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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Looking Seaward Again, by Walter Runciman
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Looking Seaward Again
+
+Author: Walter Runciman
+
+Release Date: March 1, 2005  [eBook #15222]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LOOKING SEAWARD AGAIN***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Steven Gibbs and the Project Gutenberg Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+LOOKING SEAWARD AGAIN
+
+by
+
+Sir WALTER RUNCIMAN, Bart.,
+
+Author of _The Shellback's Progress_, _Windjammers and Sea Tramps_, etc.
+
+London: Walter Scott Publishing Co. Ltd.
+
+1907.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+TO
+MY WIFE
+THESE FRAGMENTS
+ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+The following tales have been told to some few men and women by the
+fireside. The stories themselves only claim to be unvarnished matters
+of fact; and I may repeat here what I said in a previous volume, that
+my object has not been to strain after literary effect or style. My
+too early desertion of home-life to graduate in the harsh and
+whimsical discipline of sailing-vessels in the days when they had
+still some years to live and "carry on" ere steam took the wind out of
+their sails, precluded such studies as are natural to the embryo man
+of letters. But the circumstances that told against mere study did not
+prevent my preserving many memories of my sojourns ashore and voyages
+in distant seas. I mention this fact, not as an apology, but as an
+explanation which I hope may commend itself to the amiable reader.
+
+WALTER RUNCIMAN.
+
+_3rd December_ 1907.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+THROUGH TORPEDOES AND ICE
+FAIR TRADE AND FOUL PLAY
+SMUGGLERS OF THE ROCK
+A PASHA BEFORE PLEVNA
+A RUSSIAN PORT IN THE 'SIXTIES
+"DUTCHY" AND HIS CHIEF
+
+
+
+
+Through Torpedoes and Ice
+
+
+"Osman the Victorious," as Skobeleff called the matchless Turkish
+pasha, had kept the Russian hordes at bay for one hundred and
+forty-two days. Never in the annals of warfare had the world beheld
+such unexpected military genius, combined with stubborn endurance, as
+was shown during the siege of Plevna. On December 10th, 1877, Osman
+came out and made a desperate struggle to break through the Russian
+lines; but after four hours' hard fighting the Turks sent up the white
+flag, and boisterous cheering swelled over the snow-clad land when it
+became known that the greatest Turkish general of modern times had
+surrendered. His little army of Bashi-Bazouks had annihilated more
+than one Siberian battalion. The Russian loss was forty thousand, and
+the Turkish thirty thousand. Had Suleiman and the other Turkish
+generals shown the same stubborn spirit as Osman, the Russian army
+would never have been permitted to cross the Balkans, much less reach
+Constantinople.[1] But after the fall of Plevna the resistance of the
+Turkish army was feeble, and the Muscovites were not long in pitching
+their camp at San Stefano. Indeed, a rumour got abroad one night that
+the Russians were in the suburbs of Constantinople. This roused the
+indignation of the English jingoes to such a pitch that the great
+Jewish Premier, with the dash that characterized his career, gave
+peremptory orders for the British fleet to proceed, with or without
+leave, through the Dardanelles, and if any resistance was shown to
+silence the forts. Russia protested and threatened, and Turkey winked
+a stern objection, but Lord Beaconsfield was firm, and suitable
+arrangements were arrived at between the Powers.
+
+Bismarck offered his services as mediator, and suggested that a
+European Congress should be held at Berlin to discuss the contents of
+the Treaty of San Stefano. This was agreed to, and Lord Beaconsfield,
+accompanied by Lord Salisbury, were the British representatives at the
+Congress. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary drove a hard
+and favourable bargain for Turkey and for Britain. Turkey, it is
+needless to say, got the worst of it; but, considering her crushing
+defeat, came well out of the settlement. Cyprus was ceded to the
+British, to be used as a naval station, and subsequent experience has
+proved the wisdom of this acquisition. Lord Beaconsfield proclaimed to
+a tumultuous crowd on the occasion of his return to London that he had
+brought back "peace with honour." This was the acme of the great
+Jew's fame. It looked as though he could have done anything he liked
+with the British people, so that it is no wonder that the old man lost
+his balance when such homage was paid him by that section of the
+public which was smitten with his picturesque and audacious
+personality.
+
+Naturally, his policy impregnated Russia with a strong anti-British
+feeling, and it was said that her activity in running up earthworks
+and apparently impregnable fortifications was in anticipation of
+Disraeli declaring war and ordering the fleet to bombard the Crimean
+ports; hence, too, in addition to the strong fortifications, torpedo
+mines were laid for miles along the seaboard, and every possible means
+and opportunity were taken to make it widely known that the Black Sea
+was one deadly mine-field. The Press on all sides was, as usual,
+brimful of reports of the most alarmist nature--these, of course, for
+the most part extravagant and inaccurate rumours. Nor did the Russian
+Press minimize accounts of the terrible devastation that was wrought
+on unarmed trespassers who came within the zone of terror. I read
+twice of my own rapid and complete destruction. There is no doubt that
+mines were laid, though both their capacity for destruction and the
+number of them was very much exaggerated.
+
+From the end of ---- outer breakwater to beyond the ---- there was a
+line of mines which left between the land and them a channel less than
+half a mile wide. A gunboat with torpedo pilots aboard was moored at
+the south end, and vessels prior to the war and during the armistice
+were compelled to take a pilot in and out; but no vessel was allowed
+to pass in or out from sunset to sunrise. A gunboat was also stationed
+outside the inner breakwater. A large fleet of steamers had been
+attracted by the high freights, inflated by the war fever that
+permeated Europe at that time, and also because the season was far
+advanced, and merchants were anxious to get their stuff shipped in
+case hostilities broke out. The heavy snowstorms had made the roads
+almost impassable, but in spite of great difficulties the loading was
+carried on; slowly, it is true, but with dogged perseverance. The
+frost had become keen, and large floes of ice were rushed down the
+reaches by the swift current. Booms were moored outside the vessels to
+protect them, but these were constantly being carried away, and not a
+little damage was done. A consultation amongst the captains was held
+as to the advisability of leaving with what cargoes they had aboard,
+but only two decided to start on the following morning. Some of the
+others said they could force their way through six inches of ice, and
+would risk waiting to receive their whole cargo. Accordingly, as soon
+as it was daylight one of the captains who had made all arrangements
+to leave gave orders to unmoor. The other had changed his mind, and
+fell in with the views of the majority. The captain of the
+_Claverhouse_, however, got underweigh, but before getting very far
+his engineer reported that the hot-well cover had broken in two. It
+was temporarily repaired, and she got along famously until they came
+to a bend in the river where there was much packed ice. For two hours
+manoeuvring continued without any appreciable result. At last the big
+mass began to move, and a navigable channel was opened, which enabled
+the vessel to make slow though risky progress through a field of
+moving ice.
+
+The anchorage at ---- was reached before darkness set in, and a vessel
+which had left four days previously was observed to be ashore, with
+the ice drifting up against her port side, forcing her farther on to
+the bank. Signals were hoisted offering assistance, but before the
+reply could be made a blinding snowstorm came on, which lasted all
+through the night. The next morning, at daylight, signals were again
+made by the _Claverhouse_ to the stranded vessel asking if they would
+accept assistance. The reply came, "I want lighters." The crew were
+jettisoning the cargo of wheat on to the ice as it flowed past, but
+the more they lightened the farther the vessel was forced on to the
+bank by the rushing current. The master of the _Claverhouse_,
+observing the critical position, sent a boat away with a small line.
+A communication was effected, but not without great difficulty. The
+master of the _Aureola_ was worn out with anxiety and want of rest,
+for his vessel had been ashore for forty-eight hours. He very wisely
+accepted the assistance which had opportunely come to him. A tow-rope
+was attached to the small line, and by this means a thick tow-line was
+got aboard, and she was dragged off the bank; then orders were
+unaccountably given to cut the tow-rope. This very nearly resulted in
+a more serious disaster, as the engineers in the confusion kept the
+engines going astern, and the rope drifting with the current, became
+entangled round the propeller. If the anchor and chains had not held
+the great strain that was put on them, she would have gone ashore
+again in a worse position, and inevitably have broken her back. As it
+was, the propeller was cleared in about a couple of hours. The captain
+of the _Aureola_ was not well acquainted with the locality, and
+arranged that he should follow the other steamer to----. Suitable
+plans and signals were settled, and both vessels weighed anchor and
+proceeded as fast through the ice as was compatible with safety. Once
+out of the narrows and clear of the obstruction, the engines were put
+at full speed and kept going until they were forced to slow down on
+account of the snow squalls, which obscured everything. The sea had
+become rough, and the utmost resources of the commanders were taxed in
+their efforts to navigate the coast and yet keep together. They groped
+their way until ---- town lights were visible. It was then seen that
+the gunboat anchored at the south end of the mine-field was signalling
+to them to stop; but still they went slowly on, feeling their way by
+the lead, while those aboard the gunboat began to fire rockets with
+exciting rapidity. Regardless of the warning, the two steamers kept on
+their way until they got to the anchorage, when the warship was hidden
+from view.
+
+It was past midnight; and although the crews of both vessels had gone
+through a severe ordeal of physical endurance, they were each anxious
+to hear what the other had to say about the events of the last
+forty-eight hours, which were beset with peril, and had culminated by
+boldly running into the anchorage over the mines in defiance of the
+regulations--to say nothing of the danger of being blown up, or the
+mysterious prospect of Siberia! The captain of the _Aureola_ was
+greatly perturbed, and he promptly ordered his gig to be manned to
+take him to the _Claverhouse_. On getting aboard, he reproached his
+friend for leading him into what might prove a serious scrape. The two
+men talked long of the exciting doings of the day and the policy that
+should be adopted on the morrow, when they would be confronted with
+officials that were not over well-disposed to British subjects. They
+fully realized that the case would have to be managed with great
+astuteness, so they bethought themselves of one of the cleverest and
+most popular men in----, and sent a message to him asking his help.
+His name need not be mentioned; he is long since dead, and it is
+sufficient to say that he was an educated Maltese, and held a kind of
+magnetic influence over the harbour authorities. The Admiral was an
+amiable man in an ordinary way, and susceptible to the temptations
+that beset officials in these places; but the _Claverhouse's_ offence
+was no common one, nor could it be approached in an ordinary way of
+speech.
+
+On going ashore, the captains were ushered into the presence of the
+infuriated official who was to decide their destiny. He fumed and
+foamed savagely, and whenever an attempt was made to speak his
+paroxysms became inhuman. Their Maltese friend had come to their aid,
+and was waiting patiently for the storm to subside, so that he could
+explain how it happened that the regulations came to be broken. Things
+looked black until Mr. C---- began to speak in Russian. It took him
+some time to get the great man pacified, and as soon as that was
+accomplished he said to the master of the _Claverhouse_--"You know
+that you could be sent to Siberia or less. How am I to explain it? Why
+did you not keep at sea all night? There is only one thing that will
+save you."
+
+"Well, then," responded the captain of the _Claverhouse_, "let that
+one thing be arranged; but let me also state the cause of our breaking
+the law. We could have kept the sea quite well had we known exactly
+where we were, but we could see nothing, and had to navigate by taking
+soundings, and as soon as we got into seven fathoms the water became
+smooth, and, fearing we might run aground, the anchor was let go. As
+for the rockets that were fired by the gunboat, we had passed the line
+of torpedoes before our attention was attracted by the firing. The
+Admiral himself could not have avoided it. Surely he cannot think we
+deliberately ran into the anchorage?"
+
+"That is just what he does think," said Mr. C----. "What am I to do?"
+
+"Settle on the best terms," said the captain.
+
+At this point two officers took the captains to another room, and they
+were locked in. An hour afterwards Mr. C---- came to them and said--
+
+"I have managed to get him quietened down. You have had a narrow
+squeak. It took me a long time to get him to speak of liberating you,
+and now I am requested to bring you to him so that you may be severely
+reprimanded. He talked of gaol, and sending you out of the country for
+ever, and inflicting a heavy fine; but that stage has passed, so come
+with me."
+
+When they were ushered into the Admiral's presence he frowned severely
+at them. Russian officers and high officials always expect you to
+tremble when they administer a rebuke. Needless to say, the reception
+was harsh. There was a good deal of long stride, prancing from one end
+of the room to the other, vehement talk in Russian, and wild
+gesticulation. The Maltese told the somewhat callous captains that the
+Admiral declared the next Englishman that attempted such a thing, if
+he were not blown up, would have to be shot. An example must be made.
+The genial intermediary interjected with apparent sternness--
+
+"Captains, you must apologize for the crime you have committed, and be
+thankful that you are going to be dealt leniently with. The Admiral
+is right: you deserved to be blown up with your ship. But apologize
+suitably, and leave the rest to me."
+
+All but the last sentence was interpreted to the gallant official. An
+apology was made, and silently accepted; but the real penalty was not
+disclosed to the captains until afterwards, and then it was kept
+secret by them and by the two contracting parties. The two commanders,
+when being congratulated on their release, said they did not know what
+all the fuss was about. They had done no harm to anybody, and if
+hostilities were resumed they hoped the Turks would wipe the Russians
+off the field, and so on.
+
+Three stirring months passed before the _Claverhouse_ returned to
+----. When she arrived at the gunboat guarding the torpedo channel,
+she took a pilot, and proceeded into the harbour in a law-abiding
+manner, while her captain, audibly and inaudibly, declaimed against a
+Government whose barbarous notions led them to impose restrictions
+that caused expense and interrupted the normal process of navigation.
+"What right have these beastly Russians to hamper British shipping
+like this?"
+
+When the captain landed he was met by several friends, who cheerfully
+inquired if he had found another new channel into the port. He
+jokingly retorted--
+
+"No; but I might have to find a new one out."
+
+He was solemnly advised not to attempt it. The Admiral, whom he
+occasionally met, was unusually cordial, and this attitude of courtesy
+was ungrudgingly reciprocated. One evening the captain wished to visit
+a friend of his, whose vessel lay at the forts. The sentry asked him
+to retire. He refused to move, and commenced to harangue the soldier
+in a language he supposed to be Russian. There must have been
+something wrong about it, for after a few words of conversation the
+sentry rushed at him with the bayonet fixed, and but for the swiftness
+of his heels there might have been a tragedy. He immediately called at
+the Admiral's office, informed him of what had occurred, and
+requested that he should be escorted where he desired to go. An
+officer was sent with him, and when they got to the sentry the officer
+spoke to the man in a heated tone, and then slapped him on the face
+with the flat of his hand. The captain asked why he had struck the
+sentry. The officer replied--
+
+"Because he told me you had used some Russian language to him that
+caused him to believe you were a suspicious character. I told him he
+was a fool, and that you were a friend of mine and of the Admiral. You
+will have no more trouble."
+
+A _douceur_ was slipped into the willing hand, and on the return
+journey another was given to the poor sentry, who showed a meekness
+and gratitude that was nearly pathetic.
+
+On the following day there was a sensational rumour that the armistice
+would be raised and hostilities between the two belligerents resumed.
+At the forts and at the military quarters of the city there was much
+activity. The troops were being reviewed by one of the Grand Dukes,
+and there were evidences of conscription everywhere. Aboard the
+warships the flutter was quite noticeable, and the frequent
+communications between them and the shore augured trouble. Merchants,
+agents, and captains displayed unusual energy to complete their
+engagements. A strongly-worded order was handed to the captains of the
+few vessels still remaining in port that, on penalty of being sunk by
+the warships or blown up by torpedoes, no vessel was to go out of the
+port after sundown at 6 p.m.
+
+On the second day after this instruction was given the loading of the
+_Claverhouse's_ cargo was completed. A gentleman sent a note
+requesting the captain to see him, and not to remove the staging
+between his vessel and the quay, as it would be required to carry out
+an important shipment which would be of great benefit to himself and
+all concerned. Negotiations were opened, and were briefly as
+follows:--This estimable Briton had been approached by a person of
+great astuteness and easy integrity, who was neither an Englishman nor
+a Turk, to engage at all costs a steamer to take bullocks on deck to
+a certain unnamed destination. The freight would be paid before the
+cattle were shipped, but the vessel would have to sail that night, and
+a large sum would be paid for running that risk.
+
+"State your price," said the genial agent; "anything within reason
+will be paid."
+
+The captain was as eager to do a deal as his new acquaintance, though
+he pleaded the almost impossible task of running out of the port
+without being observed, and if observed the inevitable consequence of
+being sunk, probably with all on board. The agent, having in mind his
+own considerable interest, played discreetly on the vanity of the
+commander, and laughed at the notion of an astute person like him
+allowing himself to be trapped; appealed to his nationality, and the
+glory of having run out of a port that was severely blockaded. The
+captain cut this flow of greasy oratory short by stating that for the
+moment he was thinking of the amount of hard cash he was going to get,
+and not of the glory.
+
+"I know what I will have to do, and I think I know how it will have
+to be done; but first let us fix the amount I am to have for doing it.
+My price is L----. Do you agree?"
+
+"Yes," said the agent; "though it's a bit stiff. But the animals must
+go forward."
+
+The captain did not expect so sudden a confirmation, and remarked, "I
+fancy I have not put sufficient value on the services I am to carry
+out; but I have given my word, and will keep it."
+
+In due course the money was handed over in British gold. The cattle
+were taken aboard, and just as the sun was setting the moorings were
+cast off, and the vessel proceeded to the outer harbour and anchored.
+The chief mate was instructed to put as little chain as possible out,
+and the engineer was told to have a good head of steam at a certain
+hour. Meanwhile, the captain proceeded to the city to clear his ship,
+and at the stated hour he was stealthily rowed alongside. The pawls of
+the windlass were muffled, and the anchor was hove noiselessly up by
+hand; the engines were set easy ahead, and as soon as she was on her
+course the telegraph rang "full speed." She had not proceeded far
+before a shot was fired from the inner gunboat, which landed alongside
+the starboard quarter. The chief officer called from the forecastle
+head--
+
+"They are firing at us--hadn't you better stop?"
+
+"Stop, be d----d! Do you want to be hung or sent to the Siberian
+mines?"
+
+The next shot fell short of the stern. They now came thick and heavy,
+but the _Claverhouse_ by this time was racing away, and was quickly
+out of range. The most critical time arrived when she was rushed
+headlong over the line of torpedoes; and as soon as the outer gunboat
+was opened clear of the breakwater, she, too, commenced to fire. Once
+the line of mines was safely passed, the course was set to hug the
+land. The firing from the torpedo gunboat was wildly inaccurate, never
+a shot coming within fathoms of their target, and soon the little
+steamer was far beyond the reach of the Tsar's guns.
+
+Her captain had no faith in the report industriously circulated that
+the Crimean coast and the Black Sea were impenetrably mined, so he
+proceeded gaily on his voyage, shaking hands with himself for having
+succeeded in running the gauntlet without a single man being hurt, or
+the breaking of a rope-yarn. The crew were boisterously proud of the
+night's exploit. They knew that no pecuniary benefit would be derived
+by them, and were content to believe that they had been parties to a
+dashing piece of devil-may-care work. The average British sailor of
+that period loved to be in a scrape, and revelled in the sport of
+doing any daring act to get out of it. It never occurred to the
+captain that his crew might jib at the thought of undertaking so
+perilous a course. He had been reared in the courage of the class to
+which he belonged, and his confidence in the loyalty of his men was
+not shaken by the thoughtless interjection of the chief officer, who,
+in a shameful moment asked him to turn back after the first shot was
+fired. He had no time to think of that senseless advice when it was
+given, but it may be taken for granted the cautious mate did not add
+to his popularity with the crew. He had commanded large sailing
+vessels in the Australian passenger trade, and this was his first
+voyage in steam. The new life, with all its varied sensationalisms,
+was a mystery to him, and this little incident did not increase his
+belief in the wisdom of his change from sail to steam. He explained
+that the thought of what he regarded as inevitable disaster caused him
+to spontaneously call out that they were firing.
+
+"Besides," he continued, "I don't like the business; so I'll resign my
+position and go back to sailing vessels again, on the completion of
+the voyage."
+
+The captain reminded him of the fine spirit of enterprise that
+prevailed amongst the crew; only in a lesser degree, perhaps, than
+that which caused Nelson under different circumstances to say of his
+sailors, "They really mind shot no more than peas."
+
+"Nelson may have said that, and our crew may have a fine spirit of
+wholesale daring, but I don't like to be mixed up with either the
+enterprise or the shot," retorted the reflective officer; and I
+daresay if the captain were asked for an opinion now he would be
+disposed to take the mate's view.
+
+The thought of being pursued kept up a quiet excitement. The vessel
+was pressed through the water at her maximum speed and arrived at her
+first destination without any mishap to herself or the deck cargo,
+which was landed expeditiously. She then continued on her voyage. On
+arrival at the discharging port, a letter was received from the owners
+complimenting the captain on the success of an undertaking which would
+contribute so considerably to the profits of the voyage, and at the
+same time calling his attention to a newspaper cutting. An official
+telegram to the English Press stated that "_A British steamer, name
+unknown, in attempting to run out of ---- harbour over the torpedo
+lines, was warned and fired upon by a Russian warship which was
+guarding the harbour. The steamer refused to stop. She was shelled,
+and in crossing the mine zone the vessel, with her crew, was blown to
+atoms!_" This was a sensational piece of news to read of one's self.
+
+Two years elapsed before the captain again steamed into ---- harbour.
+He expected to meet his old friend the Admiral, and a few other
+Russian gentlemen in whom his interest was centred; but they had
+either gone to their rest or had been removed. It seemed as though the
+incident that caused so much commotion at the time had passed out of
+recollection. Indeed, there seemed quite a new order of things. New
+officials were there. The gunboats were removed from their familiar
+stations. The torpedoes that had been the dread of navigators had been
+lifted, and it was commonly reported that many of them were loaded
+with sand. No signs were visible of there having been war defences
+that were meant to be regarded as impregnable--and it is not to be
+denied the earthworks justified that opinion. There were whisperings
+that when those in high places discovered what some of the mines were
+charged with, the persons responsible for the laying of the mines
+were seized; and tradition has it that an impromptu scaffold had been
+erected outside the town, and every one of the suspects hanged without
+trial--and merely on the suspicion that they knew of, even if they had
+not contributed to, the treacherous act. In the light of the horrors
+that are occurring in Russia at the present time, it is not improbable
+that there was treachery; and that when it was discovered, suspicion
+centred on certain persons, who were, in accordance with Muscovite
+autocracy, dispatched without ceremony, guilty or not guilty.
+
+"Ah!" said Mr. C---- to the captain, who had just finished describing
+his last departure from ---- Harbour, "you may thank your stars that
+the torpedoes were loaded with sand or some other rubbish, or you
+wouldn't have been here this day. The officers were in a great fury at
+the wires not operating when you were running out, and the
+men--submarines, I think, they are called--who were behind the
+earthworks were knocked about badly. They came to my place to get to
+know the name of the vessel, but I bamboozled them, and gave them
+cigars and vodka, and they weren't long in forgetting about what had
+happened. I think there is no doubt about your being the cause of
+having the mines raised, as, to my certain knowledge, they tried to
+explode them the day after you left the port, and very few of them
+went off. Things were kept a bit quiet, but I can always get to know
+what is going on, and if the gunboats had been properly handled that
+night it would have been all up with you."
+
+"But," said the captain, "what on earth is the use of talking that
+way! They were not properly handled, and here I am. And what I want to
+know is this: do you think there will be any more about it, now the
+war is over, and old Pumper Nichol [the Admiral] and his friends are
+not here?"
+
+"I don't know," said his friend. "You never can tell what these sly
+rascals are thinking or doing; but I will know as soon as there are
+any indications. If I had been you, I wouldn't have come out here so
+soon; or, at least, have first made sure that all danger was over. But
+never mind; we'll soon smuggle you off, if we can get the slightest
+hint. 'Palm oil squares the yards,' as the old sailors used to say,
+and nobody has had more experience of that than I."
+
+"Does G----d and old J----b know about the affair?"
+
+"I think they are bound to, though they may have forgotten. Anyhow,
+they are absolutely loyal, and may be depended upon if their aid is
+called into requisition. Do you know they had to clear out of the
+country with their families, and nearly every English family had to do
+the same?"
+
+"Well, Patrovish C----," said the captain, "they may seize the
+steamer, but they will never be allowed to seize me, even should it be
+legal to do so, now the war is at an end."
+
+"What do they care about what is legal," said Patrovish. "If it suits
+their purpose, and those in authority learn what took place, there
+will be no scruples about doing anything. My advice is to keep quiet
+and cool-headed, and I feel almost certain you won't be interfered
+with. But there comes Yaunie. Hear what he says."
+
+This gentleman was a Greek pilot, who had previously been a boatswain
+aboard a Greek sailing-vessel. He saw an excellent opening at the
+beginning of the steamship era to add to his income, so commenced a
+business which flourished so well that his riches were the envy of a
+large residential public, to say nothing of the seafaring itinerants
+who swarmed in and out of the port. He spoke English with a Levantine
+accent. Physically, he was a fine-looking, well-built man, who
+commanded attention and respect from everybody. He was on excellent
+terms with the port authorities, and with sea captains, and deemed it
+part of a well thought-out policy to share with popular shrewdness a
+portion of his takings. His benevolence was more partially shown
+towards the officials than to those from whom he derived his income;
+but because of his geniality, and--mostly, I should say--on account of
+his generosity, he was well liked by both sections of people. He was
+quite uneducated, and, like most clever men who have this misfortune,
+he had great natural gifts. His memory was prodigious, and he invested
+his savings with the judgment of an expert, keeping mental accounts
+with startling accuracy; but, notwithstanding this, his memory never
+retained anything he conceived it to be policy to forget. When asked
+his opinion as to whether there was any likelihood of anything more
+being heard of the captain's running out of the harbour and over the
+torpedoes, he suggestively put his finger to his mouth, and said--
+
+"I can know nothing, but I tink it is over." And shrugging his broad
+shoulders, he 'cutely remarked, "Some dead, some maybe Siberia,
+and"--with a significant smile he lowered his voice to a
+whisper--"some, maybe, 'fraid to say anything because for many reason.
+Yes, I tink finis; but if not, den you trust me to help. I knows these
+people, and some of dem knows me."
+
+Yaunie was taken fully into the confidence of the captain and
+Patrovish, and when he took his leave they felt sure that to have him
+as a friend was of great value in the event of the affair being
+resurrected. The captain had renewed many old friendships, and spent
+his evenings in the hospitable homes of an English colony whose
+kindness is unequalled anywhere. Unlike most English families who
+settle in foreign countries, they retained a great many of their
+national customs in food, and also in their mode of life generally. Of
+course the extremes of climate have to be considered, but all their
+homes preserve their British atmosphere.
+
+The _Claverhouse_ had nearly completed loading, and the kindly
+emissaries of her captain had reported nothing of a disturbing
+character, until one morning a steamer came in and was moored
+alongside the _Claverhouse_. Yaunie was the pilot, and after
+completing his work he went aboard the _Claverhouse_ and asked to see
+the captain.
+
+"He is not astir yet," said the steward.
+
+"I must speak with him at once," said Yaunie.
+
+The captain, overhearing the conversation, called out, "All right,
+come to my room."
+
+"Well, Yaunie, what news this morning?" asked the captain.
+
+"Ah, it is very bad news," replied Yaunie. "That fool Farquarson,"
+pointing to where the other steamer lay, "speaks all the time about
+what happened when you went from the port without permission. He say
+that he was aboard the gunboat asking for a torpedo channel-pilot, and
+that he could not get one because they were firing at you all the
+time. They asked him the name of the steamer, but he told some other.
+I say to him he was wrong, but he say no; and he will jabb, as you
+call it."
+
+"Well, Yaunie, what's to be done? What is the remedy?"
+
+"What's to be done--I don' know what you call the other. I say, get
+the steamer loaded quick and away. I don' tink trouble, but O Chresto!
+his tong go like steam-winch, and you much better Black Sea dan here."
+
+"Very excellent advice, Yaunie. Now let us go on deck."
+
+A sudden inspiration came to the captain, which caused him to
+exclaim--
+
+"Yaunie, I'll ask him to eat with us. This is our English mode of
+settling obstacles, and making and retaining friendships. Don't you
+think it a good suggestion?"
+
+"Do anything you like. Give him the Sacrament, but keep him quiet. He
+is very dangerous now."
+
+The captain of the other steamer was on deck, and as soon as he got
+his eye on them he bellowed out in terms of unjustifiable
+familiarity--
+
+"Hallo, old fellow, how are ye? So they've not sent ye to the silver
+mines yet?"
+
+"No," smartly retorted the captain, with some warmth, "they've not, or
+I wouldn't have been here. But they d--d soon will if you don't keep
+your mouth shut!"
+
+Without heeding what was said to him, the distinguished commander of
+the new-comer slapped his thigh vigorously with his right hand, and
+laughed out--
+
+"By Joshua, you were in a tight corner, and will never be nearer
+being popped! [sunk]. They were furious at me, and would have blown
+all England up because I said I didn't know who it was."
+
+"Oh," said the _Claverhouse's_ commander, "that is old history. Come
+aboard and have breakfast with me."
+
+"All right," said Farquarson, "I'll have a wash up, and then come. But
+what a darned funny thing not to blow you up with the mines. I just
+said to my mate, they are a lot of lazy beasts, or there's something
+wrong with the wires. But the mate said, 'No; he's taken them
+unawares.' 'Unawares be d----d!' said I; 'he's not taken these gunboat
+chaps unawares, for I couldn't get them to stop firing.'"
+
+"He's off again!" interjected Yaunie.
+
+"All right, all right!" replied the impatient captain to his voluble
+compatriot. "Come to breakfast as quick as you can, there's a good
+fellow."
+
+Farquarson got to the companion-way--_i.e._ the entrance to the
+cabin--and was about to make some further remarks when the captain of
+the _Claverhouse_ said to Yaunie, "Let's go below, for God's sake! As
+long as he sees us he'll keep on."
+
+When they got into the cabin, the burly pilot was almost inarticulate.
+All he could say was--
+
+"My goodness, what a tong! He must be dangerous to his owners. I have
+never see such a tong."
+
+In due course the irrepressible person appeared, and was received with
+professional cordiality. He had no sooner taken his seat at the table
+than he became convulsed with laughter, slapped his hand on the table,
+and shouted--
+
+"By Cocker, I'll never forget it! The rage of them Russians, and the
+way they blazed away their shot, and it never going within miles of
+where you were! Miles, mind you!"
+
+Yaunie and his friend looked at each other in savage despair, as he
+persisted in reeling off quantities of disconnected incoherencies. But
+relief to his perturbed friends came when the steward placed the
+breakfast on the table. He stopped the flow of narration, and
+exclaimed--
+
+"Ah! that's what I like--dry hash and a bit of ham with an egg or two.
+I was just saying to my mate--who's as big a born fool as ever drank
+whisky--there's not a better meal made at sea than dry hash."
+
+By this time his mouth was full, and it was difficult to know what he
+wished to convey. His eating was quite as boundless as his talk,
+though he could not do both at once. Having finished a good sound
+plate of hash, he passed his plate along for some ham and eggs, and
+asked his host if he did not observe what a good appetite he had
+compared with what he used to have.
+
+"Yes," said the captain, in blissful ignorance of what he was saying.
+"Your appetite was never very good. I'm glad to see you making such a
+good breakfast."
+
+"Well, you know," replied the guest, "the worst of me is, I appear to
+be unsociable when I'm eating, as I cannot both eat and talk."
+
+"Go on eating, then," said the host.
+
+"Yes, go on eatin'," responded Yaunie. "You had a long passage, and
+must be hungry."
+
+"Quite right," replied the guest, with his mouth full. "I'm glad you
+don't think me uncivil, but as I say, I like my breakfast better than
+most meals, and I can only do one thing at a time. My wife always says
+I must have been born either eating or talking."
+
+He laughed heartily at this little domestic joke, and proceeded with
+the putting in of the "bunker coals," as he called it. The captain of
+the _Claverhouse_ and the pilot had purposely lingered over their meal
+to keep him company. He observed this, and effusively asked them not
+to mind him a bit, and to leave the table if they wanted to. After
+expressing a few unreal excuses for their apparent rudeness, they were
+prevailed upon to go into the state-room, where the captain solemnly
+conveyed to Yaunie that he never thought he would live to have imposed
+upon him such humiliation.
+
+"I hope the brute will have an apoplectic fit!" said he.
+
+Yaunie did not quite understand all that was said, but knew it meant
+some form of obliquy, and replied, "Yes, and I hope so too."
+
+As soon as Farquarson had finished eating, he straightway came to the
+state-room and assured his host that he never remembered enjoying a
+breakfast so much.
+
+"Let's have a cigar," said he, "to soothe my nerves a bit."
+
+This was given him. He lit up, and was proceeding to discuss the
+merits of good feeding with great volubility when his harangue was
+snapped by a request from his host to "cut it," as he wished to have a
+yarn with him about a matter which was of great importance to himself.
+"In short, I wish you to be most careful not to attract attention to
+me by any friendly comment about that affair of two years ago. No one
+who is in office now would appear to have any suspicion of what took
+place; or if they do, it is obvious they are not desirous of opening
+the question up again. But should it be brought prominently before
+them, they will have to do something, and it may make it very awkward
+for me. Now, what I want you to do for me is this: never mention the
+incident again. I am sure you would not intentionally do anything that
+would jeopardize my safety, and I feel that I have only to ask and you
+will give me your word not to do it."
+
+Farquarson jumped to his feet, gripped the hand of the captain in a
+sailorly fashion, and said--
+
+"On my Masonic honour, I swear never to breathe again what you have
+warned me against, and I'm glad you told me. I might innocently have
+got you into a nasty mess. It never struck me when I was bawling out
+to you that there was danger. But between ourselves, it was a bit
+thick your dashing out of the 'impregnable port,' as they called it,
+and expectin' to get off scot-free, I have often spun long twisters
+about it, and you can bet it was always made attractive."
+
+"I feel sure you would do that, Farquarson, as you were always a good
+story-teller."
+
+This encouraging flattery switched his mind with eager interest on to
+a subject quite irrelevant to the one which had engaged their
+attention so long.
+
+"Yes," said he, with a self-satisfied smile, "that's true. But talking
+about yarns, you remember when I was with Milburn's, running to
+Hamburg? The old gentleman asked me to take a few overmen a trip. They
+belonged to some mine he was interested in. By the time we got
+outside, and got the decks cleared up, it was dark, and the watch was
+set. The look-out man went on to the topgallant forecastle, and I was
+walking from side to side of the bridge when one of the miners came
+running up, and in great excitement he said--
+
+"'Captain, for God's sake gan doon to the cabin and pacify them!
+They're playin' nap, and they've faalen oot amang theirselves, and
+there's fair almighty hell gannin' on. Aa's sure if ye divvent get
+them pacified ther'll be morder!'
+
+"'My good man,' I said,'I cannot leave the bridge.'
+
+"'Ye canna' leave the bridge! What for, then?'
+
+"'Because,' I said, 'I must keep a look-out and see that that man on
+the forecastle-head does the same. If he were to see me leave the
+bridge, the chances are he would get careless and sit down and go to
+sleep, and we might run into something, and probably sink ourselves or
+somebody else and lose a lot of lives.'
+
+"By this time I heard loud voices and awful oaths coming from the
+after-end of the ship, so says I, 'This must be put a stop to, but I
+cannot leave here without somebody takin' my place. You must take it,
+and walk across and across as I am doing, so that that fellow on the
+look-out will think it's me.'
+
+"'Aa'm not pertikler what aa dee, mister, if ye ony get thor
+differences settled before ye come up. Aa nivor heerd sic swearin'.'
+
+"'Very well,' said I; 'you do what I've told you to do. Walk steadily
+to and fro, and I'll go and see what can be done.'
+
+"When I got down below they were still wrangling, but I soon made
+peace with them, and they asked me to have a hand with them. I had a
+look on deck. It was a fine moonlight night, and nothing seemed to be
+in the way, so I began to play, and forgot all about the fellow on the
+bridge, and everything else for that matter, until I heard four bells
+go. This reminded me, so I stopped short, went on to the poop, and the
+other fellows came up with me. I was chaffing them about their row,
+and I heard the look-out man call out, 'A red light on the port bow,
+sir!' I saw we were going a long way clear, so took no notice; but the
+miner on the bridge increased his pace. In less than a minute the
+look-out man called out again, 'A red light on the port bow,' and got
+no answer. I thought to myself, 'What's going to be the upshot of
+this?' when the man called out again, sharply this time, 'A red light
+on the port bow!' The miner quite excitedly shouted at the top of his
+voice, 'Blaw the b----y thing oot, then, and let's hear ne mair aboot
+it!'"
+
+At this conclusion the two captains laughed heartily, and so did
+Yaunie. Then all at once Farquarson began as suddenly as he had left
+off--
+
+"Now, let us make up our minds never to broach running the gauntlet
+again in Russian waters, for they're devils to listen, and you never
+know where they are. Why, I've seen them at the time of the war
+crawlin' and sneakin' about all over, lying on the sofa in the
+billiard-rooms, and come and ask you to play in good English.
+Sometimes the impudent villains would come and barefacedly sit down at
+the same table where you were having a meal, and begin speakin' and
+get you to say something disrespectful about Russia and their Tzar,
+and lots of poor fellows were asked to leave the country for it. Talk
+about despotism and bribery! Well, I've seen some of their goings on.
+What did they do when the poor Turks that were taken prisoners when
+Plevna fell marched into Reval? A few of us cheered them, and the
+Russians got quite annoyed about it, and hustled us about as though we
+were common thieves, and threatened to run us into their filthy gaol.
+My word, how things have altered since the days when you could kill a
+Russian and nobody cared a brass button! But now--well, there's no
+word to express it."
+
+"Ah! they're a cruel, merciless lot," interjected Captain S--; "but I
+think you are getting excited, Farquarson, so you better cease talking
+about them."
+
+"It is time I was getting up to the city. They are rattling it into
+her. She'll be loaded in a jiffy, and I've much to do."
+
+"Very well," said the bluff skipper, "get away. And it's understood
+that mum's the word; but mind you're not through the wood yet. What do
+you say, Yaunie?"
+
+"I say you no speak so loud or so much. It is better not."
+
+"Very well, old skin-the-goat," said Farquarson playfully; "I suppose
+I am a bit noisy."
+
+He then jumped aboard his vessel, and invited the trusty pilot to
+follow him so that they might work out a scheme that would thwart any
+possibility of a raid being made on the _Claverhouse_. He prided
+himself on being fertile in strategy, and certainly his notions were
+not those of an ordinary person. His confidences were given to Yaunie
+without any reserve. First, he suggested inveigling the raiders from
+S----'s vessel to his own, getting them down below and filling them
+full of champagne or whisky, whichever they preferred; and in the
+event of their remaining on board his friend's ship, they were to be
+made drunk there, and that being accomplished, the vessel was to be
+unmoored and taken to sea with them aboard, and they were to be landed
+or cast adrift in an open boat. The recital of these dare-devil
+propositions caused Yaunie's face to wear a careworn look, and when
+asked what he thought of it he said--
+
+"Well, I try to tink, bit it is impossible. You speak what cannot
+happen. If you do what you say, how can you come back here? No, no;
+that must not be. I have better plan. No trouble, no get drunk, no run
+off with officers, no put him in boat; but leave it me: I settle
+everyting, suppose trouble come."
+
+"Agreed again, old cockaloram. I'm only saying what I'd do. As I said
+before, you can do as you like, but I prefer giving these fellows
+'what cheer!' I says again, what business have they to interfere with
+Englishmen carryin' on their business in their own way? I say they had
+no right to put a blockade on, and England should see that her
+subjects are duly protected."
+
+This eloquent pronouncement of patriotism, with comic gesture added,
+excited the fiery dissent of the critical Levantine.
+
+"Yes!" he retorted; "you tink everyting foreign should be for English.
+You swagger off with other people's country and say, 'This mine.' You
+like old J----b and G----d; they speak all the time same as you.
+English, English, everyting English! an' I say what for you stay? I
+Greek, an' I stay because Russia better for me."
+
+This was said partly in jest and partly in good-natured earnestness,
+for Yaunie was a student of English characteristics. Farquarson
+explained that he would have to go to the Custom-house, and then to
+see his agents. Yaunie, with a significant look and gesture, warned
+him not to speak too much to port officers, bade him good-morning,
+said he would call back again in the afternoon, jumped on to the stage
+and went ashore.
+
+It was late in the afternoon before Captain S---- got down to the
+docks. His steamer was loaded and ready for sea. At the quay, close to
+the stern of the vessel, Mrs. C----, with her daughter, was seated in
+a drosky. She explained that they had come to say good-bye, and to
+convey a message from Patrovish that he, Yaunie, and some officers
+were aboard Captain Farquarson's vessel. "He commissioned me to say
+that you were to slip out of the harbour quietly to avoid trouble, as
+he had reason to believe that there was something going on, and you
+might be stopped. Meanwhile, they are doing some entertaining for your
+benefit, so I will not detain you longer. Good-bye, and we hope to see
+you again soon."
+
+The captain made haste aboard, and gave instructions to cast off the
+moorings. The _Claverhouse_ glided quietly out of the harbour, and in
+less than an hour she was steaming fall speed towards the Bosphorus.
+The two captains did not meet again for several months, and when they
+did, Farquarson gave a vivid account of the development and ultimate
+success of what he termed the plot to extricate S---- from the
+possibility of being detained or heavily fined.
+
+"I assure you," said he, "they were on the scent. They asked if I was
+the man who was on the gunboat when the English steamer ran over the
+mines. I swore by all that was holy that I didn't know what they were
+talking about. Then Yaunie and Patrovish asked them in Russian to have
+some refreshment aboard my ship, and they kicked up a devil of a row
+when they found you had gone without saying good-bye. Yaunie swore it
+was to cheat the pilotage, and Patrovish said he couldn't have
+believed it of you. I said you always were a bowdikite, and that you
+were putting on 'side.' The Russians were very jolly. They had a
+thimbleful or two of whisky, which made them talk a lot. We had a good
+laugh after they went away, and Patrovish said it was a good job you
+were gone, because they would have been sure to have caused trouble.
+Yaunie wasn't sure, but I was on C----'s side, for, I said, why did
+they mention the gunboat to me, if they didn't mean anything?"
+
+"Whatever their intentions were," rejoined Captain S----, "the
+precautions you took to checkmate were successful, and I am much
+obliged for the trouble you took after you realized the danger. I must
+always be grateful to you for that; and the next time you go out
+there, thank my two friends for their important share in it, and say
+to Patrovish that his own and his wife's wish to see me soon back is
+much appreciated, but my present plans are such that I will not be
+able to visit Russia for a long time to come, and it may be I never
+shall again."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: How came it to pass that the Russians were allowed to
+cross the Balkans? How was it that they were allowed to take
+possession so easily of the Schipka Pass? Did the personages who so
+soon afterwards disappeared mysteriously and were never heard of again
+yield up this stronghold to the possessors of a golden key? Poor
+Turkey!]
+
+
+
+
+Fair Trade and Foul Play
+
+
+Smuggling at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and right up to
+the middle of it, was rampant, and was regarded as a wholesome
+profession by those who carried it on. They called it "fair trade,"
+and looked upon those whose duty it was to destroy it with an aversion
+that oftentimes culminated in murderous conflict. The seafaring
+portion of this strange body of men, in characteristic contrast to
+their "landlubber" accomplices, never at any time, or under any
+circumstances, tried to conceal what their profession was. They were
+proud to be known as smugglers; whereas their shore colleagues, many
+of whom were gentry, or offshoots from it, adopted every possible
+means to turn suspicion from themselves when the preventive men were
+on the scent. Smugglers of that day were adroit tacticians; they had
+their signs just as Freemasons or any other craft have theirs. The
+pursuit was exciting, and the romance of it attracted men and women of
+gentle as well as of humble birth into its ranks. The men who manned
+the luggers were sailors who knew every bay and nook round the coast.
+They made heroic speeches expressive of their contempt for death. They
+talked boldly of powder magazines, and of blowing themselves and any
+one else up who put them into a tight corner; and there are instances
+on record that this was actually done. Be that as it may, they had
+great organizing skill and not a little business ability, whilst in
+their combination of strategy and valour they were unsurpassed. In
+many ways they were akin to pirates, though it could never be said
+that they went outside their own particular business--_i.e._, they
+were not predatory buccaneers who murdered first and plundered
+afterwards. They believed, as I have said, their calling to be as
+legitimate as any other form of trading. Their doctrine was that it
+was the Government that acted illegally, and not themselves. It was
+not surprising, therefore, that the system should take so long a time
+to wipe out, notwithstanding the rigid way in which the whole
+coastline of the British Isles was guarded. Much has been written
+about the desperate ways of these men, but no accurate estimate can be
+formed by the present generation of the extent of the system, and the
+methods adopted to carry it on. Romance has gone far, but rarely too
+far, in describing it; and to really know it as it was you must have
+lived in its atmosphere, or have taken part, either for or against, in
+its attractions. One of the greatest ambitions of my early boyhood
+days comes to me now. I had resolved that when I grew up I would
+secretly leave my home and join some smuggling lugger. Happily for me,
+the luggers had disappeared before I grew up.
+
+Here is an authentic instance of professional attachment and pride.
+When I was quite a small boy a brig ran on to the rocks beneath my
+father's house. The captain was a fine, rollicking, sailorly-looking
+man, with a fascinating manner. He often came to our house during his
+stay in the locality, and one of the first things he told my parents
+was that in his younger days he was a smuggler, and had had many
+encounters with Deal coastguards. He spoke sadly of the way the
+"trade" was ruined by Government intervention, and said that he had
+never been really settled or happy since he was driven out of the
+business, and had to take service in the merchant navy for a living.
+He was asked if he would like to go back to it again.
+
+"Go back to it again!" said he; "I wish I could! There is nothing to
+fill its place in the whole world. But that is done for now. Oh! what
+good money we used to make, and what narrow squeaks we had of being
+captured or killed."
+
+It seems incredible that so great a change should have taken place in
+so short a time, considering that these sea-rovers were so firmly
+persuaded that their profession was as lawful as any other, and that
+they were persecuted and hounded to death by a set of whippersnappers
+who made insufferable laws! The system became so gigantic in the early
+part of last century that the Government had to appeal to the Navy,
+and a large number of officers and men were landed on the coast of
+Kent and Sussex, where a strict blockade was enforced. Later, a
+semi-civilian force under the control of the Customs was formed. This
+was called the "Preventive Water Guard," and subsequently it went
+under the new title of "Preventive Coastguard." The duties were
+arduous and risky. The men never went forth unless armed with a big
+dagger-stick and a flint-lock pistol, both of which were not
+infrequently used with effect. Owing to the dangerous character of the
+occupation, a high wage and pension was offered as an inducement to
+join the service; at least, the wage and pension were considered very
+good at the time. The men, however, rarely had decent houses to live
+in. Their uniform was rather like that of a naval officer. They would
+have disdained wearing the garb of the present-day coastguard. Their
+training in most cases consisted in service aboard a Revenue cutter
+for a few months before being appointed to a station. Many of these
+men were tradesmen who had never been to sea at all, and often were
+men of education and sterling character. For the most part these
+educated men were Wesleyans--or "Ranters," as they were called--and
+not a few were local preachers, and some of them were well versed in
+theology. They were stationed usually eight miles apart, right along
+the coast, and their ordinary duty was to meet each other half-way and
+exchange despatches. This gave the religious section opportunities of
+comparing experiences and discussing the faith that was in them. I
+knew one who spoke and taught French and Latin, another who could make
+an accurate abstract of Bishop Butler's _Analogy_ from cover to cover,
+and another who became possessed of a small schooner, which made him a
+fortune while he was still in the service. The wives of these three
+coastguardsmen were quite as well informed and as ardent religionists
+as themselves, and took a common interest in books, educational
+matters, and in each other's home affairs. Their homes were always
+neat and clean, and the children were disciplined into a rigid,
+methodical life. It is a remarkable fact that the sons of each of
+these men have all risen to high positions in commerce, literature,
+art, and politics, and those that still survive are proud to
+acknowledge that they owe their position to the splendid example and
+beautiful home-life which they were taught to live when children.
+Guarding the coast was not the only occupation of the Preventive
+Coastguard.
+
+There arose in 1848 a manning difficulty in the Navy, which became so
+grave that the large force of disciplined men employed in protecting
+the revenue were drilled in gunnery to fit them for sea service. Many
+of them were called out to serve aboard ship during the war with
+Russia in 1854. One of the grievances in the service was the
+irritating and unfair policy of the Board of Customs in constantly
+moving the men from one station to another. In many instances the
+hardships constituted a public scandal. Adequate recompense was never
+made for this breaking-up of their little homes, and frequently when
+they arrived at some outlandish coast village there was no provision
+made for housing them. I know of several instances where families were
+beholden to the generosity of the villagers or farmers for lodgings
+until a house was found. During the interval their furniture was
+stored in some dirty stable or store. It was not an uncommon thing for
+these poor fellows to be removed, with their families, from one end of
+England to the other two or three times in a year, at the behest of an
+uneasy bureaucratic commander-in-chief who knew little, and probably
+cared less, about the domestic hardships incurred. From Holy Island or
+Spital to Deal in those days of transit by sea was a greater and more
+hazardous voyage than that of Liverpool to New York to-day. The
+following story may give some idea of their life as they then lived
+it.
+
+A group of fishermen stood at the north end of the row, watching a
+smart cutter that was beating from the north against a strong S.S.E.
+wind and heavy sea, which broke heavily on the beach and over an
+outlying reef of rocks which forms a natural breakwater and shelters
+the fishermen's cobles from the strong winds that blow in from the sea
+during the winter months. The cutter tacked close in to the north end
+of the ridge several times during the forenoon. Her appearance was
+that of a Government vessel, and her commander evidently wished to
+communicate with the shore. When the ensign was hoisted to the main
+gaff, the onlookers knew that she did not belong to the merchant
+service. The simple people who inhabited this district were concerned
+about the intentions of what they regarded as a mysterious visitor,
+and the firing of a small cannon from the taffrail did not lessen
+their perplexity. At last the national flag was hauled up and down,
+and the squire, who had come from his mansion amongst the woods, told
+the fishermen that those aboard the cutter were really asking for a
+boat to be sent to them.
+
+The flood tide had covered the rocks. A volunteer crew of five fine
+specimens of English manhood were promptly got together, and a large
+coble was wheeled down the beach and launched into the breaking sea.
+They struggled with accustomed doggedness until they had passed the
+most critical part of the bay and got safely within speaking distance
+of the vessel. Two good-looking fellows in naval uniform stood on the
+quarter-deck, and one of these, the commander, asked the fishermen to
+take one of his officers ashore. To this they readily agreed, though
+they said it would be most difficult to land, as it was much safer to
+go off than come in, but they would risk that. The officer jumped into
+the boat, the rope was slipped, and then commenced a struggle between
+the endurance and skill of the hardy fishermen on the one hand and the
+angry cross seas which threatened to toss the boat and its occupants
+to destruction on the other. The officer suggested that the reefs
+should be let out of the sail to rush her over the dangerous corner of
+the entrance.
+
+"I have used this plan often," said he, "and it always succeeded."
+
+The coxswain demurred, although these men are very skilled in the
+handling of their boats; but at last he was prevailed upon by his crew
+to allow the officer to try the experiment. The latter only agreed to
+do so on condition that he was in no way interfered with, and his
+orders were strictly carried out. Up went the close-reefed lug; the
+occupants were instructed to lie low to windward, the men at the main
+sheet were ordered in a quiet, cool manner to ease off and haul in as
+necessity required. In a few minutes they had reached the crucial
+point. The men began to express anxiety, when amid the shrill song of
+the wind and the noise of the breaking seas, the man now in charge
+called out with commanding vigour--
+
+"Steady your nerves, boys! I know quite well how to handle her."
+
+The helmsman had barely finished his appeal when the combers began to
+curl up in rapid succession; the mass of water threatened to overwhelm
+the rushing craft, but she was manipulated with such fine seamanship
+that only the spray lashed over her in smothering clouds. Suddenly
+orders were given to stand by to lower the sail, and in another minute
+the helm was put down to bring the boat head to sea and wind. The sail
+was lowered, oars shipped, and she was manoeuvred stern on to the
+beach. As soon as she struck, a rush to help was made by those who had
+watched with feverish anxiety the passage through the broken water,
+lest the frail craft should be overturned and all aboard drowned. A
+rope was bent on to the stern, and the crowd quickly hauled the coble
+away from the heavy surf into safety. At this point, an elderly
+gentleman, tall, with a long, shaggy beard and bushy grey hair, which
+might have been a wig, rode up on a brown mare. His appearance and
+demeanour stamped him with the characteristics of a real old country
+gentleman, who put on what sailors would call an insufferable amount
+of "side." He promptly introduced himself to the officer as the Lord
+of the Manor, giving his name as Crawshaw.
+
+The naval man gave his as Thomas Turnbull, and explained that he was
+sent to organize some system of resistance to the smuggling that was
+being carried on along that part of the coast. Mr. Crawshaw
+volunteered assistance, and hinted that the task would be rendered all
+the more arduous as he would not only have the smugglers to deal with,
+but their accomplices, the fisher-folk and farmers. After a few weeks'
+experience, it was quite obvious that the squire was right, and in
+view of this, Thomas Turnbull sent for his wife and six children, and
+settled down to his work in real earnest.
+
+The intimation that the new-comer was a religious man, and could
+preach and pray, soon spread through the villages, and large numbers
+flocked to see and hear him. Many came out of pure curiosity, and some
+to mock and jeer, but these seldom succeeded in setting at defiance
+the great power that was behind the preacher. He was of commanding
+presence; his face, as some of the villagers used to say, was good to
+look at, and the message that he delivered to his audience came with
+irresistible force, which broke the spirit of some of the most
+determined obstructers, and turned many into friends, and a few even
+into saints. The fisher-folk did not take kindly to him, and so strong
+was their opposition that they threatened many times to take his life.
+Their savage ignorance would have unnerved and discouraged a less
+powerful personality, but this man seemed to be buoyed up by his
+belief that it was God's work and he was only the instrument in
+carrying it out. He was often warned of the violence that was
+threatened towards him, but the intimation never disturbed his
+inherent belief that no earthly power could break through the cordon
+that protected him; and so he continued his work, temporal and
+spiritual, undisturbed by the threats of a class whom he was
+determined to civilize, and, "with God's help, Christianize." The
+process was long, the methods of resistance wicked.
+
+Jimmy Stone, one of the worst scoundrels in the district, had laboured
+to persecute Turnbull, and to break up the meetings for months past.
+He tyrannized over men and brutally maltreated women, and his
+blasphemy was terrible to listen to. It was during one of his
+outbursts of wrath against the "Ranter" preacher that he was suddenly
+staggered by Turnbull going up to him, laying his hand on his
+shoulder, and admonishing him to refrain from such shocking conduct.
+He attempted to seize the preacher by the throat, and I fear at this
+juncture Turnbull forsook for a little his usual attitude of
+equanimity, for before the giant knew where he was he lay on the
+ground, stunned by a left-hander. The preacher was an awkward customer
+to deal with, and it would seem as though he did not entirely trust to
+Divine interposition when hands were laid on him. His tormentor lay, a
+humiliated heap, at his feet. Never in Jimmy's life had any one dared
+to resent his attacks in this way. He could not understand it, and was
+overcome more by superstition and a fear of Turnbull's reputed
+supernatural aids than by real fear of his physical powers. Turnbull
+ordered the bully to stand up, and warned him against experimenting
+on strangers. He then, in quaint, old-world phraseology, the outcome
+of much deep reading of Butler, Baxter, and Jeremy Taylor, and wholly
+without cant or affectation, went on to say--
+
+"I intend to let you off lightly on this occasion, but if I hear of
+you practising any injustice or in any way giving annoyance to your
+neighbours again, I shall deem it my duty to teach you a salutary
+lesson. Now, bear in mind what I say to you; and remember that the
+Almighty may visit you with His wrath. It may be that He will send to
+your house affliction, and even make it desolate by taking some one
+from you whom you love. Or He may see that the only way of checking
+the course of your wickedness is to have you laid aside with sickness.
+It is probable that He will smite you by taking away from your evil
+influence some of your children. God is very merciful to little
+children when they are in the hands of brutes like you. Go away from
+me! and ponder over what I have said."
+
+Jimmy slouched off, muttering vengeance against the Almighty if He
+dared to interfere with his bairns, and, as an addendum, he vividly
+portrayed the violent death of Turnbull. He slunk listlessly into his
+cottage, tumbled on to a seat, and was lost in meditation. Jenny, his
+wife, tremulously asked what ailed him. She was alarmed at his subdued
+manner; she had never known him come into the house without bullying
+and using blasphemous language to her and the children, and oftentimes
+this was accompanied by blows that well-nigh killed her and them; and
+yet she stood loyally by him whenever he needed a friend. Suddenly he
+jumped to his feet, and as though he had become possessed of an
+inspiration, broke silence by vigorously exclaiming to his wife that
+he had settled the manner of the "Ranter" preacher's death.
+
+"Aa'll catch him some neet betwixt here and the burn [stream], and
+finish him. That'll stop his taak aboot the Almighty takin' ma bairns
+frae me!"
+
+Jimmy's idea was that Turnbull was in communion with the Almighty for
+the removal of his children, and if he were put out of the way there
+would be an end to it. Jenny was no less ignorant than her husband,
+and therefore no less superstitious about meddling with this
+mysterious person who had come amongst them and wrought such
+extraordinary changes in the lives of many of her class. She doubted
+the wisdom of killing the preacher, as she had heard that these people
+lived after they were killed, and might wreak more terrible vengeance
+when their lives assumed another form. She urged her husband to leave
+well alone; not because she in any way differed from his views in
+regard to Turnbull's preaching and his attitude generally towards
+evil-doers, or objected to his being put to death; but she preferred
+some person other than her husband should do it. Hence, she disagreed
+with his policy, and he in turn raged at her for taking sides against
+him.
+
+"This interloper's spyin' into everythin' we dee and say," said he.
+"We had nee taak aboot religion afore he cum, and noo there's nowt
+but religion spoken, so that we can hardly get a man or a woman t' dee
+any trootin' inside the limit; an' when we dee get a chance we hev t'
+put wor catches into th' oven, for feor him or his gang gan sneakin'
+aboot and faal in wi' summat they hae nee reet t' see. Forbye that,
+within the last few months he's driven the smugglers off the coast,
+and deprived us o' monny an honest soverin' in helpin' them t' and
+theor stuff. And then he's got the gob t' tell me that if aa divvent
+change me ways, the Almighty'll dee God knaw's what tiv us! He'll myek
+sickness cum, and mebbies tyek sum o' th' bairns frae us. It'll be
+warse for him if harm cums t' th' bairns, or me either! Aa tell't him
+that this mornin', an' aa said he might tell his Almighty that he
+taaked see much aboot, if he liked."
+
+Jenny secretly disapproved of carrying retaliation any further, but
+dared not openly say another word in favour of her views, for, as she
+afterwards said, "Aa was afeared ye might kill me afore ye got a
+chance o' killin' the preacher."
+
+Mr. Turnbull knew what Jimmy's intentions were, and purposely put
+himself in his way, so that he might say a cheery word to him in
+passing; but he never got more than a grunt in response. He knew that
+this wild creature was in league with a gang of the most desperate
+smugglers that the "Preventer men" had to contend with. No landing,
+however, had been seriously attempted during the time that Turnbull
+had been at the station. Craft had been sighted and signals exchanged,
+and then the suspected craft disappeared for weeks. The men who
+guarded the coast knew these buccaneers had emissaries, and could have
+laid hands on them, but preferred to catch them red-handed.
+
+After weeks of close watching and waiting, information was passed
+along the coast that a landing would take place close to the spot
+where Turnbull now lived with his wife and children. Men from all the
+stations extending over a radius of fifty miles were summoned to meet
+at a certain point at eleven o'clock on a certain night. Trusted
+civilians had been drafted into the service for the occasion; and so
+accurate was the information given, that within a couple of hours of
+the time several boat-loads of contraband were landed above high-water
+mark. Three carts came along, and while the process of transhipping
+into them was going on, the "Preventer" men, led by Turnbull, quietly
+came from their concealment, and with a sudden rush surrounded the
+smugglers. Those of their accomplices who had smelt the scent of
+battle fled behind the hills, and got clean away. One of the carts
+attempted to bolt, but a shower of shot targeted into the horses
+peremptorily stopped that move, and the drivers were easily captured.
+The smugglers fought like polecats, but received no help from the few
+accomplices who had not escaped. These, either from fear or policy, or
+both, did not attempt to extricate themselves or lend their support to
+a lost cause. It was common knowledge that smugglers drew lots as to
+who had to escape if severe fighting or capture became inevitable, and
+the battle became the more fierce in order to cover the escape of
+those few. They did not all succeed in getting off in their boat, but
+it was estimated half a dozen might have done so. The rest, something
+like a score, were ultimately overpowered, sent to prison and tried in
+the good old style, and sentenced to transportation to the criminal
+dumping-ground of Western Australia.
+
+The notorious Jimmy Stone on that memorable moaning night was
+disguised, but that did not prevent him being detected while rendering
+assistance to land and convey the contraband on to the beach and into
+the carts. One of the Government men was indiscreet enough to shout
+"James Stone, you are my prisoner!" and almost before the words were
+out of his mouth Jimmy dropped a keg of gin on to him and fled. The
+companions of the stunned man were too busy with the other cut-throats
+to follow Jimmy, or to see in what direction he had gone. It was only
+after the conflict was over that they were reminded that this lawless
+fisherman had escaped, and must at all costs be captured and brought
+to justice. A party was selected to search for him. They knew that he
+must be hiding in some of the hollows where the thick clusters of
+bents and bracken would give him cover. Some of the party had strayed
+from the central group, and were talking of Jimmy's prowess and
+astuteness, and wondering where he was concealed, when they suddenly
+came across a man with his head and part of his body up a rabbit-hole.
+He was asking in subdued tones, "Are the ---- gyen yet?" and one of
+the party, in the same tone of voice and the same dialect and language
+as he had used, cautioned him not to speak too loud, as they were
+still hovering about.
+
+"My God!" said he, "when aa get oot o' this mess aa'll hae ma revenge
+on that Ranter." And becoming impatient, he began to curse at his
+supposed friend for advising him to put his head in a rabbit-hole,
+vigorously announcing that he wished his ---- head was there instead
+of his own. "Aa cud hae run if ye hadn't persuaded me t' hide heor."
+
+"Hae patience!" responded the voice from without.
+
+"Patience be d----!" said he; "Aa wish aa had them ---- Government
+men heor. Aa wad make short work o' them, the ---- rascals!"
+
+"Whisht," said his companion; "they're comin' this way!"
+
+In a few seconds Jimmy's posterior became the subject of some vigorous
+thrashing. He was dragged, yelling, from his retreat, and confronted
+with the men he had so recently sworn to murder. They asked if he was
+Jimmy Stone. He replied in the affirmative, and added--
+
+"Aa thowt it was Jack Dent aa was taakin' tee. He cum heor wiv us."
+
+"Where is he now?" inquired the officer.
+
+"Hoo am aa t' knaa?" said Jimmy; "but the Lord help him when aa dee
+cum across him. He's betrayed me. Nivvor more will aa put me heed in a
+rabbit-hole!"
+
+His soliloquy was cut short by his captors putting his hands in irons
+and conveying him to where their colleagues were; and Jimmy would have
+been included amongst the convicts but for the magnanimous
+intercession of Turnbull, who informed his captors that they were to
+leave Jimmy to him. He was working out a scheme whereby his knowledge
+would be invaluable to the Service. So James was not sent to the
+Colonies.
+
+A well-known farmer, who was accustomed to make friendly calls on the
+Turnbull family, was caught in the act of bolting with a cartload of
+unlawful merchandise. He was sent to Australia, but not as a convict.
+Turnbull had found some useful purpose for him also, and he was
+advised to get out of the country, lest it became too hot for him.
+
+A couple of ladies had attracted special attention; not that they were
+bellicose, but because in consequence of their abnormal bulk they
+created some suspicion that they had concealed beneath their
+crinolines more than their ordinary form. They were asked
+unchivalrously to undo their clothing, and with comic dignity and
+superb self-possession they defiantly declined. They were then told in
+the name of the Queen that if they did not undress voluntarily it
+would have to be done for them, whereupon they adopted the old dodge
+of weeping and calling themselves unprotected women, whose characters
+were being assailed by men whom it was not safe for females to be
+amongst, making the sandy hollows resound with their artificial
+shrieks and sobs; but it was all to no purpose. Their skirts were
+examined, and there were found boxes of cigars, packets of tobacco,
+and bottles of gin, all hooked in methodical order to an ingenious
+arrangement connected with the skirt. These ladies were proved to be
+on familiar terms with the red-capped gentlemen who were defrauding
+the Revenue, and not infrequently shooting down its guardians.
+
+One of these women was the sister of Jimmy Stone, and the other his
+wife, and it would have gone hard with them had Turnbull not conceived
+the humane idea of reclaiming and ultimately drafting them into the
+Service. He convinced his colleagues that they would be invaluable
+adjutants. They would take a deal of taming, as there was little to
+distinguish them from a species of wild animal. He requested that
+they should be handed over to him for the purpose of trying the
+experiment. The women and Jimmy were locked up in separate rooms in
+the Old Tower for a week. Turnbull visited them daily, and detected on
+each visit the growth of penitence; his little talks had penetrated
+their stony, vicious natures, until at last they broke down and humbly
+solicited pardon and release, which was granted under well-defined
+conditions. There was much talk in the village about the leniency
+extended to the fishers. Tom Hitchings, the cartman, declared that
+they should have been sent to the Colonies, the same as the other
+smugglers; and Ted Robson said transportation was too good a
+punishment, they ought to have been shot or bayonetted, and had any
+other person but a ranter preacher been in charge it would have been
+done.
+
+"How de we knaa, Tom," said Ted, "that them fiends o' smugglers winnot
+rise oot o' theor beds in the deed hoor o' the neet and break into wor
+homes and cut wor throats afore we're awake? We helped te catch them,
+whaat for shouldn't we hev some say aboot theor punishment?"
+
+"That's whaat aa says," replied Tom. "But ye'll heor o' some queer
+things happenin' varry syen. He'll be hevvin' his meetin's in Jenny's
+hoose, and Jimmy'll be preachin' afore lang. Ther'll be fine scenes if
+it's not throttled i' the bud."
+
+"Get away, man," said Ned; "they're the biggest blackguards roond the
+countryside, and they'll steal, rob, or morder, whichivver comes
+handiest. What d'ye think that fellow Jimmy did once? A ship was in
+the offin'. She had distress signals flyin'. He could get neebody te
+man a boat but women; the men wadn't hev onythin' te dee wiv him, so
+his awn wife, Ailsie's Jenny, Nanny Dent, and Peggy Story went. They
+pulled the boat through monster seas, and the brute was cursin' at the
+women aal the way until they gat alangside, when the captain said, 'Ma
+ship's sinkin'.' The crew were telled to jump into the boat smart, and
+as syen as the captain said, 'We're aal heor,' Jimmy sprang aboard
+like a cat, cast the boat adrift, shooted to his wife, 'She's mine!
+Pull the ---- ashore, and then come off and we'll take her in!' The
+captain saa the trick and demanded to be taken back, but Jenny felled
+him with the tiller, and threatened to slay onny of the others. They
+were nearly ashore when the captain exclaimed, 'She's not his; Sancho,
+the dog, has been left behind!' The crew were landed, and the boat
+went back to the ship. The women gat aboard, and asked Jimmy if he had
+seen a dog. He said, 'There's nee dog heor; the ship's wors,' and they
+say he fand the dog on the floor and that he put it ower-board. Now,
+there's a born convict for ye! An' they tell me, him and his women gat
+the ship safely into port, and the folk shooted, 'Bravo, Jimmy Stone!'
+They said he was a hard swearer, but a brave, clever fellow, and aa
+said when aa hard it, 'Whaat aboot the dog?' The ship was selled, and
+Jimmy gat summit--whaat de they caal it--salvage, aa think. They say
+he's worth lots o' money."
+
+"But whaat did they say aboot the dog?" said Tom.
+
+"Wey, the captain said the dog was left as a safeguard against bein'
+boarded and claimed as a derelict; but Jimmy swore that the dog wasn't
+there when he gat aboard, and neebody saa what becam' on't, and so the
+matter rests. They often say te him, 'Whe tossed the dog ower board?'
+and aa believe he's nearly mordered half a dozen big men for sayin'
+sic things."
+
+"Eh, man," said Tom pensively, "what a grand Christian gentleman he'll
+make!"
+
+Shortly after Jimmy's release from the Old Tower, his youngest child
+succumbed to the ravages of a malignant fever. He and his wife were
+distracted, as, in spite of their pagan instincts and habits, their
+devotion to their offspring was a passion. They remembered Mr.
+Turnbull appealing to them to flee from the wrath to come by amending
+their ways, lest something terrible befell themselves or their
+children, and instead of the recollection of this warning kindling
+strong demonstrations of resentment against the lay preacher now,
+Jenny implored her husband to run over the moor and get Mr. Turnbull
+to come and administer comfort to them.
+
+"He'll give us the sacrament, and pray for us at the bedside were the
+deed bairn lies."
+
+Jimmy was dazed at the suggestion. He could not quite bring himself to
+give up the idea of some day renewing his former habits of aiding the
+smugglers, and of doing a bit of poaching. He was quite frank in
+stating to his wife that he feared if Turnbull came and prayed with
+them he would get him to join the chapel folk, and there would be no
+more poaching or smuggling after that.
+
+"And see what a loss it wad be tiv us. But," said he, "to tell the
+truth, aa hev been for prayin' mesel ever since the bairn tuck bad,
+but then aa thowt it was cowardly to ask help when aa was in
+difficulties and nivvor at ony other time. So I didn't dee 't."
+
+Jenny interjected that at the risk of being led to join the
+Methodists, and throwing over all thought of joining in any more
+lawlessness, he must go to the village and ask Mr. Turnbull to come.
+
+"I feel somethin' forcin' me to this, Jimmy; so get away and be quick
+back."
+
+And as James felt the same throbbing impulse, off he went, and within
+an hour presented his petition to Mr. Turnbull, who received him in
+his usual kind way, which caused the redoubtable ruffian to melt into
+tears, and volubly to confess all his murderous intentions towards the
+man he now believed to be the only agency on earth that could give him
+comfort.
+
+The two men started at once for the bereaved home. The first part of
+the journey was tramped in solemn meditation. At last Jimmy broke
+silence by asking his companion if he thought God had taken his child
+from him as a punishment for his sins. Turnbull said--
+
+"Well, James, I believe your heavenly Father has some work for you to
+do. He has often warned you of the wrath to come by confronting you
+with danger at sea; and only a short time since you were caught in the
+act of committing a crime, and narrowly escaped being banished to a
+penal settlement, and He mercifully used a friend as an instrument to
+save you from this degradation. But you still maintained the spirit
+of defiance, and were a law unto yourself. The Almighty saw that
+drastic measures would have to be taken to break down your wilful
+opposition. Your child was stricken with illness, and still you went
+on cursing God and man; and then in His wondrous compassion for you
+and hundreds of other men and women to whom I believe He has planned
+you shall carry the message of peace, He has taken your child in order
+that you may be saved. He knew that was the only way of bringing you
+to see the great plan of salvation, and to save your innocent little
+girl from growing up in a heathenish home, where there was no beauty,
+no kindness, no good example, no God. I beseech you to surrender
+yourself at once. Remember, the Spirit will not always strive with
+you, and if you chase it away now it may never return."
+
+That night, kneeling by the side of his dead child, Jimmy implored God
+to be merciful to him, and professed to have experienced the great
+transition from death unto life. Now, Jimmy, though quite uneducated,
+had an intellectual head and great natural gifts, and when he was
+careful he spoke with amazing correctness. He commenced to take part
+in the prayer meetings at once, and having a good memory, he picked up
+all the stock phrases and used them vigorously. Being an apt pupil, he
+soon learned to read, and then commenced one of the most extraordinary
+religious campaigns that has ever been witnessed in that part of Great
+Britain. Hundreds of men and women were led to change their lives by
+this rugged, uncultured, but natural preacher. A certain number of his
+own class viciously persecuted him for years, and none more so than
+his own wife. It seemed as though Hell had been let loose on him, and
+yet he went on undisturbed, steadfastly believing that he was the
+agent of the living God to carry the message of truth to the heathen.
+His old enemy Turnbull had become his fast friend, from whom he sought
+and received much help and many acts of kindness. He owed the
+conversion of his wife and many of his persecutors to this
+spiritually-minded man, and it was remarkable that nearly all the
+worst characters who were "brought in" opened their doors whenever he
+wanted to have a prayer meeting or a preaching service, and the rooms
+were always packed with people.
+
+Attracted by the originality of the converted fisherman, a few young
+people belonging to the better families in the locality gathered
+together to witness what they imagined would be mere burlesque. There
+was only standing room behind the kitchen bed for them, and there was
+anything but an air of sanctity amongst that portion of his
+congregation. Jimmy's pulpit style was peculiar. He was flashing out
+eloquent phrases that were not commonly used in the orthodox pulpit.
+As he warmed to his work he broke out in rhyme--"Yes, brothers and
+sisters, there was little brother Paal, the very best of aal, laid
+down his life," etc. His use of biblical names was quite eccentric,
+which caused the undevotional members of his audience to snigger
+audibly. Without seeming to heed the irreverence, Jimmy pursued his
+impassioned diatribe and smote unbelievers hip and thigh, in language
+that was not conventional, or even relevant to the subject of his
+discourse. The sniggering had developed into suppressed laughter, and
+James suddenly stopped the even flow of his oratory, brought his giant
+fist down on the deal table and sent everything flying. Ladies'
+dresses were more or less damaged by candle grease; but the cooler
+heads prevented an outbreak of panic by getting the candles relighted
+and put on to the table. Then in reverent tones they asked the
+preacher, who stood apparently unmoved, to proceed with the service;
+so Jimmie gave out the verse of a hymn which he thought would be
+suitable to the occasion. (Methodists always did that when the lights
+went out or the preacher stuck.)
+
+In the good old days, when village Methodism was quivering with
+spiritual life, and pouring its converts into the cities and towns of
+England to teach the simple gospel of the Founder of our Faith,
+without any artificial fringes being attached to it, they were too
+poor, and perhaps too conscious of the superiority of the real
+God-given vocal capacity, to have anything to do with what many of
+them believed to be artificial aids to religion. It was a fine sight
+to see the leader of the songsters shut his eyes, clap his hands, and
+with strong nasal blasts--which resembled the drone of the immortal
+instrument that is the terror of the English and the glory of the
+Scottish people--"raise the hymn," while, as the others joined in the
+singing, the volume of sound swelled louder and louder, until the
+whole congregation were entranced by the power of their own
+performance.
+
+I give the words of the verse which Jimmy asked to be sung. Here they
+are--
+
+    "Come on, my partners in distress,
+     My comrades through the wilderness,
+       Who still your bodies feel;
+     Awhile forget your griefs and fears,
+     And look beyond this vale of tears
+       To that celestial hill."
+
+This was sung with appropriate vigour over and over again. It is very
+difficult to stop a real country Methodist when the power of song is
+on him, and on occasions such as this they generally break off
+gradually, until only one or two irrepressible enthusiasts are left
+singing, and these have to be brought to the consciousness of time and
+the propriety of things by being pulled down into their seats. Jimmy
+wished to proceed with his rebuke to the persons who had been the
+cause of the diversion, so he put a peremptory stop to the vocalists
+by telling them to "sit doon, and listen to God's ambassador." He then
+resumed his address by stating that when his fist knocked the candles
+off the table he was "nearly givin' way to temptation. In fact," said
+he, "I was just on the point of usin' profane language to the mockers
+and scoffers of the sarvent of the livin' God. I mean them parvarse
+lads and lasses aback o' the bed theor."
+
+"Amen!" interjected several saintly voices.
+
+"But, hallelujah!" resumed James, "aa felt God was ha'd'en me back!"
+
+"Glory!" shouted Adam Jefferson.
+
+"Yes, ma brethren and sistors. Aa cum amang ye t' seek and t' save
+sinners that repenteth; rich or poor, it makes nee difference to me
+nor ma Maister, for hasn't He said 'where two or three are met
+tegithor in Ma Name, there am I in the midst'?"
+
+"Bless Him!" cried Nannie Dent, a late accomplice of the smugglers.
+
+Jimmy's rebuke to the offenders was delivered with boisterous
+earnestness, but the comic phrasing of it created irrepressible
+hilarity, and they had to leave the room. The preacher, in his closing
+remarks, reminded his hearers that he was once a black-hearted rascal,
+drinking, swearing, stealing, poaching, smuggling, and but for the
+mercy of God he might have added to his other crimes that of murder. A
+shudder went through the congregation when "murder" was uttered, and
+their minds were obviously centred on the derelict vessel and the dog,
+which Jimmy was suspected of doing away with.
+
+"Ah!" whispered Sam Taylor, the butler, "he should never have ventured
+on that affair. Folks are varra queer, and whether it is true or not,
+they like sensation and scandal."
+
+As though he had been gifted with prescience, Jimmy continued--"Aa can
+feel whaat ye are thinking aboot, but it's not true. This is the man
+aa threatened te kill," pointing at Turnbull. "And now let us bow oor
+heads in solemn, silent prayor for a few minutes, and ask forgiveness
+for oor past and daily sins. And aa want ye to join with me in asking
+for pardon and speedy repentance to be sent tiv a porson that belangs
+te the gentry of this district, but whe hes been, and is noo engaged
+in trafficking in wickedness. May the Lord bring him to His footstool
+of mercy before he is nabbed, as aa was."
+
+These remarks, with the exhilarating petition, caused an amount of
+irreverent speculation as to who was the person alluded to. The
+service was brought to a close without any evidences of spiritual
+emotion such as had characterized previous meetings, and the people
+proceeded in groups to their respective homes filled with fertile
+curiosity, and a sinister suspicion as to who the sinful person was
+that Jimmy had so fervently prayed for. But only one person who heard
+the rugged deliverance fixed her mind on him that was guilty, and she
+resolved to keep her thoughts a secret, for reasons that will be
+explained hereafter. Meanwhile, many innocent men were suspected, and
+gossip ran rampant. Jimmy, when asked whom he meant, was piously
+reticent, and merely answered--
+
+"That is a matter that concerns God and mysel'! The time may come when
+he'll accuse hissel'. Aa'm prayin' mornin', noon, and night, that the
+strings of his heart may be broken, and that a penitent condition of
+mind may take possession of him, and in the fulness of a new borth he
+may cry aloud, 'O Lord, once I was blind, noo I see!'"
+
+When Thomas Turnbull and his wife arrived home, they found the younger
+members of their family in an excited state of hilarity. The youngest
+daughter was mimicking Jimmy perfectly, and had her brothers and
+sister in fits of laughter. Their father could not refrain from
+joining in the fun, but the mother was quiet and pensive, and got
+rather huffed when her husband chided her in his good-humoured way
+with being indifferent to the happy surroundings. Poor woman, she was
+troubled about Jimmy's prayer, and thought it irreligious to be joyous
+in the midst of such dark mystery.
+
+The following afternoon, Mrs. Turnbull paid a visit to Mrs. Clarkson,
+who listened with eager interest to the account of the meeting, and
+when the words of the closing prayer were conveyed an anxious look
+came over her countenance, and she made an effort to change the
+subject, without, however, preventing Mrs. Turnbull from detecting her
+confusion.
+
+"Let us talk of something else; I do not like," said she, "conversing
+about sensational things; it makes me nervous. And if I were you, I
+would try to forget what has been said to you about important
+personages being involved in lawless traffic. It will only make you
+unhappy, and serve no good purpose. If there is anything of the sort
+going on, it will be discovered, and those that are guilty will be
+brought to justice."
+
+Mrs. Turnbull did not pursue the subject any farther, but the sad,
+pained look of her hostess became fixed in her memory. She could not
+shake the conviction from her that Mrs. Clarkson was haunted by the
+dread of some one belonging to herself having some connection with
+Jimmy's prayer.
+
+Mrs. Turnbull paid frequent visits to the farm, and one winter evening
+she happened to be there when a violent snowstorm made the ground
+impassable, so she was prevailed upon to stay until the following day.
+The household consisted of Mrs. Clarkson, her sister, and two nieces,
+who were very pleased to have the company of a woman who was so full
+of information and reminiscence. Her mother was said to have been the
+daughter of a Scottish law-lord's son, who was disinherited because he
+was thought to have married beneath his station--that is, instead of
+marrying the lady selected by his father from his own class, who had
+nothing in common with him, he had chosen and fixed his affections on
+a lady outside his rank, who was talented, had high intellectual and
+religious qualities, and good looks, but was financially poor. Mrs.
+Turnbull had excited the curiosity of the two young ladies by relating
+this part of her history, and they were naturally eager to hear more.
+With that object in view, they asked their aunt to allow her to sleep
+in their room, and the request was granted. The good lady, however,
+had said all that she intended to say about herself, and
+notwithstanding the ingenious and persuasive requests of her young
+friends, she stood steadfastly to her resolve. She talked to them
+about the farm and their aunt and cousins, and her own family, and the
+religious work that was being carried on, but never another word about
+herself or her ancestry could be drawn from her. Perhaps it was that
+she considered it scarcely wise to discuss romance with young girls.
+And so they talked themselves out about other things, and then went to
+sleep.
+
+Early in the morning, Mrs. Turnbull was awakened by what she took to
+be a door slamming. She got up with the intention of closing it, and
+then heard voices talking, sometimes in an ordinary tone, but for the
+most part in an excited whisper. She listened, with the bedroom door
+ajar, and heard the voice of Mrs. Clarkson say--
+
+"If you do not dissociate yourself from these wicked men you will come
+to grief. You are supposed to be in Australia. Indeed, it may be that
+Mr. Turnbull has his suspicion even now that I am harbouring an
+accomplice of the men whose trade is smuggling, and who try to get rid
+of those who prevent them carrying it on. I beseech you to cut
+yourself adrift from that other man, who, I believe, has you under his
+influence, and who, I feel sure, is associated with this gang of
+lawbreakers."
+
+At this stage, Mrs. Turnbull could not restrain the desire to cough.
+She did try to subdue it, but Mrs. Clarkson's companion whispered to
+her--
+
+"Whist! I hear some one on the landing."
+
+"Do not fear," said Mrs. Clarkson; "it is only the wind making noises
+through the trees."
+
+But her companion knew better, so not another word was spoken.
+
+The next morning Mrs. Clarkson looked worried, but she was quite
+affable with her guest, who acted her part without giving the
+slightest suspicion of having overheard the little nocturnal
+conversation.
+
+Immediately after breakfast, Mrs. Turnbull bade farewell to the
+family, and was soon in the thick of domestic matters in her own home.
+That night's experience at the Dean Farm settled the destiny of
+several families. The information unwittingly gleaned and discreetly
+used, led to far-reaching consequences to the district, and to all
+those involved.
+
+It was well known that the smugglers had places of concealment other
+than the accommodation gratuitously given them by certain farmers. The
+secret of the real cave's whereabouts was successfully kept, but one
+of those accidents that often come to disturb the current of human
+affairs led to an important discovery.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Softly the night wind blew over a glassy sea. The sound of the
+rippling water on the reef of rocks and on the sandy beach had a
+weird, melancholy effect. Then came the dull noise of muffled oars
+commingling with the cawing of the gull and hollow surging of the
+waters into the Fairy Rocks. There was neither moon nor stars visible,
+but in the bay the experienced eye could discern the mysterious
+lugger. There she lay, hove to, or anchored below the Dean House,
+which could be seen peeping out between two sandy hills. A dim
+light--which, to the uninformed, would have conveyed the impression of
+a light in a cottage window, but which was really a signal to the
+smugglers that the coast was clear--flickered in a line with the sandy
+valley; and, in truth, the quietude of the night betokened all was
+well. The landing was successfully made without interruption, and the
+men gaily entered on the task of transporting the cargo to its
+destination, believing, as they had a right to believe, that a big
+haul would be stored without a single hitch in the process. The
+accomplices scattered after their work was done, and the sailors
+returned to their vessel, no doubt well satisfied with the night's
+enterprise. But notwithstanding the many scouts they sent out, they
+were quite oblivious of the fact that their movements had been closely
+watched. Sail was set, and the sneaking craft crept out into the
+illimitable darkness, having apparently completed its work unseen by
+unfriendly eyes. There was not a little talk round the countryside
+about the landing that had taken place without any one in authority to
+check its progress. Wise, knowing people said it was timidity, and
+others attributed it to indifference to the public service; the truth
+being, it was neither the one nor the other. It was, in fact, a
+carefully-planned scheme to discover exactly where the mysterious cave
+was situated; and although in spite of exhaustive search the entrance
+to it could not be found, they had got a clue to its locality. A
+vigorous policy of exploration was inaugurated, but after many weeks
+of toil the operations were abandoned without the mystery having been
+penetrated. It was thought that time and opportunity would solve the
+problem, but how it was to be solved no one knew. There was, indeed,
+great speculation as to what might happen should another landing be
+attempted, but month after month passed without any indication of
+this, and the little population had settled down to a dull monotony.
+Except for a casual reference to the stirring times, the smugglers and
+their emissaries were apparently all but forgotten. The Preventive men
+were secretly as much on the alert as when the smugglers were most
+active. They purposely adopted an apparent indifference with the idea
+of luring the rovers into over-confidence. Each party took into
+account the possibility of being betrayed. In all secretive illegal
+societies there are suspects. Jimmy Stone having changed his mode of
+life, suspicion fell very naturally on him; but though he sometimes
+darkly hinted at the identity and the secrets of his late allies, he
+was never known to definitely divulge anything that would incriminate
+them. The nephew of Mrs. Clarkson was another marked man, as was also
+a friend of his. The former had been very little heard of in those
+parts since the night that his aunt implored him to give up his
+associates. The last that was really seen of Lawrence and his friend,
+they were drinking together in a public-house, and a few days after
+some of their torn and blood-stained clothes were found in a lonely
+hedged-in lane close by the moor. This dreaded place was called the
+"Mugger's Lonnin" by the country-folk, owing to its being a
+camping-ground for the gipsies, and from end to end it was prolific of
+bramble-berries and other wild fruit. When the children went during
+the summer months to gather these they were always accompanied by a
+few grown-up people, as it was believed that many terrible tragedies
+had happened there. The discovery of the clothes and the patches of
+blood right in the middle of the lonnin was indicative of a foul
+murder having taken place, and the bodies dragged along the grass to
+some place of concealment. Search parties were formed, bloodhounds
+were called into requisition, but no trace of the murdered lads'
+bodies could be found, and for many months this supposed terrible
+crime was sealed in mystery. A few people were callous enough to say
+that they were convinced that no murder had taken place, but these
+were very unpopular. The greater part of the small colony liked
+sensation, and nursed this one assiduously until an almost greater
+came to hand by it leaking out that the two men had been expeditiously
+sent to Australia, and that the blood on their clothes was not their
+own, but that of a sheep which had been killed for the purpose of
+misleading. This exciting revelation lead to important issues. Were
+they really alive and in Australia? Had they been bribed to reveal the
+secrets of their former friends, or was it dread of capture that
+caused them to be sent out of the country? These were some of the
+outspoken conjectures that flowed with ever-increasing imagination.
+The real facts never became known, but the tales of these stirring
+times have been handed down in more or less hyperbolic form. It may be
+fairly assumed that Thomas Turnbull got reliable information from some
+source which he was never known to disclose, and having got it, he
+hastened to use it judiciously and to advantage.
+
+The entrance to the cave was at last found at a spot where he and his
+comrades had many times traversed. It was so ingeniously concealed
+that they might have searched until the day of doom, and it could
+never have been found but for the agency that conveyed him to the
+spot. Tradition speaks of it being a long subterranean passage,
+running east to west, and opening out close to a road that was quite
+accessible to carts. It was honeycombed with compartments, and so
+carefully were they constructed that only the initiated could have
+discovered their locality. Some of the cells still contained
+quantities of contraband, so that the Board of Customs made a good
+haul.
+
+Turnbull frequently rubbed shoulders with men and women who eloquently
+declaimed against the smugglers and their allies. He knew these people
+were in the inner circle of the traffic. He realized also that it was
+not good policy to let them see that he knew that they were merely
+acting a part. He might some day have to make use of them. There was
+a section who never disguised their antipathy to him. They saw that
+through him the day of smuggling on that part of the coast was
+well-nigh over--if not over altogether. It was he who had been the
+instrument of emptying the vaults of treasure which they regarded as
+legitimately theirs, and closing them to further enterprise. It was,
+in fact, the system that he represented that was paralyzing their
+honest efforts of contributing to their means of subsistence! These
+were only some of the many indictments proclaimed against him and his
+colleagues. The aggrieved ones strolled about with an air of injured
+virtue, and their ferocious looks and veiled threats at the intruder
+as he passed along betokened the belief in their prescriptive right to
+plunder the Revenue. I think it is Macaulay who says that "no man is
+so merciless as he who is under a strong self-delusion."
+
+The seizure of the storehouse gave a staggering blow to the
+"fair-traders," but it did not prevent them from making another
+desperate attempt to land their wares, and also to have their revenge
+by destroying a few of her Majesty's servants. On dark nights the horn
+lanterns were seen about the links, the flare-light flashed across the
+sea, and the curlew's shrill call was heard. These signs were now
+known to the Preventive staff; but they also had their signs and their
+means of conveying news, so that when the low, sneaking black lugger
+again appeared, they were ready for the fray.
+
+There she was, snugly anchored in the sleepy bay. The first boat-load
+had left her side. The slow, dull sound of the horses' hoofs vibrated
+through the hollows, and the night wind from the fields of sleep blew
+softly over the rustling bents, causing a weird, peaceful lullaby. The
+boat's bow is run on to the beach, a dozen or more men jump from her
+into the water and haul her up as far as the weight of the cargo will
+allow. They then commence to discharge. Again the curlew's call is
+heard, again the sharp flare-light is seen; but no aid comes. The
+cargo is landed at high-water mark; they realize something is wrong,
+and hesitate whether to re-ship or re-embark without it. They are soon
+disillusioned. A horse gallops madly from the south. The rider shouts
+at the top of his voice, "Run, sailors, run! Treachery!" and then
+heads his horse full speed in the direction he came from, and is soon
+lost to view. The men push their boat into the sea, and row with all
+their might towards the vessel. Bullets from a score of muskets whiz
+over their heads; but they are accustomed to this, and lay their backs
+into the oars with increased vigour. Meanwhile, a coble sails almost
+peacefully alongside their ill-fated craft. In an instant a crowd of
+concealed men rush aboard and call out, "Surrender!" But smugglers
+were not given to surrender when merely requested, so a hand-to-hand
+fight took place. The butt-end of muskets were freely used, and to
+some purpose. There was no heroic effort to get at the powder
+magazine, so that they might blow themselves and everybody else up.
+
+The lugger was in undisputed possession of the Revenue men before the
+boat from the shore reached her. They, too, were quickly disposed of,
+after a short, angry, though feeble resistance. Stringent precautions
+were taken to prevent any blowing-up exploits. The whole gang were
+well secured against that, and any other hostile outbreaks. This
+having been done to the satisfaction of the officer in charge, the
+anchor was weighed, a course was shaped towards the south, and the
+last of the low, black, romantic luggers, with their gallant crews,
+passed away, never more to be seen on this part of the coast.
+
+Recognition of the deeds done by the dauntless heroes of that age in
+the Government service was very scanty. It may be they did not expect
+it. In that case they were rarely disappointed. Thomas Turnbull seems
+to have got his reward in being allowed to remain on the station until
+the time came to retire on a pension. He went about his routine work
+with placid regularity, and devoted what leisure he had to widening
+his reading, which consisted mainly of history, theology, and Burns's
+poems. He was never known to miss his class-meeting, and travelled
+eight miles each way to keep his pulpit appointments on Sundays. He
+sometimes entertained his family and the young folk that visited them
+by relating his experiences with the smugglers, but his greatest
+pleasure was in holding religious meetings in one or other of the
+fishers' cottages. In this he was gratuitously aided by Jimmy Stone,
+who entered into his work with energy, zeal, and oftentimes amazing
+resource. Jimmy had developed a form of religious mania, insisting on
+the theory that he was, as a preacher, a direct descendant of the
+Apostles. This assumption severely taxed the Christian virtues of the
+little society. Turnbull, who had a keen sense of humour, viewed the
+new situation with intense amusement, and always excused the foibles
+of his old convert up to the time of leaving the district to end his
+own eventful career within easy reach of his family, who were all
+grown-up and doing well. Jimmy did not long survive him, but he lived
+long enough to see the passing away of that spiritual wave that had
+changed his whole life.
+
+Many years after, an ugly incident broke the spell of monotony in the
+village. A hideous-looking creature came to it and addressed himself
+to a fisherman. His voice was that of a drunkard. He was dirty, his
+eyes were bleared, and the cunning, shifty look betokened a long life
+of vicious habits. He wished to know when Mrs. Clarkson died, where
+all her relations that lived round about her were, to whom the estates
+were sold, and whom the money they realized went to; what had become
+of Turnbull and his family, and how long was it since the smugglers
+were driven off the coast? These questions were only meagrely
+answered, as the man he inquired of belonged to another generation,
+and there were only very few left who knew anything of the period or
+the people that he desired information about. The following day the
+body of a man, supposed to be a tramp, was found in a barn. He had
+left evidence of his identity, and when it was discovered that the
+stranger was Stephen Lawrence, Mrs. Clarkson's nephew, the once flashy
+young gentleman who controlled her estates, and who had been sent
+abroad when grave suspicion rested upon him of being seriously
+involved in pecuniary defalcations, it created a fresh sensation, and
+revived all the old stories of bygone days. He had come to die within
+the shadow of the home in which he was so indulgently reared, and his
+remains were buried by those who knew not of him. It was probably
+through him and Melbourne that the secret locality of the cave and
+other valuable information which led up to the final conflict and
+defeat of the smugglers became known.
+
+The "Mugger's Lonnin," all blazing with red and yellow flowers and
+long silvery grass growing wild, and covering the mysteries that lie
+beneath, is still there. The superstitions regarding its history still
+exist. The sandhills, capped with the rustling, silky bents, looking
+down into the bay, are still there. The thrilling sea winds come and
+go, and the music of the shells on the beach is whispering as before,
+but the shrill wail of the curlew is never sounded from knoll to knoll
+now. The horn lantern is not seen by the roadsides, nor the quick
+flashlight that signalled the coast was clear; and the rattle of the
+horses' hoofs on the stones during the mystic night is never now
+heard. There is nothing to indicate, in fact, that this lonely, superb
+piece of England was once (not so long ago) a great centre of illicit
+trading. The smuggler and Revenue man have disappeared, and the scenes
+of their successes or failures, daring, comic, and sometimes tragic,
+are undisturbed save by nature's sights and sounds. Man-o'-war sailors
+(fine fellows though they be), with ribboned caps, and trousers that
+flap like sails of a ship tacking, have replaced the trim,
+gentlemanlike civilian of old. Some of the latter are still remembered
+with affection, and even veneration, by people who were young when the
+last of them passed away.
+
+
+
+
+Smugglers of the Rock
+
+
+Captain S---- was a man of enterprise, and never lost an opportunity
+of scheming to supplement the freight of the vessel he commanded. His
+common phrase was, "Look for business, and you'll meet it on the
+road." He was well known all over the Mediterranean, and had done much
+trade with the Spanish ports, so that he got to know a good deal about
+the character and methods of their business. On one occasion, at
+Gibraltar, a deputation of traders, as they called themselves, made
+him a proposition that was startling in its remunerative dimensions.
+
+"I presume," said the captain, "this business which you are good
+enough to put before me is sound; there is no humbug about it?"
+
+"Not one bit, captain. You undertake to do certain work for which we
+pay you before starting."
+
+It was arranged that he should wire from his last port of call when
+passing down the Mediterranean. He fixed his mind on the amount he was
+to receive, and did not inquire too closely into the character of the
+business. He would have been virtuously indignant if any one had
+hinted that he was capable of going beyond the limits of stern
+rectitude, although he admitted the undertaking to be extraordinary,
+otherwise he would not have been so well paid for it. His knowledge of
+character told him that he was going to do business with a squad of
+rascals who knew no moral law, and yet the fascination of exciting
+enterprise held him in its grip. So it came to pass that he sent his
+telegram announcing approximately when he might be expected at
+Gibraltar, and asking them to have all in readiness against his
+arrival. In the early morning of the eighth day after leaving Malta,
+the steamer crept from under the Great Rock into the beautiful bay,
+and was promptly boarded by a few gentlemen of effusive manners who
+were greatly concerned about the health of Captain S----. The latter
+requested them to cease their chatter and to get to business.
+
+"Are the craft ready?" said he.
+
+"Oh yes," replied the Rock-scorpions; "but you will have to wait until
+dark before they can be brought from their moorings."
+
+This was agreed to. The captain put his vessel alongside the coal
+hulk, and by noon the required bunker coal had been shipped, and
+through the kindness of the captain of the hulk she was allowed to
+remain alongside until darkness set in, on the plea of repairs being
+done to defective machinery. She was then slowly moved towards three
+feluccas which lay waiting in the bay. The night was still, and the
+moon shone bright and made the sea silvery by its reflection; but a
+large halo encircled it, and the seamen knew that foreboded stormy
+weather. "Telegraph boys" were coming up from the west very swiftly.
+There was to be trouble outside Cape Spartel, and they were anxious to
+get through the stream before the gale had developed strength. A boat
+came alongside. Two Levantines stepped aboard. The captain said--
+
+"So you have come at last. Have you got the money with you? Let me
+have no wriggling, or I will have you put over the side and steam away
+without your merchandize."
+
+"No, no, capitan, you must not do that! Come to the charthouse and you
+shall be paid at once."
+
+After three-fourths of the agreed sum had been counted out the
+paymaster stuck, and said, "Capitan, you must be satisfied. We are
+poor men like yourself."
+
+In an instant the captain was out of the charthouse _with his money_,
+and went on to the upper bridge and called out to his officers to see
+the gentlemen into their boat. They pleaded to him to come into the
+charthouse again, and every cent due to him would be handed over
+according to agreement.
+
+"I did not mean what I said to be taken seriously," said the financial
+agent.
+
+"But I did," replied the captain. "And take notice that if you
+wriggle again I will make short work of this business."
+
+The balance of freight was handed over without further demur, and the
+craft taken in tow as arranged. It was urged that the heaviest laden
+of the three lighters should tow astern of the others. The engines
+were set easy ahead. The two scorpions were asked to get into their
+boat quickly. They wished the captain good luck, and gave him
+instructions to steer over to the African side of the gut, as the
+current was easier there. He was warned in true Levantine eloquence,
+and with an accent and tone that indicated anxiety for the success of
+the project, to look sharply after the "wolves" when they got off
+Tarifa, for this is the narrowest part of the entrance to the
+Mediterranean. It was clear that this traffic welcomed no publicity.
+
+The _C----_ was soon plunging into a strong westerly swell, though
+there was as yet but little wind. They had got Tarifa abeam, when the
+look-out man reported a small vessel three points on the starboard
+bow. In a few more minutes the "wolves" announced themselves by a few
+small shot rattled against the smoke stack. Orders were given to the
+second officer to go aft with a hatchet, and when the signal was given
+he had to snap the tow-rope of the last felucca. All hands were
+ordered to lie low--_i.e._, lie under shelter of the bulwarks. The
+captain and chief officer took shelter on the port side of the
+charthouse. The vessel's course was altered, but being so far over on
+the African coast there was not much room to play on. The firing was
+still directed at the funnel, though at times it was erratic. One of
+the seamen shouted, "I'm hit!" In an instant the captain blew his
+whistle, and the tow-line of No. 3 craft was cut. The steamer's speed
+increased, though it did not much matter so far as getting out of the
+fire zone was concerned, as the Spanish _Costaguardia's_ attention
+became fixed on the abandoned craft.
+
+"My God!" soliloquized the chief mate, "the Rock-scorpions are right.
+They have pounced upon the derelict like wolves. I almost wish I was
+there to see the effect when they realize they have been fooled, and
+they find that that craft is loaded with stones. It was just done in
+the nick of time; they might have compelled us to heave to."
+
+"I would never have done that," said the captain. "I knew they would
+not risk being defeated in their object when they saw so excellent a
+prize thrown at them."
+
+"They are setting the sail," observed the officer.
+
+"Yes," responded the captain. "The gentlemen will find one of their
+craft anchored in Gibraltar Bay to-morrow morning, and may be the
+whole three. I do not like the look of it; both the wind and sea are
+making. I hope we may be able to reach to the westward of Trafalgar
+Bay before it gets worse."
+
+Instructions were given to have the wounded seaman brought to the
+saloon, and it was found that he was not seriously injured. After the
+wound was dressed, orders were given to set the regular watch. Little
+progress was made during the night, owing to the heavy west wind. By
+six the following morning she was just a little west of Cape Spartel,
+and the wind had increased to a heavy gale. The engines had to be
+slowed down in order to save the two little vessels from being dragged
+under water; indeed, as it was, their hulls were sometimes buried. The
+captain saw that he was in for a tragedy if the craft were kept in
+tow. He did not like to slip them, as it meant certain capture, and
+while he was thinking out the wisest and best course to pursue, the
+problem was solved by the people aboard the feluccas letting go the
+tow-line, and the last that was seen of them was that they were
+heading towards the Spanish coast with small storm sails set.
+
+Captain S----'s vessel had a severe passage, and on arrival in
+Falmouth he went to an hotel. In the course of the evening he was
+relating the incidents of the voyage, as was the custom with orthodox
+captains on arrival in port, and of course he included his experiences
+with the Rock-scorpions and their feluccas. Before he had completed
+the tale, the proprietor interposed by reading as follows from a
+shipping paper:--
+
+    "Information was conveyed to the Spanish Customs Authority that
+    a British steamer had run out of Gibraltar Bay with three
+    feluccas laden with manufactured tobacco destined for Cadiz. She
+    was to be intercepted at Tarifa by the coastguards, and the
+    craft with their cargo were to have been seized. When she got to
+    Tarifa the coastguards fired at her. The third lighter was
+    slipped, boarded by the officials and their men, and taken
+    behind the Rock, when it was discovered on removing the hatches
+    that she was laden with stones. The other two parted their
+    tow-ropes, and were driven through the Gut and captured. These
+    were laden with tobacco. The stone-laden craft was obviously
+    intended as a decoy, and but for the heavy gale that came on,
+    the other two would have succeeded in reaching their
+    destination."
+
+A few months later, Captain S---- entered Gibraltar Bay, and was
+boarded by the chief commissioner of the last enterprise, accompanied
+by a friend, who was introduced as being engaged in "our" trade.
+
+"Ah," said the former in genuine Rock-scorpion dialect, "The last was
+a great disaster; but it has never been said that you did not do all
+that was possible to carry out your contract properly. If there had
+been any appearance of not doing so, my friend and I would not have
+said that Captain S---- is the very man to carry out our new affair,
+which is doubly better than the other."
+
+"Well, shut up about that," said the captain. "Come to the point. What
+is it you wish me to do?"
+
+"Ah! capitan, but for the knowledge we have of your ability, and the
+affection my friends and myself have for you, we would have hesitated
+to show you this token of our much esteem."
+
+"Shut up!" interjected the sailor. "I don't want a display of pretty
+nothings. I want business."
+
+"Oh! capitan, why do you say such things when we are so anxious to put
+something your way. I tell you there are thousands of men that would
+be glad to have your chance. The job we have is this: three feluccas
+are lying up in the harbour laden with tobacco. Tonight you must lie
+off the town without anchoring, and they will be brought alongside.
+You must take the cargo aboard, and proceed off Amonti Pomoron. A
+pilot and interpreter will go with you, and you must not go near the
+land until darkness comes on, when craft showing signals which the
+pilot understands will be there to meet you and have men to tranship
+the cargo into lighters. You will have L400 for doing this--half in
+cash before leaving, and the other half on arrival at Amonti. The
+transaction will be quite straight."
+
+"It seems to me so uncommonly like a huge smuggling affair, that I
+cannot entertain it," replied S----.
+
+"No, no! my dear capitan; here you are mistaken. We would not ask such
+a thing of you. How can it be smuggling? The cargo is put aboard in
+neutral waters; you take it off the coast of Spain and deliver it as
+arranged. You get your money, and know nothing more about it. How can
+that be smuggling?"
+
+"Well," said the captain, "it has nothing to do with me where the
+stuff comes from, or where it is going to. If you will give me five
+hundred pounds, all cash, before leaving here, I will agree to take
+it."
+
+The Rock-scorpion gasped--
+
+"What, five hundred pounds! Capitan, now do be reasonable. I tell you
+no other man would get the half of what you are offered."
+
+"Very well, then," replied the captain, "it is off. Give it to the
+person who will do it for half."
+
+"Certainly not; that is not what I mean," said the commissioner. "How
+can I face my friends with such news after all I have said to them
+about you? They will form a bad opinion of both you and myself."
+
+"Oh! d---- both you and your friends. Get over the side, or I'll help
+you."
+
+"Well, Capitan S----, I have never seen a man in such a temper
+before."
+
+"Oh, go to----!"
+
+"Oh no, no, capitan; don't say that. I cannot tell my friends of
+this."
+
+"I wouldn't take your stuff for a thousand pounds now," said the
+captain.
+
+"Forgive me, my best friend. I did not mean to be offensive; you have
+misunderstood my meaning. I will give you five hundred pounds, though
+I know I will have to pay one hundred out of my own purse. It is very
+hard."
+
+The captain hesitated, but was overcome by the thought of making so
+large a clean profit without involving any material loss of time. In
+less than an hour after darkness came on the cargo was being put
+aboard with amazing facility. The first lighter was nearly discharged,
+when the captain asked the agent to pay the freight. This gentleman,
+with many greasy apologies, informed him that he had only half of the
+money with him. He could not get his friends to agree to pay all
+before starting, "but they will agree to pay half here and the other
+half as soon as the lighters come to you at Amonti." "Very well,
+then; I won't take another bale in, and will steam away at once."
+
+"But," said the cunning Rock-scorpion, "you have a lighter of goods
+aboard. You are very dreadful for talking about running away with it."
+
+"You make me sick," said the captain, with a killing look of scorn.
+
+"Capitan, you say queer things to your best friends. Now, I tell you
+what I will do: I will on my own responsibility give you in cash
+two-thirds now, and the other third I pledge myself will be paid at
+Amonti. It would be a scandal to all concerned to allow it to drop at
+the present time."
+
+"Scandal be d----d!" replied the commander. "You're a fine lot to talk
+about scandal--you who would rob Jesus Christ of his shoe-strings."
+
+"Capitan, you do me wrong; I would never do the things you say."
+
+"Stump up the dross like a man, then, and don't stand whining there
+like a sucking turkey craving for pity," retorted Captain S----. A
+look of injured piety came over the old rascal's face, who was playing
+a game of Levantine jugglery, subtle and crafty.
+
+"Ah," said he, "I am so sorry. Indeed, I cannot express my grief that
+you should have changed in so short a time from the kind, generous
+capitan of old times long ago to the very cruel, disobliging person of
+this minute, who calls me names and refuses to reciprocate kindness
+for kindness. I think my friends will say that I tell lies, which they
+would not think of me, when I tell them that you have become morose
+and disobliging. They will stare and say that my judgment has been
+deceived. But to show my trust in you, nevertheless, I will, as I have
+said, give you two-thirds cash, and the other third you will be paid
+at your destination. No other man in Gibraltar would do the same; but
+we are old friends who have done business together before--not
+profitable, but still it was business, very hard business. Come, now,
+capitan, do be reasonable, and do not look at me as though you would
+like to strike my face with your fist."
+
+The captain had been standing in a reflective mood during the
+Rock-scorpion's harangue, obviously reviewing the whole position and
+the policy that should be adopted. He was dubious as to the wisdom of
+accepting the terms offered; but seeing that the risk to him was less
+than it was to them, he spontaneously replied--
+
+"Agreed! But I warn _you_, and you must intimate the warning to your
+friends, if there is any attempt at deceiving me, or any reluctance
+shown at the other end to pay the balance of freight, I will steam off
+with the merchandise and the men you propose sending with me, and I
+don't care to say what will become of them."
+
+"Shake hands," said the wily agent; "and I give you my word of honour,
+which everybody trusts but you since you came this time, that there
+will be no trouble made. Now come to the charthouse and take over the
+cash."
+
+This formality was speedily accomplished, though not without a further
+attempt to reduce the cash payment on the plea that it would endanger
+his professional reputation in the eyes of his commercial friends.
+
+"I care nothing for your reputation," murmured the candid sailor.
+"What I want is two-thirds freight, so stump it all up, or I will have
+it taken from you and then hoist you into your boat."
+
+Whereupon the agent became afflicted with grief at his dear friend's
+threatened cruelty.
+
+"Really, my best friend, I must not give way here, but I will shed
+tears when I get to my silent home, and speak with myself of the
+change that has come to your mind."
+
+"Don't you bother about shedding tears; you see that your friends play
+the game," said the inexorable captain. "I will carry out my part;
+but, by heavens! if your people don't carry out theirs, you shall all
+pay dearly for it."
+
+"You are too excited on this occasion, my dear capitan, and for this I
+am sorry, as I like to see you as usual. I tell you if they do not
+play the fair way, I will be responsible and be very vexed."
+
+"Shut up, you blatherskite; the cargo is all aboard. Get into your
+boat quick, and remember what I have said to you when you can overcome
+the effects of your wriggling and dodging. Your cargo can only be
+delivered on one condition. Keep in mind what it is. Begone, and never
+let me see your evil countenance again."
+
+Thus spoke the enterprising commander, who had begun to realize that
+he was having dealings with a gang whom he would have to fight in
+order to get his own. The engines were put at full speed, and kept at
+that until she was fifty miles north-west of Cape Spartel, when they
+were slowed so that she might not arrive before the appointed time. As
+the vessel trailed sinuously over the quiet sea, the captain's
+thoughts were centred on material things and the reception he was
+likely to have on meeting the men his mind's eye pictured as
+cut-throat ruffians. He had several conferences with the interpreter,
+whose look and speech he regarded as a revelation of villainy. He was
+tall and slim, with ricketty legs, dark shifty eyes, a low receding
+forehead, and a mouth and chin that indicated the animal. The captain
+felt instinctively the approach of trouble, and frankly told the
+wretch, who he knew was deceiving him, that every bale of tobacco
+would be held until after the freight was paid over in gold
+sovereigns; and with an air of ostentatious authority he gave
+instructions to have all the muskets and revolvers loaded and ready in
+case they should be required. The hideous scoundrel fixed his eye on
+the captain, and with ironic accent intimated he could not help being
+filled with concern when he heard the orders given to prepare the
+firearms.
+
+"Capitan, we are not pirates; we are respectable men carrying on a
+respectable trade. You need not prepare anything; we are honest
+tradesmen."
+
+The captain laughed heartily at this comic assurance of fidelity, and
+felt convinced that a deep impression had been made, as the
+interpreter shortly after was seen vigorously conversing with his two
+compatriots. The one had been introduced as the representative of the
+owner of the cargo, and the other the pilot, whose business it was to
+direct the captain to that part of the coast where the craft was
+awaiting the vessel's arrival. The treacherous dusk was casting its
+shadows over them, and had brought with it a weird sound of the
+moaning wind. The crew stood in little knots, talking earnestly to
+each other. Obviously they conversed of the night's work, and all the
+grave possibilities that lay in front of them. For the most part they
+wore an anxious look on their faces, but there was one there whose eye
+was full of sparkling fun, and whose face beamed with a self-satisfied
+expectation of exhilarating dangers. The captain called him to the
+bridge, and gave him some specific orders as to how he was to act when
+certain signals were given. The chaste and simple motto of "the blow
+first and jaw afterwards" guided him, and he was only profane when
+discipline demanded it. His superstitious tendencies were in an
+ordinary way an anxiety to him, but on the night in question the only
+signs he gave of being affected in this way was by the half coherent
+remark to the captain that he did not like to hear the shrill wail of
+the wind through the rigging; "it seems to be speaking to us of some
+trouble near at hand." Suddenly the interpreter called out, "I see the
+feluccas." In a moment all thought of the wail of the wind had
+disappeared, and this fine athletic seaman was commanding his men like
+a hero. He had been told by his captain that there would more than
+likely be rough work to do, and he prepared for it with a skill and
+vigour that left no doubt as to how his instructions would be carried
+out. "Give the signal at the proper time," said he, "and leave the
+rest to me." A shipwrecked crew was being taken home in the steamer,
+and these, together with her own crew, made the number look
+formidable, and although they were never requested to give assistance,
+they offered it in case of need. Undoubtedly the addition to the
+ordinary crew had a moral effect upon the Spaniards.
+
+The craft came alongside, and her crew jumped aboard and commenced to
+handle the bales. They were peremptorily stopped by the captain
+giving instructions that not a single bale was to be allowed to pass
+into the lighters until the freight was paid and he had given orders.
+Soon there was a carnival of foes. The captain called to the
+interpreter to bring the man with the money to the saloon. The
+interpreter came but not the man. The former said the money was coming
+on the second lighter, but the one alongside must be loaded and sent
+away first.
+
+"No, no!" interposed the captain; "no money, no bales." He would wait
+until the second lighter came, which could easily be placed alongside
+astern of the first one. In a short time number two came, and was
+moored as directed. A large number of men jumped aboard from both
+craft. The captain again called out to bring the man with the money,
+and again no one turned up but the interpreter. This time he was
+defiant. He put his back against the saloon side, folded his arms and
+began--
+
+"Capitan, you see the number of people aboard your vessel. They can
+take her from you, if they so wish it. I tell you frankly we have no
+money; but, by God! we must and shall have the tobacco."
+
+The captain had been reared amidst a race of men who had imbued him
+with the importance of hitting decisively and with promptness, when
+confronted with situations which demanded physical action. In an
+instant he had hold of the scoundrel, who, he was convinced now, was
+the leader of a plot to take the cargo by force. Under peremptory
+compulsion, the Levantine was rushed on deck, informed that he had
+miscalculated with whom he had to deal, and that any one who attempted
+to carry out his threat would be fired upon.
+
+"I give you fair warning there shall be no half measures, and I
+command you to inform your friends what I have said; and also state to
+them that as soon as I have been paid my freight, they will not only
+be allowed to have the cargo, but I will instruct my crew to assist in
+the transhipment."
+
+It never will be known now what this plant of grace intimated
+precisely to his colleagues, but the general impression was at the
+time that the captain's message had not been conveyed verbatim. Soon
+the babble of tongues charged the air and gave an impression of
+Bedlam. The captain had resolved upon a course of action which was
+strenuous. He had given certain orders to the chief engineer, and was
+standing on the lower bridge reviewing the situation, when the second
+officer came up to him and said in a whisper--
+
+"The Spaniards are all armed to the teeth, sir."
+
+"All right," said the captain, "they will soon be disarmed. Meanwhile,
+as a precaution, put our men on their guard. This business must be
+carried through vigorously, and with dash."
+
+At this juncture the interpreter, apparently with the intention of
+breaking the deadlock, attempted to come on the bridge, and was warned
+if he put his foot on the ladder he (the captain) would jump on top of
+him. He did so, and the next moment he was flattened on the deck. The
+Spaniards, in great excitement, surrounded the two. At last, one of
+the shipwrecked men spoke to them in Spanish, and the master asked
+him if he could really speak Spanish. He replied in the affirmative.
+
+"Then," said the captain, "translate to these men that I do not wish
+to hold the cargo, but that my agreement was for the freight to be
+paid immediately the craft came alongside."
+
+This pronouncement seemed to make an impression, but they still
+coveted and cavilled for the goods. They endeavoured to persuade the
+master of the steamer, who had gone on to the bridge again, to anchor,
+and the money would be brought off in the morning. He prevaricated
+with them, and at the same time told the chief engineer secretly to
+put the engines easy ahead. She was brought head on to the sea, and
+the wind having risen, a nasty swell came with it, which caused the
+lighters to jump and put jerky strains on their moorings. A few of
+their crew jumped aboard, and were trying to pass additional ropes
+around the rigging of the steamer when the captain blew his whistle.
+In an instant the tow-rope of the forward lighter was cut; then it was
+that the Spaniards realized what was happening. They remonstrated
+with the captain; they shouted to each other excitedly; those that had
+not got aboard the feluccas flew along the deck and jumped, one after
+the other, on to their vessel as she swung round. Another shrill
+whistle, and the last rope of lighter No. 2 was snapped. Captain S----
+called out to the interpreter, who was pleading piteously to allow
+them to have only some of the cargo, to jump at once if he did not
+wish to lose his passage, and to be taken away with the steamer. He
+quickly realized his true position, and sprang over the stern. It was
+supposed that he was picked up by one of the craft. They then
+commenced to fire wildly from the feluccas, but little harm was done,
+and in a brief time the steamer had travelled far outside the range of
+their guns, and was heading towards Cape St. Vincent, with the whole
+of the contraband aboard of a value of something like L5000. The
+question of how it was to be disposed of was a problem not easily
+solved. The first thought was to take it to Lisbon. This idea having
+broken down, the next thought was one of the Channel Islands (Jersey
+or Guernsey). This also, for specific reasons, gave way. It was then
+decided to take it to the port of discharge of the ordinary cargo; but
+after calculating all the trouble, the payment of duty, time lost, and
+possible legal technicalities, the captain resolved that the best and
+cleanest way of disposing of it was to jettison the whole of it. This
+decision brought him into sharp conflict with his chief officer, who
+entirely disagreed with such a course.
+
+"Is it for this," he said, "that we risked being shot and having the
+steamer seized and confiscated? The tobacco belongs to us by right of
+conquest, as well as by moral right, and it will be an abomination to
+throw it overboard. Even if we make only a thousand pounds out of it,
+it is always something; but to put it into the sea would be sinful
+beyond description. I cannot bring myself to be a party to such a
+thing."
+
+The decision of the captain was irrevocable, in spite of the
+persuasive eloquence of a deputation of the crew and engineers. So,
+after passing the Burlings, orders were given to cut the bales, save
+the packing, and shovel the tobacco overboard. This very nearly caused
+open revolt, but the captain made a few tactful statements which had
+good effect. He presented a case that could not be controverted, and
+they yielded to the inevitable. The jettisoning commenced with bad
+grace, and a continual growl was kept up until the captain himself was
+overcome by the sight of the beautiful tobacco being thrown away. He
+called a halt, after persuading himself that a new idea might be
+presented to the mind as time went on, which would show how a profit
+could be made without risking any vital interest; but this only
+endured for a couple of days. No really sound idea came, and so the
+work of destruction was resumed until only half a dozen bales were
+left, and it was resolved to hold these whatever happened. The mate
+was a sailor of the old school, and clung to the grog and tobacco
+traditions of the eighteenth century. He might have forgiven the
+purveyors of defective food, but if bad grog and tobacco were
+supplied there was no forgiveness for that, here or hereafter! He
+believed in the crew being served with grog whenever they were called
+upon to do extra work, such as shortening sail or setting it, and
+although he never allowed smoking when on duty, or expectoration on
+the quarter-deck, a skilful seaman was all the more popular with him
+if he chewed. His opinion was that they did better work, and more of
+it, when they rolled a quid about in their mouths. If his attention
+was called to a small boy who was practising the habit, a
+pride-of-race smile would come into his face, and his laughing eyes
+indicated the joy it was giving him. Then he would say, "Thank God,
+the race is not becoming extinct. I have always hope of a youngster
+turning out satisfactorily if he works well and chews well." As a
+matter of fact, his conviction was that a boy or man who adopted the
+practice did so instinctively because they were born sailors, and were
+true types of British manhood. Indeed, he regarded manhood as strictly
+confined to his own class, though on many occasions I have seen
+volcanic evidences of shattered faith. It was not so much the money
+value of the tobacco, but the _racial affection he had for it_ that
+caused him to feel indignant at the suggestion of it being thrown to
+the waves.
+
+The second day subsequent to this conflict, it was the first mate's
+afternoon watch below. He had partaken of his midday meal, and went to
+the bridge to have a smoke. As he looked down at the bales of goods,
+he said to the second mate--
+
+"However the thought of destroying that beautiful stuff can have
+entered the mind of man I cannot fathom. I think I have got him
+persuaded to leave well alone. It must be nothing short of stark
+lunacy."
+
+And the two men were agreed that had their captain _been as short of
+it as they_ had been one time and another he would not talk such
+foolishness. The chief mate intimated that he was going to have a nap,
+but that his mind was torn with presentiment which he could not speak
+about calmly. At four o'clock when he came on deck he was made aware
+of what had taken place during his watch below, whereupon he lapsed
+into a kind of inarticulate stupor, and could not speak the
+unutterable. He placed his right hand on his brow, and then on his
+left breast, and stood gazing at the long Atlantic rollers, which had
+the appearance of an uneven reef of rocks. The stage of stupor and
+grief was superseded by that of resigned indignation. He plaintively
+called out--
+
+"Well, I'll--be--teetotally--d----d! Miles of sea to be paved with
+that beautiful tobacco! Retribution will come to somebody; and, by
+thunder! it should come with a clattering vengeance. I will never
+forget the sight as long as I have breath."
+
+The captain came up to him, and seeing that his mind was centred on
+what he regarded as not only a calamity but a crime, he was so much
+amused at his ludicrously pathetic appearance that he laughingly
+repeated--
+
+"Oh, for the touch of a vanished hand, and the sound of a voice that
+is still."
+
+The inappropriate words were merely used as a piece of chaff, but Mr.
+S---- was not in a chaffing mood, so he retorted that he did not see
+where the humour came in, and there was nothing to laugh at, and so
+on. He then walked on to the bridge, and he and the captain were not
+on friendly speaking terms any more during the voyage.
+
+At midnight on the sixth day after parting company from the Spaniards,
+the vessel was hove to to take a pilot aboard. Captain S---- took him
+aside as soon as he boarded, and asked him in an undertone if he ever
+did anything in the contraband line. He held up his hands as though he
+were horrified at the suggestion, and exclaimed--
+
+"Not for the world, captain!"
+
+"Very well," replied the captain; "you go below, and I will join you
+in a minute or two, after giving orders to the steward to make tea for
+us."
+
+As a matter of fact, he remained behind to give orders to the mate to
+throw overboard the remaining six bales, which was a further trial to
+the grief-stricken officer; and having done this the captain joined
+the pilot, and entered into conversation with him. The two men were
+not long in discovering that they each belonged to the brotherhood of
+Freemasons. This put them on easy terms at once, and encouraged the
+pilot to inquire into the meaning of the words spoken to him on
+boarding.
+
+"I do not quite know how I stand in relation to that," said the
+captain. "Indeed, I am perplexed as to the plan I ought to adopt. So
+many difficulties confront me as the scheme of development goes on;
+but so far as I have been able to work out the problem, I think my
+attitude must be straightforward, and that I should make a full
+voluntary statement to the authorities. Meanwhile, if you pledge me
+your Masonic honour to keep it a secret until I have made it public, I
+will tell you the whole story."
+
+The undertaking was readily given, and long before the whole story was
+told, the pilot's Christian virtues had broken down. At frequent
+intervals while the narrative was being told he interjected, "Oh! why
+didn't you tell me?" His mind was transfixed. Then the processes of
+it became confused. The vision of wealth and the reckless squandering
+of some of it took possession of him, and with uncontrolled zeal he
+called out--
+
+"My God! what a story! O captain, why didn't you tell me what it was
+at once, and not waste time? Let us get to work without delay. I will
+undertake to land what you have got on an island and share the
+proceeds with you."
+
+"Too late, too late, my friend. You have thrown away an opportunity
+which may never come to you again," replied the master, with a
+mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Transactions of this kind are done
+spontaneously and with vigour--they are not to be dreamed about."
+
+"I admit my error, captain; but, oh! how was I to know? Surely you do
+not mean to tell me that the balance of the tobacco has been thrown
+overboard since I came here?"
+
+"Yes, it is all gone. We do not hesitate when we face the inevitable,
+no matter what the sacrifice may be."
+
+"Well, I'm blowed!" soliloquized the pilot. "It will take me some
+time to get over this little bit of history."
+
+"I daresay," said the captain; "but it is time you took charge--she is
+now within your jurisdiction. What do you say to going on the bridge?
+You will find the chief officer there, with whom you may condole, if
+it be safe for a stranger to speak of so delicate a subject to him.
+You will, perhaps, find him stupefied with grief and shame at the
+unpatriotic conduct of his commander, and I daresay his language will
+impress you with the venerable traditions cherished by his class when
+things are supposed to have gone wrong."
+
+The pilot greeted the chief officer cordially, but did not receive a
+very polite response to his attempts to draw him into conversation
+about his recent experiences, and was cut short in a sailorly fashion
+by being told if he wanted any information about experiences, as he
+called them, to go and ask "that ---- fool of a skipper about it."
+
+"I have had a little conversation with him," replied the pilot; "and
+it does seem to me extraordinary--and if I were not here I might
+almost say an outrage--that no other course could be found than utter
+sacrifice."
+
+"Oh, don't talk to me!" exclaimed the vivacious mate, in a flood of
+passion. "You call it extraordinary and an outrage! Is that a proper
+name for such wickedness? You ask me what I think of it? I tell you I
+cannot think. You talk about outrage! I say, sir, it is joining
+outrage to injustice, and I cannot believe that any other than a
+frozen-souled fool would have done it. There is not a glimmering of
+common-sense in it. The wonder is that he didn't take it back to the
+scoundrels, for pity's sake!"
+
+This outburst of withering scorn encouraged the pilot to ask what the
+sailors thought of it.
+
+"Go and ask them, if you want to hear something you've never heard
+before."
+
+The captain, who was in the charthouse, could not help hearing these
+interesting opinions of himself, nor could he help enjoying the rugged
+humour of them. His mate had his peculiarities, but he never doubted
+his loyalty to himself, and he was sure that on reflection he would
+come to see the wisdom of disentanglement. He went on to the bridge as
+though all was serene, asked a few questions of the pilot, and settled
+down until the vessel arrived at her discharging port.
+
+On landing, a message-boy told him there was a telegram at the office
+for him. He eagerly asked if he knew where it was from. The boy
+replied, "Gibraltar." He requested the messenger to get it for him,
+and found it was from the agent who shipped the tobacco, the purport
+of it being to offer him L500 to bring it back, and intimating that a
+letter was on the way. When this came to hand, it explained
+exhaustively the reason the freight was not paid as agreed, and boldly
+accused the port authorities and officials of having organized a plot
+in order to accomplish their own evil ends. This precious document was
+signed by the writer, and, needless to say, was not replied to. As a
+necessary protection to himself, the master had a declaration signed
+by the whole of the crew, stating that they had no tobacco concealed
+or in their possession other than that shown to the Custom-house
+officers.
+
+As is usual after a vessel arrives in a home port, and is properly
+moored and decks cleared up, the crew go aft, draw a portion of their
+wages, and then go ashore. They had a fine tale to relate, and it may
+be taken for granted that no incident connected therewith lost any of
+its flavour in the process of narration. It would appear that the
+sailors got drunk and "peached" in a most grotesque way. They declared
+that although much of the contraband had been disposed of, this was
+only done as a blind, and that there were tons beneath the iron ore
+and in the peaks and bunkers, and all over the vessel. The story
+spread, and grew as it was passed along, until it became the most
+colossal smuggling enterprise ever known in the country. The captain
+came on board at noon on the day following the arrival, and found a
+large number of Custom-house officers on board. Some were in the holds
+digging vigorously at the ore with picks and shovels. Their coats
+were off, and their shirt sleeves doubled up. Others were on deck
+ready for action, but the chief mate prevented them going into the
+forepeak, which caused both suspicion and irritation. The captain gave
+them permission. Two went forth full of hope and confidence that they
+were on the point of reaping their reward. They had no sooner got down
+than indescribable cries for God to help them were heard. A rush was
+made to see what had happened. The lights were out, and nothing was
+visible. They groped their way to the peak ladder, and were nearly
+dead with fright when they reached the deck. When they had
+sufficiently recovered, they said that there was something in the peak
+alive, which kept butting up against them. They were sure it wasn't a
+man, and that it must be something evil. An Irish sailor stood close
+by laughing and jeering at them, and in genuine brogue he charged them
+with being haunted by their own "evil deeds."
+
+"You had no business there," said he, "and to prove to you that I am
+right I'll swear divil a thing is there in the peak but cargo gear
+and other stores. I'll go down myself and face the evil one you talk
+about."
+
+And down he went, but the fright of the officers was feeble to the
+Irishman's. He shrieked and flew on deck shouting, "Be God, you're
+right, he's there!"
+
+The chief mate suspected what it was, but was not keen on going down
+himself or ordering any one else to do so, so the anchor light was
+lowered down and shone upon the captain's pet goat. It had been long
+aboard for the purpose of supplying milk to the captain and his wife.
+The peak hatch had been off, and Nannie, accustomed to go wherever she
+pleased, strayed into the darkness and tumbled down. The incident
+stopped all work for a time, and created a lot of good-humoured chaff.
+The Irishman was especially droll, and endeavoured to carry it off by
+swearing he knew it was the goat, but he wanted some other fellow to
+have a go at it. "But no fear," said he; "every one of them was dying
+with funk."
+
+After a time the captain thought it right to disillusion the officer
+in charge, and going up to him asked the meaning of the raid.
+
+"Well," replied the officer, "we have information that there is a
+large quantity of tobacco aboard, and that some of it is in the
+forepeak, but most of it is about a couple of feet below the iron
+ore."
+
+The captain replied, "We had a lot of it a few days since, but there
+is not a leaf aboard now that I know of. Every particle has been
+thrown overboard. Let me reassure you on this point."
+
+"But," said the officer, "what about the packing? My men have come
+across a large quantity."
+
+"That is very true," said the commander; "the packing is the only
+thing we saved. Now get your men ashore, there's a good fellow. You
+are only working them to death for no earthly reason."
+
+"But the sailors say the tobacco was emptied out of the packing and
+covered over with ore."
+
+"Well, if you believe the sailors and you don't believe me, go on
+digging. I can only repeat, the search is futile."
+
+"Very well," replied the disconcerted official, "I shall withdraw all
+my men but two, who must remain to watch and make sure of there being
+no concealment. Not that I disbelieve you. It is merely a formal
+precaution which I hope you will think nothing of."
+
+The whole affair had been reported to the Collector of Customs, and
+the master was informed that all things considered, the best thing had
+been done in ridding himself of an awkward encumbrance. In a few days
+an emissary of the Gibraltar syndicate had an interview with the
+captain, and then disappeared. It was said that he was strongly
+advised to disappear, lest he should be detained by legal authority.
+
+The owner received the freight paid in advance with obvious pleasure,
+like a good, Christian gentleman; but the intelligence of how it was
+earned and the disastrous conclusion of the undertaking was listened
+to with studied gravity. A sermon on the danger of little sins such
+as covetousness and the growing love of money was impressively
+preached. The owner was convinced that if ever the gentlemen involved
+in this little transaction got the opportunity they would take the
+master's life, so in the goodness of his heart he determined that the
+vessel should not call there for coal until the spirit of vengeance
+had had ample time to cool down.
+
+More than twelve months had elapsed since these affairs occurred, when
+the owner was offered a charter from the Black Sea, but one of the
+unalterable conditions was that the vessel should call at Gibraltar
+for orders. The captain strongly urged his owner not to lose so good a
+charter because of his anxiety for him, but he was obdurate until the
+captain said--
+
+"Then I shall have to resign my command. I cannot go on like this any
+longer."
+
+"If you make this the alternative, then I must give way; but the
+responsibility is yours alone," was the reply.
+
+The charter was signed, and on a fine summer day two months after, the
+_C----_ let go her anchor in Gibraltar Harbour to await her orders. A
+tall, fine-looking man came aboard to solicit business of a legitimate
+character. He spoke English with fluency and an almost correct accent.
+The captain knew he had some business connection with the syndicate,
+but did not give him any reason to suppose he had this knowledge. He
+was cognisant of the characteristics of these people, and determined
+that his safety was in assuming an injured attitude, and making a
+slashing attack on the blackguards who had done him so much harm.
+Excepting for a slight humorous twist in the corner of his mouth, Mr.
+---- received the onslaught with perfect equanimity. The captain asked
+if he knew the rascal P----.
+
+"Yes," said he, "I know him. He is a bad lot, and I advise you never
+to trust him again. But if you wish me to, I will convey to him what
+you say; and I think you would be perfectly justified in carrying out
+your intention." (The intention was to horsewhip him publicly.)
+
+The following morning the captain landed with his wife and family, and
+boldly walked past the resorts of the men who he had reason to
+believe were on his track. He kept his hand on the revolver which was
+in his trouser-pocket, and the sound of every foot behind him seemed
+to be a message of warning. This ordeal went on for four days, and
+never a sign of the dreaded assassins was seen. On the afternoon of
+the fifth day he was walking down towards the boat-landing to go on
+board, when his eye came in contact with the interpreter and the whole
+gang that were concerned in the tobacco enterprise. There was a look
+of murder on their villainous faces, which the captain said would
+haunt him to his dying day. He spontaneously and without thought said
+to his wife, who walked beside him--
+
+"I see the smugglers. Don't look!"
+
+But it came so suddenly upon her that she could not restrain the
+temptation of seeing them, and the impression of their malignant looks
+had a lasting effect on her. When they reached the boat, the gentleman
+who had boarded her on arrival was there. He drew the captain aside,
+and whispered that he was being shadowed, and urged that a double
+watch be kept at the entrance to the cabin. As a matter of policy the
+captain assumed an air of defiance. He promised a sanguinary reception
+for them if they attempted to come near his vessel, and he believes to
+this day that this alone was the means of preventing an attack.
+
+Next morning orders were brought off, and no time was lost in weighing
+anchor and clearing out, and he has never visited the place since.
+
+
+
+
+A Pasha before Plevna
+
+
+The Eastern Question was ablaze. Mr. Gladstone had published his "bag
+and baggage" pamphlet, and made his Blackheath speech in September
+1876. Both are memorable for the strong feelings they generated for
+and against the object of his attack. Benjamin Disraeli had become the
+Earl of Beaconsfield, and had made his bellicose and Judaical speech
+at the Lord Mayor's Banquet. The fleet had been ordered to Besika Bay,
+and the metropolitan Press was busy backing Turkish saintliness for
+all it was worth. The Black Sea ports were crowded with steamers, and
+a great rush was made to get them loaded before hostilities broke out.
+In a few days there were but two vessels left in ---- Harbour. The
+last cart-loads of grain in bags were being shipped. The vessel was
+held by a slip-rope at bow and stern, and as soon as she was loaded
+they let go, and the pilot took her to the outer harbour and anchored.
+The captain went to the town to clear his ship and sign bills of
+lading, and great exertions were made by his agents and himself to
+have this smartly done so that he could sail before darkness set in.
+After his business was done, he came to the landing and was about to
+get into his boat when a gentleman stepped up to him, and in an
+undertone said--
+
+"Come to my office; I have something important to communicate to you.
+Don't, for God's sake, open your lips here. The very stones feel as if
+they were spying at me."
+
+The captain hesitated, but his friend whispered--
+
+"You must come; it is urgent, and it will be made worth your while."
+
+Whereupon the cautious commander fell like a slaughtered lamb. They
+were soon alone within the four walls of a sumptuously-furnished
+private office.
+
+"What's the game?" asked the impatient captain, uneasily.
+
+"This is it," said his friend, coming close up to him and speaking in
+a low voice: "I have a secret job for you."
+
+"Is there danger attached to it?" asked the captain.
+
+"Yes, a good deal," replied his friend; "and I have chosen you to do
+it, because I know you will carry it out successfully if you'll take
+the risk."
+
+"That's all very well," responded the captain, "but I don't care to
+overburden myself with danger and risk of confiscation, without I'm
+handsomely recompensed for it."
+
+"Hush!" said his friend, nervously; "I think I hear voices. If we are
+overheard by any one, we may be betrayed and pounced upon at any
+moment."
+
+After listening, he was reassured, and intimated that the worthy
+skipper would be well rewarded.
+
+"That entirely alters the question," said the captain. "How much am I
+to have, and what is it you wish me to do?"
+
+"You are to have two hundred and fifty pounds if you succeed in
+getting a distinguished Turkish pasha and his suite from here, and
+land them at Scutari."
+
+"What!" exclaimed the commander. "Do you expect me to run the gauntlet
+with a Turkish pasha for two hundred and fifty pounds? Why, his head
+is worth thousands, to say nothing about the danger I run of having my
+ship confiscated, and myself sent to Siberia. Do not let us waste
+time. I will risk it for a thousand pounds, and put my state-room at
+his disposal."
+
+The agent demurred, but the captain was for some time obdurate.
+However, seven hundred and fifty for the owners with two hundred for
+the captain was, after keen negotiation, agreed upon. It was further
+arranged that the steamer was not to sail until after midnight, so
+that the risk of stoppage would be lessened, and in rowing off as soon
+as it came dark, the oars were to be muffled.
+
+"Leave these matters to me," said the captain. "How many passengers
+are there?"
+
+"Six," said the agent. "They are in hiding. I will undertake to bring
+them aboard, with their baggage, in good time. Extreme care must be
+used in getting them away, as we may be watched. I have had to use
+'palm oil' liberally, but even that may not prevent their betrayal and
+arrest."
+
+"Well, then," said the shrewd commander, "under these circumstances I
+must have my freight before the risk actually begins."
+
+It took some time for the agent to make up his mind to part with the
+money in advance, but the captain intimated that unless it was paid at
+once he would throw the business up. This promptly settled the matter,
+and a pledge was given by the enterprising captain to relax no effort
+or dash--"Combined with caution," said the agent--to fulfil his
+important mission. At 10 p.m., he was rowed alongside the steamer
+without having been interrupted or spoken to from the guardship or the
+sentries at the forts. After the gig was hoisted to the davits, the
+chief officer and chief engineer were asked to go to the saloon, where
+specific instructions were given as to the mode of procedure. The
+anchor was to be hove short at once very quietly. All lights had to be
+put out or blinded, and a full head of steam up at the hour of
+sailing. The officers were made aware of the job that had been
+undertaken, and relished the excitement of it. At 11.30 the
+passengers, with a large amount of baggage, came alongside and were
+taken aboard; and as a double precaution, the distinguished pasha and
+his attendants went down the forepeak until the vessel got outside.
+Their goods were put into the upper side-bunkers, and a wooden
+bulkhead put up to obscure them from view in case the vessel was
+boarded before getting clear. At midnight the anchor was weighed, and
+the steamer slipped out into the Black Sea. Every ounce of steam was
+used to make speed, and she was soon into safety so far as distance
+could help her.
+
+The passengers, composed of the pasha, his priest, cook, interpreter,
+and servant, were then brought from their hiding-place and taken to
+the captain's private room. The vessel by this time was enveloped in a
+dense black fog. The first blast of the steam whistle startled the
+party, and the panic-stricken interpreter rushed on to the bridge. In
+a confusion of languages he implored the captain to say whether there
+was danger, and begged him to come to his master and his priest and
+reassure them that the whistle was being blown to let passing vessels
+know of their whereabouts and the course they were steering.
+
+"Ah," said he, "my master is a brave, clever soldier; but like most
+soldiers, he does not know anything about the sea, and was in
+consequence uneasy when he heard the shrill sound of the whistle.
+Indeed, it made him change colour; he thought it might be a Russian
+privateer demanding you to stop. And the priest did not wait one
+minute; he went on to his knees and bowed his head in prayer, and the
+pasha ordered me to come to you quick. You must not think that I was
+nervous, captain; I was very excited only."
+
+"Very well," replied the captain, smiling. "You may call it
+excitement, but I should call it white funk, the way you conducted
+yourself on my bridge. Why, you spoke every language in the universe!"
+
+"Ah, that was not funk, captain; that was what you call confusion,
+caused by anxiety for that brave soldier in your cabin, and his
+spiritual adviser. Besides, captain, how can you speak to one of your
+own countrymen in this fashion, and accuse him of talking so many
+tongues! I am a Maltese, and have interpreted for many years for my
+good friend, Osman Pasha."
+
+"What!" cried the captain. "Is this the Turkish patriot, Osman Pasha?"
+
+"Now, captain, _you_ are excited; but I do not say that you speak many
+languages. Keep cool, and I will tell you. It is not Osman, but it is
+very near him, being his lieutenant or aide-de-camp."
+
+"Is it Suleiman?"
+
+"No, it is not."
+
+"Then who the devil is it? By Jupiter! I believe it _is_ Osman."
+
+"I dare not tell you his name; he has been reconnoitring, and has had
+narrow escapes."
+
+"That's not what I want to know. Tell me straight away--is it Osman
+Pasha, or is it not?"
+
+"Captain," said the wily interpreter, "this is a secret mission. I
+cannot tell secrets that may get us all into trouble; but I will
+inform you that you will hear of this warrior during the next few
+months. I must ask you to come and see him. He cannot speak one word
+of English. Bring your chart, as he is sure to ask you to point out to
+him exactly our position."
+
+The captain followed the interpreter into the presence of a
+majestic-looking person, who saluted him with kindly dignity. His face
+wore a thoughtful appearance; his eyes were penetrating, and under a
+massive forehead there rested well-developed eyebrows, betokening keen
+observation. His chin and nose were strong, and altogether his general
+looks, if not handsome, were comely. He gave the commander a real,
+big-hearted grip of the hand, which settled the question of friendship
+for him at once. Sailors detest a "grisly shake of the flipper." Likes
+and dislikes are invariably fixed by this test. The pasha was
+exceedingly cordial; asked, through his interpreter, all sorts of
+questions about the British Government, British statesmen, admirals,
+and generals, and the Army and Navy; but, above all, he was anxious
+to hear whether the British people were for or against Turkey. He was
+aware that Disraeli was with his nation, and regretted the attitude of
+Gladstone. He said poor Turkey had many enemies, and when the captain
+told him that he thought the bulk of the British people were in favour
+of Disraeli's policy, he held out his hand again in token of
+appreciation. The captain spoke very frankly about the Bulgarian
+atrocities, and the bad policy of the Turkish Government with her
+subject races. The pasha admitted that reforms ought to be given, but
+held that the Balkan insurrections were encouraged by Russia in order
+to ultimately get hold of Constantinople.
+
+"My Government," said he, "is a better Government than that of Russia.
+We do not treat our people worse than she does hers. Are there no
+atrocities committed in Russia proper, in Siberia, in Poland? Why does
+Mr. Gladstone not demand that Russia shall give reforms to her
+subject races? Is it because she is big, and near to India, and calls
+herself a Christian nation? We are Mohammedans; and our religion
+teaches honesty, cleanness, sobriety, devotion to our God and his
+prophet Mahomet, and we adhere to it. Does the Russian adhere to his
+religion, which I admit, if carried out, is as good as ours? I think
+our consistency is superior to theirs, and the extent of our cruelty
+no worse, though I do not justify it. But do you think that the
+Servians, Armenians, Herzegovinians, Montenegrins, and Bulgarians are
+saints? Do you think that the Turkish people and Governors have not
+been provoked to retaliation? There may have been excesses, but no one
+who knows the different races will say that the Turks are all bad, or
+that the subject races are all good."
+
+He then requested to be shown the position of the steamer on the
+chart, asked if there was any danger of collision if the fog
+continued, and hoped she was steaming full speed, as he must get to
+Constantinople without delay. The captain informed him that so long as
+he heard the whistle going the fog was still on, and it might become
+necessary to ease down as she drew towards the regular track of
+vessels; and when the danger of collision was explained to him, he
+agreed that it was necessary to guard against it, but asked through
+his interpreter that he should be shown the chart every four hours,
+which was agreed. The interpreter then intimated that the priest would
+hold a service previous to retiring to rest, and during the passage
+they would be held before and after every meal. The food, cooking
+utensils, and cook were provided by themselves. They would not eat the
+food of Christians, or use their utensils for the purpose of preparing
+it. In fact, what with the weird, shrill wail of their "yahing"
+prayers, the intolerable smell of their cooking, the smoke from their
+"hubblebubbles," and a perpetual run of messages coming from the pasha
+(while he was awake) to the officer in charge, they became somewhat of
+a nuisance before the first twenty-four hours had expired. The
+officers could not get their proper rest, which caused them to feel
+justified in becoming profane, and wishing the Turkish windpipes
+would snap.
+
+The fog lifted, as it generally does, a little before noon, on the day
+after sailing, and an accurate latitude was got; but during the
+afternoon it shut down blacker than ever. The engines had to be
+slowed, and the whistle was constantly going. The pasha's anxiety to
+get to his destination was giving him constant worry, and he became
+more and more troublesome. The interpreter explained that the Sultan
+was waiting to consult his master about the plan of campaign, and
+other military matters, and that the delay was making the pasha
+impatient; but in spite of annoying pressure, the captain refused to
+depart from the wise precaution of going slow while the fog lasted. At
+midnight it cleared up a little, and the engines were put at full
+speed until 8 a.m. the following morning, when they ran into a bank of
+fog again. The speed was slackened to dead slow, and as she was
+nearing the Bosphorus land the lead was kept going; but, owing to the
+great depth of water, sounding is little guide towards keeping
+vessels clear of the rocks of that steep and iron-bound coast.
+Currents run with rapid irregularity, and in no part of the world is
+navigation more treacherous than there. According to the reckoning,
+the vessel was within four miles of the entrance to the Bosphorus, but
+no prudent navigator would have risked going farther until he could
+see his way; so orders were given to stop her. This brought more
+urgent messages from the pasha. As the day wore on and the mist still
+continued, all hope of getting into the Bosphorus had disappeared. The
+pasha sent for the captain, and said he must be at Constantinople that
+evening.
+
+"Well," said the captain to the interpreter, "tell your master that if
+the Sultan and all his concubines were to ask me to go ahead I would
+have to refuse."
+
+Then he proceeded to point out the dangers on the chart. This did not
+appeal to the pasha's military understanding. What he wanted was to be
+landed somewhere, and he did not regard running the vessel ashore with
+any disastrous consequences to himself until he was assured that the
+rocks were so steep that even in a calm the vessel might sink in deep
+water and everybody be drowned.
+
+"Anyhow," said the captain, "I'm not going to try it on; so you must
+inform your master of my definite decision. He cannot be more anxious
+than I am. I've scarcely closed my eyes since we left, and if this
+continues I must face another night of it."
+
+He then went on to the bridge, and had only been there about half an
+hour when his persistent passenger approached him beseechingly,
+stating that the pasha would give a hundred pounds if he was landed
+that night.
+
+"I would not attempt such a thing for twenty hundred," said the
+captain.
+
+"Will nothing tempt you, then, to run a risk?" asked the interpreter.
+
+"Nothing but the clearing away of the fog," replied the commander.
+
+He then commenced to walk the bridge, and pondered over the experience
+he was having, wrestling with himself as to the amount of risk he
+should run. He called the second officer to him, and gave him orders
+to go aloft to the foretopgallant mast-head and see if he could make
+anything out. The officer was in the act of jumping into the rigging
+when a Turkish schooner sailed close alongside and was soon out of
+sight. The captain knew then that he was in the vicinity of the
+entrance, and set the engines easy ahead. The second mate, after being
+at the mast-head about ten minutes, shouted--
+
+"I see over the top of the fog a lighthouse or tower on the port bow.
+I can see no land."
+
+When he was asked if he could see anything on the starboard bow, his
+answer came in the negative. The captain, fearing lest he might be
+steering into the false Bosphorus, which is a treacherous deep bight
+that has been the death-trap of many a ship's crew, gave orders to
+stop her while he ran aloft to verify the officer's report and scan
+over the mist for some landmark to guide him in navigating in the
+right direction. He had only been a few minutes at the mast-head when
+he discerned the white lighthouse on the starboard bow. There was no
+doubt now that these were the Bosphorus lighthouses, and the vessel
+was heading right for the centre. The captain asked if they could see
+anything from the deck. The chief mate replied that he could scarcely
+see the forecastle head, so dense was the fog. The master shouted that
+he would navigate the steamer from the topgallant-yard, and gave
+instructions to go slow ahead, and to keep a vigilant look-out for
+passing vessels. Half an hour's steaming brought them abreast of the
+lighthouses, when suddenly they glided into beautiful, clear weather.
+The scene was phenomenal. Not a speck of fog was to be seen ahead of
+the vessel, while astern there stood a great black pall, as though one
+had drawn a curtain across the harbour entrance.
+
+After the papers had been landed at Kavak, the pasha and interpreter
+came to the bridge and asked for a few minutes' talk with the captain,
+who was in excellent temper at having cut through the fog and saved
+daylight through the narrow waters. The pasha was dressed gorgeously,
+and many decorations adorned his uniform. He shook the proud commander
+warmly by the hand, and through his interpreter gratefully thanked him
+for carrying himself and his suite safely to their destination. He did
+not undervalue the great danger of having them aboard in the event of
+being chased and captured, nor did he under-estimate the risk that had
+been run in steaming into dangerous waters during a dense fog; and in
+order that the captain might be assured of his grateful appreciation,
+he begged to hand him two hundred Turkish pounds for himself. After
+suitably offering his thanks for so generous a gift, the captain again
+asked the interpreter the name of the distinguished general he had had
+the honour of carrying as a passenger, and was again told that such
+questions could not be answered.
+
+Before the sun had sunk beneath the horizon, they had reached Scutari;
+and in order that the passengers might be disembarked comfortably, the
+anchor was dropped. Caiques came alongside for them and for their
+baggage. The captain went to the gangway to see the pasha safely into
+the boat, and to say his _adieux_ to him. After he had got safely
+seated in the caique, and the interpreter was about to follow, the
+commander held out his hand to him and said--
+
+"Before bidding good-bye, may I again venture to ask if I have had the
+honour of conveying Osman Pasha to Constantinople, or whom I have
+conveyed?"
+
+The interpreter, with an air of injured pride, drew himself up to his
+full height, and said--
+
+"Captain, I have told you not to ask such things. Good-day."
+
+But that was how one of the heroes of Plevna made his first English
+ally by sea.
+
+
+
+
+A Russian Port in the 'Sixties
+
+
+My first visit to Russia was at the age of thirteen. I was serving
+aboard a smart brig that had just come from the Guano Islands in the
+Indian Ocean. The captain and officers belonged to the "swell" type of
+seaman of that period. The former has just passed away at the age of
+eighty-four. He was in his younger days a terror to those who served
+under him, and a despot who knew no pity. In an ordinary way he was
+most careful not to lower the dignity of his chief officer in the eyes
+of the crew, but wherever his self-interest was concerned he did not
+stick at trivialities. I have a vivid recollection of a very
+picturesque passage of words being exchanged between him and his
+first mate. The officer had been commanded to go ashore in the
+longboat at 5 a.m. on the morning after arrival for the labourers who
+were required to assist the sailors to discharge the cargo. The
+infuriated mate asked his commander if he took him for a "procurator"
+of Russian serfs, and reminded him that his certificate of competency
+was a qualification for certain duties which he was willing to
+perform; but as this did not come within the scope of them, he would
+see him to blazes before he would stoop to the level of becoming the
+engager of a drove of Russian convicts.
+
+"What is it coming to," said he, "that a chief mate should be
+requested to take charge of a boat-load of fellows who wouldn't be fit
+to live in our country? The boatswain is the proper man to do this
+kind of work, and if you cannot trust him to select the lousie
+rascals, then go yourself!"
+
+These harsh words affected the captain so much that he became
+inarticulate with passion; but when he had somewhat recovered, the
+splendour of his jerky vocabulary could be heard far beyond the
+precincts of the cabin. He declared that his authority had never been
+outraged in such a fashion before, and with the air of an autocrat
+ordered the mate to his berth until the morrow, when he would have to
+appear before the British Consul.
+
+The officer's pride was injured, his temper was up, and he began to
+suitably libel everybody. Her Majesty's representative was the object
+of much vituperation, and a rather brilliant harangue was brought to a
+close by the officer stating that he would go and see the blooming
+Consul, and say some straight things to him. With a final flourish he
+called out at the top of his voice, disdainfully--
+
+"Who the h---- is he?"
+
+The next morning at ten o'clock the captain gave orders to row him
+ashore. The mate wore a humbler appearance than on the previous day:
+meditation had mellowed him. He stepped into the boat beside his
+commander, but was told with icy dignity that the boy would take him
+ashore in the cook's lurky. No greater insult could have been offered
+to an officer. The Consul at that time was Walter Maynard, a charming
+man whom I knew well years afterwards. Although I only heard odds and
+ends of what transpired, I feel sure the advice given was in the
+mate's interests, and made him see his objection from another point of
+view. He did not take kindly to bringing the labourers off, but he
+sullenly commenced from that day to do it.
+
+Coal cargoes were at that time jumped out of the hold with four ropes
+bent on to one called a runner, which was rove through a coal gin
+fastened on to the end of a derrick composed of two studdingsail booms
+lashed together, and steps were rigged with studdingsail yards and
+oars. The arrangement had the appearance of a gate, and was fixed at
+an angle. Four men gave one sharp pull with the whip ropes, and then
+jumped from the step on to the deck. The men in the hold changed
+places with the whips every two hours. It was really an exciting thing
+to witness the whipping out of coal cargoes. It may be seen even now
+in some ports of the United Kingdom, but the winch has largely taken
+the place of this athletic process. Most captains supplied rum or
+vodka liberally, with a view to expediting dispatch, and did not
+scruple to log and fine those seamen who acquired a craving for
+alcohol, and misconducted themselves in consequence when they got
+liberty to go ashore. Nobody was more severe on the men who committed
+a breach of discipline than those who, for their own profit, had
+taught them to drink.
+
+The poor, wretched Russians who were employed aboard English and other
+vessels were treated with a cruelty that was hideous. Before the
+emancipation of the serfs by the Emperor Alexander II. in 1861, it was
+not an uncommon occurrence for captains and officers and seamen to
+maltreat them, knock them on the head, and then pass their bodies over
+the side of the vessel into the Mole. One of the first things I
+remember hearing in a Russian port was a savage mate swearing at some
+labourers and threatening to throw them overboard. It is no
+exaggeration to say that almost every day dead bodies came to the
+surface and were taken to the "Bran" Wharf or to the mortuary, with
+never a word of inquiry as to how they came by their end, though it
+was well known that there had been foul play. It is true they were
+awful thieves, very dirty, very lazy, and very provoking, and it was
+because the officers were unable to get redress that they took the law
+into their own hands. It is incredible that such a condition of things
+was allowed to exist.
+
+A stock phrase even to this day of predatory Russians is, "Knet
+crawlim, tackem"--_i.e._, "I have not stolen, I have only taken." They
+have a pronounced conviction that there is a difference between
+stealing and taking. Tradition has it that a humorous seaman ages ago
+conveyed this form of distinction to them, and it has stuck to them
+ever since. Another peculiarity of the race is that they wear the same
+large grey coat in the summer as they do in the winter; they are
+taught to believe that what keeps out cold keeps out heat. When they
+take drink they never stop until they are dead drunk, then they lie
+anywhere about the streets and quays. The police, who are not much
+better, use them very cruelly. During the Russo-Turkish war hundreds
+of the common soldiers, who are similar to the common labourer, were
+found lying on the battle-field, presumably dead, when it was found
+they were only dead drunk. I was told by a doctor, who went right
+through the campaign, that it was customary to fill the "soldads," as
+they are called, previous to a battle, with vodka. The lower order of
+Russians must be hardy, or they could never stand the extremes of cold
+and heat, and the terrible food they have to eat. They are not
+long-lived. I cannot recall ever having seen a very old Russian
+labourer.
+
+The emancipation of the serfs was a great grievance to the old seamen,
+who looked back to the days when they could with impunity chastise or
+finish a serf without a feeling of reproach. After the emancipation it
+became a terror to have them aboard ship. Many a mate has been heavily
+fined and locked up in a pestilential cell for merely shoving a
+fellow who was caught in the act of stealing, or found skulking, or
+deliberately refusing to work properly. Labourers, in fact, became a
+herd of blackmailers, and were encouraged in it by some agency or
+other, who shared the plunder. One old captain, with an expression of
+sadness on his face, told me, on my first visit to Cronstadt since I
+was a boy, that everything had changed for the worse.
+
+"At one time," said he, "you never got up of a morning without seeing
+a few dead Russians floating about. You could chuck them overboard if
+you liked, and nobody interfered. Many a time I've put one over the
+side. But now you dare not whisper, much less touch them."
+
+The general opinion amongst English seamen, from the master downwards,
+was that a great injustice had been done to us by the Decree of
+Liberation.
+
+On one occasion I lay alongside a Yankee ship which was loading flax.
+Work had ceased for breakfast. I saw the chief officer on the poop,
+said "Good morning" to him, and asked him how the loading was going
+on.
+
+"Well," said he, "it goes not so bad, but we've had an accident this
+morning which stopped us for nearly an hour. There were three or four
+bales of flax slung in the hatchway; the slings slipped, and the bales
+fell right on a dozen Russians."
+
+"That is very serious," I said. "Did it kill them?"
+
+"No," drawled he, with a slow smile; "it didn't exactly kill them, but
+I guess it has flattened them out some."
+
+The "Bran" Wharf was then a large pontoon, with dwelling accommodation
+for Custom-house officers and harbour officials. It was moored just at
+the entrance to the dock or mole, and was in charge of an official who
+regulated the berthing of vessels. This man was originally a boatswain
+aboard a Russian warship. He was illiterate, but very clever, so much
+so that great power was put into his hands; indeed, he became quite as
+powerful in his way as his Imperial Majesty himself. Every
+conceivable complaint and petty dispute was taken to him, and it was
+soon found that it could be settled in a way that did not involve a
+fine or imprisonment. In fact, there were occasions when a favourite
+English captain or mate asked this official's aid in getting the
+Russians to work properly. He would, if agreeably disposed, come
+aboard, spit, stamp, and swear at the men in a most picturesque way,
+and if he had had a glass or two of grog, or wanted one, and the
+captain or mate made a very bad report, he would lash the skulkers
+with a piece of rope. When he was finished there was no more need for
+complaint. This notorious person was called Tom the Boatswain. He drew
+very fine distinctions as to whom he favoured with his countenance and
+his chastening rod. For obvious reasons, he loathed a Swede and a
+Norwegian. In truth, he told me himself that Englishmen were "dobra"
+(good), and that Norwegians and Swedes were "knet dobra." He spoke a
+peculiar kind of English, with a fascinating accent, and when he went
+his rounds in the early morning, rowed by two uniformed sailors,
+studied respect was paid to him. His invitations to breakfast, or to
+have a glass of brandy (which he preferred to whisky), indicated the
+esteem, fear, or amount of favours inspired by him. He in turn
+endeavoured to pay a hurried visit to each of his guests, ostensibly
+to see that their vessels were properly berthed, and the men working
+properly, but really to test the generosity of the captains, who
+seldom let him go without a "douceur," which was sometimes
+satisfactory. He was accustomed, when asked to have refreshment, to
+request that his two men should have a nip also. One morning he
+visited a favourite captain who had arranged with his mate to act
+liberally towards the men. His stay in the cabin was prolonged, and
+when he came on deck and called for the boat, his devoted henchmen did
+not come forth. He looked over the quarter-deck, and was thrown into
+frenzy by seeing them both lying speechless, their bodies in the
+bottom, and their legs sticking up on the seats of the boat. He got
+into her, kicked the two occupants freely without producing from them
+any appreciable symptoms of life, and then finally rowed himself back
+to the "Bran" Wharf. The two culprits were compulsory teetotalers
+after that.
+
+Their master went on accumulating roubles, which, under Russian law,
+Tom could not invest in his own name, and perhaps he had personal
+reasons for secrecy. He did not allow the amount of his wealth to be
+known to gentlemen who might have relieved him of the anxiety of
+watching over it. But, alas! there came a period of great trial to
+Tom. That portion of the "Bran" Wharf where the roubles were concealed
+took fire. The occupants had to fly for their lives, and soon the
+whole fabric was burnt to the water's edge. Another pontoon was
+erected in its place, and Tom put in command; but before he had time
+to replace the fortune he had lost, he was superseded by a naval
+officer, and his roubles were taken from him. I believe his dismissal
+was brought about by one of the countrymen to whom he had such a
+strong aversion making a complaint to the Governor about his
+partiality to Englishmen. Great sympathy was secretly extended to poor
+Tom by his English friends, but the loss of his position and his
+wealth broke his heart, and he only survived the blow for a few weeks.
+
+In addition to controlling the berthing of vessels, and keeping the
+harbour free from confusion, it was Tom's duty to see that no fires or
+lights were allowed either by day or night, and, as these rigid rules
+were frequently broken, his "hush money" very largely contributed to
+his already affluent income. Nor did his removal affect the
+acquisitiveness of his successor, who loyally followed in his
+footsteps. As soon as a sailing-vessel arrived in the Roads, the
+galley fire had to be put out before she was allowed to come into the
+Mole. All cooking was done ashore at a cookhouse that was loathsomely
+dirty. A heavy charge was made for the use of the place, and also for
+the hire of the cook's lurky, a flat-bottomed kind of boat constructed
+of rough planks. These boats were invariably so leaky that on the
+passage to and from the shore they became half-foil of water, and the
+food was frequently spoiled in consequence. But, even if all went
+right, the crews often had to partake of badly cooked, cold rations.
+Many a meal was lost altogether, and once or twice a poor cook who
+could not swim was drowned by the boat filling and capsizing. The
+frail craft of this kind were of curious shape, and only a person who
+had the knack could row them. No more comical sport could be witnessed
+than the lurky race which was held every season. Many of the cooks
+never acquired the art of rowing straight, and whenever they put a
+spurt on the lurky would run amuck in consequence of being
+flat-bottomed and having no keel. Then the carnival of collisions,
+capsizing of boats, and rescuing of their occupants began. Some
+disdained assistance, and heroically tried to right their erratic
+"dug-outs." It would be impossible to draw a true picture of these
+screamingly funny incidents, but be it remembered they were all
+sailor-cooks who took part in the sport, and the riotous joy they
+derived therefrom was always a pleasant memory, and kept them for
+days in good temper for carrying out the pilgrimage to and from the
+cookhouse.
+
+The popular English idea is that there are only two classes in
+Russia--viz., the upper and lower; but this is quite a mistake. There
+has always been a thrifty shopkeeping and artisan class, which may be
+called their middle lower class. Then there is a class that comes
+between them and the common labourer. Nearly all the shopkeepers that
+carry on business at Cronstadt, Riga, and other Northern Russian ports
+during the summer have their real homes in Moscow, and mostly all
+speak a little English. There are also the boatmen, who are a
+well-behaved, well-dressed lot of men, whose homes are in Archangel.
+They, as well as the tradesmen, come every spring, and leave when the
+port closes in the autumn. In the sailing-ship days each of the
+greengrocers--as they were called, though they sold all kinds of
+stores besides--had their connection. Every afternoon, between four
+and six, batches of captains were to be found seated in a
+greengrocer's shop having a glass of tea with a piece of lemon in it.
+It was then they spun their yarns in detail about their passages,
+their owners, their mates, their crews, and their loading and
+discharging. If their vessels were unchartered they discussed that
+too, but whenever they got authority from their owners to charter on
+the best possible terms they became reticent and sly with each other.
+To exchange views as to the rate that should be accepted would have
+been regarded as a decided token of business incapacity. Supposing two
+captains had their vessels unchartered, each would give instructions
+to be called early in the morning, that they might go in the first
+boat to St. Petersburg, and neither would know what the other
+intended. When they met aboard the passenger boat they would lie to
+each other grotesquely about what was taking them to town. If they
+were unsuccessful in fixing, they rarely disclosed what had been
+offered; and this would go on for days, until they had to fix; then
+they would draw closer to each other, and relate in the most minute
+fashion the history of all the negotiations, and how cleverly they
+had gained this or that advantage over the charterers; whereas, in
+truth, their agents or brokers had great trouble in getting some of
+them to understand the precise nature of the business that was being
+negotiated. The following is an instance.
+
+Mr. James Young, of South Shields, whose many vessels were
+distinguished by having a frying-pan at the foretopgallant or royal
+mast-head, had a brig at Cronstadt which had been waiting unloaded for
+some days. Her master was one of the old illiterate class. His peace
+of mind was much disturbed at Mr. Young's indifference. At last he got
+a telegram asking him to wire the best freights offering. He proceeded
+to St. Petersburg, bounced into Mr. Charles Maynard's office, and
+introduced himself as Mark Gaze, one of Jimmy Young's skippers.
+
+"Well," said Mr. Maynard, in his polite way, "and what can I do for
+you, Captain Gaze?"
+
+"Dee for me, sorr? Wire the aad villain that she's been lyin' a week
+discharged."
+
+"Yes," said the broker, writing down something very different. "And
+what else?"
+
+"Tell him," said Mark, "te fetch the aad keel back te the Gut, and let
+hor lie and rot wheor he can see hor!"
+
+"Very good," said Maynard, still waiting; "and what else?"
+
+"Whaat else? Oh, tell him to gan to h----, and say Mark Gaze says see.
+Ask him whaat the blazes he means be runnin' the risk of gettin' hor
+frozzen in. Say aa'll seun be at Shields owerland, if he dizzen't mind
+whaat he's aboot."
+
+"Well, now," said the agent, "I think we have got to the bottom of
+things. We'll send this telegram off; but before it goes, would you
+like me to read it to you?"
+
+"For God's sake send the d---- thing away!" said Mark. "And tell him
+te come and tyek the aad beast hyem hissel; or, if he likes, aa'll run
+hor on te Hogland for him."
+
+"Well, you do seem to understand your owner and speak plainly to him.
+I should think he knows he has got an excellent master who looks
+after his interest."
+
+"Interest! What diz he knaa aboot interest? He knaas mair aboot the
+West Docks. Understand him, d'ye say? If aa divvent, thor's neebody in
+his employ diz. Aa've been forty-five years wiv him and his fethor
+tegithor. Aa sarved me time wiv him. He dorsent say a word, or aa'd
+tell him to take his ship to h---- wiv him."
+
+"That is really capital," said the much amused agent. "Now, what do
+you say, captain, if we have some light refreshment and a cigar?"
+
+"Ay, that's what aa caal business. But aa nivvor tyek leet
+refreshment. Ma drink is brandy or whisky neat," said Captain Gaze,
+his face beaming with good-nature.
+
+They proceeded to a restaurant, and when they got nicely settled down
+with their drinks and smokes, the skipper remarked--
+
+"Aa wonder what Jimmie waad say if he could see Mark Gaze sittin' in a
+hotel hevvin' his whisky and smokin' a cigar?"
+
+"I should think," said Mr. Maynard, "he would raise your wages, or
+give you command of a larger ship." And then there was hearty
+laughter.
+
+Captain Gaze had a profound dislike to Russians, and more than once
+narrowly escaped severe punishment for showing it. I have often heard
+him swearing frightfully at the men passing deals from the lighters
+into the bow ports of his vessel, and declaring that God Almighty must
+have had little on hand when he put them on earth. Certainly he would
+have considered it an act of gross injustice if, having killed or
+drowned any of them, he had been punished for it.
+
+Mark did not know anything about history that was written in books. He
+only knew that which had occurred in his own time, and the crude bits
+he had heard talked of amongst his own class. He, and those who were
+his shipmates and contemporaries during the Russian War, believed that
+a great act of cowardice and bad treatment had been committed in not
+allowing Charlie Napier to blow the forts down and take possession of
+Cronstadt.[2] They knew nothing of the circumstances that led to the
+withdrawal of the fleet, but their inherent belief was that a dirty
+trick had been served on Charlie, and Russians, irrespective of class,
+were told whenever an opportunity occurred, that they should never
+neglect to thank Heaven that the British Government was so generous as
+to refrain from blowing them into space.
+
+At Cronstadt, after the introduction of steam, it became a custom for
+stevedores' runners, and representatives and vendors of other
+commodities, to have their boats outside the Mole at three and four
+o'clock in the morning during the summer. The captain of each vessel,
+as soon as she was slowed down or anchored, was canvassed vigorously
+by each of the competitors. One morning, the representative of Deal
+Yard No. 6, who was an ex-English captain, came into sharp conflict
+with a Russian competitor. The latter rudely interrupted the
+ex-captain while he was complimenting a friend who had just arrived on
+having made a smart passage. All captains like to be told they have
+made a smart passage, but the ardent advocate of Deal Yard No. 6 kept
+welcoming his friend at great length, obviously to prevent the other
+runners from getting a word at the new arrival. There arose a revolt
+against him, headed by a person who was always supposed to be a
+Russian, but who spoke English more correctly than his English
+competitor. The ex-captain was somewhat corpulent. He was short, and
+had a plump, good-natured face which suggested that he was not a
+bigoted teetotaler; he had a suit of clothes on that did not convey
+the idea of a West-end tailor; his dialect was broad Yorkshire, and
+his conversational capacity interminable. The representative of No. 10
+Deal Yard undertook to stop his flow of rhetoric by calling out,
+"Stop it, old baggy breeches! Give other people a chance!" But he paid
+no heed, and did not even break the thread of his talk until the
+captain of the steamer began to walk towards the companion-way, when
+he stopped short and said, "Well, I suppose I'm to book you for No.
+6?" and then there was a clamour. The whole of the runners wished to
+get their word in before the captain definitely promised, but they
+were too late. No. 6 had got it; but instead of accepting his success
+modestly, he was so elated at having taken away an order from another
+yard, that he stood up in his boat and congratulated himself on being
+an Englishman.
+
+"No use you fellows coming off here when I'm awake; and, you bet, I'm
+always awake when there's any Muscovite backstairs gentlemen about."
+
+As the boats were being rowed into the Mole again, some one asked who
+had got the ship. The Russian competitor, who was angry at the work
+being taken from his master, called out, "Bags has got her, the
+drunken old sneak!"
+
+Bags lost no time in letting fly an oar at him, the yoke and rudder
+quickly following. His vengeance was let loose, and he poured forth a
+stream of quarter-deck language at the top of his voice. His phrases
+were dazzling in ingenuity, and amid much laughter and applause he
+urged his hearers to keep at a distance from the fellow who had dared
+to insult an English shipmaster.
+
+"Or you will get some passengers that will keep you busy.
+They--_he_--calls them _peoches_, but we English call them _lice_!"
+
+This sally caused immense amusement, not so much for what was said as
+for his dramatic style of saying it. His antagonist retorted that he
+had been turned out of England for bad language and bad behaviour, and
+he would have him turned out of Russia also. This nearly choked the
+old mariner with rage. He roared out--
+
+"Did I, an English shipmaster, ever think that I would come to this,
+to be insulted by a Russian serf? I will let the Government know that
+an Englishman has been insulted. I will lay the iniquities of this
+Russian system of rascality before Benjamin Disraeli. I knows him; and
+if he is the man I takes him for, he won't stand any nonsense when it
+comes to insulting English subjects. He has brought the Indian troops
+from India for that purpose, and when the honour of England is at
+stake he will send the fleet into the Baltic, and neither your ships
+nor your forts will prevent his orders to blow Cronstadt down about
+your blooming ears being carried out. I know where your torpedoes and
+mines are, and Disraeli has confidence in me showing them the road to
+victory. The British Lion never draws back!"
+
+The Russian deal-yard man, to whom this harangue was particularly
+directed, went to the Governor on landing, and stated what the rough,
+weather-beaten old sailor had been saying. The Governor communicated
+with the authorities at St. Petersburg, and an order came to have the
+old Englishman banished from Cronstadt and Russia for ever within
+twenty-four hours. The poor creature had made a home for himself in
+Cronstadt, his wife and four children being with him. The blow was so
+sharp and unexpected, it stupefied him. His first thought was his
+family, but there was little or no time for thought or preparation. He
+had either to be got away or concealed. A liberal distribution of
+roubles at the instigation of many sympathizers made it possible for
+him to be put aboard an English steamer, and a week after his
+banishment was supposed to have taken effect he sailed from Cronstadt,
+a ruined and broken-hearted man. The old sailor's grief for the harm
+his wayward conduct had done to his wife and family was quite
+pathetic, and so far as kindness could appease the mental anguish he
+was having to endure it was ungrudgingly extended to him, and when he
+left Cronstadt he left behind him a host of sympathizers who regarded
+the punishment as odious.
+
+The fact of any public official listening to a miscreant who told the
+story of a stevedores' row, to which he himself had been a party, and
+seriously believing that the threats, however extravagant and
+bellicose, of a verbose old sailor could be a national danger, is, on
+the face of it, so ludicrous that the English reader may easily doubt
+the accuracy of such an incident; and yet it is true.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In other days I used occasionally to meet members of the Russian
+revolutionary party at my brother's home in London. They were all men
+and women of education and refinement. The first time I met them the
+late Robert Louis Stevenson (who generally used the window as a means
+of exit instead of the door), William Henley, George Collins (editor
+of the _Schoolmaster_), and, I think, Mr. Wright (author of _the
+Journeyman Engineer_) were there. The talk was very brilliant. My
+brother, who was a charming conversationalist, kept his visitors
+fascinated with anecdotes about Carlyle and John Ruskin, whom he knew
+well. They spoke, too, about the unsigned articles which they were
+each contributing to a paper called the _London_, and their criticism
+of each other's work was very lively. But to me the most touching
+incident of the afternoon was the story told by one of the
+revolutionary party about Sophie Peroffsky, who mounted the scaffold
+with four of her friends, kissed and encouraged them with cheering
+words until the time came that they should be executed. He related
+also a touching and detailed story of little Marie Soubitine, who
+refused to purchase her own safety by uttering a word to betray her
+friends, and was kept lingering in an underground dungeon for three
+years, at the end of which she was sent off to Siberia, and died on
+the road. No amount of torture could make her betray her friends. They
+spoke of Antonoff, who was subjected to the thumbscrew, had red-hot
+wires thrust under his nails, and when his torturers gave him a little
+respite he would scratch on his plate cipher signals to his comrades.
+
+The account of the cause and origin of the revolutionary movement and
+its subsequent history, which sparkled with heroic deeds, was told in
+a quiet, unostentatious manner. I had just come from Russia. I had
+been much in that country, and thought I knew a great deal about it
+and the sinister system of government that breeds revolutionaries; but
+the tales of cruel, senseless despotism told by these people made me
+shudder with horror. I had been accustomed to abhor and look upon
+Nihilists as a scoundrelly gang of lawless butchers, but I found them
+the most cultured of patriots, loving their country, though detesting
+the barbarous system of government which had driven them and thousands
+of their compatriots from the land and friends they loved, and from
+the estates they owned, into resigned and determined agitation for
+popular government and the amelioration of their people. The upholders
+of this despotic system of government are now engaged in a
+life-and-death struggle, and all civilized nations are looking forward
+to the time when, for the first time in its history, Right and not
+Might shall prevail in Russia. It has been said, "Happy is the nation
+that has no history." Russia knows this to her cost, for her history
+is being made every day, with all the horrible accompaniments of
+massacres, injustice, and tyranny. Only it should be remembered that
+the fight must be between tyranny and liberty, and that the Russian
+peasant must work out his own salvation. This may be--nay, must
+be--the work of years, but England's sympathy will be with the workers
+for freedom. English feeling on the matter was well expressed by the
+statesman who had the courage to say publicly, "Long live the Duma!"
+and every Englishman will in his heart of hearts applaud any efforts
+made to secure constitutional government.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 2: Napier was a great favourite with his sailors,
+notwithstanding his apparent harshness to them at times. Whenever he
+wanted a dash made on a strong position, he inspired them with a fury
+of enthusiasm by giving the word of command incisively, and then
+adding as an addendum, "Now, off you go, you damned rascals, and
+exterminate them." This was a form of endearment, and they knew it.]
+
+
+
+
+"Dutchy" and his Chief
+
+
+A handsome barque lay at the quay of a South Wales port, ready to
+sail, and waiting only for the flood tide. Her name was the _Pacific_,
+and she was commanded by a person of laborious dignity. His officers
+were selected to meet the tastes and ambitions of their captain, whose
+name was John Kickem. I have said before it was customary in those
+days for crowds of people to congregate on the quays or dock sides to
+watch the departure of vessels. Some came out of curiosity, but many
+were the relatives and friends of different members of the crew who
+wished to say their _adieux_, and to listen to the sombre singing of
+the chanties as the men mastheaded the topsail yards, or catted and
+fished the anchors. These vessels were known as copper-ore-men. They
+were usually manned with picked able seamen and three apprentices. In
+this instance they were all fine specimens of English manhood. It was
+no ordinary sight to witness the display of bunting as it stretched
+from royal truck to rail, and the grotesque love-making of the
+seafarers as they hugged and kissed their wives and sweethearts over
+and over again with amazing rapidity. One of the favourite songs which
+they delighted to sing on such auspicious occasions was rendered with
+touching pathos--
+
+    "Sing good-bye to Sal, and good-bye to Sue;
+      Away Rio!
+    And you that are list'ning, good-bye to you;
+    For we're bound to Rio Grande!
+      And away Rio, aye Rio!
+    Sing fare ye well, my bonny young girl,
+    We're bound to Rio Grande."
+
+It didn't matter, of course, where they were bound to, this ditty was
+the farewell song; and it always had the desired effect of melting
+the bystanders, especially the females, though Jack himself showed no
+really soft emotion. Not that they were not sentimental, but theirs
+seemed always to be a frolicsome sentimentality.
+
+The eldest apprentice of the _Pacific_ was in his eighteenth year. He
+was a fine, broad-shouldered, fair-haired, medium-sized youth. He had
+been dividing his attentions amongst a number of girl admirers, and
+was told to come aboard to unmoor and give the tug the tow-rope. While
+these orders were being carried out the lad caught sight of a young
+girl who had just arrived in a great state of excitement. She was
+dressed in dazzling finery, and carrying something in a basket. The
+boy sprang on to the dock wall, and created much merriment with his
+elephantine caresses. They shouted to him from the vessel to jump
+aboard or he would lose his passage. He made a running spring for the
+main rigging as she was being towed from her berth. A wild cheer went
+up from the crowd when they saw the smart thing that had been done,
+and that he was safe. The devoted female who had caused him to dare so
+much, in the luxuriance of grief, shouted to him--
+
+"Good-bye, Jim! You've always been a rare good pal to a girl. Take
+care of yourself; and mind, no sweethearts at every port!" The latter
+communication was made almost inarticulate with sobbing. Her last
+words were, "Don't forget, Jim!" To which he replied, "You bet, I
+won't!"
+
+Soon the attractive craft, and her equally attractive crew were lost
+sight of amidst the haze of the gathering night. A quiet, easterly air
+was fitfully blowing in the Channel, and when full sail was set, the
+pilot and tug left. All night she trailed sinuously over the peaceful
+sea, and as the cold dawn was breaking she slid past the south end of
+Lundy Island with a freshening breeze at her stern. In a few days the
+north-east trade winds which blow gently over the bosom of the ocean
+were reached, and every stitch of canvas was hung up. The sailors had
+got over their monotony, and began to entertain themselves during the
+dog-watches from six to eight. The imperious commander was never happy
+himself, and was angry at the sight of mirth in anybody. He forthwith
+commenced a system that was well calculated to breed revolt, and which
+did ultimately do so. Orders were given that there were to be no
+afternoon watches below, and all hands were to be kept at work until 6
+p.m. In addition to this petty tyranny, the crew were put on their
+bare whack of everything, including water; and so the dreary days and
+nights passed on until Cape Horn was reached. They had long realized
+that the burden of their song should be "Good-day, bad day, God send
+Sunday." The weather was stormy off the Horn, and nearly a month was
+spent in fruitless attempts to get round. The spirit had been knocked
+out of the officers and crew by senseless bullying and wicked
+persecution. They had no heart left to put into their work, otherwise
+the vessel would have got past this boisterous region in half the
+time. At last she arrived at Iquique, and, like all ill-conditioned
+creatures who have been born wrong and have polecat natures, the
+captain blamed the hapless officers and crew for the long passage, and
+in order to punish the poor innocent fellows, he refused to them both
+money and liberty to go ashore. Treatment of such a character could
+only have one ending--and that was mutiny, if not murder; and yet this
+senseless fellow, in defiance of all human law, kept on goading them
+to it. He was warned by a catspaw (whom even despised bullies can have
+in their pay) that the forecastle was a hotbed of murderous intent,
+and that for his own safety he should give the men liberty to go
+ashore, and advance them what money they required.
+
+"Let them revolt!" said he. "I will soon have them where they deserve
+to be, the rascals. Let them, if they dare, disturb me in my cabin,
+and I'll riddle them with lead. If they want to go ashore, let them go
+without liberty; but if they do, their wages will be forfeited, and I
+will have them put in prison."
+
+A policy of this kind was the more remarkable, as even if the men were
+driven to desertion it was impossible to fill their places at anything
+like the same wages, or with the same material. The available hands
+were either not sailors at all, or if they were, they belonged to the
+criminal class that feared neither God nor man, and knew no law or
+pity except that which was unto themselves. On the other hand, this
+vessel was manned with the cream of British seamen, who would have
+dared anything for their captain and owners had they been treated as
+was their right. He had run the length of human forbearance. The crew
+struck. They demanded to see the British Consul, and submit their
+grievances to him. Sometimes this authority is but a poor tribunal to
+appeal to when real discrimination is to be determined. On this
+occasion the seamen were fortunate in getting a sympathetic verdict,
+and the captain got what he deserved--a good trouncing for his
+treatment of them. They were willing to sign off the articles, and he
+was plainly told that they must either be paid their wages in full, or
+he undertake to carry out the conditions of engagement in a proper
+manner. "And I must warn you," said the irate official of the British
+Government, "if you drive these men out of your ship, you may expect
+no assistance from me in collecting another crew. The men are right,
+and you are wrong."
+
+The captain was in a state of sullen passion at the turn things had
+taken against him. He said that he would decide the following day
+whether the proper course for him to take, now that his authority had
+been broken, was to pay the men off or not. On the morrow he
+intimated his decision to pay them off. Poor creature, it would have
+been well for him and all connected with this doomed vessel had he
+swallowed his pride and resolved to behave in a rational way to his
+crew. The places of respectable men were filled with human reptiles of
+various nationalities--criminals, every one of them. He must have
+persuaded himself that his despotism would have fuller play with these
+foreigners, whose savage vengeance was destined to shock the whole
+civilized world with their awful butchery. The apprentices and
+officers did not take kindly to the changed condition of things. They
+instinctively felt that they were to become associated with a gang of
+-, and hoped that something would transpire to prevent this
+happening. An opportunity was given the oldest apprentice in an
+unexpected way. The captain had ordered his gig to be ashore to take
+him aboard at a certain time at night. The boat was there before the
+captain, and as he was so long in coming the boat's crew went for a
+walk ashore. The great man came down and had to wait a few minutes for
+his men. This caused him to become abusive, which the oldest
+apprentice, James Leigh, resented by using some longshore adjectives.
+The master seized the foothold of the stroke oar and threw it at the
+lad, and when they got aboard the captain again attempted to strike
+him, but the lad let fly, and did considerable damage in a rough and
+tumble way to the bully, who was now like a wild beast. James was
+ultimately overpowered and got a bad beating. He thereupon determined
+to run away, and he laid his plans accordingly. In a few days he was
+far away from the sea in a safe, hospitable hiding-place, with some
+friends who knew his family at home, and the _Pacific_ had sailed long
+before he reached the coast again.
+
+After a few months' travelling about, picking up jobs here and there,
+he was brought in contact with a rich old Spaniard who owned a leaky
+old barque which was employed in the coasting trade. The captain of
+her was a Dutchman who spoke English very imperfectly, and what he did
+know was spoken with a nasal Yankee twang. It was a habit, as well as
+being thought an accomplishment in those days, as it is in these, to
+affect American dialect and adopt their slang and mannerisms in order
+to convey an impression of importance. Even a brief visit to the
+country, or a single passage in a Yankee ship was sufficient to turn a
+hitherto humble fellow into an insufferable imitator. It was obvious
+the skipper had been a good deal on the Spanish Main, as he spoke
+their language with a fluency that left no doubt as to what he had
+been doing for many years. He was discovered at a time when the owner
+was in much need of some one to take charge of his vessel, as she did
+not attract the highest order of captain. The Dutchman had no Board of
+Trade master or mate certificate; he was merely a sailor. James Leigh
+was discovered in pretty much the same way as the captain, and the
+owner took a strong liking to him at the outset. He was good to look
+at, and gifted with a bright intelligence which made him attractive,
+besides having the advantage of knowing something about navigation.
+The chief mate's berth was offered to him and accepted. Furthermore,
+it was suggested that he should visit and stay at the owner's house,
+whenever the vessel was in port and his services were not required
+aboard, and seeing that he was not yet eighteen, he felt flattered at
+the distinction that had been thrust upon him. Perhaps he accepted the
+invitation all the more readily as he was informed by his employer
+that he had two daughters that would like to make his acquaintance.
+
+The first voyage was to Coronel and back with coal to Iquique. Mr.
+Leigh, as he was now addressed by everybody, on the ship or ashore,
+had intimated to his commander that he liked his berth for the
+prospects that might open up to him, but he didn't relish the thought
+of having to pump so continuously; whereupon Captain Vandertallen
+winked hard at him, and strongly urged that it should be put up with,
+and to keep his eye on the girls who were to inherit their father's
+fortune.
+
+"I tink," said he, "I vill marry de one and you vill have de other."
+
+"I don't know about that," retorted James Leigh. "You see I've a girl
+at home, and somehow I thinks a lot about her. But a bit of money
+makes a difference; I must think it over."
+
+Quarterdeck etiquette was not observed between the two men. The
+captain addressed his first officer as Jim, and Jim addressed his
+captain as "Dutchy." This familiarity was arrived at soon after they
+came together, owing to a strong difference of opinion on some point
+of seamanship which had to do with the way a topgallant sail ought to
+be taken in without running any risk of splitting it. The quarrel was
+furious. Jim had called his commander "a blithering, fat-headed
+Dutchman, not fit to have charge of a dung barge, much less a
+square-rigged ship. Captain Kickem of the _Pacific_ would not have
+carried you as ballast."
+
+Vandertallen was almost inarticulate. He frothed out--
+
+"Yes, an' you he vould not carry at all; you too much chick. Remember
+I the captain, and I vill discharge you at first port."
+
+"Oh, you go to h----!"
+
+"No, I vill not go to h----. I'll just stay here, and you can go to
+----. You jist a boy."
+
+"All right, Dutchy," replied the refractory mate; "you'll want me
+before I want you."
+
+And this was a correct prediction, as, a few days later, Dutchy lost
+himself, and was obliged to come to his mate and ask the true position
+of the vessel.
+
+"I am not captain," said he. "Do it yourself; you are a very clever
+fellow."
+
+"No, no," said Vandertallen; "you know better dan me. Let us be
+friends, Jim. I call you Jim; you call me Dutchy, or vat you like."
+
+"All right, then," said James Leigh. "If that is to be the way, I'll
+tell you where you are, and if you had run in the same direction other
+four hours you would have been ashore on the Island of Mocha."
+
+"Vair is dat?" said Vandertallen, nervously.
+
+"For Heaven's sake don't ask such silly questions," said the mate.
+"You are miles out of your reckoning."
+
+"Vell, I'm d----!" said the amazed skipper. "Den you must do de
+reckonin' now, Jim."
+
+"That's all very well, Dutchy, but if I have to do the navigation I am
+entitled to share the pay."
+
+"Vary vell," replied his captain, "dat agree."
+
+So henceforth they were co-partners in everything--wages,
+perquisites, and position; and they never again got out of their
+reckoning. It was obvious James was first favourite with the crew,
+and after the first voyage the veteran owner showed his marked
+approval. Jim was allowed to do just as he pleased. The daughters were
+charmed with him, and frequently visited the vessel with their father
+when the officers could not get conveniently to their home. A strong
+and growing attachment was quite apparent so far as the girls were
+concerned. There seemed to be a preference with both of them for the
+first mate, who, in turn, fixed his affections on the youngest. His
+comrade was not quite satisfied with being so frequently ignored, so
+remonstrated with Jim to stick to one, and he would stick to the
+other; but the ladies having to be taken into account, it did not work
+at all smoothly, as each desired to have Mr. Leigh, and before it was
+settled the sisters had a violent tiff, which brought about the climax
+and made it possible for negotiations to be carried on in favour of a
+settlement. The father selected the elder girl for Vandertallen, and
+the younger was fixed on Leigh, who threw himself into the vortex of
+flirtation with youthful ardour. He thought at one time of marrying
+and settling down in Chili, and undoubtedly the owner and daughter
+gave encouragement to this idea.
+
+But letters began to arrive from home, which had an unsettling effect
+on him. He was afraid to give his confidence to the captain lest he
+might break faith with him, but in truth his mind and heart were
+centred on a picturesque spot on the side of a Welsh hill, and in that
+little home there was one who longed to have him back. Indeed, she had
+written to say that if he did not come soon to her she would come to
+him. These communications revived all the old feelings of affection in
+his breast, and he resolved to tear himself away from the environment
+which had gripped him like a vice. The old Spaniard kept hinting
+marriage to him each time he paid a visit to the superb villa, but he
+refused to be drawn into anything definite. As he said--
+
+"The place is getting too hot for me. I must face it sooner or later
+if I am not to permanently settle in Chili. Once married it is all
+over with me. I will have loads of money, but am I sure it will bring
+happiness? I think I must say that I lean towards a daughter of my
+native land, who may not have wealth, but who has all the attributes
+that appeal to me. In a few days I must decide."
+
+These were some of the thoughts occupying Jim's mind as the leaky old
+ark lounged her way along the coast. The captain, on the other hand,
+talked freely to his mate as to his own thoughts, prompted no doubt by
+close companionship and the idea of becoming brothers-in-law. He told
+Leigh that both of them would be very wealthy some day, but Jim kept
+his counsel. He had resolved that if the subject was mentioned by the
+Spaniard again he would make himself scarce.
+
+On their arrival at Iquique, Leigh received more letters from home. He
+went to the owner's house, and in the course of the evening the old
+gentleman asked him right out to marry his daughter. Mr. Leigh was
+confused, and said he would like to save a little more money.
+
+"Never mind the money. You will have plenty of that," said the father.
+
+It was duly arranged that the wedding should take place at the end of
+the next trip, and on the strength of that there was much rejoicing at
+the villa, in which James Leigh heartily joined. He was pressed to
+stay all night with the happy family, but he said that he could not do
+so, owing to pressing official duties; so he bade his usual _adieux_,
+and slipped out into the balmy night and made his way aboard the
+vessel. He packed his belongings in a bag, woke the captain, who was
+asleep in his berth, shook hands with him, and said--
+
+"Good-bye, Dutchy. _You_ can do what you blessed well like, but I am
+off."
+
+And before the captain had recovered from his sleepy amazement his
+mate had slipped over the side into a boat. That was the last Dutchy
+ever saw of his prospective brother-in-law.
+
+James Leigh stowed himself away aboard a Yankee full-rigged
+packet-ship which had to sail the following morning, and when the
+coast was clear he made his appearance. He was subjected for a time to
+that brutal treatment which at one time disgraced the American
+mercantile marine,[3] but being a smart young fellow who could do the
+work of a competent seaman, and handle his "dukes" with aptitude, the
+officers began to show partiality towards him, and before many days he
+became quite a favourite with them and with the captain. To his
+surprise, when the vessel had been at Philadelphia a few days, he was
+asked to qualify for the second officer's berth. He received the
+compliment with modest reserve, but his inward pride gave him trouble
+to control. This was a position of no mean order even to men far
+beyond _his_ years, but the thought of serving as an officer under the
+magic Stars and Stripes was more fascinating than any pride he had in
+the size of the vessel. A life of slash and dash was just the kind of
+experience that appealed to a full-blooded rip like Jim Leigh, so that
+he needed no persuading to take the offer, and adapt himself with
+fervour to the new conditions, which invested him with the
+knuckle-duster, the belaying pin, and the six-shooter. The _Betty
+Sharp_ was chartered for London instead of the Far East, as was
+expected, and twenty days after passing Cape Henry she entered the
+Thames; but even in that short time the sprightly officer had made
+quite a name for himself, by his methods of training and taming a
+heterogeneous team of packet rats.
+
+As the vessel was being hauled into the Millwall Docks, spectators
+were attracted by the disfigured condition of many of the crew. A
+gentleman came aboard to solicit business, and after a few preliminary
+remarks he said--
+
+"Pardon me, captain, but I cannot help noticing that some of your
+sailors look as though there had been fighting. Did they mutiny?"
+
+"Well, no; it was not exactly mutiny, but it was getting near to it."
+
+"It must have been an anxious time for you, sir," continued the
+visitor.
+
+"Well, no; I guess I was not anxious at all, for my officers went
+about their rough work with some muscular vigour. The war-paint was
+soon put on and the rebellion squashed out of them. The chief officer,
+understand, is an old hand at the game; and that there young fellow,
+the second officer, takes to the business kindly. So we'll get along
+right away."
+
+When the vessel was moored and the decks cleared up, the second
+officer and the boatswain asked the captain's permission to go ashore
+for the evening. This was granted, with a strong admonition to keep
+straight and return aboard sober. The boatswain was a short, thick-set
+man, with no education, but a sailor all over in his habits, manner,
+and conversation, and was just the kind of person to have as a
+companion if there was any trouble about. The two sailors were like
+schoolboys on a holiday. They were well received by their friends,
+male and female. In the West of London both were objects of interest,
+and told their tales with unfailing exaggeration. The boatswain was
+especially attractive, owing to his rugged personality and his
+unaffected manner. His sanguinary tales of American packet-ship life
+were much canvassed for, and being a good story-teller, he embellished
+them with incidents that gave them a fine finishing touch. He was
+asked by some young ladies if he had ever done any courting.
+
+"Oh yes," said he; "I have mixed a lot of that up with other things.
+The very last time I was stranded in Chili I got on courting a girl
+whose mother kept a bit of an hotel, and I was getting on famously,
+when one day the old lady told me I wasn't to come about her house
+after her daughter; but I kept on going in a sort of secret way, and
+one night I was sitting in what you would call the kitchen, and the
+old girl sneaked in with a great big stick. I saw the fury in her eye.
+She made a go for me. I couldn't get out, so I bobbed under a
+four-legged wooden table, picked it up on my shoulders, and tried to
+protect my legs as much as I could. The girl screamed, and rushed to
+open the door, and then called out for me to run. I didn't need any
+telling. I rushed out, the old witch laying on the table with all her
+might until I got out of her reach. And that is the way I am here,
+because I shipped at once aboard the _Betty Sharp_, for fear I might
+be copped and put in choky by the old fiend."
+
+"Have you heard from your sweetheart since?" asked one of the ladies.
+
+"No," said Jack the boatswain; "nor I don't want to. I'll soon get
+another where they knows how to treat genuine sweetheartin'."
+
+Jim Leigh at this point said--
+
+"Now then 'Shortlegs,' we must be going. I've heard that yarn fifty
+times."
+
+"Yes, _you_ have; but these here ladies haven't."
+
+"Quite right," said the ladies. "And we would like you to continue
+telling some more of your love experiences on the Spanish Main."
+
+Jack, however, said--
+
+"Well, not to-night. Jim wants to get away. I'll come some other
+time."
+
+The two sailors then left and made their way back to the docks, and as
+they approached the East End a fog which had been hanging over became
+so dense that they could not see where they were, and after groping
+about for a couple of hours they ran against a house which had a light
+in the window. Jim rapped at the door, and a man presented himself. He
+was only partially clad. His voice and dialect left no doubt as to the
+locality they were in.
+
+"Wot yer doin' of 'ere this time o' night? 'Ave yer come to rob some
+o' these yere 'ouses, or wot's yer gime?"
+
+Mr. Leigh was a talkative person, and hastened to explain where they
+were going, and that they could not find their way. The man asked the
+two officers in, and presented them to a woman who sat by the fire
+with a shawl over her shoulders. She was young, and seemed to be of
+the gipsy type; tall, handsome features, jet black hair, sparkling
+eyes and eyebrows; and when she asked them to be seated, her voice and
+accent gave the impression of a lady. She chatted quite freely to the
+sailors about their profession and the countries they had visited,
+which led them to suppose that the lady was a great traveller. She,
+however, told them that her knowledge was derived from books.
+Shortlegs was mute. While the others talked he was closely
+scrutinizing the surroundings. Their host was a tall, well-set man,
+with shifty, evil-looking eyes that were kept busy, as was his tongue.
+After they had been in the house some time, he asked them if they
+wished to stay all night.
+
+"We don't want ter press yer, but if yer like we've got a comfortable
+room. But ye'll both 'ave to sleep in one bed."
+
+"We don't mind that," said James Leigh. "Show us where it is."
+
+They bade the lady good morning, as it was 2 a.m., and they were
+escorted upstairs to a moderately-furnished room with an iron bed,
+wooden washstand, wardrobe, two chairs, and canvased floor.
+
+"Well, do you think it'll do?" asked the host.
+
+"Yes," replied James, in a jaunty way. "We've slept in many a worse
+place than this, Shorty, haven't we? See that we're called at six in
+the morning, gov'nor."
+
+"That's all right," said the shifty-eyed host; "we're early birds, we
+are, in this 'ere 'ouse. We goes to bed early too. Wot'll ye 'ave for
+breakfast?"
+
+"Never mind breakfast; we'll get that when we get aboard," replied
+Leigh. "Good-night; it's very good of you to put us up."
+
+The host remarked that he was pleased to do a kindness to anybody, but
+especially to sailors, and then he slid out of the room. Shortlegs
+watched him downstairs, then closed the door. When he looked round his
+second officer was half undressed. He whispered to him not to undress,
+and that if he knew as much about bugs as he did he would need no
+telling.
+
+"Oh! d---- the bugs and everything else. I'm in for a good nap."
+
+"Well," said Shortlegs, "you may do as you like, but I'm a-going to
+keep my clothes on."
+
+Jim, however, did not heed his companion's advice; he undressed,
+jumped into bed, and was soon asleep. Shortlegs sat smoking his pipe
+for a while, then rose and commenced a survey of the room. He looked
+under the bed, into a cupboard, behind the curtains, and then sat down
+and pondered over their strange experience. At last he pulled his
+boots and coat off, and was preparing to get into bed, when it
+occurred to him that he had not examined the wardrobe; so he jumped
+up, opened the door, stood gazing at the inside, closed the door,
+went to the bed, shook his mate into consciousness, and speaking in a
+loud whisper, he said--
+
+"Jim, for God's sake get up!"
+
+"What for?" said Jim.
+
+"Because there's a dead 'un in the wardrobe," replied Shortlegs.
+
+"A what?" asked Mr. Leigh.
+
+"A corpse," responded his companion.
+
+"Go on, don't talk such rot!"
+
+"Very well, look for yourself," said the boatswain, who again opened
+the door, and exposed the dead body to view. James Leigh turned pallid
+and almost inarticulate. He could only touch his friend on the
+shoulder, and utter--
+
+"My God, where are we? What shall we do with the corpse?"
+
+Visions of being had up for murder had seized him. But he was quickly
+pulled up by his more discreet shipmate, who told him to cease
+speaking, allow the dead 'un to remain where he was, keep their boots
+off, open the window quietly, see how far it was to drop or to lower
+themselves down with the bedclothes. This being done, they found the
+plan of escape impracticable without being "nabbed," so they took the
+bold resolve of going out as they had come in, with their boots on.
+Before they had got half-way down the stairs they heard suppressed
+conversation. It was evident they were detected.
+
+"Use your knuckle-duster, Jim, if necessary, and charge them with
+murder," whispered Shortlegs.
+
+"You leave that to me, Shorty; I'm going to get out of this."
+
+When they reached the bottom of the stairs, the room door, which was
+ajar, opened, and the man who showed them upstairs stood before them.
+He was in his sleeping clothes. They requested him to open the outer
+door and let them out, as they did not desire to remain any longer in
+the house. He asked why they were leaving comfortable lodgings on
+such a night. Jim being the spokesman, said they didn't like sleeping
+with corpses, and raising his voice with nervous courage, declared
+that if the door was not immediately opened he would stand a good
+chance of being put in the wardrobe where the other poor devil was.
+The wretched bully, shivering with passion and sudden fear, made a
+grab at Jim, and in an instant he was lying on the floor, and the two
+sailors opened the door and stepped out into the cold fog.
+
+"My God, what an experience!" said Shorty. "What a lucky thing I
+looked in the wardrobe. We might have been given up to the police as
+the murderers; and that lady, as we thought, what a demon she must be
+to be connected with such."
+
+"My dear fellow," said the second mate, "don't say anything wrong
+against the lady. How do we know but she is a prisoner, or in some way
+beholden to the rascal. What a strange thing she never appeared. I
+wonder if she was there. She must have been, as we heard voices."
+
+"That's right enough," said the boatswain; "but was it her voice?"
+
+"I never thought of that, Shorty. What d'ye say if we go back and try
+and learn more about this mysterious affair?"
+
+"Not me," said Shorty; "I've had enough of this kind of experience."
+
+"But," remonstrated the officer, "suppose the lady is in captivity?"
+
+"Never mind that, boss. I don't care if there were twenty blessed
+women in captivity. I'm not going back, because I thinks the lady is
+in the swim."
+
+"Nonsense, Shorts. She is an educated woman!"
+
+"Yes; and I've heard, boss, of educated women doin' funny things. How
+d'ye know but it's her husband that's in the wardrobe, gov'nor? No,
+no; I knows some of these 'ere ladies, and I'm not a-going to mix
+myself up with them. And if you takes my advice you'll stick to me and
+get aboard as soon as we can. And keep this 'ere affair mum, or we may
+have a visit from some of her Majesty's detectives."
+
+"Well," ejaculated James Leigh, "it is a mystery, and must remain such
+so far as we are concerned. But I am tempted to tell the police, as I
+feel certain that woman cannot be there of her own free will."
+
+"Woman be d----d, boss! How do you know, as I said before, that she's
+not at the bottom of it? You never knew an affair like this that a
+woman had not her hand in it; and if you are going to give
+information, don't introduce your humble servant, who has his own
+ideas of this 'ere person."
+
+The young fellows had talked on ever since they left the tomb of the
+dead, unheeding the direction in which they were going. When the fog
+cleared they found themselves amidst the East End slums, environed by
+all that was villainous. They were not long in winding their way
+aboard the _Betty Sharp_. The night's exploits made a deep impression
+on James Leigh; it caused him to review the Bohemian career he had
+lived ever since he ran away from the _Pacific_ in Chili. He resolved
+to pay a visit to his home in Wales, as he was so near, and in spite
+of strong protestations on the part of the captain he resigned his
+post. There was great rejoicing in the little village when he
+unexpectedly made his appearance. The news of the mutiny aboard the
+_Pacific_, and the tragic end of the captain, officers, and part of
+the crew preceded him. His family had blamed him for leaving at
+Iquique. They now said he had been guided by a strange but merciful
+Providence to his old home. He told the eager listeners of the family
+circle many tales of daring adventure as they sat in the cosy room by
+the fire, but whenever the gruesome figure of the dead man in the
+wardrobe crossed his mind he became reticent and pensive. These
+lapses did not go unnoticed, and he was often pressed for the cause of
+so sudden a change from mirth to sullen silence.
+
+"I will tell you what it is," said he; "a corpse is the cause."
+
+And then he told them all about it. James Leigh's change of life,
+manner, and habits dated from the dreaded night when he saw with his
+own eyes the ghastly figure of what he believed to be a murdered man.
+From being a roving, reckless, devil-may-care sailor, he settled into
+a steady, ambitious, capable man. He married a Welsh girl after his
+own heart, and forgot all about the daughter of the old Spaniard, who,
+if subsequent accounts were correct, pined for his return to Chili.
+Mrs. Leigh resented any allusion to the Spanish maiden. She always
+reminded her husband that people should marry their own countrywomen,
+and that instead of thinking of her he should be using his mind in
+attaining that knowledge that would enable him to reach the height of
+his profession. He was not long in satisfying the lady's ambition and
+his own. In less than five years from leaving the Yankee ship he was
+in command of a smart, up-to-date English steamer, trading between
+Mozambique and Zanzibar, trafficking in slaves and other merchandise.
+He made heaps of money for his owners, and was gifted with an aptitude
+for never neglecting himself in matters of finance. In due course the
+trade collapsed, and he was ordered to bring his vessel home. By this
+time his savings from several sources had accumulated to a decent
+little fortune, and with it he resolved to start business on his own
+account. He sought the aid of a few friends, and was enabled to
+purchase a small steamer. It was while he was on a visit to this
+much-boasted-of craft that he came across Shorty at a fair outside
+Cardiff. The rugged ex-boatswain had a machine for trying strength,
+and asked him to have a go. Captain Leigh recognized his old shipmate
+by a defect in his speech, and made himself known. Shorty was filled
+with delight, and would have given him the whole show. He rushed off,
+called out to a lady who was attending to the machine, and brought her
+to be introduced.
+
+"This is my bit o' cracklen, Jim. She's a good 'un, she is. Now, don't
+ye be a-fallin' in love with her, James, as you used to with the other
+girls out in Chili, ancetera, ancetera. Don't ye reckonize her? Don't
+ye remember that fine hotel we landed in, and the wardrobe and one or
+two other incidents?"
+
+"I do," said Captain James Leigh; "but surely this is not?"
+
+"Yes, it is," said the proud husband. "It's she, isn't it, chubby?"
+
+The lady merely nodded her head and smiled.
+
+"Then what have you been doing, Shorty, all these years?"
+
+"This," said he, pointing to the show. "I never got over the 'orror of
+that night, so I made my mind up not to go a rovin' agen; and this
+'ere girl, that I thought so badly of, 'as helped me to make a livin'
+ever since I came across her. Very queer, you was right; she was sort
+o' confined to the 'ouse, but had nothin' to do with the corpse. She
+didn't know of it until I told her."
+
+"My God! don't talk of it, Shorts. I cannot bear to think of it even
+now. But how did you pick her up?"
+
+"At the docks," said John Shorts. "She came to look for us, and I took
+on with her and got married."
+
+"You must have had a strong belief in her."
+
+"Yes; and so would you if you knew her as I do. I'd trust my money,
+and my life, and everything with her. D'ye see that waggon of mats and
+baskets? That's her department; started on her own 'ook. My word,
+she's a daisy."
+
+"Well, Shorty, I'm delighted to see you. And now I must be going. You
+seem quite happy."
+
+"Happy," said the boatswain, "that's not a name for it. It's 'eaven on
+earth this 'ere thing," looking and pointing at his wife. Breaking off
+quickly, he said, "'Ave ye ever heard from Chili, Jim?"
+
+"Oh yes," said he; "I had a letter only the other day from Dutchy. The
+old owner died, and left all his money to his two daughters and
+Dutchy, who married the eldest."
+
+"That's a bit thick, isn't it, Jim--for that fat Dutchman to go
+wandering about the Spanish Main doin' all sorts of things, and then
+fall on his feet like this?"
+
+"Well," said Jim, "you have fallen on your feet, so you say; and I'm
+sure I have."
+
+"That's right," said Shorts. "I wasn't thinken' that the wife was
+standin' by."
+
+The lady quietly smiled, shook hands with her husband's late chum, and
+walked off towards her caravan. Captain Leigh endeavoured to draw
+Shorty to tell him about his wife, but the old sailor evaded all his
+questions.
+
+"Well," said Leigh, "this has been a joyful meeting to me, and if we
+never met again, God bless you!"
+
+"The same to you, Jim," said Shorts. "Good-bye, old chap."
+
+The two men never did meet again. James Leigh is now a prosperous
+merchant, and may be seen any day in a smart-cut "frocker" and silk
+hat, having his lunch at a bar, surrounded with kindred spirits,
+telling his wonderful tales--some truthful, others well padded, but
+all interesting.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 3: It may be said in passing that America at that period,
+and for some years later, supplied Great Britain and other nations
+with the finest and fastest ships afloat, large and small. The
+Americans have always had a reputation of doing things on a large
+scale. Unmistakably their vessels were bad to beat. Their crews were
+well paid and well fed. They had the best cooks and stewards in the
+world; but the inadequacy of their manning, and the cruel treatment of
+the poor wretches who composed the crew, was a national disgrace. An
+American vessel with a mediocre crew aboard was nothing short of a
+hell afloat, and even with an average lot of men it was little better,
+unless they had the courage and the capacity to straighten the
+officers out, which was sometimes done with salutary effect.]
+
+
+
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