one to +sit up with you."</p> +<p>"Sit up with me? nobody will sit up with an old thing like +me."</p> +<p>"Yes, I will, mother," said I, "and I'll look in upon you in the +daytime, and see if you want to drink."</p> +<p>"No, no, Jack! then you'll make no money."</p> +<p>"Yes I will—never mind that."</p> +<p>"Well, at all events," replied the doctor, "Jack will sit up +with you this night; and we'll see how you are to-morrow. Now, +Jack, come back with me, and I'll give you something for her. +Good-night, Nanny," said the doctor, leaving the room.</p> +<p>"Good-night," grumbled old Nanny; and as we were going through +the shop I heard her continue: "It's very easy saying 'good-night,' +but how can a poor wretch like me, with every bone aching as if it +would split, expect to have a 'good night'?"</p> +<p>As the doctor walked home, he appeared not to be in his usual +talkative mood. He went to the shop, made up the medicines, and +gave me the directions.</p> +<p>"Here, Jack, take these; and it will be a kindness to sit up +with her to-night. I will see her to-morrow; and as I can't allow +you to be the only good Samaritan in the place, understand, Jack, +that I attend the poor old woman and find medicine for +nothing."</p> +<p>I thanked him and hastened back. Old Nanny took her draught, and +then turned round on her side. I suppose there was opium in it, for +she soon fell fast asleep; not, however, until she had said, "Jack, +have you locked the door?"</p> +<p>"Yes, mother, I have."</p> +<p>"Well, now, don't you think you could watch without burning a +candle? You ain't afraid?"</p> +<p>"No, mother, I'm not afraid; but if I do, I shall fall asleep; +and, besides, if you wake and want anything, I shall not be able to +find it. I should break the jug and other things, and they would +cost more than a candle."</p> +<p>"Very true, Jack. I feel sleepy already"—and old Nanny was +soon in a loud snore.</p> +<p>I had stopped at my mother's to say that I intended to stay with +old Nanny, so that they might not sit up for me; and now all that I +had to do was to keep myself awake. I had forgotten to bring a book +with me, so I looked about the room for something to read; but I +could find nothing. At last I ventured to open a drawer—it +creaked, and old Nanny was roused. "Who's that?" cried she, but she +did not wake up, the opiate was too powerful. I went to her; she +was in a perspiration, which I knew was what the doctor wished. I +put the clothes close up to her head, and left her. I then took the +candle and looked into the drawer, and found a book lying in a +corner with one side of the cover off. It was very dirty and +stained. I took it out, and went again to my chair and opened it. +It was Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," and full of plates. I had +never heard of the book, and did not know what the title meant. I +first looked at all the plates, and then I turned to the opening of +the book. On the blank leaf at the commencement, in very neat and +lawyer-like handwriting, was "Anna James, on her marriage, from her +dear friend Mary Farquhar, Tynemouth, June the 19th, 1738." By this +I discovered, as I thought, the married but not the maiden name of +old Nanny; and very probably, also, that Tynemouth was her native +place. She was married, too, in 1738, that was more than sixty +years back—and her age was, therefore, in all likelihood, +nearly eighty years. I pondered over this for some time, and then I +commenced reading; and so interested was I with the contents that I +did not raise my head until the candle had burned to the socket: as +I was about to light another, I perceived daylight through the +chinks of the window shutter. So I laid down the book, and walking +softly out of the room, unlocked the shop door to get a little +fresh air; for the room that old Nanny was sleeping in was, from +dirt and neglect, very close. I could not, however, unlock the door +without waking up Nanny who screamed out "Thieves!—murder! +thieves!" until she was wide awake.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus152.jpg" id="illus152.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus152.jpg"><img src="images/thumb152.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>JACK IN NANNY'S ROOM.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 151.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"Oh! it is you, Jack?" said she at last. "I dreamed there were +thieves breaking in."</p> +<p>"Nothing but day breaking in, mother," said I. "How do you feel +this morning?"</p> +<p>"Better, Jack, better; I've not so much pain, but I'm very +thirsty; give me some water."</p> +<p>"No, mother; the doctor said you must not drink cold water. If +you'll wait a little, I'll run and fetch you something warm. I +won't be gone long, so try to go to sleep again."</p> +<p>Old Nanny made no reply, but turned her face away from the +light, as if in obedience to my orders. I locked the outer door and +hastened home.</p> +<p>I found my mother and Virginia sitting in the nice clean room, +the fire blazing cheerfully and the breakfast on the table, and I +could not help making the contrast in my own mind between it and +the dirty abode I had just left. I ran into the back kitchen to +wash my face and hands, and then returned, kissed Virginia, and +wished my mother "Good-morning."</p> +<p>Why, I do not know, but she was in one of her worst of +humors.</p> +<p>"Don't come near me, or near your sister Virginia," said she +sharply; "who knows what vermin you may have brought from where you +have been staying all night?"</p> +<p>I did feel that what she said might be true.</p> +<p>"Well, mother," said I, "I won't come near you if you don't +like, but I want some tea for poor old Nanny."</p> +<p>"I can't find tea for old Nannies," replied she.</p> +<p>"I'll give her mine, Jack," cried Virginia.</p> +<p>"Indeed, miss, you'll do no such thing," said my mother; "and +sit up properly to table, instead of hanging your head down in that +way; and don't pour your tea in your saucer—that's +vulgar!"</p> +<p>"The tea's so hot, mamma!" said Virginia.</p> +<p>"Then wait till it's cool, miss. Leave the teapot alone, +sir!"</p> +<p>"I'll thank you for some tea, mother," replied I. "I shall give +my breakfast to old Nanny."</p> +<p>"You'll take no breakfast out of this house," was the reply.</p> +<p>"Why, mother?—for a poor sick old woman."</p> +<p>"Let her go to the parish."</p> +<p>I now became angry myself. I took up the teapot and walked away +into the back kitchen. My mother rose and followed me, insisting +upon my putting the teapot down; but I would not, and I poured out +the tea into a little milk-can. I did not answer her, but I felt +that I was right and would not give in, and she was afraid to +attempt force. My mother then ran back to the table, caught up the +sugar-basin and carried it upstairs, singing as she went, at the +highest pitch of her voice:</p> +<p class="blockquot">"What are little girls made of, made of<br /> +Sugar and spice, and all that's nice;<br /> +And that's what girls are made of!"</p> +<p>While my mother was away, little Virginia poured her cup of tea, +which was already sweetened, into the can. I seized some bread and +butter, and before my mother came down I was clear of the house. +Old Nanny made a good breakfast; the doctor came, and said that she +was much better and would soon be well. The doctor had not left +long before Peter Anderson came and told me to go and mind my +business, and that he would sit by old Nanny. Old Ben, who had +heard of it, also called in, and he sat up with her the next +night.</p> +<p>"Did I not tell you that there were others who cared for you, +Nanny?" said I, a few days afterward.</p> +<p>"Yes, you did, Jack, but I did not believe you; the world is +better than I thought it was. But how will you pay the doctor, +Jack?"</p> +<p>"The doctor 'tended you for nothing; he told me so the first +night."</p> +<p>"Well, and that widow, too; it's kind of her to send me tea and +sugar, and such nice things to eat."</p> +<p>"Yes, mother, it is."</p> +<p>"And your father, to bring your little dear sister, so nice and +clean, to come and see an old wretch like me in such a dirty hole. +Ah, Jack! now I'm getting well again I like the world better than I +did."</p> +<p>In a few days old Nanny had again opened her shop, sitting at +the door as usual, and, as the spring was now well advanced, she +gradually recovered her strength. When I gave up my office of nurse +she did not, however, forget to tell me to bring her good bargains, +as I had promised that I would.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus155.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN" id="CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN"></a>CHAPTER +SEVENTEEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>A Morning Concert, in which the Opposition is as great as Black +to White.</p> +</div> +<p>Among my father's associates there was a man of about forty +years of age, Dick Harness by name. He had received a wound in the +hip from a grape-shot, and his leg having in consequence +contracted, it occasioned him to limp very much; but he was as +strong and hearty in all other respects as a man could be. He was a +very merry fellow, full of jokes, and if any one told a story which +was at all verging on the marvelous, he was sure to tell another +which would be still more incredible. He played the fiddle and sang +to his own accompaniments, which were very droll, as he extracted +very strange noises from his instrument. Sometimes his bow would be +on the wrong side of the bridge, sometimes down at the keys; +besides which he produced sounds by thumping the fiddle as well as +by touching its strings as a guitar; indeed, he could imitate in a +certain way almost every instrument and most of the noises made by +animals. He had one fault, for which he used to be occasionally +punished, which was, he was too fond of the bottle; but he was a +great favorite, and therefore screened by the men, and as much as +possible overlooked by the officers. The punishment for a pensioner +getting drunk was, at that time, being made to wear a yellow +instead of a blue coat, which made a man look very conspicuous.</p> +<p>I recollect one day he had the yellow coat on, when a party of +ladies and gentlemen came to see the hospital. Perceiving that he +was dressed so differently from the other pensioners, one of the +ladies' curiosity was excited, and at last she called him to her +and said, "Pray, my good man, why do you wear a yellow coat when +the other pensioners have blue ones?"</p> +<p>"Bless your handsome face, ma'am!" replied Dick, "don't you +really know?"</p> +<p>"No, indeed," replied she.</p> +<p>"Well, then, ma'am, perhaps you may have heard of the glorious +battle of the Nile, in which Nelson gave the French such a +drubbing?"</p> +<p>"Oh, yes," cried all the ladies and gentlemen, who had now +crowded about him.</p> +<p>"Well, ladies and gentlemen, I had the good fortune to be in +that great victory, and all we <i>Nilers</i>, as we are called, are +permitted to wear a yellow coat as a mark of distinction, while the +common pensioners wear nothing but blue."</p> +<p>"Dear me!" said the lady, "and do I really speak to one of those +brave fellows who fought at the battle of the Nile?" and she put +her hand into her pocket and pulled out five shillings. "There," +said she, "I hope you'll not be affronted, but accept this from +me."</p> +<p>"Not at all, ma'am," replied Dick, pocketing the money.</p> +<p>Then the whole party made a subscription for him, and Dick went +off with a handful of silver.</p> +<p>There was, however, another man who contributed much to the fun +created by Dick Harness. He was an American black, who had served +as cook in the "Majestic," and had been wounded in the battle of +the Nile, He had received a bullet in the knee, which had +occasioned a stiff joint; and, as his leg was bent, he wore a short +wooden stump. He also could play his fiddle and sing his songs, but +in neither case so well as Dick Harness, although he thought +otherwise himself. We used to call him Opposition Bill, but his +name was Bill White; at least that was the purser's name that he +went by when on board of a man-of-war. His pleasure was to follow +Dick Harness everywhere; and if Dick sung he would sing, if Dick +played he would play also—not at the same time, but if Dick +stopped Bill would strike up. Dick used to call him his black +shadow; and sometimes he would execute a flourish on his fiddle +which would be quite a puzzler to Opposition Bill, who would +attempt something of the kind, which invariably set every one +laughing. At last Dick Harness's performances were not considered +to be complete if Opposition Bill was not in his company; and, as +they were both very good-tempered, funny fellows, they were a great +amusement, especially in the fine weather, when they would sit on +the benches upon the terrace about six or eight yards apart, for +they seldom came nearer, and play and sing alternately. The songs +sung by Dick Harness were chiefly old sea songs; those of +Opposition Bill were picked up from every part of the world, +principally, however, those sung by the negroes who worked on the +plantations in Virginia and Carolina.</p> +<p>Peter Anderson, my father, Ben, and many others were sitting on +the benches, basking in the morning's sun, when Dick Harness made +his appearance, limping along with his fiddle under his arm.</p> +<p>"Come along, Dick," said Ben the Whaler, "we'll stow close, and +make room for you here."</p> +<p>"You must make elbow-room, too, my hearty, or I shan't be able +to fiddle. Come, what will you have this fine morning?" said +Harness, tuning his instrument. As soon as it was in tune he +flourished a prelude from the top of the scale to the bottom, +ending with an "Eh-haw! eh-haw!" in imitation of the braying of a +donkey.</p> +<p>"Give us the Spanish Ladies, Dick," said my father. As this song +was very popular at that time among the seamen, and is now almost +forgotten, I shall by inserting it here for a short time rescue it +from oblivion.</p> +<p class="blockquot">"Farewell and adieu to you, Spanish +ladies,<br /> +Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For we have received +orders</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For to sail to old +England,</span><br /> +But we hope in a short time to see you again."</p> +<p>"Stop a moment, lads. I must screw him up a little more."</p> +<p>Dick regulated his first string, and then continued.</p> +<p class="blockquot">"We'll rant and we'll roar, like true British +sailors,<br /> +We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Until we strike +soundings</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In the Channel of old +England</span><br /> +(From Ushant to Scilly 'tis thirty-five leagues).<br /> +<br /> +"Then we hove our ship to, with the wind at sou'west,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">my boys,</span><br /> +Then we hove our ship to, for to strike soundings clear;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Then we filled the +maintopsail</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And bore right away, my +boys,</span><br /> +And straight up the Channel of old England did steer.<br /> +<br /> +"So the first land we made, it is called the Deadman,<br /> +Next Ram Head, off Plymouth, Start, Portland, and<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">the Wight;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">We sail-ed by Beachy,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Fairly and +Dungeness,</span><br /> +And then bore away for the South Foreland light.<br /> +<br /> +"Now the signal it was made for the grand fleet to<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">anchor,</span><br /> +All in the Downs that night for to meet;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Then stand by your +stoppers,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">See clear your shank +painters,</span><br /> +Haul all your clew garnets, stick out tacks and sheets."</p> +<p>Here Dick was interrupted by another fiddle, which went "turn, +turn—scrape—turn, turn."</p> +<p>"There's Opposition Bill, Dick," said my father; "I thought you +would bring him out."</p> +<p>"All's right," replied Dick; "hope he aren't affronted; but he +looks very black this morning."</p> +<p class="blockquot">"Now let every man lake off his full +bumper,<br /> +Let every man take off his full bowl;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For we will be jolly</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And drown melancholy,</span><br /> +With a health to each jovial and true-hearted soul."</p> +<p>"Now, then, Billy, fire away."</p> +<p>"You tink I 'bey your order, you Dick? No, sar, suppose I fire +away, I go off. I not go off, I stay here."</p> +<p>"Well, but if you play, you'll get in trouble, Billy."</p> +<p>"How I get in trouble?"</p> +<p>"Why, you'll get in a scrape, won't you?"</p> +<p>"Ho! you just got out of one, anyhow."</p> +<p>Dick Harness then said to those who sat by him, "I'll make him +sing the Negro General."</p> +<p>"Well, if you will howl, Mr. Billy," cried out Harness, "at all +events don't give us that abominable Nigger General. It always +gives me the toothache."</p> +<p>"Now I tink dat very fine song; so you may have whole jaw-ache +for all I care. I sing dat, Mr. Dick; you jealous of dat song, I +know."</p> +<p>Opposition Billy flourished a little, and then +commenced—</p> +<p class="blockquot">"Listen, my boys, and I will tell you<br /> +Tell you a leetle 'bout Gin'ral Gabriel.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Dey advertise de Nigger Gin'ral,<br /> +A dousand pounds dey advertise him.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Oh, my boys, I'm most +done!</span><br /> +<br /> +"And who betrayed de Nigger Gin'ral?<br /> +A leetle boy betrayed de Gin'ral.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!</span><br /> +<br /> +"A leetle boy by de name of Daniel,<br /> +Betrayed him down at Norfolk Landing.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Oh, my boys, I'm most +done!</span><br /> +<br /> +"He says, how do, my uncle Gabriel?<br /> +But dis is not your uncle Gabriel.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Yes, it is my uncle Gabriel;<br /> +For I do know you, uncle Gabriel.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Oh, my boys, I'm most +done!</span><br /> +<br /> +"De man belonged to Major Prosser,<br /> +So cum and hang de Nigger Gin'ral.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!</span><br /> +<br /> +"For he's ruined old Virginny!<br /> +<i>Hard times</i> in old Virginny.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Oh, my boys, I'm most +done!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Dey wrote a letter to de tailor,<br /> +To cut out de Gin'ral's ruffles.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Dey cut de ruffles out o' <i>iron</i>!<br /> +So they handcuff and chained him.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Oh, my boys, I'm most +done!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Dey went and called a troop of light horse<br /> +To come and guard de Nigger Gin'ral!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!</span><br /> +<br /> +"To guard him all to de city of Richmond,<br /> +To guard him up unto de justice.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Oh, my boys, I'm most +done!</span><br /> +<br /> +"De justice <i>tuk</i> him to de gobnor—<br /> +(Monroe he set up for gobnor).<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Command him to de Penetenshy;<br /> +On Thursday week come on his trial.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Oh, my boys, I'm most +done!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Dey went and called all de country<br /> +For to come and see de Nigger Gin'ral.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Some dey call him Archy Mullen—'My<br /> +right name is John Decullen.'<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Oh, my boys, I'm most +done!</span><br /> +<br /> +"I'm here to-day and gone to-morrow;<br /> +I did not come for to stay for eber.'<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!</span><br /> +<br /> +"So den dey tuk him to de gallows,<br /> +Drive him down dere in a wagon.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Oh, my boys, I'm most +done!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Dey drive him down unto de gallows,<br /> +Dey drive him down with four gray horses.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!</span><br /> +<br /> +"(Price's Ben, he drive de wagon)<br /> +Very sad loss to Major Prosser.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Oh, my boys, I'm most +done!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Dey drove him right beneath de gallows,<br /> +And den dey hang him and dey swing him.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Oh-e-oh! Oh-e-oh!</span><br /> +<br /> +"And dat de fate of de Nigger Gin'ral,<br /> +Who almost ruined old Virginny!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Now, my boys, I'm quite +done!"</span></p> +<p>"You've quite done, have you, Billy?" said Harness; "take my +advice and never begin again."</p> +<p>"Eh, Mister Dick, you no ab song like dat in your budget, and I +neber give you de tune."</p> +<p>"I hope you won't; but now I'll play you a tune which will beat +you hollow." Hereupon Dick Harness imitated the squeaking of pigs +and caterwauling of cats upon his fiddle, so as to set everybody +laughing, except Opposition Bill, who pretended to be very +sulky.</p> +<p>"Come, Dick, it's your turn now. Give us a regular forecastle +song," said Ben the Whaler.</p> +<p>"Well, then, here's one that's been sung ever since the days of +old Queen Anne:</p> +<p class="blockquot">"It was one November—the second +day—<br /> +The admiral he bore away,<br /> +Intending for his native shore.<br /> +The wind at sou'sou'west did roar;<br /> +There was likewise a terrible sky,<br /> +Which made the sea to run mountains high.<br /> +<br /> +"The tide of ebb it was not done,<br /> +But fiercely to the west did run;<br /> +Which put us all in terrible fear,<br /> +Because there was not room for to veer.<br /> +The wind and weather increased sore,<br /> +And drove ten sail of us on shore.<br /> +<br /> +"Ashore went the 'Northumberland,'<br /> +The 'Harwich,' and the 'Cumberland,'<br /> +The 'Lion' and the 'Warwick' too;<br /> +But the 'Elizabeth' had the most to rue—<br /> +She came stem on—her fore-foot broke,<br /> +And she sunk the 'Gloucester' at one stroke.<br /> +<br /> +"But now remains what is worse to tell,<br /> +The greatest ships had the greatest knell;<br /> +The brave 'C'ronation' and all her men<br /> +Was lost and drowned every one,<br /> +Except the mate and eighteen more<br /> +What in the longboat com'd ashore.<br /> +<br /> +"And thus they lost their precious lives;<br /> +But the greatest loss was to their wives,<br /> +Who, with their children left on shore,<br /> +Their husbands' watery death deplore,<br /> +And wept their loss with many tears—<br /> +(But grief endureth not for years).<br /> +<br /> +"Now you who've a mind to go to sea,<br /> +Pray take a useful hint from me,<br /> +And live at home, and be content<br /> +With what kind Providence has sent;<br /> +For they were punish'd for their misdeeds,<br /> +In grumbling when they had no needs.<br /> +<br /> +"Now God preserve our noble Queen,<br /> +Likewise her Ministers serene;<br /> +And may they ever steer a course<br /> +To make things better 'stead of worse,<br /> +And England's flag triumphant fly,<br /> +The dread of hevery he-ne-my."</p> +<p>"You call dat singing! Stop now! I sing a song you nebber hear +in all your life," cried Opposition Bill, tuning his fiddle.</p> +<p>"And never wish to hear again, most likely," replied Dick. "Out +with it, Bill; your face shines beautifully this morning."</p> +<p>"I take de shine out of you, Massa Dick; now you listen:</p> +<p class="blockquot">"Now your fader is asleep, maid, listen unto +me;<br /> +Will you follow in my trail to Ken-tuck-y?<br /> +For cross de Alleghany to-morrow I must go,<br /> +To chase de bounding deer on'de O-hi-o.<br /> +<br /> +"And will you lub me truly, and kind to me will be,<br /> +If I quit my fader's roof for Ken-tuck-y?<br /> +And will you nebber leave me, if I consent to go<br /> +To your shanty by de stream of de O-hi-o?<br /> +<br /> +"Her fader's not asleep, and he will not agree,<br /> +Dat you take away his dater to Ken-tuck-y.<br /> +So alone by yourself, good hunter, you must go,<br /> +Where the Ingin's rifle cracks on de O-hi-o.<br /> +<br /> +"Your moder, too, is near, aldough you did not see,<br /> +And wid her leave you nebber go to Ken-tuck-y.<br /> +He hab a wife already, as I do surely know,<br /> +Who weeps for his return to de O-hi-o.<br /> +<br /> +"Man, I have dis purse of gold, half of it for ye;<br /> +Woman, I hab ne'er a wife in Ken-tuck-y;<br /> +Your dater is my only lub, so pridee let us go<br /> +To where my corn is ripening on de O-hi-o.<br /> +<br /> +"De fader weighed de purse, he took his half wid glee,<br /> +De moder said her child might go to Ken-tuck-y.<br /> +So de hunter and de maid, arm-in-arm dey go,<br /> +Across de Alleghany to de O-hi-o."</p> +<p>"Bravo, Billy, that's not so bad," said some of the +pensioners.</p> +<p>"I tell you, Dick, I take de shine out of you. You nebber +believe till I make you fall in my wake, and den you soon be where +de little boat was—long way astarn."</p> +<p>"I'll tell you what, Billy," said Dick Harness, "you do improve, +and we'll allow you to sing that song once more before you die, +just by way of encouragement."</p> +<p>Dick then played several flourishes on his fiddle. Opposition +Bill tried to imitate him, but made sad work of it. It was near +dinner-time, and the pensioners rose and proceeded to the Painted +Hall, for at that time they dined there, and not below in the +crypts as they do now.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_EIGHTEEN" id="CHAPTER_EIGHTEEN"></a>CHAPTER +EIGHTEEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>I get into very doubtful Company—I am tempted, and, like a +true Son of Adam, I fall.</p> +</div> +<p>The reader must have observed that, under the tuition of +Anderson, I promised to follow the right path, and, provided his +good offices were not interfered with, there appeared little doubt +but that such would be the case. But I was little aware, nor was +he, that the humble profession which I had chosen for myself was +beset with danger, and that the majority of those with whom I was +associating were the most likely of all others to lead me into +evil. Why I had not hitherto been tempted can only be ascribed to +my tender years. In fact, I had not been considered strong enough, +or of an age to be useful to them, but now that I was more than +thirteen years old—being, moreover, very tall and strong for +my age—the hour of temptation arrived; and fortunate was it +for me that, previous to this epoch, I had been taken under the +protection of Peter Anderson.</p> +<p>I have said in a former chapter that I was a regular +<i>mudlarker</i>. So I was, as far as the ostensible occupation of +those who are so denominated went; to wit, "picking up pieces of +old rope, wood, etc." But the mudlarkers, properly speaking, at +that time composed a very extensive body on the river, and were a +more humble portion of the numerous river depredators, of which I +may hereafter speak. A mudlarker was a man who had an old boat, +generally sold by some merchant vessel, furnished with an iron bar +full of hooks, which was lowered down by a rope to catch pieces of +cordage, oakum, canvas or other articles, which might fall +overboard from the numerous vessels in the river; these were sold +to the marine stores, such as were kept by old Nanny. But, as I +observed, this was the <i>ostensible</i> mode of livelihood; they +had other resources, to which I shall presently refer. An old man +of the name of Jones, who resided at Greenwich, was one of these +mudlarkers by profession. He was a surly old fellow, his sharp nose +and chin nearly meeting, and he usually went by the name of Old +Grumble. I had occasionally assisted him with his boat, but without +receiving money, or indeed thanks, for my pains, but for this I +cared little. He was a very old man, and when he came on shore and +went up to old Nanny with the few things he had collected during +the day, I almost wondered how he could manage to subsist, and +thought myself infinitely better off than he was.</p> +<p>One evening he said to me, "Jack, I'm going up the river, I wish +you'd come in the boat and help me, and if I make anything I will +give you something for your trouble, but if I don't you can't +expect it."</p> +<p>As he was very infirm I went with him, more out of charity than +with any hopes of profit. We pulled with the tide till we arrived a +little above Deptford, where several ships were lying, and he went +close to one and lowered down his grapnels. He dragged for a short +time.</p> +<p>"Just you make a little further off, old fellow," cried the mate +of the vessel.</p> +<p>"Won't allow a poor old man to earn a few pence, I suppose," +replied Old Grumble, hauling up his grapnel and directing me to +pull under the bows, where he dropped it down again. I now +perceived, as I thought, some signs passing between him and one of +the men in the head; but if so, they were soon over, and Old +Grumble continued his avocation till the sun set.</p> +<p>"How long do you intend to remain here?" inquired I.</p> +<p>"Oh, not much longer, but I must wait a bit."</p> +<p>At last it was quite dark, and then Grumble pulled up his +grapnel and dropped down nearer to the cutwater of the vessel. I +soon distinguished a tinkling, as it were, of metal; and Old +Grumble, holding up his hands, received some sheets of copper, +which were lowered down by a rope-yarn. As soon as they were +quietly landed in the stern of the boat, down came a bag, which he +cast off and laid beside the copper. I was all astonishment, but +still more so when a large bag of something weighing very heavy was +lowered down by a rope after the small bag. A low whistle was then +given, and the words "Monday night" pronounced in a whisper. +Grumble whistled in return, and then, hauling up the grapnel, he +told me to put out the oars and pull, while he took his grapnel on +board. We then pulled down the river again, for the tide had +turned, and as soon as we were clear of the shipping I began to +interrogate him.</p> +<p>"Who gave you all these things?"</p> +<p>"Who? Why, that man."</p> +<p>"But what did he give them you for?"</p> +<p>"Why, out of charity, to be sure! But I can't talk now, I've no +breath to spare. Let's pull ashore, and then I'll talk to you."</p> +<p>As we pulled down I observed that a lighter had broken adrift +from her moorings, and was sweeping down the river with the ebb +tide.</p> +<p>"There's a lighter adrift," said I.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Grumble. "I'm too old for that work now; time +was. There'll be pretty pickings as soon as she gets down a little +lower. The Light Horsemen have cut her adrift."</p> +<p>"Light Horsemen! Who are they?"</p> +<p>"Bah! you know nothing. I tell ye again, I haven't no breath to +spare; I can't pull and talk too."</p> +<p>I was convinced in my own mind that Old Grumble had not obtained +the articles in the boat by fair means, and, annoyed that I should +have been made a participator in any dishonest dealings, I was +resolved to question him closely as soon as we landed. There was no +one at the steps, and when we beached the boat I asked him whether +he was going to take the things up to old Nanny's.</p> +<p>"Old Nanny! no. She's no fence now; she used to be a good one, +but she was overhauled once or twice, and nearly sent on the other +side of the water, and, since that, she's satisfied with little +articles, sure profit and no risk."</p> +<p>"What do you mean by a fence?" inquired I.</p> +<p>"Why, don't you know that yet, boy? Well, a <i>fence</i> is one +who receives things that are brought for sale, and never asks no +questions."</p> +<p>"Well, but if these things were given you out of charity, as you +say, why should you want to take them up to a fence, as you call +it?"</p> +<p>"I tell you what, Jack, I can't be answering all these questions +here, where there may be twenty pair of ears a-listening."</p> +<p>"Well, and if they do listen, what is the harm, if we are doing +what is right?"</p> +<p>"It won't do to argufy here, I tell you. In my opinion, a poor +man who works hard to get some victuals to keep body and soul +together is doing what is right."</p> +<p>"Yes, if he works at an honest livelihood."</p> +<p>"Don't talk so loud about <i>honesty</i>; the very word is +enough to make people suspect something not right. I'll tell you +all when you come up to my house; for you see, Jack, you must help +me to carry these things up. D'ye think you can manage this bag of +pease? Let's try." Between us we contrived to get the bag, which +weighed about half a hundredweight, on my back, and I walked off +with it, Grumble following me with the copper and the other small +bag, which I afterward found contained copper nails. When we +arrived at his dwelling, which was as dilapidated and miserable as +old Nanny's, he took out his key and fumbled a long while at the +lock; at last he opened it. "You had better stay till I get a +light," said he. In a minute he came with one to the door, and told +me to follow him. I went in, put down the bag, and, some grains +falling out, I took them up.</p> +<p>"Why, this is coffee, Grumble!"</p> +<p>"Well, <i>pease</i> is our name for coffee, <i>sand</i> for +sugar, and <i>vinegar</i> for rum, when we get any."</p> +<p>"Well, but, Grumble, I wish to know how you came by these +things?"</p> +<p>"I'll tell you, Jack, if you ask everybody how they come by +things, you will have enough to do; but the fact is, the man wants +me to sell them for him."</p> +<p>"Why, you said he gave them to you out of charity!"</p> +<p>"Oh, that was only because I couldn't spare breath to tell you +all about it."</p> +<p>"But why should he lower them down in the dark, if they are his +own property?"</p> +<p>"Jack, I don't ask whose property it is; all I know is that I +come by it honestly. I don't steal it, and I can't prove that the +man does. Why, Jack, if one is to be so nice as that, you can't go +into a grocer's shop to buy sugar, or coffee, or pepper, or indeed +into almost any shop, if you first want to know whether the people +have come by the goods honestly before you buy of them."</p> +<p>"Still, it is so plain that the man must have stolen them."</p> +<p>"Suppose it is; how are so many poor people to find their +livelihood and support their families, if they refuse to get a +shilling or two when it is offered? If we were only to live upon +what we get honestly, why, we should starve; the rich take good +care of that by grinding us down so close. Why, Jack, how many +thousands get their living on this river! and do you think they +could all get their living honestly, as you call it? No; we all +plunder one another in this world<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id= +"FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class= +"fnanchor">[4]</a>. You asked me who were Light +Horsemen?—that's a name for one set of people who live by +plunder. That lighter will have a good slice of her cargo out +to-night; for those who cut her adrift know what's on board of her. +Then we have the Heavy Horsemen—they do their work in the +daytime, when they go on board as lumpers to clear the ships. And +then we've the Coopers and Bumboat men, and the Ratcatchers and the +Scuffle Hunters, and the River Pirates; and, last of all, we have +the Mudlarkers: all different professions, Jack; never interfering +with each other, and all living by their wits. I'm too old now; I +was a flash pirate once, but I'm now nearly eighty, and am only fit +for a mudlarker."</p> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href= +"#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> These remarks of +Grumble were, at the time, perfectly correct; it was before the Wet +Docks or the River Police was established. Previously to the West +India, London, St. Katharine's, and other docks having been made, +all ships unloaded in the river, and the depredations were so +enormous that Mr. Colquhoun, in his work, has estimated them at +half a million sterling <i>annually</i>. At present the river may +be said to be comparatively honest; the police is strict, and the +temptations are removed.</p> +</div> +<p>"But," exclaimed I, with astonishment, "are they not discovered +and punished?"</p> +<p>"That's very seldom, Jack; for you see we have receivers all +down the river; some of them great men, and dining with the mayor +and common council; others in a small way—all sorts, Jack: +and then we have what we call Jew Carts, always ready to take goods +inland, where they will not be looked after. Old Nanny was a +receiver and fence in a large way once."</p> +<p>"Then the only honest people on the river are the watermen."</p> +<p>Here old Grumble chuckled. "Why, Jack, they be the worst of all, +for they be both receivers and thieves. Do you think the watermen +live by their fares? If you do, just wait on the steps one night, +and you'll find that their night work is worth more than the day +work is. We all must live, Jack; and now I've shown you a way by +which you can earn more money in a night than you can in a +fortnight by asking for halfpence. Here's five shillings for you, +my boy; and when I want you again I'll let you know."</p> +<p>Alas! the five shillings, so easily and so unexpectedly earned, +did, for the time, satisfy all my scruples: so easily are we bribed +into what is wrong. I wished Old Grumble a good-night and left him. +As I returned home, I thought of what he had said about night work, +and, instead of making my way to Fisher's Alley, I returned to the +landing-steps, resolving to watch for a time and see what +occurred.</p> +<p>I thought of what had passed. I was not satisfied with myself. I +thought of what Anderson would say, and I felt that I had done +wrong. And then I attempted to exculpate myself. I could not prove +that the things were stolen. I did not go with any intent to help +in such a business. Old Grumble had only paid me for my work; but +then, why did he pay me so much money? My conscience told me that +it was because the dealings were unfair. I could not persuade +myself that I was right. I looked up at the heavens—for it +was a clear night, and there was a very bright star just above me; +and as I looked at it it appeared as if it were an eye beaming down +upon me, and piercing into my breast. I turned away from it, and +then looked at it again—still it had the same appearance. I +thought it was the eye of God—I trembled, and I resolved to +reveal the whole to Anderson the next day, when I heard the sound +of oars. I looked in the direction, and perceived a wherry with two +men pulling in. I was down on the steps, under the shadow of the +wall, and they did not see me. They landed, and handed out of the +wherry three large and full canvas bags. "It's more than we can +carry," said the voice of a waterman I well knew; "we must leave +one in the boat; and be quick, for they are on our scent. Hollo! +who's that? what are you doing here? Poor Jack, I declare."</p> +<p>"Well, mayn't I have a little night work as well as you?"</p> +<p>"Oh! you've come to that, have you?" replied he. "Well, as +you're waiting for something else, I suppose you could not help us +with one of these bags?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I can," replied I, forgetting all my resolutions; "put it +on my back, if it's not too heavy."</p> +<p>"No, no; you're stout enough to carry it. I say, Jack, can you +tell us, does old Nanny fence again, or has she given it up?"</p> +<p>"I believe she does not," replied I.</p> +<p>"Well," said he, "just put the question to her to-morrow +morning, for she used to be a good 'un; now follow us."</p> +<p>I walked after them with my load until we came to a by-street; +at the shutters of a shop they rapped three times on the iron bar +outside which fixed them up; the door was opened, and we put the +bags down in the passage, walked out again without a word, and the +door was immediately closed.</p> +<p>"Well, Jack," said the waterman, "I suppose we must tip handsome +for the first time: here's ten shillings for you, and we'll let you +know when we want you to be on the lookout for us."</p> +<p>Ten shillings! and five before—fifteen shillings! I felt +as I were a rich man; all scruples of conscience were, for the +time, driven away. I hurried home rattling the silver in my pocket, +and opening the door softly, I crept to bed. Did I say my prayers +that night? No!!</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus174.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_NINETEEN" id="CHAPTER_NINETEEN"></a>CHAPTER +NINETEEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>I am tempted again—My Pride is roused, and my Course of +Life is changed in consequence.</p> +</div> +<p>I passed a dreaming restless night, and woke early. I recalled +all that had passed, and I felt very much dissatisfied with myself; +the fifteen shillings, with the added prospect of receiving more, +did not yield me the satisfaction I had anticipated. From what the +men had said about old Nanny I thought that I would go and see her; +and why? because I wished support against my own convictions. If I +had not been actuated by such a feeling I should, as usual, have +gone to old Anderson. When I went down to breakfast I felt +confused, and I hardly dared to meet the clear bright eye of my +little sister, and I wished the fifteen shillings out of my pocket. +That I might appear to her and my mother as if I were not guilty, I +swaggered; my sister was surprised, and my mother justifiably +angry. As soon as breakfast was over, I hastened to old +Nanny's.</p> +<p>"Well, Jack," said she, "what brings you here so early?"</p> +<p>"Why, mother, I was desired to ask you a question last +night—between ourselves."</p> +<p>"Well, why don't you ask it, since it's between ourselves?" +replied she, with surprise.</p> +<p>"Some of the people want to know if you <i>fence</i> now?"</p> +<p>"Jack," said old Nanny, harshly, "who asked you that question, +and how did you fall into their company? Tell me directly; I will +know."</p> +<p>"Why, mother, is there any harm in it?" replied I, confused and +holding down my head.</p> +<p>"Harm in it! Ask your own conscience, Jack, whether there's harm +in it. Why do you not look me in the face like an honest boy? Would +they have dared to put that question to you, if you had not been a +party to their evil deeds, Jack?" continued she, shaking her head. +"I thought better of you; now you have filled me full of +sorrow."</p> +<p>I was smitten to the heart at this rebuke from a quarter whence +I did not expect it; but my heart was still rebellious, and I would +not acknowledge what I felt. I thought to turn the tables, and +replied, "Why, mother, at all events they say that <i>once</i> you +were a real good one."</p> +<p>"Is it indeed gone so far?" replied she. "Poor boy! poor boy! +Yes, Jack, to my shame be it spoken, I once did receive things and +buy them when they were not honestly come by, and now I'm rebuked +by a child. But, Jack, I was almost mad then; I had that which +would have turned any one's brain—I was reckless, wretched; +but I don't do so any more. Even now I am a poor sinful +wretch—I know it; but I'm not so crazy as I was then. I have +done so, Jack, more's the shame for me, and I wish I could recall +it; but, Jack, we can't recall the past. Oh, that we could!"</p> +<p>Here old Nanny pressed her hands to her temples, and for some +time was silent. At last she continued, "Why did I love you, +Jack?—Because you were honest. Why did I lend you +money—I, an old miserly wretch, who have been made to dote on +money; I, who have never spent a shilling for my own comfort for +these ten years?—But because you were honest. Why have I +longed the whole day to see you, and have cared only for +you?—Because I thought you honest, Jack. I don't care how +soon I die now. I thought the world too bad to live in; you made me +think better of it. Oh! Jack, Jack, how has this come to pass? How +long have you known these bad people?"</p> +<p>"Why, mother," replied I, much affected, "only last night."</p> +<p>"Only last night? Tell me all about it; tell the truth, dear +boy, do."</p> +<p>I could hold out no longer, and I told her everything that had +passed.</p> +<p>"Jack," said she, "I'm not fit to talk to you; I'm a bad old +woman, and you may say I don't practice what I preach; but, Jack, +if you love me, go to Peter Anderson and tell him everything. Don't +be afraid; only be afraid of doing what is wrong. Now, Jack, you +must go."</p> +<p>"I will, I will," replied I, bursting into tears.</p> +<p>"Do, do, dear Jack! God bless your heart, I wish I could cry +that way."</p> +<p>I walked away quite humiliated; at last I ran, I was so eager to +go to Anderson and confess everything. I found him in his +cabin—I attempted to speak, but I could not—I pulled +out the money, put it on the table, and then I knelt down and +sobbed on his knee.</p> +<p>"What is all this, Jack?" said Anderson, calmly; but I did not +reply. "I think I know, Jack," said he, after a pause. "You have +been doing wrong."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes," replied I, sobbing.</p> +<p>"Well, my dear boy, wait till you can speak, and then tell me +all about it."</p> +<p>As soon as I could I did. Anderson heard me without +interruption.</p> +<p>"Jack," said he, when I had done speaking, "the temptation" +(pointing to the money) "has been very great; you did not resist at +the moment, but you have, fortunately, seen you*r error in good +time, for the money is still here. I have little to say to you, for +your own feelings convince me that it is needless. Do you think +that you can read a little? Then read this." Anderson turned to the +parable of the Prodigal Son, which I read to him. "And now," said +he, turning over the leaves, "here is one verse more." I read it: +"There is more joy over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety +and nine that need no repentance." "Be careful, therefore, my dear +boy, let this be a warning to you; think well of it, for you have +escaped a great danger. The money shall be returned. Go now, my +child, to your employment; and if you do receive only halfpence, +you will have the satisfaction of feeling that they are honestly +obtained."</p> +<p>I can assure the reader that this was a lesson which I never +forgot; it was, however, succeeded by another variety of +temptation, which might have proved more dangerous to a young and +ardent spirit, had it not ended as it did, in changing the course +of my destiny and throwing me into a new path of action. To this I +shall now refer.</p> +<p>Hardly a month passed but we received additional pensioners into +the hospital. Among others, a man was sent to the hospital who went +by the name of Sam Spicer. I say went by the name, as it was not +the custom for the seamen to give their real names when they were +entered or pressed into the service, and of course they were +discharged into the hospital by the same name which they bore on +the ship's books. Spicer was upward of six feet in height, very +large boned, and must, when he was in his prime, have been a man of +prodigious strength. When he was admitted to the hospital he was +nearly sixty years of age; his hair was black and gray mixed, his +complexion very dark, and his countenance fierce and +unprepossessing. He went by the name of Black Sam, on account of +his appearance. He had lost his right hand in a frigate action, and +to the stump he had fixed a sort of socket, into which he screwed +his knife and the various articles which he wished to make use +of—sometimes a file, sometimes a saw—having had every +article made to fit into the socket, for he had been an armorer on +board ship, and was very handy at such work. He was, generally +speaking, very morose and savage to everybody, seldom entered into +conversation, but sat apart, as if thinking, with a frown upon his +countenance, and his eyes, surmounted with bushy eyebrows, fixed +upon the ground. The pensioners who belonged to the same ward said +that he talked in his sleep, and from what they could collect at +those times he must have been a pirate; but no one dared to speak +to him on the subject, for more than once he had been punished for +striking those who had offended him; indeed, he nearly killed one +old man who was jesting with him when he was at work, having made a +stab at him with his knife screwed in his socket, but his foot +slipped and the blow missed. Spicer was brought up before the +council for this offense, and would have been discharged had he not +declared that he had done it only by way of a joke to frighten the +man; and, as no one else was present, it could not be proved to the +contrary. For some reason or another, which I could not comprehend, +Spicer appeared to have taken a liking to me; he would call me to +him, and tell me stories about the West Indies and the Spanish +Main, which I listened to very eagerly, for they were to me very +interesting. But he seldom, if ever, spoke to me inside of the +hospital; it was always when I was at the steps minding my +vocation, where he would come down and lean over the rail at the +top of the wharf. He made and gave me a boat-hook, which I found +very convenient. He had a great deal of information, and as the +ships came up the river he would point out the flags of the +different nations, tell me where they traded from, and what their +cargoes probably consisted of. If they had no ensign he would tell +by their build and the cut of their sails what nation they belonged +to, pointing out to me the differences, which I soon began to +perceive. He had been in every part of the world, and scarcely a +day passed in which I did not gain from him some amusing or useful +information. Indeed, I became so fond of his company that Peter +Anderson spoke to me on the subject, and asked me what Spicer +talked about. I told him, and he replied:</p> +<p>"Well, Jack, I daresay that he is a very pleasant companion to +one who, like you, is so anxious for information, and I have +nothing to say against him, for we have no right to listen to +foolish reports which may probably have been raised from his savage +appearance. Still, I confess I do not like the man, as he is +decidedly of a violent temper. As long as he talks to you about +what you say he does, there is no harm done; but when once he says +anything which you think is wrong, promise me to let me know; and +even now, if you will take my advice, you will not be so intimate +with him."</p> +<p>A little while afterward my father and Ben the Whaler both spoke +to me on the same subject, but with much less reservation.</p> +<p>My father said, "Jack, I don't like to see you always in company +with that old pirate, no good can come of it; so haul off a little +further for the future."</p> +<p>And Ben told me, "That a man who couldn't sleep o' nights +without talking of killing people must have a bad conscience, and +something lying heavy on his soul. There's an old saying, Jack, +'Tell me whose company you keeps, and I'll tell you what sort of a +chap you be.' You've the character of a good honest boy; steer +clear of Sam Spicer, or you'll lose it."</p> +<p>Admonitions from all those whom I loved were not without their +effect, and I made a resolution to be less intimate with Spicer. +But it was difficult to do so, as I was obliged to be at the +landing-steps, and could not prevent his coming there.</p> +<p>I acknowledge that it was a severe privation to me to follow the +injunctions given to me, for I would listen for hours to the +thrilling narratives, the strange and almost incredible accounts of +battles, incidents, and wild adventures, which this man Spicer +would relate to me; and when I thought over them I felt that the +desire to rove was becoming more strong within me every day. One +morning I said to him that "I had a great mind to go on board of a +man-of-war."</p> +<p>"On board of a man-of-war?" replied Spicer; "you'd soon be sick +enough of that. Why, who would be at the beck and nod of others, +ordered here, called there, by boy midshipmen; bullied by +lieutenants, flogged by captains; have all the work and little of +the pay, all the fighting and less of the prize-money; and, after +having worn out your life in hard service, be sent here as a great +favor, to wear a cocked hat and get a shilling a week for your +'baccy? Pshaw, boy! that's not life."</p> +<p>"Then, what is life?' inquired I.</p> +<p>"What is life? Why, to sail in a clipper with a jolly crew and a +roving commission; take your prizes, share and share alike, of +gold-dust and doubloons."</p> +<p>"But what sort of vessel must that be, Spicer?"</p> +<p>"What sort? why—a letter of marque—a +privateer—a cruise on the Spanish Main—that's life. +Many's the jolly day I've seen in those latitudes, where men-of-war +do not bring vessels to and press the best men out of them. There +the sun's warm, and the sky and the sea are deep blue, and the +corals grow like forests underneath, and there are sandy coves and +cool caves for retreat—and where you may hide your gold till +you want it—ay, and your sweethearts too, if you have +any."</p> +<p>"I thought privateers always sent their prizes into port, to be +condemned?"</p> +<p>"Yes, in the Channel and these seas they do, but not down +there—it's too far off. We condemn the vessels ourselves, and +share the money on the capstan-head."</p> +<p>"But is that lawful?"</p> +<p>"Lawful! to be sure it is. Could we spare men to send prizes +home to England, and put them into the hands of a rascally agent, +who would rob us of three-fourths at least? No, no; that would +never do. If I could have escaped from the man-of-war which picked +up me and four others who were adrift in an open boat, I would now +have been on the Coast. But when I lost my fin, I knew that all was +over with me, so I came to the hospital; but I often think of old +times, and the life of a rover. Now, if you have any thoughts of +going to sea, look out for some vessel bound to the Gold Coast, and +then you'll soon get in the right way."</p> +<p>"The Gold Coast! Is not that to where the slavers go?"</p> +<p>"Yes, slavers and other vessels besides. Some traffic for ivory +and gold-dust; however, that's as may happen. You'd soon find +yourself in good company, and wouldn't that be better than begging +here for halfpence? I would be above <i>that</i>, at all +events."</p> +<p>This remark, the first of the kind ever made to me, stung me to +the quick. Strange, I had never before considered myself in the +light of a beggar; and yet, was I not so, just as much as a sweeper +of a crossing?"</p> +<p>"A beggar?" replied I.</p> +<p>"Yes, a beggar. Don't you beg for halfpence, and say, 'Thank +your honor; a copper for poor Jack, your honor'?" rejoined Spicer, +mimicking me. "When I see that pretty sister of yours, that looks +so like a real lady, I often thinks to myself, 'Fine and smart as +you are, miss, your brother's only a beggar.' Now, would you not +like to return from a cruise with a bag of doubloons to throw into +her lap, proving that you were a gentleman, and above coppers +thrown to you out of charity? Well, old as I am, and maimed, I'd +sooner starve where I now stand.—But I must be off, so +good-by, Jack; look sharp after the halfpence."</p> +<p>As Spicer walked away my young blood boiled. A beggar! It was +but too true; and yet I had never thought it a disgrace before. I +sat down on the steps, and was soon in deep thought. Boat after +boat came to the stairs, and yet I stirred not. Not one halfpenny +did I take during the remainder of that day, for I could not, would +not, ask for one. My pride, hitherto latent, was roused, and before +I rose from where I had been seated I made a resolution that I +would earn my livelihood in some other way. What hurt me most was +his observations about Virginia and her beggar brother. I was so +proud of Virginia, I felt that her brother ought not to be a +beggar. Such was the effect produced in so short a time by the +insidious discourse of this man. Had he still remained at the +steps, I do believe that I should have asked, probably have +followed, his advice. Fortunately he had left, and, after a little +reflection, I had the wisdom to go and seek Peter Anderson, and +consult him as to what I could do, for to change my mode of +obtaining my livelihood I was determined upon.</p> +<p>I found Anderson, as usual, seated under the colonnade, reading, +and I went up to him.</p> +<p>"Well, Jack, my-boy, you are home early," said he.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied I gravely, and then I was silent.</p> +<p>After a pause of about a minute, Peter Anderson said, "Jack, I +see there's something the matter. Now, tell me what it is. Can I +help you?"</p> +<p>"I did wish to speak to you," replied I. "I've been +thinking—about going to sea."</p> +<p>"And how long have you thought of that, Jack?"</p> +<p>"I've thought more of it lately," replied I.</p> +<p>"Yes, since Spicer has been talking to you. Now, is that not the +case?"</p> +<p>"Yes, it is."</p> +<p>"I knew that, Jack. I'm at your service for as long as you +please; now sit down and tell me all he has said to you that you +can remember. I shan't interrupt you."</p> +<p>I did so; and before I had half finished, Anderson replied, +"That is quite enough, Jack. One thing is evident to me—that +Spicer has led a bad and lawless life, and would even now continue +it, old as he is, only that he is prevented by being crippled. +Jack, he has talked to you about privateers! God forgive me if I +wrong him; but I think, had he said pirates, he would have told the +truth. But say nothing about that observation of mine; I wish from +my heart that you had never known him. But here comes your father. +He has a right to know what we are talking about, for you owe duty +to him as his son, and nothing can be done without his +permission."</p> +<p>When my father came up to us, Anderson begged him to sit down, +and he told him what we had been discoursing about. I had already +stated my objections to enter on board of a man-of-war.</p> +<p>"Well," said my father, "I may come athwart hawse of that old +piccaroon yet, if he don't look out. Not that I mind your going to +sea, Jack, as your father did before you; but what he says about +the sarvice is a confounded lie. Let a man do his duty, and the +sarvice is a good one; and a man who is provided for as he is, +ought to be ashamed of himself to speak as he has done, the old +rascal. Still, I do not care for your entering the sarvice so +young. It would be better that you were first apprentice and +learned your duty; and as soon as your time is out, you will be +pressed, of course, and then you would sarve the King. I see no +objection to all that."</p> +<p>"But why do you want so particularly to go to sea, Jack?" +observed Anderson.</p> +<p>"I don't like being a beggar—begging for halfpence!" +replied I.</p> +<p>"And Spicer told you that you were a beggar?" said Peter.</p> +<p>"He did."</p> +<p>"Jack, if that is the case, we are all beggars; for we all work, +and receive what money we can get for our work. There is no shame +in that."</p> +<p>"I can't bear to think of it," replied I, as the tears came into +my eyes.</p> +<p>"Well, well! I see how it is," replied Anderson; "it's a pity +you ever fell in with that man."</p> +<p>"That's true as gospel," observed my father; "but still, if he +had said nothing worse than that, I should not have minded. I do +think that Jack is now old enough to do something better; and I +must say, I do not dislike his wishing so to do—for it is +begging for halfpence, arter all."</p> +<p>"Well, boy," said Peter Anderson, "suppose you leave your father +and me to talk over the matter; and to-morrow, by this time, we +will tell you what we think will be best."</p> +<p>"Anything—anything," replied I, "but being a beggar."</p> +<p>"Go along, you are a foolish boy," said Anderson.</p> +<p>"I like his spirit, though," said my father, as I walked +away.</p> +<p>On the next day the important question was to be decided. I did +not go to the stairs to follow up my vocation. I had talked the +matter over with Virginia, who, although she did not like that I +should go away, had agreed with me that she objected to my begging +for money. I waited very impatiently for the time that Anderson had +appointed, and, at last, he and my father came together, when the +former said:</p> +<p>"Well, Jack, it appears that you do not like to be a waterman, +and that you have no great fancy for a man-of-war, although you +have a hankering for the sea. Now, as you cannot cruise with your +friend Spicer on the Spanish Main, nor yet be safe from impressment +in a privateer or merchantman, we have been thinking that, perhaps, +you would have no objection to be a channel and river pilot; and if +so, I have an old friend in that service who, I think, may help +you. What do you say?"</p> +<p>"I should like it very much."</p> +<p>"Yes, it is a good service, and a man is usefully employed. You +may be the means, as soon as you are out of your time, and have +passed your examination, of saving many a vessel and more lives. +You have had a pretty fair education, indeed quite sufficient; and, +as you will often be coming up the river, you will have +opportunities of seeing your father and your friends. If you +decide, I will write at once."</p> +<p>"It is the very thing that I should like," replied I; "and many +thanks to you, Anderson."</p> +<p>"And it's exactly what I should wish also," replied my father. +"So that job's jobbed, as the saying is."</p> +<p>After this arrangement, I walked away as proud as if I had been +an emancipated slave. That very evening I announced my intention of +resigning my office of "Poor Jack," and named as my successor the +boy with whom I had fought so desperately to obtain it, when the +prospect was held out to me, by old Ben, of my becoming Poor +Jack—forever.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus187.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWENTY" id="CHAPTER_TWENTY"></a>CHAPTER +TWENTY</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Much ado about Nothing; or, a Specimen of modern Patronage</p> +</div> +<p>I communicated to my mother and Virginia my father's intentions +relative to my future employ, and was not surprised to find my +mother very much pleased with the intelligence, for she had always +considered my situation of "Poor Jack" as disgracing her +family—declaring it the "most ungenteelest" of all +occupations. Perhaps she was not only glad of my giving up the +situation, but also of my quitting her house. My father desired me +to wear my Sunday clothes during the week, and ordered me a new +suit for my best, which he paid for out of the money which he had +placed in the hands of the lieutenant of the hospital; and I was +very much surprised to perceive my mother cutting out half-a-dozen +new shirts for me, which she and Virginia were employed making up +during the evenings. Not that my mother told me who the shirts were +for—she said nothing; but Virginia whispered it to me: my +mother could not be even gracious to me. Nevertheless, the shirts +and several other necessaries, such as stockings and +pocket-handkerchiefs, were placed for my use on my father's +sea-chest, in my room, without any comment on her part, although +she had paid for them out of her own purse. During the time that +elapsed from my giving up the situation of "Poor Jack" to my +quitting Greenwich, I remained very quietly in my mother's house, +doing everything that I could for her, and employing myself chiefly +in reading books, which I borrowed anywhere that I could. I was +very anxious to get rid of my sobriquet of "Poor Jack," and when so +called would tell everybody that my name was now "Thomas +Saunders."</p> +<p>One Sunday, about three weeks after I had given up my berth, I +was walking with my father and Virginia on the terrace of the +hospital, when we perceived a large party of ladies and gentlemen +coming toward us. My father was very proud of us. I had this very +day put on the new suit of clothes which he had ordered for me, and +which had been cut out in the true man-of-war fashion; and Virginia +was, as usual, very nicely dressed. We were walking toward the +party who were advancing, when all of a sudden my father started, +and exclaimed:</p> +<p>"Well, shiver my timbers! if it ain't <i>she</i>—and +<i>he</i>—by all that's blue!"</p> +<p>Who <i>she</i> or <i>he</i> might be neither Virginia nor I +could imagine; but I looked at the party, who were now close to us, +and perceived, in advance of the rest, an enormous lady, dressed in +a puce-colored pelisse and a white satin bonnet. Her features were +good, and, had they been on a smaller scale, would have been +considered handsome. She towered above the rest of the company, and +there was but one man who could at all compete with her in height +and size, and he was by her side.</p> +<p>My father stopped, took off his cocked hat, and scraped the +gravel with his timber toe, as he bowed a little forward.</p> +<p>"Sarvant, your honor's ladyship. Sarvant, your honor Sir +Hercules."</p> +<p>"Ah! who have we here?" replied Sir Hercules, putting his hand +up as a screen above his eyes. "Who are you, my man?" continued +he.</p> +<p>"Tom Saunders, your honor's coxswain, as was in the 'Druid,'" +replied my father, with another scrape of the gravel, "taken in +moorings at last, your honor. Hope to see your honor and your +honorable ladyship quite well."</p> +<p>"I recollect you now, my man," replied Sir Hercules, very +stiffly. "And where did you lose your leg?"</p> +<p>"Battle o' the Nile, your honor; Majesty's ship Oudacious.'"</p> +<p>"How interesting!" observed one of the ladies; "one of Sir +Hercules' old men."</p> +<p>"Yes, madam, and one of my best men. Lady Hercules, you must +recollect him," said Sir Hercules.</p> +<p>"I should think so, Sir Hercules," replied the lady; "did I not +give him my own lady's maid in marriage?"</p> +<p>"Dear me, how <i>excessively</i> interesting!" said another of +the party.</p> +<p>Now, this was a little event in which Sir Hercules and Lady +Hercules stood prominent; it added to their importance for the +moment, and therefore they were both pleased. Lady Hercules then +said, "And pray, my good man, how is your wife?"</p> +<p>"Quite well and hearty, at your ladyship's sarvice," replied my +father; "and, please your ladyship, these two be our children."</p> +<p>"Bless me, how interesting!" exclaimed another lady.</p> +<p>"And remarkably well-bred 'uns," remarked a short gentleman in a +fox-hunting coat, examining Virginia through his eye-glass; +"coxswain, filly—dam, lady's maid."</p> +<p>"What is your name, child?" said Lady Hercules to Virginia.</p> +<p>"Virginia, ma'am," replied my sister, with a courtesy.</p> +<p>"You must say 'Lady Hercules,' my dear," said my father, +stooping down.</p> +<p>"My name is Virginia, Lady Hercules," replied my sister, +courtesying again.</p> +<p>"Indeed; then I suppose you are named after me?"</p> +<p>"Yes, your ladyship; hope no offense—but we did take the +liberty," replied my father.</p> +<p>"And what is yours, boy?"</p> +<p>"Thomas, Lady Hercules," replied I, with a bow and scrape, after +my father's receipt for politeness.</p> +<p>"And where is your mother?" said Sir Hercules.</p> +<p>"Mother's at home, Lady Hercules," replied I, with another +scrape.</p> +<p>"How <i>very</i> interesting!" exclaimed one of the party. +"Quite an event!" said another. "A delightful rencontre!" cried a +third. "How kind of you, Lady Hercules, to give up your own maid! +and such handsome children," etc., etc. "It's really quite +charming."</p> +<p>Lady Hercules was evidently much pleased, and she assumed the +patroness.</p> +<p>"Well, little girl, since you have been named after me, out of +gratitude I must see what can be done for you. Tell your mother to +come up to me to-morrow at three o'clock, and bring you with +her."</p> +<p>"Yes, Lady Hercules," replied Virginia, with a courtesy.</p> +<p>"And, Saunders, you may as well come up at the same time, and +bring your lad with you," added Sir Hercules.</p> +<p>"Yes, your honor," replied my father, both he and I +simultaneously scraping the gravel.</p> +<p>"Wish your honor Sir Hercules, and your honorable lady, and all +the honorable company, a very good-morning," continued my father, +taking Virginia and me by the hand to lead us away.</p> +<p>Sir Hercules touched his hat in return, and walked away as stiff +as usual. The pensioners who had witnessed the interview between +him and my father, concluding that Sir Hercules was a naval +officer, now rose and touched their hats to him as he walked with +her ladyship in advance of the party. We joined Anderson, who was +sitting down at the other end of the walk, when my father +communicated to him what had passed.</p> +<p>As my father conducted Virginia home, she said to him, "Why do +you call him <i>sir</i> and her <i>lady</i>?"</p> +<p>"Because they are quality people, child. He is a barrownight, +and she is Lady Hercules."</p> +<p>"Are all barrownights and ladies so much bigger than other +people are in general?"</p> +<p>"No, child, they don't go by size. I've seen many a lord who was +a very little man."</p> +<p>My mother was very much pleased when we narrated what had +happened, as she considered that Lady Hercules might prove a +valuable patron to Virginia, whom she did not fail to have ready at +the time appointed; and, dressed in our very best, we all walked +together to the Sun, at which Sir Hercules and his lady had taken +up their quarters. Let it not be supposed that my mother had +forgotten the unceremonious manner in which she had been dismissed +from the service of Lady Hercules—it was still fresh in the +memory of a person so revengeful in her disposition; but she +considered that as Lady Hercules had forgotten it, it was her +interest to do the same; so, when we were ushered into the room +where sat Sir Hercules and her ladyship, my mother was all smiles +and courtesies, and gratitude for past favors.</p> +<p>There was an old gentleman, with a bald powdered head, dressed +in black, standing with his back to the fire when we entered. He +was the only other person in the room besides Sir Hercules and his +lady. Lady Hercules first obtained from my mother a short history +of what had happened since they had parted; and really, to hear my +mother's explanation, it would have been supposed that she and my +father had always been the most loving couple in the world.</p> +<p>"Well," said Sir Hercules, "and what do you intend to do with +your boy, Saunders?"</p> +<p>"May it please your honor, I've been thinking of bringing him up +as a channel pilot," replied my father.</p> +<p>"Very good," replied Sir Hercules; "I can see to that; and with +my interest at the Trinity Board, the <i>thing is done</i>, sir;" +and Sir Hercules walked pompously about the room. "Saunders," said +Sir Hercules, stopping, after he had taken three or four turns up +and down, and joining his fingers behind his back, "I thought I +perceived some difference in you when you first addressed me. What +has become of your tail, sir?"</p> +<p>"My tail, your honor?" replied my father, looking as much a +delinquent as if he was still on board a man-of-war, and had been +guilty of some misdemeanor, "why, please your honor Sir +Hercules—"</p> +<p>"I cut it off for him with my scissors," interrupted my mother, +with a courtesy. "Saunders was very savage when he came for to know +it; but he had a stupefaction of the brain, and was quite +insensible at the time; and so, Sir Hercules and my lady" (here a +courtesy), "I thought it was better—"</p> +<p>"Ah! I see—a brain fever," observed Sir Hercules. "Well, +under these circumstances you may have saved his life; but 'twas a +pity, was it not, my lady?—quite altered the man. You +recollect his tail, my lady?"</p> +<p>"What a question, Sir Hercules!" replied her ladyship with great +dignity, turning round toward my mother.</p> +<p>My father appeared to be quite relieved from his dilemma by his +wife's presence of mind, and really thankful to her for coming to +his assistance; she had saved him from the mortification of telling +the truth. How true it is that married people, however much they +may quarrel, like to conceal their squabbles from the world!</p> +<p>"And what are you thinking of doing with your little girl?" said +Lady Hercules—"bringing her up to service, I presume. Leave +that to me. As soon as she is old enough, <i>the thing is done</i>, +you need say no more about it." Here her ladyship fell back in the +large easy-chair on which she was seated, with a self-satisfied air +of patronage, and looking even more dignified than her husband.</p> +<p>But my mother had no such intentions, and having first thanked +her ladyship for her great kindness, stated very humbly that she +did not much like the idea of her daughter going out to service, +that she was far from strong, and that her health would not allow +her to undertake hard work.</p> +<p>"Well, but I presume she may do the work of a lady's maid?" +replied her ladyship haughtily; "and it was that service which I +intended for her."</p> +<p>"Indeed, Lady Hercules, you are very kind; but there is an +objection," replied my mother, to gain time.</p> +<p>"Please your ladyship," said my father, who, to my great +surprise, came to my mother's support, "I do not wish that my +little girl should be a lady's maid."</p> +<p>"And why not, pray?" said her ladyship, rather angrily.</p> +<p>"Why, you see, your ladyship, my daughter is, after all, only +the daughter of a poor Greenwich pensioner; and, although she has +been so far pretty well educated, yet I wishes her not to forget +her low situation in life, and ladies' maids do get so confounded +proud ('specially those who have the fortune to be ladies' ladies' +maids), that I don't wish that she should take a situation which +would make her forget herself and her poor old pensioner of a +father; and, begging your honor's pardon, that is the real state of +the case, my lady."</p> +<p>What my mother felt at this slap at her I do not know, but +certain it is that she was satisfied with my father taking the +responsibility of refusal on his own shoulders, and she therefore +continued: "I often have told Mr. Saunders how happy I was when +under your ladyship's protection, and what a fortunate person I +considered myself; but my husband has always had such an objection +to my girl being brought up to it that I have (of course, my lady, +as it is my duty to him to do so) given up my own wishes from the +first; indeed, my lady, had I not known that my little girl was not +to go to service, I never should have ventured to have called her +Virginia, my lady."</p> +<p>"What, then, do you intend her for?" said Sir Hercules to my +father. "You don't mean to bring her up as a lady, do you?"</p> +<p>"No, your honor, she's but a pensioner's daughter, and I wishes +her to be humble, as she ought to be; so I've been thinking that +something in the millinery line, or perhaps—"</p> +<p>"As a governess, my lady," interrupted my mother, with a +courtesy.</p> +<p>"That will make her humble enough, at all events," observed the +bald gentleman in black, with a smile.</p> +<p>"I admit," replied Lady Hercules, "that your having given my +name to your little girl is a strong reason for her not going into +service; but there are many expenses attending the education +necessary for a young person as governess."</p> +<p>Here my mother entered into an explanation of how Virginia had +been educated—an education which she should not have dreamed +of giving, only that her child bore her ladyship's name, etc. My +mother employed her usual flattery and humility, so as to reconcile +her ladyship to the idea; who was the more inclined when she +discovered that she was not likely to be put to any expense in her +patronage of my sister. It was finally agreed that Virginia should +be educated for the office of governess, and that when she was old +enough Lady Hercules would take her under her august protection; +but her ladyship did do her some service. Finding that Virginia was +at a respectable school, she called there with a party of ladies, +and informed the schoolmistress that the little girl was under her +protection, and that she trusted that justice would be done to her +education. In a school where the Misses Tippet were considered the +aristocracy the appearance of so great a woman as Lady Hercules was +an event, and I do not know whether my little sister did not after +that take precedence in the school. At all events, she was much +more carefully instructed and looked after than she had been +before. Sir Hercules was also pleased to find, upon inquiry, that +there was every prospect of my entering the pilot service, without +any trouble on his part. Both Sir Hercules and his lady informed +their friends of what their intentions were to their young +proteges, and were inundated with praises and commendations for +their kindness, the full extent of which the reader will +appreciate. But, as my mother pointed out as we walked home, if we +did not require their assistance at present, there was no saying +but that we eventually might; and if so, that Sir Hercules and Lady +Hawkingtrefylyan could not well refuse to perform their promises. I +must say that this was the first instance in my recollection in +which my parents appeared to draw amicably together; and I believe +that nothing except regard for their children could have produced +the effect.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus197.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWENTY_ONE" id= +"CHAPTER_TWENTY_ONE"></a>CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>A most important Present is made to me; and, as it will +eventually appear, the Generosity of the Giver is rewarded.</p> +</div> +<p>Sir Hercules and Lady Hawkingtrefylyan quitted Greenwich the day +after the interview narrated in the preceding chapter; and by that +day's post Anderson received a letter, in reply to the one he had +written, from his friend Philip Bramble, channel and river pilot, +who had, as he said in his letter, put on shore at Deal, where he +resided, but the day before, after knocking about in the Channel +for three weeks. Bramble stated his willingness to receive and take +charge of me, desiring that I would hold myself in readiness to be +picked up at a minute's warning, and he would call for me the first +time that he took a vessel up the river. A letter communicating +this intelligence was forthwith dispatched by my mother to Sir +Hercules, who sent a short reply, stating that if I conducted +myself properly he would not lose sight of me. This letter, +however, very much increased the family consequence in Fisher's +Alley, for my mother did not fail to show it to everybody, and +everybody was anxious to see the handwriting of a real baronet.</p> +<p>About a week afterward I went to the shop of the widow St. Felix +to purchase some tobacco for my father, when she said to me, "So, +Jack—or Tom—as I hear you request to be called +now—you are going to leave us?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied I, "and I shall be sorry to leave you, you have +been so kind to me."</p> +<p>"A little kindness goes a great way with some people, Tom, and +that's the case with you, for you've a grateful heart. You're to be +a pilot, I hear; well, Tom, I've a present to make you, which you +will find very useful in your profession, and which will make you +think of me sometimes. Stop a moment till I come down again."</p> +<p>The widow went upstairs, and when she came down held in her hand +a telescope, or spy-glass, as sailors generally call them. It was +about two feet long, covered with white leather, and apparently had +been well preserved.</p> +<p>"Now, Tom, this is what a pilot ought not to be without, and if +what was said by the person to whom it belonged is true, it is an +excellent spy-glass; so now accept it from your loving friend, and +long may you live to peep through it."</p> +<p>"Thank you, thank you," replied I, delighted, as Mrs. St. Felix +put it into my hands. I surveyed it all over, pulled out the tube, +and then said to her, "Who did it belong to?"</p> +<p>"Tom," replied the widow, "that's a sad trick you have of asking +questions; it's quite sufficient that it is mine, and that I give +it to you—is it not?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied I, "but you're the only person who says that I +ask too many questions. Why, here's a name, F.I."</p> +<p>The widow stretched herself over the counter with a sudden +spring, and snatched the telescope out of my hand. When I looked at +her she stood pale and trembling.</p> +<p>"Why, what is the matter?" inquired I.</p> +<p>She put her hand to her side, as if in great pain, and for some +seconds could not speak.</p> +<p>"Tom, I never knew that there was a name on the telescope; the +name must not be known, that's the truth; you shall have it this +evening, but you must go away now—do, that's a dear good +boy."</p> +<p>The widow turned to walk into the back parlor, with the +telescope in her hand, and I obeyed her injunctions in silence and +wondering. That there was a mystery about her was certain, and I +felt very sorrowful, not that I did not know the secret, but that I +could not be of service to her. That evening the telescope was +brought to my mother's house by fat Jane. I percieved that the +portion of the brass rim upon which the name had been cut with a +knife, for it had not been engraved, as I thought, had been +carefully filed down, so that not a vestige of the letters +appeared.</p> +<p>The next morning I was down at the steps long before breakfast, +that I might try my new present. Bill Freeman was there, and he +showed me how to adjust the focus. I amused myself looking at the +vessels which were working up and down the Reach, and so much was I +delighted that I quite forgot how time passed, and lost my +breakfast. Every one asked to have a peep through the telescope, +and every one declared that it was an excellent glass; at last +Spicer came up to where I stood.</p> +<p>"Well, Jack," said he, "what have you there—a spy-glass? +Let's have a look; I'm a good judge of one, I can tell you."</p> +<p>I handed the telescope over to him; he looked through it for +some time.</p> +<p>"A first-rate glass, Jack" (I was oftener called Jack than Tom +at that time); "I never knew but one equal to it. Where did you get +it?"</p> +<p>I don't exactly know why, but perhaps the mystery evident in the +widow, and the cautions I had received against Spicer, combined +together, induced me not to answer the question.</p> +<p>"It's odd," observed Spicer, who was now examining the outside +of the telescope; "I could almost swear to it." He then looked at +the small brass rim where the name had been, and perceived that it +had been erased. "Now I'm positive! Jack, where did you get this +glass?"</p> +<p>"It was made a present to me," replied I.</p> +<p>"Come here," said Spicer, leading me apart from the others +standing by. "Now tell me directly," and Spicer spoke in an +authoritative tone, "who gave you this glass?"</p> +<p>I really was somewhat afraid of Spicer, who had gained much +power over me. I dared not say that I would not tell him, and I did +not like to tell a lie. I thought that if I told the truth I might +somehow or another injure Mrs. St. Felix, and I therefore answered +evasively, "It was sent to me as a present by a lady."</p> +<p>"Oh!" replied Spicer, who had heard of Sir Hercules and his +lady, "so the <i>lady</i> sent it to you? It's very odd," continued +he; "I could take my oath that I've had that glass in my hand a +hundred times."</p> +<p>"Indeed!" replied I. "Where?"</p> +<p>But Spicer did not answer me; he had fallen into one of his dark +moods, and appeared as if recalling former events to his mind. He +still kept possession of the glass, and I was afraid that he would +not return it, for I tried to take it softly out of his hand, and +he would not let go. He remained in this way about a minute, when I +perceived my father and Ben the Whaler coming up, at which I was +delighted.</p> +<p>"Father," said I, as they came near, "come and try my new +spy-glass."</p> +<p>Spicer started, and released the telescope, when I laid hold of +it and put it into my father's hands. As neither my father nor Ben +would ever speak to him, Spicer, with a lowering brow, walked away. +After my father had examined the glass and praised it, he very +naturally asked me where I obtained it. After what had passed with +Spicer I was so fearful of his discovering, by other people, by +whom the glass had been given to me, that I replied again, in the +hearing of everybody, "A lady, father; you may easily guess +who."</p> +<p>"Well," replied my father, "I never thought that her ladyship +could have been so generous. I take it very kindly of her."</p> +<p>I was delighted at my father falling so easily into the mistake. +As for my mother and Virginia, they were neither of them present +when Jane brought the telescope to me, or I certainly should have +stated, without reservation, to whom I had been indebted. I hardly +could decide whether I would go to the widow and tell her what had +occurred; but, upon some reflection, as she had accused me of +asking too many questions, and might suppose that I wished to +obtain her secrets, I determined upon saying nothing about it.</p> +<p>For a week I occupied myself wholly with my telescope, and I +became perfectly master of it, or rather quite used to it, which is +of some importance. I avoided Spicer, always leaving the steps when +I perceived him approaching, although once or twice he beckoned to +me. At the expiration of the week a message was brought by a +waterman from Philip Bramble, stating that he should pass Greenwich +in a day or two, being about to take down a West Indiaman then +lying below London Bridge. My clothes were therefore then packed up +in readiness, and I went to bid farewell to my limited +acquaintance.</p> +<p>I called upon old Nanny, who was now quite strong again. I had +before acquainted her with my future prospects.</p> +<p>"Well, Jack," says she, "and so you're going away? I don't think +you were quite right to give up a situation where you gained so +many halfpence every day, and only for touching your cap; however, +you know best. I shall have no more bargains after you are gone, +that's certain. But, Jack, you'll be on board of vessels coming +from the East and West Indies, and all other parts of the world, +and they have plenty of pretty things on board, such as shells, and +empty bottles, and hard biscuit, and bags of oakum; and, Jack, they +will give them to you for nothing, for sailors don't care what they +give away when they come from a long voyage; and so mind you beg +for me as much as you can, that's a good boy; but don't take live +monkeys or those things, they eat so much. You may bring me a +parrot, I think I could sell one, and that don't cost much to feed. +Do you understand, Jack? Will you do this for me?"</p> +<p>"I don't know whether I can do all you wish, but depend upon it, +mother, I won't forget you."</p> +<p>"That's enough, Jack, you'll keep your word; and now, is there +any nice thing that I can give you out of my shop, as a keepsake, +Jack?"</p> +<p>"Why, no, mother, I thank you—nothing."</p> +<p>"Think of something, Jack," replied old Nanny; "you must have +something."</p> +<p>"Well, then, mother, you know I like reading; will you give me +the old book that I was reading when I sat up with you one +night?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Jack, and welcome; what book is it? I don't know—I +can't see to read large print without spectacles, and I broke mine +many years ago."</p> +<p>"Why do you not buy another pair?"</p> +<p>"Another pair, Jack? Spectacles cost money. I've no money; and +as I never read, I don't want spectacles. Go in and fetch the book; +it's yours and welcome."</p> +<p>I went in and brought out the Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" +which I before mentioned. "This is it, mother."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, I recollect now, it's a very pretty book. What's it +about, Jack? I can't see myself: never mind, take it, Jack, and +don't forget your promise."</p> +<p>I wished old Nanny good-by, and took the book home, which I gave +into Virginia's care, as I wished her to read it. The next morning, +at daybreak, I was summoned; the ship was dropping down the river. +I bade farewell to my little sister, who wept on my shoulder; to my +mother, who hardly condescended to answer me. My father helped me +down with my luggage, which was not very heavy; and Anderson and +old Ben accompanied us to the landing-steps; and having bid them +all farewell, besides many others of my friends who were there, I +stepped into the boat sent for me, and quitted Greenwich for my new +avocation on the 6th of October, 1799, being then, as Anderson had +calculated, precisely thirteen years and seven months old.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus204.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWENTY_TWO" id= +"CHAPTER_TWENTY_TWO"></a>CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which a Story is begun, and not finished, which I think the +Reader will regret as much as, at the time, I did.</p> +</div> +<p>The boat was soon alongside of the West Indiaman, which had been +tiding it down Limehouse Reach under her topsails, there being but +little wind, and that contrary; but now that she had arrived to +Greenwich Reach she had braced up, with her head the right way. My +box was handed up the side, and I made my appearance on the deck +soon afterward, with my telescope in my hand.</p> +<p>"Are you the lad for whom the pilot sent the boat?" inquired a +man, whom I afterward found to be the second mate.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied I.</p> +<p>"Well, there he is abaft, in a P-jacket," said he, walking to +the gangway, and directing the men to drop the boat astern.</p> +<p>I looked aft, and perceived my future master talking with the +captain of the vessel. Philip Bramble was a spare man, about five +feet seven inches high, he had on his head a low-crowned tarpaulin +hat, a short P-jacket (so called from the abbreviation of +<i>pilot's</i> jacket) reached down to just above his knees. His +features were regular, and, indeed, although weatherbeaten, they +might be termed handsome. His nose was perfectly straight, his lips +thin, his eyes gray and very keen; he had little or no whiskers, +and, from his appearance and the intermixture of gray with his +brown hair, I supposed him to be about fifty years of age. In one +hand he held a short clay pipe, into which he was inserting the +forefinger of the other, as he talked with the captain. At the time +that he was pointed out to me by the second mate he was looking up +aloft; I had, therefore, time to make the above observations before +he cast his eyes down and perceived me, when I immediately went aft +to him.</p> +<p>"I suppose you are Tom Saunders?" said he, surveying me from +head to foot.</p> +<p>I replied in the affirmative.</p> +<p>"Well, Anderson has given you a good character, mind you don't +lose it. D'ye think you'll like to be a pilot?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied I.</p> +<p>"Have you sharp eyes, a good memory, and plenty of nerve?"</p> +<p>"I believe I've got the two first, I don't know about the +other."</p> +<p>"I suppose not, it hasn't been tried yet. How far can you see +through a fog?"</p> +<p>"According how thick it is."</p> +<p>"I see you've a glass there: tell me what you make of that +vessel just opening from Blackwall Reach."</p> +<p>"What, that ship?"</p> +<p>"Oh, you can make it out to be a ship, can you, with the naked +eye? Well, then, you have good eyes."</p> +<p>I fixed my glass upon the vessel, and, after a time, not having +forgotten the lessons so repeatedly given me by Spicer, I said, +"She has no colors up, but she's an Embden vessel by her +build."</p> +<p>"Oh," said he, "hand me the glass. The boy's right; and a good +glass, too. Come, I see you do know something—and good +knowledge, too, for a pilot. It often saves us a deal of trouble +when we know a vessel by her build; them foreigners sail too close +to take pilots. Can you stand cold? Have you got a P-jacket?"</p> +<p>"Yes, father bought me one."</p> +<p>"Well, you'll want it this winter, for the wild geese tell us +that it will be a sharp one. Steady, starboard!"</p> +<p>"Starboard it is."</p> +<p>"D'ye know the compass?"</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>"Well, stop till we get down to Deal. Now, stand by me, and keep +your eyes wide open; for, d'ye see, you've plenty to larn, and you +can't begin too soon. We must square the mainyard, captain, if you +please," continued he, as we entered Blackwall Reach. "What could +make the river so perverse as to take these two bends in Limehouse +and Blackwall Reaches, unless to give pilots trouble, I can't +say."</p> +<p>The wind being now contrary from the sharp turn in the river, we +were again tiding it down; that is, hove-to and allowing the tide +to drift us through the Reach; but as soon as we were clear of +Blackwall Reach, we could lay our course down the river. As we +passed Gravesend, Bramble asked me whether I was ever so low +down.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied I, "I have been down as far as Sea Reach;" which +I had been when I was upset in the wherry, and I told him the +story.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom, that's called the river now; but do you know that, +many years ago, where we now are used to be considered as the mouth +of the river, and that fort there" (pointing to Tilbury Fort) "was +built to defend it? for they say the French fleet used to come and +anchor down below."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus208.jpg" id="illus208.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus208.jpg"><img src="images/thumb208.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>JACK AND BRAMBLE ABOARD THE INDIAMAN.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 207.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"Yes," replied I; "and they say, in the History of England, that +the Danes used to come up much higher, even up to Greenwich; but +that's a very long while ago."</p> +<p>"Well, you beat me, Tom! I never heard that; and I think, if +ever they did do so, they won't do it again in a hurry. What water +have you got, my man? Port there!"</p> +<p>"Port it is."</p> +<p>"Steady—so."</p> +<p>"Shall we get down to the Nore to-night, pilot?" said the +captain.</p> +<p>"Why, sir, I'm in hopes we shall. We have still nearly three +hours' daylight; and now that we are clear of the Hope, we shall +lay fairly down Sea Reach; and if the wind will only freshen a +little (and it looks very like it), we shall be able to stem the +<i>first</i> of the flood, at all events."</p> +<p>I ought to observe that Bramble, as soon as he had passed any +shoal or danger, pointed it out to me. He said, "I tell it to you, +because you can't be told too often. You won't recollect much that +I tell you, I dare say. I don't expect it; but you may recollect a +little, and every little helps."</p> +<p>The tide had flowed more than an hour when we passed the Nore +Light and came to an anchor.</p> +<p>"What lights are those?" inquired I.</p> +<p>"That's Sheerness," replied Bramble. "We were talking of the +French and Danes coming up the river. Why, Tom, it is not much more +than one hundred and fifty years ago when the Dutch fleet came up +to Sheerness, destroyed the batteries, and landed troops there. +Howsomever, as I said of the French and the other chaps, they won't +do so again in a hurry."</p> +<p>As soon as they had veered out sufficient cable, Bramble +accepted the invitation of the captain to go down in the cabin, +when I went and joined the men, who were getting their supper +forward. I was soon on good terms with them; and, after supper, as +it was cold, they went down to the fore-peak, got out some beer and +grog, and we sat round in a circle, with the bottles and mugs and a +farthing candle in the center. Being right in the <i>eyes</i> of +her, as it is termed, we could plainly hear the water slapping +against the bends outside of her, as it was divided by the keelson, +and borne away by the strong flood tide. It was a melancholy sound. +I had never heard it before; and during a pause, as I listened to +it, one of the men observed, "Queer sound, boy, ain't it? You'd +think that the water was lapping in right among us. But noises +aboard ship don't sound as they do on shore; I don't know why." No +more did I at that time; the fact is that nothing conveys sound +better than wood, and every slight noise is magnified, in +consequence, on board of a vessel.</p> +<p>"I recollect when I was on a Mediterranean voyage how we were +frightened with noises, sure enough," observed one of the men.</p> +<p>"Come, that's right, Dick, give us a yarn," said the others.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Dick, "and it's a true yarn, too, and all about a +ghost."</p> +<p>"Well, stop a moment," said one of the men, "and let us top this +glim a bit before you begin, for it seemed to get dimmer the moment +you talked about a ghost."</p> +<p>Dick waited till a little more light was obtained, and then +commenced. "I had shipped on board of a vessel bound to Smyrna, now +about seven years ago. We had gone down to Portsmouth, where we +waited for one of the partners of the house by which we had been +freighted, and who was going out as passenger. We were a man short, +and the captain went on shore to get one from the crimps, whom he +knew very well, and the fellows promised to send one on board the +next morning. Well, sure enough a wherry came off with him just +before break of day, and he and his traps were taken on board; but +it was not perceived at the time what he had in his arms under his +grego, and what do you think it proved to be at daylight? Why, a +large black tom cat."</p> +<p>"What, a black one?"</p> +<p>"Yes, as black as the enemy himself. The fellow came down +forward with it, and so says I, 'Why, messmate, you're not going to +take that animal to sea with us?'</p> +<p>"'Yes, I am,' said he, very surlily; 'it's an old friend of +mine, and I never parts with him.'</p> +<p>"'Well,' says I, 'you'll find the difference when the captain +hears on it, I can tell you, and, for the matter of that, I won't +promise you that it will be very safe if it comes near me when I've +a handspike in my hand.'</p> +<p>"'I tell you what,' says he, 'it ain't the taking of a cat on +board what brings mischief, but it's turning one out of a ship what +occasions ill luck. No cat ever sunk a ship till the animal was +hove overboard and sunk first itself, and then it does drag the +ship down after it.'</p> +<p>"Well, one of the boys who did not care about such things, for +he was young and ignorant, put his hand to the cat's head to stroke +it, and the cat bit him right through the fingers, at which the boy +gave a loud cry.</p> +<p>"'Now, that will teach you to leave my cat alone,' said the man. +'He won't come near nobody but me, and he bites everybody else, so +I give you fair warning.'</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus212.jpg" id="illus212.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus212.jpg"><img src="images/thumb212.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>THE FORE-PEAK YARN.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 211.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"And sure enough the brute, which was about as big as two common +cats, was just as savage as a tiger. When the first mate called the +man on deck, the fellow left his cat behind him in the fore-peak, +just as if it were now here, and it got into a dark corner, +growling and humping its back, with its eyes flashing fire at every +one of us as we came anigh it. 'Oh!' says we, 'this here won't +never do; wait till the captain comes on board, that's all.' Well, +the hatches were off, and we were busy, re-stowing the upper tier +of the cargo, which we had thrown in very carelessly in our hurry +to get down the river; just putting the bales in order (it wasn't +breaking bulk, you see), and we were at it all day. At last, toward +evening, the captain comes on board with the gentleman passenger, a +mighty timorsome sort of young chap he appeared for to be, and had +never before set his foot upon the plank of a vessel. So as soon as +the captain was on deck we all broke off our work, and went to him +to tell him about this cat, and the captain he gets into a great +rage as soon as he hears on it, and orders the man to send the cat +on shore, or else he'd throw it overboard. Well, the man, who was a +sulky, saucy sort of chap, and no seaman, I've a notion, gives +cheek, and says he won't send his cat on shore for no man, +whereupon the captain orders the cat to be caught, that he might +send it in the boat; but nobody dared to catch it, for it was so +fierce to everybody but its master. The second mate tried, and he +got a devil of a bite, and came up from the fore-peak without the +cat, looking very blue indeed. And then the first mate went down, +and he tried; but the cat flew at him, and he came up as white as a +sheet. And then the cat became so savage that it stood at the foot +of the ladder, all ready to attack whoever should come down, and +the man laughed heartily, and told us to fetch the cat. 'Well,' +says the first mate, 'I can't touch the cat, but I can you, you +beggar, and I will too, if it costs me twenty pounds;' so he ups +with a handspike and knocks the fellow down senseless on the deck, +and there he laid. And it sarved him right.</p> +<p>"Well, then the captain thought to shoot the cat, for it was for +all the world like a wild beast, and one proposed one thing and one +another. At last Jim, the cabin-boy, comes forward with some +brimstone matches in a pan, and he lights them and lowers them down +into the fore-peak by a rope-yarn to smother it out. And so it did +sure enough, for all of a sudden the cat made a spring up to the +deck, and then we all chased it here and there, until at last it +got out to the end of the flying jib-boom, and then Jim, the +cabin-boy, followed it out with a handspike, and poked at it as +hard as he could, until at last it lost its hold, and down it went +into the water, and Jim and the handspike went along with it, for +Jim, in his last poke at the cat, lost his balance, so away they +went together. Well, there was a great hurry in manning the boat, +and picking up poor Jim and the handspike; but the cat we saw no +more, for it was just dark at the time. Well, when it was all over, +we began to think what we had done, and as soon as we had put on +the hatches and secured the hold we went down below into the +fore-peak, where the smell of brimstone did not make us feel more +comfortable, I can tell you, and we began to talk over the matter, +for you see the cat should not have been thrown overboard but put +on shore. But we were called away to man the boat again, for the +fellow had come to his senses, and swore that he would not stay in +the ship, but go on shore and take the law of the first mate; and +the first mate and captain thought the sooner he was out of the +ship the better, for we were to sail before daylight, and there +might not be a wherry for him to get into. So the fellow took his +kit, and we pulled him on shore and landed him on Southsea beach, +he swearing vengeance the whole way; and as he stepped out on the +beach he turned round to us and said, as he shook his fist, 'You've +thrown overboard a <i>black tom cat</i>, recollect that! and now +you'll see the consequence; a pleasant voyage to you. I wouldn't +sail in that vessel if you were to offer her to me as a present as +soon as she got to Smyrna; because why, you've thrown overboard a +<i>black tom cat</i>, and you'll never get +there—<i>never!</i>' cried he again, and off he ran with his +bundle.</p> +<p>"Well, we didn't much like it, and if the second mate hadn't +been in the boat, I'm not sure that we shouldn't all have gone on +shore rather than sail in the vessel; but there was no help for it. +The next morning before daylight we started, for the captain +wouldn't wait to get another hand, and we were soon out of +soundings, and well into the Bay of Biscay.</p> +<p>"We had just passed Cape Finisterre, when Jim, the cabin-boy, +says one morning, 'I'm blessed if I didn't hear that cat last +night, or the ghost on it!' So we laughed at him; for, you see, he +slept abaft, just outside the cabin door, close to the pantry, and +not forward with the rest of us.</p> +<p>"'Well,' says he, 'I heard her miaw, and when I awoke I think I +seed two eyes looking at me.'</p> +<p>"'Well, Jim,' said I, for we had got over our fears, 'it was you +who knocked her overboard, so it's all right that she should haunt +you and nobody else.' Jim, however, could not laugh, but looked +very grave and unhappy. A few days afterward the captain and +passenger complained that they could not sleep for the noise and +racket that was kept up all night between the timbers and in the +run aft. They said it was if a whole legion of devils were broken +loose and scampering about; and the captain was very grave; and as +for the passenger, he was frightened out of his wits. Still we +laughed, because we had heard nothing ourselves, and thought that +it must only be fancy on their parts, particularly as the captain +used to <i>bowse his jib</i> up pretty taut every night. Well, all +went on very well; we arrived at the Rock, got our fresh provisions +and vegetables, and then made sail again. The captain complained of +no more noises, and Jim of no more eyes, and the whole matter was +almost forgotten."</p> +<p>Here the narrator was interrupted by the thumping of a handspike +on the deck above. "Halloo! what's the matter now?"</p> +<p>"Come, tumble up, my lads, and pump the ship out," said the mate +from above; "we had almost forgotten that. Be smart, now; it's but +a ten minutes' job."</p> +<p>Thus broke off the story, much to my annoyance; but it could not +be helped—ships must be pumped out—so the men went on +deck, and I followed them.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus216.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWENTY_THREE" id= +"CHAPTER_TWENTY_THREE"></a>CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"Recollect," says the Fellow, "you have thrown overboard a black +Tom Cat!"</p> +</div> +<p>In a quarter of an hour the pump sucked, and we all hastened +down below to our grog and the completion of our yarn. As soon as +we were all comfortably seated as before, Dick recommenced.</p> +<p>"Well, we were abreast of Malta, when the weather, which had +hitherto on the voyage been very fine, changed. The clouds hung +down very heavy, and there was every symptom of a fierce gale; and +sure enough a worse gale I never was in than came on that +night—and such a sea!—the ship rolled gunnel under, for +the gale was fair, but the sea ran so high and so fast that we +expected to be pooped every minute. It was about midnight when the +rain came on in torrents, and the wind blew fiercer than ever. I +was on deck, and so was the first mate and another man at the helm, +for we were flying right before it, and she was hard to steer.</p> +<p>"We shall have it worse yet," said the captain.</p> +<p>"'<i>Miaw</i>!' was the reply, so clear, so loud, we could not +tell where it came from. I thought it came from the maintop.</p> +<p>"'Mercy on us! what was that?' said the first mate, the light +from the binnacle showing his face as pale as a sheet.</p> +<p>"'<i>Miaw!</i>' was the reply from somewhere.</p> +<p>"'The black cat, by all that's blue!' cried the captain.</p> +<p>"'The Lord have mercy upon us, we're all gone!' said the mate, +clasping his hands in terror. To clasp his hands, of course he let +go the wheel; and the other man, who was equally frightened, had +not strength to hold it. Away he went, right over the wheel, +knocking down the mate on the other side; and the ship taking a +heavy lurch, they both went into the scuppers together. The ship +broached-to, and our mainmast and mizzenmast went over the +side."</p> +<p>"Do top that glim, Bill," said one of the men, in a tremulous +voice.</p> +<p>Dick paused while the snuff was taken off the candle: and the +water went tap, tap, tap against the bends, with a most melancholy +sound. I really did feel rather queer myself.</p> +<p>Dick continued. "Well, all hands were on deck immediately, and +it was good two hours before we could clear the wreck, for the men +were disheartened. They had heard the loud <i>miaw</i> when in the +fore-peak, and declared that it was close to them; and the +passenger and Jim came out, frightened out of their wits. They had +heard the <i>miaw</i>, and said that it was from under the cabin +table. At last we were clear of the wreck, and the wind roared +louder than ever.</p> +<p>"The captain was a stout-hearted fellow, and as the men were +collected together under the bulwark, he said, 'Well, this breeze +will shorten our distance, at any rate, and if it holds we shall +soon be at Smyrna,'</p> +<p>"'We shall never see Smyrna!' replied the second mate, his teeth +chattering.</p> +<p>"'No, never!' cried the seamen.</p> +<p>"The captain sent Jim down for his rum-bottle, and gave every +man a stiff glass of liquor, and that made them feel more +comfortable for a time; when there was a sort of lull, and again +the loud <i>miaw</i> was repeated.</p> +<p>"'There it is!' cried the men; but they hardly had time to say +so when the ship was pooped with a tremendous sea washing away the +stern and quarter-boats, and sending all the men swimming forward. +So loaded was the ship with water that she stopped, and appeared as +if she was settling down. At last she rolled heavy to port and +discharged it, and away we went before the wind, faster than ever. +Well, there was some talk among the seamen of throwing poor Jim +overboard to appease the ghost of the cat, for it was he who had +thrown the cat overboard. But the captain heard what the men were +saying, and he swore that he would knock the brains out of the +first man who laid hold of the boy; and he sent Jim below out of +harm's way. Poor Jim! how bitterly he cried, poor boy, when he +heard what was going on.</p> +<p>"Well, it's a long lane that has no turning, and no gale lasts +forever. The next day it moderated, and the day after the weather +was quite fine, and the sea had gone down. We recovered our +spirits, the more so as we heard no more of the cat; and having +jury-rigged her aft, we steered our course with a light breeze. We +were now but a short distance from Smyrna, and hoped to be there by +the next day; but the second mate shook his head. He said, 'The cat +has not done with us, for it was a <i>black tom</i> cat.'</p> +<p>"The fourth day the captain came on deck, and said, 'I heard a +great washing of water in the run last night, as I thought; have +you sounded the well lately?'</p> +<p>"'No,' replied the first mate, 'I left that to the +carpenter.'</p> +<p>"'Well, then, ask him.' Well, the carpenter had not sounded the +well, as it appeared; and so he sounded it immediately, and found +that we had <i>six feet water in the hold</i>.</p> +<p>"'I knowed we were doomed,' said the second mate; 'we'll never +get at port'; and so thought the men: but the captain said:</p> +<p>"'Why, the fact is, my lads, we must have sprung a leak in the +gale, and no wonder, beating against the wreck so as we did when +the masts went over the side. Come, rig the pumps, and we shall +soon clear her. The tom cat has nothing to do with this, at all +events.'</p> +<p>"Now, you see, our bottom cargo consisted of two or three tier +of crates of crockery, which would not spoil by being wet; but the +upper part of the cargo was bales of dry goods and linen; so the +captain was very anxious that they should work the pumps before the +water got higher: the weather was very fine, the sea smooth, and +the wind, although fair, was light. Well, the seamen were +terrified, and thought they were lost; they asked for liquor, and +refused to work at the pumps; they said it was no use, the ship was +doomed. Well, the captain he got very angry; he went down into the +cabin, loaded his double-barreled gun, and swore that he would +shoot the first man through the head who refused to work at the +pumps. The men knew that he was in earnest, for he was a violent +sort of fellow, and so they set to. We didn't gain much upon her; I +thought we did a little, but the men said no. The captain declared +that we did gain considerably, but it was supposed that he only +said so to encourage the people. Well, the captain ordered the mate +to take up the hatches that they might see the state of the cargo. +This was done; the dry goods, as far as we could make out, were not +injured, and the men pumped spell and spell until the evening, when +the captain gave them a good allowance of grog, and an hour to rest +themselves. It was a beautiful moonlight night: the sails were just +asleep and no more; but the vessel was heavy, from the water in +her, and we dragged slowly along. The captain, who had gone down +below with the first mate, came up from the cabin, and said to the +men, 'Now, my lads, we'll set to again'; when suddenly there was a +loud, melancholy <i>miaw!</i> which terrified us all. We looked +from whence the sound appeared to come, and there, on the launch +turned over amidship, we beheld the ghost of the black tom cat, so +large, so black, with the broad moonlight shining on it; and so +thin, it was the skeleton of the cat, only it looked as black as +ever; its back was humped up and its tail curved; and, as it stood +out in the broad moonlight, it did look twice as big as the +original cat, which was the biggest I ever saw. Well, the men +actually screamed; they ran aft, upsetting the captain and mate, +and roiling over them and hiding their faces, with 'Lord, have +mercy on us!' and 'God, forgive our sins!' and 'Oh! we're lost, +we're lost!' and every sort of crying and groaning that could be +thought of. At last the captain gets up from under them in a great +rage and looks forward to see what was the matter, and there he +sees the ghost of the tom cat standing just in the same place; and +it gave another miserable <i>miaw!</i> 'Why,' cried the captain +(who had his grog on board, and was as brave as brass), 'it is the +cussed cat himself. Stop a moment.' Down he goes to the cabin, +reels up the hatchway again with his double-barreled gun, and lets +fly at it"—(here Dick lowered his voice to almost a +whisper)—"the cat gave a shriek—and then—"</p> +<p>Here, during the pause, Bill put out his finger and thumb to +snuff the candle, but his hand shook—he snuffed it out, and +we were all left in darkness. I can hardly describe the feeling +which appeared to pervade the whole of our party. Every one was +shuffling and crowding with their shoulders, but still no one moved +from his place.</p> +<p>"Well," said Dick, the narrator, in a quiet subdued voice, "why +don't one of you go and fetch a light? Come, jump up, Bill, you +topped it out."</p> +<p>"Ay, ay," replied Bill, evidently shaking; "where's the +candle?"</p> +<p>"Here," said one of the boys, handing it to him.</p> +<p>"Well, then, jump up yourself, you young whelp, you're younger +than me."</p> +<p>"I didn't put it out," replied the boy, whining.</p> +<p>"Up immediately, or I'll break every rib in your body," replied +Bill.</p> +<p>The boy, who was terribly frightened, got up at this threat, and +began to ascend the ladder; he was about three steps up, when we +heard from the deck a horrible <i>miaw!</i> The boy gave a scream +of terror, and fell down on his back among us all, smashing the +glass and flattening the tin cans against the men's legs, who +halloed with pain. At last there was a dead silence again, and I +could plainly hear the loud throbbing of more than one heart.</p> +<p>"Come," said Dick again, "what was the fool frightened about? +Look for the candle, some of you."</p> +<p>At last Bill found it in his breast, broke in two and half +melted away, and was proceeding for a light when the carpenter +stepped to the hatch with his lantern, and said, "Why, you're all +in the dark there, shipmates! Here, take my lantern."</p> +<p>I may as well here observe that the carpenter had been listening +to the story as he sat by the hatchway on deck, and it was he who +had favored us with the <i>miaw</i> which had so frightened the +boy. As soon as the lantern had been received and the candle +relighted, Dick recommenced.</p> +<p>"Well, my lads, I said that the captain went down below, brought +up his gun, and let fly at the cat, and then—well, and +then—the cat gave a loud shriek, and falls down upon the +deck. The captain walks forward to it, takes it up by the tail, +brings it aft, and shies it among the men.</p> +<p>"'There, you fools,' said he, 'it is the cat himself; will you +believe your own eyes?'</p> +<p>"And sure enough, so it was; for, you see, when Jim tumbled +overboard, it being then dark, and we so busy with Jim, we did not +look after the cat, and so it must have crawled up the cable and +run down into the hold while the hatches were off; and all that +noise heard aft must have been the brute chasing the rats, I +suppose. Jim may have heard, but he could not have seen, the cat; +that was all fancy and fright. You know how long a cat will live +without much food, and so the animal was pretty quiet after it had +killed all the rats. Then when the gale came on, and the upper part +of the cargo fetched way a little, for it was loosely stowed, we +suppose that it got jammed now and then with the rolling, and that +made it miaw; and then, when we took off the hatches to look at the +cargo, after we had sprung the leak, the cat, o' course, came out, +and a pretty skeleton it was, as you may suppose. Now do you +understand the whole of it?"</p> +<p>"Yes, that's all clear," replied Bill; "and it was no ghost, +after all? But still the cat did do mischief, for if the mate had +not been frightened by it, he wouldn't have let go the wheel, and +the masts would not have gone by the lee."</p> +<p>"That's true enough, and he might have done more mischief still +if the captain had not shot him, for the men would never have gone +to the pumps again; but when they found out that it was nothing but +the cat himself, then they set to, and before the next evening the +vessel was clear, and only required pumping out every two hours, +for the leak wasn't great, after all. So there's a ghost story for +you, and I believe that all others will be found, like mine, to end +in moonshine. Now, suppose we turn in, for we shall weigh at three +o'clock in the morning."</p> +<p>We all tumbled into the standing berths in the fore-peak. I +dreamed of black tom cats all night. The next morning we weighed +with a fair wind; as before, I stood beside Bramble, who pointed +out to me everything worth notice or memory as we passed, but at +last the motion affected me so much that I could pay little +attention, and I remained by his side as pale as a sheet. We +rounded the North Foreland, and long before dark anchored in the +Downs. Bramble went no further with the vessel, the captain himself +being a good pilot for the Channel. A Deal boat came alongside, we +got into it, they landed us on the shingle beach, and I followed +Bramble up to his abode.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus224.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWENTY_FOUR" id= +"CHAPTER_TWENTY_FOUR"></a>CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Bramble's Method of Education proves very effective—He +also points out a Position in which you may prefer your Enemies to +your Friends!</p> +</div> +<p>The house of Philip Bramble was situated on the further side of +a road which ran along the shore, just above the shingle beach. It +was a large cottage on one floor, the street door entering at once +into its only sitting-room. It was furnished as such tenements +usually are, with a small dresser and shelves for crockery, and a +table and chairs of cherry wood; on the broad mantelpiece, for the +fireplace was large, were several brass candlesticks, very bright, +ranged with foreign curiosities, and a few shells; half a dozen +prints in frames ornamented the walls; and on large nails drove +into the panels, wherever a space could be found, were hung coats, +P-jackets, and other articles of dress, all ready for the pilot to +change whenever he came on shore wet to the skin. Everything was +neat and clean: the planks of the floor were white as snow, yet the +floor itself was sanded with white sand, and there were one or two +square wooden boxes, also filled with sand, for the use of those +who smoked. When I add that, opposite to the fireplace, there was a +set of drawers of walnut wood, with an escritoire at the top, upon +the flat part of which were a few books neatly arranged, and over +it an old-fashioned looking-glass, divided at the sides near to the +frame into sections, I believe that I have given a catalogue of the +whole furniture. When I followed Bramble into the room, a little +girl of about nine or ten years old ran into his arms, as he +stooped down to receive her. She was a pretty child, with a very +fair skin and rosy cheeks, her hair and eyes of a very dark brown, +almost approaching to black; but she was not, in my opinion, near +so pretty as my sister Virginia. As Bramble kissed her, she +exclaimed, "Oh, father, I am so glad you are come home! Mrs. Maddox +has been in bed ever since you left; her leg is very bad +indeed."</p> +<p>"Whew!" whistled Bramble, "I'm sorry to hear that of the old +lady; and how have you got on without her assistance?"</p> +<p>"Why, don't you think I'm very tidy, father?" said she, looking +round the room.</p> +<p>"Yes, Bessy, you are very tidy; and it's a pleasure to come home +to a tidy clean house. Here is a companion for you. I told you he +was coming, and you know his name."</p> +<p>"It's Tom Saunders, isn't it, father?"</p> +<p>"Yes, that's his name, for want of a better—so I leave you +to make friends, while I go up and see the poor old lady."</p> +<p>"You look cold and pale, are you not well?" was the first +question of little Bessy.</p> +<p>"I'm cold, and not very well," replied I; "I have not been used +to knocking about on board ship."</p> +<p>"Very true; I forgot you had never been at sea before. Come to +the fire, then, and sit in father's big chair."</p> +<p>"I never knew that your father had been married. I thought Peter +Anderson said that he was a bachelor."</p> +<p>"And so he is," replied Bessy. "I'm not his daughter, although I +call him father."</p> +<p>"Indeed! then whose daughter are you? and who is the old lady +upstairs?"</p> +<p>"The old lady upstairs is the widow of the pilot with whom +father served his time. Her husband was lost at sea, and she keeps +father's house. Father picked me up at sea, and has taken care of +me ever since."</p> +<p>"Then you don't remember your own parents?"</p> +<p>"No, I recollect nothing till I found myself in this house. +Father says I'm a Dutchman, because it was a Dutch ship or a Dutch +boat which I was taken out of."</p> +<p>"And how long was that ago?"</p> +<p>"Nine years ago. I am now, I believe, about ten years old."</p> +<p>Bessy then catechised me relative to my own family, and I had +not answered all her questions when Bramble came downstairs.</p> +<p>"Bessy, dear, we must have the doctor to look at that leg again. +I'm afeard that it will never get well. Missus is too old to shake +it off."</p> +<p>"Shall I go now, father?"</p> +<p>"Yes, child, go now, for she's in great pain with it; and Tom, +you go with Bessy and take care of her. But, before you go, give me +some 'baccy and the odds and ends."</p> +<p>As soon as Bessy had put the tobacco-pipes, some spirits, a +rummer and water on the table, and the spittoon at his feet, she +put on her bonnet, and off we set to the doctor's house, about half +a mile distant. I was soon on intimate terms with Bessy: there was +something so frank and winning about her, such perfect honesty of +character, that it was impossible not to like her. We delivered our +message, returned home, and, being very tired, I was glad to go to +bed. Bessy showed me my room, which was very comfortable, and as +soon as I laid my head on the pillow I was fast asleep.</p> +<p>I was awakened the next morning by a knocking at the door by +little Bessy; it was broad daylight, and I dressed myself and went +downstairs, where I found her very busy putting everything in +order.</p> +<p>"It was I knocked," said little Bessy; "I thought you would like +to come and help me."</p> +<p>"And so I will," replied I; "what shall I do?"</p> +<p>"Oh, there's plenty to do now that Mrs. Maddox is ill, and you +and father are come back—almost too much for a little girl +like me. Will you go to the pump and fetch the pails full of water, +for they are too heavy for me?"</p> +<p>I did as she wished. "Anything else, Bessy?" said I.</p> +<p>"Oh, yes, plenty. You're very good-natured, Tom, and I'm so glad +you're come."</p> +<p>Bessy and I were fully employed for nearly an hour in the front +room and kitchen, clearing up and cleaning and preparing for +breakfast. All was ready before Bramble came down and took a seat +in his big chair, close to the breakfast-table.</p> +<p>"All ready, father," said little Bessy, going up to Bramble to +be kissed. "Tom has been helping me."</p> +<p>"All's right," said Bramble; "bring the book, dear." Bessy +brought a large Bible, and read a chapter aloud, then closed it and +put it away.</p> +<p>"We can't always do this, Tom," observed Bramble, "when we're +knocking about in the Channel; all we can do is to read it when we +can. Come now to breakfast."</p> +<p>When we had finished I assisted Bessy to put everything away, +and then Bramble said to me, "Anderson tells me you're a good +scholar, Tom; but you must now learn what will be of use to me as +well as to you. The first thing you must learn, and which you can +do on shore, are the points of the compass, to know them at sight +and tell them quickly; for you see it's of great importance to a +pilot to know exactly how a ship's head is; and the men at the +helm, although good seamen and steering well, are not so ready at +answering as a pilot wishes, and very often stammer at +it—sometimes make mistakes. Now, you see, when I'm piloting a +vessel, if you stand at the binnacle, watch the compass, and answer +me quickly how the ship's head is, you'll be of use to me in a very +short time. Go up into my room, and under the bed you will find a +compass; bring it down carefully, and I'll give you a lesson at +once." I brought the compass to him, and Bramble made me write down +the whole thirty-two points at full length upon a piece of paper. +When I had done so, he told me I must learn them by heart as fast +as I could.</p> +<p>I studied them the whole of that day; and in the evening, +finding myself perfect, I went up to Bramble and repeated them +without one mistake.</p> +<p>"All's right," said Bramble. "Now, Tom, give me the paper; if +you know them to-night you ought to know them to-morrow morning. +I'll hear if you do, after breakfast."</p> +<p>I went to bed, was tapped up as before by Bessy, assisted her to +clean everything, taking off her hands all the heaviest of the +work; indeed, what I have narrated of the first day may be taken as +a sample of my life on shore at Deal. After breakfast I repeated +the points of the compass correctly.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom, you have a good memory, that's certain; all the +better for you, for pilots carry everything in their heads, as you +will find out. Now, then, look here." Bramble took the glass off +the top of the compass-box, lifted up the card, and then showed me +the needle below, which pointed to the north. He then showed me the +north point above, and then the other points, making me repeat them +as he put his finger on them. As soon as I understood them, he +would put the stem of his pipe to one and ask me which it was. When +I was perfect with the points, he explained the half points and +quarter points. In two days I had gained them all by heart.</p> +<p>"And now," says he, "we must try you. This iron skewer is the +ship's head, recollect, and I shall stick it into the table. When I +do so, you must tell me what point of the compass stands to it, and +then that will be the direction of the ship's head. Do you +understand? Practice makes perfect, and you must work at this all +the time that you are ashore. When you know the compass well then +I'll teach you something else. Now, then, how's her head, Tom?"</p> +<p>"North-half-west," said I, after a little time.</p> +<p>"Yes, very true; but you see, Tom, that wouldn't do aboard ship. +That's just the way most of the seamen would puzzle at it. I must +have the answer in a moment, and that's why you must practice."</p> +<p>In the evening, when Bramble was smoking his pipe, I was seated +by him, and every minute he would change the place of the iron +skewer, with "How's her head, Tom?"</p> +<p>"We must get your 'prentice papers signed before we go afloat +again," said Bramble, "for they pick up boys as well as men for the +King's service, and you're a stout boy for your age."</p> +<p>"Were you ever pressed yourself?" inquired I.</p> +<p>"No, but I had a narrow chance once, and had not our captain +been a smart fellow I and many more would have been serving the +King at this present moment."</p> +<p>"Tell me how that was," said I.</p> +<p>"Well, as soon as Bessy has done rattling with the cups and +saucers, I will."</p> +<p>"I've done now, father," said Bessy, taking her seat on a stool +close to Bramble's feet.</p> +<p>"Well, then, before I passed for pilot, just after the breaking +out of the war, I took it into my head to try my chance at +privateering. There was plenty to pick up at that time, and some of +the Deal men had been very fortunate, so I went on board of a +twelve-gun lugger, commanded by Captain Shank, fitted out in the +river, with a crew of sixty men. The press was very hot at that +time, and our men were kept at the crimps' houses until all was +ready, when we started, and got off clear into the Channel without +being overhauled.</p> +<p>"We had been out a fortnight, keeping well on the French coast, +and had picked up two good prizes, when one morning, as the fog was +cleared up with a sharp northerly wind, we found ourselves right +under the lee of an English frigate, not a mile from us. There was +a bubble of a sea, for the wind had been against the tide previous +to its changing, and we were then about six or seven miles from the +French coast, just between Boulogne and Cape Grisnez, lying to for +the fog to clear away. As soon as we saw the frigate we knew that +she would board us, and we were all in a terrible fright." Here +Bramble shifted the skewer and said, "How's her head, Tom?"</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus232.jpg" id="illus232.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus232.jpg"><img src="images/thumb232.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>"HOW'S HER HEAD, TOM?"<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 281.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>I replied, and he proceeded:</p> +<p>"The frigate hoisted her colors, and of course we did the same. +She then fired a gun as a signal for us to remain, hove to, and we +perceived her boats lowering down. 'Now, my lads,' said our +captain, 'if you don't mind a shot or two, I think I will save you +from impressment this time.' We all declared that we would stand a +hundred rather than be taken on board of a man-of-war. 'Very well,' +says he, 'starboard a little, and keep her a little away, so as to +let her go through the water; but keep the foresheet to windward, +so that we may appear only to have fallen off.' By this plan we +gradually increased our distance from the frigate, and got more on +her bow. All this while the boat was pulling toward us, rising and +tossing on the sea, but still nearing us fast. As she came nearer +to us we let the lugger come up in the wind again for a short time, +that we might not appear to be dodging away, and then, when the +bowman was almost ready to lay in his oar, away we let her go +through the water, so that she was left astern again. They could +not well perceive this on board of the frigate, although the +officer in the boat was very savage, for at one time he had his bow +oar in and his boat-hook out. At last the frigate, perceiving that +we were apparently slipping away, put her helm up, and fired a shot +across our bows. 'Now's your time, my boys,' said the captain; 'let +draw the sheets, the breeze is strong. She must wait to pick up her +boat, and that will give us a mile at least.' Up went the helm, and +we made all sail right for the French coast. How's her head, +Tom?"</p> +<p>I replied, and Bramble resumed:</p> +<p>"The frigate ran down to her boat, and then rounded-to, to hoist +it up. The sea was heavy, and she was delayed a minute or two, +although, to do them justice, they were very smart on board of her. +As soon as the boat was up she made all sail, and came foaming +after us, as if she were in as great a rage as the captain and +those on board of her. Every now and then she yawed to throw a shot +at us from her bow-chasers; but that we didn't mind, as the yawing +checked her way, and it's not very easy to hit a low vessel like a +lugger in a toppling sea. Well, very soon we were not four miles +from the French coast, so we hauled down our English colors and +hoisted French. The frigate gained on us very fast, but we +continued to steer on, and she in pursuit, until we were within +gun-shot of the batteries, What the Frenchmen thought we did not +know, at all events they did not fire, and we steered right on as +if we were chased, and the frigate followed after us, until we were +within a mile and a half of the batteries, when the frigate thought +proper to haul her wind. Then the battery opened upon her, and we +could see that she was hulled more than once, and, as she kept her +wind along the shore, the other batteries opened upon her, and she +got a good mauling. We saw her shift her foretopsail yard as soon +as she went about again, and we afterward heard that she had +several men hurt, which was a pity."</p> +<p>"And did not the batteries fire upon <i>you?</i>"</p> +<p>"No, for we kept the French colors up, and hove to within a mile +of the coast. It was a lee shore, and there was too much surf and +sea for them to send off a boat and ascertain whether we were a +French privateer or not; so there we lay till dusk, and then made +sail again, and, being so close into the French shore, we picked up +a good prize that very night. When the cruise was over, I was +satisfied. I got my prize-money, and then, as I knew our own coast +well, I passed for pilot, and have served as one ever since. How's +her head, Tom?"</p> +<p>"S.W. almost."</p> +<p>"S.W. <i>almost</i> won't do, Tom. It's not quite S.W., +quarter-south; so you must say S.W. southerly. D'ye +understand?"</p> +<p>When Bessy knocked at my door the next morning, she cried out, +laughing, "How's her head, Tom?" and those words made me jump up +like lightning.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWENTY_FIVE" id= +"CHAPTER_TWENTY_FIVE"></a>CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which Bramble points out to me that singing is part of the +Profession of a Pilot.</p> +</div> +<p>In about a fortnight from the time that Bramble commenced his +tuition I was quite perfect with the compass; his method certainly +was very good, for by such reiterated catechising what you had to +learn was graven on your memory. All day long the same system was +pursued. Even if dinner was on the table, the compass was on a +chair close by, and as I was putting my fork to my mouth, much to +Bessy's amusement, out would come the question, "How's her head, +Tom?" Bramble soon gained his point; I could answer like lightning. +But whether I was by the fire indoors, or on the shingle beach, his +system was ever the same. Every time that Bramble opened his lips I +gained some information; he was never wearying, and often very +amusing.</p> +<p>One morning we were out on the beach—we had been +conversing with the other pilots, and examining the vessels in the +offing with my glass—when he pointed out to me, it being low +neap tide, that the Goodwin Sands were partially dry. "Tom," +continued he, "of all the dangers, not only of the Channel, but in +the wide ocean, there is none to be compared with those +sands—the lives that have been lost on them, the vessels that +have been wrecked, and the property that has been sucked into them, +would be a dozen kings' ransoms; for, you see, Tom, they are +quicksands, and the vessel which goes on shore does not remain to +be broken up, but in two tides she disappears, sinking down into +the sands, which never give her or her cargo up again. There must +be a mighty deal of wealth buried there, that is certain. They say +that once they were a flourishing fertile island, belonging to an +Earl Godwin, whose name they now bear; it may be so—the sea +retreats from one place while it advances at another. Look at +Romney Marshes, where so many thousands of sheep are now fed. They +run up many miles inland; and yet formerly those very marshes were +an arm of the sea, which vessels rode in deep water, and +sea-fights, I am told, took place. Howsomever, when the sea took +the Godwin island to itself it made the best trap for vessels that +old Neptune now possesses, and he may consider it as the most +productive spot in his dominions. Lord help us! what a deal of gold +and merchandise must there be buried below yon yellow patch!"</p> +<p>"Do you never save anything when vessels are run on shore +there?"</p> +<p>"When they only tail on, we occasionally get them off again; but +when once fixed, there's an end of it. Yes, we save life +occasionally, but at great risk of our own. I saved little Bessy +from a vessel ashore on these sands."</p> +<p>"Indeed! Pray tell me how it was."</p> +<p>"Why, you see, Tom, it was just at the breaking out of the war. +It was in this very month of October, '93, that I was out in a +galley with some others, looking for vessels. I had just then left +off privateering, and got my warrant as pilot (for you know I did +serve my 'prenticeship, before I went a-privateering, as I told you +the other night). Well, it was a blowing night, and we were running +in for the Downs, intending to beach the galley and sleep on shore, +for we had been out five days, and only put a pilot on board of one +vessel. We were just to windward of the Sands, out there, where I +am now pointing. The sea was very rough, but the night was clear, +and the moon shone bright, when we saw a brig running down before +the wind, under foresail and close-reefed topsails. 'Why, Bill, as +she steers she'll be right between the Callipers,' said I to the +man sitting by me. 'There's no mistake about that,' replied he; +'let's haul the foresheet to windward, and lay to, to hail him; +he's coming right down upon us.' Well, we did so, and we hailed +some time without any answer. At last a man looked over the gunnel, +just as she was flying past us, and told us in Dutch to go to the +devil. 'I think you'll go there if you don't look sharp,' replied +Bill. 'Come, my lads, we may as well follow her, and see if we +cannot prevent mischief.' So we bore up after her, and hailed her +several times, for we sailed very fast, and there was a scuffling +on deck. I think that the captain was drunk. All this passed in +less than five minutes; and then, as I knew would be the case, she +struck on the sands, and with such force that all her masts went +over the side immediately. Now, the sea rolls awfully over the +shallow water of those sands, Tom. We had kept with her as far as +we dared, and then hove-to about two cables' lengths to windward of +her, when she struck, for the ebb was still running strong under +our lee, which only made the sea more cross and heavy. The waves +made a clean breach over her, and we knew that she would go to +pieces in less than half-an-hour; but we did not like to leave so +many to perish without a trial to save them. So we kept away, so as +to get abreast of them, and then lowered our sails and got out our +oars. We pulled close to them, but it was impossible to board. We +should have been stove to pieces and swamped immediately. The moon +still shone bright, and we saw them as plain as we could wish, and +we made every attempt to save them, for they were all crowded +together forward. Once the sea drove the boat so close that we +touched her sides, and then a woman pressed before the men, and +reached over the gunnel, extending her arms which held the child, +while several others attempted to get in; but the return of the +wave carried us back so quick from the vessel that, as they +attempted to jump in, they all went to the water, and never +appeared again; but I had caught hold of the child, and laid it +down in the sternsheets. We made a second and third attempt, but in +vain. At last the vessel broke up, as it were, all at +once—there was one loud cry, and all was still, except the +roaring and breaking waves which buried them. It wasn't a scene to +make us very lively, Tom; we hoisted the sail, and ran on to the +beach in silence. I took the child in my arms—it had been +snatched out of its warm bed, poor thing, and had nothing on but a +calico nightgown. I took it up to the cottage, which was then +Maddox's (I bought it afterward of the widow with the money I made +a-privateering), and I gave it in charge to Mrs. Maddox. I did +intend to have sent it to the workhouse, or something of that sort; +but Mrs. Maddox took a fancy to it, and so did I, and so I thought +I would take care of it, and I christened it by the name of Betsy +Godwin."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus238.jpg" id="illus238.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus238.jpg"><img src="images/thumb238.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>BRAMBLE SAVING BESSY.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 237.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"You have no idea who she may be?"</p> +<p>"Not a half one. Her cotton gown and cap told nothing; the +vessel was Dutch, that's all I know. She may be the child of the +Stadtholder or the child of the ship's cook. What's the +matter?"</p> +<p>"But did you notice any marks upon her person by which she might +be reclaimed?"</p> +<p>"Not I. I only axed Mrs. Maddox whether it were a boy or a +girl."</p> +<p>"How old was she then?"</p> +<p>"Well, how can I tell? that's not in my way; but the knowing +ones in these matters said that she must be about eighteen months +old, so we have taken that for a <i>departure</i> as to her age. I +love her now as if she were my own child, and so will you, Tom, +like a sister, when you know her. She calls me her father, and you +may do the same, Tom, if you like, for I will be as good as a +father to you, if you are as good a boy as you now seem to be, I +like to be called father, somehow or another—it sounds +pleasant to my ears. But come in now, I think you have compassed +the compass, so you must learn something else.</p> +<p>"There is another way, Tom," said Bramble, as he seated himself +in his large chair, "in which a smart 'prentice may be useful to +his master, and it is of quite as much importance as the compass, +which is in heaving the lead. You see, Tom, the exact soundings +being known will often enable a pilot to run over the tail of a +bank and save a tide; that is, when he knows that he can trust the +man in the chains. Some seamen are very particular in giving exact +soundings, but all are not. They care more for the song than they +do for anything else, and though the song is very musical, yet it +won't get a ship off when she's on shore. Now, two-thirds of the +seamen who are sent in the chains will not give the soundings +within half a fathom, and, moreover, they do not give them quick +enough for the pilot in many cases. If, therefore, you learn to +heave the lead well, be correct in your soundings and quick in +giving them, you will become of great use to me. You understand, +don't you?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied I.</p> +<p>"Well, go up into my room, and hanging on the nail behind the +door you will see a lead-line—bring it me down here."</p> +<p>I did so, and then Bramble explained to me how the fathoms were +marked on the line, and how the soundings were given out.</p> +<p>"You see," said he, "wherever there is a mark with a piece of +leather or bunting, whether it be white or red, it is called a +mark; and if you have five fathoms of water you would cry out by +the <i>mark</i> five; but at the other depths there are no marks, +but so many knots tied as there are fathoms, as here at nine; and +then you would say by the <i>deep</i> nine. Now run the line +through your hand, and see if you can repeat the marks and deeps as +they pass."</p> +<p>I did so.</p> +<p>"Very well. Now for the song, for there is a sort of tune to +it." Bramble then again passed the line through his hands, giving +the song to each fathom, half-fathom, and quarter-fathom, and +making me sing them after him, after which I had to repeat them by +myself. The next day he took out the marks and knots from the whole +line, and, giving me a two-foot rule to re-measure it, made me put +them all in again. This I had to repeat three or four times. By +this plan they were fully impressed on my memory; and as for the +song, he made me sing it almost every half-hour for three or four +days, Bessy generally repeating, in her clear voice, from the back +kitchen or upstairs, "and a quarter seven—by the deep +line."</p> +<p>On the fourth day Bramble said, "Well, Tom, I think both you and +Bessy may leave off singing now. You have yet to learn the most +important part, which is to <i>heave</i> the lead; but we must wait +till we get on board of a vessel for that. Observe, Tom, it's all +very well singing when you've plenty of water, and I like it, for +it sounds musical and pleasant to the ear; but in shallow water the +pilot's answer must be much shorter and quicker, as you will find +out by-and-by."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus242.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWENTY_SIX" id= +"CHAPTER_TWENTY_SIX"></a>CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which I go Afloat, and obtain some Knowledge of the English +Channel.</p> +</div> +<p>It may be as well here to remark that the system of pilotage is +different now from what it used to be at the period of which I am +writing. The Cinque Port pilots now carry vessels from the Downs to +the river, and from the river to the Downs. Their pilotage extends +no further. Vessels seldom require pilots for the Channel, and do +not take them unless they are bound to some port in the Channel +with which they are unacquainted, and those pilots who ply in the +Channel are termed Hoblers; but at the time I refer to the regular +pilots used to go out in their galleys to the chaps of the Channel +and take charge of vessels all the way up, which, by the new +regulations, they do not do. The arrangements for pilotage have +been much improved of late years, and those employed are better +qualified.</p> +<p>I had remained at Deal about three weeks when an outward-bound +Indiaman anchored in the Downs. Her pilot came on shore, and she +made the signal for another. It was Bramble's turn, a galley was +launched, and we went on board.</p> +<p>The ship was bound to Plymouth, from whence she was to sail with +convoy to a certain latitude. The weather was now fine and frosty, +and we made sail when the tide served. As soon as we were fairly +out in the Channel Bramble went with me into the main-chains, and +showed me how to heave the lead. After several attempts, in which I +sometimes would hit the spare topsail-yard upon which I stood, +sometimes would nearly break my own head, and once contrived to +throw the lead over the hammock-rails inboard, I succeeded in +getting it round over my head; and when I had once gained that +point I made fewer mistakes. In two days we arrived at Plymouth; +and as Bramble kept me at it till my arms ached, nearly half the +day, I could by that time heave the lead pretty fairly, that is to +say, without danger to myself or other people. The day after we +arrived at Plymouth we got into a pilot boat and went out in search +of employment, which we soon found, and we continued chiefly taking +vessels up to Portsmouth and down to Plymouth, or clear of +soundings, for some time. During this time my practice at the lead +was incessant, and I became very perfect. When I was not at the +lead Bramble would make me stand at the binnacle and watch the +compass, so that, by the time we arrived at Deal again, I was +pretty competent in those two branches of my art, except that, +having practiced the lead mostly in deep water, I had not acquired +accuracy and expedition in giving the soundings. But I learned a +great deal more of my profession; Bramble explaining to me the +sails, rigging, and names and uses of the ropes, and the various +maneuvers practiced, all of which he would catechise me in +afterward, to ascertain if I was perfect, and had remembered what +he told me. I was, therefore, under excellent tuition. Whatever +port we entered Bramble would point out the landmarks to me, state +the distances from point to point, and the dangers to be avoided. +These I could not so well retain perfectly, and required occasional +reminding, but altogether I gave him satisfaction. It was on New +Year's Day, 1800, that we boarded a large homeward-bound Indiaman, +which had just struck soundings. She was a thousand-ton ship, with +a rich cargo of tea on board, and full of passengers, besides more +than one hundred invalids from the regiments out there, who had +been sent home under the charge of two officers.</p> +<p>What a difference there appeared to me to be between the +Indiaman going out and this one coming home! the first so neat and +clean in her decks, and this so crowded and so weatherworn by her +long voyage. What with troops in old jackets, which had once been +scarlet, Lascars with their curly black hair, and dark handsome +features, yellow men, sickly women, and half-caste children, with +their Hindoo ayahs, tigers, lions, turtles, cows, sheep, goats, and +pigs, on the booms and main deck, the vessel was in a strange +motley of confusion.</p> +<p>As soon as we were put on board, the captain, officers, and +passengers crowded round to inquire the news. Bramble, according to +pilot custom, had brought off one or two late Plymouth papers (one +of which, I recollect, gave the account of the cutting out of the +"Hermione" by Captain Hamilton); but the people on board were eight +months behindhand at least as regarded what had passed. They had +not even heard of Sir Sydney Smith's defense of Acre against +Bonaparte, or anything else which had subsequently occurred; so +that as soon as Bramble had taken charge, and put the ship's head +the right course (for the wind was fair), there was no end to +question and answer, And while Bramble was questioned by the +captain and passengers, I was attacked by the midshipmen or +guinea-pigs, as they are called. Having a fair wind, we ran right +for the Downs, where we arrived on the morning of the second day. +Here the purser of the ship went on shore with his dispatches, and +the ship anchored to await orders, by the next post, to go up the +river.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus246.jpg" id="illus246.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus246.jpg"><img src="images/thumb246.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>JACK HEAVING THE LEAD.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol X., p. 245.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"Tom," said Bramble, as the vessel anchored, "I cannot quit the +ship, but you may, so just get on shore in one of the boats, and +see how little Bessy is, and poor old Mrs. Maddox's leg; and, Tom, +take our dirty linen on shore and bring off clean."</p> +<p>I was glad enough to obey his orders, for I was very anxious to +see dear little Bessy again; so I dropped into a boat that was +going on shore for fresh beef, taking with me two or three little +presents for Bessy, out of the many which I had received when on +board, for the officers and men were very kind to me, and had given +me many things which they did not value, but which I did very much, +as they were quite new to me.</p> +<p>The custom officers at Deal were not very particular at that +time. I was not searched, and arrived at the cottage, where I found +Bessy sitting at her needle. She threw down her work and ran to me, +and as I kissed her the tears ran down her cheeks.</p> +<p>"Where is father, Tom? I'm so glad to see you; but where is +father? I've been so frightened, the winter has been so rough."</p> +<p>"He's on board of the Indiaman, but being in charge he cannot +come on shore, so he sent me."</p> +<p>"Oh! I'm so glad. You have been away so long, and we have had +nothing but gales of wind; and do you know that Williams and Steers +are both drowned?"</p> +<p>"No, indeed, we know nothing; but father will be sorry to hear +of it, for they were friends of his."</p> +<p>"Well, Tom, it's not fair to leave a little girl like me alone +here, for Mrs. Maddox has kept her bed ever since you left. Her leg +is better, but she has pains in her limbs, and groans so all night, +and here I am left by myself, to hear her groan and the wind +roar."</p> +<p>Here Bessy began to cry, and I to console her as well as I +could, although I did feel that it was hard that such a child +should be left so lonely. The presents I brought her made her wipe +away her tears, and she was very soon as lively and joyous as +ever.</p> +<p>"I heard father say, Bessy" (I always called Bramble my father, +as he had said I might), "that he had picked up something this +winter, for he has had none but heavy vessels, and you know +pilotage is paid by the draught of water."</p> +<p>"Well, he may have made money, but I'm sure we haven't spent any +to matter, for I have hardly been once a week to Mrs. Maddox for +money since you have gone. She eats hardly anything, and I can't +eat my meals when I'm alone down here. Will father come home after +he has been up the river?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Bessy, he said that we should take a spell on shore."</p> +<p>"Tom, don't you think I might go on board and see him for half +an hour?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I don't see why not; speak to Mrs. Maddox."</p> +<p>Bessy ran upstairs, and came down with the required permission, +provided a neighbor's girl would remain in the house, and that she +went under my escort. Her bonnet was soon on, and we obtained a +passage in one of the Indiaman's boats which was shoving off, for +the water was quite smooth, and the ship's boats could lie on the +shingle without difficulty. The officer took Bessy under his boat +cloak, and we were soon on board. Bramble was not on deck at the +time, and when I went down to look for him, Bessy remained on the +quarter-deck in admiration of all she saw. But Bramble was not +below as I supposed—he had gone into the cuddy with the +captain; and when he came out, his first knowledge of Bessy's being +on board was being embraced by the waist with her little arms.</p> +<p>"Why, Bessy, my child," said Bramble, just as I returned on +deck. "This is Master Tom's doing," continued he, kissing her; "so +you have come to see your father?"</p> +<p>"Why, you would not come on shore to see me, father," said +Bessy, as Bramble took her up and kissed her again.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom, have you brought the clean things?"</p> +<p>"No, I must go on shore again with Bessy, father."</p> +<p>"Very true, so you must."</p> +<p>Bessy was taken much notice of by the captain and all on board. +No wonder: her fair skin and clear transparent red and white were +in such contrast with the bilious-looking passengers that she +appeared as if she was not of the same race. She was much admired, +and received many little presents; and when she left the ship, +after staying on board an hour, she was much delighted with her +trip, and still more so with the promise of Bramble that he would +stay ashore for some time as soon as he came back from the river. I +remained with her on shore till dusk, and then, having collected +the clean linen, as we were expected to sail early the next +morning, I returned on board the Indiaman.</p> +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWENTY_SEVEN" id= +"CHAPTER_TWENTY_SEVEN"></a>CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Showing the Importance, on board Ship, of a Rope's End well +applied.</p> +</div> +<p>The next morning, as we expected, the orders came down for the +Indiaman to go round to the river. The wind was fair, but light; we +hove up and made sail, stemming the last of the ebb. When the flood +made, the wind died away, so that we made but little progress, much +to the annoyance of those on board, who were naturally impatient to +land after so tedious a voyage. Toward the evening it fell calm, +and a fog-bank rose on the horizon to the eastward. There were +still two hours of daylight, when, as I was sweeping the horizon +with my glass, I discovered the three masts of a vessel with no +sails set on them. As she was a long way off I went half-way up the +main rigging to have a better view of her, and made her out to be a +large lugger. I went down to the poop, where Bramble stood smoking +a cheroot with some of the officers of the ship. "Father," says I, +"there's a large lugger on our beam, with her sails lowered down. I +caught her masts with the glass just now."</p> +<p>"Then she's a French privateer, you may depend upon it," replied +Bramble, "and she means to try to take us by surprise +to-night."</p> +<p>The officers went down and reported it to the captain: the +glasses were fixed upon her, and there was little doubt as to what +she was.</p> +<p>"Lucky you discovered her, boy, for we might have been +surprised, that's a fact," said the captain; "however, now she +shall catch a Tartar."</p> +<p>"She's waiting for the fog, captain," said Bramble, "which will +come rolling down with the shift of wind in about an hour or two, I +expect; and then we must allow her another hour to get alongside of +us. Depend upon it she has plenty of men, and intends to try to +board us in the fog."</p> +<p>Everybody was now on the <i>qui vive</i>; the women were, as +usual, frightened; the men passengers looked grave, the Lascars +rather unsteady; but we had forty English seamen and a hundred +invalid soldiers on board, who could all be depended upon. The guns +were loaded and shotted, and the invalid soldiers were mustered; +muskets and ammunition handed up; the bayonets fixed, unfixed +again; and then they were ordered to remain on the booms with their +accouterments on and their muskets by their sides. The officers +still kept their glasses on the lugger, until at last the fog came +down and we could see her no more.</p> +<p>The officers who commanded the invalids, after a consultation +with the captain at which Bramble assisted, told off their men into +two parties, one of them being appointed to assist the seamen with +their bayonets in repelling the boarders (should the attempt be +made), and the other to fire upon them and into the deck of the +vessel when she came alongside. The Lascars were stationed at the +guns, in case they might be required; but no great dependence was +placed upon their services.</p> +<p>By the time that these arrangements had been made, the fog had +reached the Indiaman, and we were at the same time taken aback with +the easterly breeze which brought it down to us; being near to the +land, we put the ship's head off shore. The wind continued light +and the water smooth, but the fog thickened every minute: at last +we could hardly see as far as the foremast of the vessel.</p> +<p>"He'll be puzzled to find us, I think," said the captain.</p> +<p>"He'll find us, never fear," replied Bramble. "He has calculated +the time of the fog reaching us, and he knows that we must lay our +head off-shore—to be sure, we might give him the go-by if we +bore up and ran back again to the Downs."</p> +<p>"I think I see myself bearing up and running away from a +rascally French privateer," said the captain. "Keep a sharp lookout +there forward."</p> +<p>"Ay, ay, sir," replied the chief officer.</p> +<p>Half an hour more passed, and by our calculation the privateer +should have been on board of us, but we could see nothing of her, +although the fog had cleared up a little. The soldiers were now +ordered to load their muskets. I was on the poop with Bramble, +when, happening to turn and look aft (the very opposite direction +from which the privateer was to be expected), I saw her three +lugsails looming in the mist, just on the quarter, not half a +cable's length from us. I jumped down to where the captain was +standing, and said to him, "There she is, sir, close on our lee +quarter." The captain sprang on the poop, saw the vessel, and +ordered the men to come aft in silence. The tramp of the soldiers' +feet was scarcely over when the lugger was alongside of us, her +masts banging against our main and mizzen chains as she rolled with +the swell under our lee. The Frenchmen gave a cheer, which told us +how very numerous they were: they climbed up the side and into the +chains like cats, and in a few seconds all was noise, confusion, +and smoke. It was impossible to know what the result was to be for +about a minute, when the cheers from our own men announced that the +assailants had been beaten back. But hardly had the cheering ceased +on our side when another cheer was heard from the lugger, and the +attempt to gain our decks was repeated. This time the Frenchmen +fought more obstinately than before, and it was nearly five minutes +before they were repelled. It was not yet dark (although the fog +was thick), and you could make out their countenances pretty clear; +a more wild reckless set of fellows I never beheld, and they +certainly fought very gallantly, but they were driven back again; +and once more were the cheers from the British seamen and soldiers +mixed up with the execrations and shouts of the still contending, +although retreating, Frenchmen.</p> +<p>Just at this period of the conflict I was standing on the poop +by Bramble, who had been watching the result, when he said, "Tom, +come with me: do you jump into the main chains with a double part +of the topsail halyards fall, and when the lugger's mast strikes +against the chains as she rolls into us, pass the fall round it +underneath the rigging, and hand the end in to me."</p> +<p>We both leaped off the poop; he gave me the bight of the +halyards. I crept out of the port into the chains and passed it +round the lugger's mainmast, as he told me, handing in the bight to +him, which he belayed slack to the mainsheet kevel. At the time I +perceived a man lying wounded or dead in the main chains, but I +paid no attention to him until, as I was about to get on board, he +attracted my attention by seizing my leg, and making his teeth meet +in the small part of it, above the ankle. I could not help crying +out, I was so taken by surprise with the pain; however, I kicked +him off, and turning to look at him, I found it was a wounded +Frenchman, who, perceiving what I was about, had paid me that +compliment. As soon as I was on board I heard the captain say to +Bramble, "Well, pilot, he has had enough of it."</p> +<p>"Yes, and he won't escape, captain, for Tom has got him fast by +the masthead, and they dare not climb up to cut themselves adrift. +All that you have to do now it to let the soldiers fire on his +decks until they run below, and then our men can board and take +possession of her."</p> +<p>The captain, perceiving that the vessel was made fast, gave the +necessary orders. The soldiers lined the hammock nettings and +chains, and such a shower of musketry was poured into her decks +that the Frenchmen were soon driven below, and our seamen then +slipped down her rigging, boarded, and took possession of her. The +prisoners having been ordered up and passed into the forehold, the +wounded men were then looked after. We had eleven wounded, but none +killed; the Frenchman had eight killed and seventeen wounded; among +others, the captain, who had headed the second attempt to board. +She was called the "Pucelle d'Orleans," of twelve guns and a +hundred and twenty-five men.</p> +<p>It was two or three hours before we were again all to rights, +and a party sent on board of the prize; and then there was again +another kind of confusion, from the congratulations, drinking +healths, the women coming up on deck, etc.; however, the weather +continued light, so it was of no consequence. That Frenchman bit +very hard, and I limped for three or four days afterward.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom," said Bramble, "I see you've got nerve, so all's +right. You had better go and lie down now, for you must be tired; +I'll call you in the morning."</p> +<p>Very glad was I to limp to bed. All night I dreamed of nothing +but volleys of musketry, and boarding and reboarding, and being +wounded in the leg, and then I would awake with the smart of the +Frenchman's teeth.</p> +<p>The next morning when I came on deck, the captain thanked me for +my services, and said that the lugger would have escaped had it not +been for me. I replied that it was Bramble who prevented her +escape, as I should not have thought of making her fast if I had +not been told.</p> +<p>"That's all true enough," replied the captain; "but how many of +your age, having been told to do it, would have done it, Tom? I +shall not forget you."</p> +<p>I went on the poop to Bramble, who, as usual, had his short pipe +in his hand; and I certainly was pleased when I saw what a +beautiful craft we had helped to capture. She sat like a swan on +the water, and sailed round and round us with the greatest +ease.</p> +<p>In the afternoon we anchored at the Nore, and sent away all the +prisoners to Sheerness. I must not forget to say how very kind and +generous the passengers were to me. They made a great many +presents, some of value, as I afterward found out; and I was glad +to receive them that I might give them to Virginia and those who +had been friendly to me.</p> +<p>The next morning we arrived off Greenwich, and Bramble told me +to go on shore and remain with my father and mother until he came +down, which he would do in a few days, and pay a visit to his old +friend Anderson. I landed with all my contraband articles in the +boat, but no one thought of stopping or searching the former "Poor +Jack." My insignificance was my protection; and I arrived safely at +Fisher's Alley with all my curiosities and prohibited effects. When +I entered the house, I perceived that there was a third person +sitting in company with my mother and Virginia; but Virginia sprang +to me, and I threw down my bundles with which I was loaded, and +pressed her in my arms. Although I had been absent but four months, +she appeared to be very much grown, and in every way improved. As +soon as I had released her, I offered my hand to my mother, who +took it very coldly, and then observed, "Tom, you will be <i>so</i> +ungenteel; don't you see there is a gentleman here?"</p> +<p>"I beg his pardon, mother," replied I; "but I could only see my +sister just then."</p> +<p>"And I admire your feeling, Tom," replied the party. "Mrs. +Saunders, you must not scold him for that. How do you do, Tom, and +how do you like your profession?" continued he, holding out his +hand.</p> +<p>I took his hand, and looking at him I recognized him. "Oh, sir! +you are the gentleman who was sitting in the room when we called +upon Sir Hercules and her ladyship."</p> +<p>"I am so, Tom, and I promised Sir Hercules that I would have an +eye to you all, and be of any use to you that I could. My name is +Wilson, and I'm what the sailors call a shark, that is, I'm a +lawyer."</p> +<p>"Well, you don't appear as if you would bite, sir," replied I, +as I looked at his venerable and kind face.</p> +<p>"No, no, we never frighten people by our looks. We don't carry +our teeth with us; but I have several rows of them, all upon +shelves in my chambers, called the 'Statute at Large,' and by other +names."</p> +<p>He then entered into conversation with me, and I told him most +of what had passed, of course not forgetting that the Indiaman we +had brought up the river had captured a privateer. He sat about an +hour, and then went away, desiring me to call upon him. I was not +sorry when he went, as I wished to show my presents to Virginia, +and give her those which she liked best. When Virginia had selected +for herself, or rather I had forced upon her all she most admired, +I gave a cut ivory card-case, a filigree needle-case, and a small +red scarf to my mother, who, for the first time in her life, +appeared pleased with me, and said that they were very +<i>genteel</i>, and she was much obliged to me. The remainder I put +away in my room upstairs, intending to keep some for Bessy, and +give the others to Mrs. St. Felix, the doctor, and old Nanny.</p> +<p>I then went to the hospital and found out my father, old +Anderson and Ben. I narrated to them much more circumstantially +than I did to the old lawyer the particulars of the capture of the +privateer. Anderson put a great many inquiries to me, as to my +liking my profession, and also concerning little Bessy, whose +history I communicated to him. After my father and Ben had left, he +gave me a great deal of advice, all of which I trust that I +treasured up.</p> +<p>"I hear," said he, "that Spicer has been talking a good deal +about you, and inquiring very often when you were expected to +return. Were you very intimate with that man?"</p> +<p>I replied in the negative, and then narrated the whole history +of the spy-glass, the erasure of the name by Mrs. St, Felix, and +the recognition of it by Spicer.</p> +<p>"You did right to leave him in his error relative to where you +received the glass from," said Peter Anderson; "there is some +mystery there which time may unravel, but do not say a word of it +to any one, Tom. I am glad that you have told me, as, in case you +are away, and anything should occur, I shall know how to act."</p> +<p>I must acknowledge that I now walked proudly through the streets +of Greenwich. I was no longer Poor Jack, but I was earning my +livelihood in my profession. I had reason to be still prouder when, +two days afterward, Mr. Wilson came to my mother's with the +newspaper in his hand in which there was a long account of the +capture of the privateer, and the conduct of Bramble and of me +spoken of in the highest terms. This he read aloud to my mother and +Virginia. I watched my sister. The tears filled her eyes as she +listened, and when Mr. Wilson had done her arms were round my neck, +and her smiles were mixed with her tears, and sometimes she would +laugh as she cried. Oh! how I loved her then, for I felt how dearly +she loved me; even my mother appeared gratified, although she said +nothing, but continued to repair the lace veil upon which she had +been employed. That evening I went with Virginia to call upon Mrs, +St. Felix, taking with me the presents I had laid aside for her. +She welcomed me as usual, and accepted what I brought for her +without hesitation and with many thanks.</p> +<p>"Well, Mr. Tom," said she, "I'll just put away all your nice +little remembrances, and then I'll tell you that I've heard all +about your behavior in the fight with the privateer, and I've no +doubt but that, if you continue to go on as you have begun, you +will one day have a leg the less, as your father has before +you."</p> +<p>"I hope not," replied I; "two legs are better than one."</p> +<p>"Yes, when you want to run away, that's true. I see now why +you're so anxious to save your legs."</p> +<p>"But, Mrs. St. Felix, if it had not been for that good spy-glass +you gave me, I never should have discovered the privateer, and we +should not have been prepared for her."</p> +<p>"Well, that's fortunate; it didn't prove a glass too much, +anyhow, or you'd have seen double. I suppose, then, all these +pretty things are my share of the prize-money."</p> +<p>"No, they are no value, except to prove to you that Poor Jack +has not forgotten your kindness, and never will."</p> +<p>"That I believe; and, believing that, I suppose you have not +forgotten old Nanny."</p> +<p>"No; but I have not seen her yet. I intend to go to-morrow; but +I have something for the doctor. He is not at home; will you give +it to him?"</p> +<p>"Certainly; you know I am as good as a mother to him."</p> +<p>"I think the doctor would rather you'd be a wife to him."</p> +<p>"That's a foolish idea that's in many people's heads, Tom, which +I'll thank you to contradict. I never intend to change my +name."</p> +<p>"Don't make too sure," replied I; and I added at a venture (why, +I know not, but I had formed the idea in my mind that St. Felix was +not her proper name), "you may change it yet for your real +name."</p> +<p>"Tom, Tom," cried the widow, "what do you mean?" "Nothing," +replied I, "I was only joking." "Well, then, don't talk such +nonsense, or I shall send you out of the shop."</p> +<p>I had, however, it appeared, struck upon a chord which jarred, +and all the spirits of Mrs. St. Felix vanished at once. So Virginia +and I wished her a good-evening and returned home.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus260.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWENTY_EIGHT" id= +"CHAPTER_TWENTY_EIGHT"></a>CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Some little Difference in the Proceeds of this Chapter, and my +former "Copper for Poor Jack, your Honor".</p> +</div> +<p>On our arrival at my mother's, I found a letter from Bramble, +stating that he would be at Greenwich in two days, and, further, +informing me that the honorable company had been pleased, in +consequence of the report made of our good behavior, to award to +him the sum of two hundred pounds, and to me the sum of one hundred +pounds, as a remuneration for our assistance in the capture of the +privateer.</p> +<p>This was news indeed. One hundred pounds! I never thought that I +should possess such a sum in my life. One hundred pounds! what +should I do with it? My mother was astonished, and then fell into a +very grave mood. Virginia was pleased, but appeared to care less +about it than I thought she would have done. My father came in as +usual with Ben the Whaler, and I read the letter.</p> +<p>"Why, Tom, that's about as much prize-money as I have made in +all my sarvice," said my father, "and you've been afloat only four +months. Come, missis, send for some beer, and let us drink Tom's +health and success to him. God bless you, my boy! the papers say +you deserved it, and that's better than your getting it. I'm proud +of you; I am, indeed, my boy. Your father's proud of you, +Tom"—and here my father showed more emotion than ever I +witnessed in him before; however, he put his lips to the +porter-pot, and when he had drained it nearly to the bottom, he had +quite recovered himself.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom," said Ben, after he had finished the small modicum +of beer left him by my father, "and what do you mean to do with all +that money?"</p> +<p>"I'm sure I don't know—I have no want of it—I have +everything I wish for."</p> +<p>"Come, missis," said my father, "we must have another pot, for I +drank deep, and Ben has been shared out." My mother very graciously +sent for another pot of porter, which, with the newspaper, occupied +Ben and my father till it was time for us to break up and go to +bed.</p> +<p>The next morning when I went down I found Virginia alone, my +mother having returned to her room.</p> +<p>"Tom," said she, "what do you think my mother said to me when we +were going to bed last night?"</p> +<p>"Tell me."</p> +<p>"She said, 'Tom says he don't know what to do with his money. I +only wish I had it; I would turn it into three times the sum in +three years, and have a better home for you, my dear.'"</p> +<p>"Did she say how?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I asked her how; she said that she should take a new house +with a shop up the town, and set up as a milliner, with +apprentices; that, as soon as she was fairly employed, she should +give up getting up fine linen, and only take in laces to wash and +mend, which was a very profitable business."</p> +<p>"Well," says I, "Virginia, my mother is a hard-working woman, +and a clever woman, and I dare say she would do very well, and, as +she says she would have a better home for you, I think I shall let +her have the money; but I won't say so yet. I must talk about it to +Peter Anderson, and if he don't say no, she shall have it with +pleasure."</p> +<p>"That will be very kind of you, Tom; and I hope mother will feel +it, for you don't owe her much."</p> +<p>"Never mind that; after breakfast I'll see Peter Anderson. Don't +say a word about it till I come back."</p> +<p>At breakfast-time my mother still appeared to be very +thoughtful. The fact was, that the idea of what advantage the money +would be had taken possession of her mind; and perhaps she thought +that there was no chance of obtaining it. Perhaps she felt that, +had she treated me better, she would have had it without +difficulty—it was impossible to say exactly.</p> +<p>After breakfast I walked with Virginia to her school, and then +set off to Anderson, to whom I immediately imparted what had taken +place. His answer was decided:</p> +<p>"I think, Jack, you can't do better; but, at the same time, let +us go to your father and hear his opinion."</p> +<p>My father coincided with Anderson and me; and he added, "I tell +you what, your mother is not parfect exactly—though I say it, +as shouldn't say it—but still she does work hard, and she +will work hard; she has paid my little girl's schooling out of her +own arnings, and, moreover, she has found me one pot of porter at +least every night, which has made me very comfortable. Now, I've +still a matter of forty pounds in the lieutenant's hands. I'll add +it to Tom's hundred pounds, and then she will have a fair start. +What d'ye think, Peter?"</p> +<p>"I think you are both right; and, Tom, you are doing your +duty."</p> +<p>I knew what Anderson meant. I thanked him for his advice, and my +father and I went to my mother's house. I requested my father to +stand spokesman, which he did, ending by telling my mother that my +hundred pounds and his forty pounds were very much at her sarvice, +and good luck to her. Virginia's eyes glistened as she took me by +the hand. My mother replied, "Very well, if we pleased, she would +do her best for us all."</p> +<p>The answer was hardly gracious, but I watched her countenance +and saw she was moved. Her thin lips quivered as she turned away +and went upstairs, which she did immediately after her reply. In +about half-an-hour, during which I was laughing with Virginia, my +mother came downstairs in her shawl and bonnet.</p> +<p>"Tom," said she, in a kind manner, "will you walk with Virginia +to school this afternoon, as I am going to have some conversation +with Mr. Wilson?"</p> +<p>The alteration in her tone of voice to me was immediately +perceived by Virginia.</p> +<p>"You are a dear good Tom," said she, kissing me, as soon as my +mother had left the house.</p> +<p>As soon as I had left Virginia at school, I went to call upon +old Nanny, whom I found quite brisk and lively, sorting old keys +and rusty hinges.</p> +<p>"Well, Jack," said she, "so you are come at last! I thought you +would have been here yesterday, but nobody cares about an old woman +like me. I heard all about you, and how you took the privateer, and +how the Company have given you a hundred pounds; and when I heard +that I said, Jack (Poor Jack that was, who came begging to old +Nanny to lend him money) will not come to see me, he'll be too +proud. Besides,' I said, 'his family is getting up in the world: +there's a baronet and his lady who have taken them under their +protection, and there's lawyer Wilson calls at the house. Oh, dear +me! it's the way of us all.'"</p> +<p>"And so you said all that to yourself, did you?" replied I.</p> +<p>"Yes, and a great deal more, too."</p> +<p>"Then, mother, you did me injustice. I could not well come +before; I had to see my father and mother and my sister, and I had +business to transact."</p> +<p>"Mercy on us! business to transact! Poor Jack had business to +transact! Here's a change from the time that his whole business was +to touch his hat for coppers and dip his head in the mud for a +penny."</p> +<p>"Nevertheless, what I say is true, and you are very unjust to +accuse me as you have done. I have always thought of you, and have +now with me several things that I have collected for you."</p> +<p>"Yes, you promised me. Jack, you do keep your promises; I will +say that for you. Well, what have you got?"</p> +<p>I opened my handkerchief and pulled out several little articles, +such as fine worked baskets, shells, etc., and, among the rest, a +pound of tea in a leaden canister.</p> +<p>"There, mother, I have brought you them as a present, and I hope +you will take them."</p> +<p>Old Nanny turned them over one by one, rather contemptuously, as +I thought, until she came to the tea. "That may do," said she. +"Why, Jack, those are all very pretty things, but they are too +pretty for my shop. Why didn't you bring me some empty ginger beer +bottles? I could have sold them this very morning."</p> +<p>"Why, mother, I really did not like to ask for such things."</p> +<p>"No, there it is; you've grown so fine all of a sudden. These +are no use, for nobody will come to my shop to buy them."</p> +<p>"I thought you would like to keep them yourself, mother."</p> +<p>"Keep them? Oh, they are keepsakes, are they? Look you, Jack, if +they are to be kept you had better take them away at once, and give +them to the young girls. Girls like keepsakes, old women like +money."</p> +<p>"Well, mother, sell them if you please; they are your own."</p> +<p>"Sell them? let me see—yes, I think I know where there is +a sort of curiosity-shop, in Church Street; but it's a long way to +walk, Jack, and that—let me see," continued she, counting the +different articles, "one, two, three—seven times, Jack."</p> +<p>"But why not take them all at once?"</p> +<p>"All at once, you stupid boy! I should get no more for two than +for one. No, no; one at a time, and I may make a few shillings. +Well, Jack, it's very kind of you, after all, so don't mind my +being a little cross. It was not on account of the things, but +because you did not come to see me, and I've been looking out for +you."</p> +<p>"If I had thought that, I would have come sooner, mother, +although it would not have been convenient."</p> +<p>"I believe you, Jack, I believe you; but you young people can't +feel as an old woman like I do. There is but one thing I love in +the world, Jack, now, and that's you; and when I get weary of +waiting for that one thing, and it don't come, Jack, it does make a +poor old woman like me a little cross for the time."</p> +<p>I was touched with this last speech of old Nanny's, who had +never shown me any such a decided mark of kindness before. +"Mother," said I, "depend upon it, whenever I return to Greenwich, +you shall be the first person that I come to see after I have been +to my mother's."</p> +<p>"That's kind, Jack, and you keep your promise always. Now sit +down; you don't want to go away already, do you?"</p> +<p>"No, mother, I came to spend the whole morning with you."</p> +<p>"Well, then, sit down—take care, Jack, you'll knock down +that bottle. Now tell me, what do you intend to do with your +hundred pounds?"</p> +<p>"I have settled that already, mother. I have given it away."</p> +<p>"Already! Why, the boy has one hundred pounds given him on the +morning, and he gives it away before night, Mercy on us! who would +ever think of leaving you any money?"</p> +<p>"No one, mother; and I never expect any except what I earn."</p> +<p>"Why, Jack, do you know how much one hundred pounds is?"</p> +<p>"I think so."</p> +<p>"Now, Jack, tell me the truth, who did you give it to, your +father, or your little sister, or who? for I can't understand how a +person could give away one hundred pounds in any way or to +anybody."</p> +<p>"Well, then, I gave it to my mother."</p> +<p>"Your mother! your mother, who has hated you, wished you dead, +half-starved you! Jack, is that possible?"</p> +<p>"My mother has not been fond of me, but she has worked hard for +my sister. This hundred pounds will enable her to do much better +than she does now, and it's of no use to me. Mother may love me +yet, Nanny."</p> +<p>"She ought to," replied old Nanny, gravely; and then she covered +her face up with her hands. "Oh, what a difference!" ejaculated she +at last.</p> +<p>"Difference, mother, difference? in what?"</p> +<p>"Oh, Jack, between you and—somebody else. Don't talk about +it any more, Jack," said Nanny, casting her eyes down to the +presents I had brought her. "I recollect the time," continued she, +evidently talking to herself, "that I had plenty of presents; ay, +and when it was thought a great favor. I would accept them. That +was when I was young and beautiful; yes, people would laugh if they +heard me—young and very beautiful, or men's smiles and +women's hate were thrown away—</p> +<p class="blockquot">"'Why so pale and wan, fond lover;<br /> +Prithee, why so pale?'</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, bygones are bygones."</p> +<p>I was much surprised to hear old Nanny attempt to sing, and +could hardly help laughing; but I restrained myself. She didn't +speak again, but continued bent over one of the baskets, as if +thinking about former days. I broke the silence by saying:</p> +<p>"What part of the country did you live in when you were young, +mother?"</p> +<p>"In the north part. But never ask questions."</p> +<p>"Yes, but, mother, I wish to ask questions. I wish you to tell +me your whole history. I will not tell it again to any one, I +promise you."</p> +<p>"But why should you wish to know the history of a poor old thing +like me?"</p> +<p>"Because, mother, I am sure you must have seen better days."</p> +<p>"And if I have, Jack, is it kind to ask me to bring up to memory +the days when I was fair and rich, when the world smiled upon me, +and I was fool enough to think that it would always smile? Is it +kind to recall what was to an old, miserable, deserted wretch like +me, struggling to keep out of the workhouse? Look at me now, Jack, +and see what I now am. Is it not cruel to bring to my mind what I +once was? Go to, Jack, you're a selfish boy, and I don't love +you."</p> +<p>"Indeed, mother, if I thought it would have given you pain, I +never would have asked you; but you cannot wonder at me. Recollect +that you have ever been my best friend; you trusted me when nobody +else would; and can you be surprised at my feeling an interest +about you? Why, mother, I don't even know your name."</p> +<p>"Well, Jack, you have put things in a better light. I do believe +that you care for me, and who else does? But, Jack, my name you +never shall know, even if I am to tell you all the rest."</p> +<p>"Were you ever married, mother?"</p> +<p>"Yes, child, I was married. Now, what's the next question?" +continued she, impatiently.</p> +<p>"Had you any children?"</p> +<p>"Yes, boy, I had one—one that was a source of misery and +shame to his doting mother." Old Nanny pressed her eyeballs with +her knuckles as if in agony.</p> +<p>"I won't ask you any more questions," said I mournfully.</p> +<p>"Not now, Jack, that's a good boy; some other day, perhaps, I'll +tell you all. There's a lesson in every life, and a warning in too +many. You'll come again, Jack—yes, I know you'll come to hear +my story, so I shall see you once more before you leave. Go now." +Old Nanny rose and went indoors, taking her stool in her hand, and +leaving the presents where they lay, outside—a proof that she +was in great agitation. I put them inside the threshold, and then +went homeward.</p> +<p>I could not help remarking, as I walked home, that old Nanny's +language and manner appeared very superior when she broke out in +these reminiscences of the past, and I felt more interest in her +than I ever had before. On my return, I found Bramble, who had come +down sooner than he was expected, sitting in the parlor with Peter +Anderson and my father, all smoking, with porter on the table.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom," said Bramble, "here I am two days before my time, +but that's better than being two days after it, and, what's more, +I've got the money, both yours and mine. They told me I should not +get it for three months at least; but I sent up my name to the +Board, and explained to them that a pilot could not wait like a +purser while they were passing accounts, so the gentlemen laughed, +and gave me an order for it; and I've got all my pilotage, too, so +I'm a rich man just now. Come, I'll give you yours at once, and I +hope it may not be the last hundred pounds that you'll pick +up."</p> +<p>Bramble pulled his leathern case out of his pilot jacket, and +counted out ten ten-pound notes. "There, Jack, you ought to give me +a receipt, for I signed for you at the India House."</p> +<p>"Oh, you've plenty of witnesses," replied I, as I collected the +notes, and, giving them to Virginia, told her to take them to my +mother, who was upstairs in her room.</p> +<p>"To tell you the truth, Jack, this two hundred pounds, which I +earned so easily, has just come in the right time, and with it and +my pilotage I shall now be able to do what I have long wished."</p> +<p>"And what's that?" inquired I. "Something for Bessy, I +suppose."</p> +<p>"Exactly, Tom, it is something for Bessy; that is, it will be +by-and-by. I've a good matter of money, which I've laid by year +after year, and worked hard for it, too, and I never have known +what to do with it. I can't understand the Funds and those sort of +things, so I have kept some here and some there. Now, you know the +grass land at the back of the cottage: it forms part of a tidy +little farm, which is rented for seventy pounds a year, by a good +man, and it has been for sale these three years; but I never could +manage the price till now. When we go back to Deal, I shall try if +I can buy that farm; for, you see, money may slip through a man's +fingers in many ways, but land can't run away; and, as you say, it +will be Bessy's one of these days—and more, too, if I can +scrape it up."</p> +<p>"You are right, Bramble," said Peter Anderson, "and I am glad to +hear that you can afford to buy the land."</p> +<p>"Why, there's money to be picked up by pilotage if you work +hard, and aren't afraid of heavy ships," replied Bramble.</p> +<p>"Well, I never had a piece of land, and never shall have, I +suppose," said my father. "I wonder how a man must feel who can +stand on a piece of ground and say, 'This is my own!'"</p> +<p>"Who knows, father? it's not impossible but you may."</p> +<p>"Impossible! No, nothing's impossible, as they say on board of a +man-of-war. It's not impossible to get an apology out of a +midshipman, but it's the next thing to it."</p> +<p>"Why do they say that, father?"</p> +<p>"Because midshipmen are so saucy—why, I don't know. They +haven't no rank as officers, nor so much pay as a petty officer, +and yet they give themselves more airs than a lieutenant."</p> +<p>"I'll tell you why," replied Anderson. "A lieutenant takes care +what he is about. He is an officer, and has something to lose; but +a midshipman has nothing to lose, and therefore he cares about +nothing. You can't break a midshipman, as the saying is, unless you +break his neck. And they have necks which aren't easily broken, +that's sartain."</p> +<p>"They do seem to me to have more lives than a cat," observed my +father, who, after a pause, continued: "Well, I was saying how hard +it was to get an apology out of a midshipman. I'll just tell you +what took place on board of one ship I served in. There was a young +midshipman on board who was mighty free with his tongue; he didn't +care what he said to anybody, from the captain downward. He'd have +his joke, come what would, and he'd set everybody a-laughing; +punish him as much as you please, it was all the same. One day, +when we were off Halifax Harbor, the master, who was a +good-tempered fellow enough, but not overbright, was angry with +this young chap for something that he had not done, and called him +a 'confounded young bear,' upon which the youngster runs to the +Jacob-ladder of the main rigging, climbs up, and as soon as he had +gained the main rattlings he cries out, 'Well, if I'm a bear, you +aren't fit to carry guts to a bear.' 'What, sir?' cried the master. +'Mutiny, by heavens! Up to the masthead, sir, directly.' 'Don't you +see that I was going of my own accord?' replied the midshipman; +for, you see, he knew that he would be sent there, so he went up +the rigging on purpose. Well, this was rather a serious affair, and +so the master reports it to the first lieutenant, who reports it to +the captain, who sends for the youngster on the quarter-deck, at +the time that the ship's company were at quarters. 'Mr. +——' (I forget his name), said the captain (drawing +himself up to his full height, and perhaps an inch or two above it, +as they say), 'you have been guilty of disrespect to your superior +officer, in telling him that he was not fit to carry guts to a +bear' (the captain could hardly help laughing). 'Now, sir,' +continued he, recovering himself, 'I give you your choice: either +you will make an apology to Mr. Owen on this quarter-deck, or you +must quit my ship immediately.' 'Sir,' replied the midshipman, 'I +don't think it quite fair that the master should first punish me +himself and then complain to you afterward. He has taken the law +into his own hands already by mastheading me for eight hours, and +now he makes a complaint to you; but I am always ready to do as you +wish, and, to please you, I will make an apology.' 'There is some +truth in your observation,' replied the captain, 'and I have +pointed the same out to the master; but still, this is a breach of +discipline which cannot be passed over, and requires a public +retraction before the whole ship's company. I therefore insist upon +your retracting what you have said.' 'Certainly, sir,' replied the +youngster. 'Mr. Owen,' continued he, turning to the master, 'I said +that you were <i>not</i> fit to carry guts to a bear. I was in the +wrong, and I retract with pleasure, for I am perfectly satisfied +that you <i>are fit</i> to carry them.' 'Sir!' cried the captain. +'Oh, Captain G——!' interrupted the master, who did not +take the joke, 'I'm perfectly satisfied. The young gentleman sees +his error, and has retracted; I ask no more.' 'If you are +satisfied, sir,' replied the captain, biting his lips, 'of course I +have nothing more to say. Youngster, you may go to your duty, and +recollect that you never again use such expressions to your +superior officer,' and, said he in a low tone, 'I may add, never +venture in my presence to make such an apology as that again.'"</p> +<p>I never saw old Anderson laugh so much as he did at this story +of my father's. They continued to talk and smoke their pipes till +about nine o'clock, when my father and he went to the hospital, and +Bramble took possession of a bed which had been prepared for him in +my mother's house.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus273.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWENTY_NINE" id= +"CHAPTER_TWENTY_NINE"></a>CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which I learn the History of Old Nanny.</p> +</div> +<p>The next day, as soon as I had finished a letter to Bessy, in +which I gave her a detail of what had passed, I went to old Nanny's +to persuade her, if possible, to tell me her history. She was not +at home, the door of her house was locked and the shutters of the +shop fastened. I was about to return to Fisher's Alley, when I +perceived her hobbling down the street. I thought it better to make +it appear as if I met her by accident; so I crossed over the way +and walked toward her. "Well, mother," said I, "are you out so +early?"</p> +<p>"Ah, Jack, is it you? Yes, it is through you that I have had to +take so long a walk."</p> +<p>"Through me?"</p> +<p>"Yes, those presents you brought me. I'm almost dead. Why do you +bring such things? But I did not do badly, that's the truth."</p> +<p>I knew from this admission that old Nanny had sold them for more +than she expected; indeed, she proved it by saying, as she arrived +at her house, "Well, Jack, it's very troublesome to have to walk so +far; but as you cannot get me bottles or those kind of things, you +must bring me what you can, and I must make the best of them. I +don't mind trouble for your sake, Jack. Now take the key, unlock +the door, and then take down the shutters; and mind how you walk +about, Jack, or you'll break half the things in my shop." I did as +she requested, and then we sat down together at the door as +usual.</p> +<p>"I think I shall go away to-morrow, or early the next morning, +mother," said I, "for Bramble is here, and he never stays long from +his work"</p> +<p>"That's all right, he sets a good example; and, Jack, if you do +go, see if you can't beg a few more shells for me. I like +shells."</p> +<p>"Yes, mother, I will not forget; but, as this is the last day I +shall see you for some time, will you not keep your promise to me, +and tell me your history?"</p> +<p>"Jack, Jack, you are the most persevering creature I ever did +see. I'm sure I shall be worried out of my life until I tell you, +and so I may as well tell you at once, and there'll be an end of +it; but I wish you had not asked me. Jack, I do indeed. I thought +of it last night when I was in bed, and at one time I made up my +mind that I would not tell you, and then I thought again that I +would; for, Jack, as I said yesterday, there's a lesson in every +life, and a warning in too many, and maybe mine will prove a +warning to you, so far as to make you prevent a mother from being +so foolish as I have been.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus276.jpg" id="illus276.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus276.jpg"><img src="images/thumb276.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>NANNY RELATING HER STORY.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 275.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"Now, Jack, listen to me: mine is an old story, but in most +cases the consequences have not been so fatal. I shall not tell you +my name; it was once a fair one, but now tarnished. I was the only +daughter of a merchant and ship-owner, a rich man, and the first +person in consequence in the seaport town where I was born and +brought up. I never knew my mother, who died a year after I was +born. I was brought up as most girls are who have no mother or +brothers; in short, I was much indulged by my father and flattered +by other people. I was well educated, as you may suppose; and, +moreover, what you may not credit quite so easily, I was very +handsome. In short, I was a beauty and a fortune, at the head of +the society of the place, caressed, indulged, and flattered by all. +This, if it did not spoil me, at least made me willful. I had many +offers, and many intended offers, which I nipped in the bud, and I +was twenty-three before I saw any one who pleased me. At last a +vessel came in consigned to the house, and the captain was invited +to dinner. He was a handsome careless young man, constantly talking +about the qualities of his ship, and, to my surprise, paying me +little or none of that attention which I now considered as my due. +This piqued me, and in the end I set my affections on him; either +he did not or would not perceive it, and he sailed without showing +me any preference. In six months he returned, and whether it was +that he was told of by others, or at last perceived, my feelings +toward him, he joined the crowd of suitors, made a proposal in his +offhand manner, as if he was indifferent as to my reply, and was +accepted. My father, to whom he communicated the intelligence as +carelessly as if he were talking about freight, did not approve of +the match. 'Very well,' replied he, 'I shall say no more; as long +as a man has a ship he does not want a wife.' He returned and +stated what had passed, and my father also spoke to me. I was +self-willed and determined, and my father yielded. We were married, +and I certainly had no reason to complain of my husband, who was +very kind to me. But I was jealous of—what do you think? Of +his ship! For he cared more for it than he did for me; and three +months after our marriage, notwithstanding all my tears and +entreaties, and the expostulations of my father, he would sail +again. He offered to take me with him, and I would gladly have +gone, but my father would not listen to it. He sailed, and I never +saw him again; his vessel, with all hands, foundered, with many +others, in a heavy gale. The news did not arrive until many months +afterward, and I had not been a mother more than six weeks when I +found that I was a widow. I have passed all this over quickly, +Jack, because it is of less moment—my trials had not +commenced.</p> +<p>"The loss of my husband, as may be supposed, only endeared my +child the more to me, and I wept over him as he smiled upon me in +his cradle. My father had reverses in his business, but those I +cared little for. He did, however: he had been the richest man in +the town, he was now comparatively poor; his pride was crushed, it +broke his heart, and he died; the whole of his assets at the +winding up of his affairs not exceeding ten thousand pounds. This +was, however, quite enough, and more than enough, for me. I thought +but of one object—it was my darling boy; he represented to me +all I had lost; in him I saw my husband, father, and everything. I +lived but for him. He was my idolatry, Jack. I worshiped the +creature instead of the Creator.</p> +<p>"As he grew up I indulged him in everything; he never was +checked; I worried myself day and night to please him, and yet he +never was pleased. He was so spoiled that he did not know what he +wanted. He was a misery to himself and all about him, except to me, +who was so blinded by my love. As he advanced to manhood his temper +showed itself to be violent and uncontrollable; he was the terror +of others, and prudent people would shake their heads and prophesy. +He would not submit to any profession; the only wish that he had +was to go to sea, and that was my terror. I implored him on my +knees not to think of it, but in vain; at first he used to threaten +when he wanted money for his extravagances, and it was a sure way +to obtain it; but one day I discovered that he had quitted the port +without saying farewell, and that he had sailed in a vessel bound +to the coast of Africa. A short letter and a heavy bill was +received from Portsmouth, and I did not hear of him for two years. +I was heartbroken, but not weaned from him; I counted the days for +his return. At last he came—browned by the climate, full of +oaths, savage in his bearing, and occasionally referring to scenes +which made me shudder; but he was my son, my only son, and I loved +him as much as ever. He was now but seldom at home, for he lived +almost at the gaming-tables; if he came to me, it was to extort +money, and he never failed. I sold out my property to support his +extravagance, and by degrees it was rapidly diminishing. I begged +him, I entreated him, to be more prudent, but he laughed, and +promised to return me all the first lucky hit he should make; but +that lucky hit never came, and at last I had but two thousand +pounds left. This I positively refused to part with: the interest +of it was barely sufficient for my wants; I asked no more, but I +expostulated and I reasoned with him in vain. He only begged me for +five hundred pounds; if I sold the money out, he would tell me +where I might have as good interest for the fifteen hundred pounds +as I now received for the two thousand pounds. He begged and +entreated me, he kissed, and he even wept. I could not withstand +his importunities: I sold out the money, and gave him the sum he +wanted; the fifteen hundred pounds I put by in my desk, to invest +as he had pointed out. That very night he forced the lock, took out +the money, and left me without a sixpence in the world."</p> +<p>"What a villain!" exclaimed I.</p> +<p>"Yes, you may so. Jack; but who made him such a villain but his +foolish doting mother? Had I done him justice, had I checked him +when young, had I brought him up as I ought to have done, he might +now have been a happiness and a blessing to his mother. I was the +person to blame, not he; and many years of anguish have I lamented +my folly and my wretchedness."</p> +<p>"You loved him too much, mother, but it was a fault on the right +side."</p> +<p>"No, Jack, that is an error of yours; it was a fault on the +wrong side. There is no credit to a mother in loving her children, +for she cannot help it. It is a natural instinct implanted in the +mother's heart by the Almighty, and in following this instinct we +do no more than the beasts of the field. The duty of a mother is to +check that feeling as far as it interferes with the happiness and +well-doing of her children, and it is her duty to do so, and to +punish herself in correcting her children. Jack, it is a selfish +feeling which induces mothers to spoil their children."</p> +<p>"At all events my mother has never spoiled me," replied I.</p> +<p>"No, Jack, she has not; but observe the consequence. You said +just now that excessive tenderness was a fault on the right side; +now, how completely have you proved the contrary! I do not intend +to defend your mother's conduct toward you; she has been unkind to +you in your childhood, and has never shown the affection that a +mother ought; but is not her fault a fault on the right side? Jack, +you recollect my saying 'what a difference,' when you told me what +you had done for your mother; I then referred to my son and to you. +I indulged him in everything, sacrificed everything, and he robbed +me and left me a beggar. Your mother has been severe upon you, and +yet the first time you have the means of showing your duty you give +her all the money you have in the world. You mother may not be +right, Jack, but I was dreadfully wrong, and the result has proved +it."</p> +<p>"Well, mother, go on, pray."</p> +<p>"My story is now soon told. I struggled on how I could for more +than two years by selling my furniture and a few ornaments, then +the blow came. When I heard it I would not remain in the town; I +left for London, picked up my living how I could and where I could, +till at last I came down here. Time was as a dream; reflection was +too painful. I felt that it was all my fault, all my own doing. My +heart became hardened, and continued so till I loved you, Jack; and +now I have better feelings, at least I think so."</p> +<p>"But, mother, what was the blow? Is he dead?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Jack, dead—dead on the gibbet. He was hanged for +piracy at Port Royal, Jamaica. Jack," said Nanny, seizing my hand, +and pressing it in her long fingers, "this is a secret; recollect, +a secret deep as the grave; promise me, as you hope for +heaven!"</p> +<p>"I do, mother, as I hope for heaven."</p> +<p>"Now, Jack, leave me. Good-by. You will come and see me when you +return, and never bring this subject up again. Bless you, my child! +bless you!"</p> +<p>I left poor old Nanny with her face buried in her apron; and it +was in a very melancholy mood that I returned home. I could not +help thinking of the picture in the spelling-book, where the young +man at the gallows is biting off the ear of his mother, who, by her +indulgence, had brought him to that disgrace.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTY" id="CHAPTER_THIRTY"></a>CHAPTER +THIRTY</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Strong symptoms of Mutiny, which is fortunately Quelled by +granting a Supply.</p> +</div> +<p>It was a beautiful sunshiny warm morning when I arose, and, as +Bramble intended that we should leave Greenwich the next day, I +thought I might as well call at the house of Dr. Tadpole, and try +if I could see him before I went. When I arrived there he was not +at home, but my namesake Tom was, as usual, in the shop. Tom was +two or three years older than me, being between seventeen and +eighteen, and he had now grown a great tall fellow. We always were +very good friends, when we occasionally met, and he generally +appeared to be as good tempered and grinning as ever; but when I +now entered the shop I found him very grave and dejected, so much +so that I could not help asking him what was the matter.</p> +<p>"Matter enough, I think," said Tom, who was pounding something +in the mortar. "I'll not stay here, that's flat. I'll break my +indentures, as sure as my name's Tom Cob, and I'll set up an +opposition, and I'll join the Friends of the People Society, and +the Anti-Bible Society, and every other opposition Anti in the +country."</p> +<p>"Why, what has happened, Tom?"</p> +<p>"I'll make speeches against Church and against State, and +against the Aristocracy, and Habeas Corpus, and against Physic, and +against Standing Armies, and Magna Charta, and every other rascally +tyranny and oppression to which we are subjected, that I will!" +Here Tom gave such a thump with the pestle that I thought he would +have split the mortar.</p> +<p>"But what is it, Tom?" inquired I, as I sat down. "What has the +doctor done?"</p> +<p>"Why, I'll tell you, the liquorice is all gone, and he won't +order any more."</p> +<p>"Well, that is because you have eaten it all."</p> +<p>"No, I haven't; I haven't eaten a bit for these five weeks: it's +all been used in pharmacopey, honestly used, and he can't deny +it."</p> +<p>"Who used it?"</p> +<p>"Why, I did: he said he wouldn't stand my eating liquorice, and +I told him that I shouldn't eat any more. No more I have, but I +ain't well, and I prescribes for myself. Haven't I a right to do +that? Mayn't I physic myself? I am a doctor as well as he is. Who +makes up all the medicine, I should like to know? who ties up the +bottles and writes directions? Well, my insides are out of order, +and I prescribes for myself—black draughts 'omnes duas horas +sumendum'; and now he says that, as the ingredients are all gone, I +shan't take any more."</p> +<p>"And pray what were the ingredients, Tom?"</p> +<p>"Why, laxative and alterative, as suits my +complaint—Extract. liquor.—aqua +pura—haustus."</p> +<p>"And what is that?"</p> +<p>"<i>Liquorice and water</i>, to be sure; there's nothing else I +can take. I've tasted everything in the shop, from plate powder to +aqua fortis, and everything goes against my stomach."</p> +<p>"Well, Tom, it's a hard case; but perhaps the doctor will think +better of it"</p> +<p>"He'd better, or I'll set up for myself, for I won't stand it +any longer; it ain't only for myself but for others that I care. +Why, I've a hankering for Anny Whistle (you know her, don't you?), +a pretty little girl with red lips—lives in Church Street. +Well, as long as I could bring her a bit of liquorice when I went +to see her all was smooth enough, and I got many a kiss when no one +was nigh; but now that I can't fork out a bit as big as a marble, +she's getting quite shy of me, and is always walking with Bill, the +butcher's boy. I know he gives her bull's eyes—I seed him one +day buying a ha'p'orth. Now, ain't that hard?"</p> +<p>"Why, certainly, the affair becomes serious; but, still, how you +are to set up for yourself I don't know. You are not +qualified."</p> +<p>"Oh! ain't I? Just as much as most doctors are. There must be a +beginning, and if I gives wrong medicine at first, then I'll try +another, and so on, until I come to what will cure them. Soon +learn, Tom."</p> +<p>"Well, but how will you do about surgery?"</p> +<p>"Surgery? Oh, I'll do very well; don't know much about it just +now—soon learn."</p> +<p>"Why, would you venture to take off a man's leg, Tom? Do you +know how to take up the arteries?"</p> +<p>"Would I take off a man's leg? To be sure I would, as quick as +the doctor could. As for the arteries, why, I might puzzle a little +about them; but by the time I had taken off three or four legs I +should know something about them. Practice makes perfect—soon +learn, Tom."</p> +<p>"But all your first patients would die."</p> +<p>"I don't know that. At all events I should do my best, and no +man can do more, and if they did die, why, it would be by the +visitation of God, wouldn't it?"</p> +<p>"Not altogether, I'm afraid. It won't do, Tom."</p> +<p>"It has done from the beginning of the world, and will do. I say +there's no learning without practice. People spoil at first in +every trade, and make afterward, and a man ain't born a doctor any +more than he is a carpenter."</p> +<p>"No, but if I recollect right, to be a surgeon you ought to walk +the hospital, as they term it."</p> +<p>"Well, and haven't I for these last four years? When I carries +out my basket of physic I walks the <i>hospital</i> right through, +twice at least every day in the week."</p> +<p>"That's Greenwich Hospital."</p> +<p>"Well, so it is, and plenty of surgical cases in it. However, +the doctor and I must come to a proper understanding. I didn't +clean his boots this morning. I wish, if you see him, Tom, you'd +reason with him a little."</p> +<p>"I'll see what I can do, but don't be rash. Good-by, Tom; mind +you tell the doctor that I called."</p> +<p>"Well, I will; but that's not in my indentures."</p> +<p>I called in at the widow's after I left the doctor's shop, and +communicated the intended rebellion on the part of Tom.</p> +<p>"Well," said Mrs. St. Felix, "I shall not forget to make the +Spanish claim, and prevent Tom from walking Spanish. The doctor is +very inconsiderate; he forgets that Tom's regard for liquorice is +quite as strong as his own liking for a cigar. Now, if the doctor +don't promise me to have a fresh supply for Tom, I won't let him +have a cigar for himself."</p> +<p>The doctor was compelled to surrender at discretion. The next +wagon brought down one hundred weight of liquorice, and Tom +recovered his health and the smiles of Anny Whistle.</p> +<p>When I left the widow's I proceeded to the hospital to find +Anderson and my father. As I walked along I perceived Dick Harness +on a bench, who hailed me.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom, I haven't seen anything of you for I don't know how +long, since you've taken to a seafaring life. This is a beautiful +day, is it not? It makes one feel so happy and cheerful such a day +as this. Everybody and everything looks gay, the birds seem so +merry, and the little clouds seem to scud away as if their hearts +were as light as themselves. Come, sit down a minute; here's a song +for you you've never heard, one I don't often sing, because they +say it's all about myself."</p> +<p>"Well, then, I should like to hear that."</p> +<p>"Here goes, then.</p> +<p class="blockquot">"Sam Swipes, he was a seaman true,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">As brave and bold a +tar</span><br /> +As e'er was dressed in navy blue<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">On board a man-of-war.</span><br /> +<br /> +"One fault he had—on sea or land<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He was a thirsty dog;</span><br /> +For Sammy never could withstand<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A glass or so of grog.</span><br /> +<br /> +"He always liked to be at sea,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For e'en on shore, the +rover,</span><br /> +If not as drunk as he could be<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Was always 'half seas +over.'</span><br /> +<br /> +"The gunner, who was apt to scoff,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With jokes most aptly +timed,</span><br /> +Said Sam might any day go off,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Cause he was always +'primed,'</span><br /> +<br /> +"Sam didn't want a feeling heart,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Though never seen to +cry;</span><br /> +Yet tears were always on the start,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'The drop was in his +eye.'</span><br /> +<br /> +"At fighting Sam was never shy,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A most undoubted +merit;</span><br /> +His courage never failed, and why?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He was so full of +'spirit.'</span><br /> +<br /> +"In action he had lost an eye,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But that gave him no +trouble;</span><br /> +Quoth Sam, I have no cause to sigh,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I'm always 'seeing +double.'</span><br /> +<br /> +"A shot from an unlucky gun<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Put Sam on timber +pegs;</span><br /> +It didn't signify to one<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Who ne'er could 'keep his +legs.'</span><br /> +<br /> +"One night he filled a pail with grog,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Determined he would suck +it;</span><br /> +He drained it dry, the thirsty dog!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hiccupped, and 'kicked the +bucket.'"</span></p> +<p>"There's Bill's fiddle, Dick," said I, getting up; "I thought +you would bring him out."</p> +<p>"Yes, I was sure of that. I'll sing another verse or two, and +then be off to the park, and leave him in the lurch."</p> +<p>"I can't wait any more, Dick; I must go to my father," said +I.</p> +<p>"Well, off with you, then, and I'm off, too. Sing tura la, tura +la, tura lura la. Bill's coming down. How savage the nigger will +be!"</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus287.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTY_ONE" id= +"CHAPTER_THIRTY_ONE"></a>CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which my Father proves he can give good Advice as well as +Peter Anderson.</p> +</div> +<p>I found my father under the colonnade, and inquired of him if +Anderson was there.</p> +<p>"No, he's not," replied my father; "he has been sent for by the +officers; so stop, Tom—that is, if you can spare a minute for +your own father."</p> +<p>"Of course I can," replied I, taking my seat by him.</p> +<p>"Why, you see, boy," said my father, "I have but very little of +your company, and I feel it, Tom, I do indeed. I'm not jealous, and +I know that Peter Anderson has done more for you than ever I could, +for I've no larning to signify; but still, Tom, I am your father, +and I don't think Peter, although he may be proud of your turning +out so well, can feel exactly for you what a father does. I'm proud +enough of you, Heaven knows, and it does hurt me a little when I +find that, whenever you come here, it is for Peter Anderson, and it +makes me wish sometimes that I had been Peter Anderson instead of +your father."</p> +<p>"Indeed, father," replied I, "I hope you don't think that I like +Anderson better than I do you; but you recollect that I have been +accustomed all my life to take his advice."</p> +<p>"I know it, boy, I know it. I was serving my country and doing +my duty on board of a King's ship, and you were left here, and +therefore lucky it was that you fell in with old Peter; but, Tom, I +could not be in two places at the same time, and if I did not do my +duty as a father toward you, at all events I was doing my duty to +my country."</p> +<p>"To be sure you were, and it was of more importance than looking +after a brat like me," replied I, soothingly, for I really never +had the idea that my father could have showed so much feeling.</p> +<p>"Why, Tom, I can't say that I thought so, for the fact is I +didn't think about it; indeed, I thought about nothing. Sailors +afloat have little time to think; they can't think when it's their +watch on deck, for they are too busy; nor at their watch below, for +they're too tired; nor at meal-times, for they must look after +their share of the victuals; indeed, there is not any time to think +on board ship, and that's a fact. But, Tom, since I've been laid up +here I have thought a good deal. All is calm and quiet, and one day +passes just like the other, and no fear of interruption when one +don't wish it—and I have thought a good deal. At first I +thought it a hard case to be shoved on the shelf at my age, but I +don't think so now—I'm quite satisfied."</p> +<p>"I'm glad to hear you say so, father."</p> +<p>"Yes, Tom. And then, you see, when I was afloat, I didn't think +any good of your mother, and I was glad to keep out of her way; and +then I didn't care about my children, for I didn't know them; but +now I've other thoughts, Tom. I don't think your mother so bad, +after all; to be sure, she looks down upon me 'cause I'm not +genteel; but I suppose I aren't, and she has been used to the +company of gentlefolk; besides she works hard, and now that I don't +annoy her by getting tipsy, as I used to do, at all events she's +civil; and then I never knew what it was to have children until I +came here, and found Virginia and you; and I'm proud of you both, +and love you both better than anything on earth; and, although I +may not be so well brought up or so well taught as you both are, +still, Tom, I'm your father, and all I can say is, I wish for your +sakes I was better than I am."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus290.jpg" id="illus290.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus290.jpg"><img src="images/thumb290.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>JACK AND HIS FATHER UNDER THE COLONNADE.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol X., p. 289.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"Don't say so, father. You know that Virginia and I are both as +fond of you as you are of us."</p> +<p>"Well, mayhap you are; I don't say no. You are both good +children, and at all events would try to like me; but still I do +feel that you can't look up to me exactly; but that's my +misfortune, Tom, more than my fault. I haven't larning like +Anderson, or gentility like your mother. I've only a true heart to +offer to you. You see, Tom, I've said all this because you are +always after Anderson; not but that I like Anderson, for he's a +good man, and has been of sarvice to me, and I don't think he would +ever say anything to you that would make you think less of me."</p> +<p>"No, indeed, father; on the contrary, I once asked him his +opinion about you, and he spoke most highly of you; and whenever I +go to him for advice, he always sends me to you to approve of what +he has said."</p> +<p>"Well, he is a good man, and I'm very sorry to have any feeling +of envy in me, that's the truth; but still a father must have a +father's feelings. Don't let us say anything more about it, Tom; +only try next time, when you want advice, whether I can't give it. +You can always go to Peter afterward, and see whether I'm right or +wrong."</p> +<p>"I will indeed, my dear father, now I know that you wish +it."</p> +<p>I never felt so warm toward my father as after this +conversation; there was so much affection toward me, and yet so +much humility shown by him, as respected himself, that I was quite +touched with it, and I began to think that he really had had +occasion to complain, and that I had not treated him with that +respect which he deserved.</p> +<p>"Now, Tom, I've something to say to you. When Anderson, Bramble, +and I were taking a pipe together last night, Bramble said that he +had a letter from the captain of the Indiaman, offering you a berth +on board as guinea-pig, or midshipman. He said that he had not +shown it to you as yet, because it was of no use, as he was sure +you would not accept it. Well, Anderson and I said that at least +you ought to know it, and have the refusal; and your mother pricked +up her ears and said that it was much more genteel than being a +pilot; so I now put the question to you.'</p> +<p>"Thank you, father; but Bramble was right. I shall not accept of +it, although I am much obliged to the captain."</p> +<p>Here my father stopped me. "First, Tom," said he, "we must +overhaul the pros and cons, as people call them. Old Anderson +weighed them very closely, and now you shall hear them." Here my +father commenced a long story, with which I shall not tire the +reader, as to the prospects on either side; but as soon as he had +finished I replied:</p> +<p>"That all he said was very true; but that I had made up my mind +that, if ever I were regularly to serve, it should be in a +man-of-war, not in a merchant vessel; that it was certainly +possible that I might, after serving many years, become a captain +of an Indiaman, which was a high position, but I preferred being a +pilot, and more my own master; that if there were no other +objections, that of being absent for three years at a time from him +and Virginia would be more than sufficient, and that I was very +happy where I was, as Bramble and little Bessy were almost equal to +another father and another sister. A rolling stone gathers no moss, +they say, father. I have entered into the pilot service, and in +that I hope to remain."</p> +<p>"Well, you're right, Tom; Bramble said you would decide so. +There's nothing like being contented with what we are and what we +have got."</p> +<p>"I might probably become a richer man if I were to be a captain +of an Indiaman," observed I; "but I'm sure if ever I'm able to buy +a little farm, as Bramble is now able to do, I shall think myself +quite rich enough."</p> +<p>"You see, Tom, it all depends upon what people's ideas are. One +man thinks himself rich with what another would think that he was a +beggar. Now I dare say old Nanny thinks that shop of old iron and +rubbish that she has got together the finest shop in all +Greenwich."</p> +<p>"I believe she does, and the prettiest," replied I, +laughing.</p> +<p>"Well now, Tom, an odd thing happened the other day while you +were away, just to prove how true that is. You may recollect a +little old man in our ward, Phil Nobbs they called him, who walked +with his chin half a yard before him. Well, he took to the sick +ward and died, since you have been gone. I went to see him, of +course, and he was always talking about his property; and none of +us knew where it was, but we supposed that he had it somewhere. One +day, as I was sitting by his bed, he says, 'Saunders, the doctor's +coming round, just tell him I want to make my will, for I feel as +if I were slipping my wind.' Well, the doctor and the chaplain both +came to his bedside with the paper, and Nobbs raised himself on his +elbow, and said, 'Are you ready, sir? Well, then, I'll make short +work of it. This is my last will and testament: first, I wish a +white pall over me, when I'm buried, and that expense must be +deducted, after which I bequeath to my nephews and nieces, James +Strong, Walter Strong, Ellen Strong, Mary Williams, the one +married, Peter Strong, all of Rotherhithe, and to Thomas Day, Henry +Day, and Nicholas Day, of Eltham, the whole of my money and +personal effects, <i>share and share alike</i>, equally divided +among them all. There, sir, that will do. I can't write, but I'll +put my cross to it.' Well, the old fellow died that night, and +notice of his will was sent to his nephews and nieces, who all came +on the day of his burial dressed in their best, for they were all +mechanics and laborers, poor people, to whom, I suppose, a legacy +was a great object. The chaplain had asked Nobbs where his money +was, and he replied that it was in the hands of Lieutenant +——, who knew all about his affairs. After the funeral +they all went in a body to the lieutenant, who stated that he had +ten shillings belonging to Nobbs, out of which seven shillings were +to be deducted for the white pall; and that as for his other +effects, they must be in his cabin, as he never heard of his having +anything but what was there. So we went to his cabin, and there we +found five or six penny prints against the wall, two pair of old +canvas trousers, and an old hat, six cups and saucers, cracked and +mended; and this was all his property, altogether not worth (with +the three shillings) more than seven or eight at the outside, if so +much. You may guess the disappointment of his nephews and nieces, +who had lost a good day's work and come so far for nothing; and I +must say they were not very dutiful in their remarks upon their old +uncle as they walked off. Now you see, Tom, this old fellow had +been in the hospital for more than twenty years, and had been able +to save no more than what he had out of his shilling per week, and +in his eyes this small property was very large, for it was the +saving of twenty years. He thought so, poor fellow, because he +probably had never saved so many shillings in his life. There was +no joking about it, I can assure you."</p> +<p>"Well, father, I hope I may be able to save more than seven +shillings before I die; but no one knows. I have made my decision +as I think for the best, and we must leave the rest to Providence. +We never know whether we do right or wrong."</p> +<p>"Never, Jack; things which promise well turn out bad, and things +which look very bad often turn out just as well. I recollect an +instance which was told me, which I'll give you as a proof that we +never know what is best for us in this world. A man may plan, and +scheme, and think in his blindness that he has arranged everything +so nicely that nothing can fail, and down he lies on his bed and +goes to sleep quite satisfied that affairs must turn out well as he +has ordered them, forgetting that Providence disposes as it thinks +fit. There was a gentleman by birth, of the name of Seton, who +lived at Greenock; he was very poor, and although he had high +friends and relations well-to-do, he was too proud to ask for +assistance. His wife was equally proud; and at last one day he +died, leaving her with hardly a penny, and two fine boys of the +names of Archibald and Andrew. Well, the widow struggled on, how +she lived no one knew, but she fed the boys and herself, and was +just as stately as ever. Her relations did offer to educate the +boys and send them to sea, but she refused all assistance. There +was a foundation or chartered school at Greenock, to which she was +entitled to send her children to be educated without expense, and +to that school they went. I don't know why, but they say the master +had had a quarrel with their father when he was alive, and the +master had not forgotten it now he was dead, and in consequence he +was very severe upon these two boys, and used to beat them without +mercy; at all events it did them good, for they learned faster than +any of the others who were at all favored, and they soon proved the +best boys in the school. Well, time ran on till Archibald was +thirteen and Andrew twelve years old, and, being very tired of +school, they asked their mother what profession they were to be of, +and she answered, 'Anything except going to sea, for there you will +never get on.' But times became harder with the widow; she had not +enough to give the boys to eat, and they complained bitterly; but +it was of no use, so they got on how they could, until one day +Archy says to Andrew, 'Why, brother, we have nothing but ferrule +for breakfast, dinner, and supper, and I see little chance of our +getting anything more. Mother, poor soul! has not enough for +herself to eat, and she very often gives us her dinner and goes +without. I can't stand it any longer; what shall we do? shall we +seek our fortunes?'</p> +<p>"'Yes,' says Andrew, 'and when we are gone mother will have +enough for herself.'</p> +<p>"'Well, they say anything is better than going to sea, but I +don't know how we can do anything else.'</p> +<p>"'Well, Archy, going to sea may be the worst of all, but it's +better than taking the victuals out of poor mother's mouth.'</p> +<p>"'That's very true, so we'll be off, Andrew.'</p> +<p>"They walked down to the pier, and then they fell in with the +captain of a vessel going foreign, and they asked him whether he +wanted any boys on board.</p> +<p>"'Why,' says he, 'I wouldn't care, but you've never been to sea +before.'</p> +<p>"'No,' said Archy; 'but there must be a beginning to +everything.'</p> +<p>"'Well,' said the captain, 'I suppose you've run away from your +friends, and, as I can't get apprentices now, I'll tell you what +I'll do. I'll take you on board, and as soon as we get round to +another port in the Channel, I'll bind you as apprentices for three +years. Will you agree to that?'</p> +<p>"The boys said 'yes,' and the captain told them that he should +sail the next morning about daylight, and that they must be down at +the pier by that time; so they went back again to their mother, and +said nothing about what had passed. There was no supper that night, +which confirmed them in their resolution. They kissed their mother, +and went up to bed, packed up all their clothes, and before she was +downstairs the next morning they were on board of the vessel.</p> +<p>"Well, they were duly apprenticed when the ship arrived at +Weymouth, and then off they went. The other men on board were, as +usual, very much afraid of being pressed, and every plan was hit +upon for stowing away when they were boarded by a man-of-war. Well, +time passed, and after many voyages they had both nearly served +their time. They were tall, stout young men, and looked older than +they really were. At last, one day, when off the Western Isles, +they were boarded by a frigate, and the officer who came in the +boat asked Archy what he was, and he replied he was an +apprentice.</p> +<p>"'You an apprentice!' cried he; 'that won't do.'</p> +<p>"'But here are the indentures.'</p> +<p>"'All forged,' cried the officer; 'just get into the boat, my +lad.' (You see that's a very common trick of officers; if a boy's +grown up and fit for service, they don't care about indentures.) +Well, Archy found it was of no use, so he gets his kit and steps +into the boat, shaking hands with Andrew, who was shedding tears at +the thoughts of parting with his brother.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus298.jpg" id="illus298.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus298.jpg"><img src="images/thumb298.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>A SURPRISE.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 297.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"'It's no use crying, Andrew,' says he; 'I might have been +second mate in three months, as the captain promised me when my +time was up, and then I should have been protected, and might have +risen from mate to captain; but now it's all over with me. May you +have better luck, and I hope the captain will give you the berth +instead of me.' Well, away went Archy on board of the man-of-war, +looking very gloomy, as you may suppose. When he went aft on the +quarter-deck the captain asked him his name and where he came +from.</p> +<p>"'Ah,' said the captain, 'and who are your friends? So Archy +told him that he had only his mother left. The captain asked him a +good many more questions as to whether he had been educated or not, +and what he knew, and then rated him A.B., and put him into the +maintop. Well, Archie remained there for about six months, and +found that a man-of-war was not so bad a place after all; and he +was well treated by the captain and officers, the more so as he was +a good scholar. After the cruise was over the frigate ran into the +Channel, and anchored in Portland Roads, where there were a great +many vessels wind-bound. As usual, they sent round to press the +men. Now Archy was one of those sent in the boats, and by this +time, being a man-of-war's man all over, he was just as eager to +get the men as the others were. They boarded several vessels, and +got some men; about dark they boarded one which laid well in the +offing. The captain was not on board, and the men were turned up, +but they were very few, and all protected. Now Archy, who was up to +the hiding-places on board a merchant vessel, goes down with his +cutlass, and crawls about in the dark, until at last he gets hold +of a man by the heels. 'Come out, you thief,' cries he, 'come out +directly, or I'll give you an inch of my cutlass;' so the man, +finding that he could not help himself, backs out, stern foremost. +Archy collars him and takes him on deck, when who should it prove +to be but his own brother Andrew!</p> +<p>"'Oh, Archy, Archy, I didn't think this of you!'</p> +<p>"'Well, Andrew, I didn't know it was you, but there's no help +for it; you must come and serve in the maintop along with me, and +give up all chance of being a mate or captain of a merchant vessel. +We're in bad luck, that's clear, but it can't be helped.' There was +a good laugh on board of the man-of-war at Archy pressing his own +brother, and the captain was very much amused. 'I'm very sorry for +it,' said Archy.</p> +<p>"Now the captain was short of midshipmen, and, being obliged to +sail immediately, he determined to put Archy on the quarter-deck, +and so he did, while Andrew served in the maintop. But this did not +last long. The captain, who liked Andrew quite as well, and who +knew their family and connections, put Andrew also on the +quarter-deck; and what was the consequence? Why, they are now both +post-captains, commanding fine frigates. So you see, going on board +of a man-of-war, which they conceived as their ruin, was the means +of their rising to rank and riches, for they have been very lucky +in the service. I heard Captain Archibald tell the story himself +one day as I helped at dinner in the cabin when I was coxswain with +Sir Hercules."</p> +<p>"Well, father, that's a good story to the point, but I do not +see that I ever have any chance of being a post-captain."</p> +<p>"Don't seem much like it, certainly; but you've a good chance of +being a pilot."</p> +<p>"Yes, that I certainly have; and a pilot is always respected, go +on board what ship he may."</p> +<p>"To be sure he is, because he is supposed to have more knowledge +than any one on board."</p> +<p>"Then I am contented, father, with the prospect of being +respectable; so there's an end of that business, except that I must +write and thank the captain for his kindness."</p> +<p>"Just so, Tom. Do you dine with me?"</p> +<p>"No, father. I promised to meet Bramble at the 'Jolly Sailors.' +We are going up to Mr. Wilson's."</p> +<p>"Ay, about the farm he wants to buy. Well, the clock is +striking, so good-by till this evening."</p> +<p>I must explain to the reader that Mr. Wilson, having heard of +Bramble's intention to purchase the farm, very kindly interfered. +He had a son who was a solicitor at Dover, and he recommended +Bramble not to appear personally, but let his son manage the affair +for him, which he promised should be done without expense. The next +morning Bramble and I took our leave and quitted Greenwich, taking +the coach to Dover; for Bramble, having a good deal of money in his +pocket, thought it better to do so than to wait till he could take +a ship down the river. On our arrival at Dover we called upon Mr. +Wilson's son, who had already made inquiries, and eventually +obtained the farm for Bramble for two hundred pounds less than he +expected to give for it, and, very handsomely, only charged him for +the stamps of the conveyance. When we arrived at Deal we found Mrs. +Maddox quite recovered, and sitting with little Bessy in the parlor +below.</p> +<p>After Mrs. Maddox and Bessy went upstairs to bed, Bramble said +to me, as he knocked the ashes out of his pipe, "Tom, I've got this +farm for Bessy for two hundred pounds less than I expected to give +for it. Now, I've been thinking about this two hundred pounds, +which I consider in a manner as her property, and what d'ye think I +mean to do with it? I'll tell you. I'll give her education as well +as money. This sum will keep her at a good school for a matter of +four years, and I've made up my mind that she shall go. I don't +like to part with her, that's certain; but it's for her good, so +all's right. Don't you think so?"</p> +<p>"I do, indeed, father," replied I. "I shall miss her as much as +you do; but, as you say, it's all right, and I'm very glad that you +have so decided."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus302.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTY_TWO" id= +"CHAPTER_THIRTY_TWO"></a>CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which there is a Hop, Skip, and a Jump.</p> +</div> +<p>Life has often, and with great truth, been compared to a river. +In infancy a little rill, gradually increasing to the pure and +limpid brook, which winds through flowery meads, "giving a gentle +kiss to every ridge it overtaketh in its pilgrimage." Next it +increases in its volume and its power, now rushing rapidly, now +moving along in deep and tranquil water, until it swells into a +bold stream, coursing its way over the shallows, dashing through +the impeding rocks, descending in rapids swift as thought, or +pouring its boiling water over the cataract. And thus does it vary +its velocity, its appearance, and its course, until it swells into +a broad expanse, gradually checking its career as it approaches, +and at last mingles with the ocean of Eternity. I have been led +into this somewhat trite metaphor, to account to the reader for the +contents of this chapter. As in the river, after many miles of +checkered and boisterous career, you will find that its waters will +for some time flow in a smooth and tranquil course as almost to +render you unconscious of the never-ceasing stream; so in the life +of man, after an eventful and adventurous career, it will be found +that for a time he is permitted to glide gently and quietly along, +as if a respite were given to his feelings preparatory to fresh +scenes of excitement. Such was the case with me for some time. I +had now been under Bramble's tuition for more than a year and a +half, and was consequently between fifteen and sixteen years old. +The years from 1800 to the end of 1804 were of this description in +my stream of life, unmarked by any peculiar or stirring events +worthy of occupying the attention of my readers. It is therefore my +intention, in this chapter, to play the part of the chorus in the +old plays, and sum up the events in few words, so as not to break +the chain of history, at the same time that I shall prepare my +readers for what subsequently took place.</p> +<p>I will first speak of myself. Up to the age of nineteen I +continued my career under the care of Bramble; we seldom remained +long on shore, for neither Bramble nor I found home so agreeable +since little Bessy had been sent to school, and Mrs. Maddox, +assisted by a little girl, had charge of the house; indeed, Bramble +appeared resolved to make all the money he could, that he might the +sooner be able to give up his profession. Mrs. Maddox I have spoken +little of, because I had seen but little of her; now that she was +downstairs, I will not say I saw, but I certainly heard too much of +her, for she never ceased talking; not that she talked loud or +screamed out—on the contrary, she was of a mild amiable +temper, but could not hold her tongue. If she could not find any +<i>one</i> to talk to she would talk to any <i>thing</i>; if she +was making the fire she would apostrophize the sticks for not +burning properly. I watched her one morning as she was kneeling +down before the grate:</p> +<p>"Now, stick, you must go in," said she; "it's no use your +resisting, and what's more, you must burn, and burn quickly +too—d'ye hear? or the kettle won't boil in time for +breakfast. Be quick, you little fellow—burn away and light +the others, there's a good boy." Here she knocked down the tongs. +"Tongs, be quiet; how dare you make that noise?" Then, as she +replaced them, "Stand up, sir, in your place until you are wanted. +Now, poker, your turn's coming, we must have a stir directly. Bless +me, smoke, what's the matter with you now? can't you go up the +chimney? You can't pretend to say the wind blows you down this fine +morning, so none of your vagaries. Now, fender, it's your +turn—stand still till I give you a bit of a rub. There, now +you're all right. Table, you want your face washed—your +master has spilled his grog last night—there now, you look as +handsome as ever. Well, old chair, how are you this morning? You're +older than I am, I reckon, and yet you're stouter on your legs. +Why, candle, are you burning all this while? Why didn't you tell +me? I would have put you out long ago. Come, now, don't be making a +smell here—send it up the chimney."</p> +<p>Thus would she talk to everything. We only had two animals in +the house—a cat and a canary bird: of course they were not +neglected, but somehow or another the cat appeared to get tired of +it, for it would rise and very gently walk into the back kitchen; +and as for the canary bird, like all other canary birds, as soon as +he was talked to be would begin to sing, and that so loud that Mrs. +Maddox was beaten out of the field. Bramble bore with her very +well, but at the same time he did not like it: he once said to me, +"Well, if Bessy were at Deal, I think I would take a short spell +now; but as for that poor good old soul, whose tongue is hung on +the middle and works at both ends, she does tire one, and that's +the truth." But she really was a good-natured, kind creature, ready +to oblige in everything; and I believe that she thought that she +was amusing you when she talked on in this way. Unfortunately she +had no anecdote, for she had a very bad memory, and therefore there +was nothing to be gained from her. By way of amusing me, she used +to say, "Now, Tom, sit down here, and I'll tell you all about my +bad leg." And then she would commence with the first symptoms, the +degrees of pain, the various plasters, bandages, and poultices +which had been applied, and what the doctor had said this day and +that day. I bore this very patiently for four or five times; but at +last, after several days of increasing impatience (somewhere about +the fifteenth time, I believe), I could stand it no more, so I +jumped off my chair and ran away just as she commenced the +interesting detail.</p> +<p>"Mrs. Maddox," said I, "I cannot bear to hear of your +sufferings; pray never mention them again."</p> +<p>"What a kind-hearted creature you are!" said she. "Well, I +won't, then. It's not many who have such pity in them. Cotton, +where have you got to—always running away? One would think +you don't like to be knitted. Now, cotton, don't be foolish; where +have you hid yourself? You make others as bad as yourself. Scissors +have got away now—there now, sit on my lap and be quiet."</p> +<p>However, if Mrs. Maddox got back cotton and scissors, she did +not get me back, for I bolted out of the front door, and joined the +men who were lolling against the gunnel of a galley hauled up on +the shingle.</p> +<p>During the period of which I am speaking, I continued every day +to add to my knowledge of my profession, and eventually I was +competent to pass my examination at the Trinity House. When I went +on board a vessel with Bramble, he would often give me charge of +her, never interfering with me (although he watched me carefully) +unless he considered that it was absolutely necessary, which I +believe took place but twice. He used to tell the masters of the +vessels that I was quite as good a pilot as he was, which certainly +was not quite correct; however, it was of great consequence to me, +as it gave me that confidence so necessary in my profession, and in +due time I passed for a river pilot at the Trinity House. Some +alteration occurred at the hospital during this interval. Anderson +had been promoted from boatswain of the ward to inspecting +boatswain, a place of trust, with very comfortable emoluments, his +weekly allowance being increased to five shillings; and on his +promotion my father was made a boatswain's mate of the Warriors' +Ward. This was at first satisfactory to my mother, who was pleased +that my father should wear lace upon his pensioner's coat; but, as +she advanced in the world, she did not like the idea of my father +being in the hospital, nor did she want him to be at her +house—in fact, she could have done better without him; but as +that could not be she made the best of it. It must be acknowledged +that my father's boisterous and rude manner had been softening down +ever since he had been in the hospital, and that he had become a +very well-behaved, quiet, and sober person, and was very +respectable in his appearance; but I shall say more about him when +I talk of my mother again. Old Nanny went on much as usual, but on +the whole she improved. I used to pick up for her anything I could, +and put it in a large bag which I occasionally brought to +Greenwich, and this bag, with its multifarious contents, would give +her more pleasure than if I had brought her any single object more +valuable. Old Anderson used to call upon her occasionally, but he +did not do her much good. She appeared to think of hardly anything +but getting money. She was always glad to see me, and I believe +thought more of me than anybody else in the world, and I seldom +failed to pay her a visit on the first day of my arrival.</p> +<p>Dr. Tadpole and his apprentice Tom went on pretty well together +until the hundredweight of liquorice was expended, and then there +was a fresh rising on the part of the injured and oppressed +representative of the lower orders, which continued till a fresh +supply from London appeased his radical feelings which had been +called forth, and then the liquorice made everything go on smoothly +as before; but two years afterward Tom was out of his time, and +then the doctor retained him as his assistant, with a salary added +to his board, which enabled Tom to be independent of the shop, as +far as liquorice was concerned, and to cut a very smart figure +among the young men about Greenwich; for on Tom's promotion another +boy was appointed to the carrying out of the medicine as well as +the drudgery, and Tom took good care that this lad should clean his +boots as well as the doctor's, and not make quite so free with the +liquorice as he had done himself. I found out also that he had cut +Anny Whistle.</p> +<p>Mrs. St. Felix continued to vend her tobacco, and I never failed +seeing her on my visits to Greenwich. She appeared to look just as +young as she did when I first knew her, and every one said that +there was no apparent alteration. She was as kind and as cheerful +as ever; and I may as well here remark that during this period a +great intimacy had grown up between her and my sister Virginia, +very much to the annoyance of my mother, who still retained her +feelings of ill-will against Mrs. St. Felix—why, I do not +know, except that she was so good-looking a person, and such a +favorite with everybody. But my father, who, when he chose, would +not be contradicted, insisted upon Virginia's being on good terms +with Mrs. St. Felix, and used to take her there himself; and +Virginia, who had never forgotten the widow's kindness to me, was +extremely partial to her, and was much more in her company than my +mother had any idea of, for Virginia would not vex my mother +unnecessarily by telling her she had been with the widow unless she +was directly asked.</p> +<p>It was about four months after my father and I had given our +money to my mother that I returned to Greenwich. A letter from +Virginia had acquainted me with the street and the number of the +house which my mother had taken, and I therefore walked from the +beach right to it; and I must say that when I came to the new abode +I was very much surprised at its neat and even handsome appearance. +The ground-floor was fitted up as a shop with large panes of glass, +and inside upon stands were arranged a variety of bonnets and caps, +set off with looking-glass and silk curtains, in the arrangement of +which no little taste was displayed. Behind the show goods was a +curtain hanging on a brass rod, drawn so as to conceal the +workpeople who were within. There was a private door as well as a +shop door, and I hardly knew which I was to go in at; however, as +the shop door required no knocking, I went into that, and found +myself in the company of eight young damsels, very busy at their +needles, sitting on each side of a long table covered with +half-made dresses. I inquired of them whether my mother was at +home, and was answered by one, who was apparently the eldest, that +she was down below getting the breakfast ready.</p> +<p>"I suppose," continued she, "you are Mr. Tom Saunders, the +pilot?"</p> +<p>"I suppose I am," replied I; "and pray who are you?"</p> +<p>"I am Miss Amelia Gozlin, apprentice to Mrs. Saunders, +milliner—at your service, sir; and, in consequence of my +being so very quiet and sedate, I have charge of all these young +ladies you see with me."</p> +<p>Here the others burst into a laugh.</p> +<p>"They are in very good hands, Miss Amelia," replied I, "and +under your care, and with your example, I have no doubt but they +will turn out very useful members of society."</p> +<p>"Thank you, sir; but allow me to say that I cannot permit young +men, especially such enchanting young men as Mr. Tom Saunders, to +remain here; as, if I do, your amiable mother would give me what is +genteelly termed a wigging; so if you will be pleased, sir, just to +remove yourself from our presence," continued she, with a mock +courtesy, "and not make your appearance here again until you are +certain your mother is gone out, you will oblige us very much."</p> +<p>I obeyed the wishes of Miss Amelia Gozlin, who certainly was a +very handsome girl, with fine black eyes, apparently about fifteen +years old. I walked into the passage, and found my way down into +the kitchen, where my mother and Virginia were employed as they had +told me above. My mother received me kindly, but said little, for +she appeared to be fully occupied; and Virginia had no time to +dedicate to me until the breakfast was ready, when she called the +apprentices, and we all sat down together, Miss Amelia and her +companions looking so demure, that, if I had not seen them before, +I should have thought that they could not speak.</p> +<p>After breakfast was over Virginia showed me the house. The first +floor was to let furnished, the second was occupied by my mother +and Virginia, and the attics were appropriated to the apprentices. +Everything appeared clean, neat, and well arranged, and I could not +imagine how my mother had contrived to do so much with so little +money; but Virginia told me that she thought Mr. Wilson had +assisted her.</p> +<p>When I returned, which might have been in six months, I found a +great improvement, and every appearance of my mother succeeding +well in her speculations. She had now a maid-servant, and her +apprentices were increased to twelve, and there was every +appearance of brisk and full employment.</p> +<p>In 1803 I found that Virginia, who was then fourteen years old, +had left school. She had told my mother that, during the last +half-year, she had only repeated over again what she had learned +the half-year before, and that she thought she could employ her +time better at home in assisting her. My mother was of the same +opinion, and Virginia now superintended the cutting-out department, +and was very useful. She said that the increase of business had +been very great, and that my mother could hardly execute the orders +which she received. There were now two servants in the house, and +additional workwomen. My mother also had very much altered in +appearance: before, she was usually clean and neat, now she was +well if not elegantly dressed, and appeared much younger and better +looking. I must do her the justice to say that prosperity had not +spoiled but improved her: she was more kind and more cheerful every +time that I went to see her; and I may add that, with the exception +of a little necessary castigation to Miss Amelia and her +companions, she never scolded, and was kind to her servants. The +last year she had been even more successful, and was now considered +the first milliner in the town. I believed that she deserved her +reputation, for she had a great deal of taste in dress; and when +she had gone upstairs to decorate previous to the hour of arrival +of her customers, and came down in a handsome silk dress and an +elegant morning cap, I would often look at her with surprise, and +say to myself, "Who would think that this was my mother, who used +to shove the broom at me in the little parlor at Fisher's +Alley?"</p> +<p>The reader may inquire how my father and mother got on after +such an alteration in her circumstances. I can only reply that they +got on better than they did before; for my mother, who did not wish +my father's company in the house, pointed out to him that, with so +many young people living with her, it would be very inconvenient if +he came there in the evenings to smoke his pipe, and that it would +be better if he could smoke and drink his beer anywhere else. My +father perceived the propriety of this, and assented with a good +grace: my mother was very liberal to him, and he was now enabled, +when he chose, to ask a companion or two to join him, so that it +suited both parties. My father, therefore, never came to the house, +except after the hospital supper, when he remained a few minutes to +see Virginia, and then departed. On Sundays he spent the whole day +there, and was kindly welcomed, but he always left in the evening +to smoke his pipe elsewhere. As for me, when I did come I was +always kindly received, and slept in a spare bed on the same floor +with my mother and Virginia. Before my time was out I was too well +supplied by Bramble ever to want anything, and afterward I made +plenty of money, and seldom came home without bringing a present +both to my mother and Virginia.</p> +<p>Having thus given a general outline of affairs, I shall in the +next chapter enter more minutely into some particulars, without +which the detail of events will not be complete.</p> +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTY_THREE" id= +"CHAPTER_THIRTY_THREE"></a>CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which the <i>sine quá non</i> of all Novels is, for +the first time, introduced.</p> +</div> +<p>In the last chapter I have said in few words that Bessy Godwin +had been sent to school, and had since returned home. She had been +home nearly a year before the period to which I brought up my +history, but now she no longer was employed in any menial service, +the girl who had been hired during her absence being still +retained. Bessy now superintended the household, but did nothing +more; and there was a greater degree of comfort and expenditure +than had formerly been the case. Whether this was on Bessy's +account, or from Bessy's imbibed ideas, I cannot pretend to say; +but certainly there was a great change in our style of living, +which Bramble appeared to sanction. Mrs. Maddox remained as a mere +pensioner, sitting by the fire, and perhaps finishing a pair of +stockings about every five or six weeks, talking as usual at and to +everybody and with everything. In another point, also, there was a +change in Bramble's house: it was much oftener filled with company; +this was, I presume, to be ascribed to Bessy's personal charms, +which certainly were very great. She was of a peculiar and much +admired style of beauty, a description which strikes some people at +first sight, and not others—those not perceiving it at first +eventually admiring it even more than the others. She was taller +than the middle height, her person finely developed, yet not so +much so as to take away from its grace: her complexion was pale and +clear, her eyes and hair very dark; there was a coldness about her +beauty when in repose, like statuary marble; but if the least +excited or animated, the color would mantle in her cheek; her eyes +would beam, till they appeared as if, like bright planets, they +could almost cast a shadow; and dimples, before concealed, would +show themselves when she indulged in her silvery laugh. Although +her form was commanding, still she was very feminine: there was +great attraction in her face, even when in repose—she was +cold, but not chilling.</p> +<p>I had seen little of her for three years, during which she had +sprung up to womanhood, for she was now seventeen, and appeared to +be at least eighteen years old. Before, when we were living +together, we kissed as brother and sister: since we had again +become inmates of the same house, we had been friends, but nothing +more. Bessy certainly showed as great a preference to me as our +relative situations would admit; but still it appeared as if the +extreme intimacy of childhood had been broken off, and that it was +necessary that a renewed intimacy under another aspect should take +place, to restore us to our former relations. Here it was for me to +make the first overtures; not for her, as maidenly reserve would +not permit it. Bramble seemed to be most anxious that such should +be the case—indeed, considered it as a matter of course: +perhaps Bessy thought so too in her own bosom; and the continual +raillery of Bramble did more harm than good, as it appeared to +warrant her thinking that it ought to be so. Why it was not I will +now explain to the reader.</p> +<p>I have already made mention of Mr. Wilson, the lawyer, whose +acquaintance we procured through Sir Hercules and his lady. This +intimacy had very much increased; and a Miss Janet Wilson had come +home from a finishing seminary near town. Between this young lady +and my sister Virginia a certain degree of intimacy had been +formed, and of course I had seen a great deal of her at the times +when I was at Greenwich. She was a very pretty and very diminutive +girl, but beautifully proportioned, although so very small; indeed, +she was considered quite a model in figure, at least my mother used +to say so, and I never heard any one disagree with her. Janet had, +moreover, large eyes, penciled eyebrows, and a dimpled chin. Now, +as Bessy was away at the time when I first made her acquaintance, +if all these perfections were not enough for me to fall in love +with, I must have been difficult to please at the age of eighteen, +when one is not so very difficult; and the consequence was, I was +her most devoted slave. Mr. Wilson laughed at us, and seemed either +to think that it would end in nothing, or that if it did end in +something he had no objection. Thus was I fixed; and with Virginia +for a confidante, what was to prevent the course of true love +running smooth? Janet received all my sighs, all my protestations, +all my oaths, and all my presents—and many were the latter, +although perhaps not equal to the former three. It was, therefore, +not surprising that Bessy, who had been out of the way, had been +forestalled by this diamond edition of Nature's handiwork. Such was +the state of my heart at the commencement of the year 1805.</p> +<p>I have mentioned that my mother had taken a house in the +principal street; but I must now add that in the year 1804 she +found it necessary to remove into one much larger, and had +therefore shifted more to the upper part of the town. Instead of +being in a row, this house was detached, with a small garden in +front and a good piece of ground at the back, which looked down +toward the river. The situation not being so central did no harm to +my mother, as she was so well known; on the contrary, it made her +even more fashionable. She now kept no shop, but a show room; and +had not only accommodation for more workpeople, but very handsome +apartments to let. In another point it was advantageous, which was +on account of my father. At the end of the garden there was an +octangular summer-house, looking upon the river: it was a +good-sized room, boarded floor, and, moreover, it had a fireplace +in it, and when shut up was very warm and comfortable. My mother +made this house over to my father as his own, to smoke and drink +beer in; and my father preferred a place in which he could sit +alone with his friends, to a public house, especially as the garden +had a gate at the end of it by which he could admit himself +whenever he pleased. Here my father, Ben the Whaler, Anderson, and +others would sit, having a commanding view of the Thames and the +vessels passing and repassing—in the summer-time, with all +the windows open, and enjoying the fresh air and the fresh smoke +from their pipes—in winter-time surrounding the fire and +telling their yarns. It was an admirable arrangement, and Virginia +and I always knew where to find him.</p> +<p>I have said but little of my sister Virginia. I may be +considered partial to her—perhaps I was; but to me she was, +if not the handsomest, certainly one of the most captivating +persons I ever saw: to prove that I thought so, I can only say +that, deeply as I was smitten with Miss Janet Wilson, I often +thought that I wished she was a facsimile of my sister. Virginia +was now seventeen years old, slender and very graceful: she +reminded me more of an antelope in her figure than anything I can +compare her to; her head was so beautifully placed on her shoulders +that it was the first thing which attracted your notice when you +saw her. Her eyes were of a deep hazel, fringed by long black +eyelashes, and her arching and delicate eyebrows nearly met; her +nose was perfectly straight, but rather small; and her face ended +in a sharp oval, which added to the brilliancy and animation of her +countenance; her mouth was small and beautifully formed, and her +little teeth like seed pearl. Every one declared that she was the +handsomest creature that ever they had seen; and what every one +says must be true. She was so; but she was not always +lively—she was only so at times: she appeared to be of a +serious, reflective turn of mind, and she read a great deal; but at +times she was mirth personified. To my mother she was always +dutiful and attentive, and was very useful to her.</p> +<p>I could not at first imagine what made my mother so anxious to +have lodgers in the house, as they must have proved a great +nuisance to her, and her circumstances were above such an +infliction. It was not long before I discovered the cause of this: +it was no other but to make up some good match for my sister, whose +beauty she considered would effect her purpose. Many were the +applications for her lodgings, made by highly respectable +gentlemen; but when she discovered, either that they were married, +or that in other points they did not suit, she invariably refused, +and for months her apartments continued vacant; but if anybody at +all aristocratical, who was single, wished to inspect them, my +mother was all smiles and eagerness. It may be supposed that she +was not likely to meet with such people as she solicited at such a +town as Greenwich, but such was not the case: before steamboats +made Greenwich so come-at-able there were many families of +distinction who resided there and in its environs—especially +in the autumn of the year, when the river offered much amusement. +It was just at that period that the whitebait parties became so +much in vogue, and Greenwich was considered a pleasant retreat for +a few months by many of the fashionable world.</p> +<p>Although Virginia never mentioned her surmises directly, I +perceived, by her occasional remarks, that she had latterly become +aware of what were my mother's views; indeed, how could she do +otherwise, when my mother would refuse her lodgings one day to a +gentleman because he was married, and let them the next time merely +because he was a single man? And that she was disgusted with my +mother's conduct I was convinced; at the same time, she certainly +kept her thoughts to herself, merely telling me how very +uncomfortable it was to have lodgers, and to be obliged to go into +their rooms with messages from my mother. There was an Honorable +Mr. ——, I really forget his name—indeed, I should +not have mentioned him, except that he was the introduction of +another personage who was several months in my mother's house, a +harmless old bachelor. How old he was I cannot say, as he wore a +very youthful wig and also false whiskers, but I should think about +sixty. He was a great admirer of the fine arts, and a still greater +admirer of his own performances in painting. He took lessons twice +a day from two different masters, who came from London, and he was +at it from morning to night. He came down to Greenwich, as he said, +to study <i>tints</i>, and get up his coloring. I cannot say I +thought his performances very good, but perhaps I was not a judge. +My mother, who would, I believe, have sacrificed my sister to an +ourang outang, provided he was an Honorable, took every opportunity +of sending Virginia in to him, that he might study the delicate +tints on her cheeks; but it would not do, even if Virginia had been +a party to it. He looked at his palette instead of her pretty +mouth, and his camelhair pencils attracted his attention more than +her penciled eyebrows. He was wrapped up in his art, and overlooked +the prettiest piece of nature in the world; and Virginia, seeing +this to be the case, had no longer any objection to go into his +room. But this gentleman had a nephew, a very different sort of a +personage, a young heir to a marquisate, who used to pay attention +to his bachelor uncle by paying him visits, at first because he was +ordered so to do, and after once or twice because he had seen +Virginia, and was struck with her appearance. He was a good-looking +young man, about nineteen, but not very bright—indeed, I +ought to say very silly, although at the same time not at all +bashful. He made an acquaintance with my mother, who was delighted +with his condescension, and declared that he was one of the most +pleasant young men she had ever met with; and he would have been +very intimate with Virginia had she not repulsed him. As soon as +the leaves dropped off the trees the old bachelor declared that +there were no more tints worth remaining for, and he took his +departure. About a month afterward his nephew came down, +accompanied by a young man who was his tutor, and hired the +apartments, much to the joy of my mother, who now had hopes, and +much to the annoyance of my sister, who had fears of being +persecuted.</p> +<p>And now, having in this chapter brought up my history to the +commencement of the year 1805, I shall again enter into a more +detailed narrative.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTY_FOUR" id= +"CHAPTER_THIRTY_FOUR"></a>CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>More Cry than Wool—Bramble would dig a Pit for another, +and tumbles in along with him.</p> +</div> +<p>It was in the month of March, 1805, when the easterly winds +prevailed, and vessels were detained in the Chops of the Channel, +that I agreed with Bramble that we would return together and halve +the pilotage. About eight leagues from the Lizard Point we boarded +a small ship which had hoisted the signal, the weather at that time +being fine and the wind variable. When we went on board it was but +just daylight, and the captain was not yet on deck, but the mate +received us. We were surprised to find that she mounted twelve +brass guns, remarkably well fitted, and that everything was +apparently ready for action, rammers and sponges, shot and wadding +being all up and at hand.</p> +<p>"A prime morning, shipmate," said Bramble; then casting his eye +over the deck, "A letter of marque, I presume?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied the mate, "we have the papers, but still she has +never run without convoy since I have been in her; we lost our +convoy three days back, and the captain has been rather uneasy ever +since."</p> +<p>"Uneasy! why, I should think that you could beat off a good +stout privateer with these guns of yours?"</p> +<p>"Well, I don't know but what we might, but our cargo is +valuable, and we might be overpowered."</p> +<p>"Very true, and the captain must be anxious. Where are you +from?"</p> +<p>"Smyrna."</p> +<p>"What's your cargo?"</p> +<p>"Why, we have raw silk and drysalters' goods chiefly. D'ye think +we shall have a fair wind? I don't care how soon, for we've at +least twenty passengers on board, and our provisions and water are +running rather short. Here's the skipper."</p> +<p>The captain, who now made his appearance, was a tall +good-looking young man about thirty, dressed rather fantastically, +as I thought, having a laced cap on his head and a party-colored +silk sash round his waist, such as they wear in the +Mediterranean.</p> +<p>"Well, pilot, what do you think of the wind?"</p> +<p>"Well, sir, I expect we'll have a slant which will enable us to +fetch well to windward of the Lizard, at all events, and then, when +the tide turns inshore, we must stand out again."</p> +<p>"Mr. Stubbs, turn the hands up to make sail."</p> +<p>"Ay, ay, sir," replied the mate.</p> +<p>The men came on deck, but the captain roared out for the idlers; +these were the passengers who had agreed to work during the +passage: at last they came up, a queer-looking set, and the captain +sending down for his speaking-trumpet, sail was made on the +ship.</p> +<p>"Why, captain," said Bramble, "you do it in man-of-war +fashion."</p> +<p>"Well, I've not served the King for seven years for nothing," +replied he, "and I hope, sir, not heard the bullets whistling about +my head like hail in a hailstorm without knowing how to take care +of my ship. I like everything man-of-war fashion, and then one's +always prepared. Where's the boatswain? Pipe to breakfast."</p> +<p>"You've plenty of hands on board, mate," said Bramble.</p> +<p>"Yes, plenty of them, such as they are; we've twenty of the +ship's company, and twenty-five passengers from Malta."</p> +<p>After breakfast the captain ordered up the small-arm men; five +seamen and fifteen of the passengers made their appearance with +their muskets, which were examined, and they were dismissed. At +eleven o'clock, as we neared the land, the men were ordered to +quarters, the guns cast loose, and they were exercised as on board +of a man-of-war, the captain giving his orders with his +speaking-trumpet. "Double-shot your guns! Run out! Point your guns! +Fire! Repel boarders on the bow! Repel boarders on the quarter!" +etc. This continued for more than two hours, when the guns were +again secured.</p> +<p>"Well, pilot," said the captain to Bramble, "what do you think? +do you fancy a privateer could take us in a hurry?"</p> +<p>"Why, captain, if the men fight, I should say not; but, you see, +these guns, handsome as they are, won't fight of themselves."</p> +<p>"I'll answer for the men fighting; they'll have but their +choice—fight, or the contents of my pistol through the first +man's head who quits his gun. I'll nail the colors to the mast, and +see who will be the man who will haul them down. Why, pilot, this +vessel is insured at thirty thousand pounds."</p> +<p>"Then she'll be a famous prize, if they should contrive to take +her, that's all," said Bramble. "Halloo! what vessel's that coming +down? Tom, hand your glass here."</p> +<p>"I haven't got it with me."</p> +<p>"Well, give me that one on the skylight. I can't make her out, +but I don't much like the looks of her."</p> +<p>"Heh! what's that?" said the captain. "Let me look—oh, +she's a square-rigged vessel, ain't she?"</p> +<p>"Can't tell," said Bramble.</p> +<p>The mate, who had fetched his glass from below, looked at her, +and said it was a coasting schooner.</p> +<p>"Are you sure of that?" said the captain. "Let me see. Well, I +don't know what to say—she does look rakish. I'll go forward +and make her out."</p> +<p>"Why, it's a coaster, Bramble," said I, as the captain walked +forward.</p> +<p>"I know that," replied Bramble, with a wink.</p> +<p>The captain returned, probably satisfied that it was only a +coaster, but he did not choose to say so, "Well, I don't know what +to make of her, but at all events there's nothing like being ready. +She's coming down fast upon us; Mr. Stubbs, we'll beat to +quarters."</p> +<p>Again the people were called up and the guns cast loose; the +powder was handed up, and all was preparation. I did not think, +however, that the passengers appeared at all zealous; but that I +was not surprised at: the captain harangued them, calling them +Britons, etc., and, hoping that they would show what stuff they +were made of; talked about the honor of Old England, and a great +deal more, and then examined the vessel again with his glass. +"We'll give her the starboard broadside, and then wear round his +stern and give her the other. Hoist the colors!"</p> +<p>As soon as we hoisted the colors, the schooner hoisted English +colors also.</p> +<p>"English colors, sir!" said the mate, grinning.</p> +<p>"English colors, heh? Very well; but that may be a +feint—keep to your guns, my lads."</p> +<p>The vessel now ran by us; she was deeply laden, and as broad as +she was long.</p> +<p>"No privateer this time, captain," said Bramble, laughing.</p> +<p>"No, all's right; secure the guns, my lads. We'd have given her +a nice peppering if she'd been a French privateer."</p> +<p>The captain then went down below to put away his sword and +pistols, which the cabin-boy had brought on deck.</p> +<p>"It's my opinion, Tom," said Bramble, "that this skipper ain't +quite so fond of fighting as he pretends to be. I'll see if I can't +frighten him a little."</p> +<p>As soon as the captain came on deck again, Bramble said, "We'll +go about, if you please."</p> +<p>"What! about already? why, we're good three leagues from the +shore."</p> +<p>"Yes, sir, but the tide has made, and we must now make a long +stretch-out toward the French coast. We won't tack again till about +dark."</p> +<p>"Not tack till dark, pilot? Surely we will do better keeping on +the English coast."</p> +<p>"No, no, sir; if we were not so well manned and so well armed I +should do it; but, as we are a match for any privateer, why, we may +as well make a long leg—we shall be up Channel sooner."</p> +<p>"Well, I don't know what to say. I've a heavy responsibility +with such a valuable cargo."</p> +<p>"Well, tack if you please, sir," said Bramble, shortly.</p> +<p>"Oh, certainly. Hands, about ship."</p> +<p>The vessel's head was put off-shore, and with a smart breeze we +walked away fast from the land. At twelve o'clock the captain +proposed standing inshore again, but Bramble refused. At three +o'clock he became very uneasy, and expostulated with Bramble, who +replied, "Well, sir, I'm doing all for the best, but if you are +afraid—"</p> +<p>"Afraid?" cried the captain; "afraid of what, I should like to +know? No, I'm not afraid, but it appears to me that we ought to +make the land again before night."</p> +<p>"I'll answer for knowing where we are, sir, if that is your +reason; at all events, I wish to stand out till six o'clock."</p> +<p>"Well, do so, then, if you choose—I'm sure I don't care if +you stand to within gunshot of the French coast;" and the captain, +evidently very much annoyed, went down into the cabin.</p> +<p>About half-past four o'clock the mate came aft and took up the +glass, saying that there was an awkward-looking craft on the +weather bow. He came aft again, and said, "Pilot, I wish you would +take a squint at that craft, for I don't much like the look of +her."</p> +<p>Bramble went forward, and I followed him. "I say, Tom, that's a +French privateer, as sure as we stand here," said he. "Look at her. +Well, now we shall see what these guns are made of."</p> +<p>"Don't put too much trust in them," said the mate. "I know what +sort of people we have here. Had we only ten good men I wouldn't +care for a privateer, but I'm afraid that we have not many we can +trust to. However, we'll do our best, and we can do no more. I'll +go down and tell the captain."</p> +<p>"It is a Frenchman," replied I, "and no mistake—every rope +and every sail on her are French;" for the vessel, which was a +lugger, was not more than four miles from us.</p> +<p>"Well," replied Bramble, "it would be odd if we were to be taken +into a French port after all, wouldn't it? not very pleasant, +though."</p> +<p>"We've men enough to beat her off, or two of her, if that's +all," replied I.</p> +<p>"Yes, Tom, but I doubt the captain, and without example men +don't fight well. However, we'll do our best, and if he flinches we +won't."</p> +<p>The captain now came forward as red as a turkey-cock; he said +nothing, looked at the vessel, and then turned as white as a +sheet.</p> +<p>"She's more than our match, if she's an enemy," said he.</p> +<p>"I should rather think not, sir," replied Bramble. "All you have +to do is to make your men fight, and nail your colors to the +mast."</p> +<p>"That's very true when there's a fair chance of success, but +it's useless sacrificing the men against so very superior a force," +replied the captain.</p> +<p>"But it ain't superior, nor in guns is she your equal, if I know +anything about a vessel. At all events, I suppose you'll have a +trial for it. Won't you beat to quarters, captain?"</p> +<p>"Oh, to be sure. Mr. Stubbs, beat to quarters. I think it would +not be a bad thing to fire off our broadsides now, and let them see +that we are well armed."</p> +<p>The men were summoned up to quarters, and very unwillingly did +they obey. Some said that they did not come on board to fight, +others that they had agreed to work the passage home, but not to +stand to be shot at; and some were actually going down below again, +when Bramble and the mate spoke to them and persuaded them to +remain on deck. Still there was no willingness shown; and although +Bramble told them how many privateers had been beaten off, and +mentioned particularly the Leith smack having the other day fought +with one an hour and a half, and knocked her all to pieces, they +still appeared uneasy and wavering.</p> +<p>In the meantime the privateer was within a mile of us, and had +hoisted French colors.</p> +<p>"We'll keep away and give her the first broadside," cried the +captain.</p> +<p>"You'd better hoist your colors first," observed Bramble, +quietly.</p> +<p>"Hoist the colors, Mr. Stubbs! Port the helm! Look out, my men! +Point the guns to the object! Fire!"</p> +<p>Off went all the guns, not only on the starboard side, in the +direction of the privateer, but all those on the larboard side as +well; and this circumstance probably gave the people on board of +the privateer some idea of the state of confusion we were in. She +now rounded to, and gave us her broadside of three guns: they were +well directed, and did us some damage in the upper works and +rigging; but still more in frightening the people, who were now +running down below, notwithstanding the exertions of the mate, +Bramble, one or two of the seamen, and myself; but our fate was +soon decided by the captain, who cried out, "It's useless +contending against such a superior force." With this observation he +ran aft and hauled down the colors. As soon as the men perceived +this they all left the guns; at another broadside from the +privateer they all scampered down below, and at the same time the +captain went down into his cabin. There was none but the mate, the +boatswain, Bramble, and myself left on deck.</p> +<p>"Pleasant," said Bramble. "I thought as much. Well, Tom, here we +are, in for it. Come with me to the helm, for these French fellows +will board, and they make very free with their cutlasses, even +after colors are hauled down. Well," said he, as he walked aft, "I +did not think to see the English flag so disgraced. Poor Bessy, +too! Well, never mind. I say, mate, just let go the weather +main-braces and bow-lines, and square the yards, for it's better to +be as humble as possible, now that we can't help ourselves; and do +you and the boatswain go down below, for they cut right and left, +these fellows. They do pay a little more civility to pilots, as +they aren't belonging to the ship."</p> +<p>This advice of Bramble's, which was very good, was followed by +the mate and boatswain.</p> +<p>"Shall I run down and look after our kits?" said I to +Bramble.</p> +<p>"No, Tom, don't have anything in your hand, or they will take it +from you, and most likely give you a rap on the head with a cutlass +at the same time; for privateer-men of all nations are little +better than pirates, and don't how to behave in victory. Just keep +where you are—look as if you had nothing to do with the ship +except the steering of her. Here they come!"</p> +<p>As he spoke the lugger touched our weather side, at the same +time lowering down her foresail and mainsail with no little noise +and confusion; in a second or two there were thirty of their men on +our decks, flourishing their cutlasses, and looking round with +their pistols ready cocked in their left hands for somebody to let +fly at. At last they came aft. "Pilot!" cried Bramble, taking off +his hat. I did the same. With reiterated <i>sacres</i> and +<i>diables</i> of every description some now rushed down into the +cabin, while others went down the fore-hatchway, while more of the +men from the lugger poured upon our decks; but none of them +molested Bramble or me, as we continued standing at the wheel. In +about ten minutes order was to a certain degree restored by the +captain of the privateer, who had come on board. I perceived him +express his surprise to his officers who were with him at the +armament of the ship, and he appeared very much pleased: it was not +necessary to understand French for that. He then came up to +Bramble, and spoke to him in French; but Bramble only pointed to me +and then to himself, and said "Pilot." The captain called for a +young Frenchman who could speak English, and then asked Bramble +what was the cargo.</p> +<p>Bramble, to please him, replied that it was silk and other goods +to the value of thirty thousand pounds English.</p> +<p>"How many men?"</p> +<p>"Forty-five men."</p> +<p>The French captain rubbed his hands with ecstasy, as well he +might. Just at this moment the English captain came upon deck, +followed by two of the privateer's men, one of whom had taken +possession of his laced cap, and the other of his silk sash. He +brought his sword in his hand, and presented it to the captain of +the privateer, saying, "It is no disgrace for one brave man to +deliver up his sword to another."</p> +<p>"Que dit il?" said the captain of the privateer to the young man +who interpreted. The young man translated this fine speech, upon +which the French captain called the English one by a very +contemptuous title, and turned away. The privateer's men now made +their appearance from below, having helped themselves to everything +they could find; the orders were then given for the prisoners to be +brought upon deck; they were driven up, many of them bleeding from +wounds received in attempts to rescue their personal property, and +were handed over to the lugger. A prize-master with twenty men was +put on board; the lugger was hauled off, the only Englishmen +allowed to remain in the captured vessel being Bramble and myself. +As soon as the vessels were clear they made sail, running about two +points free for the French coast.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus330.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTY_FIVE" id= +"CHAPTER_THIRTY_FIVE"></a>CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>We have great Hopes of not seeing the Inside of a French Prison, +but we are disappointed.</p> +</div> +<p>"Well, Tom, this is a bad job," said Bramble to me, taking his +seat upon the hencoop aft. "By to-morrow noon, unless we fall in +with a cruiser—and I see little chance of that—we shall +be locked up in a French prison; ay, and Heaven knows how long we +may stay there! What's to become of poor little Bessy? I'm sure I +don't know. I must contrive to write over to lawyer Wilson, and put +him in charge of everything. But I'm sorry for you, my poor lad; +it's hard for you to be locked up, perhaps for years, when you +might have been making money for yourself."</p> +<p>"Well, it can't be helped, father; we must make the best of it," +replied I, with a deep sigh, for I was anything but happy at the +prospect.</p> +<p>"If it had not been for that swaggering coward this might not +have happened," replied Bramble. "It's somewhat my own fault. I was +so anxious to frighten him about nothing that at last I run us into +real danger, and I might have known that he never would have +fought, although I certainly had no idea of falling in with a +privateer. Well, Tom, we must not lose a chance."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus332.jpg" id="illus332.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus332.jpg"><img src="images/thumb332.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>BRAMBLE AND JACK CARRIED INTO A FRENCH PORT.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol X. p. 331.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"How do you mean?"</p> +<p>"I mean that if there is any possibility of getting away, I +shall; and you, of course, will not stay behind. I don't know where +they are going to, but you see, Tom, our only chance of getting off +is while we are on the coast; if once we are marched into the +interior, why, then it will be almost hopeless. What we must try +for is to get away at the port where we land. We shall see."</p> +<p>"I am afraid that there's very little chance for us," replied I; +"but I'm ready to attempt anything."</p> +<p>"We shall see, Tom—where there's a will there's a way. +However, it's no use talking about it just now." Here Bramble +filled his pipe, took out his flint and steel, and lighted it.</p> +<p>After smoking for ten minutes, during which I stood by him, he +said, "I wonder where they will take us to—St. Malo's or +Morlaix; for the course they are steering will fetch, I should +think, thereabout. One thing is certain—they've got a good +prize, and they mean to keep it if they can; and, my eyes! if they +won't make a fuss about it! A ship with twelve guns taken by a +lugger with only six! They'll make the ship mount eighteen or +twenty guns, and have a hundred and fifty men on board, and they'll +swear they fought us for three hours. They have something to boast +of, that's certain; and I suspect that French captain is a brave +sort of chap, from the sneer he gave when our cowardly English +lubber gave him so fine a speech. Well, it's our disgrace!"</p> +<p>Here Bramble was silent for some time, when I said to him, "You +were stating to the men how a Leith smack beat off a privateer the +other day. I never heard of it."</p> +<p>"Yes, I heard it when I was up above Greenwich. I met an old +friend who was on board of her, for he took his passage in her from +London.</p> +<p>"'Why,' says he to me, 'Bramble, I thought we never should have +got away from the river, for the old captain, who was as big round +as a puncheon, and not unlike one, declared that he would not sail +until the powder came up from Woolwich; for the "Queen Charlotte" +(that was the name of the smack) carried six eighteen-pound +carronades. We waited nearly a week for the powder, and many a +laugh we all had about it, thinking old Nesbitt was not much of a +fighter, from his making so much fuss. Well, at last we boomed her +off from the wharf, and about seven that night got clear of the +Thames; it was a fair breeze all night, and we ran through the Swin +by the lead, which is what every one won't attempt. Next morning we +were off Yarmouth Roads, with the water as yellow as pea soup: +never saw it otherwise, and I'm an old collier; reason why, the +swells of the ocean thrashes up the sands off there—ay, and +shifts them too occasionally, which is of more consequence. Well, +Bramble,' says he, 'well, on we went; hauled in through Harborough +Gut; then the sun had so much power—for it was in the Dog +Days—that it eat up the wind, and we were obliged to content +ourselves with getting four knots out of her. Just as we made the +Dudgeon Lightboat, old Nesbitt's son comes aft to his father, who +was steering the craft, and says, "Father, do you see that 'ere +brig crowding all sail after us? I think it be the New Custom House +brig trying his rate of sailing with us."</p> +<p>"'"Never you mind what she is, boy," says the captain, "but away +up and furl the gaff-topsail."</p> +<p>"'Meanwhile the brig overhauled us fast, and old Nesbitt kept +a-looking round at her every two or three minutes. At last he says +to the mate, "Take the wheel a bit," and he goes first and looks +over the quarter. "I see," says he; "I say, you sergeant and +corporal" (for we had a recruiting party on board), "suppose now +you just help us to load our guns and work them a little, for I +expect this here craft will give us plenty to do."</p> +<p>"'Well, Bramble, as I stand here, if six of them lobsters didn't +say nothing, but just walk down below; but the sergeant was a trump +of a fellow, and so was his wife. He threw off his coat and cap +covered with ribbons, tied a handkerchief round his head, and set +to work with a will; and his wife backed him to the last, handing +the powder and everything else. Well, we had with us ten men who +all stood to guns; but the passengers went down below with the +soldiers. Well, on comes the brig upon our starboard quarter as if +to board; all her fore rigging, and forechains, and forecastle +being full of men as bees in a swarm.</p> +<p>"Are you all ready, my men?" said the captain.</p> +<p>"Yes, all ready, sir."</p> +<p>"Yes, and I be ready too, massa!" cried the black cook, bringing +out from the caboose the red-hot poker.</p> +<p>"Well, then, up on the wind with her, and fire when the guns +bear."</p> +<p>"'The men kept their eyes on the guns; and when they cried +"Fire!" the cook set them all off, one after another, with the hot +poker, and no small mischief did these three guns do. His +forecastle was cleared of men in no time; down came his gaff and +foretopsail, and being now right on our beam, he put his helm up to +lay us on board; but we were too quick for him—we wore round +too, and gave him the three other guns, which did him no good.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus336.jpg" id="illus336.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus336.jpg"><img src="images/thumb336.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>THE LEITH SMACK AND THE PRIVATEER.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 335.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"'Well, he came after us on the other tack, and pelted us with +musketry in a cruel way. The mate was hit in the head, and taken +down below; and poor old Nesbitt, who was at the wheel, steering +the craft beautifully, had a bullet right into his bow-window, as +they call it. "Well," the old fellow says, "here's a shot between +wind and water, I reckon—we must have a plug;" so he puts his +flippers into his waistband, and stuffs his flannel jacket into the +hole. Then we throws her up in the wind again, and rakes him with +our three guns well into him, and carries away more of his gear, +and stops his sailing—and so we goes on for a whole hour and +thirty-five minutes; and, to make a long story short, we beat him +off, and he turned tail and ran for it with both pumps going.'</p> +<p>"Now you see, Tom, that's the account of the affair given to me +by a man who I can trust; and there you see what can be done if men +are resolute and determined to fight. Some little difference +between that affair and this one, Tom."</p> +<p>"Did old Nesbitt die or recover?"</p> +<p>"I asked that question. He was doing well when my friend left. +Somehow or another no vital part was injured, and he has had many +presents made him for his gallant conduct, and the sergeant was +well rewarded also. Well, my pipe's out, and it's not far from +midnight; I should think we may just as well try for a little +sleep, Tom, for perhaps we may not get any for some time to +come."</p> +<p>Bramble coiled himself up under the bulwark, I did the same; and +in a few minutes we both had forgotten whether we were in our beds +at our house at Deal or prisoners bound for the French coast.</p> +<p>At daylight the next morning Bramble roused me up.</p> +<p>"Here we are now, Tom! here's the French coast not four leagues +from us; but it's hazy, and I cannot make it out very clear; +however, the sun will soon drive all this away, and we shall have a +fine day; but the wind has gone down, and I think we shall have +still less of it."</p> +<p>And so it proved; for, as the sun rose, the wind became very +light, so that we did not go through the water more than three +knots. We were looking at the coast, when the report of a gun +saluted our ears. It was from the privateer. We turned to that +quarter, and found that there was a cutter about two miles from the +privateer, crowding all sail toward us.</p> +<p>"Tom!" cried Bramble, "there's a chance for us yet—that's +an English privateer, and she will try to retake us for the sake of +the salvage. But here's a boat coming from the Frenchman—what +can that be for?"</p> +<p>The boat rowed alongside of us, and out jumped the captain of +the French privateer with twenty of his best men, and the boat was +then dropped astern.</p> +<p>The Frenchman immediately cast loose the guns, went down for the +powder, and prepared for action.</p> +<p>"I see, Tom," said Bramble, "he's a clever fellow, this skipper. +He knows that this ship and cargo is worth a dozen of his little +privateer, and his object is to get her in—so he's come with +all his best men on board of us, leaving his first officer to make +the best fight with the privateer that he can. Well, he's right; +and if it wasn't that I don't like to go to prison, I wish he may +succeed, for he has got sense as well as courage, I think."</p> +<p>The ship was now kept away two points more, that she might go +through the water as fast as she could; and in the meantime the +action commenced between the English cutter and the French +privateer, the latter evidently attempting to cripple the masts and +rigging of the former. The cutter, however, steered right for us, +and evidently came up fast; the French privateer, weak-handed as +she must have been, behaved very well, throwing herself across the +cutter's bows, and doing everything she could to prevent her coming +up with us. Both vessels were very much cut up before the cutter +came within three cables' lengths of us, when the French captain +ordered French colors to be hoisted, and, rounding to, poured in a +well-directed broadside, which quite astonished the English +privateer, who imagined that we were an unarmed merchantman. The +action now became very warm; we standing on, and every now and then +rounding to and raking the cutter, while the French privateer +engaged her broadside to broadside. The French captain was abaft, +giving his orders with the greatest coolness and ability, when a +shot from the cutter came in on deck, and a large splinter which it +tore off knocked him down on his back. Bramble and I both ran to +him and helped him up—we could not help it, although he was +an enemy. He was not hurt, and as soon as he was on his legs he +laughed, and thanked us in French. The cutter still continued the +fight until we were within three miles of the coast, when, all her +spars and sails being cut to pieces, she hauled to the wind and +stood out to the offing.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom, there's all our hopes ended," said Bramble; "so now +I'll light my pipe. Well, I say it's been a good fight on both +sides."</p> +<p>Here the captain came up to us and said, "Bien oblige—tank +you."</p> +<p>The cutter did not, however, stand out for more than a few +minutes, when she hove to and repaired damages, evidently intending +to renew the action. I pointed this out to Bramble. "I see, I see," +replied he; "she intends to try and cut us off from Morlaix, which +is to windward, and oblige us to fight or run for St. Malo's, which +is a long way to leeward. In either case she will be able to attack +us again, as she out-sails us. Perhaps the fight is not over +yet."</p> +<p>But the Frenchman also understood what he was about, and he now +steered a course. When we were about two miles from the land, and +about the same distance from the cutter, the latter kept away so as +to oblige the ship to come to action again before she reached +Morlaix; but, before she closed with us, we discovered that we were +entering a small French port, which had not been visible to us, +called (I think) Lanion, situated between Isle Bichat and Morlaix. +When within half a mile of the land, French over English was +hoisted at our peak, and a French pennant over an English pennant +at our main.</p> +<p>"I told you so," said Bramble; "they have made a man-of-war out +of us, and now there'll be no end to the lies that they will tell; +for though these French fellows do not fight quite so well as we +do, at lying they'll beat us hollow, any day of the week. Never +mind, Tom, we must keep a sharp lookout, and there's no +saying—keep your eyes open as we go into the harbor—I +never was here before, but I suspect it's nothing better than a +poor fishing town."</p> +<p>In a quarter of an hour the ship and privateer were both made +fast to an old stone pier which ran out from the town; but there +were no other vessels in the harbor except two small coasting +chasses marées, and about a dozen fishing-boats.</p> +<p>The harbor was formed by the mouth of a small river, which ran +down through a very narrow alluvial flat, backed by precipitous +rocks. On the right side of the river on entering, and on the level +ground above mentioned, which extended back perhaps two hundred +yards, until it was met by the rocky cliffs, was situated the +village which, centuries back, must have been the town of Lanion. +It consisted of perhaps one hundred to one hundred and twenty +houses, few of them of any size, the major portion with walls built +of mud and whitewashed over. The only remains of the former town +were a stone-built market-place, the portion of the Hôtel de +Ville in which the mayor resided, and the old church, which, +although perfect in its walls, was sadly dilapidated in the roof. +It had long been deserted, and a small chapel had been built in +lieu of it, in which the only curé of the place performed the +service. The massive stones of which the now neglected pier had +once been built proved that at one time considerable expense had +been incurred in the formation of this small harbor.</p> +<p>A battery mounting two guns at the end of the pier protected the +mouth of the harbor; and there was a guard of a sergeant and twelve +invalids, who were stationed there to man the guns upon the +approach of an enemy.</p> +<p>It would be difficult to describe the confusion which took place +as soon as the two vessels were fairly alongside the wharf, and +made fast with hawsers to the massive iron rings which had for +centuries been fixed in the ponderous stones of which the pier was +composed. There was the mayor with his cocked hat on, but his +leather apron still tied in front, for he had been working at his +calling; there was the sergeant of the invalids, who, perhaps, was +a greater man than the mayor, all beard and mustachios, but so thin +in his person that he looked as if a stout breeze would have blown +him away; and there were the soldiers leaning on their muskets. +These were the most important personages, but they were backed by +the whole population of the town, amounting to about three hundred +men, women, and children, all talking, jabbering, and screaming. +Add to them the captain of the privateer, so important that he +could not attend to even the mayor or the sergeant; and the +privateer's men, dressed in every fashion, armed to the teeth, all +explaining, or pushing away, or running here and there obeying +orders; then the wounded men—for they had several men killed +and others hurt in the conflict with the cutter—handed up one +by one, bandaged here and there, and exciting the compassion and +even screams of the women; the prisoners, who had been ordered to +come on deck, half dressed and chapfallen; the sails of the vessels +only clewed up, and still fluttering; ensigns and pennants hoisted +upon every mast, and waving over the heads of the crowd assembled +at the pier—and you may have some idea of the confused and +bustling scene.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus342.jpg" id="illus342.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus342.jpg"><img src="images/thumb342.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>THE ARRIVAL OF THE PRIVATEER AT LANION.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 841.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>At last, as there appeared no chance of anything being arranged +while the people crowded round, the captain of the privateer +ordered his men to draw their weapons and drive back the crowd, +which was soon effected, notwithstanding many oaths, and more +screaming on the part of the fairer sex; and when the crowd had +been thus driven the men were stationed so as to keep them back. At +first this gave offense to all parties—to the crowd, because +they didn't like to be driven away—to the mayor, who remained +with the sergeant and invalids in the area which had been cleared +by the privateer's people, because he thought that they had +interfered with his civil authority—and to the sergeant of +invalids, because he thought that the marine force had interfered +with his military authority; but the captain of the privateer +having taken off his hat and bowed, first to the mayor and then to +the sergeant, and saying how much he was obliged to them for their +assistance, both parties were satisfied; and now a consultation was +held between them how to proceed, while the privateer's men, who +kept back the crowd, amused them by giving a detail of the two +desperate actions which had been fought—no two accounts +agreeing, certainly, but that was of no consequence.</p> +<p>The first question to be canvassed was, what was to be done with +the prisoners? Morlaix was the nearest town in which they would be +under safe keeping, but that was twenty miles distant, and it would +be necessary to send over an express, so that a sufficient force +might be dispatched to Lanion to escort the prisoners there. This +Mr. Mayor undertook to do immediately; a boy was summoned to take +over the communication, and the mayor went up to write his letter +to the authorities, while the wounded men were carried away, and by +the direction of the cure, who had just arrived and joined the +consultation, billeted upon different houses in the town. The +express having been dispatched, and the wounded safely housed and +under the care of the village Æsculapius, who never had such +a job in his whole life, the next point of consultation was how to +dispose of the prisoners until the force should arrive from +Morlaix. Here the sergeant became the principal person, being +military commandant; forty-seven prisoners were a heavy charge for +twelve invalids; and as for the privateer's men, there was no +dependence upon them, for, as the captain said, they had had enough +to do to take them, and it was the business of the authorities to +look after them now, while the privateer's men made merry.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus345.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTY_SIX" id= +"CHAPTER_THIRTY_SIX"></a>CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>With those powerful agents, Fire and Water, we contrive to +Escape from a French Prison.</p> +</div> +<p>After more than an hour of confusion and loud talking it was at +last proposed and agreed to, <i>nem. con.</i>, that the prisoners +should be confined in the old church; the twelve invalids to be +divided into two parties, who were to be sentinels over them, +relieving each other every four hours. The mayor immediately went +forward with the village blacksmith to examine the state of the +church doors, and ascertain how they might be secured; while the +prisoners, having been summoned out of the privateer, were escorted +up between two files of the privateer's men with their swords +drawn, and followed by the whole population. As soon as we arrived +at the church door the name of every prisoner was taken down by the +mayor, attended by a notary, and then he was passed into the +church. Bramble and I of course were marched up with the others, +the captain of the privateer talking with us the whole way, through +the young man who interpreted, informing us that an express had +been sent over to Morlaix, to which town we should be escorted the +next day, and then have better accommodation. As we stood at the +huge doors of the church, which were opened for our reception, we +perceived that the altar and all the decorations had been removed, +and that, with the exception of the large wooden screen of carved +oak near the altar, the church was completely bare. Bramble spoke +to the interpreter, and said that he hoped the captain would +request the mayor to allow the prisoners to have straw to lie down +upon, as the pavement would be very cold. Although the mayor at +first demurred at this demand, yet the captain of the privateer, +probably out of goodwill to Bramble, insisted, and the straw was +ordered to be sent in. At last the mayor became impatient, we could +delay no longer, and the doors were closed.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus346.jpg" id="illus346.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus346.jpg"><img src="images/thumb346.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>THE PRISON.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 345.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>I had surveyed the church as we were escorted up to it. It was +very large, capable, I should think, of holding more than two +thousand people. The walls of the church were very massive, and the +windows had but very few panes of glass remaining in them, but they +were so very high as to prevent our climbing out of them, even if +there had not been six sentinels guarding us outside. At one +corner, to the right of the end of the church where the altar-piece +had been, was a narrow stone tower, apparently an addition made to +the Lady's Chapel long after the church had been originally built. +When we were shut up we were enabled to survey the interior at our +leisure. The whole was completely bare to the pavement until you +came to the chancel part, near to which the altar had been, where +the wooden screens and seats still remained, in a sad dilapidated +state; but they must have once been very handsome, for the carving, +where it was perfect, was very beautiful. A small, thick wooden +door, loaded with ironwork, communicated with the narrow tower, +which had a flight of stone steps running up to the top, and narrow +loopholes to give light as you ascended. While the majority of the +prisoners were sitting down here and there on the pavement, few of +them entering into conversation, Bramble had, with me, taken a full +survey of our locality.</p> +<p>"I tell you what, Tom; if we once get to Morlaix, all chance is +over," said he. "We must either get out of this church this very +night, or we must make up our minds to remain in prison Heaven +knows how long."</p> +<p>"Have we any chance?"</p> +<p>"I'll tell you more about that in a little while."</p> +<p>The door of the church now opened, and the people brought in the +straw for the beds, which they threw all in a heap in the center of +the church, and the doors were again closed.</p> +<p>"I see daylight now," said Bramble. "Tom, find the mate and +boatswain, and bring them here to me quickly."</p> +<p>I did so, and Bramble asked them whether they were inclined to +make an attempt to get clear.</p> +<p>They replied that they would join us in anything—they did +not care what it was, and against any odds.</p> +<p>"Well, then," said Bramble, "my idea is this. You see there are +but twelve old soldiers to guard us; for you may be certain that, +before long, all the privateer's men will be as drunk as +owls—that's but natural; not that I think of coming to any +fight with them, but I make the observation because, if we get out, +we shall have little to fear afterward. Now, you see, I asked for +the straw because the idea came in my head that it might be useful. +You see, what I propose is, as there is plenty of wood in this part +of the church, that we should wait till about three hours after +dark—that is, until ten or eleven o'clock—and then set +fire to the church. They must come and let us out, you know; at +least I take it for granted that they will before the roof comes +down. If they don't, we must force the doors ourselves—I've +looked at them—and until we do there is no fear of +suffocating, for there are no panes to the windows. So, after all, +it will only be a bonfire, without danger to anybody."</p> +<p>"Well, but what shall we gain by it?" said the mate. "We shall +be walked out with the other prisoners, and how shall we then +escape?"</p> +<p>"There it is: we will not be walked out with the other +prisoners; and, in the confusion and hurry of taking them away to +one place or another, they will not be likely to miss us. We will +all go up this narrow tower, where we may remain, till the church +falls in, with perfect safety; and then, when all is quiet again, +and the people have left the spot, we will make for the pier, get +one of the fishing boats and be off. How do you like the idea?"</p> +<p>We all agreed that the plan was very feasible, and would attempt +it.</p> +<p>"Well, then, we must remain quiet for the present; all you have +to do is to fetch as much straw this way as you can by degrees: I +expect they will bring us something to eat before long."</p> +<p>We removed a large portion of the straw to the chancel; in half +an hour afterward the doors were opened and rations of bread were +brought in. What still more assisted our plans was, that the +captain of the privateer at the same time, very good-naturedly, +brought a demijohn of brandy, which he gave to Bramble.</p> +<p>Bramble thanked him through the interpreter, and told him that +he would get well drunk that night.</p> +<p>"Yes, drive away care, captain says," replied the +interpreter.</p> +<p>Once more the doors were closed, and we had no chance of further +interruption.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus350.jpg" id="illus350.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus350.jpg"><img src="images/thumb350.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>JACK A PRISONER.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol X., p. 349.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>By Bramble's direction, the mate, assisted by me and the +boatswain, cast loose the remaining bundles of straw and shook them +down as beds for the prisoners at the end of the church nearest to +the door; and as soon as they had eaten their bread, Bramble gave +them all a portion of the brandy, advising them to turn in soon, as +we were to march very early the next morning. We remained with them +at first, having taken our seats on the straw as if we also +intended to repose. At last it became dusk, and then dark; the +prisoners settled themselves to sleep; we left them and joined +Bramble. Having arranged our straw so as to secure ignition, and +leaving the mate and boatswain down below, Bramble and I, now that +there was no chance of our being seen by the sentinels, ascended +the tower. It commanded a view of the town and harbor. We looked +down upon the main street—all was mirth and revelry; fiddling +and dancing and singing were to be heard from more than one house; +women in the street laughing, and now and then running and +screaming when pursued by the men.</p> +<p>"This is all right," observed Bramble; "in an hour or two you'll +see how quiet everything will be; but I shall not let them all go +to bed before I set fire, for there may be some difficulty in +waking them. I don't see that there's any lights down at the pier, +where the vessels lie."</p> +<p>We stayed up there till about eleven o'clock, Bramble watching +the lights and sounds; and when he considered that they had +sufficiently decreased, he said, "Now we'll try it, Tom, and may +success attend us!"</p> +<p>We descended and found the mate and boatswain anxiously waiting +for us. Bramble struck a light with his flint, and we carried it to +the screen where we had piled the straw under the seats and against +the panels.</p> +<p>"Now then, messmates," said Bramble, "as long as the others +sleep the better; but if they waken in the confusion, bring here +all the straw you can collect, for we must not fail for want of +fuel."</p> +<p>But of this there was no chance, for the wood of the screen and +benches was so dry that it was alight immediately. For ten minutes +the other prisoners and the guard outside did not appear to be +aware of what was going on; but at last the church was so filled +with smoke that they were roused up. Still the principal smoke was +in that portion of the church where we were; at the other end they +were not much inconvenienced, as it found vent by the windows. What +the invalids were about outside I do not know, but they did not +perceive it; probably they had left their guard to go and carouse. +At all events the flames had climbed up from the screen and had +caught a portion of the roof before the Frenchmen knew that the +church was on fire; the smoke was now exchanged for a bright clear +flame, which had already found its way through the slating, and the +prisoners were halloaing and screaming as loud as they could. We +went to the part of the church where the others were, and joined +the outcry. The voices of the people outside were now to be heard, +for men and women had been summoned by the cry of the church being +on fire: still there was no danger until the roof fell in, and that +would not be the case for perhaps an hour, although it was now +burning furiously, and the sparks and cinders were borne away to +leeward by the breeze. The screams of the prisoners now became +dreadful: frightened out of their wits, they fully expected to be +burned alive; still the door was not opened, although we heard a +loud consultation of many voices without.</p> +<p>"Well," said Bramble, "I hope they really don't mean to let us +burn here; at all events, if they do, I can save the poor devils, +for there's room enough on the stairs of the tower for twice as +many. At all events we must hold on till the last moment."</p> +<p>As he said this we heard them outside put the key in the door, +and immediately Bramble, the boatswain, mate, and I retreated from +the crowd and gained the other portion of the church, which was +most in flames. As the door opened we hastened to the tower door, +and closing it after us, gained the staircase near the top, where +we remained quiet; there was no want of smoke there, but still we +could breathe pretty freely, as the fire from the roof was borne +down by the wind from us and toward the people, who were at the +front of the church. How they disposed of the other prisoners we do +not know, as we dared not show ourselves; but in about half an hour +the whole of the roof fell down upon the pavement, and nothing but +the bare walls of the church were left standing.</p> +<p>After the roof fell in the light from the flames was so small +that we ventured to the top of the tower to look out. There were +still many people standing about, but the major part of them were +gone. As the fire sank down so did the people go away; at last +there was no one to be seen: we remained more than half an hour +watching; light after light disappeared, and all was quiet as +death.</p> +<p>"Now's our time," said Bramble, "but still we must be cautious; +let us follow one another at about ten yards apart: if we meet with +any one, pretend to be reeling as if drunk, and they may think we +are privateer's-men not yet gone to bed."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus354.jpg" id="illus354.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus354.jpg"><img src="images/thumb354.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>THE ESCAPE.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 353.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>We followed him down the stairs, gained the church, and trod +over the still burning embers; as soon as we were clear of the +walls we turned to the right in our way down to the harbor, keeping +in the gloom as much as possible. We arrived safely at the pier, +for there was not a soul stirring; all our fear was that we should +find some one keeping watch on board of the vessels, which we must +pass after we had possession of one of the fishing-boats, as they +laid inside of them. But fortune favored us every way: the boat we +selected had her sails bent, and was not fastened with a chain; we +were, therefore, in the stream in a moment; the tide was also +running out strong, and we passed the vessels without having +occasion to use our oars. The battery at the entrance of the harbor +was also without its usual sentry, for the men had been called up +to guard the prisoners. In half an hour we were clear of the +harbor, and steering with a fine breeze for the English coast; and +when daylight broke the French land was but just perceptible.</p> +<p>"Well," said Bramble, "praised be Heaven for all things. I +expected to have lost my precious liberty for years, and I have +only lost two shirts, one pair of trousers, and three pair of +worsted stockings."</p> +<p>We had nothing to eat or drink, but that we cared little for, as +the wind was fair. About ten o'clock that night we landed at +Cawsand Bay near Plymouth, where we sat down to a hearty supper; +and when we went to bed, I did not forget to thank Providence for +my unexpected escape.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus355.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTY_SEVEN" id= +"CHAPTER_THIRTY_SEVEN"></a>CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Another Escape, more fortunate than the one recorded in the +preceding Chapter.</p> +</div> +<p>From the time that I had passed my examination, and worked as a +pilot on my own account, until the period of our escape, which I +have narrated in the preceding chapter, I had continued to live in +the cottage with Bramble, without contributing any share to the +expenses. I had at first proposed it, but Bramble would not listen +to any such arrangement; he considered me, he said, as his son, and +who knew, he added, but that the cottage would be mine after he was +gone. The fact was that Bramble ardently wished that Bessy and I +should be united. He continually hinted at it, joked with Bessy +about me; and I believe that, in consequence, Bessy's feelings +toward me had taken the same bent. She was prepared for the issue; +the regard naturally felt for me from her long intimacy, now that +the indulgence of it was so openly sanctioned by him whom she +considered as her father, was not checked on her part; indeed, +there was no doubt but that it had ripened into love. She showed it +in every little way that her maiden modesty did not interfere with, +and old Bramble would at times throw out such strong hints of our +eventual union as to make me feel very uncomfortable. They neither +of them had any idea of my heart having been pre-engaged, and the +strangeness of my manner was ascribed by Bramble to my feelings +toward Bessy. Bessy, however, was not so easily deceived; my +conduct toward her appeared, to say the best of it, very +inconsistent. So often had I had opportunities, especially when I +was at home and Bramble was away, of speaking on the subject, and +so often had these opportunities been neglected, that it filled her +mind with doubt and anxiety. After having accepted my addresses at +first, Janet had once or twice written to me; lately, however, she +had not written herself—all her messages were through +Virginia's letters, or, perhaps, she would add a little postscript. +Had letters arrived for me in any other handwriting than that of +Virginia, Bessy, after her suspicions were roused, might have +easily guessed the truth; but it was the absence of any clew to +guide her as to the state of my feelings which so much puzzled her. +She was fully convinced that my heart was not hers, but she had no +reason to suppose that it was in the possession of another. Thus +did my passion for Janet Wilson in every way prove to me a source +of anxiety. I knew that it was my duty to undeceive Bramble and +Bessy, yet the task was too painful, and I could not make up my +mind to make them unhappy. I felt that I had no right to remain +under Bramble's roof and live at his expense, and, at the same +time, I could not find an opportunity of telling him what my +feelings and wishes were, the very mention of which would at once +explain to him that the desire of his old age would never be +accomplished. I often accused myself of ingratitude, and felt as if +it were my duty to make every sacrifice to one who had been so kind +a protector; but I was bound by vows to Janet Wilson, and how was +it possible that I could retract?</p> +<p>Virginia's letters were not satisfactory: at first she told me +how much she had been annoyed by the attentions of the young +nobleman, and how very indelicate my mother had been in her +conduct; eventually she informed me that she had been insulted by +him, and that, upon complaining to my mother, the latter had, much +to her surprise and indignation, not only laughed at his extreme +forwardness, but pointed out to Virginia a line of conduct by which +he might be entrapped into marriage; that her refusal to accede to +such unworthy devices had created a serious breach between her +mother and herself. She stated the young man to be extremely silly +and weak, and that my mother had gained great influence over him; +and were it not that the presence of the tutor, who seldom quitted +the house, had proved a check, that there was little doubt but, as +far as the young man was concerned, the disproportionate match +would be readily acceded to; that the only person she had ventured +to consult was her dear friend Mrs. St. Felix, who had promised +her, if the persecution did not cease, that she would make Mr. +Sommerville the tutor aware of what was going on. Virginia +described the latter as an amiable modest young man, who did all in +his power to instruct his pupil, but who was treated with anything +but deference in return.</p> +<p>Relative to Janet she said little, except that she generally +called there every day to make inquiries after me: once or twice +she did say that it was a pity that I was not able to come oftener +to Greenwich, as Janet was not very steady; indeed, considering how +young she was, without a mother, and so little controlled by her +father, it was not to be wondered at.</p> +<p>Such was the state of affairs when I made up my mind that I +would speak to Bramble about my paying my share of the expenses, +which I thought would open his eyes to the real state of my feeling +toward Bessy. I did so; I pointed out to him that I was now earning +money fast, and that I considered it but fair that I should support +myself, and not put him to further expense; that perhaps it would +be better that I should take a house for myself, as I must give a +great deal of trouble to Bessy and Mrs. Maddox.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom," said Bramble, "you've been at me about this before, +and I believe it's a proper feeling, after all. It certainly does +seem to me to be a matter of little consequence, as things stand; +however, I can't consent to your leaving us. You have been with me +ever since you were a lad, and I should feel like a fish out of +water if I were to be without you or Bessy; so pay just what you +please—I'll take it since you wish it—and there's an +end of the matter."</p> +<p>This was not the end to which I was driving; but Bramble's eyes +would not be opened, and I could not help it. He had never directly +spoken to me about a union with Bessy, and therefore it was +impossible for me to say any more. Bramble, however, did not fail +to communicate what I had said to her; and one evening when we were +standing on the shingle beach, she said to me, "So Emerson has been +convicted for smuggling, and sentenced beyond the seas."</p> +<p>"I am sorry for it," replied I.</p> +<p>"His house is to be let now, Tom; would it not suit you? for my +father told me that you wished to leave us."</p> +<p>"Why should I live upon you when I am able to support +myself?"</p> +<p>"Certainly not. If it were not that I could not bear to see +father miserable, I think it would be better if you did take +Emerson's house; but it would vex him, poor good man."</p> +<p>"But not you, Bessy; is it that you mean?"</p> +<p>"Perhaps it is. Tell me yourself, Tom, would it not be +better?"</p> +<p>I made no reply.</p> +<p>"Well," replied Bessy, "think of me as you please; I will speak +now, Tom. I am not considering you, Tom, nor am I thinking of +myself; I am only induced so to do on account of my father. We have +been brought up together as children, Tom, and, as children, we +were great friends, and, I believe, sincerely attached to each +other. I believe it to be very true that those who are brought up +together as brothers and sisters do not change that affection for +any other more serious in after life. It is therefore not our +faults if we cannot feel as, you must know, Tom, my father wishes +we should. Am I not right?"</p> +<p>"You are, I believe, Bessy," replied I.</p> +<p>"My father, therefore, is deceiving himself with the hopes of +what never can take place, but I know him even better than you do, +Tom; it is the object of his daily thoughts—his only wish +before he sinks into his grave. I cannot bear to undeceive him; no +more can you, if I have truly judged your feelings."</p> +<p>"You have judged right, Bessy."</p> +<p>"The very circumstance of our knowing his wishes, the hints +which he throws out, his joking on the subject, have been a source +of annoyance to both of us; and not only a source of annoyance, +Tom, it has estranged us—we no longer feel that affection +which we should feel for each other, that kindness as between +brother and sister which might exist; on the contrary, not being +exactly aware of each other's feelings, we avoid each other, and +fearful that the least kindness might be misconstrued, we do not +really treat each as we otherwise would; in fact, it has destroyed +our mutual confidence. Is it not so?"</p> +<p>"It is, I acknowledge, but too true, Bessy, and I thank you for +having entered into this explanation—"</p> +<p>"Which, as I said before," continued Bessy, "I should not have +done except for the sake of my father; but now that I have done so" +(and here Bessy's voice became tremulous), "let us consult at once +how we shall act so as to secure his happiness, and that in future +we may return to the former confidence and regard which should +exist between us as brother and sister."</p> +<p>"Point out how this is to be done, Bessy, and I will cheerfully +enter into your wishes."</p> +<p>"We must laugh when he laughs, Tom, even if not inclined; we +must gain time—that is very easy. I may refuse as long as he +lives—you may put it off; and then, Tom, circumstances may +help us—who knows what even a day may bring forth?"</p> +<p>"Very true," replied I, "there's only one thing—"</p> +<p>"What is that?"</p> +<p>"Suppose I was to marry?"</p> +<p>"Then," replied Bessy, in a voice half choked, as she turned +away, "my father would be very unhappy."</p> +<p>I looked round to reply, but she had gone into the cottage. This +conversation gave me great satisfaction. I felt convinced that if I +had at one time formed the idea that Bessy was attached to me, I +had been mistaken, and I was as indifferent to her as she was to +me. I was just as anxious as she was not to vex Bramble, and +equally glad that confidence was restored between us. Alas! I must +have been very blind not to have perceived what was the true state +of her feelings, but I did not, and after some reflection I +determined that I would make her a confidante of my passion for +Janet Wilson; and then I walked to the post-office to see if there +were any letters from Virginia. There was a letter for me—a +double one. As soon as I had paid the money, I opened it; it was +very closely written, and evidently Virginia had much to +communicate to me. I forgot for the moment Bessy and Bramble, +thought only of Janet, and put the letter to my lips as I walked +away, that I might go home and read it. I hurried past Bessy, who +was in the parlor, and went up the stairs into my bedroom, where I +took my letter out of my pocket and commenced it.</p> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"15th April.,</p> +<p>"MY DEAR TOM—I shall begin a letter to you now, and fill +it up as a sort of a diary; as it is the best plan, I think, to +narrate circumstances as they actually take place. It is unpleasant +to say anything against my mother, the more so as I believe that +she thinks she has been doing right, and has my interest sincerely +at heart: she appears to consider that an alliance with people of +rank cannot be purchased too dear, and that every attempt is +justifiable to secure for me such an advantage. Little does she +know me. If she forgets, I never shall, that I am the daughter of a +Greenwich pensioner, and never would ally myself with those whose +relations would look upon me as a disgrace to their family. No, +Tom; even if I were so heedless as to allow my affections to be +enthralled, I would at any sacrifice refuse to enter into a family +much beyond my condition. I have thought of this often, and I +confess that I am sometimes unhappy. I have been brought up and +educated above my situation in life, and I do not think I ever +could marry a person who was not more refined and educated than +those who are really and truly my equals, But as, at the same time, +I never will enter into a family who might look down upon my +parentage, I presume your little Virginia must remain unmarried. If +so, I am content—I have no wish to alter my present +condition. I am happy and respected; and with the exception of the +trifling annoyances which we all must expect and must submit to, I +have no reason to be dissatisfied; on the contrary, I have to be +grateful for many blessings, and I trust that I am so. My poor +mother is the cause of all my present vexations. She tells me that +my beauty, as she is partially pleased to call it, is sufficient +for my aspiring to the hand of a duke, and that it will be my own +fault if I do not make a high connection. Every night she has been +overwhelming me with alternate reproaches and entreaties to permit +the attentions of the gay gentleman who is now lodging at our +house, stating that it was on my account only that he took the +apartments, and that, if I play my cards well, he will be caught in +his own trap, which, I presume, is as much as to say that he came +here with different intentions, and finding that he cannot succeed, +will secure his intended prize or victim by marriage rather than +not obtain her at all. Very flattering, truly! and this is the man +to whom my mother would induce me to confide my future +happiness—a man who, independent of his want of probity, is a +fool into the bargain. But the persecution on his part and on that +of my mother now becomes so annoying that I have requested Mrs. St. +Felix to speak to Mr. Sommerville the tutor, who, if he does his +duty—and I have every reason to believe that he will do +so—will take some measures to remove his pupil from our +house.</p> +<p>"17th. Mrs. St. Felix and Mr. Sommerville have had a meeting. He +generally walks out every afternoon in the park; and Mrs. St. Felix +and he have already been introduced. She therefore went out and met +him, and after exchanging a few words she introduced the subject, +stating that she did so at my request. Mr. Sommerville, although he +had not been blind, had had no idea that things had proceeded so +far; and he promised Mrs. St. Felix that he would soon put an end +to the persecution, or remove him from our house. Janet has been +here to-day, and I told her what had passed; she very much approved +of the steps which I had taken. I must, however, say that latterly +she has not appeared to take that interest about you that she used +to do, and I fear that your continual absence is injurious to your +prospects. She is very young and very giddy, Tom. I wish she had +been older, as, even when she is your wife, she will require much +looking after, and a firm hand to settle her down into what a +married woman in my opinion ought to be. Mr. Sommerville has +requested me to favor him with a few minutes' conversation; and as +I cannot do it in our house, for my mother never leaves me a minute +to myself, I told him that I should be at Mrs. St. Felix's this +afternoon, and he could speak to me then. He knows that I have no +secrets from Mrs. St. Felix; and although it is not pleasant to +resort to such means, still there can be no impropriety in my +hearing what he has to tell me in her presence.</p> +<p>"I have seen Mr. Sommerville—he thanked me very much for +having communicated, through Mrs. St. Felix, my mother's plot +against his protege, and paid me many compliments upon my behavior, +which were quite unnecessary. He told me that he had spoken to his +pupil, who had most positively denied his having any such +intention, and stated that he was merely amusing himself, and he +had pledged himself not to take the least notice of me for the +future. 'I am well aware,' said he, 'that what he has stated is not +correct; he has not deceived me by his assertions; and were it not +that I feel confidence in you, Miss Virginia,' continued he, 'I +would write to his father that he might be immediately removed. I +hardly need say that should anything of this kind take place, I +should be most severely blamed. It is not the first time that I +have been compelled to interfere, for my pupil is of a very +susceptible disposition, and has fancied himself in love with at +least five young people since he has been under my charge. In this +instance,' continued he, making me a bow, 'he has some extenuation +to offer. Will you oblige me by informing me if he adheres to his +promise? or do you wish that I should speak to your mother?'</p> +<p>"Mrs. St. Felix replied that it would be unnecessary; indeed, +that if Lord —— left the house I should only be subject +to fresh persecution. Mr. Sommerville, at her request, stayed to +drink tea, and is certainly a very pleasant, well-informed, amiable +young man.</p> +<p>"23d. I have received no molestation since the explanation with +Mr. Sommerville, except from my mother, who accuses me of having +affronted Lord ——; and although I deny it, she asserts +that he never could have so changed his conduct toward both of us +if I had not so done. I have not seen Janet this week—I +cannot imagine what has become of her.</p> +<p>"24th. You may imagine my joy, my dear Tom. Mr. Sommerville has +received a letter, stating that his lordship is to go down to his +father's seat in the country, as he will be of age in a month, and +he is to make acquaintance with the tenants; there are to be great +rejoicings there upon his coming of age. I am sure no one can +rejoice more than I shall when he leaves, which is to be next +Saturday. I am also very glad to say that the Marquess has +presented Mr. Sommerville with a valuable living, now that he gives +up his tutorship. I really think he will do justice to his +profession, for I have seen more of him lately, and esteem him very +much.</p> +<p>"27th. They are gone, much to my mother's mortification and to +my delight; and now, as I have written so much about myself, I +shall leave this letter open till I see Janet, that I may tell you +something about her, otherwise I know my letter will not be +interesting to you.</p> +<p>"31st. My dear Tom, you must prepare yourself for painful +intelligence.</p> +<p>"Janet has disappeared. She left her father's house last night +after the family had retired, but no one knows where. She left a +few lines on her table, stating that they would hear from her soon. +Poor Mr. Wilson was here to-day—he is half +distracted—and the whole town is full of the scandal. Mrs. +St. Felix told me this morning that she has discovered that within +the last week she has been seen walking on the London Road with +Lord ——. Is it possible?</p> +<p>"May 2d. It is all true—Mrs. St. Felix has a letter from +Mr. Sommerville, stating that Janet was brought up to town and +married to Lord —— two days ago. It appears that from +the time that I repulsed his attentions he fixed them upon Janet; +that she encouraged him, and used to meet him every night, as Mrs. +St. Felix was informed. Mr. Sommerville has seen his father, and +fully exculpated himself; but the Marquess declares, as his son is +a minor, that the marriage shall not be binding. How it will end +Heaven only knows; but she is much to be pitied. This will account +for her not coming to me as usual. Now, Tom, I do not suppose you +will pay attention to me at present, but from what I knew of Janet, +and which her conduct has fully proved, she was not worthy to be +your wife, and could not have contributed to your happiness. I pity +you from my heart, as I know what you will feel; but still I +congratulate you, and eventually you will congratulate yourself at +your fortunate escape.</p> +<p>"I will say no more at present, except that I am, and ever will +be,</p> +<p>"Your truly attached sister,</p> +<p>"VIRGINIA."</p> +</div> +<p>I had courage to finish the letter, and then it dropped from my +hands. I was bewildered, stupefied, maddened. As my sister said, I +did indeed feel. Was it possible? Janet, who had—mercy on me! +I threw myself on the bed, and there I remained till the next +morning in a state most pitiable.</p> +<p>It is only those who have been deceived in their first +attachment who can appreciate my agony of feeling. For the first +few hours I hated the whole world, and, had then the means been at +hand, should in all probability have hastened into another; but +gradually my excitement abated; I found relief in tears of sorrow +and indignation. I arose at daylight the next morning, worn out +with contending feelings, heavy and prostrated in mind. I went +out—stood on the beach, the keen breeze cooled my fevered +cheek. For hours I leaned motionless upon an anchor, all hope of +future happiness abandoned forever.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus367.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTY_EIGHT" id= +"CHAPTER_THIRTY_EIGHT"></a>CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Which is all about Love—Bramble confides to me all his +Acquaintance with the tender Passion.</p> +</div> +<p>To conceal from Bramble or Bessy the state of mind to which I +was reduced was impossible. I was in a condition of prostration +against which I could not rally; and I believe that there never was +a person who had been disappointed in his first love who did not +feel as I did—that is, if he really loved with a sincere, +pure, and holy feeling; for I do not refer to the fancied +attachments of youth, which may be said to be like the mere flaws +of wind which precede the steady gale. I could not, for several +days, trust myself to speak; I sat silent and brooding over the +words, the looks, the smiles, the scenes which had promised me a +store of future happiness—such as would probably have been +the case, as far as we can be happy in this world, had I fixed my +affections upon a true and honest, instead of a fickle and vain, +woman; had I built my house upon a rock, instead of one upon the +sand—which, as pointed out by the Scriptures, had been washed +away, and had disappeared forever! Bramble and Bessy in vain +attempted to gain from me the cause of my dejection; I believe that +they had many conversations upon it when I was absent, but whatever +may have been their surmises, they treated me with every kindness +and consideration. About a week after I had received the letter, +Bramble said to me, "Come, Tom, we have had an easterly wind for +ten days now, they are going off in a galley +to-morrow—suppose we go too; it's no use staying here moping +and doing nothing. You've been out of sorts lately, and it will do +you good." I thought so too, and consented; but the other pilots +were not ready, and our departure was deferred till the day after. +Bramble had acquainted me in the morning with this delay; I was +annoyed at it, for I was restless and wished for change. My bundle +had been prepared; I had passed the best part of the night in +writing to Virginia, and was, as people very often are when under +such oppressed feelings, in anything but a good humor at being +obliged to remain another day at Deal. I had walked out to the +beach after we had breakfasted, and had remained there some time. +Bramble had gone out in the direction of the post-office, and I +asked him to inquire if there was a letter for me, for I thought it +very likely that Virginia might have written to me again. I had +remained for an hour on the beach, when I recollected that my knife +required to be sharpened, and I walked round the cottage to the +back yard, where there was a small grindstone. I had not put my +knife to it when I heard Bramble come in and say to Bessy:</p> +<p>"Well, girl, I've found it all out; for, you see, I thought old +Anderson might know something about it, or, if he did not, he could +inquire—and I've got the whole story. Here's Anderson's +letter. I thought there must be something of that sort."</p> +<p>Here there was a pause, as if Bessy was reading the letter.</p> +<p>"Only to think—she's run away with a young lord," said +Bramble.</p> +<p>"So it seems," replied Bessy. "I'm sorry for poor Tom, for he +feels it severely."</p> +<p>"I'm not sorry," rejoined Bramble; "she wasn't deserving of him; +and, Bessy, I'm glad for your sake."</p> +<p>"Don't say that, father; Tom will never think of me, nor do I +care about him."</p> +<p>"I don't exactly believe that, Bessy, for all you say so. It's +my wish, and you know it, Bessy, to see you and Tom spliced before +I die; and I thank Heaven that this false girl is out of the +way—I've more hopes now."</p> +<p>"Marriages are made in heaven, father," replied Bessy; "so, pray +don't say any thing more about it. It will be time enough for me to +think of Tom when Tom appears to think of me. I shall always love +him as a brother."</p> +<p>"Well, God's will be done! We must now try and console him, poor +fellow; and I'm very glad that we're off to-morrow. Salt water +cures love, they say, sooner than anything else."</p> +<p>"It may, perhaps," replied Bessy; "but I feel that if I were +once really in love the whole ocean itself could not wash my love +out. However, women are not men."</p> +<p>"That's true. You hug your love as you do your babies, all day +long, and never tire. Now, you see, a man gets tired of nursing in +no time. I never was in love but once."</p> +<p>"Oh, father, I've heard that story so often."</p> +<p>"Well, then, you shan't hear it again. Now, I'll go out and see +where Tom may be. I suppose he's looking at the wind, and thinking +how it changes like a woman. But I'll light my pipe first."</p> +<p>"Do, father; and while Tom looks at the wind and thinks of +women, do you just watch the smoke out of your pipe, and think of +men and their constancy."</p> +<p>"Well, I will, if it pleases you. Put the letter by, Bessy, for +I shouldn't like Tom to see it. What have you got for dinner?"</p> +<p>"I left that to Mrs. Maddox, so I can't tell. But there's cold +pudding in the larder; I'll put it out for Tom."</p> +<p>"Nay, Bessy, you must not jest with him."</p> +<p>"Am I likely, think you, father?" replied Bessy. "Can't I feel +for him?"</p> +<p>"Come, come, dearest, I didn't mean to make you cry."</p> +<p>"I'm not crying, but I'm very sorry for Tom, and that's the +truth. Now go away with your pipe and leave me alone."</p> +<p>It was impossible for me to have returned without being +perceived, and I therefore remained during the whole of this +conversation. I was annoyed to discover that they knew my secret; +and still more vexed at the remainder of this colloquy, by which I +discovered that Bramble had so completely set his heart upon a +union between me and Bessy, which I considered as impossible. I +felt, as all do at the time, as if I never could love again. I +walked away, and did not return home till dinner-time. Bramble and +Bessy were very kind, although they did not talk much; and when I +went away the next day I was moved with the affectionate farewell +of the latter.</p> +<p>It was a beautiful night, and we were running before the east +wind, the Portland Light upon our starboard beam; the other men in +the boat had lain down in their gregos and pilot jackets, and were +fast asleep, while Bramble was at the helm steering; and I, who was +too restless in my mind to feel any inclination to repose, was +sitting on the sternsheets beside him.</p> +<p>"Do you see the line of the <i>Race</i>" said Bramble; "it seems +strong to-night."</p> +<p>Bramble referred to what is called by the mariners the Race of +Portland, where the uneven ground over which the water runs creates +a very heavy sea even in a calm. Small smuggling vessels and boats, +forced into it in bad weather, have often foundered. The tide, +however, runs so rapidly over it that you are generally swept +through it in a few minutes, and then find yourself again in +comparatively smooth water.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied I; "it is very strong to-night, from the long +continuance of the easterly wind."</p> +<p>"Exactly so, Tom," continued Bramble. "I've often thought that +getting into that Race is just like failing in love."</p> +<p>"Why so?" replied I, rather pettishly, for I was not pleased at +his referring to the subject.</p> +<p>"I'll tell you why, Tom," said Bramble; "because, you see, when +we get into the Race it's all boiling and bubbling and tossing +about—rudder and sails are of no use; and you are carried +along by a fierce tide, which there's no resisting, with no small +damage to the upper works, until you are fairly out again, and find +breath to thank God for it. Now, aren't that like love?"</p> +<p>"I suppose it is as you say so; you know best."</p> +<p>"Well, I think I do know best; because, you see, I have long +been clear of it. I never was in love but once, Tom; did I ever +tell you about it?"</p> +<p>"Never," replied I.</p> +<p>"Well, then, as 'twill pass time away, I'll just give you the +long and the short of it, as the saying is. When I was just about +twenty, and a smart lad in my own opinion, I was on board of a +transport, and we had gone round to Portsmouth with a load of +timber for the dockyard. It was not my first trip there, for, you +see, the transport was employed wholly on that service; and during +my cruising on shore I had taken up my quarters at the Chequer +Board, a house a little way from the common Hard, in the street +facing the dockyard wall; for, you see, Tom, it was handy to us, as +our ship laid at the wharf, off the mast pond, it being just +outside the dockyard gates. The old fellow who kept the house was +as round as a ball, for he never started out by any chance from one +year's end to another; his wife was dead; and he had an only +daughter, who served at the bar, in a white cap with blue +streamers; and when her hair was out of papers, and she put on +clean shoes and stockings, which she did every day after dinner, +she was a very smart neat built little heifer; and, being an only +daughter, she was considered as a great catch to any one who could +get hold of her. She had quite the upper hand of her father, who +dared not say a word; and with others she would give herself no few +airs. At one time she would be as sweet as sugar, and the next, +without any cause, she'd 'wonder at your imperance.' It was +difficult to know how to take her. It's a bad thing for a girl to +have a great fortune; they get so much flattery that it turns their +heads. Well, Tom, I wasn't looking after the money, as you'll +believe when I tell you so; but as she was very chatty with me, and +allowed me to come inside the bar, which was considered as a great +favor, to help rinse the glasses, and so on, and as the other men +used to joke with me, and tell me that I should carry off the +prize, I began to think that she was fond of me, and so very +naturally I became fond of her; and we met and we parted (and she +would allow me to kiss her when we parted), until I was quite gone +altogether, and did nothing but think of her all day and dream of +her all night. Well, the last time that I was in the transport to +Portsmouth, I had made up my mind to clinch the business, and as +soon as the sails were furled, I dressed myself in my best toggery +and made all sail for the old house. When I came in I found Peggy +in the bar, and a very fancy sort of young chap alongside of her. I +did not think so much of that, and I was going inside the bar to +shake hands as usual, when says she, 'Well, I should not wonder,' +pulling to the half-door, as if she were surprised at my attempting +to come in.</p> +<p>"'Oh, ho!' says I, 'are you on that tack? what next?' and then I +looked more at the chap, and he was a very nice young man, as the +saying is. As I afterward found out, he was in the smuggling line +between Cherbourg and our coast, and he had Frenchified manners, +and he talked little bits of French, and he had French gloves for +presents, and had earrings in his ears, and lots of rings on his +fingers. So I took my seat at the wooden benches near the fire, +just as sulky as a bear with a sore head, watching their maneuvers. +At last he walked out, kissing his hand as she smiles. As the coast +was clear I went up to the bar.</p> +<p>"'Well,' says I, 'Peggy, so the wind's shifted, is it?'</p> +<p>"'What do you mean?' says she. 'I suppose I may be civil to +another person as well as to you.'</p> +<p>"'Yes, I see no objection,' says I; 'but why was he to be inside +the bar, and I put out?'</p> +<p>"'Oh,' replied she, 'one at a time, you know, Mr. Philip. I +haven't made any promises to you that I know of.'</p> +<p>"'That's very true,' replied I, 'but—'</p> +<p>"'Oh, you mustn't fret here,' interrupted she. 'I'm my own +mistress, I suppose. However, I'll tell you this much, that I don't +care a bit about him, and that's the truth of it—but I did +not like your coming inside the bar so quietly, as if you had a +right there, for I don't want people to make remarks.'</p> +<p>"Well, the end of it was that she pacified me, and we were as +great friends almost as ever. I say almost, for I had my eyes upon +her and that chap, and did not much like it. A week after my +arrival there was to be a fair over at Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, +and I asked Peggy whether she would go with me; but she refused, +saying that she was obliged to go to her aunt's out at Limberhook, +who was very old, and had sent for her, so I thought nothing more +about the matter. Well, the day before the fair, as we were busy in +the fore noon getting the timber out of the vessel, one of my +shipmates, who went to the same house, says to me, 'I say, Tom, +when I was at the Chequers last night, I overheard Peggy promise to +go to the Ryde Fair with that Frenchified smuggling chap.'</p> +<p>"'Did you?' said I.</p> +<p>"'Yes,' replied he, 'and they agreed to start at twelve o'clock, +just after the dockyard bell rang. I thought at the time it was +just to give you the slip before you left the ship, and that she is +turning you over.'</p> +<p>"Well, when I heard this, did not my blood boil? for the hussy +had told me a lie in saying that she was going to her aunt's; and +it was evident that she had done so that she might go with this +other fellow to the fair. I thought the matter over and over again, +for, to tell you the truth, all I wanted then was revenge. I felt +nothing but scorn for a woman who could act in so base a manner; at +the same time I wished to punish both her and him by spoiling their +day's sport; so at last I determined that I would start right away +for the fair myself, and not only put her to shame, but give her +fancy man a good drubbing, which I was well able to do. So I walks +down to Point and gets into a wherry, keeping a sharp lookout for +their coming down from the Hard. At last I spied them, and then I +made the waterman pull away, so as to keep about three cables' +lengths ahead of them, and thus I continued watching their billing +and cooing, and grinding my teeth with rage, until we had come over +to the other side. Now, you see, Tom, at that time there was no +wooden pier at Ryde as there is now, and when the tide was out +there was such a long flat of mud that there was no landing; so the +way it was managed was, the wherries came in as far as they could, +and were met by a horse and cart, which took out the passengers and +carried them through the mud and water to the hard ground. Well, +when I pulled in, the man was there with his horse and cart, and I +paid my fare, and stepped out of the wherry, expecting the man to +drive off and put me on shore; but he, seeing that there was +another wherry close at hand, says he must wait for her passengers, +and make one trip of it. I did not care how soon we met, and waited +very patiently until they pulled up to us. They were not a little +surprised to see me, and not a little annoyed either. As for Peggy, +she colored to her elbows, and then tried to put up an impudent +face on the matter. He looked both foolish and angry. They were +both very smart. She had on a white gown with a yellow handkerchief +on her shoulders, a green silk bonnet and blue feathers, and he was +figged out as fine as fivepence, with white jean trousers, and +rings and chains, and Lord knows what.</p> +<p>"'Well,' says Peggy, as bold as brass, 'who'd have thought to +have seen you here?'</p> +<p>"'I did not say that I was going to see my aunt,' replied I; +'but as you did, who would have expected to see you here?'</p> +<p>"'Don't talk to me, young man,' said she, as red as fire, and +turning away to her beau.</p> +<p>"Just as she said this, the cart drove off, the horse +floundering through the mud, which was about three feet deep, with +a matter of six inches of water above it. As she turned away aft, I +turned forward, thinking what I should do next, and then I cast my +eyes down, and observed that it was a tilting cart as they use for +carrying out manure, and that if I took the two pegs out it would +fall right back. I thought this a capital trick. The carman was +sitting on his horse, and it couldn't matter to him, so I stepped +out on the front of the cart, and standing on the shafts, I first +pulled out one peg and then another, while they were busy talking +to each other, with their heads so close that his face was under +her bonnet. As soon as the second peg was out, I helped up the +front of the cart a little, and back it went, shooting them out +right headforemost in the mud. You never saw such a scramble, for +they had caught hold of each other in their fright, and they rolled +and floundered, and were half smothered before they could recover +their feet; and then a pretty pickle they were in, wet to the skin, +and covered with mud from one end to the other; they could not see +out of their eyes. Peggy did nothing but scream and +flounder—she was frightened out of her wits—while the +carman and I laughed ready to split. I gave him half a crown to +drive on shore without them, which he did, and we left them to make +their way out how they could; and a pretty pickle they did come out +at last. Thus was their day's pleasure, as well as their clothes, +all spoiled; and instead of dancing at the fair and seeing all the +sights, they were shivering in their wet clothes, and the +laughingstocks to all that saw them.</p> +<p>"Depend upon it, I did not leave them after they had crawled out +to the beach. The fellow was, as you may suppose, as savage as a +bull, and very saucy, so I took off my jacket that I might not +dirty myself, and gave him a couple of black eyes and a bloody nose +for his trouble; and as for Peggy, I pretended to be so sorry for +her, and condoled with her so much, that at last she flew at me +like a tigress—and as I knew that there was no honor, and +plenty of mud, to be gained by the conflict, I took to my heels and +ran off to the fair, where I met some of my friends and told them +what had happened, and then we had a very merry day of it, and I +felt quite cured of my love; for, you see, Peggy looked so ugly and +miserable when she was in the state I left her, that I had only to +think of her as when I last saw her, and all my love was gone."</p> +<p>"Did you ever meet her again?"</p> +<p>"I met her that very night; for, you see, she had gone to a +cottage and taken off her clothes, having insisted upon her fancy +man going back to Portsmouth to fetch her others to go home in. He +dared not refuse, so off he went in the pickle that he was. But he +didn't come back again, for, you see, there was a warrant out +against him for an affray at Bear Haven, in which a King's officer +was killed; and after he had changed his own clothes, and was +proceeding to get some for her from the Chequers, he was met by the +constable who had the warrant, and carried off handcuffed to jail, +and afterward he was transported—so she never saw him again. +Well, Peggy, poor creature, had been waiting for him for hours, +expecting his return; and it was past ten o'clock when I was coming +down with some others, and saw her at the door of the cottage +weeping.</p> +<p>"'Good-night, Peggy,' says I.</p> +<p>"'Oh, Philip, do be kind, do come to me; I'm frightened out of +my life. I shall have to stay here all night.'</p> +<p>"So, you see, I did feel some little pity for her, and I went up +to her, and she told me how she had sent him, and he had never come +back again.</p> +<p>"'The fact is,' says I, 'Peggy, you aren't smart enough for such +a Frenchified chap as he is. He don't like to be seen in your +company. Come, get up, and I will see you home, at all events;' so +I took charge of her, and saw her safe to her father's door.</p> +<p>"'Won't you come in?' said she.</p> +<p>"'No, thank you,' says I.</p> +<p>"'Won't you forgive me, Philip?' said she.</p> +<p>"'Yes," says I, 'I'll forgive you, for old acquaintance' sake, +and for one more reason.'</p> +<p>"'What's that?' says Peggy.</p> +<p>"'Why,' says I, 'for the lesson which you've learned me. I've +been made a fool of once, and it's your fault; but if ever a woman +makes a fool of me again, why, then it's mine. And so, Peggy, +good-by forever.'</p> +<p>"So I turned away on my heel, and as I left the transport the +next trip, I never saw her again."</p> +<p>"Well, Bramble," replied I, "I agree with you; and if ever a +woman makes a fool of me <i>again</i>, it will be my fault. You +know what's happened, so I don't mind saying so."</p> +<p>"Why, Tom, in your present humor, you think so; but all do not +keep to the same way of thinking as I did till it was too late to +think about marrying; but still I do not think that I should have +been happy as a single man, if it had not been for my falling in +with Bessy. I should have been very lonely, I expect, for I began +to feel so. When you come to your own door, Tom, home looks +cheerless if there is no bright eye to welcome you, and the older a +man gets the more he feels that he was not intended to live single. +My yearning after something to love and to love me, which is in our +nature, was satisfied, first by having Bessy, and then by having +you—and I'm thankful."</p> +<p>"You might have married, and have been very unhappy."</p> +<p>"I might, and I might have been very happy, had I chosen a wife +as a man should do."</p> +<p>"And how is that, pray, Bramble?"</p> +<p>"Why, Tom, I've often thought upon it. In the first place look +out for good temper: if you find that you may be happy, even if +your wife is a silly woman; assure yourself first of her temper, +and then you must judge her by the way in which she does those +duties which have fallen to her lot; for if a girl is a dutiful and +affectionate daughter there is little fear but that she will prove +a loving and obedient wife. But I think we have had our spell here, +Tom, and it's rather cold: rouse up one of those chaps, and tell +him to come to the helm. I'll coil myself up and have a snooze till +the morning, and do you do the same."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus380.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTY_NINE" id= +"CHAPTER_THIRTY_NINE"></a>CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which I receive a very severe Blow from a Party or Parties +unknown.</p> +</div> +<p>The day after this conversation we fell in with several vessels +windbound at the entrance of the Channel. I took charge of one, and +the wind shifting to the S.W., and blowing strong, I carried her up +to the Pool. As soon as I could leave her I took a boat to go down +to Greenwich, as I was most anxious to have a long conversation +with Virginia. It was a dark squally night, with rain at intervals +between the gusts of wind, and I was wet through long before I +landed at the stairs, which was not until past eleven o'clock. I +paid the waterman, and hastened up to my mother's house, being +aware that they would either be all in bed or about to retire. It +so happened that I did not go the usual way, but passed by the +house of old Nanny; and as I walked by with a quick step, and was +thinking of her and her misfortunes, I fell over something which, +in the dark, I did not perceive, and which proved to be some iron +railings, which the workmen who were fixing them up had carelessly +left on the ground, previous to their returning to their work on +the ensuing morning. Fortunately the spikes at the ends of them +were from me, and I received no injury, except a severe blow on the +shin; and as I stopped a moment to rub it, I thought that I heard a +cry from the direction of old Nanny's house; but the wind was very +high, and I was not certain. I stopped and listened, and it was +repeated. I gained the door. It was so dark that I groped for the +latch. The door was open, and when I went in I heard a gurgling +kind of noise and a rustling in her chamber. "Who's +there?—What's this?" cried I; for I had a foreboding that +something was wrong. I tumbled over some old iron, knocked down the +range of keys, and made a terrible din, when, of a sudden, just as +I had recovered my legs, I was thrown down again by somebody who +rushed by me and darted out of the door. As the person rushed by me +I attempted to seize his arm, but I received a severe blow on the +mouth, which cut my lip through, and at first I thought I had lost +all my front teeth.</p> +<p>I rose up. I heard a heavy groaning; so, instead of pursuing the +robber, I felt my way into Nanny's chamber. "Nanny," said I, +"mother, what's the matter?" but there was no reply, except another +groan. I knew where she kept her tinderbox and matches; I found +them, and struck a light; and by the light of the match I perceived +the candle and candlestick lying on the floor. I picked it up, +lighted it, and then turned to the bed; the flock mattress was +above all, and the groans proceeded from beneath. I threw it off, +and found old Nanny still breathing, but in a state of exhaustion +and quite insensible. By throwing water on her face, after some +little while I brought her to her senses. The flaring of the candle +reminded me that the shop door was open. I went and made it fast, +and then spoke to her. It was a long while before I could obtain +any rational answer. She continued to groan and cry at intervals, +"Don't leave me, Jack, don't leave me." At last she fell into a +sort of slumber from exhaustion, and in this state she remained for +more than an hour. One thing was evident to me, which was, that the +party, whoever it might be, had attempted to smother the poor old +woman, and that in a few seconds more he would have perpetrated the +deed.</p> +<p>At last old Nanny roused up, and turning to me, said, "It's +Jack, is it not? I thought so. Oh, my poor head! What has +happened?"</p> +<p>"That's what I want to know from you, mother," replied I; "but +first I will tell you what I know of the business." Which I did, to +give her time to collect her thoughts.</p> +<p>"Yes," said she, "so it was. I was just in bed, and my candle +was not out, when I heard a noise at the door, as if they were +turning a key in it, and then a man entered; but he had something +over his face, I thought, or he had blacked it. 'What do you want?' +cried I. 'I come for a light, old woman,' said he. I cried +'Thieves! murder!' as loud as I could, and he ran up to me just as +I was getting out of bed, and tried to smother me. I don't +recollect anything more till I heard your voice. Thank you, Jack, +and God bless you; if you hadn't come to the assistance of a poor +old wretch like me, I should have been dead by this time."</p> +<p>I felt that what she said was true, and I then asked her many +questions, so as to lead to the discovery of the party.</p> +<p>"How was he dressed?" inquired I.</p> +<p>"I can't exactly say. But, do you know, Jack, I fancied that he +had a pensioner's coat on; indeed, I am almost sure of it. I think +I tore off one of his buttons, I recollect its giving way; I may be +wrong—my head wanders."</p> +<p>But I thought that most likely Nanny was right, so I looked down +on the floor with the candle, and there I picked up a pensioner's +button.</p> +<p>"You're right, Nanny; here is the button."</p> +<p>"Well, now, Jack, I can't talk anymore; you won't leave me +to-night, I'm sure."</p> +<p>"No, no, mother, that I will not. Try to go to sleep."</p> +<p>Hardly had Nanny laid her head down again, when it came across +my mind like a flash of lightning that it must have been Spicer who +had attempted the deed; and my reason for so thinking was that the +blow I had received on the mouth was not like that from the hand of +a man, but from the wooden socket fixed to the stump of his right +arm. The more I reflected upon it the more I was convinced. He was +a clever armorer, and had picked the lock; and I now recalled to +mind what had never struck me before, that he had often asked me +questions about old Nanny, and whether I thought the report that +she had money was correct.</p> +<p>It was daylight before old Nanny woke up, and then she appeared +to be quite recovered. I told her my suspicions, and my intentions +to ascertain the truth of them as far as I possibly could.</p> +<p>"Well, and what then?" said old Nanny.</p> +<p>"Why, then, if we bring it home to him, he will be hanged, as he +deserves."</p> +<p>"Now, Jack, hear me," said old Nanny. "You won't do anything I +don't wish, I'm sure; and now I'll tell you that I never would give +evidence against him, or any other man, to have him hanged. So, if +you find out that it is him, do not say a word about it. Promise +me, Jack."</p> +<p>"Why, mother, I can't exactly say that I will; but I will talk +to Peter Anderson about it."</p> +<p>"It's no use talking to him; and, if you do, it must be under +promise of secrecy, or I will not consent to it. Jack, Jack, +recollect that my poor boy was hanged from my fault. Do you think I +will hang another? Oh, no. Perhaps this very man had a foolish +wicked mother, like me, and has, like my boy, been led into guilt. +Jack, you must do as I wish—you shall, Jack."</p> +<p>"Well, mother, I have no animosity against the man himself; and, +if you forgive him, I do not see why I should do anything."</p> +<p>"I don't forgive him, Jack; but I think of my own poor boy."</p> +<p>"Well, mother, since you wish it, it shall be so; and if I do +prove that the man I suspect is the party, I will say nothing, and +make Anderson promise the same, as I think he will. But how is it +that people come to rob a poor old woman like you? How is it, +mother, that there is a report going about that you have +money?"</p> +<p>"Is there such a report, Jack?"</p> +<p>"Yes, mother, every one says so; why, I do not know; and as long +as it is supposed, you will always be subject to attacks like this, +unless, indeed, if you have money, you were to put it away safely, +and let everybody know that you have done so. Tell me truly, +mother, have you any money?"</p> +<p>"Jack, what a boy you are to ask questions. Well, perhaps I have +a little—a very little; but no one will ever find out where I +have hidden it."</p> +<p>"But they will try, mother, as this man has done, and you will +always be in peril of your life. Why not place it in the hands of +some safe person?"</p> +<p>"Safe person! Who's safe nowadays?"</p> +<p>"Why, for instance, there's Mr. Wilson."</p> +<p>"Wilson! what do you know about him, Jack, except that he has a +smooth face and a bald head? You're young, Jack, and don't know the +world. The money's safe where it is, and no one will ever find +it."</p> +<p>"If so, who is to find it after—" I stopped, for I did not +like to say, after she was dead.</p> +<p>"I know what you would have said, Jack; who's to find it after +my death? That's very true. I never thought of that, and I must +will it away. I never thought of that, Jack, it's very true, and +I'm glad that you have mentioned it. But who dare I tell? who can I +trust?—Can I trust you, Jack?—can I?—I ought, for +it's all for you, Jack, when I die."</p> +<p>"Mother, whoever it may be for, you may, I hope, trust me."</p> +<p>"Well, I think I can. I'll tell you where it is, Jack, and that +will prove that it is for you, for nobody else will know where to +find it. But, Jack, dear, dear Jack, don't you rob me, as my son +did; don't rob me, and leave me penniless, as he did; promise +me?"</p> +<p>"I never will, mother; you need not be afraid."</p> +<p>"Yes; so you say, and so he said; he swore and he cried too, +Jack, and then he took it all, and left his mother without a +farthing."</p> +<p>"Well, mother, then don't tell me; I'd rather not know. You will +only be uncomfortable, and so let the money go."</p> +<p>"No, Jack, that won't do either; I will tell you, for I can +trust you. But first, Jack, go out and look behind the house, that +there is no one listening at the window; for if any one should +hear—go, look round carefully, and then come back."</p> +<p>I did as she wished, and then Nanny bid me hold my head closer +to her, while she whispered, "You must take the back out of the +fireplace, and then pull out three bricks, and then put your hand +into the hole, and you will find a small box; and there you will +find a little money—a very little, Jack, hardly worth having, +but still it may be of some use; and it's all yours when I die. +Jack—I give it to you."</p> +<p>"Mother, I'm thankful for your kindness, but I cannot touch it +if you do die without you leave it to me by your will."</p> +<p>"Ah! that's true, Jack. Well, tell Anderson to come here, and +I'll tell him I'll leave the money to you; but I won't tell him +where it is, I'll only say that I leave you everything I have. +They'll suppose that it's the shop and all the pretty things." Here +she chuckled for some time.</p> +<p>It was now broad daylight, and Nanny told me that she would like +to get up, and see about a padlock being put to her door before +night; so I wished her good-by, and left her.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus387.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FORTY" id="CHAPTER_FORTY"></a>CHAPTER +FORTY</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Showing the great Advantages to be derived from Patronage.</p> +</div> +<p>I left old Nanny, and arrived at my mother's house in time for +breakfast. I did not, however, find her in a very good humor; +something had evidently ruffled her. Virginia also, who welcomed me +most cordially, was taciturn and grave. My mother made but one +observation during our repast.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom," said she, "you've found out what it is to wish to +marry for love. I only wish it may be a lesson to others."</p> +<p>To this evident attack upon Virginia, at the expense of my +feelings, I made no reply, and soon afterward my mother went to +superintend her establishment, leaving me and my sister alone.</p> +<p>"Tom," said she, "I hope by this time you are no longer +suffering from your late cruel disappointment. I have felt for you, +I assure you, and, assuring you of that, will not again revert to +the subject. Let her be blotted from your memory as soon as +possible."</p> +<p>"Be it so, my dear Virginia; but you are grave, and my mother is +evidently out of humor. You must explain this."</p> +<p>"That is easily done. I have made a sad mistake. I was so much +annoyed at my mother's system toward me that I ventured, without +her knowledge, to write to Lady Hercules, requesting her protection +and influence to procure me some situation as a companion to a +lady, amanuensis, or reader. It appears that her ladyship was not +very sincere in her professions when we had an interview with her; +at all events, her reply was anything but satisfactory, and, +unfortunately, it was addressed to my mother and not to me. You can +have no idea of my mother's indignation upon the receipt of it, and +she has not been sparing in her reproaches to me for having written +without her knowledge, and having, by so doing, subjected her to +such a mortification. I certainly am sorry to have done so. As for +her ladyship's answer, it would have been to me more a subject of +mirth than any other feeling. It has, however, proved the cause of +much annoyance from my mother's continually harping upon it."</p> +<p>"Have you the letter of Lady Hercules?"</p> +<p>"I have a copy of it, which I took, intending to have sent it to +you the next time that I wrote. I will bring it down if you will +wait a minute."</p> +<p>When Virginia returned she put the following epistle into my +hand:</p> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>MRS. SAUNDERS—I have received a letter from your daughter, +which, I presume, was forwarded as a specimen of her penmanship; +otherwise it was your duty to have addressed me yourself. I said to +you, when I met you at Greenwich, that you were educating your +daughter above her condition in life, and I now repeat it. My +patronage is extended only to those who are not above their +situations, which, I am sorry to observe, most people are now. +Nevertheless, as I did say that I would exert my influence in your +daughter's behalf, in consequence of your having been a decent, +well-behaved menial to me, I have made inquiry among my +acquaintances, and find that I may be, <i>possibly</i>, able to +place her with my friend, Lady Towser, as a 'boudoir-assistant.' I +have said <i>possibly</i>, as I am by no means sure that she will +be equal to the situation, and the number of applicants are very +numerous. The inclosed paper from Lady Towser will give you an idea +of what will be requisite:</p> +<p>"Morning, up at 6, and nicely dressed; come in in list shoes, +and wait at bedside, in case Lady Towser should be troubled with +her morning cough, to hand the emulsion, etc. At 9, to call and +assist to dress Lady Towser's head tirewoman; follow her to Lady +T.'s chamber, and obey orders. Breakfast in housekeeper's room. +After breakfast assist housemaid to dust ornaments, and on +Saturdays and Wednesdays, <i>wash</i>, comb, and examine dogs; +other days comb and examine them only; clean and feed macaw, +cockatoo, and parrot, also canary and other birds; bring up dogs' +dinners, and prevent them fighting at meals. After dogs' dinners +read to Lady T., if required; if not, get up collars and flounces, +laces, etc., for Lady T. and Lady T.'s tirewoman. After your own +dinner assist housekeeper as required in the still-room; fine +needlework; repair clothes before they go to wash; dress and brush +Lady T.'s perukes; walk out with dogs if weather is fine, and be +careful to prevent their making any acquaintances whatever.</p> +<p>"Evening—Read to Lady T., write notes, look over bills, +and keep general accounts; if not wanted, to make herself useful in +housekeeper's room, and obey all orders received from her or head +tirewoman. At night see that the hot water is ready for Lady T.'s +feet, and wait for her retiring to bed; wash Lady T.'s feet, and +cut corns, as required; read Lady T. to sleep, or, if not required +to read, wait till she is certain that Lady T. is so.</p> +<p>"Now the only points in which I think your daughter may fail is +in properly washing, combing, and examining the dogs, and cutting +her ladyship's corns; but surely she can practice a little of both, +as she will not be wanted for a month. There can be no difficulty +about the first; and as for the latter, as all people in your rank +of life have corns, she may practice upon yours or her father's. At +all events, there can be no want of corns in Greenwich Hospital +among the pensioners. I am desired to say that Lady T. gives no +wages the first year; and you will be expected to send your +daughter neatly fitted out, that she may be able to remain in the +room when there is company. If this offer will not suit, I can do +nothing more; the difficulty of patronage increases every day. You +will send an answer.</p> +<p>"VIRGINIA HAWKINGTREFYLYAN.</p> +</div> +<p>"I was just closing my letter when Lady Scrimmage came in; she +tells me that Lady Towser is suited, and that you have no hopes of +this situation. I have done my best. Lady Scrimmage has, however, +informed me that she thinks she can, upon my recommendation, do +something for you in Greenwich, as she deals largely with a highly +respectable and fashionable milliner of the same name as your own, +and with whom it would be of the greatest advantage to your +daughter to be placed as an apprentice, or something of that sort. +This is an opportunity not to be lost, and I therefore have +requested Lady S. to write immediately, and I trust by <i>my +patronage</i>, she will gain a <i>most enviable situation</i>."</p> +<p>"That postscript is admirable," observed I, "and ought to have +put my mother in a good humor. Is she not called by Lady Hercules +'highly respectable and fashionable'?"</p> +<p>"Very true," replied Virginia; "but my mother cannot get over +the first part of the letter, in which she is mentioned as 'a +decent and well-behaved menial.' She has since received a note from +Lady Scrimmage, requesting her to take me in some capacity or +another, adding, by way of postscript, 'You know you need not keep +her if you do not like—it is very easy to send her away for +idleness or impertinence; but I wish to oblige Lady Hercules, and +so, pray, at all events, write and say that you will try her."</p> +<p>"And what has my mother said in reply?"</p> +<p>"She did not show me the answer; but, from what I have collected +from her conversation, she has written a most haughty, and, I +presume it will be said, a most impertinent letter to both the +ladies; the one to Lady Scrimmage accompanied with her bill, which +has not been paid these three years. I am sorry that my mother has +been annoyed. My father, to whom I related what had taken place, +told me that my mother was very ill treated by Lady Hercules, and +that she had smothered her resentment with the hopes of benefiting +her children by her patronage; but that was at a time when she +little expected to be so prosperous as she is now."</p> +<p>"It is all true, my dear girl; I recollect my father telling me +the whole story. However, I presume my mother, now that she can +venture upon defiance, has not failed to resort to it."</p> +<p>"That I am convinced of. I only hope that she will carry her +indignation against great people so far as not to court them as she +has done, and abandon all her ridiculous ideas of making a match +for me. After all, she has my welfare sincerely at heart, and, +although mistaken in the means of securing it, I cannot but feel +that she is actuated solely by her love for me."</p> +<p>We then changed the conversation to Janet, about whom I could +now speak calmly; after which I narrated to her what had occurred +during the night, and my intention to consult with my father and +Anderson upon the subject.</p> +<p>Virginia then left me that she might assist her mother, and I +hastened to my father's ward, where I found him, and, after our +first greeting, requested that he would accompany me to Anderson's +office, as I had something to communicate to them both. As I walked +along with my father I perceived Spicer at a corner with his foot +on a stone step and his hand to his knee, as if in pain. At last he +turned round and saw us. I walked up to him, and he appeared a +little confused as he said, "Ah! Tom, is that you? I did not know +you were at Greenwich."</p> +<p>"I came here last night," replied I; "and I must be off again +soon. Are you lame?"</p> +<p>"Lame! No; what should make me lame?" replied he, walking by the +side of us as if he were not so.</p> +<p>I looked at his coat, and perceived that the third button on the +right side was missing.</p> +<p>"You've lost a button, Spicer," observed I.</p> +<p>"So I have," replied he; and, as we had now arrived at +Anderson's door, my father and I turned from him to walk in and +wished him good-by.</p> +<p>Anderson was in his office, and as soon as the door was closed I +communicated to them what had occurred during the night, expressing +my conviction that Spicer was the party who had attempted the +murder. In corroboration I reminded my father of the loss of the +button from Spicer's coat, and produced the one which Nanny had +torn off.</p> +<p>"This is something more than suspicion," observed Anderson; "but +if, as you say, old Nanny will not give evidence against him, I +know not what can be done. Did you say that the old woman wanted to +speak with me?"</p> +<p>"Yes, and I really wish that you would call there oftener."</p> +<p>"Well," replied Anderson, "I'll go, Tom; but, to be plain with +you, I do not think that I can be of much use there. I have been +several times. She will gossip as long as you please; but if you +would talk seriously, she turns a deaf ear. You see, Tom, there's +little to be gained when you have to contend with such a besetting +sin as avarice. It is so powerful, especially in old age, that it +absorbs all other feelings. Still it is my duty, and it is also my +sincere wish, to call her to a proper sense of her condition. The +poor old creature is, like myself, not very far from the grave; +and, when once in it, it will be too late. I will go, Tom, and most +thankful shall I be if, with God's help, I may prove of service to +her."</p> +<p>We then left old Anderson to his duties, and my father went home +with me. We had a long conversation relative to my sister, as well +as about my own affairs. I had intended to have remained some days +at Greenwich, but this was the first time that I had been there +since Janet's desertion, and the sight of everything so reminded me +of her, and made everything so hateful to me, that I became very +melancholy. My mother was, moreover, very cross, and my sister +anything but comfortable; and, on the third day, having received a +letter from Bramble, stating that he had arrived at Deal, and that +the easterly winds having again set in, they talked, of setting out +again in the galley, I made this an excuse for leaving; and for the +first time did I quit Greenwich without regret.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FORTY_ONE" id="CHAPTER_FORTY_ONE"></a>CHAPTER +FORTY-ONE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which it is proved that Sailors have very correct Ideas as to +Metempsychosis.</p> +</div> +<p>The day after my return to Deal I again embarked with Bramble +and three others, to follow up our vocation. The second day we were +abreast of the Ram Head, when the men in another pilot boat, which +had come out of Plymouth and was close to us, waved their hats and +kept away to speak to us. We hove-to for them.</p> +<p>"Have you heard the news?" cried one of the men.</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>"Lord Nelson has beat the French and Spanish fleet."</p> +<p>"Glad to hear it—huzza!"</p> +<p>"Lord Nelson's killed."</p> +<p>"Lord Nelson's killed!" The intelligence was repeated from mouth +to mouth, and then every voice was hushed; the other boat hauled +her wind without further communication, nor did we at the time +think of asking for any more. The shock which was given to the +whole country was equally felt by those who were seeking their +bread in a small boat, and for some little while we steered our +course in silence.</p> +<p>"What d'ye say, my lads?" said Bramble, who first broke silence; +"shall we haul up for Cawsand, and get a paper? I shan't be content +till I know the whole history."</p> +<p>This was consented to unanimously; no one thought of piloting +vessels for the moment and earning food for their families. When +the country awarded a public funeral to our naval hero, it did not +pay him a more sincere tribute than was done in this instance by +five pilots in a galley. At Cawsand we obtained the newspaper, and +after a few pots of beer we again made sail for the mouth of the +Channel. It hardly need be observed that the account of this +winding-up, as it proved, of our naval triumphs, with the death of +Nelson, was the subject of conversation for more than one day. On +the third we were all separated, having fallen in with many +windbound vessels who required our services. The one I took charge +of was a West Indiaman, deeply laden with rum and sugar, one of a +convoy which were beating about in the Chops of the Channel. As we +were standing out from the English coast the captain and one of the +passengers were at the taffrail close to me.</p> +<p>"What do you think of the weather, pilot?" said the captain.</p> +<p>"I think we shall have a change of wind, and dirty weather +before twelve hours are over our heads," replied I.</p> +<p>"Well," said he, "that's my opinion. There is a cloud rising in +the southwest; and, look, there are some Mother Carey's chickens +dipping in the water astern."</p> +<p>"Where?" said the passenger, a curly-headed Creole, about twenty +years old.</p> +<p>"Those small birds," replied the captain, walking forward.</p> +<p>The passenger went down below, and soon returned with his +double-barreled fowling-piece.</p> +<p>"I have long wished to shoot one of those birds," said he; "and +now they are so near, I think I may get a shot."</p> +<p>He raised his piece several times without firing, when the +captain came aft, and, perceiving his intention, caught his arm as +he was about to level again.</p> +<p>"I beg your pardon, Mr. Higgins, but I really must request that +you will not fire at those birds."</p> +<p>"Why not?"</p> +<p>"Because I cannot permit it."</p> +<p>"But what's to hinder me?" replied the young man, coloring up; +"they are not in your manifest, I presume."</p> +<p>"No, sir, they are not; but I tell you frankly that I would not +kill one for a hundred pounds. Nay, I would as soon murder one of +my fellow-creatures."</p> +<p>"Well, that may be your feeling, but it's not mine."</p> +<p>"Nevertheless, sir, as it is, to say the least of it, very +unlucky, you will oblige me by yielding to my request."</p> +<p>"Nonsense!—just to humor your superstitious feeling."</p> +<p>"We are not in port yet, Mr. Higgins; and I must insist upon it +you do not fire. You have taken my gunpowder, and I cannot allow it +to be used in that way."</p> +<p>During this altercation I observed that many of the sailors had +come aft, and, although they said nothing, were evidently of the +same opinion as the captain. I was aware that there was a +superstitious feeling among the seamen relative to these birds, but +I had never seen it so strongly exemplified before.</p> +<p>The mate gave a wink to the captain, behind the passenger's +back, and made a motion to him to go forward, which the captain +did. The passenger again raised his gun, when it was seized by two +of the seamen.</p> +<p>"You must not fire at these birds, sir!" said one of them.</p> +<p>"Why, you scoundrel?—I'll give you the contents of both +barrels if you don't leave my gun alone."</p> +<p>"No, you won't—you're not among niggers now, master," +replied the seaman; "and as you have threatened to shoot me, I must +take the gun from you."</p> +<p>A scuffle ensued, during which both barrels were discharged in +the air, and the gun taken from Mr. Higgins, who was boiling with +rage. The gun was handed forward, and I saw it no more. Mr. +Higgins, in a state of great excitement, went down into the +cabin.</p> +<p>The captain then came aft to me, when I observed that I had no +idea that seamen were so very particular on that point; and I +thought that they had gone too far.</p> +<p>"You may think so, pilot," replied he, "but when I tell you that +I fully believe that these birds are as good as ourselves, you will +not be surprised—"</p> +<p>"How do you mean, as good as ourselves?"</p> +<p>"I believe that they <i>were</i> every one sailors like +ourselves in former times. They are now the sailors' friends, come +to warn us of the approaching storm, and I can tell you a +circumstance which occurred in the West Indies, which fully proves +to me that they are not wantonly killed without a judgment upon +those who do so. I never believed it myself till then; but old +Mason, who is now on board, was one of the seamen of the vessel in +which the circumstance happened."</p> +<p>"Indeed!" replied I, "I should like to hear it."</p> +<p>"I can't tell you now," said he; "I must go down and satisfy +that puppy Creole, whose sugars are on board. He will otherwise +make such a row between me and the owners that I may lose the +command of the vessel. And yet, would you imagine it? although he +will not credit what I tell him about Mother Carey's chickens, the +foolish young man firmly believes in the Obi."</p> +<p>I did not think one superstition more ridiculous than the other, +but still as I always found that it was useless to argue such +points, I said nothing, and the captain went down into the cabin to +pacify Mr. Higgins.</p> +<p>It was late in the first watch, and when the passengers had +retired to bed, that the captain came on deck. "Well," said he, "I +told Mr. Higgins my story, and as there was a bit of Obi nonsense +in it, he believed it, and he has not only made friends, but +thanked me for not having allowed him to shoot the birds; and now +I'll tell you the real story:</p> +<p>"A schooner was coming down from the Virgin Isles with sugar and +passengers to Antigua, where I was lying with my ship. She had a +fine young fellow of the name of Shedden on board; and, besides +other passengers, there was an old black woman, who, where she +resided, had always been considered as an Obi woman. I saw her +afterward; and you never beheld such a complication of wrinkles as +she was, from her forehead to her feet, and her woolly head was as +white as snow. They were becalmed as soon as they were clear of the +islands; and, as it happened, some Mother Carey's chickens were +flying about the stern. Shedden must needs get at his gun to shoot +them. The old black woman sat near the taffrail; she saw him with +his gun, but she said nothing. At last he fired, and killed three +of them.</p> +<p>"'There are three down!' cried out some of the other +passengers.</p> +<p>"'How many?' said the old woman, raising her head; +'<i>three!</i> Then count the sharks which are coming up.'</p> +<p>"'Count the sharks, mother! why count them? There's plenty of +them,' replied Shedden, laughing.</p> +<p>"'I tell you that there will be but three sent,' replied the old +woman, who then sunk down her head and said no more.</p> +<p>"Well, the negroes who were passengers on board, most of them +Mr. Shedden's slaves, looked very blank, for they knew that old +Etau never spoke without reason. In about ten minutes afterward, +three large sharks swam up to the vessel, with their fins above +water.</p> +<p>"'There's the three sharks, sure enough!' said the +passengers.</p> +<p>"'Are they come?' said Etau, raising her head.</p> +<p>"'Yes, moder, dere dey be—very large shark,' replied one +of the negroes.</p> +<p>"'Then three are doomed,' said the old woman, 'and here we stay, +and the waves shall not run, nor the wind blow, till the three +sharks have their food. I say three are doomed!'</p> +<p>"The passengers were more or less alarmed with this prophecy of +old Etau's, according as they put faith in her. However, they all +went to bed quite well, and the next morning they got up the same. +Still there was not a breath of wind, the whole sea was as smooth +as glass, and the vessel laid where she was the night before, in +about six fathoms of water, about a mile from the reef, and you +could see the coral rocks beneath her bottom as plain as if they +were high and dry; and what alarmed them the next morning was that +the three large sharks were still slowly swimming round and round +the schooner. All that day it remained a dead calm, and the heat +was dreadful, although the awnings were spread. Night came on, and +the people, becoming more frightened, questioned old Etau, but all +the answer she gave was, '<i>Three</i> are doomed!'</p> +<p>"The passengers and crew were now terrified out of their wits, +and they all went to bed with very melancholy forebodings, for the +elements appeared as if they were arrested till the penalty was +paid. For, you observe, pilot, there is always a light breeze as +regular as the sun rises and goes down; but now the breezes only +appeared to skirt the land, and when they came from the offing +invariably stopped two or three miles from the schooner. It was +about midnight that there was a stir in the cabin, and it appeared +that Mr. Shedden had the yellow fever, and shortly afterward +another white man, a sailor belonging to the schooner, then one of +Mr. Shedden's slaves. Well, there the fever stopped—no one +else was taken ill—the usual remedies were applied, but +before morning they were all three delirious. At sunrise it was +still calm, and continued so till sunset; and all the day the +passengers were annoyed by the back fins of the three sharks, which +continued to swim about. Again they went to bed, and just before +one o'clock in the morning Mr. Shedden, in his delirium, got out of +his bed, and, rushing on the deck, jumped overboard before any one +could prevent him; and old Etau, who never left where she sat, was +heard to say, '<i>One</i>!' and the bell was struck <i>one</i> by +the seaman forward, who did not know what had happened. Morning +came on again and there were but two sharks to be seen. About noon +the other white man died and he was thrown overboard; and as one +shark seized his body and swam away, old Etau cried out, +'<i>Two!</i>' An hour afterward the negro died, and was thrown +overboard and carried away by the third shark, and old Etau cried +out, '<i>Three!</i> the price is paid!'</p> +<p>"Well, every one crowded around the old woman to hear what she +would say, and they asked her if all was over, and whether they +should have any wind? and her reply was, 'When the three birds come +from the sea to replace those which were killed.' For you see, +pilot, if one of these birds is killed, it is certain that some one +of the crew must die and be thrown overboard to become a Mother +Carey chicken, and replace the one that has been destroyed. Well, +after a time, although we never saw them rise, three Mother Carey's +chickens were seen dipping and flying about astern of the schooner; +and they told old Etau, who said, 'You'll have wind and +plenty—and plenty of waves to make up for the calm;' and so +they had sure enough, for it came on almost a hurricane, and the +schooner scudded before it under bare poles until she arrived at +Antigua, with her bulwarks washed away, and a complete wreck. I was +there at the time, and old Mason, who was on board, told me the +story, and asked me to take him, as he would not remain on board of +the schooner. And now I leave you to judge, after knowing this to +be a fact, whether I was not right in preventing Mr. Higgins from +shooting the Mother Carey chickens?"</p> +<p>"Why, yes," replied I, "with such a <i>fact</i> before my eyes, +I should have done the same."</p> +<p>Mr. Higgins not venturing to kill any of these receptacles for +the souls of departed seamen, we arrived safely at the Downs, where +I gave up charge to a river pilot, for the other vessels which +Bramble and our companions had taken charge of were all bound to +the Downs, and arrived at nearly the same time that I did, and we +had agreed to embark again in the galley, and run out in quest of +the remainder of the convoy.</p> +<p>This we did on the following day, much to the vexation of Bessy, +who declared we only came on shore to be off again.</p> +<p>I ought to observe that Bessy and I had become much more +intimate since the explanation which had taken place; and although +it never entered my head that I should ever feel toward her more +than as a brother to a sister, I was pleased and soothed with the +touching proofs of kindness and commiseration which she took every +opportunity of showing toward me.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus403.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FORTY_TWO" id="CHAPTER_FORTY_TWO"></a>CHAPTER +FORTY-TWO</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>A heavy Gale, a Wreck, and a Rescue.</p> +</div> +<p>We had run out in our galley as far as the Start, when the +appearance of the weather became very threatening. It was just +about the time of the equinoctial gales, and there was a +consultation among us whether we should run into Torquay or return +to Deal.</p> +<p>Bramble observed, that as the gale coming on would, in all +probability, blow for three days, he thought it was no use +remaining all that time at Torquay, where we should be put to extra +expense, and that we should be better on shore at our own homes. +This remark decided the point, and about dusk we put the boat's +head along shore for up Channel. The wind was at that time about +S.S.W., but occasionally shifting a point or two. The sky had +become covered over with one black mass of clouds, which hung down +so low that they appeared almost to rest on the water; and there +was that peculiar fitful moaning which is ever the precursor of a +violent gale of wind. At nightfall we reefed our lug-sails; and, +while one sat at the helm, the rest of us lounged against the +gunnel, buttoned up in our pilot jackets; some shutting their eyes, +as if to invite sleep, others watching the waves, which now rose +fast, and danced and lapped at the weather broadside as if they +would fain have entered into the boat. But of that we had little +fear; our galley was one of the finest boats that ever swam, and we +felt as secure as if we were on board of a three-decked ship. As +the night advanced, so did the wind increase and the sea rise; +lightning darted through the dense clouds, and for a moment we +could scan the horizon. Everything was threatening; yet our boat, +with the wind about two points free, rushed gallantly along, rising +on the waves like a sea-bird, and sinking into the hollow of the +waters as if she had no fear of any attempt on their part to +overwhelm her. Thus did we continue to run on during the night, +every hour the gale increasing, the billows mounting up until they +broke in awful and majestic crests, and often so near to us that we +presented our backs in a close file against the weather bulwarks to +prevent any body of water from pouring in.</p> +<p>"We shall have light soon," observed one of the men.</p> +<p>"And we shall want it to beach the boat in such weather as +this," replied another. "We shall have it harder yet before +day."</p> +<p>"Depend upon it this will be a mischievous gale," observed +Bramble, "and our coast will be strewed with wrecks. Any ships +under canvas now, between the Channel shores, will stand but a poor +chance against this heavy sea, which bears down with such force. +I'd rather be in this boat now than in any vessel in +mid-Channel."</p> +<p>"And I had rather be on shore than in either," rejoined I.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom," said one of the pilots, "I do really believe you +this time."</p> +<p>When it was broad daylight, the coast to leeward presented a +wild and terrific scene, lashed as it was by the furious surf, +which dashed its spray half-way up the towering white cliffs, for +it was within two hours of high water. The waves were now really +mountains high, and their broad surfaces were pitted into little +waves by the force of the wind, which covered the whole expanse of +waters with one continued foam. On our weather bow a vessel with +her foremast gone was pitching heavily, and at times nearly buried +beneath the wild tumult. Her fate was sealed; to leeward were the +cliffs of the South Foreland, and on our lee-bow lay the shelving +beach of Deal.</p> +<p>"This will be awkward landing, shipmates," said Bramble; "and +yet we must try it. I'll fill my pipe—hope it won't be the +last."</p> +<p>Although not said in a serious manner, there were few of us +whose hearts did not flutter responsively to this surmise, for the +danger became every minute more imminent, and we knew what a +terrific surf there must be then running on the shingle beach. But +we now rapidly approached the shore; we were near to the floating +light, and in the roadstead not a vessel remained; all had weighed +and preferred being under what canvas they could bear. At last we +were within two cables' lengths of the beach, and even at this +distance from it we were surrounded with the breakers; the surf +broke many feet high, and roared as it rushed up with a velocity +that was appalling, dashing the foam right to the door of Bramble's +cottage, which was forty or fifty yards higher than it generally +gained to even in very bad weather. We now lowered our sails, +stowed them in the boat, and got our oars to pass, backing against +the surf to prevent it from forcing us on the beach until the +proper time.</p> +<p>It may not, perhaps, be known to many of my readers that there +is a sort of regularity even in the wild waves; that is, +occasionally a master wave, as it is termed, from being of larger +dimensions than its predecessors, pours its whole volume on the +beach; after which, by watching your time, you will find that two +waves will run into one another, and, as it were, neutralize each +other, so that, for a few seconds, you have what they call a +smooth; the safest plan of landing then is to watch these two +chances, either to run in on the master wave, or to wait till the +arrival of the smooth.</p> +<p>The latter is generally preferred, and with good reason, as +unless a boat can be forced in as fast as the master wave runs in, +you are worse off than if you had landed at any other time.</p> +<p>The helm had been resigned to Bramble, who ordered me to go +forward with the boat's painter, a long coil of rope, and stand +ready either to leap out with it or throw it to those on shore, as +might be most advisable; the other men were sitting on the thwarts, +their long oars in the rowlocks, backing out as desired, and all +ready to strain every nerve when the order was given by Bramble to +pull in.</p> +<p>The danger which we were about to incur was fully evident to the +crowds which were assembled on the beach; not only the pilots, who +stood there ready to assist us—some with ropes with iron +hooks at the end of them—others all ready to dart into the +surf to hold on the boat, or, if required, to link their arms +together, so as to form a living chain which the undertow could not +drag away with it; higher up, women and children, their clothes +driven by the furious gale, with one hand holding on their caps, +and with the other supporting themselves by the gunnels of the +boats hauled up, the capstans, or perhaps an anchor with its fluke +buried in the shingle, were looking on with dismay and with beating +hearts, awaiting the result of the venturous attempt, and I soon +discovered the form of Bessy, who was in advance of all the +others.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus408.jpg" id="illus408.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus408.jpg"><img src="images/thumb408.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>WRECK OF THE GALLEY.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 407.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>After a careful watching for perhaps two minutes on the part of +Bramble, he gave the word, and on dashed the galley toward the +strand, keeping pace with the wild surges, and although buried in +the foam, not shipping one drop of water.</p> +<p>"Now, my men, give way—for your lives, give way," cried +Bramble, as a cresting wave came towering on, as if in angry +pursuit of us. The men obeyed, but, in their exertions, the stroke +oar snapped in two, the man fell back, and prevented the one behind +him from pulling. Our fate was sealed; the surge poured over, and +throwing us broadside to the beach, we were rolled over and over in +the boiling surf. A cry was heard—a cry of terror and +despair—on the part of the women. I heard it as I was swept +away by the undertow, and the next wave poured over me; but all was +activity and energy on the part of the men who were on the beach: +the next wave that run in, they recovered me and two more by +linking their arms and allowing the surf to break over them. We +were so much bruised that we could not stand; they dragged us up, +and left us to the women. Bramble and four others were still +struggling for life; again two were saved—but the men on the +beach were exhausted by their strenuous exertions.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus410.jpg" id="illus410.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus410.jpg"><img src="images/thumb410.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>WE FOUND BOTH BRAMBLE AND BESSY CLINGING TO THE ROPE.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 409.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>I had just recovered myself so as to sit up, when I perceived +that they were not acting in concert as before; indeed, in the last +attempt, several of them had narrowly escaped with their own lives. +Bessy was now down among them wildly gesticulating; Bramble still +floated on the boiling surf, but no chain was again formed; the +wave poured in bearing him on its crest; it broke, and he was swept +away again by the undertow, which dragged him back with a confused +heap of singles clattering one over the other as they descended. I +saw him again, just as another wave several feet in height was +breaking over him—I felt that he was lost; when Bessy, with a +hook rope in her hand, darted toward him right under the wave as it +turned over, and as she clasped his body, they both disappeared +under the mountain surge. Another shriek was raised by the women, +while the men stood as if paralyzed. In my excitement I had gained +my legs, and I hastened to seize the part of the rope which +remained on the beach. Others then came and helped; we hauled upon +it, and found that there was weight at the end. Another sea poured +in; we hastily gathered in the slack of the rope, and when the +water retreated, we found both Bramble and Bessy clinging to the +rope. In a moment the men rushed down and hauled up the bodies. +Bramble had hold of the rope by both hands—it was the clutch +of death; Bessy had her arms round her father's neck; both were +senseless. The boatmen carried them up to the cottage, and the +usual methods of recovery were resorted to with success. Still we +had to lament the death of two of our best pilots, whose loss their +wives and children were loudly wailing, and whose bodies were not +found for many days afterward. Alas! they were not the only ones +who were lamented. Upward of three hundred vessels were lost during +that dreadful gale, and hardly a seaport or fishing town but +bewailed its many dead.</p> +<p>Whether it was that the women who attended Bessy were more +active than the men, or that she was younger, and her circulation +of blood was more rapid, or because she was a female, certain it is +that Bessy first recovered her speech, and her first question was, +"Where was her father?" Bramble did not speak, but fell into a +sleep immediately after he was brought to life. I had changed my +clothes, and was watching by him for an hour or more when he woke +up.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus412.jpg" id="illus412.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus412.jpg"><img src="images/thumb412.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>BRAMBLE HAD KNELT BY THE BEDSIDE, AND WAS EVIDENTLY IN +PRAYER.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 411.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"Ah! Tom, is that you? Where's Bessy?"</p> +<p>"She is in bed, but quite recovered."</p> +<p>"Quite recovered—I recollect. I say, Tom, ain't she a fine +creature? God bless her. Well, she owes me nothing now, at all +events. I think I should like to get up, Tom. I wonder whether I +smashed my old pipe on the shingle? Just look into my wet jacket. I +say, Tom, were they all saved?"</p> +<p>"No," I replied; "Fisher and Harrison were both drowned."</p> +<p>"Poor fellows! I wish they had been spared. Fisher has seven +children—and Harrison, he has a wife, I think."</p> +<p>"Yes, and two children, father."</p> +<p>"Poor woman! God's will be done! He giveth and He taketh away! +Tom, I must get up and see Bessy."</p> +<p>I assisted Bramble to dress, and as soon as he had put on his +clothes he went to Bessy's room. I stayed at the door. "You may +come in, Tom; she's muffled up in her blankets, and fast +asleep."</p> +<p>"Quite fast," said Mrs. Maddox; "she has slept more than an +hour. Dear heart, it will do her good."</p> +<p>Bramble kissed Bessy's pale forehead, but it did not waken her. +"Look, Tom," said Bramble, "look at that smooth, clear +skin—those pretty features. Look at the delicate creature! +and would you have thought that she would have dared what no man +dared to do—that she would have defied those elements raging +in their might, and have snatched their prey from their very grasp? +Did I ever imagine, when I brought her as a helpless baby on shore, +that she would ever have repaid the debt with such interest, or +that such a weak instrument should have been chosen by the Lord to +save one who otherwise must have perished? But His ways are not our +ways, and He works as He thinks fit. Bless you, bless you, my +Bessy—and may your fond heart never be again put to such +trial! Is she not beautiful, Tom? just like a piece of cold marble. +Thank Heaven, she is not dead, but sleepeth!"</p> +<p>I certainly never did look upon Bessy with so much interest; +there was something so beautifully calm in her countenance as she +lay there like an effigy on a tomb, hardly appearing to breathe; +and when I thought of the courage and devotion shown but a few +hours before by the present almost inanimate form, I bent over her +with admiration, and felt as if I could kneel before the beautiful +shrine which contained such an energetic and noble spirit. While +this was passing through my mind, Bramble had knelt by the bedside, +and was evidently in prayer. When he rose up he said, "Come away, +Tom: she is a maiden, and may feel ashamed if she awaken and find +us men standing by her bedside. Let me know when she wakes up, Mrs. +Maddox, and tell her I have been in to see her; and now, Tom, let's +go down. I never felt the want of a pipe so much as I do now."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus414.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FORTY_THREE" id= +"CHAPTER_FORTY_THREE"></a>CHAPTER FORTY-THREE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>A Scene in the Hospital, and a strange Discovery.</p> +</div> +<p>In a very few days Bramble and Bessy were sufficiently recovered +to resume their usual avocations; but the former expressed no +willingness to embark again, and Bessy's persuasions assisted to +retain him at the cottage. With me it was different. I was still +restless, and anxious for change; my feelings toward Bessy were +those of admiration and esteem, but not yet of love. Yet I could +not help recalling to mind the words of Bramble, "Observe how she +performs those duties which fall to her lot; if she is a good +daughter she will make a good wife." I felt that she would make a +good wife, and I wished that I could have torn from my bosom the +remembrance of Janet, and have substituted the form of Bessy in her +place. We had been at the cottage nearly a week, when I received a +letter from Anderson; he informed me that he had visited old Nanny, +who had made her will in due form, and confided to him, and that he +thought she was more inclined to listen to him than she had before +been; that my father and mother and sister were well, and that +Spicer had been obliged to go into the hospital with an abscess in +his knee, occasioned by running something into it, and that it was +reported that he was very ill, and, in all probability, amputation +must take place. I felt convinced that Spicer must have, in his +hasty retreat, fallen over the iron railings which lay on the +ground, and which had, as I mentioned, tripped me up; but with this +difference, that, as the spikes of the railing were from me, and +consequently I met with little injury, they must have been toward +him, and had penetrated his knee, and thus it was that he had +received the injury. Anderson also stated that they were very busy +at the hospital, receiving the men who had been maimed in the +glorious battle of Trafalgar. Altogether, I made up my mind that I +would take the first ship that was offered for pilotage up the +river, that I might know more of what was going on; and, as we sat +down to supper, I mentioned my intentions to Bramble.</p> +<p>"All's right. Tom, you're young, and ought to be moving; but +just now I intend to take a spell on shore. I have promised Bessy, +and how can I refuse her anything, dear girl? I don't mean to say +that I shall never pilot a vessel again, but I do feel that I am +not so young as I was, and this last affair has shaken me not a +little, that's the truth of it. There's a time for all things, and +when a man has enough he ought to be content, and not venture more. +Besides, I can't bear to make Bessy unhappy; so, you see, I've half +promised—only half, Bessy, you know."</p> +<p>"I think you would have done right if you had promised +altogether," replied I; "you have plenty to live upon, and are now +getting a little in years. Why should you not stay on shore, and +leave them to work who want the money?"</p> +<p>Bessy's eyes beamed gratefully toward me, as I thus assisted her +wishes. "You hear, father," said she, fondling him, "Tom agrees +with me."</p> +<p>"Ah!" replied Bramble, with a sigh, "if—but we cannot have +all we wish in this world."</p> +<p>Bessy and I both felt what he would have referred to, and we +were silent. She cast down her eyes, and appeared busy with her +fork, although she was eating nothing. I no longer felt the +repugnance that I had a short time before, and I was in deep +reverie, watching the changes of her beautiful countenance, when +she looked up. Our eyes met: she must have read my thoughts in +mine, for from that moment each hour increased our intimacy and +confidence. We were no longer afraid of each other.</p> +<p>A day or two after this conversation an opportunity was given to +me of going up the river, which I did not neglect; and having +delivered up charge of the ship, I hastened down to Greenwich. I +found everything in <i>statu quo</i> at my mother's house, and +Virginia much pleased at there being no lodgers. Anderson I met +walking with Ben the Whaler and my father. He told me that Spicer +had refused to have his leg amputated, when the surgeon had pointed +out the necessity of the operation; and that it was now said that +it was too late to have the operation performed, and that there was +little or no chance of his recovery. They asked me many questions +relative to the narrow escape of Bramble, and the behavior of +Bessy.</p> +<p>As soon as I could get away, I set off to the hospital to see +Spicer; for, as the reader must be aware, I had many reasons for +having communication with him—not that I expected that at +first he would acknowledge anything. I knew that his heart was +hardened, and that he had no idea of his danger; but I had his +secret—he was indeed in my power, and I hoped by terrifying +him to obtain the information which I wished.</p> +<p>I found him in bed, in the corner of the hospital ward, to the +left. He was looking very pale, and apparently was in great +pain.</p> +<p>"Spicer," said I, "I have come to see you; I am sorry to hear of +your accident. How is your leg? is it better?"</p> +<p>"No, not much," replied he, writhing, "I am in great pain; +another man would scream out with agony, but I'm like the +wolf—I'll die without complaint."</p> +<p>"But you don't think that you're going to die, Spicer?"</p> +<p>"No, Jack, I don't think that; I never have thought that, when I +have been worse than now. I'll never believe that I'm dead until I +find myself so. It must come some time or another, but I'm hale and +hearty in constitution as yet, and my time is not yet come."</p> +<p>"It was the iron railings which you fell over, was it not? I +fell over them myself the same night when I landed, on the Monday, +going up to old Nanny's."</p> +<p>"Who told you it was those cursed spikes? Well, well, so it was; +but not on the Monday, Jack, it was on the Wednesday."</p> +<p>"Nay, that cannot be; for on the Tuesday, as I went down to the +beach, I saw them all fixed up in the stonework, and soldered in. +It must have been on the Monday—the night on which old Nanny +was nearly smothered by some one who went in to rob her. I came +there just in time to save her life; indeed, if you recollect, you +were lame the next day, when I met you in the hospital."</p> +<p>"Well, Jack, you may think what you please; but I tell you it +was on the Wednesday."</p> +<p>"Then you must have fallen over something else."</p> +<p>"Perhaps I did."</p> +<p>"Well, it's of no consequence. I'm glad to find that you're so +much better, for I was told that the doctor had said—"</p> +<p>"What did the doctor say?" interrupted Spicer.</p> +<p>"Why, it's better to tell the truth; he said it was impossible +for you to get over it; that the inflammation was too great to +allow of amputation now, and that it must end in +mortification."</p> +<p>"He said that!" said Spicer, wildly, raising himself on his +elbow.</p> +<p>"Yes, he did; and it's known all over the hospital."</p> +<p>"Well," replied Spicer, "he may have said so; but I think I +ought to know best how I feel. He'll be here in half an hour or so, +and then I'll put the question to him. I'm a little tired, Jack, so +don't speak to me any more just now."</p> +<p>"Shall I go away, Spicer?"</p> +<p>"No, no, stay here. There's a book or two; read them till I feel +a little stronger."</p> +<p>That my communication had had an effect upon Spicer was evident. +He was startled at the idea of the near approach of death, which he +had not contemplated. Alas! who is not? He shut his eyes, and I +watched him; the perspiration trickled down his forehead. I took up +the book he had pointed out to me; it was the History of the +Buccaneers, with plates, and I thought then that it was a parallel +of Spicer's own career. I looked at the plates, for I was not much +inclined to read. In a few minutes Spicer opened his eyes. "I am +better now, Jack; the faintness has passed away. What book is that? +Oh, the Buccaneers. That and Dampier's Voyages were the only two +books of my father's library that I ever thought worth reading. +Have you ever read it?"</p> +<p>"No," replied I, "I never have. Will you lend it to me?"</p> +<p>"Yes; I'll give it to you, Jack, if you like."</p> +<p>"Thank you. Was your father a sailor, Spicer, as well as +you?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Jack; a sailor, every inch of him."</p> +<p>"Did you ever sail with him?"</p> +<p>"No, he died about the time that I was born." Here the doctor, +who was going round the wards, came up to Spicer and asked him how +he felt. "Pretty well, doctor," said he.</p> +<p>"Come, we must look at your leg, my man; it will require +dressing. Is it very painful?"</p> +<p>"Why, yes, sir; it has been very painful indeed all night."</p> +<p>The hospital mates unbandaged Spicer's leg, and took off the +poultices, and I was horrified when I saw the state which his leg +was in: one mass of ulceration from the middle of the thigh down to +half-way below his knee, and his ankle and foot swelled twice their +size, a similar inflammation extending up to his hip. The doctor +compressed his lips and looked very grave. He removed some pieces +of flesh, it was then cleaned and fresh poultices put on.</p> +<p>"Doctor," said Spicer, who had watched his countenance, "they +say in the hospital that you have stated that I cannot live. Now, I +should wish to know your opinion myself on this subject, as I +believe I am the most interested party."</p> +<p>"Why, my man," said the doctor, "you certainly are in great +danger, and if you have any affairs to settle, perhaps it will be +prudent so to do."</p> +<p>"That's a quiet way of saying there is no hope for me; is it +not, doctor?" replied Spicer.</p> +<p>"I fear, my good man, there is very little."</p> +<p>"Tell me plainly, sir, if you please," replied Spicer; "is there +<i>any</i>?"</p> +<p>"I am afraid that there is not, my good man; it's unpleasant to +say so, but perhaps it is kindness to tell the truth."</p> +<p>"Well, sir, that is honest. May I ask you how long I may expect +to live?"</p> +<p>"That will depend upon when the mortification takes place, about +three days; after that, my poor fellow, you will probably be no +more. Would you like the chaplain to come and see you?"</p> +<p>"Thank you, sir; when I do, I'll send for him."</p> +<p>The doctor and the attendants went away to the other patients. I +was silent. At last Spicer spoke.</p> +<p>"Well, Jack, you were right; so it is all over with me. Somehow +or another, although I bore up against it, I had an inkling of it +myself, the pain has been so dreadful. Well, we can die but once, +and I shall die game."</p> +<p>"Spicer," said I, "that you will die without fear I know very +well; but still, you know that you should not die without feeling +sorry for the sins you have committed, and praying for pardon. We +have all of us, the very best of us, to make our peace with Heaven; +so, had I not better tell the chaplain to come and talk with +you?"</p> +<p>"No, Jack, no; I want no parsons praying by my side. What's done +is done, and can't be undone. Go now, Jack, I wish to get a little +sleep."</p> +<p>"Shall I come and see you to-morrow, Spicer?"</p> +<p>"Yes, come when you will; I like to have some one to talk to; it +keeps me from thinking."</p> +<p>I wished him good day, and went away with the book in my hand. +Before I went home I sought out old Anderson and told him what had +passed. "He will not see the chaplain, Anderson, but perhaps he +will see you; and, by degrees, you can bring him to the subject. It +is dreadful that a man should die in that way."</p> +<p>"Alas for the pride of us wretched worms!" ejaculated Anderson; +"he talks of dying game—that is to say, he defies his Maker. +Yes, Jack, I will go and see him; and happy I am that he has a few +days to live. I will see him to-night, but will not say much to +him, or he might refuse my coming again."</p> +<p>I went home. I was not in a very gay humor, for the sight of +Spicer's leg, and the announcement of his situation, had made a +deep impression upon me. I sat down to read the book which Spicer +had made me a present of. I was interrupted by my mother requesting +me to go a message for her, and during my absence Virginia had +taken up the book.</p> +<p>"Who lent you this book, Tom?" said she, when I returned.</p> +<p>"Spicer, the man whom they call Black Sam, who is now dying in +the hospital."</p> +<p>"Well, that's not the name on the title-page—it is Walter +James, Tynemouth."</p> +<p>"Walter James, did you say, dear? Let me look! Even so."</p> +<p>"Why, what's the matter, Tom?" said my sister; "you look as if +you were puzzled."</p> +<p>And indeed I do not doubt but I did, for it at once recalled to +my mind that old Nanny's married name was <i>James</i>, and that +Spicer had said that his father was a sailor, and that he had died +at the time that he was born, which agreed with the narrative of +old Nanny. The conclusions which I came to in a moment made me +shudder.</p> +<p>"Well, my dear, I was surprised, if not frightened; but you +don't know why, nor can I tell you, for it's not my secret. Let me +look at the book again."</p> +<p>Here my father came in, and the conversation took a different +turn, which I was not sorry for. I wished, however, to be left to +my own reflections; so I soon afterward took up my candle and +retired to my room.</p> +<p>I turned the subject over in my mind in a hundred ways, but +could not come to any conclusion as to the best method of +proceeding. At last I thought I would see Peter Anderson the next +day, and take his advice. I was out immediately after breakfast; +but I could not find Anderson, so I walked to the hospital to see +Spicer. I found Anderson sitting by his bedside, but they were not +then conversing. After a short time Anderson rose, and giving a +slight shake of the head, as if to inform me that he had had no +success, he walked away.</p> +<p>"He has been trying to convert me," said Spicer, with a grim +smile.</p> +<p>"He has been trying, Spicer, to bring you to a sense of your +condition; and is he not kind? he can have no interest but your own +good. Do you think that no one knows the sins you have committed +except yourself?—there is one eye which sees all."</p> +<p>"Come, Jack, no preaching."</p> +<p>"Spicer, you are here under a false name, and you think no one +knows anything about you; but everything has been discovered by me; +and I cannot help thinking that it has been made known +providentially, and for your good."</p> +<p>"Ah!" replied Spicer, "and pray what do you know? Perhaps you +can tell me all the sins I have committed."</p> +<p>"No, Spicer, but perhaps I can tell you of sins which you +yourself are not aware of. But first answer me—you know that +you cannot live long, Spicer; will you acknowledge that what I +state is correct, should it really be so?"</p> +<p>"I give you my word that if you tell me anything about me which +is true, I will freely acknowledge it; so now, Mr. Fortuneteller, +here's my hand—it may be useful, you know, in helping your +discovery."</p> +<p>"I do not want your hand, Spicer—now hear me. Is not your +name James?—and were you not born at Tynemouth?"</p> +<p>Spicer started. "How did you find that out? Well, Tom, it is so, +and what then?"</p> +<p>"As you told me yourself, although I knew it before, your father +was lost at sea about the time that you were born. Spicer, I know +how you left your mother, and how you returned from <i>you know +where</i>—how you robbed her of every farthing, and left her +again destitute and in misery. Is there nothing to repent of in +that, Spicer?"</p> +<p>"Who the devil—"</p> +<p>"Nay, Spicer, the devil has had nothing to do with the +discovery."</p> +<p>"Strange, strange indeed," muttered Spicer; "but still, it is +true."</p> +<p>"Spicer, you know best how your life was passed from that time +until you came into the hospital; but it was to be hoped that when +laid up to rest in this haven, after such a stormy life, you would +have amended your life; but what have you done?"</p> +<p>"And what have I done?"</p> +<p>"What would have brought you to the gallows if I had not held my +tongue. You attempted to murder the old woman to obtain her money, +and, in escaping, you received the wound which soon will bring you +to your grave."</p> +<p>"What proofs?"</p> +<p>"Every proof: your stump struck me in the face when you rushed +out—the button was off your coat the next morning when I met +you—I had every proof, and, had I chosen, would have sworn on +the Bible to your having been the party."</p> +<p>"Well, I'll not deny it—why should I, when I cannot be +taken out of this bed to be tried, even if you wished? Have you +more to say?"</p> +<p>"Yes, more."</p> +<p>"I doubt it."</p> +<p>"Then hear me. The poor woman whom you would have murdered, whom +I found at her last gasp, and with difficulty restored to +consciousness, that poor woman, Spicer, is <i>your own +mother!</i>"</p> +<p>"God of heaven!" exclaimed he, covering his face.</p> +<p>"Yes, Spicer, your fond, indulgent mother, who thinks that you +suffered the penalty of the law many years ago, and whose energies +have been crushed by the supposed unhappy fate of her still loved +and lamented son. Spicer, this is all true, and have you now +nothing to repent of?"</p> +<p>"I thought her dead, long dead. God, I thank Thee that I did not +the deed; and, Jack, I am really grateful to you for having +prevented it. Poor old woman!—yes, she did love me, and how +cruelly I treated her!—and she is then still alive, and +thinks that I was hanged—yes, I recollect now, she must think +so. Oh! my brain, my brain!"</p> +<p>"Spicer, I must leave you now."</p> +<p>"Don't leave me, Jack—yes, do—come to-morrow +morning."</p> +<p>"Spicer, will you do me a favor?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"Will you see Anderson, and talk with him?"</p> +<p>"Yes, if you wish it; but not now. This evening I will, if he'll +come."</p> +<p>I left Spicer, well satisfied with what had passed, and hastened +to Anderson, to communicate it to him.</p> +<p>"A strange and providential discovery, Tom, indeed," said he, +"and good use it appears to me you have made of it. His heart is +softened, that is evident. I will certainly go to him this +evening."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus426.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FORTY_FOUR" id= +"CHAPTER_FORTY_FOUR"></a>CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Spicer discloses strange Matters.</p> +</div> +<p>The next day, when I called to see Spicer, I found him in great +pain. Anderson had been with him, but he had been in such agony +that he found it almost impossible to converse with him. Spicer did +not like that I should leave him, although he could not talk, and I +therefore remained by his bedside, occasionally assisting him to +move from one position to another, or to take the drink that was by +his bedside. Toward the evening he became more easy, and went to +sleep. I left him, therefore, till the next day. As I supposed, the +mortification had commenced, for the doctor told him so the next +morning, when he visited him, and the chaplain pointed out to him +that all hopes of living were now over. Spicer heard the +communication unmoved. He asked the doctor how long he might live, +and his reply was, it was possible four or five days, and that he +would feel no more pain. He was now able to listen to Anderson, and +he did so. I shall not trouble the reader with repeating what +Anderson imparted to me, as I can give him an idea of Spicer's +feelings by what passed between us.</p> +<p>"Tom," said he, "I have led a very wicked life, so wicked that I +hate to think of it, and I hate myself. I believe all that Anderson +and the chaplain tell me, and I find that I may hope and do hope +for mercy; but I can't cry, or wail, or tear my hair. The fact is, +Tom, I can't feel afraid. If I am pardoned, and I do scarcely +expect it, I shall be all gratitude, as well I may. Should I be +condemned, I shall acknowledge my punishment just, and not +complain, for I have deserved all; but I cannot feel fear. I +believe I ought; but it is not in my nature, I suppose."</p> +<p>"But you do not feel anything like defiance, Spicer?"</p> +<p>"No, God forbid! no, nothing like that, but my spirit cannot +quail."</p> +<p>He was very anxious for the chaplain the last two days of his +life, and I really believe was <i>sincere</i> in his repentance; +but before I wind up his history, I will narrate to the reader +those portions of his life which are unknown, and which are +necessary to the explanation of other matters.</p> +<p>He told me that when he first went to sea he had joined a vessel +employed in the slave trade, that he had left it at Gambia, and +shipped on board of a vessel which was about to cruise on the +Spanish Main. He was some time in her, and had been appointed +second officer, when he resolved to fit out a vessel and cruise for +himself. He had therefore quitted the vessel at Surinam, and worked +his passage home in a sugar ship.</p> +<p>It was on his return home this time that, as old Nanny had told +me, he had taken to gaming, and eventually had robbed his mother. +With the two thousand pounds in his pocket, he had repaired to +Liverpool, where he fell in with Fitzgerald, a young man who had +served as first mate in the vessel in which they had cruised on the +Spanish Main, and to him he had proposed to join him as first +officer in the vessel which he was about to fit out. It appeared +that this young man had but a few days returned from Ireland, where +he had married a young woman, to whom he had been some time +attached, and that his disinclination to leave his young wife made +him at first refuse the offer made by Spicer. Spicer, however, who +was aware of his value, would not lose sight of him, and contrived, +when Fitzgerald had taken too much wine, to win of him, by unfair +means, about one thousand five hundred pounds. Spicer then offered +Fitzgerald a release from the debt, provided he would sail with +him; and he exacted as a further condition that he should not +return and take a farewell of his wife. To these harsh terms +Fitzgerald, being without means of liquidating the debt, consented, +and they sailed accordingly.</p> +<p>"And now, Jack, I will tell you why I was so curious about that +spy-glass. I knew the moment that I saw it in your hands that it +was one that belonged to Fitzgerald when we were on our first +cruise together. It was the best glass I ever met with. When we +left Liverpool this time, I asked him for the spy-glass, and he +told me that, expecting to return to his wife before he sailed, he +had left it at home. How it came into the lady's hands I can't +tell."</p> +<p>"I never said that Lady Hercules gave it to me," replied I; +"although I did not undeceive you when you thought so. The fact is, +it was given me by a very pretty young Irish widow."</p> +<p>"Then, Jack, I should not wonder if she was the wife of +Fitzgerald, whom I have been talking about; but that I leave to +you. Let me finish my story. When we arrived on the Spanish coast I +had as fine a crew with me as ever were on board of a vessel; but I +had long made up my mind that I would hoist the black flag. Yes, +Jack, it is but too true. But when I proposed it, Fitzgerald +declared that the first act of piracy that was committed he would +leave the vessel. I tried all I could to persuade him, but in vain. +However, we did take an English vessel, and plundered her. Upon +this Fitzgerald protested, and half the crew, at least, joined him. +I threatened the men to shoot them through the head; but they were +resolute; and, being rather the stronger party, I dared not make +any attempt. They insisted upon leaving the vessel; and I, not +being able to help it, landed them all in the Bay of Honduras, +where I thought it very possible they would be taken by the +Spaniards and imprisoned, if not hanged. They were imprisoned; but, +after some time, they were released. The desertion of Fitzgerald +and the other men left me with my vessel half manned; and I vowed +vengeance against him if ever I had an opportunity. I now cruised +as a pirate, and was very successful, and my name was a terror to +those seas. A high reward was offered for me, dead or alive, which +pleased me much, and I became more murderous than ever. Jack, all +this rises up in judgment against me now; and I recollect every +single life taken away by me, or by my orders, as well as if I had +noted them down in a book. May God forgive me!" continued Spicer, +covering his eyes up for a time.</p> +<p>After a pause he continued: "I had ordered a vessel with a +valuable cargo to be taken on to a rendezvous we had in the Caicos; +but it was recaptured and taken into Port Royal, Jamaica. As the +proofs of the piracy were well established, the men on board were +thrown into prison to take their trial. I heard of this, for I was +often on shore in disguise in one island or another, and a scheme +entered my head which I thought would benefit myself and wreak my +vengeance upon Fitzgerald. But I must leave off now. Here comes the +chaplain; he promised to talk with me this evening, and you see +that I have changed my opinion on that point, praised be God for +it. Good-night, Jack; come to-morrow."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus431.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FORTY_FIVE" id= +"CHAPTER_FORTY_FIVE"></a>CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Spicer's Death.</p> +</div> +<p>When I saw Spicer again he continued his narrative:</p> +<p>"I told you that I was anxious to wreak my vengeance upon +Fitzgerald, and the plan which I hit upon was as follows: I +contrived to get to Port Royal, and to speak to the two men whom I +had been on the best of terms with. I told them that the only +chance of escape would be for them to give their names as those of +<i>James</i>, which was mine, and of <i>Fitzgerald</i>, the first +officer; and I explained to them why; because Fitzgerald and I had +saved the life of the daughter of one of the chief planters, who, +in gratitude, had promised that he would assist us if we were ever +in difficulty. I told them that they must adhere to what they said, +as they would be condemned with the others, but that a reprieve +would be given when they were on the scaffold."</p> +<p>"But why should you have done this?" inquired I.</p> +<p>"First, because I wished people to believe that I was dead, that +there might not be so great a hue and cry after me, and the +temptation of so high a reward; next, because I knew that +Fitzgerald was still in prison, and that his wife would read the +account of his execution in the newspapers, which I hoped would +break her heart, and so make him miserable."</p> +<p>"Oh, Spicer, that was too cruel."</p> +<p>"It was, but my plan succeeded. The men gave our names, went to +the scaffold expecting a reprieve, and were hanged."</p> +<p>"And thus it is that your poor mother thinks even now that you +were hanged," said I.</p> +<p>"Even so, Jack, even so. Well, after a time I quitted my vessel +and returned to England; for I was actually tired of bloodshed, and +I had collected a great deal of money. On my arrival I inquired +after Fitzgerald. It appeared that his wife had heard the account +of his execution; and, as her bonnet was found by the side of the +mill-dam, it was supposed that she had destroyed herself. +Fitzgerald returned home, and was distracted at the intelligence. I +have always thought that she was dead; but, by what you say, Jack, +I now doubt it."</p> +<p>"And Fitzgerald, Spicer, what became of him?"</p> +<p>"I really cannot tell. I heard that he had entered on board of a +King's ship, but not under his own name. How far that was true or +not I cannot say; but I have every reason to believe that such was +the case."</p> +<p>"And how came you on board of a man-of-war?"</p> +<p>"Why, that's soon told, I spent my money, or lost it all in +gambling, went out again, obtained command of a vessel, and did +well for some time; but I was more tyrannical and absolute than +ever. I had shot five or six of my own men, when the crew mutinied, +and put me and two others who had always supported me in an open +boat, and left us to our fate. We were picked up by a frigate going +to the East Indies when we were in the last extremity. And now, +Jack, I believe you have my whole history. I am tired now, and must +go to sleep; but, Jack, I wish you to come to-morrow morning, for I +have something to say to you of great importance. Good-by, Jack; +don't forget."</p> +<p>I promised Spicer that I would not fail, and quitted the +hospital. When I called again upon him, I found him very low and +weak; he could not raise himself from his pillow. "I feel that I am +going now, Jack," said he—"going very fast—I have not +many hours to live; but, I thank Heaven, I am not in any pain. A +man who dies in agony cannot examine himself—cannot survey +the past with calmness or feel convinced of the greatness of his +offenses. I thank God for that; but, Jack, although I have +committed many a foul and execrable murder, for which I am full of +remorse—although I feel how detestable has been my +life—I tell you candidly that, although those crimes may +appear to others more heavy than the simple one of theft, to me the +one that lies most heavy on my soul is the robbing of my poor +mother, and my whole treatment of her. Jack, will you do one favor +to a dying man?—and it must be done soon, or it will be too +late. Will you go to my poor mother, acquaint her with my being +here, still alive, and that my hours are numbered, and beg for me +forgiveness? Obtain that for me, Jack—bring that to me, and +so may you receive forgiveness yourself!"</p> +<p>"I will, Spicer," replied I, "I will go directly; and I have +little fear but that I shall succeed."</p> +<p>"Go then, Jack; don't tarry, for my time is nearly come."</p> +<p>I left the hospital immediately, and hastened to old Nanny's. I +found her very busy sorting a lot of old bottles which she had just +purchased.</p> +<p>"Well, Jack," said she, "you are just come in time to help me. I +was just a-saying if Jack was to call now he'd be of some use, for +I can't well reach so high as the shelf where I put the bottles on, +and when I get on a stool my old head swims."</p> +<p>"Mother," said I, "suppose you put down the bottles for a little +while, as I have that to say to you which must not be delayed."</p> +<p>"Why, what's the matter, boy? And how pale you look! What has +happened? You don't want money, do you?"</p> +<p>"No, mother, I want no money; I only want you to listen to +matters important, which I must disclose to you."</p> +<p>"Well, well, what is it? about the fellow who tried to rob me, I +suppose. I told you before, Jack, I won't hurt him, for my poor +boy's sake."</p> +<p>"It is about your poor boy I would speak, mother," replied I, +hardly knowing how to begin. "Now, mother, did you not tell me that +he was hanged at Port Royal?"</p> +<p>"Yes, yes; but why come and talk about it again?"</p> +<p>"Because, mother, you seem to feel the disgrace of his being +hanged so much."</p> +<p>"Well, to be sure I do—then why do you remind me of it, +you bad boy? It's cruel of you, Jack; I thought you kinder."</p> +<p>"Mother, it is because you do feel it so much that I have come +to tell you that you have been deceived. Your son was not +hanged."</p> +<p>"Not hanged! Why, Jack, are you sure?"</p> +<p>"Yes, mother, quite sure."</p> +<p>"Not hanged, quite sure—"</p> +<p>Here old Nanny burst out into a wild laugh, which ended in +sobbing and tears. I was obliged to wait some minutes before she +was composed enough to listen to me; at last I said, "Mother, I +have more to say, and there is no time to be lost."</p> +<p>"Why no time to be lost, my dear boy?" said she. "Oh! now that +you have told me this, I could dwell for hours—ay, +days—more. I shall dwell my whole life upon this kind +news."</p> +<p>"But listen to me, mother, for I must tell you how I discovered +this."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, Jack—do, that's a good boy. I am quite calm +now," said Nanny, wiping her eyes with her apron.</p> +<p>I then acquainted her with what Spicer had told me relative to +his inducing the man to take his name, and continued the history of +Spicer's life until I left him on board of a man-of-war.</p> +<p>"But where is he now? And who told you all this?"</p> +<p>"He told me so himself," replied I. "He has been in the hospital +some time, and living here close to you, without either of you +being aware of it. But, mother, he is now ill—very ill in the +hospital; he would not have confessed all this if he had not felt +how ill he was."</p> +<p>"Deary, deary me!" replied old Nanny, wringing her hands; "I +must go see him."</p> +<p>"Nay, mother, I fear you cannot. The fact is that he is dying, +and he has sent me to ask your forgiveness for his conduct to +you."</p> +<p>"Deary, deary me!" continued old Nanny, seemingly half out of +her wits; "in the hospital, so near to his poor mother—and +dying. Dear Jemmy!"</p> +<p>Then the old woman covered up her face with her apron and was +silent. I waited a minute or two, and then I again spoke to +her.</p> +<p>"Will you not answer my question, mother? Your son has but an +hour perhaps to live, and he dies penitent not only for his conduct +to you, but for his lawless and wicked life; but he feels his +treatment of you to be worse than all his other crimes, and he has +sent me to beg that you will forgive him before he dies. Answer me, +mother."</p> +<p>"Jack," said Nanny, removing the apron from her face, "I feel as +if it was I who ought to ask his pardon, and not he who should ask +mine. Who made him bad?—his foolish mother. Who made him +unable to control his passions?—his foolish mother. Who was +the cause of his plunging into vice—of his intemperance, of +his gaming, of his wild and desperate career—which might have +ended, as I supposed it had done, on the gallows—but a +foolish, weak, selfish mother, who did not do her duty to him in +his childhood? It is I who was his great enemy—I who assisted +the devil to lead him to destruction—I who, had he been +hanged, had been, and have felt for years that I was, his +executioner. Can I forgive him! Can <i>he</i> forgive +<i>me</i>?"</p> +<p>"Mother, his time is short—I will come to you again, and +tell you much more. But if you knew how earnest he is to have your +forgiveness before he dies, you would at once send me away to +him."</p> +<p>"Then go, my child—go, and may you often be sent on such +kind missions! Go, and tell my poor James that his mother forgives +him—begs to be forgiven—still dotes upon him—and +God knows with how much pleasure would die for him! Go quick, +child—the sands of the glass run fast—quick, +child—the dying cannot wait—quick—quick!"</p> +<p>Nanny had risen from her stool and taken me by the arm; when we +were clear of the threshold she loosed me, and sank down to the +earth, whether overcome by her feelings, or in a state of +insensibility, I did not wait to ascertain—I fled to execute +my mission before it was too late.</p> +<p>In a few minutes I was at the hospital—breathless, it was +true. I went in, and found Spicer still alive, for his eyes turned +to me. I went up to him; the nurse, who was standing by him, told +me he was speechless, and would soon be gone. I told her I would +remain with him, and she went to the other patients. I gave him his +mother's message, and he was satisfied; he squeezed my hand, and a +smile, which appeared to illumine like a rainbow his usual dark and +moody countenance, intimated hope and joy; in a few seconds he was +no more, but the smile continued on his features after death.</p> +<p>I then returned to old Nanny, who, I found, had been put into +bed by some neighbors, and at her bedside was Mrs. St. Felix, who +had been passing by and had observed her situation. She was now +recovered and quiet. As soon as they had left her I entered into a +more full detail of how I became acquainted with the circumstances +which led to the discovery. I did not conceal from her that it was +her own son who had attempted the robbery; and I wound up by +stating that he had died, I really believed, not only penitent, but +happy from having received her forgiveness.</p> +<p>"Jack—Jack—you have been as good as an angel to me, +indeed you have. It was you also who prevented my poor James from +killing his mother—it is you that have been the means of his +making his peace with Heaven. Bless you, Jack, bless you!"</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus437.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FORTY_SIX" id="CHAPTER_FORTY_SIX"></a>CHAPTER +FORTY-SIX</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which Mrs. St. Felix refuses a splendid Offer, which I am +duly empowered to make to her.</p> +</div> +<p>I left old Nanny as soon as she was more composed, for I was so +anxious to have some conversation with old Anderson. I did not call +on my father, as it was not a case on which he was likely to offer +any opinion, and I thought it better that the secret which I +possessed should be known but to one other person. I refer to the +knowledge which I had obtained relative to the husband of Mrs. St. +Felix, who, it appeared, was not hanged, as supposed by her. The +information received from Spicer accounted for Mrs. St. Felix's +conduct when any reference was made to her husband, and I was now +aware how much pain she must have suffered when his name was +mentioned. I found Anderson alone in his office, and I immediately +made him acquainted with what I had learned, and asked him his +opinion as to the propriety of communicating it to Mrs. St. Felix. +Anderson rested his head upon his hand for some time in silence; at +last he looked up at me.</p> +<p>"Why, Tom, that she suffers much from the supposed ignominious +fate of her husband is certain, but it is only occasionally; her +spirits are good, and she is cheerful, except when reminded of it +by any casual observation. That it would prove a great consolation +to her to know that her husband did not forfeit his life on the +scaffold is true; but what then? he is said to have entered the +King's service under another name, and, of course, there is every +probability of his being alive and well at this moment. Now she is +comparatively tranquil and composed; but consider what anxiety, +what suspense, what doubts, must ever fill her mind, must oppress +her waking hours, must haunt her in her dreams, after she is made +acquainted with his possible existence. Hope deferred maketh the +heart sick; and her existence would be one of continued tumult, of +constant anticipation, and I may say of misery. He may be dead, and +then will her new-born hopes be crushed when she has ascertained +the fact; he may never appear again, and she may linger out a life +of continual fretting. I think, Tom, that were she my daughter, and +I in possession of similar facts, I would not tell her—at +least, not at present. We may be able to make inquiries without her +knowledge. We know his name; an advertisement might come to his +eyes or ears; and, moreover, you have the telescope, which may be +of use if it is constantly seen in your hands. Let us at present do +all we can without her knowledge, and leave the result in the hands +of Providence, who, if it thinks fit, will work by its own means. +Are you of my opinion, Tom?"</p> +<p>"When I came to ask your advice, Anderson, it was with the +intention of being guided by it, even if it had not coincided with +my own opinion, which, now that I have heard your reasons, it +certainly does. By the bye, I have not yet called upon Mrs. St. +Felix, and I will go now. You will see old Nanny again?"</p> +<p>"I will, my boy, this evening. Good-by! I'm very busy now, for +the officers will inspect to-morrow morning."</p> +<p>I quitted the hospital, and had arrived in Church Street, when, +passing the doctor's house on my way to Mrs. St. Felix, Mr. Thomas +Cobb, who had become a great dandy, and, in his own opinion at +least, a great doctor, called to me, "Saunders, my dear fellow, +just come in, I wish to speak with you particularly." I complied +with his wishes. Mr. Cobb was remarkable in his dress. Having +sprung up to the height of at least six feet in his stockings, he +had become remarkably thin and spare, and the first idea that +struck you when you saw him was that he was all pantaloons; for he +wore blue cotton net tight pantaloons, and his Hessian boots were +so low, and his waistcoat so short, that there was at least four +feet, out of the sum total of six, composed of blue cotton net, +which fitted very close to a very spare figure. He wore no cravat, +but a turn-down collar with a black ribbon, his hair very long, +with a very puny pair of mustachios on his upper lip, and something +like a tuft on his chin. Altogether, he was a strange-looking +being, especially when he had substituted for his long coat a short +nankeen jacket, which was the case at the time I am speaking +of.</p> +<p>"Well, Mr. Cobb, what maybe your pleasure with me? You must not +detain me long, as I was about to call on Mrs, St. Felix."</p> +<p>"So I presumed, my dear sir," replied he; "and for that very +reason I requested you to walk in. Take a chair. Friendship, Tom, +is a great blessing; it is one of the charms of life. We have known +each other long, and it is to tax your friendship that I have +requested you to come in."</p> +<p>"Well, be as quick as you can, that's all," replied I.</p> +<p>"<i>Festina lent</i>, as Dr. Tadpole often says, adding that it +is Latin for hat and boots. I am surprised at his ignorance of the +classics; any schoolboy ought to know that <i>caput</i> is the +Latin for hat, and <i>Boötes</i> for boots. But lately I have +abandoned the classics, and have given up my soul to poetry."</p> +<p>"Indeed!"</p> +<p>"Yes; 'Friendship and Love' is my toast, whenever I am called +upon at the club. What does Campbell say?"</p> +<p>"I'm sure I don't know."</p> +<p>"I'll tell you, Tom—</p> +<p class="blockquot">"'Without the smile from heav'nly beauty +won,<br /> +Oh, what were man? A world without a sun.'"</p> +<p>"Well, I daresay it's all true," replied I; "for if a woman does +not smile upon a man he's not very likely to marry her, and +therefore has no chance of having a <i>son</i>."</p> +<p>"Tom, you have no soul for poetry."</p> +<p>"Perhaps not; I have been too busy to read any."</p> +<p>"But you should; youth is the age of poetry."</p> +<p>"Well, I thought it was the time to work; moreover, I don't +understand how youth can be age. But pray tell me what is it you +want of me, for I want to see Mrs. St. Felix before +dinner-time."</p> +<p>"Well, then, Tom, I am in love—deeply, desperately, +irrevocably, and everlastingly in love."</p> +<p>"I wish you well out of it," replied I, with some bitterness. +"And pray with whom may you be so dreadfully in love—Anny +Whistle?"</p> +<p>"Anny Whistle!—to the winds have I whistled her long ago. +No, that was a juvenile fancy. Hear me. I am in love with the +charming widow."</p> +<p>"What, Mrs. St. Felix?"</p> +<p>"Yes. Felix means happy in Latin, and my happiness depends upon +her. I must either succeed, or—Tom, do you see that +bottle?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"Well, it's laudanum; that's all."</p> +<p>"But, Tom, you forget; you certainly would not supplant your +patron, your master, I may say your benefactor—the +doctor?"</p> +<p>"Why not? he has tried, and failed. He has been trying to make +an impression upon her these ten years, but it's <i>no go</i>. +Ain't I a doctor, as good as he? Ay, better, for I'm a young +doctor, and he is an old one! All the ladies are for me now. I'm a +very rising young man."</p> +<p>"Well, don't rise much higher, or your head will reach up to the +shop ceiling. Have you anything more to say to me?"</p> +<p>"Why, I have hardly begun. You see, Tom, the widow looks upon me +with a favorable eye, and more than once I have thought of popping +the question over the counter; but I never could muster up courage, +my love is so intense. As the poet says—</p> +<p class="blockquot">"'Silence in love betrays more woe<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Than words, howe'er so +witty;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The beggar that is dumb, you +know,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Deserves our double +pity.'</span></p> +<p>"Now, Tom, I wish to tax your friendship. I wish you to speak +for me."</p> +<p>"What, speak to Mrs. St. Felix?"</p> +<p>"Yes, be my embassador. I have attempted to write some verses; +but somehow or another I never could find rhymes. The poetic +feeling is in me, nevertheless. Tell me, Tom, will you do what I +ask?"</p> +<p>"But what makes you think that the widow is favorably +inclined?"</p> +<p>"What? why, her behavior, to be sure. I never pass her but she +laughs or smiles. And then the doctor is evidently jealous; accuses +me of making wrong mixtures; of paying too much attention to dress; +of reading too much; always finding fault. However, the time may +come—I repeat my request; Tom, will you oblige me? You ought +to have a fellow-feeling."</p> +<p>This last remark annoyed me. I felt convinced that Mrs. St. +Felix was really laughing at him, so I replied, "I shall not refuse +you, but recollect that he who has been so unsuccessful himself is +not likely to succeed for others. You shall have your answer very +soon."</p> +<p>"Thanks, Tom, thanks. My toast, as I said before, when called +upon, is 'Friendship and Love.'"</p> +<p>I quitted the shop, and went into that of Mrs. St. Felix, who, I +thought, looked handsomer than ever.</p> +<p>"Come at last, Tom!" said the widow, extending her hand. "I +thought you would have called yesterday. Your sister was here."</p> +<p>"I have been less pleasantly engaged. You know that Spicer is +dead."</p> +<p>"One of the pensioners—I never saw him that I know of, but +I heard old Ben mention his death this morning, and that you were +with him. Was he a friend of yours?"</p> +<p>"No, indeed, I thought you knew something of him, or I should +not have mentioned his name." I then changed the conversation, +telling her what had passed at Deal, and listening to her remarks +upon old Nanny, my mother, and our mutual acquaintances.</p> +<p>"And the doctor—how is he?"</p> +<p>"As busy as ever. I'm sorry, however, that he complains very +much of Tom Cobb, and says that he must dismiss him. He has made +some very serious mistakes in mixing the medicines, and nearly +killed five or six people."</p> +<p>"Had he killed them outright, their deaths must have been laid +at your door," replied I, very seriously.</p> +<p>"Good Heavens! what do you mean, Tom?"</p> +<p>"I mean this, that your bright eyes have fascinated him; and +that, to use his own expression, he is deeply, desperately, +irrevocably, and everlastingly in love with <i>you</i>."</p> +<p>Here Mrs. St. Felix burst out in a laugh so violent that I +thought that it would end in hysterics. As soon as she had +recovered herself, I continued:</p> +<p>"It is all true, and independent of the five or six people half +killed, you will have to answer for a <i>whole</i> death besides, +for Tom has intimated to me that if he fails in his suit he will +have recourse to the big bottle of laudanum. You must further know +that he has taxed my friendship to make known to you his deplorable +condition, being unequal to the task himself."</p> +<p>"He must be mad," observed Mrs. St. Felix, quietly.</p> +<p>"He flatters himself that you have given him encouragement. I +asked in what way; he says you always laugh at him."</p> +<p>"True as the Bible—I can't help laughing at such a droll +figure as he makes of himself. Mercy on me! what are men made of? +Well, Tom, I'm sure I ought to be flattered, for (let it be a +secret between us, Tom) this is the second offer I have received +within these twenty-four hours."</p> +<p>"The doctor, I presume; Tom says that he is jealous."</p> +<p>"I mention no names. This is all very foolish."</p> +<p>"But you have not yet rejected both. Tom awaits his answer."</p> +<p>"Tell him anything that you please. By the bye, you may just as +well add that, instead of taking the laudanum, he had better resort +to his old remedy—of liquorice and water. It will look just +as killing in the phial, and not be quite so fatal in its +results."</p> +<p>"I shall certainly execute your commission in as delicate a way +as I possibly can."</p> +<p>"Do, Tom, and pray let me hear no more of this nonsense, for, +ridiculous as it may appear, it is to me very painful. Leave +now—I am nervous and low-spirited. Good-by. Come this evening +with your sister, I shall be better then."</p> +<p>Mrs. St. Felix went into the back parlor, and I left the shop. I +had turned the wrong way, almost forgetting to give Tom his answer, +when I recollected myself, and returned to the doctor's house.</p> +<p>"Well?" said Tom, eagerly.</p> +<p>"Why," replied I, hardly having made my mind up what to say, yet +not wishing to hurt his feelings, "the fact is, Tom, that the widow +has a very good opinion of you."</p> +<p>"I knew that," interrupted Tom.</p> +<p>"And if she were ever to marry again—why, you would have +quite as good a chance as the doctor."</p> +<p>"I was sure of that," said he.</p> +<p>"But at present, the widow—for reasons which she cannot +explain to anybody—cannot think of entering into any new +engagement."</p> +<p>"I see—no regular engagement."</p> +<p>"Exactly so; but as soon as she feels herself at +liberty—"</p> +<p>"Yes," said Tom, breathless.</p> +<p>"Why, then she'll send, I presume, and let you know."</p> +<p>"I see, then, I may hope."</p> +<p>"Why, not exactly—but there will be no occasion to take +laudanum."</p> +<p>"Not a drop, my dear fellow, depend upon it."</p> +<p>"There is no saying what may come to pass, you see, Tom: two, or +three, or four years may—"</p> +<p>"Four years—that's a very long time."</p> +<p>"Nothing to a man sincerely in love."</p> +<p>"No, nothing—that's very true."</p> +<p>"So all you have to do is to follow up your profession quietly +and steadily, and wait and see what time may bring forth."</p> +<p>"So I will—I'll wait twenty years, if that's all."</p> +<p>I wished Tom good-by, thinking that it was probable that he +would wait a great deal longer; but at all events, he was pacified +and contented for the time, and there would be no great harm done, +even if he did continue to make the widow the object of his passion +for a year or two longer. It would keep him out of mischief, and +away from Anny Whistle.</p> +<p>On my return home I met with a severe shock, in consequence of +information which my mother did not scruple to communicate to me. +Perhaps it was all for the best, as it broke the last link of an +unhappy attachment. She informed me very abruptly that the shutters +of Mr. Wilson's house were closed in consequence of his having +received intelligence of the death of Lady ——. Poor +Janet had expired in her first confinement, and the mother and +child were to be consigned to the same tomb. This intelligence +drove me to my chamber, and I may be considered weak, but I shed +many tears for her untimely end. I did not go with my sister to +Mrs. St. Felix, but remained alone till the next day, when Virginia +came, and persuaded me to walk with her to the hospital, as she had +a message for my father.</p> +<p>After we had seen my father we walked down to the hospital +terrace, by the riverside. We had been there but a few minutes when +we heard Bill Harness strike up with his fiddle:</p> +<p class="blockquot">Oh, cruel was my parents as tore my love from +me,<br /> +And cruel was the press-gang as took him off to sea;<br /> +And cruel was the little boat as row'd him from the strand,<br /> +But crueler the big ship as sail'd him from the land.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 8em;">Sing tura-la, tura-la, tura-lara +ley.</span><br /> +<br /> +Oh, cruel was the water as bore my love from Mary,<br /> +And cruel was the fair wind as wouldn't blow contrary;<br /> +And cruel was the captain, his boatswain, and his men,<br /> +As didn't care a farding if we never meet again.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 8em;">Sing tura-la, tura-la, tura-lara +ley.</span><br /> +<br /> +Oh, cruel was th' engagement in which my true love fought,<br /> +And cruel was the cannon-ball as knock'd his right eye out;<br /> +He used to ogle me with peepers full of fun,<br /> +But now he looks askew at me, because he's only one.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 8.5em;">Sing tura-la, etc., +etc.</span></p> +<p>"Eh! wid your turla-la. You call dat singing?" cried Opposition +Bill, stumping up, with his fiddle in his hand. "Stop a little. How +you do, Mr. Tom? how you do, pretty lady? Now I sing you a song, +and show dat fellow how to make music. Stop a little, Miss +Virginny."</p> +<p>"Well," said Bill Harness, "I'll just let you sing, that Miss +Saunders may judge between us."</p> +<p>Virginia felt half inclined to go away; but as the pensioners +always treated her with as much respect as any of the ladies of the +officers of the hospital, I pressed her arm that she might stay. +Opposition Bill then struck up as follows, saying, "Now I give you +a new 'Getting upstairs.'"</p> +<p class="blockquot">On board of a man-of-war dey hauled me one +day,<br /> +And pitch me up de side just like one truss of hay.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Such a getting upstairs I nebber +did see,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Such a getting +upstairs.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dey show me de masthead, and tell me I must go,<br /> +I tumble on de rattling, and break my lilly toe.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Such a getting upstairs I nebber +did see, etc.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dey pipe de hands up anchor, and Massa Boatswain's cane<br /> +Come rattle on our backs, for all de world like rain.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Such a getting upstairs, +etc.</span><br /> +<br /> +And den dey man de rigging, the topsails for to reef,<br /> +And up we scull together, just like a flock of sheep.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Such a getting upstairs, +etc.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dey send de boats away, a Frenchman for to board,<br /> +We climb de side with one hand, de oder hold de sword.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Such a getting upstairs, +etc.</span><br /> +<br /> +Now here I sent to Greenwich because I lost a leg,<br /> +And ab to climb up to de ward upon my wooden peg.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5.5em;">Such a getting upstairs, +etc.</span></p> +<p>"Dere, now; I ask you, Mister Tom, and de young lady, which sing +best, dat fellow, or your humble servant Bill—dat's me?"</p> +<p>"You sing very well, Bill," said Virginia, laughing, "but I'm +not able to decide such a difficult point."</p> +<p>"Nor more can I; it is impossible to say which I like best," +continued I. "We must go home now, so good-by."</p> +<p>"Thanky you, Mister Tom; thanky you, Missy. I see you wish to +spare him feelings; but I know what you tink in your heart."</p> +<p>Virginia and I now left the hospital. There was one subject +which was often discussed between my sister and me, which was, my +situation with regard to Bramble and Bessy. I had no secrets from +her, and she earnestly advised me to try if I could not make up my +mind to a union with a person of whom I could not possibly speak +but with the highest encomiums.</p> +<p>"Depend upon it, my dear Tom," said she, "she will make you a +good wife; and with her as a companion you will soon forget the +unhappy attachment which has made you so miserable. I am not +qualified from experience to advise you on this point, but I have a +conviction in my own mind that Bessy is really just the sort of +partner for life who will make you happy. And then, you owe much to +Bramble, and you are aware how happy it would make him; and as her +partiality for you is already proved, I do wish that you would +think seriously upon what I now say. I long to see and make her +acquaintance, but I really long much more to embrace her as a +sister."</p> +<p>I could not help acknowledging that Bessy was as perfect as I +could expect any one to be, where none are perfect. I admitted the +truth and good sense of my sister's reasoning, and the death of +Janet contributed not a little to assist her arguments; but she was +not the only one who appeared to take an interest in this point: my +father would hint at it jocosely, and Mrs. St. Felix did once +compliment me on my good fortune in having the chance of success +with a person whom every one admired and praised. The party, +however, who had most weight with me was old Anderson, who spoke to +me unreservedly and seriously.</p> +<p>"Tom," said he, "you must be aware that Bramble and I are great +friends, and have been so for many years. He has no secrets from +me, and I have no hesitation in telling you that his regards and +affections are so equally bestowed between you and his adopted +child that it is difficult for himself to say to which he is the +most attached; further, as he has told me, his fervent and his +dearest wish—the one thing which will make him happy, and the +only one without which he will not be happy, although he may be +resigned—is that a union should take place between you and +Bessy. I am not one of those who would persuade you to marry her +out of gratitude to Bramble. Gratitude may be carried too far; but +she is, by all accounts, amiable and beautiful, devoted to excess, +and capable of any exertion and any sacrifice for those she loves; +and, Tom, she loves you. With her I consider that you have every +prospect of being happy in the most important step in life. You may +say that you do not love her, although you respect, and admire, and +esteem her: granted, but on such feelings toward a woman is the +firmest love based, and must eventually grow. Depend upon it, Tom, +that that hasty and violent attachment which is usually termed +love, and which so blinds both parties that they cannot before +marriage perceive each other's faults, those matches which are +called love matches, seldom or ever turn out happily. I do not mean +to say but that they sometimes do; but, like a lottery, there are +many blanks for one prize. Believe me, Tom, there is no one who has +your interest and welfare at heart more than I have. I have known +you since you were a child, and have watched you with as much +solicitude as any parent. Do you think, then, that I would persuade +you to what I thought would not contribute to your happiness? Do, +my dear boy, make Bramble, Bessy, yourself, and all of us happy, by +weaning yourself from the memory of one who was undeserving of you, +and fixing your affections upon her who will be as steadfast and as +true to you as the other was false and capricious."</p> +<p>I promised Anderson that I would think seriously of what he +said; and I kept my word, using all my endeavors to drive the image +of Janet from my memory, and substitute that of Bessy. I often +recalled the latter to my mind as she lay, beautiful and +motionless, after having rescued her father from the waves, and at +last dwelt upon the image with something more than interest. The +great point when you wish to bring yourself to do anything is to +make up your mind to it. I did so, and soon found that Bessy was +rapidly gaining possession of my heart.</p> +<p>I remained several days at Greenwich. My mother was still as +busy as ever, attempting to obtain lodgers in her house who were +people of family; and this unwearied system was a source of great +vexation to my sister. "Oh, Tom," she would sometimes say, "I +almost wish sometimes, selfish as it is, that you were married to +Bessy, for then I should be able to live with you, and escape from +this persecution."</p> +<p>"Better marry yourself, dear," replied I.</p> +<p>"There is but little chance of that, Tom," replied Virginia, +shaking her head.</p> +<p>On my return to Deal I found that Bramble had remained at the +cottage ever since my departure. Our greeting was warm, and when I +went over to Bessy, for the first time since she had returned from +school, I kissed her. She colored up, poor girl, burst into tears, +and hastened to her own room.</p> +<p>"I hope that was in earnest, Tom," said Bramble, fixing his eye +upon me inquiringly, "otherwise it was cruel."</p> +<p>"It was indeed, father," replied I, taking him by the hand.</p> +<p>"Then all's right, and God bless you, my dear good boy. You +don't know how happy you have made me—yes, and now I will say +it—poor Bessy also."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus451.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FORTY_SEVEN" id= +"CHAPTER_FORTY_SEVEN"></a>CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>In which a new Character appears upon the Stage, and I play the +part of a Pilot on Shore.</p> +</div> +<p>"A frigate has anchored in the Downs, Tom, and makes the signal +for a pilot," said Bramble, coming into the cottage, with my +telescope in his hand. "There is but you and I here—what do +you say?—will you venture to take her up to the Medway?"</p> +<p>"To be sure I will, father; I would not refuse a line-of-battle +ship. Why should I? the tides are the same, and the sands have not +shifted. Would you not trust me?"</p> +<p>"Ay, that I would, Tom, and perhaps better that myself; for my +eyes are not so good as they were. Well, then, you had better be +off."</p> +<p>I got my bundle ready, and was about to start, when I perceived +my telescope lying down where Bramble had placed it on the table. +"They are not very fond of letting pilots have their glasses on +board of a King's ship," said I, "so I will take mine this +time."</p> +<p>"You're right, Tom; you can't take the spy-glass out of the +captain's hand, as you do in a merchant vessel."</p> +<p>"Well good-by, father; I shall come down again as soon as I +can—there's another gun, the captain of the frigate is in a +hurry."</p> +<p>"They always are on board of a man-of-war, if no attention is +paid to their orders or their signals. Come, start away." I went +down to the beach, the men launched the galley, and I was soon on +board. As I gained the quarter-deck I was met by the captain and +first lieutenant, who were standing there.</p> +<p>"Well," said the captain, "where's the pilot?"</p> +<p>"I am, sir," replied I, taking off my hat.</p> +<p>"Where's your warrant?"</p> +<p>"There, sir," replied I, offering him the tin case in which I +carried it.</p> +<p>"Well, all is right, my good fellow; but you seem but a young +hand."</p> +<p>"Not so young as to lose so fine a vessel as this, I trust, +sir," replied I.</p> +<p>"I hope not, too; and I dare say you are as good as many with +gray hairs. At all events, your warrant is sufficient for me, and +the frigate is now under your charge. Will you weigh directly?"</p> +<p>"If you please; the wind will probably fail as the sun goes +down, and, if so, we may just as well lie off the Foreland +to-night."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus454.jpg" id="illus454.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus454.jpg"><img src="images/thumb454.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>I WENT DOWN TO THE BEACH.... AND I WAS SOON ON BOARD.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 453.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>The frigate was soon under way; she was evidently well manned, +and as well commanded. The wind fell, as I expected, and after dark +we barely stemmed the ebb tide. Of course I was up all night, as +was my duty, and occasionally entered into conversation with the +officer of the watch and midshipmen. From them I learned that the +frigate, which was called the "Euphrosyne," had just returned from +the West India station; that they had been out four years, during +which they had two single-handed encounters, and captured two +French frigates, besides assisting at many combined expeditions; +that they were commanded by Sir James O'Connor, who had +distinguished himself very much, and was considered one of the best +officers in the service; that the frigate had suffered so from the +conflicts in which they had been engaged that she had been sent +home to be surveyed; it was found that she must be docked, and +undergo a thorough repair, and consequently they had been ordered +to Sheerness, where the ship would be paid off. At daylight there +was a leading wind up the river, and we made sail, carrying with us +three-fourths of the flood. The discipline and order of the ship's +company were so great that I felt much more confidence in piloting +this vessel, notwithstanding her greater draught of water, than I +did a merchant vessel, in which you had to wait so long before the +people could execute what you required: <i>here</i>, it was but to +speak and it was done, well done, and done immediately; the vessel +appeared to obey the will of the pilot as if endued with sense and +volition, and the men at the lead gave quick and correct soundings; +the consequence was that I had every confidence, and while the +captain and officers sometimes appeared anxious at the decrease of +the depth of water, I was indifferent, and I daresay appeared to +them careless, but such was not the case.</p> +<p>"Quarter less five."</p> +<p>"Quarter less five. Pilot, do you know what water we draw?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Sir James, I do; we shall have <i>half four</i> directly, +and after that the water will deepen."</p> +<p>As it proved exactly as I stated, the captain had after that +more confidence in me. At all events, the frigate was brought +safely to an anchor in the river Medway, and Sir James O'Connor +went down to his cabin, leaving the first lieutenant to moor her, +for such were the port orders. As I had nothing more to do, I +thought I might as well go on shore, and get a cast down by one of +the night coaches to Dover. I therefore begged the first lieutenant +to order my certificate of pilotage to be made out, and to inquire +if I could take anything down to Deal for the captain. A few +minutes afterward I was summoned down to the captain. I found him +sitting at his table with wine before him. My certificates, which +the clerk had before made out, were signed, but my name was not +inserted.</p> +<p>"I must have your name, pilot, to fill in here."</p> +<p>"Thomas Saunders, Sir James," replied I.</p> +<p>"Well, my lad, you're young for a pilot; but you appear to know +your business well, and you have brought this ship up in good +style. Here are your certificates," said he, as he filled in my +name.</p> +<p>I had my spy-glass in my hand, and, to take up the certificates +and fold them to fit them into my tin case, I laid my glass down on +the table close to him. Sir James looked at it as if surprised, +took it up in his hand, turned it round, and appeared quite taken +aback. He then looked at the brass rim where the name had been +erased, and perceived where it had been filed away.</p> +<p>"Mr. Saunders," said he at last, "if not taking a liberty, may I +ask where you procured this spy-glass?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Sir James, it was given me by a person who has been very +kind to me ever since I was a boy."</p> +<p>"Mr. Saunders, I beg your pardon—I do not ask this +question out of mere curiosity—I have seen this glass before; +it once belonged to a very dear friend of mine. Can you give me any +further information? You said it was given you by—"</p> +<p>"A very amiable woman, Sir James."</p> +<p>"Did she ever tell you how it came into her hands?"</p> +<p>"She never did, sir."</p> +<p>"Mr. Saunders, oblige me by sitting down; and if you can give me +any information on this point, you will confer on me a very great +favor. Can you tell me what sort of a person this lady +is—where she lives—and what countrywoman she is?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Sir James; I will first state that she is Irish, and that +she lives at present at Greenwich." I then described her +person.</p> +<p>"This is strange, very strange," said Sir James, with his hand +up to his forehead as he leaned his elbow on the table.</p> +<p>After a pause, "Mr. Saunders, will you answer me one question +candidly? I feel I am not speaking to a mere Thames pilot—I +do not wish to compliment, and if I did not feel as I state, I +should not put these questions. Do you not know more about this +person than you appear willing to divulge? There is something in +your manner which tells me so."</p> +<p>"That I know more than I have divulged is true, Sir James; but +that I know more than I am willing to divulge is not the case, +provided I find that the party who asks the question is +sufficiently interested to warrant my so doing."</p> +<p>"There can be no one more interested than I am," replied Sir +James, mournfully. "You tell me she is Irish—you describe a +person such as I expected would be described, and my curiosity is +naturally excited. May I ask what is her name?"</p> +<p>"The name that she goes by at present is St. Felix."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus458.jpg" id="illus458.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus458.jpg"><img src="images/thumb458.jpg" width="50%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>"MR. SAUNDERS.... MAY I ASK WHERE YOU PROCURED THIS +SPYGLASS?"<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 457.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"She had distant relations of that name; it may be one of +them—yet how could they have obtained—? Yes, they +might, sure enough!"</p> +<p>"That is not her real name, Sir James."</p> +<p>"Not her real name! Do you then know what is her real name?"</p> +<p>"I believe I do, but I obtained it without her knowledge, from +another party, who is since dead."</p> +<p>"Ah! may I ask that name?"</p> +<p>"A man who died in the hospital, who went by the name of Spicer, +but whose real name was Walter James; he saw the glass in my hand, +recognized it, and on his deathbed revealed all connected with it; +but he never knew that the party was still alive when he did +so."</p> +<p>"If Walter James confessed all to you on his deathbed, Mr. +Saunders, it is certain that you can answer me one question. Was +not her real name Fitzgerald?"</p> +<p>"It was, Sir James, as I have understood."</p> +<p>Sir James O'Connor fell back in his chair and was silent for +some time. He then poured out a tumbler of wine, and drank it +off.</p> +<p>"Mr. Saunders, do others know of this as well as you?"</p> +<p>"I have never told any one, except to one old and dearest +friend, in case of accident to myself. Mrs. St. Felix is ignorant +of my knowledge, as well as others."</p> +<p>"Mr. Saunders, that I am most deeply interested in that person I +pledge you my honor as an officer and a gentleman. Will you now do +me the favor to detail all you do know on this subject, and what +were the confessions made you by that man Walter James?"</p> +<p>"I have already, sir, told you more than I intended. I will be +candid with you; so much do I respect and value the person in +question that I will do nothing without I have your assurance that +it will not tend to her unhappiness."</p> +<p>"Then, on my honor, if it turns out as I expect, it will, I +think, make her the happiest woman under the sun."</p> +<p>"You said that the spy-glass belonged to a dear friend?"</p> +<p>"I did, Mr. Saunders; and if I find, from what you can tell me, +that Mrs. St. Felix is the real Mrs. Fitzgerald, I will produce +that friend and her husband. Now are you satisfied?"</p> +<p>"I am," replied I, "and I will now tell you everything." I then +entered into a detail from the time that Mrs. St. Felix gave me the +spy-glass, and erased the name, until the death of Spicer. "I have +now done, sir," replied I, "and you must draw your own +conclusions."</p> +<p>"I thank you, sir," replied he; "allow me now to ask you one or +two other questions. How does Mrs. St. Felix gain her livelihood, +and what character does she bear?"</p> +<p>I replied to the former by stating that she kept a tobacconist's +shop; and to the latter by saying that she was a person of most +unimpeachable character, and highly respected.</p> +<p>Sir James O'Connor filled a tumbler of wine for me, and then his +own. As soon as he had drunk his own off, he said, "Mr. Saunders, +you don't know how you have obliged me. I am excessively anxious +about this matter, and I wish, if you are not obliged to go back to +Deal immediately, that you would undertake for me a commission to +Greenwich. Any trouble or expense—"</p> +<p>"I will do anything for Mrs. St. Felix, Sir James; and I shall +not consider trouble or expense," replied I.</p> +<p>"Will you then oblige me by taking a letter to Greenwich +immediately? I cannot leave my ship at present—it is +impossible."</p> +<p>"Certainly I will, Sir James."</p> +<p>"And will you bring her down here?"</p> +<p>"If she will come. The letter I presume will explain everything, +and prevent any too sudden shock."</p> +<p>"You are right, Mr. Saunders; and indeed I am wrong not to +confide in you more. You have kept her secret so well that, +trusting to your honor, you shall now have mine."</p> +<p>"I pledge my honor, Sir James."</p> +<p>"Then, Mr. Saunders, I spoke of a dear friend, but the truth is, +<i>I</i> am the owner of that spy-glass. When I returned to +Ireland, and found that she had, as I supposed, made away with +herself, as soon as my grief had a little subsided, I did perceive +that, although her apparel remained, all her other articles of any +value had disappeared; but I concluded that they had been pillaged +by her relations, or other people. I then entered on board of a +man-of-war, under the name of O'Connor, was put on the +quarter-deck, and by great good fortune have risen to the station +in which I now am. That is my secret—not that I care about +its being divulged, now that I have found my wife. I did nothing to +disgrace myself before I entered on board of a man-of-war, but +having changed my name, I do not wish it to be known that I ever +had another until I can change it again on a fitting opportunity. +Now, Mr. Saunders, will you execute my message?"</p> +<p>"Most joyfully, Sir James; and I now can do it with proper +caution; by to-morrow morning I will be down here with Mrs. St. +Felix."</p> +<p>"You must post the whole way, as hard as you can, there and +back, Mr. Saunders. Here is some money," said he, thrusting a +bundle of notes in my hand, "you can return me what is left. +Good-by, and many, many thanks."</p> +<p>"But where shall I meet you, sir?"</p> +<p>"Very true; I will be at the King's Arms Hotel, Chatham."</p> +<p>I lost no time. As soon as the boat put me on shore, I hired a +chaise, and posted to Greenwich, where I arrived about half-past +nine o'clock. I dismissed the chaise at the upper end of the town, +and walked down to Mrs. St. Felix's. I found her at home, as I +expected, and to my great delight the doctor was not there.</p> +<p>"Why, Mr. Pilot, when did you come back?" said she.</p> +<p>"But this minute—I come from Chatham."</p> +<p>"And have you been home?"</p> +<p>"No, not yet; I thought I would come and spend the evening with +you."</p> +<p>"With me! Why, that's something new; I don't suppose you intend +to court me, do you, as the doctor does?"</p> +<p>"No, but I wish that you would give me some tea in your little +back parlor, and let Jane mind the shop in the meantime."</p> +<p>"Jane's very busy, Mr. Tom, so I'm afraid that I can't oblige +you."</p> +<p>"But you must, Mrs. St. Felix. I'm determined I will not leave +this house till you give me some tea; I want to have a long talk +with you."</p> +<p>"Why, what's in the wind now?"</p> +<p>"I'm not in the wind, at all events, for you see I'm perfectly +sober; indeed, Mrs. St. Felix, I ask it as a particular favor. You +have done me many kindnesses, now do oblige me this time; the fact +is, something has happened to me of the greatest importance, and I +must have your advice how to act; and, in this instance, I prefer +yours to that of any other person."</p> +<p>"Well, Tom, if it really is serious, and you wish to consult me, +for such a compliment the least I can do is to give you a cup of +tea." Mrs. St. Felix ordered Jane to take the tea things into the +back parlor, and then to attend in the shop.</p> +<p>"And pray say that you are not at home, even to the doctor."</p> +<p>"Well, really the affair looks serious," replied she, "but it +shall be so if you wish it."</p> +<p>We took our tea before I opened the business, for I was thinking +how I should commence: at last I put down my cup, and said, "Mrs. +St. Felix, I must first acquaint you with what is known to no one +here but myself." I then told her the history of old Nanny; then I +went on to Spicer's recognition of the spy-glass—his attempt +to murder his mother, the consequences, and the disclosure on his +deathbed.</p> +<p>Mrs. St. Felix was much moved.</p> +<p>"But why tell me all this?" said she, at last; "it proves, +certainly, that my husband was not hanged, which is some +consolation, but now I shall be ever restless until I know what has +become of him—perhaps he still lives."</p> +<p>"Mrs. St. Felix, you ask me why do I tell you all this? I beg +you to reply to my question: having known this so long, why have I +not told you before?"</p> +<p>"I cannot tell."</p> +<p>"Then I will tell you: because I did feel that such knowledge as +I had then would only make you, as you truly say, unhappy and +restless. Nor would I have told you now, had it not been that I +have gained further intelligence on board of a frigate which I this +afternoon took into the Medway."</p> +<p>Mrs. St. Felix gasped for breath. "And what is that?" said she, +faintly.</p> +<p>"The spy-glass was recognized by a person on board, who told me +that your husband still lives."</p> +<p>I ran out for a glass of water, for Mrs. St. Felix fell back in +her chair as pale as death.</p> +<p>I gave her the water, and threw some in her face: she recovered, +and put her handkerchief up to her eyes. At first she was silent, +then sobbed bitterly; after a while she sank from the chair down on +her knees, and remained there some time. When she rose and resumed +her seat, she took my hand and said, "You may tell me all now."</p> +<p>As she was quite calm and composed, I did so; I repeated all +that had passed between Sir James O'Connor and me, and ended with +his wish that I should accompany her at once to Chatham.</p> +<p>"And now, Mrs. St. Felix, you had better go to bed. I told Sir +James that I would be down to-morrow morning. I will come here at +seven o'clock, and then we will go to the upper part of the town +and hire a chaise. Will you be ready?"</p> +<p>"Yes," replied she, smiling. "Heaven bless you, Tom! and now +good-night."</p> +<p>I did not go to my mother's, but to an inn in the town, where I +asked for a bed. In the morning I went down. As soon as Mrs. St. +Felix saw me she came out, and followed me at a little distance. We +went up to where the chaises were to be obtained, and in less than +three hours were at the King's Arms, Chatham. I asked to be shown +into a room, into which I led Mrs. St. Felix, trembling like an +aspen leaf. I seated her on the sofa, and then asked to be shown in +to Sir James O'Connor.</p> +<p>"She is here, sir," said I.</p> +<p>"Where?"</p> +<p>"Follow me, Sir James."</p> +<p>I opened the door of the room, and closed it upon them.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FORTY_EIGHT" id= +"CHAPTER_FORTY_EIGHT"></a>CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>My Sister Virginia is at last placed in a Situation which is +satisfactory to my Mother as well as to herself.</p> +</div> +<p>I remained very quietly in the coffee-room of the hotel, in case +I should be sent for; which I presumed I should be before the day +was over. In the afternoon a waiter came to say that Sir James +O'Connor wished to speak to me, and I was ushered into his room, +where I found Mrs. St. Felix on the sofa.</p> +<p>As soon as the door was closed, Sir James took me by the hand, +and led me up, saying, "Allow me to introduce your old friend as +Lady O'Connor."</p> +<p>"My dear Tom," said she, taking me by the hand, "I am and ever +shall be Mrs. St. Felix with you. Come, now, and sit down. You will +again have to take charge of me, for I am to return to Greenwich, +and leave it in a respectable manner. I daresay they have already +reported that I have run away from my creditors. Sir James thinks I +must go back as if nothing had happened, give out that I had some +property left me by a relation, and then settle everything, and +sell the goodwill of my shop. It certainly will be better than to +give grounds for the surmises and reports which may take place at +my sudden disappearance—not that I am very likely to fall in +with my old acquaintances at Greenwich."</p> +<p>"Don't you think so, Tom?—for Tom I must call you, in +earnest of our future friendship," said Sir James.</p> +<p>"I do think it will be the best plan, sir."</p> +<p>"Well, then, you must convey her ladyship to Greenwich again +this evening, and to-morrow the report must be spread, and the next +day you will be able to re-escort her here. I hope you feel the +compliment that I pay you in trusting you with my new-found +treasure. Now let us sit down to dinner. Pray don't look at your +dress, Tom; at all events, it's quite as respectable as her +ladyship's."</p> +<p>After dinner a chaise was ordered, and Lady O'Connor and I +returned to Greenwich, arriving there after dark. "We walked down +to her house. I then left her and hastened to my mother's.</p> +<p>"Well, mother," said I, after the first salutations were over, +"have you heard the news about Mrs. St. Felix?"</p> +<p>"No, what has she done now?"</p> +<p>"Oh, she has done nothing, but a relation in Ireland has left +her a lot of money, and she is going over there immediately. +Whether she will come back again nobody knows."</p> +<p>"Well, we can do without her," replied my mother, with pique. +"I'm very glad that she's going, for I have always protested at +Virginia's being so intimate with her—a tobacco shop is not a +place for a young lady."</p> +<p>"Mother," replied Virginia, "when we lived in Fisher's Alley +Mrs. St. Felix was above us in situation."</p> +<p>"I have desired you very often, Virginia, not to refer to +Fisher's Alley; you know I do not like it—the very best +families have had their reverses."</p> +<p>"I cannot help thinking that such has been the case with Mrs. +St. Felix," replied Virginia.</p> +<p>"If you please, Miss Saunders, we'll drop the subject," replied +my mother, haughtily.</p> +<p>The news soon spread; indeed, I walked to several places where I +knew it would be circulated, and before morning all Greenwich knew +that Mrs. St. Felix had been left a fortune: some said ten thousand +pounds, others had magnified it to ten thousand a year. When I +called upon her the next day, I found that she had made +arrangements for carrying on her business during her absence, not +having stated that she quitted forever, but that she would write +and let them know as soon as she arrived in Ireland what her +decision would be, as she was not aware what might be the property +left her. The doctor, who had undertaken to conduct her affairs +during her absence, looked very woebegone indeed, and I pitied him; +he had become so used to her company that he felt miserable at the +idea of her departure, although all hopes of ever marrying her had +long been dismissed from his mind. Mrs. St. Felix told me that she +would be ready that evening, and I returned home and found Virginia +in tears; her mother had again assailed her on account of her +feelings toward Mrs. St. Felix; and Virginia told me that she was +crying at the idea of Mrs. St. Felix going away much more than at +what her mother had said; and she requested me to walk with her to +Mrs. St. Felix that she might wish her farewell.</p> +<p>When we arrived Mrs. St. Felix embraced Virginia warmly, and +took her into the little back parlor. Virginia burst into tears. +"You are the only friend in the town that I dearly love," said she, +"and now you are going."</p> +<p>"My dear girl, I am more sorry to part with you and Tom than I +can well express—our pain is mutual, but we shall meet +again."</p> +<p>"I see no chance of that," said Virginia, mournfully.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus468.jpg" id="illus468.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus468.jpg"><img src="images/thumb468.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>SIR J. O'CONNOR AND MRS. ST. FELIX.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 467.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>"But I do; and what is more, I have thought about it since I +have had the news. Tom, your sister, of course, only knows the +common report?"</p> +<p>"Of course she knows no more than anybody else."</p> +<p>"Well, you do, at all events; and I give you leave, as I know +she is to be trusted, to confide my secret to her. And, Virginia +dear, when I tell you that I shall want you to come and stay with +me, and shall arrange accordingly, after you have heard what your +brother has to tell you you will understand that we may meet again. +Good-by, and God bless you, dearest; go away now, for I have much +to do."</p> +<p>When I told Virginia what the reader is well acquainted with, +her joy was excessive. "Yes," said she, "I see now. My mother is so +anxious that I should be taken into some grand family as a +companion; and when Lady O'Connor agrees to receive me, she will +never have an idea that it is Mrs. St. Felix. If she had, nothing +would induce her to let me go, that I am sure of; for she has taken +an aversion to her for reasons known only to herself."</p> +<p>I returned to Mrs. St. Felix's house as soon as I had escorted +Virginia home, leaving her very happy. The doctor was there, mute +and melancholy; and I was thinking that we should have some +difficulty in getting rid of him, when Tom made his appearance.</p> +<p>"If you please, sir," said he, "Mrs. Fallover wants you +immediately; she's taken very bad."</p> +<p>"I can't help it."</p> +<p>"Indeed, but you must help it, doctor," said Mrs. St. Felix; +"the poor woman is, as you know, in her first confinement, and you +must not neglect her, so let's say good-by at once, and a happy +return. I asked Tom to come down that I might call upon his sister +and one or two other people before I go; so you see, doctor, as you +can't go with me, you may just as well go and attend to the poor +woman; so good-by, Dr. Tadpole, I will write to you as soon as I +know what I'm to do."</p> +<p>The doctor took her hand, and after a pause said, "Mrs. St. +Felix, Eheu, me infelix!" and hastened out of the shop.</p> +<p>"Poor fellow!" said she, "he'll miss me, and that's the truth. +Good-by, Jane; mind you look after everything till I come back, and +take care of the dog and cat. Come, Tom, we'll go now."</p> +<p>I threw her trunk on my shoulders, and followed her till we came +to the post-house. The chaise was ordered out, and we set off.</p> +<p>"Tom," said Lady O'Connor, as I again call her, now that she is +clear of Greenwich, "there is one portion of my history which you +do not know—a very trifling part indeed. When I saw in the +newspapers that my husband had, as I supposed, been executed, I am +ashamed to say that I first thought of suicide; but my better +feelings prevailed, and I then resolved to change my name and to +let people <i>suppose</i> that I was dead. It was for that reason +that I left my bonnet by the river-side and all my apparel in the +house, only taking away a few trinkets and valuables, to dispose of +for my future subsistence. I obtained a passage in a transport +bound to Woolwich, on the plea of my husband having arrived from +abroad; and, by mere accident, I found the goodwill of the +tobacconist's shop to be sold. It suited me—and there is the +whole of my history which you do not know.</p> +<p>"And now, as to Virginia, I intend to have her with me very +soon. Your mother is anxious that she should get into a high +family, trusting that her beauty will captivate some of the +members—a bad kind of speculation. I will advertise for a +companion, and so arrange that your mother shall not see me; and +when your sister does come to me, it shall not be as a companion, +but as a child of my own. I owe you much, Tom—indeed, almost +everything; and it is the only way in which I can repay you. I have +already spoken to Sir James on the subject. He is equally ready to +pay the debt of gratitude, and therefore in future Virginia is our +adopted child."</p> +<p>"You are more than repaying me, Lady O'Connor," replied I, "and +you are obliging me in the quarter where I feel the obligation the +greatest."</p> +<p>"That I believe, Tom; so now say no more about it."</p> +<p>I may as well here inform the reader that I remained a week at +Chatham, and that during that time Lady O'Connor put an +advertisement in the county paper, such as we knew would be a bait +to my mother. This paper I forwarded to Virginia, marking the +advertisement. My mother immediately replied to it, and Sir James +O'Connor went up to Greenwich and had an interview with my mother +and Virginia, at apartments he had taken at the hotel; appeared +pleased with my sister, and said that as soon as Lady O'Connor was +sufficiently recovered she would send for her to Chatham. This took +place in two days afterward; my mother escorted Virginia there. Sir +James stated that her ladyship was too unwell to see anybody, but +that she would speak a few words to Virginia and leave Sir James to +settle the rest with my mother. Virginia came down to her mother, +declared that Lady O'Connor was a very ladylike, elegant person, +and that she should wish to take the situation. The terms were +handsome, and my mother, although she regretted not seeing her +ladyship, was satisfied, and Virginia was to come in two days +afterward, which she did. Thus was my sister comfortably settled, +and after remaining two days I took my leave of Sir James and Lady +O'Connor, intending to return to Deal, when I received a letter +from Peter Anderson, informing me that old Nanny had been suddenly +taken very ill, and that Dr. Tadpole did not think it possible that +she would survive more than twenty-four hours; that she was very +anxious to see me, and that he hoped I would come up +immediately.</p> +<p>I showed the letter to Lady O'Connor, who said, "You will go, of +course, Tom."</p> +<p>"Immediately," replied I, "and the more so as this letter is +dated three days back; how it has been delayed I do not know. +Farewell, Lady O'Connor; and farewell, dearest Virginia. Old Nanny, +as you both know, has many claims upon my gratitude."</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus472.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FORTY_NINE" id= +"CHAPTER_FORTY_NINE"></a>CHAPTER FORTY-NINE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>My Father, much to his surprise, has a bit of Land to put his +Foot upon, and say "This is my own".</p> +</div> +<p>"You're too late, Tom," said Ben the Whaler, as I jumped down +from off the basket of the coach; "the old woman died last +night."</p> +<p>"I'm sorry for it, Ben," replied I, "as she wished so much to +see me; but I did not receive Anderson's letter till this morning, +and I could not get here sooner."</p> +<p>This intelligence induced me to direct my course to the +hospital, where I had no doubt that I should find old Anderson, and +obtain every information. I met him as he was walking toward the +bench on the terrace facing the river, where he usually was seated +when the weather was fine. "Well, Tom," said he, "I expected you, +and did hope that you would have been here sooner. Come, sit down +here, and I will give you the information which I know you have +most at your heart. The old woman made a very happy end. I was with +her till she died. She left many kind wishes for you, and I think +her only regret was that she did not see you before she was called +away."</p> +<p>"Poor old Nanny! she had suffered much."</p> +<p>"Yes, and there are great excuses to be made for her; and as we +feel so here, surely there will be indulgence from above, where the +secrets of all hearts are known. She was not insane, Tom; but from +the time that she supposed that her son had been gibbeted, there +was something like insanity about her: the blow had oppressed her +brain—it had stupefied her, and blunted her moral sense of +right and wrong. She told me, after you had communicated to her +that her son was in the hospital, and had died penitent, that she +felt as if a heavy weight had been taken off her mind; that she had +been rid of an oppression which had ever borne down her +faculties—a sort of giddiness and confusion in the brain +which had made her indifferent, if not reckless, to everything; and +I do believe it, from the change which took place in her during the +short time which has since elapsed."</p> +<p>"What change was that? for you know that I have been too busy +during the short intervals I have been here to call upon her."</p> +<p>"A change in her appearance and manners. She appeared to recover +in part her former position in life; she was always clean in her +person, as far as she could be in such a shop as hers; and if she +had nothing else, she always had a clean cap and apron."</p> +<p>"Indeed?"</p> +<p>"Yes; and on Sundays she dressed very neat and tidy. She did not +go to church, but she purchased a large Bible and a pair of +spectacles, and was often to be seen reading it at the door; and +when I talked to her she was glad to enter upon serious things. I +spoke to her about her fondness for money, and pointed out that it +was a sin. She replied that she did feel very fond of money for a +long while, for she always thought that some one was nigh her +snatching at it, and had done so ever since her son had robbed her; +but that since she knew what had become of him she did not feel +fond of it—that is, not so fond of it as before; and I +believe that such was the case. Her love of money arose from her +peculiar state of mind. She had many comforts about her house when +she died which were not in it when I called to see her at the time +when she was first ill; but her purchasing the large Bible on +account of the print was to me a satisfactory proof that she had no +longer such avaricious feelings."</p> +<p>"I am very glad to hear all this, Anderson, I assure you, for +she was one of my earliest friends, and I loved her."</p> +<p>"Not more than she loved you, Tom. Her last words almost were +calling down blessings on your head; and, thanks be to God! she +died as a Christian should die, and, I trust, is now happy."</p> +<p>"Amen!" said I; for I was much moved at Anderson's +discourse.</p> +<p>After a pause Anderson said, "You know, Tom, that she has left +you all that she had. She told me before that such was her +intention, although I said nothing to you about it; but I thought +it as well that Mr. Wilson should make out a paper for her to put +her name to, which she did. Ben and I witnessed it, but as for what +she has left you I cannot imagine it can be much; for we examined +and found no money except about seven pounds, in two small boxes; +and then in her will she has left your sister Virginia ten pounds. +Now, when that comes to be paid, I'm sure I don't know whether the +things in the shop will fetch so much money as will pay your +sister's legacy and the expenses of her funeral."</p> +<p>"It's of no consequence," replied I, smiling; "but we shall see. +At all events all her debts shall be paid, and her funeral shall be +decent and respectable. Good-by now, Anderson, I must go up and see +my mother and sister."</p> +<p>Old Nanny's remains were consigned to the tomb on the following +Monday. Her funeral was, as I had desired it to be, very +respectable, and she was followed to the grave by Anderson, my +father, Ben, and me. As soon as it was over, I requested Anderson +to walk with me to Mr. Wilson's.</p> +<p>"I'm afraid, Tom," said Mr. Wilson, "you'll find, like a great +many other residuary legatees, that you've not gained much by the +compliment."</p> +<p>"Nevertheless, will you oblige me by walking down with Anderson +and me to her house?"</p> +<p>"And take off the seals, I presume, in your presence? But the +fact is, Tom, that not thinking the property quite safe there, even +under seal, I have kept it all in my own pocket."</p> +<p>"Nevertheless, oblige me by coming down."</p> +<p>"Oh, with all my heart, since you do not like to take possession +unless in due form."</p> +<p>As soon as we arrived at the hovel I went into the bedroom and +threw open the window. I then, to their great astonishment, went to +the fire-grate, threw out some rubbish which was put into it, +pulled up the iron back, and removed the bricks. In a short time I +produced two small boxes, one of them very heavy. There was nothing +else in the hole.</p> +<p>"Here," said I, "Mr. Wilson, is a portion of the property which +you have overlooked."</p> +<p>"No wonder," replied he. "Pray let us see what it is."</p> +<p>I opened the boxes, and, to their surprise, made up in a variety +of packages, I counted out gold coin to the amount of four hundred +and twenty pounds.</p> +<p>"Not a bad legacy," said Mr. Wilson. "Then you knew of +this?"</p> +<p>"Of course; I have known it some time—ever since the +attempt to rob her."</p> +<p>"But what are those papers?"</p> +<p>On one was written "<i>Arsenic—Poison</i>;" on the other, +"<i>Receipt for Toothache</i>."</p> +<p>"Nothing of any value," said I, "by the outside."</p> +<p>I opened them, and found, to my surprise, bank-notes to the +exact amount of two hundred pounds.</p> +<p>"Well, I declare," said I, smiling, "I had nearly thrown all +this money away."</p> +<p>"And now you see what induced the old woman to write those +labels on the outside of it; in case she should be robbed, that the +robbers might have thrown the papers away—as you nearly did, +and as very probably they might have done."</p> +<p>"Well, Mr. Wilson, I have no further search to make. Will you +oblige me by taking care of this money for me?"</p> +<p>"Yes; that is, if you'll carry the gold, which is rather heavy, +up to my house, and then I will give you a receipt for the +whole."</p> +<p>Anderson then left us, and I followed Mr. Wilson home. As soon +as the money was all re-counted, and a note made of it, Mr. Wilson +asked me what I wished that he should do with it. I replied, what +was the truth, that I really did not know what to do with it, but +still I should like to lay it out in something tangible.</p> +<p>"You want to buy a farm, I suppose, and be a landed proprietor, +like Bramble; but I'm afraid there is not enough. But I tell you +what, Tom; we lawyers know many things which do not come to +everybody's ears, and I know that the proprietor of the house in +which your mother lives wishes to sell it; and I think, as he is +much pinched for money, that this sum will about buy it. Now your +mother pays fifty-five guineas a year for it, and if it sells for +six hundred pounds, that will give you more than nine per cent for +your money. What do you think?"</p> +<p>"Well, sir, I think it's the very best thing I can do; if more +should be necessary, I have saved a little besides which Bramble +takes care of."</p> +<p>"Well, then, I'll see about it."</p> +<p>A few days afterward Mr. Wilson told me that the house was to be +had for five hundred and sixty pounds, and that he had closed the +bargain.</p> +<p>"I thank you, sir," replied I. "Since I have been with you I +have been thinking about it, and I wish now you would make it over +to my father for his life. You see, sir, my father does put my +mother to some expense, and I should like him to be more +independent of her. If the house belongs to him, the rent will more +than meet any demands he may make upon her purse—and it will +be pleasant for both parties—and my mother will pay more +respect to my father."</p> +<p>"I shall do it with pleasure, Tom. You deserve money, for you +make a good use of it—I must say that. Come to me +to-morrow."</p> +<p>The next day I went to my father, and gave him the deed by which +he was owner of my mother's house. "Well, now, Tom," said he, after +I had explained why I did so, "this is the kindest thing that ever +was done, and God bless you, boy, and a thousand thanks. I shan't +mind now calling for two extra pots of porter when I have +friends—and I say, Tom, is the garden mine, too?"</p> +<p>"Yes, and the summer-house, father, all your own property."</p> +<p>"Well, then," replied he, chuckling, "I have a bit of land of my +own to stick my timber toe on after all. Well, I never did expect +that. I must go up there, and stand upon it, and feel how I +feel."</p> +<p>I communicated to my mother that my father was in future her +landlord, at which she expressed much surprise, until I told her +how I became possessed of the money. When my father came in, which +he did shortly after, she said rather sharply:</p> +<p>"Well, Mr. Saunders, I suppose I must pay you my rent now, every +quarter?"</p> +<p>"Pay me!" exclaimed my father; "come, not so bad as that, +neither. Haven't you found me in beer, without a grumble, for these +many years, and do you think I've forgotten it? No, no! You've been +a kind woman to me, after all, although things did go a little +cross at first, and so here's the paper for you to keep for me; and +there's an end of the matter, only—"</p> +<p>"Only what?" inquired my mother, looking very kindly at my +father.</p> +<p>"Only let's have a pot of beer now, to drink Tom's health, +that's all."</p> +<p>Having thus satisfactorily settled this point, I returned to +Chatham. I had promised to take a farewell of my sister and the +O'Connors, as I expected they would leave previous to my again +coming up the river.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus479.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIFTY" id="CHAPTER_FIFTY"></a>CHAPTER +FIFTY</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>An Adventure which at first promised to be the most Unfortunate, +and eventually proved the most Fortunate in my Life.</p> +</div> +<p>As Sir James O'Connor would have to remain at least a fortnight +longer at Chatham, until his ship was paid off, I made Lady +O'Connor promise to write to me, and then started for Deal. I found +Bramble and Bessy as usual delighted to see me, and Mrs. Maddox was +as talkative as ever. I received a letter from Lady O'Connor, and +also one from Dr. Tadpole, written at the request of my father, +informing me that by a letter from Mrs. St. Felix there was little +prospect of her return to Greenwich. I had not been a week at Deal +when a large ship dropped her anchor in the Downs, and made the +signal for a pilot.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom," said Bramble, "I think I shall take a turn now, for +I want to go up and see old Anderson."</p> +<p>"I will take her through, if you please, father; and you may go +as a passenger. You don't want money, and I do."</p> +<p>"All's right, Tom—well, then, I'll go as a passenger, and +you shall be pilot."</p> +<p>"Why must you go at all, father? Why not go to Greenwich by the +stage?" exclaimed Bessy. "When will you leave off, my dear father? +Surely you've enough now, and might let Tom go without you."</p> +<p>"Quite enough money, but not quite enough of the salt water yet, +Bessy," replied Bramble; "and when I do travel, I won't go by land, +when I can sail under canvas."</p> +<p>"Well, you may go this time, father, but this is the last. If +you won't leave off, I will not stay here, that's positive; so when +you come on shore some fine day you may expect to find me absent +without leave."</p> +<p>"Very well; then I'll send Tom to look after you: he'll soon +bring you back again."</p> +<p>"Tom! he wouldn't take the trouble to look after me."</p> +<p>"Very true," replied I. "Every woman who requires looking after +is not worth the trouble; but I've no fear but we shall find you +when we come back."</p> +<p>"Tom, I hate you," replied Bessy. "Why do you not join me in +persuading father to stay on shore?"</p> +<p>"Well, if you hate me, Bessy, it proves, at all events, that I'm +not indifferent to you," said I, laughing; "but really and truly, +Bessy, I do not consider there is any very great risk in your +father going up the river with me, as he will be in smooth water +before dark."</p> +<p>"Well, but, allowing that, why should father go at all?"</p> +<p>"I want to see old Anderson, my love," replied Bramble, taking +his pipe out of his mouth.</p> +<p>"Yes, and if you once begin again, you'll not leave off—I +know it well. You will never come home except to get clean linen, +and be off again; and I shall be in a constant state of alarm and +misery. How selfish of you, father! You had better by far have left +me to drown on the Goodwin Sands—it would have been more +kind," replied Bessy, weeping.</p> +<p>"Bessy," said Bramble, "it's my opinion that you are in +love."</p> +<p>"In love!" cried Bessy, coloring to her throat.</p> +<p>"Yes, in love, my dear, or you would not talk such +nonsense."</p> +<p>"If loving you as my father is being in love, I am, +unfortunately."</p> +<p>"That's only half of the story; now give us the other," said +Bramble, smiling.</p> +<p>"What do you mean?" inquired Bessy, turning to him.</p> +<p>"Why, how do you love Tom?"</p> +<p>"Not half so much as I love her," said I.</p> +<p>"Well, if that's the case," replied Bramble, "we may as well +publish the bans; for Bessy's in love right over the ankles."</p> +<p>"Father, this may be very pleasant mockery; but I think it is +not kind to breed ill-will between those who live under the same +roof. Now you may go away; and if the knowledge that you have made +me unhappy will add to the pleasure of your journey, I can assure +you that you have succeeded." Bessy, having said this, immediately +left the room and went upstairs.</p> +<p>"Well," said Bramble, after a pause, "I'm glad that I never was +in love; for people so situated do make themselves very silly, +that's a fact. Tom, if you're going, it's time to be off."</p> +<p>"Why—" replied I, hesitatingly.</p> +<p>"I know—but I tell you, Tom, no such thing. She'll have a +good cry, and then she'll come down as well as ever. Leave her +alone till we come back."</p> +<p>Bramble and I then left the cottage, jumped into the galley, and +were soon on board of the ship.</p> +<p>On our arrival on board we found that the vessel was a Dutch +Indiaman, which had been captured by one of our cruisers on her +voyage home from Java. She was laden very deeply with cinnamon, +nutmegs, cloves, and other spices, besides pepper, and was valued +at four hundred thousand pounds sterling. She had come home from +the island of St. Helena, with convoy, and was now proceeding up +the river, to be given in charge of the prize agents in London. Not +only her hold, but even her main deck, as far aft as the mainmast, +was filled up with her cargo; in short, she was a very valuable +prize, and although when I came on board the pepper made me sneeze +for ten minutes, the officer in charge told me very truly that she +was a prize "not to be sneezed at." She was manned by a lieutenant +and eighteen men belonging to the frigate which had captured +her—hardly sufficient for so large a vessel, but no more +could be spared.</p> +<p>"We'll up anchor as soon as you please, pilot," said the +lieutenant, "for I shall not be sorry to get rid of my charge, I +assure you."</p> +<p>"I don't doubt you, sir," replied Bramble. "Well, you've not +much further to go."</p> +<p>We weighed with the young flood; the weather was fine, but, as +usual at that time of the year, thick fogs prevailed. We had, +however, a leading wind, and had well rounded the North Foreland, +and entered the Queen's Channel, when it came on very thick.</p> +<p>"Tom, have you the bearings?" said Bramble; "if not, take them +at once, for the fog will soon be over the land."</p> +<p>"I have them," replied I, "and we may as well put them down on +the log-board—North Foreland Light N.N.W. 1/4 W. Why, we +should see the Tongue buoy. Now we'll drop the anchor and furl the +sails, if you please, sir—we can do nothing at present." We +did so: the fog came on thicker than before, and with it a +drizzling rain and wind from the S. At dusk there was no change, or +prospect of it. The men went down to supper, and the watch was set. +Bramble and I did not turn in: we lay down on the lockers of the +cabin, and every now and then went on deck to see how the weather +was. About eleven o'clock we were awakened by a noise: we both +started up, and went on deck. To our surprise it was full of +men—we had been boarded by a French privateer, and they had +gained possession of the deck without any alarm being given, for +the men who had the watch had sheltered themselves from the rain +down the hatchway. As soon as we came up, we were collared and +seized.</p> +<p>"Pilot," said Bramble.</p> +<p>"Pilot," said I.</p> +<p>They then asked us in English how many men were on board.</p> +<p>As it was no use concealing the fact, we replied: a portion of +the privateer's men then went down, and surprised them all in their +beds. In about five minutes they came up again, leading the +lieutenant and his men, in their shirts. By the directions of the +French captain they were immediately passed over the side into the +privateer, and Bramble and I were the only two Englishmen left on +board of the ship.</p> +<p>The French captain then asked us if we knew where we were, and +whether there was any danger. We replied that we were among the +sands, and that it would be difficult to get her out of them with +that wind, and impossible until the tide turned.</p> +<p>"When will the tide turn?" said the captain.</p> +<p>"In an hour or less," replied Bramble, appealing to me.</p> +<p>I replied in the affirmative.</p> +<p>"Well, then, you will take this vessel clear of the shoals, my +men; and if you do not, your lives are worth nothing.—Hold +pistols to their heads," continued he to the officer, "and the +moment that the ship touches, blow their brains out."</p> +<p>Here Bramble, to my astonishment, went on his knees.</p> +<p>"Spare our lives," said he, "and we will take the vessel safe to +the French coast;" at the same time he gave me a pinch.</p> +<p>"If you do not you shall not live a minute," said the captain +(another pinch from Bramble). I now understood him, and I also went +down on my knees, and pretended to cry. "We can't take her out if +this weather lasts," said I, whimpering. "It's impossible."</p> +<p>"No, no! not if this weather lasts," said Bramble, "but as soon +as it changes we will do it."</p> +<p>"Very well, so long as you do it when you can, that is all I +ask. Now," said he to the officer he had before addressed, "you'll +have twenty men—keep a sharp lookout—and don't lose a +moment in getting under way as soon as you can."</p> +<p>The captain then returned to the privateer with the rest of the +men, leaving the ship in charge of the prizemaster. The privateer +was boomed off; but whether she dropped her anchor near to us, or +remained under way, I could not tell. The men who had held the +pistols to our heads now went away with the others to plunder, +according to the manners and customs of all privateers' men, of +whatever nation they may happen to be. Bramble and I walked +aft.</p> +<p>"Pinned once more, by all that's blue! Well, it can't be +helped—but we're not in a French prison yet."</p> +<p>"Why did you go down on your knees to those fellows?" said I, +rather sulkily.</p> +<p>"Why, because I wished them to think we were chicken-hearted, +and that we should not be watched, and might have a +chance—who knows?"</p> +<p>"Two against twenty are heavy odds," replied I.</p> +<p>"That depends upon whether you trust to your head or your arms. +It must be headwork this time. You see, Tom, we have so far a +chance that we cannot weigh till it clears up—they know that +as well as we do. I'm pretty sure it will be thick all to-morrow, +and perhaps longer; so you see something may turn up by that time. +We are well in, and right in the Channel, for vessels up or down. I +say again we are not in a French prison yet. They can't take her +out of this—we must do it; and we may run on shore if we +like: and I tell you what, Tom, if it wasn't for Bessy, I'd just as +soon that my brains should be blown out as that these French +fellows should take such a rich prize. Now let's go below—we +mustn't be seen talking together too much; but look out sharp, Tom, +and watch my motions."</p> +<p>The officer who had charge of the vessel now came on deck, and +looked round him: he could speak English sufficient to carry on a +conversation. The weather was very thick, and the rain drove down +with the wind: he saw that it was impossible that the ship could be +moved. He told us that we should have a hundred guineas each and +our liberty if we took the ship safe either to Ostend or any French +port. We replied that we should be very glad to do so, as it would +be ten times as much as we should have received for piloting her up +the Thames; and then we went down below. In the meantime the men +were sent for on deck, divided into watches, and when the watch was +set the others went down below again. After taking a glass or two +of wine, for the Frenchmen had soon rummaged out what there was to +be drunk in the cabin, Bramble and I returned on deck. We found the +Frenchmen in charge of the watch diligent: one was looking out +forward, another at the taffrail; the remaining three were walking +the deck. Bramble went to the gangway, and I followed him.</p> +<p>"Tom, I see the hatchway grating is on deck—I only wish we +once had them all beneath it."</p> +<p>"I only wish we had all but the watch—I'd have a try for +it then," replied I.</p> +<p>"No, no, Tom, that wouldn't do; but we must trust to Providence +and a sharp lookout. See where you can put your hand upon a crowbar +or handspike, in case you want it; but don't touch it. Come, +there's nothing to be done in any way just now, so let's go down +and take a snooze for an hour or two; and, Tom, if they ask us to +drink, drink with them, and pretend to be half fuddled."</p> +<p>We went down again, and found the privateer's men getting very +jolly; but they did not offer us anything to drink, so we laid on +some spare sails outside the cabin, and tried to go to sleep, but I +could not, for I was very unhappy. I could see no chance of our +escape, as nothing but a man-of-war would be likely to interfere +and recapture us. I thought of Virginia and Lady O'Connor, and then +I thought of poor Bessy, and having left her in such an unfriendly +way, perhaps to remain in a French prison for years. Bramble and I +were fully aware that the promises of the prizemaster were only to +cajole us, and that once in a French port, had we claimed the +fulfillment of them, a kick would have been all which we should, in +all probability, receive for our pains.</p> +<p>About one o'clock in the morning I rose and went on deck. The +watch had been relieved, the weather also looked brighter, as if it +were going, to clear up, and I became still more depressed. Bramble +soon followed me.</p> +<p>"It's clearing up," said I, "but I don't think it will +last."</p> +<p>"Never a bit," replied Bramble; "in half an hour it will be +thicker than ever, so now I'll go and call the officer, and tell +him he had better get under way: that will make him have less +suspicion of us."</p> +<p>Bramble did so. The officer came on deck, the men were turned +out, and the windlass was manned; for, although so large a vessel, +she had no capstan. The men hove in the cable in silence, and were +short stay apeak, when, as we had foreseen, it came on thicker than +ever. Bramble pointed it out to the officer, who was perfectly +satisfied that nothing could be done; the cable was veered out +again, and the men sent below.</p> +<p>"We hope you'll think of your promise to us, sir," said Bramble +to the officer, as he was going down.</p> +<p>"Yes, I will, I swear," replied he, slapping Bramble on the +back.</p> +<p>The morning broke, and the weather continued the same; it was +not possible to see ten yards clear of the ship, and, of course, in +such weather it was not likely that any other vessels would be +attempting to pass through the Channel. At noon it cleared up a +little, and the windlass was again manned; but in a short time the +fog became thicker than ever. The Frenchmen now became very +impatient, but there was no help for it; they walked about the +deck, swearing and stamping, and throwing out invectives against +the fog and rain as they looked up at it. The night closed in; the +men were kept on deck until eleven o'clock, when the flood time +made, and then they were sent down again, as nothing could be done +until the ebb. At twelve o'clock the weather became worse, the wind +freshened considerably, and veered more to the southward, the rain +poured down in torrents, and the men of the watch sheltered +themselves down the hatchway. The officer came up on the deck, and +called Bramble, who had been down below. Bramble told him, what was +very true, that the wind would probably shift and the weather clear +up in a few hours, and that we should be able to weigh with the +coming down of the ebb. He asked Bramble whether he thought it +would blow hard. Bramble could not say, but it would be better that +the men should not turn in, as they might be wanted; and that if +the fore-topmast staysail was hoisted, she would lie better at her +anchor, and in case of parting, he would be able to manage her till +sail was set. This advice was followed, and all the men sat up in +the cabin drinking, those who had the watch occasionally coming +down to refresh themselves.</p> +<p>They gave us a glass of grog each that night, a proof that they +had drunk until they were good-natured. Bramble said to me, as we +sat down outside, "It will be clear to-morrow morning, Tom, that's +sartain—it must be to-night or never. I've been thinking of +lowering the quarter boat down, when they are a little more +mizzled; they are getting on pretty fast, for Frenchmen haven't the +heads for drinking that Englishmen have. Now it pours down +beautifully, and here they come down again for shelter."</p> +<p>For three hours we watched; it was then four o'clock, and the +men were most of them asleep or more than half drunk. Those of the +middle watch came down dripping wet, and called the others to +relieve them, but only two of them answered to the call. They who +had come down began to drink freely, to warm themselves after their +ducking, and by half-past four, except the two men on deck, every +Frenchman was either fast asleep or muddled.</p> +<p>"Tom," said Bramble, "now's our time. Slip up on deck, go +forward if no one is there, and saw through the cable as quickly as +you can; it won't take long, for it's a coir rope. As soon as you +have got through two strands out of the three, come aft."</p> +<p>I went on deck, and looked round; I could not see the two men, +it was so dark. I then walked forward, and looking well round to +see that they were not on the forecastle, I sat down before the +windlass and commenced operations. In a couple of minutes I had +divided the two strands, and I went aft, where I found Bramble at +the binnacle, in which a light was burning.</p> +<p>"I have done it," said I, "and if the wind freshens at all, she +will part."'</p> +<p>"All's right," said Bramble, "those two fellows are fast asleep +under the taffrail, covered up with the trysail, which lies there. +Now, Tom, for a bold push: go down once more, and see how they are +getting on in the cabin."</p> +<p>I went down: every man was asleep—some on the locker, some +with their heads on the table. I came on deck: it rained harder +than ever.</p> +<p>"This will be a clearing shower, Tom, depend upon it; and the +wind is freshening up again. Now, have you looked out for a +handspike or crowbar?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I know where there are two."</p> +<p>"Then come with me: we must unship the ladder, and pull it up on +deck, and then put on the grating; after that we must take our +chance: we may succeed, and we may not—all depends upon their +not waking too soon."</p> +<p>We went to the hatchway, cut the cleat-lashings, hauled the +ladder on deck, and then put on the grating.</p> +<p>"That will do, Tom, for the present. Now do you take the helm, +with a crowbar all ready by your side. I will go forward and cut +the cable: if those fellows rouse up while I am forward, you must +do your best. I leave you, Tom, because you are more powerful than +I am."</p> +<p>"I'll manage them both, never fear," whispered I.</p> +<p>"When she swings, mind you put the helm a-starboard, Tom," said +Bramble in my ear.</p> +<p>This was the most nervous part of the whole transaction: the men +abaft might wake, and I should have to master them how I +could—and even if I did, the scuffle might awake those below, +who were not yet secured; although, for a time, it would be +difficult for them to get on deck. But fortune favored us: the +cable was severed, the ship swung round, and Bramble returned aft +and took the helm.</p> +<p>"Now is the time to see if I'm a pilot or not, Tom," said he. "I +think I can steer her through by compass, now that it's nearly high +water—luck's all. It was fortunate that we got the staysail +hoisted for us, or we could have made nothing of it."</p> +<p>"It's clearing up fast," said I, as I kept my eyes upon where +the men were lying abaft; "and there'll be plenty of wind."</p> +<p>"Yes, and we'll have daylight soon. Tom, I don't want you. I +should like you to step aft, and stand over those two chaps; if +they wake, knock them senseless—don't kill them, as you can +easily bind them while they are stupefied. And, Tom, look about you +for some seizings all ready. I wish they would wake, for we are not +safe while they are not secure. Put a handspike by me, and, if +necessary, I will leave the helm for a minute, and help you: it's +better that she should go on shore than they should master us. +We're pretty safe now, at all events. I see the land—all's +right."</p> +<p>It was now daylight. After this whispering with Bramble, I went +aft with a handspike in my hand; and I had not been there more than +two minutes when one of the privateer's men turned the canvas on +one side, and looked up. The handspike came down upon his head, and +he dropped senseless; but the noise roused up the other, and I +dealt him a blow more severe than the first. I then threw down my +weapon, and, perceiving the deep-sea lead-line coiled up on the +reel, I cut off sufficient, and in a short time had bound them both +by the hands and feet. They groaned heavily, and I was afraid that +I had killed them; but there was no help for it.</p> +<p>"They are safe," said I, returning to Bramble.</p> +<p>"I thought I heard you, but I did not look round at the time. +Half an hour more, Tom, and, even with this wind, we shall be +safe—and, Tom, our fortune's made. If they wake below, we +must fight hard for it, for we've a right to salvage, my +boy—one-eighth of the whole cargo—that's worth fighting +for. Depend upon it, they'll be stirring soon; so, Tom, go aft, and +drag the trysail here, and put it on the hatchway grating—its +weight will prevent their lifting it up in a hurry. If we can only +hold our own for twenty minutes longer she is ours, and all +right."</p> +<p>As soon as I had stowed the trysail on the hatchway grating, I +looked about to see what else I could put on the skylight, which +they might also attempt to force up. I could find nothing but the +coils of rope, which I piled on; but, while I was so doing, a +pistol was fired at me from below, and the ball passed through the +calf of my leg; it was, however, not a wound to disable me, and I +bound it up with my handkerchief.</p> +<p>"They're all alive now, Tom, so you must keep your eyes open. +However, we're pretty safe—the light vessel is not a mile +off. Keep away from the skylight—you had better stand upon +the trysail, Tom—you will help to keep the hatchway down, for +they are working at it."</p> +<p>Another pistol was now fired at Bramble, which missed him.</p> +<p>"Tom, see if there's no bunting aft, and, if so, just throw some +over this part of the skylight, it will blind them, at all events; +otherwise I'm just a capital mark for them."</p> +<p>I ran aft, and gathered some flags, which I brought and laid +over the skylight, so as to intercept their view of Bramble; but +while I was so doing another pistol-shot was fired—it passed +me, but hit Bramble, taking off one of his fingers.</p> +<p>"That's no miss, but we've got through the worst of it, +Tom—I don't think they can see me now—don't put that +English ensign on, but hoist it Union downward. I shall round-to +now; there's the men-of-war in the Medway. Why don't the fools look +out, and they will see that they can't escape?"</p> +<p>"They've only the stern windows to look out of: the +quarter-galleries are boarded up."</p> +<p>"Then, Tom, just look if they have not beat them out, for you +know they may climb on deck by them."</p> +<p>It was fortunate that Bramble mentioned this. I went aft with +the handspike in my hand, and when I was about to look over, I met +face to face a Frenchman, who had climbed out of the starboard +quarter-gallery, and was just gaming the deck. A blow with the +handspike sent him overboard, and he went astern; but another was +following him, and I stood prepared to receive him. It was the +officer in command, who spoke English. He paused at the sight of +the other man falling overboard and my uplifted handspike; and I +said to him, "It's of no use—look at the English men-of-war +close to you: if you do not go back to the cabin, and keep your men +quiet, when the men-of-war's men come on board we will show you no +quarter."</p> +<p>We were now entering the Medway; and the Frenchman perceived +that they could not escape, and would only bring mischief on +themselves by any farther assaults, so he got into the +quarter-gallery again, and spoke to his men. As soon as I perceived +that he was entering, I ran over to the other side to the larboard +quarter-gallery, and there again I found a Frenchman had nearly +gained the deck. I levelled the handspike at his head, but he +dodged, and returned to the cabin by the way he came; and after +that there were no more attempts at recovering the vessel. In five +minutes more we were abreast of the Euphrosyne, Sir James +O'Connor's frigate, which was now lying, with only her lower masts +in, alongside of the hulk. I hailed for assistance, and let fly the +foretop-mast staysail sheet, while Bramble rounded the ship to. The +boats were sent on board immediately; and as we had not a cable +bent, they made the ship fast to the hulk astern of them. We stated +our case in few words to the officer; and having ascertained that +Sir James O'Connor was on board, requested that we might be sent to +the frigate.</p> +<p>"Is it you?" said Sir James, as I came on the gangway; "what is +it all about—are you hurt? Come down in the cabin."</p> +<p>Bramble and I followed him down into the cabin; and I stated the +whole particulars of the capture and re-capture.</p> +<p>"Excellent—most excellent! I wish you both joy; but first +we must have the surgeon here" Sir James rang the bell; and when +the surgeon came he went on deck to give orders.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<a name="illus493.jpg" id="illus493.jpg"></a> <a href= +"images/illus493.jpg"><img src="images/thumb493.jpg" width="20%" +alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>I MET FACE TO FACE A FRENCHMAN.<br /> +—Marryat, Vol. X., p. 493.</b> +<br /></div> +<p>The ball had passed through my leg, so that the surgeon had +little to do to me. Bramble's finger was amputated, and in a few +minutes we were all right, and Sir James came down again.</p> +<p>"I should say, stay on board till you are able to get about +again; but the ship will be paid off to-morrow, so I had better +send you up to Chatham directly. You are entitled to salvage if +ever men were, for you have earned it gloriously; and I will take +care that you are done justice to. I must go now and report the +vessel and particulars to the admiral, and the first lieutenant +will send you to Chatham in one of the cutters. You'll be in good +hands, Tom, for you will have two nurses."</p> +<p>We were taken up to Chatham to the hotel, where we found Lady +O'Connor and Virginia very much surprised, as may be imagined, at +our being brought there wounded. However, we were neither of us ill +enough to go to bed, and had a sitting-room next to theirs.</p> +<p>This recapture made a great deal of noise. At first the agent +for the prize wrote down a handsome letter to us, complimenting us +upon our behavior and stating that he was authorized to present us +each with five hundred pounds for our conduct. But Sir James +O'Connor answered the letter, informing him that we claimed, and +would have, our one-eighth, as entitled to by law, and that he +would see us righted. Mr. Wilson, whom we employed as our legal +adviser, immediately gave the prize agent notice of an action in +the Court of Admiralty, and, finding we were so powerfully backed, +and that he could not help himself, he offered forty thousand +pounds, which was one-eighth, valuing the cargo at three hundred +and twenty thousand pounds. The cargo proved to be worth more than +four hundred thousand pounds, but Mr. Wilson advised us to close +with the offer, as it was better than litigating the question; so +we assented to it, and the money was paid over.</p> +<p>In a fortnight we were both ready to travel again. Sir James +O'Connor had remained a week longer than he intended to have done +at Chatham on our account. We now took leave of them, and having +presented Virginia with five thousand pounds, which I had directed +Mr. Wilson to settle upon her, we parted, the O'Connors and +Virginia for Leamington, and Bramble and I for Deal.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus495.jpg" width="30%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIFTY_ONE" id="CHAPTER_FIFTY_ONE"></a>CHAPTER +FIFTY-ONE</h2> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Being the last Chapter, the Reader may pretty well guess the +Contents of it.</p> +</div> +<p>"Tom, do you know that I very often find myself looking about +me, and asking myself if all that has happened is true or a dream," +said Bramble to me, as we sat inside of the coach to Dover, for +there were no other inside passengers but ourselves. "I can't help +thinking that great good fortune is as astounding as great +calamity. Who would have thought, when I would, in spite of all +Bessy's remonstrances, go round in that ship with you, that in the +first place we should have been taken possession of by a privateer +in the very narrows (he was a bold cruiser, that Frenchman)? After +we were captured I said to myself, Bessy must have had a +forewarning of what was to happen, or she never would have been, as +I thought, so perverse. And since it has turned out so fortunately, +I can't help saying how fortunate it was that we did not allow her +to persuade us; for had we not both gone, nothing could have been +done. Well, I think we may promise Bessy this time when we meet +her, that we will not trust ourselves to salt water again in a +hurry. What do you think, Tom?"</p> +<p>"No; I think the best thing I can do is to marry, and live on +shore," replied I.</p> +<p>"Yes, Tom, that's it. Give me your hand, you don't know how +happy you make me; we'll all live together. But where shall we +live? for the poor little cottage that I thought quite big enough +for us a month ago will not do now."</p> +<p>"We have plenty of time to talk that over, father. I love the +cottage for many reasons; although, as you say, it is not large +enough now for our means or future way of living."</p> +<p>"And I love it too, boy; I love to look out of the door and see +the spot where my Bessy rescued me from death. God bless her! she +is a noble girl, Tom, though I say it who—but I'm not her +father, after all, and if I were, I would still say it."</p> +<p>"It is evident, by her letter to you, that she has been most +anxious about us. What will she say when she hears we have both +been wounded?"</p> +<p>"Ay! it wouldn't have done to have told her that, or she would +have set off for Chatham, as sure as we are sitting here."</p> +<p>Here a pause ensued for some time, and we were busied with our +own thoughts. The silence was at last broken by me.</p> +<p>"Father," said I, "I should like to ask my father and Peter +Anderson to come down to us; they can easily get leave."</p> +<p>"Is it to be present at your wedding, Tom?"</p> +<p>"Exactly—if Bessy will consent."</p> +<p>"Well, I have no doubt of that, Tom; but she will now require a +little courting, you know why."</p> +<p>"Why, because all women like it, I suppose."</p> +<p>"No, Tom; it is because she was in love before you were, d'ye +understand?—and now that things are all smooth, and you +follow her, why, it's natural, I suppose, that she should shy off a +little in her turn. You mustn't mind that, Tom; it's a sort of +soothing to the mortification of having at one time found herself, +as it were, rejected."</p> +<p>"Well, I shan't mind that; it will only serve me right for being +such a fool as not to have perceived her value before. But how do +you understand women so well, father?"</p> +<p>"Because, Tom, I've been looking on and not performing all my +life: except in one instance in a long life, I've only been a +bystander in the way of courtship and matrimony. Here we are at +last, and now for a chaise to Deal. Thank God, we can afford to +shorten the time, for Bessy's sake, poor thing!"</p> +<p>We arrived at the cottage. The sound of the wheels had called +out not only Bessy and Mrs. Maddox, but all the neighbors; for they +had heard of our good fortune. Bessy, as soon as she had satisfied +herself that it was Bramble and me, went into the cottage again. +Once more we entered the humble roof. Bessy flew into her father's +arms, and hung weeping on his shoulder.</p> +<p>"Haven't you a kind word to say for Tom?" said Bramble kissing +her as he released himself.</p> +<p>"Does he deserve it, to leave me as he did, laughing at my +distress? <i>He</i> had no right to treat me so."</p> +<p>"Indeed, Bessy, you do me injustice. I said at the time that I +thought there was no risk, and I certainly did think there was +none. Who would have expected a privateer half-way up the Thames, +any more than a vessel with twenty men on board could be +re-captured by two men?"</p> +<p>"Well, Bessy, you ought to make friends with him, for, without +his arm, your father would not have been back here quite so soon. +He beat down the Frenchmen, one after another, in good style, when +they attempted to recover the vessel—that he did, I can tell +you, wounded as he was."</p> +<p>"Wounded?" cried Bessy, starting, her eyes running over me to +find out where.</p> +<p>"Yes, with a bullet in his leg; I didn't like to say a word +about it in the letter. But I suppose if he had been killed you +would not have cared?"</p> +<p>"Oh, father!" cried Bessy, as she turned toward me, and I +received her in my arms.</p> +<p>Bessy soon recovered her smiles, and thankful for our +preservation and good fortune, and satisfied with our mutual +affection, we passed a most happy evening. Somehow or another +Bramble, having sent Mrs. Maddox on a message, found out that it +was very sultry indoors, and that he would take his pipe on the +beach. He left me alone with Bessy; and now, for the first time, I +plainly told her the state of my affections, and asked her to +consent to be my wife. I did not plead in vain, as the reader may +suppose from what he has already been made acquainted with.</p> +<p>After Bessy had retired, and I was sitting with Bramble, who had +his glass of grog and pipe as usual, I made him acquainted with my +success.</p> +<p>"All right, Tom," said he, "I'm thankful—and God bless you +both."</p> +<p>And had I not reason also to be thankful? When I had retired to +my room that night, I thought over the various passages in my life. +What might I have been if Providence had not watched over me? When +neglected in my youth, in a situation which exposed me to every +temptation, had not old Anderson been sent as a guardian to keep me +in the right path, to instruct me, and to give me that education +without which my future success might have turned out a +disadvantage instead of a source of gratitude? In Bramble, again, I +had met with a father, to supply the place of one who was not in a +situation to do his duty to me or forward me in life. In old Nanny +I had met with a kind friend, one who, at the same time that she +would lead me right, was a warning to me from her sufferings. To +Mrs. St. Felix I was equally indebted, and had I not been permitted +to pay the debt of gratitude to both of them? Even my mother's +harshness, which appeared at first to my short-sightedness to have +been so in-defensible, was of great advantage to me, as it had +stimulated me to exertion and industry, and pointed out to me the +value of independence. Was I not also most fortunate in having +escaped from the entanglement of Janet, who, had I married her, +would, in all probability, have proved a useless if not a faithless +helpmate; and still more so, in finding that there was, as it were, +especially reserved for me the affection of such a noble, +right-minded creature as Bessy? My life, commenced in rags and +poverty, had, by industry and exertion, and the kindness of others, +step by step progressed to competence and every prospect of mundane +happiness. Had I not, therefore, reason to be grateful, and to feel +that there had been a little cherub who had watched over the life +of Poor Jack? On my bended knees I acknowledged it fervently and +gratefully, and prayed that, should it please Heaven that I should +in after life meet any reverse, I might bear it without repining, +and say, with all humility, "Thy will and not mine, O Lord, be +done!"</p> +<p>How bright was the next morning, and how cheerful did the +dancing waves appear to me!—and Bessy's eyes were radiant as +the day, and her smiles followed in rapid succession; and Bramble +looked so many years younger—he was almost too happy to +smoke—it was really the sunshine of the heart which illumined +our cottage. And thus did the few days pass, until Anderson and my +father made their appearance. They were both surprised at Bessy's +beauty, and told me so. They had heard that she was handsome, but +they were not prepared for her uncommon style; for now that her +countenance was lighted up with joy, she was indeed lovely.</p> +<p>"Well, Tom," observed my father, "there's only one thing which +surprises me."</p> +<p>"What is that?"</p> +<p>"Why, how, with such a fine craft in view, you could ever have +sailed in the wake of such a little privateer as—but I must +not mention her—never mind, don't answer me that—but +another question—when are you going to be spliced?"</p> +<p>"Very soon, I hope; but I really don't exactly know. All I can +say is the sooner the better."</p> +<p>"And so say I. Shall I bring up the subject on the plea of my +leave being only for ten days?"</p> +<p>"Yes, father, I wish you would, as it is really a good reason to +allege for its taking place immediately."</p> +<p>"Tom, my dear boy," said old Anderson, "from what I can +perceive, you have great reason to be thankful in having obtained +this young woman for your future partner in life. I admire her +exceedingly, and I trust in Heaven that you will be happy."</p> +<p>"I ought to be," replied I, "and grateful also particularly to +you, to whom, under Providence, I am so much indebted."</p> +<p>"If the seed is sown upon good ground, it will always yield a +good harvest, Tom. You are a proof of it, so thank Heaven, and not +me. I wish to tell you what your father has mentioned to me. The +fact is, Tom, he is in what may be called a false position at +Greenwich. He is a pensioner, and has now sufficient not to require +the charity, and he thinks that he ought not to avail himself of +it, now that you have made him independent; but if he leaves the +hospital and remains at Greenwich, he and your mother would not +agree well together. They are very good friends at a certain +distance, but I do not think, with her high notions, that they +could ever live together in the same house. He says that he should +like to live either with you or near you; and I think myself, now +that he is become so very steady a character, it does require your +consideration whether you ought not to permit him. He will be a +very good companion for Bramble, and they will get on well +together. I do not mean to say that it might not be more agreeable +if he were to remain at Greenwich; but he is your father, Tom, and +you should make some sacrifice for a parent."</p> +<p>"As far as I am concerned, Anderson, I most gladly consent. +Bramble is to live with us—that is arranged, and if no +objections are raised by others you may be sure of my acceding, +and, indeed, if objections should be raised, of persuading all I +can."</p> +<p>"You can do no more, Tom," replied Anderson; "nor can more be +expected."</p> +<p>This point was very satisfactorily arranged. Bramble and Bessy +both gave their cheerful consent, and it was settled that as soon +as we had a house to receive him, my father should quit Greenwich +and live with us. The arguments of my father, added to the +persuasions of Bramble and me, had their due weight, and on the +13th of September, 1807, Bessy and I exchanged our vows, and I +embraced her as my own.</p> +<div class="figcenter"><br /> +<img src="images/illus502.jpg" width="20%" alt="" title="" /></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="FINALE" id="FINALE"></a>FINALE</h2> +<p>If the reader will refer back to the first part of this +narrative, he will find that I was born in the year 1786; and as I +am writing this in the year 1840, I am now fifty-four years old. I +was but little more than twenty-one when I married; I have, +therefore, the experience of thirty-two years of a married life; +but I will not anticipate. I ended the last chapter with my own +happy union; I must now refer to those events which followed close +upon that period.</p> +<p>Sir James and Lady O'Connor had taken up their residence at +Leamington, then a small village, and not the populous place which +it has since become. After a few months' residence, during which I +had repeated letters from Lady O'Connor and Virginia, they were so +pleased with the locality and neighborhood that Sir James purchased +a property of some hundred acres, and added to a house which was +upon it, so as to make it a comfortable and elegant residence. Lady +O'Connor, after the first year, presented her husband with a son, +and has since that been very assiduous in increasing his +family—more so, perhaps, than would have been convenient to +Sir James O'Connor's income at the time that he purchased the +property, had it not been that the increase of its value, in +consequence of a large portion of it having been taken as building +land, has been so great as to place them in most affluent +circumstances. About a year after my marriage I had notice from +Lady O'Connor that a certain gentleman had arrived there who had +shown great attention to Virginia; and she added that he had been +very well received by my sister, being an old acquaintance of the +name of Sommerville, a clergyman with a good living, and a very +superior young man. I immediately recollected him as the preceptor +who had behaved with such propriety when my sister was persecuted +by the addresses of the young nobleman; and I, therefore, felt very +easy upon the subject. A few months afterward I had a letter from +Virginia, stating that he had proposed, and that she had +conditionally accepted him. I wrote to her, congratulating her upon +the choice she had made, giving her father's consent and blessing +(of my mother hereafter); and shortly after they were married; and +I am happy to say that her marriage has turned out as fortunate as +my own.</p> +<p>We had remained in the cottage for some months after my own +marriage, very undecided what we should do. Bramble did not like to +quit the seaside, nor, I believe his old habits and localities. +Money was of little value to him; indeed, on my marriage, he had +insisted upon settling upon Bessy and her children the whole sum he +had received for the salvage of the Dutch Indiaman, reserving for +himself his farm near Deal. It did so happen, however, that about +that period, while we were still in perplexity, I received a letter +from Mr. Wilson's son, at Dover, telling me that the manor-house +and three hundred acres of land, adjoining to Bramble's farm, were +to be disposed of. This exactly suited, so I made the purchase and +took possession, and then sent for my father to join us, which he +hastened to do. Bramble did not, however, give up his cottage on +the beach. He left Mrs. Maddox in it, and it was a favorite +retirement for my father and him, who would remain there for +several days together, amusing themselves with watching the +shipping, and gaining intelligence from the various pilots as they +landed, as they smoked their pipes on the shingle beach. It was not +more than half a mile from the great house, so that it was very +convenient; and Bessy and I would often go with the children and +indulge in reminiscences of the former scenes which had there +occurred.</p> +<p>My father and mother parted very good friends. The fact was that +she was pleased with the arrangement, as she did not like my father +wearing a pensioner's coat, and did not want his company at her own +house. When he left the hospital, she insisted upon paying him his +rent; and she did so very punctually until she gave up business. On +her marriage, my sister requested that we would come to Leamington +and be present; to which we all consented, particularly as it was a +good opportunity of introducing Bessy to her and Lady O'Connor. My +mother was also to join the party on the occasion. The only +circumstance worth mentioning was the surprise of my mother on +being introduced to Lady O'Connor, and finding that in this great +lady she met with her old acquaintance, Mrs. St. Felix. Whatever +she may have felt, she certainly had tact enough to conceal it, and +was as warm in her congratulations as the best well-wisher. I must +say that I never knew my mother appear to such advantage as she did +during this visit to Leamington. She dressed remarkably well, and +would have persuaded those who did not know her history that she +had always been in good society; but she had been a lady's maid and +had learned her mistress's airs, and as she could dress others so +well, it would have been odd if she did not know how to dress +herself. A good copy will often pass for an original. It was not +till about six years after our marriage that my mother decided upon +retiring from business. She had made a very comfortable provision +for herself, as Mr. Wilson informed me, and took up her abode at +Cheltenham, where she lived in a very genteel way, was considered +quite a catch at card-parties, and when she did ask people to tea +she always did the thing in better style than anybody else. The +consequence was she was not only visited by most people, but in +time became rather a person of consideration. As she never +mentioned her husband, it was supposed that she was a widow, and, +in consequence of her well-regulated establishment, she received +much attention from several Irish and foreign bachelors. In short, +my mother obtained almost the pinnacle of her ambition when she was +once fairly settled at Cheltenham. I ought to observe that when she +arrived there she had taken the precaution of prefixing a name to +her own to which by baptismal rite she certainly was not entitled, +and called herself Mrs. Montague Saunders.</p> +<p>Shortly after Mrs. St. Felix had given notice to the doctor that +she should not return, and that her shop and the goodwill thereof +were for sale, I received a letter from my friend Tom Cobb, the +doctor's assistant, telling me that as he perceived he had now no +chance of Mrs. St. Felix, he had some idea of taking her shop, and +setting up as a tobacconist; his reasons were that physic was a +bore, and going out of nights when called up a still greater. I +wrote to Lady O'Connor inclosing Mr. Tom's letter, and pointed out +to her that I thought it would be a public benefit to prevent Tom +from killing so many people, as he certainly would do if he +continued in his present profession, and eventually set up for +himself. She replied that she agreed with me, but at the same time +that she was anxious to benefit fat Jane, who really was a very +good girl; and that, therefore, she empowered me to enter into a +treaty with Mr. Thomas, by which, provided he could obtain the +lady's consent, he was to wed her, and receive the stock in trade, +its contents and fixtures, and goodwill, etc., as her portion.</p> +<p>As this was an offer which required some consideration before it +was refused, I wrote to Tom pointing out to him the advantages of +settling down with a good business, with a wife to assist him, and +a cat and dog all ready installed, upon such advantageous +conditions. Tom agreed with me, won the love of fat Jane, which was +easily done, as he had no rival, and in a short time was fairly set +down as the successor of Mrs. St. Felix. As for the doctor, he +appeared to envy Tom his having possession of the shop which his +fair friend once occupied; he was inconsolable, and there is no +doubt but that he, from the period of her quitting Greenwich, +wasted away until he eventually was buried in the churchyard. A +most excellent man was Dr. Tadpole, and his death was lamented by +hundreds who esteemed his character, and many hundreds more who had +benefited not only by his advice, but by his charitable +disposition. About ten years after my marriage Ben the Whaler was +summoned away. His complaint was in the liver, which is not to be +surprised at, considering how many gallons of liquor he had drunk +during his life.</p> +<p>Peter Anderson—my father, my friend, my +preceptor—was for many years inspecting boatswain of the +hospital. At last he became to a certain degree vacant in mind, and +his situation was filled up by another. He was removed to what they +call the helpless ward, where he was well nursed and attended. It +is no uncommon, indeed I may say it is a very common thing, for the +old pensioners, as they gradually decay, to have their health quite +perfect when the faculties are partly gone; and there is a helpless +ward established for that very reason, where those who are infirm +and feeble, without disease, or have lost their faculties while +their bodily energies remain, are sent to, and there they pass a +quiet, easy life, well attended, until they sink into the grave. +Such was the case with Peter Anderson: he was ninety-seven when he +died, but long before that time his mind was quite gone. Still he +was treated with respect, and many were there who attended his +funeral. I erected a handsome tombstone to his memory, the last +tribute I could pay to a worthy, honest, sensible, and highly +religious good man.</p> +<p>Mr. Wilson has been dead some time; he left me a legacy of five +hundred pounds. I believe I have mentioned all my old acquaintances +now, except Bill Harness and Opposition Bill. In living long +certainly Opposition Bill has beat his opponent, for Harness is in +the churchyard, while Opposition Bill still struts about with his +hair as white as snow, and his face shriveled up like an old +monkey's. The last time I was at Greenwich, I heard the pensioners +say to one another, "Why, you go ahead about as fast as Opposition +Bill." I requested this enigma to me to be solved, and it appeared +that one Greenwich fair, Opposition Bill had set off home rather +the worse for what he had drank, and so it happened that, crossing +the road next to the hospital, his wooden leg had stuck in one of +the iron plug-holes of the water conduit. Bill did not, in his +situation, perceive that anything particular had occurred, and +continued playing his fiddle and singing, and, as he supposed, +walking on the whole time, instead of which he was continually +walking round and round the one leg in the plug-hole with the other +that was free. After about half an hour's trotting round and round +this way, he began to think that he did not get home quite so fast +as he ought, but the continual circular motion had made him more +confused than before.</p> +<p>"By Gum!" said Bill, "this hospital is a confounded long way +off. I'm sure I walk a mile, and I get no nearer; howsoebber, +nebber mind—here goes."</p> +<p>Here Billy struck up a tune, and commenced a song along with it, +still walking round and round his wooden leg which was firmly fixed +in the plug-hole, and so he continued till he fell down from +giddiness, and he was picked up by some of the people, who carried +him home to the hospital.</p> +<p>I have but one more circumstance to relate. I was one day +sitting with Bessy and my children, at the old cottage on the +beach, Bramble and my father were smoking their pipes on a bench +which they had set up outside, when one of the Deal boats landed +with passengers. As they passed by us one old gentleman started, +and then stopped short, as he beheld Bessy.</p> +<p>"Mine frau!" he cried, "mine frau dat was in heaven!"</p> +<p>We stared very much, as we did not comprehend him; but he then +came up to me and said, "I beg your pardon, mynheer, but what is +dat young woman?"</p> +<p>"She is my wife," replied I.</p> +<p>"I was going to say dat she was my wife, but dat is impossible. +Look you here, sar."</p> +<p>The old man pulled a miniature out of his breast, and certainly +the resemblance to Bessy was most remarkable.</p> +<p>"Now, sar, dat was my wife. Where did you get dis young +woman?"</p> +<p>I requested him to walk into the cottage, and then told him the +history of Bessy.</p> +<p>"Sar, my wife was coming home with her child in a brig, and the +brig was never heard of. It was supposed that she did perish, and +every one else too. Sar, this lady must be my daughter."</p> +<p>"I'm sorry that we have no proofs to offer you," replied I; "she +had only bedclothes on when she was taken into the boat, and there +is nothing to establish her identity."</p> +<p>"I am content, sar; she must be my daughter. She was in a brig +with her mother, and she was saved the very same year that her +mother come home. There, sar, look at this picture; it is the same +person. I want no more proof—she is my daughter."</p> +<p>Although this was what might be called only collateral proof, I +did agree with the old gentleman that it was very strong; at all +events, it was sufficient for him, and he claimed Bessy as his +child. Had he claimed her to take her away, I might have disputed +it; but as he loaded her with presents, and when he died, which he +did three years afterward, and left twenty thousand rix dollars, of +course I was perfectly satisfied with his relationship.</p> +<p>So much for what has occurred since the time I married; and now, +as the reader may, perhaps, wish to know something about the +present condition of myself and family, I must inform him that my +father and Bramble are still alive, and flourishing under their +gray hairs. My sister has four children, and her husband is now a +dean: they do say that, from the interest of his patron, he will in +all probability be a bishop, a distinction not to be envied in +these days, and therefore I do not wish him success. My mother is, +however, of the contrary opinion, having been told that her +daughter as a bishop's lady will take precedence and be led out +before Lady Hercules. Sir James and Lady O'Connor are still well, +and as happy as they well can be. Bessy has blessed me with three +boys and three girls, now all grown up; but the boys came first. +The eldest is a lieutenant in his Majesty's service, the second is +a captain of an Indiaman, and the third commands a free trader. +They are all well to do, and independent of their father. My girls, +who are much younger, have been well educated, and people say that +they are very handsome; at all events, they are modest and +good-tempered. I have not attempted to conceal what I once was, yet +Time has called away most of those who knew me in my profession. I +am still considered as having been a seafaring man, but +nevertheless, in consequence of my property, I am generally +addressed by the title of Squire Saunders. By not assuming a +station which does not become me, I find myself treated not only +with respect, but with friendship, by those who are in birth, as +well as other qualifications, my superiors. My daughters are +invited out to all the balls and <i>fêtes</i> in the +neighborhood, and are great favorites wherever they go: they all of +them are like their mother, not only in appearance, but in temper +and disposition. We have plenty of young men who visit the house, +and I am afraid that we shall soon have to part with two of them, +my eldest, Virginia, being engaged to a ship-builder at Limehouse, +and Elizabeth to a young clergyman in the neighborhood. Jane thinks +she never will marry, and, as I tell her, I suppose she never will +till she is asked. To wind up, I may say that Bessy and I have been +very happy, and promise still to be as happy as most people are who +pass through this pilgrimage. We have competence—the good +opinion of the world—a family who have never caused us one +hour's uneasiness (how few can say that?), and we have, I trust, a +due sense of God's mercy and kindness toward us, and never lie down +in our beds without thanking Him for the many mercies we have +received, and acknowledging how unworthy we are to have been so +signally blessed.</p> + +<p> </p> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14222 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/14222-h/images/illus001.jpg b/14222-h/images/illus001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a606d4a --- /dev/null +++ b/14222-h/images/illus001.jpg diff --git a/14222-h/images/illus001_100dpi.jpg b/14222-h/images/illus001_100dpi.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8120ca0 --- /dev/null +++ b/14222-h/images/illus001_100dpi.jpg diff --git a/14222-h/images/illus013.jpg b/14222-h/images/illus013.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a2db419 --- /dev/null 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