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diff --git a/21386.txt b/21386.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd7e6d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/21386.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6853 @@ +Project Gutenberg's James Braithwaite, the Supercargo, by W.H.G. Kingston + +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: James Braithwaite, the Supercargo + The Story of his Adventures Ashore and Afloat + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Illustrator: T.C. Dugdale + +Release Date: May 8, 2007 [EBook #21386] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAMES BRAITHWAITE, THE SUPERCARGO *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +James Braithwaite, the Supercargo; The Story of his Adventures Ashore +and Afloat, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +This is a typical Kingston book, very skilfully written, with lots of +difficult situations very well described. But what is worth remembering +is that it is probably the last book Kingston ever wrote, for he had +already been diagnosed with a rapid and terminal illness, which I +suppose to have been cancer. Yet, despite the position that redoubtable +author found himself in, he still gave us one of his very best +well-written adventure stories. + +A supercargo is a position in the ship's crew analogous to the ship's +clerk. His work consists of knowing exactly where every item of the +cargo is stowed, so that it can be put in the right place for it to be +most conveniently taken out on its arrival at its destination. + +Do read it and judge for yourself. You will find it worth the short +seven hours it takes to read aloud. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +JAMES BRAITHWAITE, THE SUPERCARGO; THE STORY OF HIS ADVENTURES ASHORE +AND AFLOAT, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +IN SEARCH OF THE "BARBARA." + +"What's the name of the craft you want to get aboard, sir?" asked old +Bob, the one-legged boatman, whose wherry I had hired to carry me out to +Spithead. + +"The _Barbara_," I answered, trying to look more at my ease than I felt; +for the old fellow, besides having but one leg, had a black patch over +the place where his right eye should have been, while his left arm was +partially crippled; and his crew consisted of a mite of a boy whose +activity and intelligence could scarcely make up for his want of size +and strength. The ebb tide, too, was making strong out of Portsmouth +Harbour, and a fresh breeze was blowing in, creating a tumbling, +bubbling sea at the mouth; and vessels and boats of all sizes and rigs +were dashing here and there, madly and without purpose it seemed to me, +but at all events very likely to run down the low narrow craft in which +I had ventured to embark. Now and then a man-of-war's boat, with +half-a-dozen reckless midshipmen in her, who looked as if they would not +have the slightest scruple in sailing over us, would pass within a few +inches of the wherry; now a ship's launch with a party of marines, +pulling with uncertain strokes like a huge maimed centipede, would come +right across our course and receive old Bob's no very complimentary +remarks; next a boatful of men-of-war's men, liberty men returning from +leave. There was no use saying anything to them, for there wasn't one, +old Bob informed me, but what was "three sheets in the wind," or "half +seas over,"--in other words, very drunk; still, they managed to find +their way and not to upset themselves, in a manner which surprised me. +Scarcely were we clear of them when several lumbering dockyard lighters +would come dashing by, going out with stores or powder to the fleet at +Spithead. + +Those were indeed busy times. Numerous ships of war were fitting out +alongside the quays, their huge yards being swayed up, and guns and +stores hoisted on board, gruff shouts, and cries, and whistles, and +other strange sounds proceeding from them as we passed near. Others lay +in the middle of the harbour ready for sea, but waiting for their crews +to be collected by the press-gangs on shore, and to be made up with +captured smugglers, liberated gaol-birds, and broken-down persons from +every grade of society. Altogether, what with transports, merchantmen, +lighters, and other craft, it was no easy matter to beat out without +getting athwart hawse of those at anchor, or being run down by the still +greater number of small craft under way. Still it was an animated and +exciting scene, and all told of active warfare. + +On shore the bustle was yet more apparent. Everybody was in movement. +Yellow post-chaises conveying young captains of dashing frigates, or +admirals' private secretaries, came whirling through the streets as if +the fate of the nation depended on their speed. Officers of all grades, +from post-captains with glittering epaulets to midshipmen with white +patches on their collars and simple cockades in their hats, were +hurrying, with looks of importance, through the streets. Large placards +were everywhere posted up announcing the names of the ships requiring +men, and the advantages to be obtained by joining them: plenty of prize +money and abundance of fighting, with consequent speedy promotion; while +first lieutenants, and a choice band of old hands, were near by to win +by persuasion those who were protected from being pressed. Jack tars, +many with pig-tails, and earrings in their ears, were rolling about the +streets, their wives or sweethearts hanging at their elbows, dressed in +the brightest of colours, huge bonnets decked with flaunting ribbons on +their heads, and glittering brass chains, and other ornaments of glass, +on their necks and arms. As I drove down the High Street I had met a +crowd surrounding a ship's gig on wheels. Some fifty seamen or more +were dragging it along at a rapid rate, leaping and careering, laughing +and cheering. In the stern sheets sat a well-known eccentric +post-captain with the yoke lines in his hands, while he kept bending +forward to give the time to his crew, who were arranged before him with +oars outstretched, making believe to row, and grinning all the time in +high glee from ear to ear. It was said that he was on his way to the +Admiralty in London, the Lords Commissioners having for some +irregularity prohibited him from leaving his ship except in his gig on +duty. Whether he ever got to London I do not know. + +On arriving at Portsmouth, I had gone to the Blue Posts, an inn of old +renown, recommended by my brother Harry, who was then a midshipman, and +who had lately sailed for the East India station. It was an inn more +patronised by midshipmen and young lieutenants than by post-captains and +admirals. I had there expected to meet Captain Hassall, the commander +of the _Barbara_, but was told that, as he was the master of a +merchantman, he was more likely to have gone to the Keppel's Head, at +Portsea. Thither I repaired, and found a note from him telling me to +come off at once, and saying that he had had to return on board in a +hurry, as he found that several of his men had no protection, and were +very likely to be pressed, one man having already been taken by a +press-gang, and that he was certain to inform against the others. Thus +it was that I came to embark at the Common Hard at Portsea, and had to +beat down the harbour. + +"Do you think as how you'd know your ship when you sees her, sir?" asked +old Bob, with a twinkle in his one eye, for he had discovered my very +limited amount of nautical knowledge, I suspect. "It will be a tough +job to find her, you see, among so many." + +Now I had been on board very often as she lay alongside the quay in the +Thames. I had seen all her cargo stowed, knew every bale and package +and case; I had attended to the fitting-up of my own cabin, and was +indeed intimately acquainted with every part of her interior. But her +outside--that was a very different matter, I began to suspect. I saw +floating on the sea, far out in the distance, the misty outlines of a +hundred or more big ships; indeed, the whole space between Portsmouth +and the little fishing village of Ryde seemed covered with shipping, and +my heart sank within me at the thought of having to pick out the +_Barbara_ among them. + +The evening was drawing on, and the weather did not look pleasant; still +I must make the attempt. The convoy was expected to sail immediately, +and the interests of my employers, Garrard, Janrin and Company, would be +sacrificed should the sailing of the ship be delayed by my neglect. +These thoughts passed rapidly through my mind and made me reply boldly, +"We must go on, at all events. Time enough to find her out when we get +there." + +We were at that time near the mouth of the harbour, with Haslar Hospital +seen over a low sandbank, and some odd-looking sea-marks on one side, +and Southsea beach and the fortifications of Portsmouth, with a church +tower and the houses of the town beyond. A line of redoubts and +Southsea Castle appeared, extending farther southward, while the smooth +chalk-formed heights of Portsdown rose in the distance. As a person +suddenly deprived of sight recollects with especial clearness the last +objects he has beheld, so this scene was indelibly impressed on my mind, +as it was the last near view I was destined to have of old England for +many a long day. For the same reason I took a greater interest in old +Bob and his boy Jerry than I might otherwise have done. They formed the +last human link of the chain which connected me with my native land. +Bob had agreed to take my letters back, announcing my safe arrival on +board--that is to say, should I ever get there. My firm reply, added to +the promise of another five shillings for the trouble he might have, +raised me again in his opinion, and he became very communicative. + +We tacked close to a buoy off Southsea beach. "Ay, sir, there was a +pretty blaze just here not many years ago," he remarked. "Now I mind it +was in '95--that's the year my poor girl Betty died--the mother of Jerry +there. You've heard talk of the _Boyne_--a fine ship she was, of +ninety-eight guns. While she, with the rest of the fleet, was at anchor +at Spithead, one morning a fire broke out in the admiral's cabin, and +though officers and men did their best to extinguish it, somehow or +other it got the upper hand of them all; but the boats from the other +ships took most of them off, though some ten poor fellows perished, they +say. One bad part of the business was, that the guns were all loaded +and shotted, and as the fire got to them they went off, some of the +shots reaching Stokes Bay, out there beyond Haslar, and others falling +among the shipping. Two poor fellows aboard the _Queen Charlotte_ were +killed, and another wounded, though she and the other ships got under +way to escape mischief. At about half-past one she burnt from her +cables, and came slowly drifting in here till she took the ground. She +burnt on till near six in the morning, when the fire reached the +magazine, and up she blew with an awful explosion. We knew well enough +that the moment would come, and it was a curious feeling we had waiting +for it. Up went the blazing masts and beams and planks, and came +scattering down far and wide, hissing into the water; and when we looked +again after all was over, not a timber was to be seen." + +Bob also pointed out the spot where nearly a century before the _Edgar_ +had blown up, and every soul in her had perished, and also where the +_Royal George_ and the brave Admiral Kempenfeldt, with eight hundred +men, had gone down several years before the destruction of the _Boyne_. +"Ay, sir, to my mind it's sad to think that the sea should swallow up so +many fine fellows as she does every year, and yet we couldn't very well +do without her, so I suppose it's all right. Mind your head-sheets, +Jerry, or she'll not come about in this bobble," he observed, as we were +about to tack round the buoy. + +Having kept well to the eastward, we were now laying up to windward of +the fleet. There were line-of-battle ships, and frigates, and +corvettes, and huge Indiamen as big-looking as many line-of-battle +ships, and large transports, and numberless merchantmen--ships and +barques, and brigs and schooners; but as to what the _Barbara_ was like +I had not an idea. I fixed on one of the largest of the Indiamen, but +when I told old Bob the tonnage of the _Barbara_ he laughed, and said +she wasn't half the size of the ship I pointed out. + +It was getting darkish and coming on to blow pretty fresh, and how to +find my ship among the hundred or more at anchor I could not possibly +tell. + +"Well, I thought from your look and the way you hailed me that you was a +sea-faring gentleman, and on course you'd ha' known your own ship," said +old Bob, with a wink of his one eye. "Howsomever, we can beat about +among the fleet till it's dark, and then back to Portsmouth; and then, +do ye see, sir, we can come out to-morrow morning by daylight and try +again. Maybe we shall have better luck. The convoy is sure not to sail +in the night, and the tide won't serve till ten o'clock at earliest." + +"This comes of dressing in nautical style, and assuming airs foreign to +me," I thought to myself, though I could not help fancying that there +was some quiet irony in the old man's tone. His plan did not at all +suit my notions. I was already beginning to feel very uncomfortable, +bobbing and tossing about among the ships; and I expected to be +completely upset, unless I could speedily put my foot on something more +stable than the cockleshell, or rather bean-pod, of a boat in which I +sat. I began to be conscious, indeed, that I must be looking like +anything but "a sea-faring gentleman." + +"But we _must_ find her," I exclaimed, with some little impetuosity; "it +will never do to be going back, and I know she's here." + +"So the old woman said as was looking for her needle in the bundle of +hay," observed old Bob, with provoking placidity. "On course she is, +and we is looking for her: but it's quite a different thing whether we +finds her or not, 'specially when it gets dark; and if, as I suspects, +it comes on to blow freshish there'll be a pretty bobble of a sea here +at the turn of the tide. To be sure, we may stand over to Ryde and haul +the boat up there for the night. There's a pretty decentish public on +the beach, the Pilot's Home, where you may get a bed, and Jerry and I +always sleeps under the wherry. That's the only other thing for you to +do, sir, that I sees on." + +Though very unwilling to forego the comforts of my cabin and the society +of Captain Hassall, I agreed to old Bob's proposal, provided the +_Barbara_ was not soon to be found. We sailed about among the fleet for +some time, hailing one ship after another, but mine could not be found. +I began to suspect at last that old Bob did not wish to find her, but +had his eye on another day's work, and pay in proportion, as he might +certainly consider that he had me in his power, and could demand what he +chose. I was on the point of giving up the search, when, as we were +near one of the large Indiamen I have mentioned, a vessel running past +compelled us to go close alongside. An officer was standing on the +accommodation-ladder, assisting up some passengers. He hailed one of +the people in the boat, about some luggage. I knew the voice, and, +looking more narrowly, I recognised, I thought, my old schoolfellow, +Jack Newall. I called him by name. "Who's that?" he exclaimed. "What, +Braithwaite, my fine fellow, what brings you out here?" + +When I told him, "It is ten chances to one that you pick her out +to-night," he answered. "But come aboard; I can find you a berth, and +to-morrow morning you can continue your search. Depend on it your ship +forms one of our convoy, so that she will not sail without you." + +I was too glad to accept Jack Newall's offer. Old Bob looked rather +disappointed at finding me snatched from his grasp, and volunteered to +come back early in the morning, and take me on board the _Barbara_, +promising in the meantime to find her out. + +The sudden change from the little boat tumbling about in the dark to the +Indiaman's well-lighted cuddy, glittering with plate and glass, into +which my friend introduced me--filled, moreover, as it was, with +well-dressed ladies and gentlemen--was very startling. She was the +well-known _Cuffnells_, a ship of twelve hundred tons, one of the finest +of her class, and, curiously enough, was the very one which, two voyages +before, had carried my brother Frederick out to India. + +I had never before been on board an Indiaman. Everything about her +seemed grand and ponderous, and gave me the idea of strength and +stability. If she was to meet with any disaster, it would not be for +want of being well found. The captain remembered my brother, and was +very civil to me; and several other people knew my family, so that I +spent a most pleasant evening on board, in the society of the nabobs and +military officers, and the ladies who had husbands and those who had +not, but fully expected to get them at the end of the voyage, and the +young cadets and writers, and others who usually formed the complement +of an Indiaman's passengers in those days. Everything seemed done in +princely style on board her. She had a crew of a hundred men, a +captain, and four officers, mates, a surgeon, and purser; besides +midshipmen, a boatswain, carpenter, and other petty officers. I was +invited to come on board whenever there was an opportunity during the +voyage. + +"We are not cramped, you see," observed Newall, casting his eye over the +spacious decks, "so you will not crowd us; and if you cannot bring us +news, we can exchange ideas." + +True to his word, old Bob came alongside the next morning, and told me +that he had found out the _Barbara_, and would put me on board in good +time for breakfast. + +I found Captain Hassall very anxious at my non-appearance, and on the +point of sending the second officer on shore to look for me, as it was +expected that the convoy would sail at noon; indeed, the _Active_ +frigate, which was to convoy us, had Blue Peter flying at her mast-head, +as had all the merchantmen. + +"You'd have time to take a cruise about the fleet, and I'll spin you no +end of yarns if you like to come, sir," said old Bob, with a twinkle in +his eye, as his wherry was see-sawing alongside in a manner most +uncomfortable to a landsman. + +"No, thank you, Bob; I must hear the end of your yarns when I come back +again to old England; I'll not forget you, depend on it." + +Captain Hassall had not recovered his equanimity of temper, which had +been sorely ruffled at having had two of his best men taken off by a +press-gang. He had arrived on board in time to save two more who would +otherwise also have been taken. He inveighed strongly against the +system, and declared that if it was continued he would give up England +and go over to the United States. It certainly created a very bad +feeling both among officers and men in the merchant service. While we +were talking, the frigate which was to convoy us loosed her topsails and +fired a gun, followed soon after by another, as a signal to way. The +merchantmen at once began to make sail, not so quick an operation as on +board the man-of-war. The pipe played cheerily, round went the capstan, +and in short time we, with fully fifty other vessels, many of them +first-class Indiamen, with a fair breeze, were standing down Channel; +the sky bright, the sea blue, while their white sails, towering upwards +to the heavens, shone in the sunbeams like pillars of snow. + +The _Barbara_ proved herself a fast sailer, and could easily keep up +with our _Active_ protector, which kept sailing round the +majestic-looking but slow-moving Indiamen, as if to urge them on, as the +shepherd's dog does his flock. We hove-to off Falmouth, that other +vessels might join company. Altogether, we formed a numerous convoy-- +some bound to the Cape of Good Hope, others to different parts of +India--two or three to our lately-established settlements in New South +Wales, and several more to China. + +I will not dwell on my feelings as we took our departure from the land, +the Lizard lights bearing north half east. I had a good many friends to +care for me, and one for whom I had more than friendship. We had +magnificent weather and plenty of time to get the ship into order; +indeed I, with others who had never been to sea, began to entertain the +notion that we were to glide on as smoothly as we were then doing during +the whole voyage. We were to be disagreeably undeceived. A gale sprang +up with little warning about midnight, and hove us almost on our +beam-ends; and though we righted with the loss only of a spar or two, we +were tumbled about in a manner subversive of all comfort, to say the +least of it. + +When morning broke, the hitherto trim and well-behaved fleet were +scattered in all directions, and several within sight received some +damage or other. The wind fell as quickly as it had risen, and during +the day the vessels kept returning to their proper stations in the +convoy. When night came on several were still absent, but were seen +approaching in the distance. Our third mate had been aloft for some +time, and when he came into the cabin he remarked that he had counted +more sail in the horizon than there were missing vessels. Some of the +party were inclined to laugh at him, and inquired what sort of craft he +supposed they were, phantom ships or enemy's cruisers. + +"I'll tell you what, gentlemen,--I think that they are very probably the +latter," said the captain. "I have known strange things happen; vessels +cut out at night from the midst of a large convoy, others pillaged and +the crews and passengers murdered, thrown overboard, or carried off. We +shall be on our guard, and have our guns loaded, and if any gentry of +this sort attempt to play their tricks on us they will find that they +have caught a tartar." + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE FIGHT. + +I may as well here give an account of the _Barbara_, and how I came to +be on board her. Deprived of my father, who was killed in battle just +as I was going up to the University, and left with very limited means, I +was offered a situation as clerk in the counting-house of a distant +relative, Mr Janrin. I had no disinclination to mercantile pursuits. +I looked on them, if carried out in a proper spirit, as worthy of a man +of intellect, and I therefore gladly accepted the offer. As my mother +lived in the country, my kind cousin invited me to come and reside with +him, an advantage I highly appreciated. Everything was conducted in his +house with clock-work regularity. If the weather was rainy, his coach +drew up to the door at the exact hour; if the weather was fine, the +servant stood ready with his master's spencer, and hat, and gloves, and +gold-headed cane, without which Mr Janrin never went abroad. Not that +he required it to support his steps, but it was the mark of a gentleman. +It had superseded the sword which he had worn in his youth. I soon got +to like these regular ways, and found them far pleasanter than the +irregularity of some houses where I had visited. I always accompanied +Mr Janrin when he walked, and derived great benefit from his +conversation, and though he offered me a seat in the coach in bad +weather, I saw that he was better pleased when I went on foot. "Young +men require exercise, and should not pamper themselves," he observed; +"but, James, I say, put a dry pair of shoes in your pocket--therein is +wisdom; and don't sit in your wet ones all day." + +Thus it will be seen that I was treated by my worthy principal from the +first as a relative, and a true friend he was to me. But I was +introduced into the mysteries of mercantile affairs by Mr Gregory +Thursby, the head clerk. He lived over the counting-house, and on my +first appearance in it, before any of the other clerks had arrived, he +was there to receive me. He took me round to the different desks, and +explained the business transacted at each of them. "And there, Mr +James, look there," he said, pointing to a line of ponderous folios on a +shelf within easy distance of where he himself sat: "see, we have +Swift's works, a handsome edition too, eh!" and he chuckled as he spoke. + +"Why, I fancied that they were ledgers," said I. "Ha! ha! ha! so they +are, and yet Swift's works, for all that, those of my worthy +predecessor, Jeremiah Swift, every line in them written by his own hand, +in his best style; so I call them Swift's works. You are not the first +person by a great many I have taken in. Ha! ha! ha!" + +This was one of the worthy man's harmless conceits. He never lost an +opportunity of indulging in the joke to his own amusement; and I +remarked that he laughed as heartily the last time he uttered it as the +first. + +I set to work diligently at once on the tasks given me, and was rewarded +by the approving remarks of Mr Janrin and Mr Thursby. Mr Garrard had +long ago left, not only the business but this world; the "Co." was his +nephew, Mr Luttridge, who was absent on account of ill-health, and thus +the whole weight of the business rested on the shoulders of Mr Janrin. +But, as Thursby remarked, "He can well support it, Mr James. He's an +Atlas. It's my belief that he would manage the financial affairs of +this kingdom better than any Chancellor of the Exchequer, or other +minister of State, past or present; and that had he been at the head of +affairs we should not have lost our North American Colonies, or have got +plunged over head and ears in debt as we are, alack! already; and now, +with war raging and all the world in arms against us, getting deeper and +deeper into the mire." Without holding my worthy principal in such deep +admiration as our head clerk evidently did, I had a most sincere regard +and respect for him. + +Our dinner hour was at one o'clock, in a room over the office. Mr +Janrin himself presided, and all the clerks, from the highest to the +lowest, sat at the board. Here, however, on certain occasions, handsome +dinners were given at a more fashionable hour to any friends or +correspondents of the house who might be in London. Mr Thursby took +the foot of the table, and I was always expected to be present. At +length I completed two years of servitude in the house, and by that time +was thoroughly up to all the details of business. I had been very +diligent. I had never taken a holiday, and never had cause to absent +myself from business on account of ill-health. On the very day I speak +of we had one of the dinners mentioned. The guests were chiefly +merchants or planters from the West Indies, with a foreign consul or +two, and generally a few masters of merchantmen. The guests as they +arrived were announced by Mr Janrin's own servant, Peter Klopps, who +always waited on these occasions. Peter was himself a character. He +was a Dutchman. Mr Janrin had engaged his services many years before +during a visit to Holland. He had picked Peter out of a canal, or Peter +had picked him out, on a dark night--I never could understand which had +rendered the service to the other; at all events, it had united them +ever afterwards, and Peter had afterwards nursed his master through a +long illness, and saved his life. The most important secrets of State +might have been discussed freely in Peter's presence. First, he did not +understand a word that was said, and then he was far too honest and +discreet to have revealed it if he had. + +Several people had been announced. Ten minutes generally brought the +whole together. I caught the name of one--Captain Hassall. He was a +stranger, a strongly-built man with a sunburnt countenance and bushy +whiskers; nothing remarkable about him, except, perhaps, the determined +expression of his eye and mouth. His brow was good, and altogether I +liked his looks, and was glad to find myself seated next to him. He had +been to all parts of the world, and had spent some time in the India and +China seas. He gave me graphic accounts of the strange people of those +regions; and fights with Chinese and Malay pirates, battles of a more +regular order with French and Spanish privateers, hurricanes or +typhoons. Shipwrecks and exciting adventures of all sorts seemed +matters of everyday occurrence. A scar on his cheek and another across +his hand, showed that he had been, at close quarters, too, on some +occasion, with the enemy. + +Mr Janrin and Mr Thursby both paid him much attention during dinner. +Allusions were made by him to a trading voyage he had performed in the +service of the firm, and it struck me from some remarks he let drop that +he was about to undertake another of a similar character. I was not +mistaken. After dinner, when the rest of the guests were gone, he +remained behind to discuss particulars, and Mr Janrin desired me to +join the conclave. I was much interested in all I heard. A large new +ship, the _Barbara_, had been purchased, of which Captain Hassall had +become part owner. She was now in dock fitting for sea. She mounted +ten carriage guns and four swivels, and was to be supplied with a +proportionate quantity of small arms, and to be well manned. A letter +of marque was to be obtained for her, though she was not to fight except +in case of necessity; while her cargo was to be assorted and suited to +various localities. She was to visit several places to the East of the +Cape of Good Hope, and to proceed on to the Indian Islands and China. + +"And how do you like the enterprise, James?" asked Mr Janrin, after the +captain had gone. + +"I have not considered the details sufficiently to give an opinion, +sir," I answered. "If all turns out as the captain expects, it must be +very profitable, but there are difficulties to be overcome, and dangers +encountered, and much loss may be incurred." + +I saw Mr Janrin and the head clerk exchange glances, and nod to each +other. I fancy that they were nods of approval at what I had said. + +"Then, James, you would not wish to engage in it in any capacity?" said +Mr Janrin. "You would rather not encounter the dangers and +difficulties of such a voyage?" + +"That is a very different matter, sir," I answered. "I should very much +like to visit the countries you speak of, and the difficulties I cannot +help seeing would enhance the interest of the voyage." + +Again the principal and clerk exchanged glances and nodded. + +"What do you say, then, James, to taking charge of the venture as +supercargo? My belief is that you will act with discretion and judgment +as to its disposal, and that we shall have every reason to be satisfied +with you. Mr Thursby agrees with me, do you not, Thursby?" + +"I feel sure that Mr James will bring no discredit on the firm, sir," +answered Mr Thursby, smiling at me. "On the contrary, sir, no young +man I am acquainted with is so likely to conduce to the success of the +enterprise." + +I was highly gratified by the kind remarks of my friends, and expressed +my thanks accordingly, at the same time that I begged I might be allowed +two days for consideration. I desired, of course, to consult my mother, +and was anxious also to know what another would have to say to the +subject. She, like a sensible girl, agreed with me that it would be +wise to endure the separation for the sake of securing, as I hoped to +do, ultimate comfort and independence. I knew from the way that she +gave this advice that she did not love me less than I desired. I need +say no more than that her confidence was a powerful stimulus to exertion +and perseverance in the career I had chosen. My mother was far more +doubtful about the matter. Not till the morning after I had mentioned +it to her did she say, "Go, my son; may God protect you and bless your +enterprise!" + +I was from this time forward actively engaged in the preparations for +the voyage. My personal outfit was speedily ready, but I considered it +necessary to examine all the cases of merchandise put on board, that I +might be properly acquainted with all the articles in which I was going +to trade. "It's just what I expected of him," I heard Mr Janrin remark +to Mr Thursby, when one evening I returned late from my daily duties. +"Ay, sir, there is the ring of the true metal in the lad," observed the +head clerk. + +Captain Hassall was as active in his department as I was in mine, and we +soon had the _Barbara_ ready for sea with a tolerably good crew. In +those stirring days of warfare it was no easy thing to man a merchantman +well, but Captain Hassall had found several men who had sailed with him +on previous voyages, and they without difficulty persuaded others to +ship on board the _Barbara_. + +Our first officer, Mr Randolph, was a gentleman in the main, and a very +pleasant companion, though he had at first sight, in his everyday +working suit, that scarecrow look which tall gaunt men, who have been +somewhat battered by wind and weather, are apt to get. Our second mate, +Ben, or rather "Benjie" Stubbs, as he was usually called, was nearly as +broad as he was long, with puffed-out brown cheeks wearing an invincible +smile. He was a man of one idea: he was satisfied with being a thorough +seaman, and was nothing else. As to history, or science, or the +interior of countries, he was profoundly ignorant. As to the land, it +was all very well in its way to grow trees and form harbours, but the +sea was undoubtedly the proper element for people to live on; and he +seemed to look with supreme contempt on all those who had the misfortune +to be occupied on shore. The third mate, Henry Irby, had very little +the appearance of a sailor, though he was a very good one. He was +slight in figure, and refined in his manners, and seemed, I fancied, +born to a higher position than that which he held. He had served for +two years before the mast, but his rough associates during that time had +not been able in any way to alter him. Our surgeon, David Gwynne, was, +I need scarcely say, a Welshman. He had not had much professional +experience, but he was an intelligent young man, and had several of the +peculiarities which are considered characteristic of his people; but I +hoped, from what I saw of him when he first came on board, that he would +prove an agreeable companion. Curious as it may seem, there were two +men among the crew who by birth were superior to any of us. I may, +perhaps, have to say more about them by-and-bye. We mustered, officers +and men, forty hands all told. + +I will pass over the leave-takings with all the dear ones at home. I +knew and felt that true prayers, as well as kind wishes, would follow me +wherever I might go. + +"James," said my kind employer as I parted from him, "I trust you +thoroughly as I would my own son if I had one. I shall not blame you if +the enterprise does not succeed; so do not take it to heart, for I know +that you will do your best, and no man can do more." Mr Thursby +considered that it was incumbent on him to take a dignified farewell of +me, and to impress on me all the duties and responsibilities of my +office; but he broke down, and a tear stood in his eye as he wrung my +hand, and said in a husky voice, "You know all about it, my dear boy; +you'll do well, and we shall have you back here, hearty and strong, with +information successfully to guide Garrard, Janrin and Company in many an +important speculation; and, moreover, I hope, to lay the foundation of +your own fortune. Good-bye, good-bye; heaven bless you, my boy!" + +I certainly could not have commenced my undertaking under better +auspices. Having obtained the necessary permission of the Honourable +East India Company to trade in their territories, the _Barbara_ +proceeded to Spithead, and I ran down to pay a flying visit to my +friends, which was the cause of my joining the ship at Spithead in the +way I have described, and where I left my readers to give these +necessary explanations. + +The convoy was standing on under easy sail to allow the scattered +vessels to come up, and as long as there was a ray of daylight they were +seen taking up their places. Now and then, after dark, I could see a +phantom form gliding by; some tall Indiaman, or heavy store-ship, or +perhaps some lighter craft, to part with us after crossing the line, +bound round Cape Horn. The heat was considerable, and as I felt no +inclination to turn in, I continued pacing the deck till it had struck +six bells in the first watch. [Note 1.] Mr Randolph, the senior mate, +had charge of the deck. He, I found, was not always inclined to agree +with some of the opinions held by our captain. + +"He's a fine fellow, our skipper, but full of fancies, as you'll find; +but there isn't a better seaman out of the port of London," he observed, +as he took a few turns alongside me. "I have a notion that he believes +in the yarns of the _Flying Dutchman_, and of old Boody, the Portsmouth +chandler, and in many other such bits of nonsense, but as I was +saying--" + +"What, don't you?" I asked, interrupting him; "I thought all sailors +believed in those tales." + +The captain had been narrating some of them to us a few evenings before. + +"No, I do not," answered the first mate, somewhat sharply. "I believe +that God made this water beneath our feet, and that He sends the wind +which sometimes covers it over with sparkling ripples, and at others +stirs it up into foaming seas, but I don't think He lets spirits or +ghosts of any sort wander about doing no good to any one. That's my +philosophy. I don't intend to belief in the stuff till I see one of the +gentlemen; and then I shall look pretty sharply into his character +before I take my hat off to him." + +"You are right, Mr Randolph, and I do not suppose that the captain +differs much from you. He only wishes to guard against mortal enemies, +and he has shown that he is in earnest in thinking that there is some +danger, by having come on deck every half-hour or oftener during the +night. There he is again." + +Captain Hassall stood before us: "Cast loose and load the guns, Mr +Randolph, and send a quartermaster to serve out the small arms to the +watch," he said quietly; "there has been a sail on our quarter for some +minutes past, which may possibly be one of the convoy, but she may not. +Though she carries but little canvas she is creeping up to us." + +The mate and I while talking had not observed the vessel the captain +pointed out. "The skipper has sharp eyes," said the first mate, as he +parted from me to obey the orders he had received. Our crew had been +frequently exercised at the guns. Having loaded and run them out, the +watch came tumbling aft to the arm-chest. Cutlasses were buckled on and +pistols quickly loaded, and boarding-pikes placed along the bulwarks +ready for use. The men did not exactly understand what all this +preparation was for, but that was nothing to them. It signified +fighting, and most British seamen are ready for that at any time. The +captain now joined me in my walk. "It is better to be prepared, though +nothing come of it, than to be taken unawares," he observed. "It is the +principle I have gone on, and as it is a sound one, I intend to continue +it as long as I live." I agreed with him. We walked the deck together +for twenty minutes or more, engaged in conversation. His eye was +constantly during the time looking over our starboard quarter. Even I +could at length distinguish the dim outline of a vessel in that +direction. Gradually the sails of a ship with taut raking masts became +visible. + +"That craft is not one of our convoy, and I doubt that she comes among +us for any good purpose," exclaimed the captain. "I should like to +bring the frigate down upon the fellow, but we should lose our share of +the work, and I think that we can manage him ourselves. Call the +starboard watch, Mr Stubbs." + +The men soon came tumbling up from below, rather astonished at being so +soon called. The other officers were also soon on deck Mr Randolph +agreed that the stranger, which hung on our quarter like some ill-omened +bird of prey, had an exceedingly suspicious appearance, and that we were +only acting with ordinary prudence in being prepared for him. + +"The fellow won't fire, as he would bring the frigate down upon him if +he did," observed the first mate; "he will therefore either run +alongside in the hopes of surprising us, and taking us by boarding +before we have time to fire a pistol, which would attract notice, or, +should the wind fall light, he may hope to cut us out with his boats." + +Eight bells struck. We could hear the sound borne faintly over the +waters from two of the Indiamen to windward of us, but no echo came from +the deck of the stranger. The men were ordered to lie down under the +bulwarks till wanted. Had Captain Hassall thought fit, he might, by +making sail, have got out of danger, but he had hopes that instead of +being taken by the stranger he might take him. It struck me that we +might be running an unwarrantable risk of getting the vessel or cargo +injured by allowing ourselves to be attacked. + +"Not in the least," answered the captain; "we serve as a bait to the +fellow, and shall benefit directly by catching him. If we were to give +the alarm he would be off like a shot, and depend on it he has a fast +pair of heels, or he would not venture in among us, so that the frigate +would have little chance of catching him." + +The truth is, Captain Hassall had made up his mind to do something to +boast of. Orders were now given to the men to remain perfectly silent; +the stranger was drawing closer and closer; grapnels had been got ready +to heave on board him, and to hold him fast should it be found +advisable. It was, however, possible that his crew might so greatly +outnumber ours that this would prove a dangerous proceeding. As to our +men, they knew when they shipped that they might have to fight, and they +all now seemed in good heart, so that we had no fear on the score of +their failing us. Our officers were one and all full of fight, though +each exhibited his feelings in a different way. The surgeon's only fear +seemed to be that the stranger would prove a friend instead of a foe, +and that there would be no skirmish after all. + +"She's some craft one of the other vessels has fallen in with, and she +has just joined company for protection," he observed. "For my part I +shall turn in, as I am not likely to be wanted, either to fight or to +dress wounds." + +The wind, which had much fallen, had just freshened up again. "Whatever +he is, friend or foe, here he comes," exclaimed Mr Randolph. "Steady, +lads!" cried the captain, "don't move till I give the word." + +As he spoke the stranger glided up, her dark sails appearing to tower +high above ours. We kept on our course as if she was not perceived. +With one sheer she was alongside, there was a crash as her yards locked +with ours, and at the same moment numerous dark forms appeared in her +rigging and nettings about to leap on to our deck. "Now give it them!" +cried our captain. Our men sprang to their feet and fired a broadside +through the bulwarks of the enemy. The cries and shrieks which were +echoed back showed the havoc which had been caused. Shouts and blows, +the clash of cutlasses, the flash of pistols, immediately followed. I +felt a stinging sensation in my shoulder, but was too excited to think +anything of it as I stood, cutlass in hand, ready to repel our +assailants. Many of those who were about to board us must have sprung +back, or fallen into the water; a few only reached our deck, who were at +once cut down by our people. One man sprang close to where I stood. I +was about to fire my pistol at him, when I saw that he was unarmed, so I +dragged him across the deck out of harm's way. The next instant the +vessels parted. + +"Give it them, my lads! Load and fire as fast as you can, or they will +escape us," cried the captain in an excited tone. + +"Wing them! wing them! knock away their spars, lads!" He next ordered +the helm to be put down, the tacks hauled aboard, and chase to be made +after our flying foe, while a blue light was burned to show our +locality, and to prevent the frigate from firing into us when she +followed, as we hoped she would. + +We had no doubt that the enemy, when he met with the warm reception we +had given him, took us for a man-of-war corvette, and on this came to +the conclusion that prudence was the best part of valour. There could +be little doubt, however, that he would soon discover that our guns were +of no great size; and then possibly he might turn on us, and give us +more of his quality than would be desirable. Still we kept on peppering +away at him as fast as we could, in the hopes of bringing down one of +his masts, and enabling the frigate to come up. The lights of the +convoy were, however, by this time almost lost sight of. In vain we +looked out for a signal of the approach of the frigate. No gun was +heard, no light was seen. We were afraid of losing the convoy +altogether, and certainly it would have been against the spirit of our +instructions to have attempted to deal single-handed with our opponent. +Giving the enemy a parting shot most reluctantly, Captain Hassall +therefore ordered the helm to be put up, and we ran back in the +direction in which we expected to find the convoy. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note 1. This ordinary watch consists of four hours, and the bell is +struck every half-hour. As the first watch commences at eight, it was +then eleven. There are two dog-watches from four to six and from six to +eight p.m., in order that the same men may not be on duty at the same +hours each day. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +"GOOD-BYE" TO THE CONVOY. + +"Hillo! who have we here?" I heard one of the mates exclaim, as I was +taking a last look of our receding antagonist. "Is this a dead man?" + +"No, not entirely, as yet," said a voice which proceeded, I found, from +a person lying on the deck. + +I remembered my prisoner, and ran to lift him up. He recognised my +voice. "If it hadn't been for you I should have been dead enough by +this time," he said, getting on his feet. + +"Who are you?" I asked, "a friend or a foe?" + +"A friend; or I wouldn't be here at all," he answered, in a tone which +made me feel certain that he spoke the truth. + +"Well, come into the cabin, and tell me all about the matter," I said; +for though he spoke broad Irish, I saw by his manner that he was above +the rank of a common seaman. His appearance when he came into the light +justified me in my opinion. + +"It's just this; I was first mate of a fine brig, the _Kathleen_. We +had been down in the eastern seas, and away into the Pacific, over to +America, trading for some time with the natives, and bringing hides, +seal-skins, and sandal-wood to the Chinamen; and at last, having made a +successful voyage, we were on our homeward passage, when yonder +piratical craft fell in with us. Each man had been promised a share of +the profits, so that we had something to fight for. Fight our poor +fellows did, till there was scarcely one of them left unhurt. We none +of us thought of striking, though; but at last the rascally pirates ran +us aboard, and as they swarmed along our decks cut down every man who +still stood on his legs. How I escaped without a hurt I don't know. I +soon had other troubles; for, being uninjured, I was at once carried +aboard our captor, but before the Frenchmen could secure their prize, +she blew up, with every soul on board, and there was I left a prisoner +alone. I almost envied the fate of our crew. The loss of the prize, +which had cost them so many lives and so much trouble, made the +Frenchmen very savage, especially their captain, who is about as daring +a villain as ever ploughed salt water. This determined him, when he +fell in with your convoy, to try and cut one of them out. He fixed on +you because you were of a size which he thought he could tackle easily, +and he hoped to take you by surprise. Why he did not kill me outright I +do not know, for he treated me like a brute from the moment he got me in +his power; and when we ran you alongside he made me get into the rigging +that I might be shot at; and I thought to myself, The safest plan is to +jump aboard, and if I escape a knock on the head I may stow myself away +before any one sees me. Such is the end of my history at present." + +The name of the vessel which had attacked us was the _Mignonne_, +privateer, of twenty guns and eighty men, Captain Jules La Roche, of the +port of Brest, we learned from the stranger. "And your own name, my +friend?" I asked, not feeling very sure that the truth had been told +us. "Dennis O'Carroll. My name will tell you where I hail from, and +you may look at me as a specimen of one of the most unfortunate men in +the world," he answered. If O'Carroll's account of the size of our +antagonist was correct, we had good reason to be thankful that we had +escaped so easily. Our chief anxiety was now about finding the fleet. +We had no business to have separated from them; for though we might +easily have run out to the East without encountering an enemy, yet, +should any accident have happened to us, our insurers might have +considered our charter invalidated, and Garrard, Janrin and Company +would have been the sufferers. + +We were much relieved by seeing a blue light suddenly burst forth in the +darkness. It came from the deck of the frigate, which had stood after +us to ascertain the cause of the firing. Our adventure had the effect +of keeping the convoy much closer together; for no one could tell when +Captain La Roche would take it into his head to pounce down upon us and +pick up a stray bird, should the frigate be at a distance. He would +have had no chance, however, with the Indiamen, whose officers were in a +very combative mood. Not long before a very gallant action had been +performed by a squadron of them in the Eastern seas--indeed, no country +ever possessed a body of officers in her mercantile marine equal to +those of the Honourable East India Company. + +I heard all about the action on board the _Cuffnells_. One morning, +when I went on deck, I found that there was what might well be called a +calm; the sails of the ships hung up and down the masts without moving, +except every now and then, as they slowly rolled from side to side to +give a loud thundering clap, and once more to subside into sullen +silence. The sea, smooth as a mirror, shone like burnished silver, its +surface ever and anon broken by the fin of some monster of the deep, or +by a covey of flying fish, which would dart through the air till, their +wings dried by the sun, they fell helpless again into their native +element. + +Looking round I recognised the _Cuffnells_ not far off, and, remembering +my promise, asked for a boat to go on board. I was received in the most +friendly manner, and was asked to stop to tiffin and to dinner, if I +could remain as long. + +"Yes, sir, he richly deserved it; every rupee he got--that's my +opinion," observed a yellow-faced gentleman in nankeens and white +waistcoat, sitting at the other end of the table. "I was on board the +_Earl Camden_ on my way home, and I know that, including public and +private investments, the cargoes of our ships could not have been of +less value than eight millions of pounds sterling. We had fifteen +Indiamen and a dozen country ships, with a Portuguese craft and a brig, +the _Ganges_; Captain Dance, our captain, was commodore. This fleet +sailed from Canton on the 31st January, 1804. After sighting Pulo Auro, +near the Straits of Malacca, the _Royal George_, one of the Indiamen, +made the signal for four strange sail in the south-west. On this the +commodore directed four of the Indiamen to go down and examine them. +Lieutenant Fowler, of the navy, who was a passenger on board the _Earl +Camden_, offered to go also in the _Ganges_ to inspect the strangers +more nearly. It was a time of no small anxiety, you may be sure. The +_Ganges_ was a fast sailer, and before long Lieutenant Fowler came back, +with the information that the squadron in sight was French, and +consisted of a line-of-battle ship, three frigates, and a brig. The +question was now, Should we fight or not? If we attempted to make our +escape the enemy would pursue us, and very likely pick us off in detail. +Our safest plan was to put a bold face on the matter, and show that we +were prepared for fighting. This was our gallant commodore's opinion, +and all the other captains agreed with him, especially Captain Timins, +of the _Royal George_, who acted as his second in command. The look-out +ships were now recalled by signal, and the line of battle formed in +close order. As soon as the enemy could fetch in our wake they put +about, and we kept on our course under easy sail. At near sunset they +were close up with our rear, which it seemed as if they were about to +attack. On seeing this Captain Dance prepared with other ships to +hasten to the assistance of that part of our line. Just as the day was +closing, however, the French, not liking our looks, and unwilling to +risk a night engagement, hauled their wind. Lieutenant Fowler was now +sent in the _Ganges_ to station the country ships on our lee bow, by +which means we were between them and the enemy. He brought back some +volunteers, whose assistance was acceptable. We lay to all night--our +men at their quarters. At daybreak of the 15th we saw the enemy also +lying to, and so, hoisting our colours, we offered them battle if they +chose to come down. At nine, finding that they would not accept our +challenge, we formed the order of sailing, and steered our course under +easy sail. The enemy on this filled their sails and edged down towards +us. Now was the time that the mettle of our merchant skippers was to be +tried. Did they, flinch?--Not a bit of it! The commodore, finding that +the enemy proposed to attack and cut off our rear, made the signal for +the fleet to tack and bear down on him, and engage in succession--the +_Royal George_ being the leading ship, the _Ganges_ next, and then the +_Earl Camden_. This manoeuvre was beautifully performed, and we stood +towards the Frenchmen under a press of sail. The enemy then formed in a +very close line and opened fire on the headmost ships, which was not +returned till they got much closer. What do you think of it? Two +merchantmen and a brig engaging a line-of-battle ship, two frigates, and +two other ships of war--for the rest of the fleet had not yet got up. +The _Royal George_ bore the brunt of the action, for Captain Timins took +his ship as close to the enemy as they would let him, and the _Ganges_ +and _Earl Camden_ opened their fire as soon as their guns could take +effect. Before, however, any of the other ships could get into action +the Frenchmen hauled their wind and stood away to the eastward, under +all the sail they could set. On this, at about two p.m., the signal was +made for a general chase, and away went the fleet of merchantmen after +the men-of-war. We pursued them for two hours, when the commodore, +fearing that we might be led too far from the mouth of the straits, made +the signal to tack, and in the evening we anchored ready to pass through +the straits in the morning. We afterwards found that the squadron we +had engaged was that of Admiral Linois, consisting of the _Marengo_, 84 +guns, the _Belle Poule_ and _Semillante_, heavy frigates, a corvette of +28 guns, and a Batavian brig of 18 guns. That the Frenchmen either took +some of our big ships for men-of-war, or fancied that some men-of-war +were near at hand and ready to come to our assistance, is very probable, +but that does not detract from the gallantry of the action. The +Patriotic Fund voted swords and plate to Captain Dance and other +officers, and the East India Company presented him with 2,000 guineas +and a piece of plate worth 500, and Captain Timins 1,000 guineas and a +piece of plate, and all the other captains and officers and men rewards +in plate or money, the whole amounting to not less than 50,000. But +they deserved it, sir--they deserved it; and I suspect that Admiral +Linois and his officers must have pulled out the best part of their hair +when they discovered the prize they had lost. Besides the reward I have +mentioned, Commodore Dance was very properly knighted. In its result," +continued the speaker, "the action was most important." + +"But it was scarcely so annoying to the enemy as another in which some +Indiamen were engaged in 1800," observed a military officer, laying down +his knife and fork, and wiping his moustache. "I was on my passage out +on board the _Exeter_, one of the Indiamen of 1,200 tons, commanded by +Captain Meriton. We had in company the _Bombay Castle, Coutts_, and +_Neptune_, of the same tonnage, besides other ships under the convoy of +the _Belligeux_, of 64 guns, Captain Bulteel. A French squadron of +three large frigates, it appeared, after committing a good deal of +mischief on the coast of Africa, had crossed over to Rio de la Plata to +refit, and had just again put to sea, when, early in the morning, they +made out a part, and some of the lighter ships, probably, of our convoy. +Hoping to pick up some prizes, the Frenchmen stood towards us, and we, +quite ready for the encounter, bore down towards them. No sooner, +however, did the Frenchmen see our big China ships, with their two tiers +of ports and warlike look, than they bore up under a press of sail, and +by signal separated. While the _Belligeux_ steered for the largest of +the French ships, she signalled to the Indiamen I have mentioned to +proceed in chase of the others, we and the _Bombay Castle_ of one of +them, the _Medee_, and the other two of the _Franchise_. We, at the +time, were nearer the _Medee_ than was the _Bombay Castle_, and we also +sailed better. The chase was a long one, but we kept the enemy in +sight, and it was near midnight before we came up with her. The _Bombay +Castle_ was a long way astern, and the frigate might have handled us +very severely, if not knocked us to pieces, before she could have come +up to our assistance. Captain Meriton was not a man to be daunted. +With the decks lighted and all our ports up, he ran alongside the +Frenchman--`Strike, monsieur, to a superior force, to his Britannic +Majesty's ship _Thunderaboo_' he shouted out. `Strike, I say, or--' We +did not know whether the Frenchman would reply with a broadside, which +would have greatly staggered us. Instead of that the Frenchman politely +replied that he yielded to the fortune of war. `Come aboard +immediately,' was the order our bold captain next gave. Not to be +surpassed by the Frenchman, we had a guard ready to assist the captain +up our high side. With the profoundest of bows he delivered his sword, +and he was then asked into the cabin. Immediately we had him safe, +keeping the frigate under our guns, we sent armed boats on board, and +brought away part of her people. When the _Bombay Castle_ came up she +received the remainder, and we then placed a prize crew on board. +Meantime the suspicions of the French captain had been aroused. He had +observed the small size of our guns. The appearance of the Indiaman's +cuddy and the gentlemen and lady passengers--not that there were many of +the latter--must have raised curious doubts in his mind. Suddenly he +jumped up and asked to what ship he had struck. + +"`To the Honourable East India Company's ship _Exeter_,' answered +Captain Meriton, with a bow which beat the Frenchman's. + +"`What, to a merchantman?' exclaimed the Frenchman, with a look of +dismay. + +"`Yes, monsieur, to a merchantman,' said Captain Meriton, with a gentle +smile, which it would have been difficult to repress. + +"`It is not fair; it is vile! it is a cheat!' exclaimed the Frenchman, +beginning to stalk up and down the cabin, to grind his teeth, and to +pull out his hair. `I say it is a cheat; give me back my ship, send on +board my men, and I will fight you bravely. You will soon see if you +take me again.' + +"`I am ready to acknowledge that you would very likely take me, as I +should certainly deserve to be taken for my folly in agreeing to your +proposal. You will excuse me if I therefore decline it,' was the +answer. Though we pitied the feelings of the poor man, it was very +difficult to keep our countenance as he uttered his expressions of +indignation and anger. He did not recover his spirits till his frigate +was out of sight." + +This anecdote was followed by several others. Those were pleasant hours +I spent on board the old Indiaman. My visits to her were indeed an +agreeable change from the sea-life routine of my own ship. I was amused +by the progress in intimacy made among themselves by the younger portion +of the passengers since I first went aboard at Spithead. The captain +confided to me the fact that it cost him much more trouble to maintain +discipline in the cuddy than among his crew. "What with my young ladies +and my chronometers, it is as much as an elderly gentleman can well +accomplish to keep all things straight," he observed, glancing at +several young couples who were pacing the deck, the gentlemen being +cadets or writers. "The friends of those girls now--nice young +creatures they are too,--have sent them out fully expecting that they +would marry nabobs or colonels at least, and in spite of all my +precautions, they have gone and engaged themselves to those young +fellows who have only just got their feet on the ratlines. Small blame +to the gentlemen, however, for a more charming consignment I never had, +only the more charming the more difficult to manage." + +While the calms lasted, I paid daily visits to my friends, but at length +a breeze springing up we proceeded on our voyage, as I must with my +narrative, or I may chance not to get to the end of it. We called off +the beautiful island of Madeira, with its picturesque town of Funchal-- +more attractive on the outside than within; we procured, however, a +welcome supply of fresh meat, vegetables, and fruits. On our crossing +the line, Neptune and his Tritons came on board and played their usual +pranks. Jack little thinks that on such occasions he is performing a +very ancient ceremony, practised by those bold voyagers, the +Carthaginians; to them there is little doubt that the secret of the +mariner's compass was known. On sailing between the Pillars of Hercules +into the wide Atlantic they were visited, not by Hercules himself, but +by his representative priests, to whom they were wont to deliver certain +votive offerings that the propitiated divinity might protect them on +their perilous voyage. The custom of performing ceremonies of a like +description was continued to later times by the mariners of the Levant, +Greece, and Italy, long after the temple of Hercules was in ruins. When +they, and those northern seamen who had learned the scientific parts of +navigation from them, extended their voyages across the line, they +continued the practices, substituting Neptune for Hercules, and adding a +few caricatures to suit their own more barbarous taste. + +Having crossed the line, and there being no longer much risk of our +meeting the cruisers of the enemy, Captain Hassall, who had long fumed +at being kept back by the slow sailing of our companions, determined to +part company. We accordingly hoisted our colours, gave a salute of nine +guns in acknowledgment of the civilities we had received, and under all +sail soon ran the dignified moving convoy out of sight. Light and +contrary winds and calms kept us so long under the sun of the tropics +that the seams of our decks began to open, and, to get them caulked and +other repairs executed, we bore up for Saint Salvador on the coast of +Brazil, belonging to Portugal. We saluted the fort on entering, and +paid every necessary respect to the authorities; but we soon found that +they either suspected our character, or were not inclined, for some +other reason, to treat us in a friendly spirit. A guard was put on +board, and we were told that neither officers nor crew must leave the +ship. + +We were still ignorant of the cause of this treatment, when the master +of an English whaler came alongside with his men armed to the teeth. He +told us that he had a letter of marque, and that on the strength of it, +having fallen in with a Spanish merchantman some way to the south-west, +he had chased and captured her, and found a large number of dollars on +board. Having come into Saint Salvador he found there no less than +seven other Spanish vessels, the masters and crews of which were +favoured by the Portuguese, and he heard that they threatened to follow +him out and capture him and his prize. Our arrival had turned the +scales in his favour, and he offered to remain if we would accompany him +out when we were ready. This Captain Hassall readily promised to do. +As the whaler was strongly manned, a good-sized crew had been put on +board the prize, and thus our three vessels were somewhat of a match for +the Spaniards, we hoped. At length the Governor of the place ordered +the officers of the ship to appear before him. Accordingly Captain +Hassall, the first mate, and I, accompanied by Dennis O'Carroll, who +seemed to be able to speak every language under the sun except pure +English, as interpreter, went on shore under an escort. The Governor, a +fat, swarthy personage in the full dress uniform of a general, received +us in a haughty manner, and cross-questioned us in the most minute and +tedious manner. Dennis somewhat puzzled him by the style of his +answers, which were anything but literal translations of what Captain +Hassall said. The result, however, was favourable, and we were allowed +to go wherever we chose about the city, and to get the necessary repairs +of our ships executed, and to obtain all the stores and provisions we +required. + +Much relieved, we made our bows, and then took a turn through the place +before going on board. I was much struck with the number of churches, +of priests and monks, and black slaves, the latter habited in the most +scanty garments, and the former perambulating the streets in parties, +dressed up in the richest attire of coloured silks and gold, with +banners and crosses, and statues of saints, or representations of events +mentioned in the Scriptures, the figures as large as life. A large +number of friars in black, or brown, or grey gowns of coarse cloth, with +ropes round their waists, were going about two and two, with small +figures of saints on money boxes. The figures they literally thrust +into the faces of the passers-by to be kissed. We saw no one refuse to +drop a coin into the box. + +"These must be a very religiously disposed people," I observed to +Dennis. + +"If you knew what I do you wouldn't say that," he answered. "They're +fond of sinning, and they are ready to pay for it. The reason that all +these priests and monks flourish is this--they have succeeded in +teaching the people that they can buy pardon for all the sins they +commit. The only scrap of real religion the poor people are allowed to +possess is the knowledge that sin must be punished if not forgiven. +Instead, however, of showing them how forgiveness can alone be obtained, +they make them believe that money can buy it through the prayers of the +saints; but when they've got the money in their own pockets, it's very +little trouble they give the saints about the matter at all." + +"How did you learn all this, Mr O'Carroll?" I asked. + +"Just because I believed it all myself," he answered quickly. "I'll +tell you some day how I came to find out that I had been sailing on a +wrong tack; but you think me now a harum-scarum Irishman, and I'm afraid +to talk about the matter." + +On our way we passed through the dockyard, where a fifty-gun ship was +building, and several smaller vessels of war. We were looking at one +repairing alongside the quay, when I saw O'Carroll start, and look +eagerly at the people on board. + +"That's her, I'm certain of it!" he exclaimed. "She has got into +trouble since she parted from you, or you may have done her more harm +than you thought for, and she has put in here with false papers and +under false colours to repair damages." + +"What vessel do you mean?" I asked. + +"Why, the _Mignonne_ to be sure, or by what other name she may go," he +answered. "Probably she is now the _San Domingo_, or some other saint +under Spanish colours, and hailing from some port on the other side of +the Horn. Our friend, Captain Brown, of the whaler, had better make +haste, or she will be after him and his prize." + +"Why not after us then?" I asked. + +"Because Captain La Roche has had enough of your quality, I suspect," he +replied. "He is a fellow who only fights when he is sure of booty, and +though I daresay that he would like to send you to the bottom, he would +not go out of his way either for revenge or glory." + +To satisfy ourselves we examined the stranger as narrowly as we could, +and O'Carroll was thoroughly convinced that he was right in his +suspicions. While thus employed a man appeared at the companion watch. + +"Why, there is La Roche himself!" he cried out. Scarcely had he spoken +than a bullet whizzed by his head. "That settles the matter," he said, +quite coolly. "Let us be out of this, or he will be following up this +compliment." We hurried out of the dockyard. I proposed making a +complaint to the authorities. + +"And be detained here several weeks and gain nothing in the end," he +answered, shaking his head. "My advice is, get ready for sea as fast as +you can, and if you wish to serve Captain Brown see him safe out of +sight of land before the _Mignonne_ can follow. We'll keep a watch on +him in the meantime, or he'll play us some trick or other. Above all +things, don't be on shore after dark. La Roche has plenty of friends +here, depend on that, and he will find means to pick us off if he thinks +that we are likely to inconvenience him." + +Following O'Carroll's suggestions I immediately returned on board. +Captain Hassall at first scarcely credited the account we gave him-- +indeed, he did not, I saw, put thorough confidence in O'Carroll. +However, he agreed that we ought to warn Captain Brown, and that it +would be well for us also to sail before the supposed privateer was +ready for sea. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +THE "BARBARA" ON FIRE. + +We had got our decks caulked, our rigging set up, and other repairs +finished, when, one forenoon, O'Carroll, who had at length ventured on +shore, returned in a great hurry with the information that there was +much bustle on board the _Mignonne_, and that her people were evidently +hurrying to the utmost to get ready for sea. Had Captain Hassall +followed his own inclinations, he would have given the piratical +Frenchman the opportunity of trying his strength with the _Barbara_; but +as that would have been decidedly objected to by Garrard, Janrin and +Company, we, with the whaler and her prize, and another English vessel, +cleared out as secretly as we could, and, with a fair breeze, put to +sea. We had to lay to for the other vessels, and after they had joined +us Captain Brown hailed us, to say that the look-out from his +main-topgallant mast-head had seen a large ship coming out of the +harbour under all sail, and that he thought it possible she might be the +_Mignonne_. As, however, a mist had soon afterwards arisen, she was +concealed from sight. We promised, however, to stand to the northward +with Captain Brown during the night, and in the morning, should no enemy +be in sight, let him and his consorts proceed on their voyage homewards, +while we kept on our course for the Cape of Good Hope. Nothing could +have given our people greater satisfaction than to have found the +Frenchman close to us at daybreak. I spent most of the night in writing +letters home, to send by the whaler. When morning dawned, not a sail, +except our own little squadron, was to be seen. We kept company till +noon, and then, with mutual good wishes, stood away on our respective +courses. We hoped that the _Mignonne_ would follow the _Barbara_ rather +than our friends, should she really have sailed in chase of any of us. +The possibility of our being pursued created much excitement on board. +At early dawn, till the evening threw its mantle over the ocean, we had +volunteers at the mastheads looking out for a strange sail. At the end +of four or five days all expectation of again meeting with the +_Mignonne_ ceased, somewhat to the disappointment of most of the crew, +who were wonderfully full of fight. Having beaten the Frenchman once, +they were very sure that they could beat him again. We had other good +reasons for having our eyes about us--first, to avoid in time any foe +too big to tackle; and then, as we had the right to capture any Spanish +vessels we might fall in with, to keep a look-out for them. However, +the ocean is very broad, and though we chased several vessels, they all +proved to be Portuguese. After sighting the little rocky and then +uninhabited island of Tristan da Cunha, we made the Cape of Good Hope, +and, entering Table Bay, dropped our anchor off Capetown. + +The colony had lately been recaptured from the Dutch by Sir David Baird +and Sir Home Popham, with a well-appointed force of 5,000 men. The two +armies met on the plain at the foot of Table Mountain; but scarcely had +the action been commenced by General Ferguson, at the head of the +Highland brigade, than the wise Hollanders, considering that the English +were likely to prove as good masters as the French, retreated, and soon +after offered to capitulate, which they were allowed to do with all the +honours of war. The Dutch, French, and English were now living on very +friendly terms with each other. The Cape colony, with its clean, +well-laid-out English capital, its Table Mountain and Table Cloth, its +vineyards, its industrious and sturdy Boers, its Hottentot slaves, and +its warlike Kaffirs, is too well-known to require a description. I did +a good deal of trading--a matter of private interest to Garrard, Janrin +and Company, so I will not speak of it. The ship was put to rights, we +enjoyed ourselves very much on shore, and were once more at sea. Strong +easterly winds drove us again into the Atlantic, and when we had +succeeded in beating back to the latitude of Capetown, the weather, +instead of improving, looked more threatening than ever. I had heard of +the peculiar swell off the Cape, but I had formed no conception of the +immense undulations I now beheld. They came rolling on slow and +majestically, solid-looking, like mountains of malachite, heaving up our +stout ship as if she were a mere chip of deal cast on the face of the +ocean. We were alone on the waste of waters, no other objects in sight +besides these huge green masses, which, as the clouds gathered, were +every instant becoming of a darker and more leaden hue. + +"We shall get a breeze soon, and I hope that it will be from the right +quarter for us," I remarked to Benjie Stubbs, the second mate, who had +charge of the deck. + +"We shall have a breeze, and more than we want, Pusser," (intended for +Purser, a name Benjie always persisted in giving me), he answered, +glancing round the horizon. "You've not seen anything like this before, +eh? A man must come to sea to know what's what. There are strange +sights on the ocean." + +"So I have always heard," I remarked. + +"Yes, you'd have said so if you had been on deck last night in the +middle watch," he observed, in a low tone. + +"How so? what happened?" I asked. + +"Why, just this," he answered. "There was not more wind than there is +now, and the sky was clear, with a slice of a moon shining brightly, +when, just as I was looking along its wake, what did I see but a +full-rigged, old-fashioned ship, under all sail, bearing down towards us +at a tremendous rate. When she got within a couple of hundred fathoms +of us she hove-to and lowered a boat. I guessed well enough what she +was, so, running forward, I cast loose one of the guns and pointed at +the boat. They aboard the stranger knew what I was after; the boat was +hoisted in again, and away she went right in the teeth of the wind." + +"Did you see this last night?" I asked, looking the mate in the face. +"I should like to speak to some of the men who saw it at the same time." + +"I don't say all saw it. You may ask those who did, and you won't get a +different story from what I've told you," he replied. + +"And what think you was the ship you saw?" I asked. + +"The _Flying Dutchman_, of course, and no manner of doubt about the +matter," he answered promptly. [Note 1.] "If you had been on the +look-out you would have seen him as clearly as I did. Remember, Pusser, +if you ever fall in with him, don't let him come aboard, that's all. +He'll send you to the bottom as surely as if a red-hot shot was to be +dropped into the hold." + +"Who is this _Flying Dutchman_?" I asked, wishing to humour Benjie by +pretending to believe his story. + +"Why, as to that, there are two opinions," he answered, as if he was +speaking of authenticated facts. "Some say that he was an honest +trader, that he was bound in for Table Bay, when he was ordered off by +the authorities, and that, putting to sea, he was lost; others say that +he was a piratical gentleman, and that on one occasion, when short of +provisions, being driven off the land by contrary winds, he swore a +great oath that he would beat about till the day of doom, but that get +in he would. He and all his crew died of starvation, but the oath has +been kept; and when gales are threatening, or mischief of any kind +brewing, he is to be met with, trying in vain to accomplish his vow." + +I smiled at Benjie's account, whereat he pretended to look very +indignant, as if I had doubted his veracity. I afterwards made +inquiries among the seamen. Two or three asserted that they had +witnessed an extraordinary sight during the night, but they all differed +considerably in their accounts. It may be supposed that they were +trying to practise on the credulity of a greenhorn. My belief is that +they really fancied that they had seen what they described. + +The clouds grew thicker and thicker till they got as black as ink. The +sea became of a dark leaden hue, and the swell increased in height, so +that when we sank down into the intermediate valley, we could not see +from the deck beyond the watery heights on either side of us. + +"Ah, the skipper is right; we shall have it before long, hot and +furious." + +This remark, made by Benjie Stubbs, followed the captain's order to send +down all our lighter spars, and to make everything secure on deck, as +well as below. The ship was scarcely made snug before the tempest broke +on us. The high, smooth rollers were now torn and wrenched asunder as +it were, their summits wreathed with masses of foam, which curled over +as they advanced against the wind, and breaking into fragments, blew off +in masses of snowy whiteness to leeward. I scarcely thought that a +fabric formed by human hands could have sustained the rude shocks we +encountered till the ship was got on her course, and we were able to +scud before the gale. Often the sea rose up like a dead wall, and +seemed as if it must fall over our deck and send us to the bottom. The +scene was trying in the daytime, but still more so when darkness covered +the face of the deep, and it needed confidence in the qualities of our +ship, and yet greater in God's protecting power, not to feel overcome +with dread. There was a grandeur in the spectacle which kept me on +deck, and it was not till after the steward had frequently summoned me +to supper that I could tear myself from it. Curious was the change to +the well-lighted, handsome cabin, with the supper things securely placed +between fiddles and puddings [Note 1.] on the swing table. The first +mate had charge of the deck. Stubbs was busily employed fortifying his +nerves. "You now know, Pusser, what a gale off the Cape is," he +observed, looking up with his mouth half full of beef and biscuit. + +"Yes, indeed," said I. "Fine weather, too, for your friend the +_Dutchman_ to be cruising." + +"Ay, and likely enough we shall see him, too," he answered. "It was +just such a night as this, some five years back, that we fell in with +him off here; and our consort, as sound a ship as ever left the Thames, +with all hands, was lost. It's my belief that he put a boat aboard her +by one of his tricks." I saw Captain Hassall and Irby exchange glances. +Stubbs was getting on his favourite subject. + +"Well, now, I've doubled this Cape a dozen times or more, and have never +yet once set eyes on this Dutch friend of yours, Benjie," exclaimed +O'Carroll. "Mind you call me if we sight his craft; I should like to +`ya, ya' a little with him, and just ask him where he comes from, and +what he's about, and maybe if I put the question in a civil way I'll get +a civil answer." By-the-bye, Captain Hassall and I had been so well +pleased with O'Carroll, and so satisfied as to his thorough knowledge of +the regions we were about to visit and the language of the people, that +we had retained him on board as supernumerary mate. + +"Don't you go and speak to him now, if you value the safety of the ship, +or our lives," exclaimed Stubbs, in a tone of alarm. "You don't know +what trick he'll play you if you do. Let such gentry alone, say I." + +We all laughed at the second mate's earnestness, though I cannot say +that all the rest of those present disbelieved in the existence of the +condemned _Dutchman_. The state of the atmosphere, the strange, wild, +awful look of the ocean, prepared our minds for the appearance of +anything supernatural. The captain told me that I looked ill and tired +from having been on deck so many hours, and insisted on my turning in, +which I at length unwillingly did. + +In spite of the upheaving motion of the ship, and the peculiar sensation +as she rushed down the watery declivity into the deep valley between the +seas, I fell asleep. The creaking of the bulkheads, the whistling of +the wind in the rigging, the roaring of the seas, and their constant +dash against the sides, were never out of my ears, and oftentimes I +fancied that I was on deck witnessing the tumult of the ocean--now that +the _Flying Dutchman_ was in sight, now that our own good ship was +sinking down overwhelmed by the raging seas. + +"Mr Stubbs wants you on deck, sir; she's in sight, sir, he says, she's +in sight," I heard a voice say, while I felt my elbow shaken. The +speaker was Jerry Nott, our cabin-boy. I slipped on my clothes, +scarcely knowing what I was about. + +"What o'clock is it?" I asked. "Gone two bells in the morning watch," +he answered. I sprang on deck. The dawn had broke. The wind blew as +hard as ever. The sky and sea were of a leaden grey hue, the only spots +of white were the foaming crests of the seas and our closely-reefed +foretop sails. "There, there! Do you see her now?" asked Stubbs, +pointing ahead. As we rose to the top of a giant sea I could just +discover in the far distance, dimly seen amid the driving spray, the +masts of a ship, with more canvas set than I should have supposed would +have been shown to such a gale. While I was looking I saw another ship +not far beyond the first. We were clearly nearing them. + +"What do you think of that?" asked Stubbs. + +"That there are two ships making very bad weather of it, Mr Stubbs," +answered the captain, who at that moment had come on deck. He took a +look through his glass. + +"She is a large ship--a line-of-battle ship, I suspect," he observed. + +"Looks like one," said Stubbs. "She'll look like something else +by-and-by." + +The rest of the officers had now joined us except Mr Randolph, who had +the middle watch. We were all watching the strangers together. Now, as +we sank down into the hollow, the masses of spray which blew off from +the huge sea uprising between us and them, hid them from our sight. +Some differed with the captain as to the size of the largest ship. One +or two thought that she was an Indiaman. However, she was still so +distant, and in the grey dawn so misty-looking and indistinct, that it +was difficult to decide the question. The captain himself was not +certain. "However, we shall soon be able to settle the matter," he +observed, as the _Barbara_, now on the summit of a mountain billow, was +about to glide down the steep incline. Down, down, we went--it seemed +that we should never be able to climb the opposite height. We were all +looking out for the strangers, expecting to settle the disputed point. +"Where are they?" burst from the lips of all of us. "Where, where?" We +looked, we rubbed our eyes--no sail was in sight. "I knew it would be +so," said Stubbs, in a tone in which I perceived a thrill of horror. +O'Carroll asserted that he had caught sight of the masts of a ship as if +sinking beneath the waves. + +"Very likely," observed Stubbs, "that was of the ship he was sending to +the bottom,--the other was the _Dutchman_, and you don't see her now." + +"No, no, they were craft carrying human beings, and they have foundered +without a chance of one man out of the many hundreds on board being +saved!" exclaimed the captain. + +Stubbs shook his head as if he doubted it. We careered on towards the +spot where the ships had gone down, for that real ships had been there +no doubt could be entertained. A strict look-out was kept for anything +that might still be floating to prove that we had not been deceived by +some phantom forms. Those on the look-out forward reported an object +ahead. "A boat! a boat!" shouted one of them. "No boat could live in +such a sea," observed the captain. He was right. As we approached, we +saw a grating, to which a human being was clinging. It was, when first +seen, on the starboard bow, and it was, alas! evident that we should +leave him at too great a distance even to heave a rope to which he might +clutch. By his dress he appeared to be a seaman. He must have observed +our approach; but he knew well enough that we could make no attempt to +save him. He gazed at us steadily as we glided by--his countenance +seemed calm--he uttered no cry--still he clung to his frail raft. He +could not make up his mind to yield to death. It was truly a painful +sight. We anxiously watched him till we left the raft to which he still +clung far astern. No other person was seen, but other objects were +seen--floating spars, planks, gratings--to prove that we were near a +spot where a tall ship had gone down. "It is better so," observed the +captain; "unless the sea had cast them on our deck we could not have +saved one of them." We rushed on up and down the watery heights, Stubbs +as firmly convinced as ever that the _Flying Dutchman_ had produced the +fearful catastrophe we had witnessed. On we went--the gale in no way +abating. I watched the mountain seas till I grew weary of looking at +them; still I learned to feel perfectly secure--a sensation I was at +first very far from experiencing. Yet much, if not everything, depended +on the soundness of our spars and rigging: a flaw in the wood or rope +might be the cause of our destruction. I went below at meal-time, but I +hurried again on deck, fascinated by the scene, though I would gladly +have shut it out from my sight. At length, towards night, literally +wearied with the exertion of keeping my feet and watching those giant +seas, I went below and turned in. I slept, but the huge white-crested +waves were still rolling before me, and big ships were foundering, and +phantom vessels were sailing in the wind's eye, and I heard the +bulkheads creaking, the wind whistling, and the waves roaring, as loudly +as if I was awake; only I often assigned a wrong sign to the uproar. +Hour after hour this continued, when, as I had at last gone off more +soundly, a crash echoed in my ears, followed by shrieks and cries. It +did not, however, awake me. It seemed a part of the strange dreams in +which I was indulging. I thought that the ship had struck on a rock, +that I escaped to the shore, had climbed up a lofty cliff, on the summit +of which I found a wood fire surrounded by savages. They dragged me to +it--I had the most fearful forebodings of what they were about to do. +Then I heard the cry, "Fire! fire!" That was a reality--the smell of +fire was in my nostrils--I started up--I was alone in the cabin. The +ship was plunging about in an awful manner. I hurried on my clothes and +rushed on deck. Daylight had broke. The ship lately so trim seemed a +perfect wreck. The foremast had been carried away, shivered to the +deck, and hung over the bows, from which part of the crew were +endeavouring to clear it. The main and mizen-topmasts had likewise been +carried away. Smoke was coming up the fore hatchway, down which the +rest of the people were pouring buckets of water. I went forward to +render assistance. The foremast had been struck by lightning, and the +electric fluid, after shattering it, had descended into the hold and set +the ship on fire. We worked with the desperation of despair. Should +the fire once gain the mastery, no human power could save us. The sea +was running as high as ever; it was with difficulty that the ship could +be kept before it. I exchanged but a few words with my companions; a +bucket was put into my hands, and I at once saw what I had to do. The +smoke after a time had decreased, for as yet no flames had burst forth. +"Now, lads, follow me," cried Randolph, the first officer, leaping below +with his bucket and an axe in his hand. Irby and four men sprang after +him. With his axe the mate cut a way to get at the heart of the fire. +We handed down buckets to his companions, who kept emptying them round +where he was working. The smoke was still stifling. Those below could +scarcely be seen as they worked amidst it. The bulkhead was cut +through. The seat of the mischief was discovered. Flames were bursting +forth, but wet blankets were thrown on them. The buckets were passed +rapidly down. The smoke was decreasing. "Hurrah, lads! we shall have +it under!" cried the first mate, in an encouraging tone. We breathed +more freely. The fire was subdued. The peril had indeed been great. +We had now to clear the wreck of the mast, which threatened to stave in +the bows. "The gale is breaking," cried the captain, after looking +round the horizon; "cheer up, my lads, and we shall do well!" +Encouraged by the captain the men laboured on, though from the violent +working of the ship it was not without great difficulty and danger that +the mass of spars, ropes, and canvas could be hauled on board or cast +adrift. As a landsman my assistance was not of much value, though I +stood by clinging to the bulwarks, to lend a hand in case I should be +required. While glancing to windward, as I did every now and then, in +hopes of seeing signs of the abatement of the gale, I caught sight of +what seemed the wing of an albatross, skimming the summit of a tossing +sea. I looked again and again. There it still was as at first. I +pointed it out to the captain. "A sail running down towards us," he +observed; "it is to be hoped that she is a friend, for we are in a sorry +plight to meet with a foe." The captain's remark made me feel not a +little anxious as to the character of the approaching stranger. After a +time it became evident that the wind was really falling. The wreck of +the mast was at last cleared away, but a calm sea would be required +before we could attempt to get up a jury-mast. We had watched the +approach of the stranger: she was steering directly for us. As she drew +nearer I saw O'Carroll examining her narrowly through the glass. "Here +comes the _Flying Dutchman_ again," I observed to Stubbs. + +"Not at all certain that she isn't," he answered, quite in a serious +tone. + +"No, she's not that, but she's ten times worse," exclaimed O'Carroll; +"she is the _Mignonne_, as I am a seaman, and will be bothering us +pretty considerably, depend on that." + +We heartily hoped that he was mistaken, but certainly she was very like +the craft we had seen at Saint Salvador. She passed us as near as the +heavy sea still running would allow her to do without danger to herself. +A man was standing in the mizen rigging. I caught sight of his face +through my telescope. I thought that I distinguished a look of +satisfaction in his countenance as he gazed at us. "That's La Roche; I +know the villain!" cried O'Carroll; "I thought from what I heard that he +was bound out here. He'll work us ill, depend on that." We now wished +that the sea had continued to run as high as it had hitherto been doing, +when it would have been impossible for the privateer to have boarded us. +It was now, however, rapidly going down, though as yet it was too rough +to allow her to attempt to run alongside. It was possible that she +might pass us. No! After running on a short distance her yards were +braced sharp up, and she stood back, with the evident intention of +attacking our helpless craft. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note 1. Contrivances to prevent articles falling off a table at sea. + +Note 2. We never hear of the _Flying Dutchman_ now-a-days. The fact is +that he had the monopoly of sailing or going along rather in the teeth +of the wind. Now steamers have cut him out, and he is fain to hide his +diminished head. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER. + +O'Carroll's alarm increased as he saw the privateer approaching. "We +shall all have our throats cut to a certainty," he cried out. "They +will not leave one of us alive to go home to our disconsolate widows to +tell them all that has happened. I know them too well, the villains! +Arrah! it was an unfortunate moment that ever I was brought to tumble +twice into the hands of such gentry." + +"We are not in their hands yet, and if we make a good fight of it, maybe +we never shall," exclaimed Captain Hassall. "My lads, if you'll stand +by me, I'll hold out as long as the craft can float. We beat off this +same fellow once before--let's try if we can't beat him off again." + +This brief address inspirited our crew, and, almost worn out with +fatigue as they were, they promised to defend themselves to the last. +My sensations, as we saw the enemy approach, were not altogether +pleasant. We might beat him off in the end; but even that, in our +present condition, was not likely; and how many of our number might not +be struck down in the struggle! In the meantime, the men armed +themselves with pistols and cutlasses, powder and shot were got up, and +every preparation made for the fight. The enemy approached, but as he +had run to leeward, it was some time before he could work up to pass us +to windward. We had carried a stay from the mainmast to the bowsprit, +and on this we managed to set a sail, so that the ship was tolerably +under control. When the enemy, therefore, at last passed under our +stern, we were able to luff up and avoid the raking fire he poured in. +No damage was done to any of our people, but a shot struck the mainmast, +and wounded it so badly that it was evident that, with any additional +strain, it would be carried away altogether. Putting up the helm, we +again ran off before the wind. The enemy was soon after us, but though +he came up abeam in the heavy sea still running, his aim was of +necessity uncertain, and for some time not a shot struck us, while +several of ours struck him. This encouraged our men, who gave vent to +their satisfaction whenever he was hulled, or a shot went through his +sails. Our hopes of success were, however, soon brought to an end, for, +as we were compelled to luff up suddenly, to avoid being raked, as he +was about to cross our bows, the heavy strain on our wounded mast +carried it away, and with it the mizen-topmast, and there we lay a +helpless wreck in the trough of the sea, at the mercy of the enemy. +Still, as we could work our guns we would not give in, but hoisting our +flag on the mizen-mast we continued firing as long as we could bring our +guns to bear. A loud cheer burst from the throats of our crew; the +Frenchman was standing away. This exultation was rather too +precipitate. As soon as he got out of range of our guns, he hove-to and +began firing away from a long gun, the shot from which occasionally hit +us. One poor fellow was killed and two wounded. It was clear that the +privateer was merely waiting till the sea should go down, when he would +run alongside and capture us without difficulty. + +Captain Hassall at last, seeing what must inevitably occur, called the +officers round him, and proposed surrendering. "The villains will cut +all our throats if we do, that's all," observed O'Carroll. "I would +rather hold out to the last and sell our lives dearly." Most of us were +of O'Carroll's opinion. + +"Very well, gentlemen, so let it be," said the captain. "I have done my +duty in offering to surrender, when I consider that successful +resistance is hopeless; still I agree with you that it would be better +to die fighting than to be murdered in cold blood." + +When our guns became useless, the crew had been set to work to clear the +wreck of the mainmast, and to prepare sheers for a jury foremast. "And +this is to be the termination of our enterprise," I thought. I must own +I gave way to some bitter reflection. While all hands were busily +employed, I turned my eyes westward, and there, in the very place where +the _Mignonne_ had appeared, I saw another white sail. I pointed her +out to the captain. "She may be a friend, and turn the tables," he +observed. "If a foe we shall not be worse off than at present." + +It soon became known that a sail was in sight. The crew came to the +conclusion that she was a friend. The Frenchmen at last saw her. +Whatever opinion they formed, they judged that it would be wise to +finish the fight and take possession of us. Once more the enemy drew +near. The firing became hotter than ever. I turned many an anxious +glance at the approaching sail. I felt sure that, in spite of the +staunchness of our men, we must inevitably be overpowered. The stranger +was getting closer and closer. + +"She is a frigate!" cried the captain. "She shows English colours! +hurrah! hurrah!" The enemy saw that the chance of capturing us was +gone. Sweeping round us, with diabolical malice he gave a parting +broadside, which killed one man and wounded another, and then under all +the sail he could set ran off before the wind. The frigate had now also +made more sail and closed as rapidly. She came close to us. "Are you +in a sinking state?" asked a voice from the frigate. "I hope not," +answered Captain Hassall. "Then hold on and we'll come back to you," +said the voice, which we took to be that of the captain. As I was +watching the frigate through my glass, as she rushed by us, who should I +see standing in the main rigging but my own midshipman brother William! +I waved heartily to him, but he did not make me out. From my usual +sedate manners, my shipmates seeing my gestures thought that I had gone +mad, and was waving to be taken on board the frigate. "She is the +_Phoebe_ frigate," I exclaimed, jumping out of the rigging on deck. "No +fear that we shall be deserted now!" I then explained how I came to +know the name of the frigate. All hands were now set to work to get the +ship to rights. The chase, meantime, became very exciting. "The +captain does not know what a fast pair of heels that privateering +scoundrel possesses, or he would not have much hopes of catching him," +observed Captain Hassall, as he watched the two vessels. The topsails +of the Frenchman soon disappeared beneath the horizon, and the shades of +evening at length closing down, we were left alone on the world of +waters, into which the heavy swell made us roll our sides till we almost +dipped our bulwarks under--each time showers of spray being sent +dripping off them. The enemy had made several shot-holes in our sides, +and those were now, we found, taking in the water faster than was +altogether agreeable. The carpenter and his mates had indeed hard work +to stop them. I have heard of people's hair turning white in a single +night. I felt as if mine would, for it became doubtful if after all the +ship would swim, from the quantity of water she was taking in. We, +indeed, had reason to regret that we had allowed the frigate to leave +us. At last the morning broke. We eagerly looked round the horizon. +No sail was in sight. Would the ship float another day? The shot-holes +had been stopped, but should bad weather again come on it would be +impossible to say what would be the effect on the vessel. Noon came, +but no sail was in sight. We were afraid that the cunning privateer had +led the frigate a long chase, perhaps among shoals and reefs, and that +she had got on shore, and that we might not see the frigate again. + +"More likely that she was only the _Flying Dutchman_, taking a longer +cruise than usual," muttered Stubbs. "There's no saying what tricks +that fellow is not up to." + +"What, not got the _Dutchman_ out of your head yet, Stubbs?" said +Randolph. "Why, Biddulph saw his brother on board, and two or three of +our people know the _Phoebe_, and recognised her." + +"Yes, I know that's what often happens. The _Dutchman_ can make his +ship look like any vessel he chooses," persisted Stubbs; "naturally-- +that is to say as she generally appears--she is a curious old-fashioned +rigged craft--you may depend on that." + +While we were speaking--taking a breath between our labours, for all +hands had been working hard--"A sail, a sail!" was shouted by one of the +seamen. We all looked in the direction in which he pointed, and there +appeared the upper sails of a ship. Our hopes made us believe that it +was the frigate. "As likely the Frenchman come to finish us off, or +maybe only the _Flying Dutchman_ again," said Stubbs. I thought that I +detected a gleam of humour in his eye, as if he was not quite so +credulous as he pretended to be. As the stranger approached, the belief +that she was the _Phoebe_ gained ground. At length those who knew her +best said that there was no doubt about the matter. They were right. +Before dark she hove-to close to us, and a boat with a midshipman in her +boarded us. The midshipman was my brother William. He almost tumbled +back with surprise at seeing me, for he did not even know that I was +coming out. + +"Why, James, where have you sprung from?" he exclaimed. "I am thankful +to see you unhurt, for we have been anxious about you all day. Couldn't +tell how much damage the rascal might have done you. Well, he escaped +after all. He has a fast pair of heels, indeed, and he led us a pretty +chase, till he got in among some reefs, on which we were nearly leaving +our bones. We saw our danger, however, and by the time we were clear he +was out of sight." + +The boat's crew were directed to remain on board to put the ship to +rights. When, however, Captain Young found that this would occupy some +time, he offered to take us in tow. A hawser was accordingly passed on +board, and away we went in the wake of the frigate. Our course was for +the Isle of Bourbon, lately captured from the French. At the end of a +week we anchored in the Bay of Saint Paul in that island. On our way +there we had done our best to get the ship in order. Our crew were now +set to work in earnest, aided by some of the men of the _Phoebe_, who +were kindly spared to us by her captain. I took the opportunity of +seeing something of the island. My brother William and some of the +other midshipmen of the _Phoebe_ got leave to accompany me, and merry +parties we had. + +Bourbon is about one hundred and fifty miles in circumference, and rises +rapidly from the sea, forming one huge blunt-topped mountain in the +centre; indeed, the whole island is not unlike a big tea-cup in the +middle of the ocean, with some rather large cracks, however, in it. It +is generally fertile, coffee and cotton being grown on it. On the south +side, a few miles from the sea, there is a volcano, which grumbled and +growled, but seldom did more than send forth a little smoke. The +inhabitants did not appear to be at all soured at having been placed +under British rule. + +Probably, indeed, it was a matter of indifference to them, for they have +themselves sprung from a mixture of half the races under the sun. Many +of the inhabitants are descended from some of those English pirates +whose headquarters were, for nearly a hundred years, on the island of +Madagascar, but who, about the middle of the seventeenth century, +growing weary of their lawless calling, settled here. As their wives +were mostly from Madagascar, they are somewhat darkish, but not +bad-looking. They are a lively, merry race, fond of dancing, and their +climate is delightful. The names of some of the families belonging to +the island are derived from the English, as are those of several places. +I remember a bay in Madagascar, Antongil Bay, which clearly takes its +name from the well-known pirate-leader, Antony Gill, who robbed and +murdered on the high seas early in the seventeenth century. + +A squadron and troops were collecting here, the latter under General +Abercrombie, for an expedition to the Mauritius. We were greatly +disappointed, I must own, that our ship was not in a condition to +proceed to sea, or we should have been chartered to convey troops and +been witnesses of the triumphs we hoped they would achieve. My object +is, however, to describe my own adventures in the pursuit of pacific +commerce. I will thus only briefly say that the expedition arrived +speedily off the Mauritius, the troops were landed, and that after some +sharp fighting, by which we lost one hundred and fifty men killed and +wounded, the French General, De Caen, capitulated. We had several sepoy +regiments, and the French general, in order to inspire the colonial +troops with contempt for them, publicly promised that whoever should +capture a sepoy should have him for a slave; but the militia appear to +have thought that by so doing they might possibly catch a Tartar, for +not a sepoy was made prisoner. + +I made some satisfactory sales at Bourbon, and as soon as the ship was +repaired she followed the men-of-war to the Isle of France. The island +is about thirty-five miles long, and one hundred and fifteen in +circumference, with a surface greatly diversified by hill and plain, +wood and plantation, with several considerable mountains, the chief of +which, Le Pouce and Pieter Botte, in the neighbourhood of Port Louis, +are well-known. The harbour was a complete forest of masts, filled with +vessels of all sorts and sizes, from the huge line-of-battle ship to the +humble canoe, not unlike a butcher's tray, scooped out of a single log. +The British flag waved triumphantly on all the batteries; and Indiamen, +transport prizes, merchant craft of all descriptions, displayed English +colours, in most cases flying over the French. Numerous boats, too, +were plying to and fro filled with naval and military officers, captains +of Indiamen, sailors, lascars, negroes, and Frenchmen, some on business, +some on pleasure, but all seeming to be in a hurry. I looked out with +no little curiosity for any craft which might answer the description of +our late antagonist, the _Mignonne_. If she had entered the harbour, +she had again escaped before the capture of the place, for she was +nowhere to be seen. It would have been satisfactory to have seen our +friend caged, but it was too probable that he was still roving over the +ocean, on the watch to plunder any English craft he could venture to +attack. + +The scene on shore was even more animated than on the water. The +streets were crowded with people of many nations: naval and military +officers, English and French Government civilians, merchants and other +traders, Asiatics and negroes, almost naked slaves dragging along +horse-loads in carts, with mongrels of every shade of colour. The town, +though in a bustle, was perfectly orderly; the shops were all open, and +their owners seemed to be driving a thriving trade, as were also the +keepers of taverns, which were full of visitors from fleet and camp. We +fortunately had several articles among the cargo of the _Barbara_, of +which our countrymen were much in want, not to be found in the stores of +the place. They were, however, quickly disposed of, and I was then at +leisure to amuse myself as I thought fit. I made several excursions on +shore with my brother when he could get leave, and I had thus an +opportunity of learning the productions of the island. The chief food +of the lower orders and slaves is yams and the _jatropha_, or cassada, +of which there are two species commonly known, the _jatropha janipha_, +and the _jatropha manihot_. The former contains a strong vegetable +poison, which is destroyed by boiling; the latter is merely slightly +narcotic in its effects, and both are easily converted into wholesome +food. The root, after being well washed and dried in the sun, is +usually scraped into a coarse powder, from which the juice is expressed: +it is then dried a second time and formed into thin cakes, very similar +in appearance to Scotch barley-cakes. The bread thus made is called +manioc. Tapioca is also a preparation of the root. Plantains, bananas, +melons, and mangoes abound, and the last are especially fine. The +climate is healthy, but the Mauritius is occasionally visited by +terrific hurricanes, which commit great damage both afloat and on shore. +We soon made friends among the French residents, and one of them, with +whom I had had some transactions, invited William and me, and a military +acquaintance, Captain Mason, to his house in the country. We were most +hospitably entertained by our worthy host. The house was large and +airy, with a verandah running round it on one side sufficiently broad to +enable us to sit out and enjoy the cool breeze, while we sipped our +coffee. We had proposed returning that evening, but the wind got up, it +rained heavily, and became very dark. Our host pressed us to stay, and +as William's leave extended to the next morning we accepted his +invitation, he undertaking to put my brother on board in time. Our +companion, Captain Mason, was a quiet, amiable man. He was married and +as he expected to remain on the island, he had, he told us, sent for his +wife from the Cape of Good Hope, where he had left her. I cannot now +describe the incidents of our visit. + +The next morning, soon after daybreak, having taken an early breakfast +of a lighter character than suited our English appetites, we drove back +to Port Louis. The weather had grown worse instead of improving, and as +we drew near the town we saw in the distance two vessels with English +colours approaching the harbour. William had to hurry on board his +ship, but Mason and I drove on to a spot where we could see them enter. +One gained an anchorage in safety, but the other still continued +outside, steering wildly, as if uncertain what course to take. It was +soon evident that she was in great danger. While we were looking on, +Captain Hassall joined us. There were a number of naval officers, +masters of merchantmen, and others collected on the shore. "She is said +to have a pilot on board, and an ignorant fellow he must be, or he would +have anchored outside ere this if he could not get in," observed Captain +Hassall. While he was speaking, the vessel got into the swell of the +sea which was dashing on the rocks close at hand. Rapidly she came +drifting towards them. Probably the master then asserted his authority, +for two anchors were let go. The fate of the ship, and probably of all +on board, depended on the anchors holding. With deep anxiety we watched +her as the huge swells came rolling in towards the rocks. A cry arose +from the collected crowd--"The cables have parted--the cables have +parted!" The hapless craft was lifted by the next surge, and hurried on +amid the foaming breakers towards the rocks. At that instant the +foresail was set, in the hopes of its helping to force her over them. +It was useless; down she came with a tremendous crash on the black +rocks. For a few minutes she continued beating on them, rocking to and +fro in the wildest agitation; then a huge surge, which appeared to have +been for some time collecting its strength, struck her on the side, and +rolled her over, as if she had been merely a child's plaything, towards +the shore, to all appearance overwhelmed, so as never to rise again. +The wild breakers dashed triumphantly over her, but she was not +conquered, though it seemed a wonder that wood and iron should hold +together under the tremendous shocks she was receiving. Once more she +rose to an erect position, and it was seen that her dauntless crew were +endeavouring to cut away her masts. "It is the only thing they can do +to save their lives," observed Hassall, watching them through his glass. +"And see,--yes--there is a woman on board--a lady by her dress. She is +clinging to the windlass--probably secured to it." As he was speaking, +the mizen-mast came down, followed quickly by the mainmast, which +happily fell towards the shore. Again a surge covered the vessel. We +feared that all on board would be swept from the decks; but when again +the surge receded, the people were seen clinging fast as before. A boat +from one of the men-of-war now approached the wreck, but the officer in +command soon saw that he should only throw away his own life and the +lives of those with him if he should attempt to go near enough to +receive any one on board. The foremast now fell, and still the stout +ship hung together. Other boats came up and got as near as it was +possible to go. That those on board thought she would not hold together +much longer was evident by the efforts they began to make to escape. + +First we observed a man descend the foremast as if with the intention of +swimming ashore. His courage, however, forsook him; he paused and +returned. Again he climbed along the mast, but hesitated--it was indeed +a desperate undertaking. At length he cast himself into the water: +immediately he was overwhelmed. Would he ever again reach the surface? +"Yes! yes! there he is," cried out several. For a moment he was seen +struggling bravely. A groan escaped from the spectators: "He's gone! +he's gone!" "No, no, he is still floating," many shouted out. So he +was; but whirled here and there, blinded and confused, he was unable to +guide himself. He was seen, happily, from one of the boats: she dashed +forward, and he was hauled on board without apparently having struck a +rock. All this time the people on the wreck had been watching him with +intense anxiety, especially the poor lady: "If a strong and bold swimmer +could scarcely be saved, what chance had she?" Hassall made the remark. +"Not one would have a prospect of being saved if trusting only to his +own strength; but there is a Ruler above," said Captain Mason, who had +hitherto been watching the wreck without speaking; "He may save that +poor woman on the wreck as easily as the strongest seaman." I have +often since thought of my friend's remark. It is not our own right arm, +but God in heaven, without whose knowledge not a sparrow falls to the +ground, who preserves us in many dangers. Captain Mason begged for the +use of Hassall's glass, and looked steadfastly through it at the wreck. +"It is impossible, yet the figure is like--I cannot make it out," I +heard him say. The success of the first man induced another to attempt +reaching the shore. He hurried along to the end of the mast and threw +himself into the water. The boiling surges whirled him round and +round--now he was concealed by the foam--now he appeared struggling +onward--still it seemed scarcely possible that he could escape from the +boiling cauldron--just then a broken spar floated near him. Had the end +struck him he must have been lost, but it came on so that he could +clutch the middle. Tightly he grasped it till like his shipmate he was +floated near one of the boats and taken on board. Two other men, +encouraged by the success of the first, attempted to reach the boats by +the same means, but scarcely had they committed themselves to the water +when a huge roller came roaring on, dashing over the ship, and as it +receded swept them off far away to sea; for a moment their forms were +seen struggling amidst the foam, and then they were hid for ever from +human eye. The lives of the remainder on board seemed more than ever in +danger. Should the storm increase, of which there seemed every +probability, the ship must go to pieces, even if they were not first +washed off the deck, and then what effort could save them? I was more +than ever interested in their fate, when suddenly the idea occurred to +me that the lady on board might be the wife of my friend Mason. I +thought that he had the same idea, though he would not allow himself to +entertain it, by the agitation he exhibited, and which he in vain tried +to control. As yet the men who had been saved had not been brought on +shore. More boats were coming down the harbour. At length a fine +whale-boat was brought down not far from where we were standing. A +naval officer, whose name I regret that I did not note, volunteered to +take the command, and to go alongside the wreck, if volunteers could be +found to man her. Hassall at once offered his services, as did several +other masters of merchantmen standing by, and they were accepted. Mason +and I also volunteered. "Not unless you are seamen," was the answer. +"This work requires firm nerves and skilful hands." I must observe here +that I have ever found the officers of the mercantile marine ready to go +forth, in spite of all dangers, to save the lives of their +fellow-creatures. Though there are exceptions, the greater number are +as gallant fellows as any of those who have fought the battles of our +country. + +The boat was manned and ready to go off, but it became a question +whether it would be wise to wait on the prospect of the sea going down, +or to risk all and to go off at once on the possibility of the gale +increasing. The men who had been rescued were brought on shore. Mason +hurried to them, and eagerly inquired who was the woman on board. They +were common seamen, and did not know her name. She was a lady, and had +come on board at Cape Town just as the ship was sailing. That was all +they knew. The naval officer had earnestly been watching the huge +rollers as they came tumbling on towards the shore. Suddenly he cried +out, "Now, gentlemen, we'll be off." Away went the boat amid the +foaming seas towards the hapless wreck. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +IN TROUBLED WATERS. + +Hassall had left me his telescope. I could see the people on board the +wreck stretching out their hands towards the boat as she left the shore +on her errand of mercy. Mason every now and then asked for the glass +and looked towards the wreck. He seemed more and more convinced that +the lady on board was his wife. Yet could he do nothing? Yes, he +could. Though he could not exert his body I saw that he was doing all +that man in his utmost extremity can do. His lips were moving, his head +was bent forward, his eyes glancing at times at the boat and the ship, +his hands were clasped tightly in prayer, forgetful of the crowds +surrounding him. The boat, impelled by lusty strokes, darted on. She +reached the wreck. The lady was lifted in. No one seemed inclined to +follow. The danger was fearful. Not before, since she struck, had one +of the huge rollers failed at much shorter intervals to dash over and +over the ship. Should one of them overtake the boat her fate would be +sealed. On came the boat towards the beach. A number of seamen rushed +down into the surf to receive her and haul her up as soon as she should +touch the sand. The excitement among the crowd was tremendous. Far off +I saw one of these huge billows rushing onwards. If it broke before the +boat could reach the beach it would overwhelm her. The least excited of +the crowd, to all appearance, was my friend Captain Mason. He advanced +slowly towards the spot which it seemed probable the boat would reach, +then he stopped for a moment. On she came, her keel grated on the sand, +sturdy shoulders bore her along upwards, and ere the coming roller burst +she was safe beyond its reach. The lady lay almost overcome in the +stern sheets. Mason uttered his wife's name, she looked up, and in +another moment she was placed in his arms. A communication was +afterwards established between the wreck and the shore, and most of the +crew landed before the gale again came down with redoubled fury. By the +morning scarce a vestige of the ship remained. I had the pleasure of +seeing Mrs Mason completely recovered two days afterwards, and thankful +for her providential escape. + +My brother William got leave of absence for three or four days, and he +was anxious to spend the time in a cruise along the coast, and to get me +to accompany him. I had wound up my mercantile business at the place, +but as the _Barbara_ would be detained a few days longer to complete her +repairs, in a weak moment I consented to his proposal, as if we had not +enough knocking about on salt water in the pursuit of our professional +duties. It is difficult to put old heads on young shoulders. We did +not remember that it was still the stormy season, and that the natives +might not be so inclined to be civil to us, their late conquerors, +coming in a half-decked boat with fowling-pieces, as they would had we +appeared under the protection of the frigate's guns. + +We agreed that it would be as well to have companions. I asked +O'Carroll, who was very ready to come, and William brought a friend, +whom he introduced as "My messmate, Toby Trundle." His name was a +curious one--at first I did not suppose that it was anything but a +nickname--and he himself was one of the oddest little fellows I ever +met. From the first glance I had of him, I fancied that he was rather a +young companion for my brother, but a second look showed me that he was +fully his age. We had hired a craft, a schooner-rigged, half-decked +boat, about five-and-twenty feet long, with a well aft, in which we +could sit comfortably enough. She was not a bad boat for smooth water, +but if caught in a heavy sea, very likely to drown all on board. + +Our crew consisted of a Frenchman, Paul Jacotot, the owner of the +_Dore_, as our craft was called, his son Auguste, a boy of thirteen, and +Jack Nobs, a boy I brought from the _Barbara_. The Frenchman was to act +as pilot and cook. The boys were to scrape the potatoes--or rather +prepare the yams, for we had none of the former root--and tend the +head-sheets. A boatswain's mate, Sam Kelson, who had been in hospital, +had been allowed to accompany the midshipmen before returning on board. +The two midshipmen were to act as officers. O'Carroll, whom they did +not know was a sailor, and I, were to be passengers, and the rest of the +party were rated as crew. We had laid in all sorts of provisions, an +ample supply for the few days we were to be away. Port Louis, it must +be remembered, is on the north side of the island, and we had agreed to +make our cruise to the eastward, where there are some small islands-- +Gunners Coin and Flat Island. If the wind should prove favourable we +hoped to circumnavigate the island. With a fair breeze off the land, +and Le Pouce seen standing up astern beyond the town, we sailed out of +the harbour, the weather being as fine as heart could desire. William +and Toby Trundle took it by turns to steer, Jacotot pointing out the +dangers to be avoided, for we kept close in shore for the sake of the +scenery. Toby Trundle sat aft steering, looking, in a broad-brimmed +straw hat, a white jacket and trowsers, contrasting with his sunburnt +complexion, more like a monkey than a midshipman. Jacotot, when not +engaged in any culinary matter below, was jabbering away at a rapid rate +to us, if we would listen; if not, he was addressing his son, whom he +kept constantly on the move, now scolding, now praising with terms of +tender endearment. + +We enjoyed ourselves, and lunched and dined with great contentment, +voting Jacotot a first-rate _chef_, which he undoubtedly was. He was, +however, a better cook than seaman we before long discovered. + +"The next prize we take I hope that we shall find some cooks on board; +we must secure one for our mess," observed Toby, helping himself to one +of the dishes Jacotot had sent aft. I had not been long on board before +I found out, what seemed to have escaped the midshipmen's observation +when they hired the boat, that the rigging was sadly rotten, and that +she herself was in a somewhat leaky condition. They, however, only +laughed at the leaking. "It will keep the boat sweet, and give Jack +Nobs and Auguste something to do," observed Master Trundle, cocking his +eye at me. Notwithstanding this, we stood on, the breeze shifting +conveniently in our favour till nightfall, when we put into a small +harbour, the entrance to which our pilot for a wonder knew. The next +day we continued our course, landing in a bay, up which we ran to have a +look at the country, and to get some goat's milk and fruit. We found a +small farm, the only white people being an old-fashioned Frenchman, with +a somewhat dingy wife, and two grown-up daughters. All the rest of the +people were either brown Orientals or black Africans. The old Frenchman +was very civil, merely shrugged his shoulders when he saw our flag, and +observed that it was the fortune of war, and that, as we were the most +numerous, France had lost no honour, though she lost the dependency. He +supplied us for a trifle with a bottle of goat's milk, and as many +melons, pines, and mangoes as we could manage to eat. He politely +assisted in taking them down to the boat. As he did so he looked round +the horizon seaward, and up at the sky. "Messieurs will do well to +remain at anchor for a few hours longer," he observed. "We are going to +have a change of weather. It may be slight, or it may be very great, +and you will be more content on shore than at sea." We thanked him for +his advice, but the midshipmen asserting that if we stopped they might +not be able to rejoin their ship at the right time, it was disregarded. +On standing out again, however, we saw that the hope of getting round +the island was vain, and that our surest course would be to return by +the way we had come. The weather soon changed; ugly clouds collected +and came sweeping up from the west and south, though as yet but little +wind filled our sails. + +"I am afraid that we are going to have a storm," I observed. + +"Oh, no fear; I don't think that there will be anything in it," answered +Toby Trundle. + +"I think that there'll be a great deal in it, and I would advise you +gentlemen to make the best of your way back to the bay we have just +left," said O'Carroll. + +The midshipmen looked at him as much as to say, What do you know about +the matter? Jacotot was too busy cooking an omelette to attend to the +weather, or he should have warned us. The question was settled by a +sudden gust which came off the land, and laid the boat on her beam-ends. +I thought we were going to capsize, and so we should, but crack away +went both our masts, and the boat righted, one-third full of water. We +all looked at each other for a moment aghast. It was a mercy that no +one was washed overboard. A second and stronger gust followed the +first, and on drove the boat helplessly before it. "You'll pump and +bale out the water, and get on board the wreck of the masts," said +O'Carroll, quietly. + +We followed his advice as best we could. Jacotot, who was attending to +his little stove below when the squall struck us, popped up his head +with his white nightcap on, and his countenance so ludicrously +expressive of dismay that, in spite of the danger we were in, Trundle +burst into a fit of laughter. The Frenchman had not time to get out +before the vessel righted. He now emerged completely, and frantically +seizing his cap, tore it off his head and threw it into the boiling +water. He then joined in hauling on board the wreck of the rigging. + +"If we are to save our lives we must forthwith rig a jury-mast, so as to +keep the boat before the gale," observed O'Carroll. + +With the aid of a wood-axe we knocked out the stump of the foremast, and +making a fresh heel to the broken spar, managed, in spite of the rolling +of the boat, to slip it into its place. This was done not a moment too +soon. The wind increased so rapidly, and blew with such fearful +violence, that we should have been unable to accomplish the task, though +as yet there was not much sea. + +O'Carroll showed that he was a man for an emergency. "This will be more +than a gale," he observed; "it will be a regular hurricane! we may +expect that. But still, if we manage properly, we may save our lives." + +Close-reefing the foresail, we got it ready to hoist as a square sail; +the rest of the spars we lashed fore and aft on either side, while we +cut up the mainsail and raised the gunwale a foot or more all round to +help keep out the water. We also, as far as we could, covered in the +after-part of the little craft. While we were thus engaged the boys +were pumping and baling. This task was scarcely accomplished before the +wind had blown us helplessly so far off the land that we became exposed +to the full violence of the sea, which had rapidly risen. The water was +leaping on every side tumultuously--the foam flying in thick masses off +it--each sea, as it rose high above our heads, threatening to overwhelm +us. + +We gazed wistfully at the land which we had so unwisely left, but we had +no power of returning there. Our only prospect of passing amidst the +heavy seas now rolling around us was to hoist our sail and scud before +the wind. + +O'Carroll now took the helm. "I have had more experience in these seas +than you, young gentlemen, and the slightest want of care may send such +a craft as this to the bottom!" he observed. + +Without a word, they set to work to pump and bale. Even Trundle grew +serious. Jacotot every now and then stopped pumping or baling, or +whatever he was about, and pulled his hair, and made a hideous face, +scolded Auguste, telling him to _depechez vites_, and then set to work +himself harder than ever. The English seamen worked away without saying +a word beyond what was absolutely necessary. Jack Nobs behaved very +well, but cried in sympathy when Auguste was scolded. The latter always +blubbered on till his father ceased speaking. I could not help +remarking what I have described, notwithstanding the fearful danger we +were running. The sky was of an almost inky hue, while the sea was of +the colour of lead, frosted over with the driving spray torn off from +the summits of the tossing seas by the fury of the wind. Our stump of a +mast, as well as our sail, had been well secured, though I dreaded every +instant to see the ring-bolts, to which the ropes had been made fast, +dragged out of the sides, and the rotten boat torn to pieces. + +Thus on we flew, right into the Indian Ocean, though in what direction +we could only guess, for our compass, like everything belonging to the +craft, was defective. Intending only to make a coasting trip, we had no +chart, except one of the island from which we were now being driven +rapidly away. To be in a gale of wind on board a stout ship in the open +sea, is a fine thing once in one's life, but to have to sit in a rotten +boat, with a hurricane driving her, one knows not where, across the +ocean, is a very different matter. Our only prospect of saving our +lives, humanly speaking, was to keep the boat dead before the wind; a +moment's careless steering might have caused our destruction. + +We were all so busy in pumping or baling that we had no time to watch +each other's countenances, or we might have seen alarm and anxiety +depicted on them as the rising seas came following up astern, +threatening to engulf us. I felt for the young brother who was with me, +so lighthearted and merry, and yet so little prepared for the eternity +into which any moment we might be plunged. After fervent inward prayer, +my own mind was comforted, so much so that I was able to speak earnest +words, not only to my young brother, but to the others. Trundle and +Jack looked very serious, but rather bewildered, as if they could not +comprehend what was said. + +Such is, I fear, too often the case under such circumstances. I +remembered how, a few days before, I had seen Mason praying at a time of +the utmost extremity, and I urged my companions to pray for themselves. +Jacotot was the only person who seemed averse to listen to the word of +truth. Though he had raged and pulled his hair with grief at the injury +done to his vessel, he could not bring himself to care for anything +beyond the passing moment. But while the rest grew calm and resigned, +he became more and more agitated and alarmed. In each sea which rolled +up after us in the distance he saw the messenger which was to summon him +to destruction. Poor little Auguste could only cry with fear of the +undefined. He had never been taught to believe in anything, and thus he +could not even believe in the reality of death till he was in its grasp. + +Under the circumstances in which we were placed, people can talk but +little, though the thoughts crowd through the mind with frightful +rapidity. Unless when occupied, we for most of the time sat silent, +watching the ocean. Night was coming on, and the fury of the tempest +had in no way decreased. It was difficult to steer in the daytime--it +was doubly difficult and dangerous at night. After O'Carroll had been +steering for some time, Trundle begged that he might again take the +helm. + +"Trust me," he said, "I have been in a gale of wind in an open boat +before now, and know how to steer carefully." + +"But you've not steered in a hurricane in the Indian seas, Mr Trundle," +answered O'Carroll. "Any moment the wind may shift round, and if we +were to be taken aback, it would be all over with us. As long as I can +keep my eyes open I'll stay where I am, if you please." And O'Carroll +was as good as his word; hour after hour he sat there, as we rushed on +up and down the watery hills through the pitchy darkness--it was indeed +a long, long night. Though we had eaten nothing since the hurricane +came on, we were all of us rather weary than hungry. As for sleepiness, +that was very far from any one. When compelled to rest, we could employ +our thoughts in little else than wishing for daylight, and hoping that +the storm would soon cease. It was a relief to be called on to pump or +bale, for the increasing leaks required three of us at a time to be +actively engaged in both operations. But I am wrong in saying that I +could think of nothing except my own fearful peril. Frequently I +thought of my dear mother and other loved ones at home. The thought +gave me comfort and courage, and cheered me up through the horrors of +the night. Daylight came at last, and revealed the tumultuous ocean on +every side, but not a speck of land was visible. Trundle was the first +to exclaim that he was hungry; but to light a fire was almost +impossible, and even Jacotot could not have cooked by it had it been +lighted. We managed, however, to serve out some bread and the old +Frenchman's fruit to all hands, and then we had to turn to and clear the +craft of water, which was finding its way in through every seam. It +seemed scarcely possible that she could float much longer, should the +hurricane continue, with the violent working to which we were exposed. +Had we been stationary, the tempest would have passed over us; but +driven along with it, we had for a much longer time to endure its fury. +It seemed, indeed, surprising that the boat should have floated so long. +As far as we depended, indeed, on our own exertions, the most careful +steering could alone have saved us. We had been longing for daylight; +now that it had come, the dangers of our condition appeared more +evident, and we almost wished again for night. We could not calculate, +either, in what direction we were being driven, but we feared it might +be where rocks and coral banks and islets abound, and that at any moment +we might be hurled on one of them. O'Carroll still sat at his post. I +asked if he did not feel tired. "Maybe, but till the gale is over, here +I'll stick!" he answered. "And sure it's as pretty a sample of a +hurricane as any of you'll be after wishing to see for many a day to +come." + +At length, towards noon, the wind began to fall, and in a very short +time, though it still blew hard, and the sea ran almost as high as +before, and was consequently as dangerous, it was evident that the +hurricane was over. Our hopes revived. Still, we were obliged to run +on before the wind; and to avoid the danger of being pooped by the +quickly-following sea, we had to hoist more of our sail: indeed, we now +dreaded not having wind enough to avoid the sea. Thus passed the day, +and before nightfall we were rolling on a tolerably smooth swell with a +moderate breeze. Still we had to exert ourselves as before to keep the +boat afloat. The moment, however, that one of us was relieved at the +pump or baling bucket, he dropped off to sleep. I was even afraid, at +first, that we should all go to sleep together. Nothing, indeed, for +some hours could rouse up the two boys. My young brother and Trundle +were, however, after a short snooze, as lively as ever, and as merry +too. Midshipmen-like, they did not seem to trouble themselves about the +future. I, however, still felt very anxious about it. The Southern +Cross and many another bright constellation not long familiar to my eyes +were shining forth in the clear sky. Had we known our position, even +though we had no compass, we might have shaped a course for the +Mauritius. We calculated that we had been driven two hundred miles away +from it in the direction of the equator. Should we steer south we were +as likely to miss as to find it. We proposed, therefore, to steer to +the west, knowing that we must thus reach some part of the coast of +Madagascar, where the English had at that time a fort and a garrison. +"But we must have our craft rigged before we talk of the course we'll +steer," observed O'Carroll, who at that moment awoke from a long sleep. +With the morning light we set to work to fit a mainmast, and to rig the +boat as best we could. There was a light breeze, but as it was from the +west we lay without any canvas set. + +While all hands were busily employed fitting the rigging, I looked up +and saw a brig under all sail approaching us at no great distance. +Beyond her was another vessel, a ship--I pointed her out. O'Carroll +took the telescope. + +"She's an English vessel chased by an enemy," he observed. "She'll not +stop to help us, so the closer we lie the better." He kept after this +continually taking up the glass for some time, when suddenly he +exclaimed, "As I'm an Irishman, it's that villain La Roche again!" + +His countenance fell as he spoke. He handed me the glass--I took a +steady look at the ship, and had little doubt that it was our old +antagonist the _Mignonne_ in sight. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +"BREAKERS AHEAD!" + +Our chief hope of escaping an unpleasant examination by the pirate +existed in the possibility that we had not been observed from her deck. +Had we had any sail set we could not fail to have been so. Not, we +knew, that so small a craft as ours would be considered worth +overhauling; but in case we might give information of the pirate's +whereabouts, it might be thought expedient to put us out of the way. So +we feared. We therefore watched the progress of the _Mignonne_ and the +brig with intense interest, earnestly hoping that the latter would lead +the pirate a long chase before she was captured, if she could not escape +altogether, which of course we hoped she would. La Roche had certainly +managed to inspire O'Carroll with an extraordinary dread and hatred of +him, for brave and calm in danger as our friend had lately shown himself +to be, he was now completely unnerved, and I saw him crouching down in +the boat as if, even had she been seen, he could have been +distinguished. On sailed the brig; gradually her sails began to +disappear below the horizon. The pirate still continued the chase. For +some time no one in the boat thought of working. We were roused up by +finding that the water was rapidly gaining on us, and we all had to turn +to and pump and bale harder than ever. We were in hopes that after all +the brig might escape, when the boom of a gun came over the water, +followed by another and another. It was too probable that the pirate +had got her within range. Both vessels had now disappeared below the +horizon, at the same time the wind where we were had completely died +away. As far as the pirate was concerned, we began to breathe more +freely; it was not likely that he would again pass near us. But the sun +shone forth from the clear sky with intense heat, roasting our heads and +the brains within them, and making whatever pitch remained between the +planks of our deck bubble up as if it had been boiling. There we lay, +our boat rolling from side to side, without a particle of shade to +shelter us. Our little cabin was like an oven. When we were to rest it +became simply a question whether in making the attempt we should be +roasted on deck or baked below. We had not much time for idleness yet: +though we worked very hard, it was not till nightfall that our rigging +was set up sufficiently to enable us to make sail. + +When the sun set there was not a breath of air, while the surface of the +ocean was as smooth as a sheet of glass, though every now and then a +swell rose under the boat's keel, making her roll for ten minutes +afterwards, while it glided slowly away in the distance. The only +sounds were the clank of the pump and the dash of water from the +scuppers or buckets, and an occasional snort of some huge fish, or the +splash it made when plunging down into its liquid home. Thus the hours +of the night passed away. We were so weary and sleepy that the instant +we were relieved from the pump we lay down and were lost in +forgetfulness. The day broke, the sun rose higher and higher, and beat +hotter and hotter, and all around us was the same smooth, glassy ocean. +Now and then the surface was broken by a flight of flying fish as they +rose out of it and darted along through the air, glittering bright in +the sunbeams, like a covey of silver birds. + +"Ah, now! if some of you would just have the goodness to come aboard +here, you would serve us nicely for breakfast," exclaimed Trundle, as he +observed them. + +He had scarcely spoken when upwards of a dozen out of a large shoal +leaped, or flew rather, right in among us, while as many more passed +clean over the boat. It was a curious coincidence, and at all events +afforded us not only a substantial, but a very delicious meal, cooked by +the skilful hands of Monsieur Jacotot. It put us all in good spirits, +and we began to look at the future in a tolerably hopeful spirit, till +my midshipman brother exclaimed-- + +"I say, if this sun lasts much longer, what shall we do for grub? The +sea-pie we have brought has gone bad, and I am afraid that the beef and +pork won't keep good many hours out of the brine." + +"You may put them in the past instead of the future tense, my boy," +observed Trundle, who had been examining the lockers; "I doubt if any +stomach with less powers than a shark's could swallow a bit of the meat +we have got on board." + +"Then on what have we got to exist till we can reach the shore?" I +asked, with a feeling of serious anxiety. + +"Why," answered William, "we have biscuits and half a cheese--at least +we had half when we sailed, but it is rather gone--and a few mangoes, +and bananas, and plantains, and a melon or two, and some tea and coffee, +and sugar. I am afraid we haven't much else, except a cask of water, +and that was rather leaky, like this craft." + +"Then let us look to the cask, gentlemen," said O'Carroll. "And don't +throw the meat away, putrid though it may be. The Frenchman may cook it +so as to make it go down, and we don't know how hard we may be pressed +for food." + +The water-cask was examined, happily not altogether too late, but a +third of the precious liquid had run out. I said nothing, but sad +forebodings filled my mind. Even with a compass to steer by and a good +breeze to carry us along, we might be several days reaching Port Louis, +or, indeed, any habitable coast we could make. We might be kept out +much longer, and then how could we exist? We could scarcely hope that +another covey of flying fish would come on board, though we might catch +some others if we could manufacture hooks, for I was afraid we had none +on board. This calm might continue for a week, and then we might have +another gale, for we were in the hurricane season. I advised that we +should at once go on an allowance of food and water, a suggestion which +was, of course, adopted. We had no fishing lines or hooks on board; a +bit of an old file was, however, discovered, and with it and a hammer +Jacotot undertook to make some hooks, while Kelson spun some fine yarn +for lines. + +"I shall have plenty of time," observed the Frenchman, with a wan smile +and a shrug of the shoulders, "for without the fish I shall have nothing +to cook." + +Two days passed, and though the hooks were in use we caught nothing, and +some of the party began to wish that the pirate had picked us up. Two +days more passed: matters had become very serious. Hunger was gnawing +at our insides, and what seemed even worse, thirst was parching our lips +and throats. With the intense heat we were enduring, gallons of water +would scarcely have satisfied us, and we each had but a small wineglass +full three times a day. When that was gone, as long as our fuel lasted +we could get a little water by condensing the steam from our kettle. +Our thirst became intolerable; yet the few drops, we did get kept us, I +believe, alive. I do not wish to dwell on that time. My own sufferings +were great, but they were increased by seeing those of my young brother +and his lighthearted companion, both of them about, as I feared, to pass +away from the world they had found so enjoyable. The sun rose, and set, +and rose again, and each day it appeared to send down its heat with an +increased intensity of strength as we grew weaker and weaker. A new +danger threatened us: we could even now scarcely keep the boat clear of +water; should our strength fail altogether, as seemed but too probable, +she would sink below us. Our lot was that which many poor seamen have +endured, but that did not make it more supportable to us. + +Our last particle of food had been eaten, the last drop of water nearly +exhausted. The strongest might endure for a day or two, the weakest +ones must sink within a few hours. Even O'Carroll, strong as he seemed, +was giving way. He sat dull and unconscious, his eyes meaningless, only +arousing himself by a great effort. My brother's head rested on my arm, +and I was moistening his lips with the few drops obtained from the cask. +Suddenly Kelson, who had been gazing round the horizon, started up, +crying out, "A breeze! a breeze! I see it coming over the water!" + +I turned my eyes to the west, the direction to which he pointed. There +I saw a dark-blue line quickly advancing towards us. Even already, on +either side, cat's-paws were to be seen just touching the surface, then +vanishing again, once more to appear in a different direction as the +light currents of air, precursors of the main body of the wind, touched +the surface. The effect on our fainting party was magical; even the +poor boys tried to lift up their languid eyes to look around. Another +shout from Kelson a few minutes afterwards roused us all still more. "A +sail! a sail! She's standing this way too!" + +Even Jacotot, who had completely given way to despair, started to his +feet at the sound, and, weak though he was, performed such strange +antics expressive of his joy on the little deck that I thought he would +have gone overboard. + +"If you've got all that life in you, Mounseer, just turn to at the pump +again and make some use of it, instead of jigging away like an overgrown +jackanapes!" growled out Kelson, who held the poor Frenchman in great +contempt for having knocked under, as he called it, so soon. + +Jacotot gave another skip or two, and then, seizing the pump-handle, or +break, as it is called, burst into tears. The two midshipmen and boys +soon relapsed into their former state, while O'Carroll seemed to forget +that relief was approaching, till on a sudden the idea seized him that +the stranger which was now rapidly nearing us was no other than the +_Mignonne_, though she had been last seen in an opposite direction, and +there had been a dead calm ever since. "Arrah! we'll all be murdered +entirely by that thief of the world, La Roche, bad luck to him!" he +cried out, wringing his hands. "It was an unlucky day that I ever cast +eyes on his ugly face for the first time, and now he's after coming back +again to pick me up in the middle of the Indian Ocean, just as a big +black crow does a worm out of a turnip-field!" + +In vain I tried to argue him out of the absurdity of his notion. He +turned sharply round on me. + +"It's desaving me now ye are, and that isn't the part of a true friend, +Mr James Braithwaite!" he exclaimed. "Just try how he'll treat you, +and then tell me how you like his company." + +I saw that there was not the slightest use reasoning with him, but that +it would be necessary to watch him, lest in his frenzy he should jump +overboard. As the dreadful idea came on me that he might do so, I saw +the black fin of the seaman's sworn foe, a shark, gliding toward us, and +a pair of sharp eyes looking wistfully up towards me, so I fancied, as +if the creature considered the leaky boat and its contents a dainty dish +prepared for his benefit. It made me set to work to bale with all the +strength I could muster. Seeing me so employed, O'Carroll for a moment +forgot his mad idea, and followed my example. Often and often I turned +my gaze towards the approaching ship. It seemed even still open to +doubt whether she would pass near enough to observe us. + +At length the breeze reached us, and hoisting our sails as well as our +strength would allow, we stood in a direction to come across the course +the stranger was steering. I told Kelson, in a whisper, to assist me in +keeping a watch on O'Carroll, for as we drew nearer the stranger, so did +his uneasiness increase, and he was evidently still under the impression +that she was the dreaded _Mignonne_. William and Trundle looked at her +with lack-lustre eyes. I asked Kelson what he thought she was. "A +small Chinaman, or a store-ship, maybe, sir," he answered. "She's +English, certainly, by the cut of her sails." + +"You hear what he says," I observed to O'Carroll. "I think the same +myself. We shall be treated as friends when we get on board." + +"Ye are after desaving me, I know ye are," cried the poor fellow, +turning round and giving a reproachful glance at me. "Don't ye see the +ugly villain La Roche himself standing on the cathead ready to order his +crew of imps to fire as soon as we get within range of their guns?" + +This notion so tickled Kelson's fancy that he fairly burst into a fit of +laughter, in which I and the rest of the party faintly joined, from very +weakness, for most of them had not heard what was said. Even O'Carroll +himself imitated us. Suddenly he stopped. "It's no laughing matter, +though, let me tell you," he observed gravely, after some time had +elapsed, and the stranger had neared us so that we could see the people +on deck. "But where's La Roche? Oh, I see, he's aft there, grinning at +us as usual." He pointed to a most respectable-looking old gentleman, +who was, I supposed, the master of the ship. + +"You are mistaken in that," said I, feeling the importance of keeping +him quiet till he could be got on board. "If that is the _Mignonne_, +she has been captured, and is in possession of a British crew. You'll +see that I am right directly." + +The ship was shortening sail as I spoke. We were soon alongside. Even +at a distance our pitiable condition had been observed. We were one +after the other hoisted on deck, for even Kelson could scarcely get up +without help. I gave a hint to the doctor to look after O'Carroll. "I +am right," I remarked to my friend. "If La Roche is on board, he is +safe under hatches; so the best thing you can do is to turn in, and go +to sleep. You want rest more than any of us." + +Led by the surgeon, he went quietly below, and I hoped with soothing +medicine and sleep would be soon all to rights again. + +The ship proved to be, not what Kelson had supposed, but a vessel with +free emigrants bound out to the rising town of Sydney, in New South +Wales--a colony generally called Botany Bay, established some few years +before, by Captain Phillips of the navy, chiefly with convicts and the +necessary soldiers to look after them. We had just told our tale, and +the passengers had expressed their sympathy for us, when I heard Jacotot +give a loud cry of dismay. On looking over the side the cause was +explained--the masts of our unhappy little craft were just disappearing +under the surface. This was the natural consequence of our neglecting +to pump her out, and the ship, which was going ahead, dragging her +through the water, when of course it rushed in through her open seams +with redoubled speed. Poor Jacotot tore his hair and wrung his hands, +and wept tears of grief for his wretched craft; but he did not gain as +much sympathy as would have been shown him had he been more quiet, +though our new friends congratulated us the more warmly in having got +out of her before she met her fate. Food and rest quickly set most of +us to rights, and the following day William and Trundle and I were able +to take our places at the cabin table with the rest of the passengers. +O'Carroll was kept in bed with fever, though he had got over his idea +that La Roche was on board. The old gentleman he had mistaken for him +proved to be a minister of the gospel, who had been invited to accompany +a party of the emigrants. + +We found that things were not going on in at all a satisfactory way on +board. The master had died before the ship reached the Cape: the first +officer, Mr Gregson, who had now charge, was obstinate and +self-opinionated when sober, and he was very frequently intoxicated; the +second was a stupid fellow and no navigator; and both were jealous of +the third, who was a superior, intelligent young man, and in numerous +ways they did their utmost to annoy him. This accounted for the good +ship, the _Kangaroo_, being very much out of her proper course, which +was far to the southward of where she picked us up. Most disastrous +consequences were to occur. William and Trundle told me that they had +been making their observations; that they wondered how the ship had got +thus far, and that they should be much surprised if she got much +farther. A very large proportion of the ships cast away and lives +sacrificed are so in consequence of the habitual intoxication of the +masters and their officers. I venture to make this distinct assertion +from the very numerous instances I have known and heard of. We did not +wish to alarm the passengers, none of whom had been at sea before, and +were not aware of the danger they were running. Had our schooner still +floated, I should have proposed taking her to the first island we could +make and there repairing her. We asked Mr Gregson if he would +undertake to land us at Port Louis, offering him at the same time +payment if he would do so; but he positively refused, declaring that +nothing should induce him to go out of his course, and that we must +stick to the ship and work our passage till she reached her destination. + +Believing that, as he was short-handed, his object in detaining us was +to get more hands to work the ship, this we positively refused to do. +"Very well, then, we'll see who is master on board the _Kangaroo_," he +replied, with an oath. "You tell me that three of you belong to a +man-of-war; but I find you in a French boat, and how do I know that you +are not deserters or convicts? and I'll treat you as such if you don't +look out." This conduct was so unexpected, and so different from the +kind way in which we had been treated by the passengers, that we did not +know what to say. We agreed to wait till we could consult O'Carroll; +and Trundle undertook to get a look at the chart the captain was using, +and to try and find out where he had placed the ship. The wind had +hitherto continued very light, so that we had made but little way since +we came on board. The day following the unpleasant conversation I have +described, O'Carroll was so much recovered that he was able to come on +deck. Though Irishmen have not the character in general of being good +seamen, I considered from what I had seen of him that he was an +exception to the general rule. I told him what we had remarked. + +"When the time comes I'll see what I can do," he answered; "but it is +ticklish work interfering with such fellows as the present master of +this ship, unless one advises the very thing one does not want done." + +"We may soon require the exercise of your skill," I remarked. "It +appears to me that there will speedily be a change in the weather." + +"Little doubt about that, and we shall have it hot and strong again +soon," he answered, looking round the horizon. + +"Not another hurricane, I hope," said I. + +"Not quite sure about that," he answered. "Were I master of this ship I +should make all snug for it; but if I were to advise Gregson to do so, +he'd only crack on more sail to show his superior seamanship. I've had +a talk with the surgeon, McDow, a very decent sort of young fellow, and +so I know the man we have to deal with." + +An hour or two after this, the wind had increased to half a gale, and +the _Kangaroo_ was tearing away through the sea with a great deal more +sail than a prudent seaman would have carried. Unfortunately William or +Trundle had remarked that it was much more important to shorten sail on +the appearance of bad weather on board a short-handed merchantman, than +on board a man-of-war with a strong crew. I saw O'Carroll looking +anxiously aloft, and then again to windward. At last he could stand it +no longer. + +"You'll let the wind take the topmasts out of the ship if you don't look +out, Captain Gregson," he remarked. + +"What business have you to come aboard this ship and to pretend to teach +me?" answered the master, who was more than half drunk. "If you do, +take care. I'll turn you out of her, and let you find your own way +ashore." + +While he was speaking a loud crack was heard, and the mizen-topmast was +carried over the side. This made him order the crew aloft to shorten +sail. "You go too, you lazy youngsters!" he exclaimed, seeing William +and Trundle on deck. + +They sprung up the rigging without a word of reply. I watched them with +great anxiety, for the masts bent like whips, and I was afraid every +moment to see the main share the fate of the mizen-mast, to the +destruction of all on the yards. Still the master, as if indifferent to +what might happen, was not even looking aloft. The two midshipmen had +just reached the top, and were about to lie along the yard, when +O'Carroll shouted: "Down, all of you; down, for your lives!" + +His voice arrested their progress, and two of the men already on the +yards sprang back into the top; but the warning came too late for the +rest. A tremendous squall struck the ship. Over she heeled, till the +lee bulwarks were under water. A loud crash followed. Away went the +main-topmast, and yard, and struggling sail, carrying six human beings +with it. Five were hurled off into the now foaming sea. We saw them +for an instant stretching out their arms, as if imploring that help +which it was beyond our power to give. The ship dashed onward, leaving +them far astern. One still clung to the rigging towing with the spar +alongside. The ship still lay almost on her beam-ends. + +O'Carroll saw the possibility of saving the poor fellow. Calling out to +me to lay hold of a rope, one end of which he fastened round his waist, +he plunged overboard. I could scarcely have held it, had not William +and Trundle with Kelson come to my assistance. O'Carroll grasped the +man. "Haul away!" he shouted. In another instant he was on board +again, with the man in his arms. The helm was put up, the ship righted, +the man had got off the foreyard, and away the ship new, with the +fore-topsail wildly bulging out right before the wind. In a few minutes +it was blown from the bolt-ropes in strips, twisted and knotted +together. The mainsail, not without difficulty, was handed, and we +continued to run on under the foresail, the only other sail which +remained entire, and it seemed very probable that that would soon be +blown away. + +All this time the terror of the unfortunate passengers was very great-- +the more so that it was undefined. They saw the captain, however, every +now and then come into the cabin and toss off a tumbler of strong +rum-and-water, and then return on deck, and shout out with oaths often +contradictory orders. The gale all this time was increasing, until it +threatened to become as violent as the hurricane from which we had +escaped. I could not help wishing that we had not left our leaky little +schooner. We might have reached some land in her. Now we did not know +where we were going, except towards a region of rocks and sandbanks on +which any moment the ship might be hurled. For ourselves it would be +bad enough; but hard indeed for the poor women and children, of whom +there were a dozen or more on board, several of them helpless infants. + +As I looked on the man who was thus perilling the lives of his +fellow-creatures by his senseless brutality, I could not help thinking +what a load of guilt rested on his head. His face was flushed, his +features distorted, his eyes rolling wildly, as he walked with irregular +steps up and down the deck, or ever and anon descended to the cabin to +gaze stupidly at his chart, which was utterly useless, and to take a +fresh draught of the liquor which had brought him to that state. Yet he +was a fine, good-looking fellow, and pleasant-mannered enough when sober +and not opposed. I have known several such, who have for years deceived +their owners and others on shore, led by outward appearance, till some +fearful catastrophe has been the result of their pernicious habits. + +Night came. The ship continued her mad career through the darkness; the +wind howling and whistling, the loose ropes lashing furiously against +the masts, and the sea roaring around. Below all was confusion. +Numerous articles had broken adrift and were rolling about, the +passengers crouched huddled together in the cabin endeavouring to avoid +them. Mothers pressed their children to their bosoms; the men were +asking each other what was next to happen. The answer came with fearful +import. "Breakers ahead! Breakers ahead!" There was a tremendous +crash, every timber in the ship shook. She was on the rocks. + +James Braithwaite, the Supercargo--by W.H.G. Kingston + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +A COMPLETE WRECK. + +"Cut away the masts--the shrouds first! Be smart, my men!" cried a +voice. + +"Who dares give that order?" shrieked out the captain; "she'll be over +this in no time." + +"I dare obey it!" exclaimed one of the seamen. "Come, lads, it's the +best chance of saving our lives." + +The men listened to the advice of their messmate, and, knowing where to +find the axes, quickly severed the shrouds of the mizen-mast, and some +attacked it, while others went to the mainmast, in spite of the mad +cries of the captain to "hold fast." Their object was thus to force the +ship over the reef--if it was a reef we were on--head first, or closer +to the shore if we were on an island. The seas came thundering against +our sides, often dashing over the decks, so that with difficulty any of +us could save ourselves from being carried away by them. Several poor +people were thus swept away soon after the ship struck, and their +despairing shrieks rang in our ears as they were borne away or hurled on +the rocks amid the foaming breakers. We could see nothing beyond the +ship except the troubled waters. Our chief hope rested on her not being +wedged in the rocks. Now she lifted and drove on her bottom, grinding +over the coral; now down she came again, and rocked to and fro in the +surges. Directly the after masts were cleared away, her head paid off, +and we drove on stern first. It was pitiable to hear the cries which +rose from the terrorstricken passengers, but as we could as yet give +them no comfort, I refrained from going below. William and Trundle, +O'Carroll and I, stood together holding on to the stump of the mainmast; +the Frenchman and his son had gone below at the commencement of the +gale. I hoped that they were still there. The ship continued +alternately grinding and bumping along, but still evidently progressing +over the reef. She must have been new and well built, or she would have +gone to pieces with the treatment she was receiving. Our anxiety was +thus prolonged, for it was impossible to say, supposing the ship should +drive over the reef, whether we should find land, and if not whether she +would float. It seemed as if each blow she received must be knocking a +hole through her planks. Oh! how we longed for daylight, at all events +to see and face the dangers which beset us! In the dark we could do +nothing but hold on for our lives and pray to be preserved from +destruction. + +At length the ship was lifted by a huge wave. On she drove. It seemed +that the next time she came down on the hard rocks it must be to her +destruction. On, on she went; the waters roared and hissed around her. +Instead of the expected catastrophe, suddenly she appeared to be +floating with comparative calmness; she had been forced over the reef, +but the furious wind was still driving her before it. + +"We should anchor this instant!" said O'Carroll; but neither the master +nor his mates were on deck to give the necessary orders. "Stand by to +anchor!" cried O'Carroll. + +The two midshipmen, with Kelson and several of the crew, hurried to +carry out the order. Some delay occurred in consequence of the +darkness. At length the anchor was let go, but as the ship's stern +swung round it struck heavily on a rock. Again cries of terror came up +from the passengers in the cabins; I therefore, as I could be of no use +on deck, went below in the hopes of tranquillising their minds. They +clung round me as I appeared, entreating to be told the truth. I +assured them that there was no immediate danger, and that, though the +ship had again struck on the rocks, there was so much less sea inside +the reef than what she had already gone through, I hoped she might +continue to hold together. In all probability we were not far off land. +Some, on hearing this, especially those who had been most overcome with +terror, expressed their joy in all sorts of extravagant ways, and seemed +to consider that there was no longer any danger to be apprehended; +others, again, would scarcely credit what I told them, and inquired what +the captain thought on the subject. + +"The captain! What does he know about anything?" exclaimed a young man, +who appeared to be superior in education to most of the passengers. "If +the ship is lost, and our lives sacrificed, on him will rest the blame. +Look there!" + +He threw open the door of the captain's cabin, where he and the first +mate sat, both far too tipsy to move, yet still trying to pour spirits +down their throats. + +"What's that you say?" growled out the captain, with an indistinct +utterance; "I'll have no mutiny aboard this ship." + +He endeavoured to rise, but fell forward across the table, upsetting the +bottle and tumblers. The mate was too far gone even to attempt to rise. +He gazed at us with an idiotic glance for a minute or two, then his +head dropped down on the little table at which he was sitting. It must +be understood that all this time the ship was far from quiet; she was +still grinding and striking heavily against the rocks, though the sea +had not sufficient force to lift her over them. I hurried again on +deck; my fear was that the ship would fill with water and drop off the +rocks and sink. After hunting about we found the carpenter, and with +his help sounded the well; already there were six feet of water in the +hold. After waiting a short time we found that the water was +increasing, the pumps must be set to work. Some of the crew said it was +of no use, and refused; others came to our summons; and to help us we +called up all the men passengers, while we set the example by labouring +as hard as we could. Thus the night passed. It was indeed better for +everybody that we had something to do. Dawn came at last. We eagerly +looked out for the prospect which daylight was to reveal, whether we +were to find ourselves amidst reefs just rising from the water, or near +a mere sandbank, or on an inhabited shore. At first we could only see, +as before, the white foam dancing up, then dark rocks and yellow sand, +and beyond it brown hills and a few trees. As the light still further +increased we discovered that the country was in a state of nature; in +vain we looked for traces of inhabitants. + +The passengers, hearing that we were close to land, came crowding on +deck, all eager to get on shore. It was, however, no easy matter to do +so. The sea came rushing round the ship, between which and the dry +rocks the distance was considerable, so that anybody attempting to swim +to them would have been swept away. One small boat alone remained, the +rest had been knocked to pieces. In this only two rowers could sit, and +a couple of passengers at the most. As far, however, as we could see on +either side the surf broke too furiously to allow her to land, so that +she could, we feared, be of no use. + +At length my brother cried out, "We'll go in her; there is one place +just inside the ship where we can jump on shore with a line. If we can +do that we'll carry a hawser to the rocks, and all the people may land." + +The two mids and Kelson agreed to go in the boat, towing a light line. +We watched them anxiously. The water tossed and foamed around them, and +they had hard work to contend with the reflux of the sea. Earnestly I +prayed that they might be protected and succeed, both for their sakes +and ours. A shout of joy and thankfulness burst from the lookers-on as +Kelson leaped on the rock, followed by the two midshipmen, who instantly +hauled the boat up out of harm's way. A hawser had been prepared, which +they at once hauled on shore and secured. A cradle was next fitted to +it by the seamen, under O'Carroll's directions. It was a question who +was to go forth to prove it. At that moment Jacotot made his appearance +on deck. He was told that he must go on shore. He was secured +forthwith to the cradle. In vain he struggled and protested: he was +quickly drawn across. His son and Jack followed. Two men then went to +assist in hauling the passengers across. They were placed, one after +the other, in the cradle and landed in safety. I was thankful when they +were all on shore. There they stood, grouped together, gazing +helplessly at the ship, not knowing what to do. There was no one to +guide them. Those wretches, the master and his mate, still remained +utterly helpless in the cabin. Half the crew of the ship had been lost, +and the young mate, who might have exercised some authority. From what +I saw of the remainder of the crew I was afraid that they were mostly a +very bad set. I dreaded their breaking into the spirit-room--which +seamen often do under such circumstances. To prevent this it was +necessary to keep them amply employed; we urged them, therefore, to land +all the provisions that could be got out of the hold. + +To expedite this proceeding we got another hawser carried on shore. Our +lives might depend on the amount of provisions we could save. All day +we worked on, till towards evening the water had risen so much in the +hold that nothing more could be got out. The heat was intense, but so +important was the work that we scarcely stopped even to take food. No +one had thought all this time of the captain and mate, the real cause of +their misfortunes. Suddenly I recollected that they had been left in a +side-cabin asleep. I hurried down. I was but just in time; the water +was up to their heads, and in another minute would have washed over +their faces and drowned them as they lay sleeping off their debauch. I +shouted out their names, and called them to come on deck. They started +up, their countenances exhibiting their horror and alarm, as they +believed that the ship was sinking beneath them. Out into the water +they tumbled. The mate slipped, and caught hold of the captain to save +himself. Over they went, struggling together. I fancy that they +thought themselves overboard; right under the water they dragged each +other, once more to get their heads out, spluttering and shouting, and +swearing most fearfully. At last, fearing that they might after all be +drowned, I seized the mate, who was the smaller man of the two, and +dragged him on deck, calling out to O'Carroll to assist in getting up +the captain. He came to my assistance, and we hauled both the men on +deck. Their sea bath and the struggle had brought them to their senses; +but when, after staring around for some time, they saw that the ship was +a hopeless wreck, cast away on an apparently barren island, they very +nearly lost them again. To find fault with them at such a moment would +have been folly. "Come, I advise you to go on shore, for very likely +the ship will go to pieces during the night, if the wind rise again," I +said quietly. They were far from disposed to thank me for my advice, +though, after looking about for a few minutes, they took it, and were +hauled on shore. After collecting everything of value to be found in +the cabin, compass, charts, and some nautical books, I followed. +O'Carroll was the last man to leave the ship. William and his messmate +had been very active on shore, and got a tent rigged for the poor women +and children, and some food cooked for them by Jacotot. + +No sooner was a fire lighted than the Frenchman was himself again, +hurrying about in search of the utensils necessary for his calling. He +had cooked a capital supper for them, and he now offered to cook one for +us. On collecting all the sails we had landed, we were able to form a +shelter for ourselves, as well as for the seamen; and at length, weary +with our exertions, we lay down to rest. The captain and mate were very +silent, and I hoped ashamed of themselves. During the night there was a +good deal of wind and sea. I was thankful that we were on shore, and +when I looked out I almost expected to find that the ship had gone to +pieces. There, however, she was, still holding fast together. Seeing +this, the captain declared that he would get her off, and that if trees +could be found in the island suitable for new spars, he could proceed on +his voyage. + +"If he knew of the bumping she got he wouldn't say so," observed +O'Carroll. "That ship will never float again, and, strong as she is, +another gale such as we had last night will break her to pieces." + +As there was nothing more to be done, we started to explore the island. +It seemed to be the chief of a group of rocky islets, being about six +miles long and half as broad. Though we made diligent search as we +walked on, we could find no water. A few small casks of the precious +liquid had been landed, but sufficient only for another day or two. + +"And what shall we do when that is gone?" asked William. It was a +serious question. + +"We must trust in God, for vain is the help of man in such a case," I +answered; "at all events, we must use what we have got with the greatest +economy." + +On returning to the camp and reporting our want of success in finding +water, what was our dismay to find that every drop in the casks had been +consumed! All the poor people could say was that they were so thirsty, +and the children were so constantly crying out for water, that they +could not help giving it to them. We were ourselves already suffering +greatly from thirst after our ramble, yet not a drop of water did we +obtain. Our lips were parched, our tongues dry: without water we could +not eat, we loathed food, supperless we lay down to sleep. All night +long I was dreaming of sparkling fountains and running brooks. As soon +as it was daylight we again set out with a spade and pickaxe, prepared, +if we could find no running stream, to dig wherever verdure showed that +moisture was at hand. We walked on and on, searching in every direction +round the shore, but no sign of a stream emptying itself into the sea +could we discover, and when we dug we soon met the hard rock. Faint and +weary we turned to the camp. We found a fire blazing, and Jacotot with +several men standing round it: two were working a rough pair of bellows, +others hammers and tongs. All were employed under his directions, while +he was engaged in riveting a pipe into a large copper vessel. + +"Why you trouble to look for water?" he asked. "There is salt water, +there is wood to make fire, then we have plenty of fresh water. We make +steam, steam come out and leave the salt in de kettle, and then find a +cold piece of iron and drop, drop, down into this tub all fresh and good +for drink." He told us that he had seen a French doctor obtain fresh +water from salt in that manner. + +"Most men have their merits, if we could but discover them and put them +in their right places," I thought to myself. "We were inclined to laugh +at Jacotot, but if he can produce fresh water out of salt, he may be the +means of saving all our lives." + +We watched him anxiously, all eager to help him, but he would not be +hurried. At length the machine was finished, and we hastened to fill it +with salt water. It was placed on the fire, and slowly the drops of +fresh water were distilled from it. How eagerly were they sought for by +the poor creatures who stood round with lack-lustre eyes and parched +lips. Jacotot insisted that the youngest should be served first. I +think he was influenced by the wish to get his boy Auguste an early +draught. That was but natural. Some of the crew grumbled, and so did +the captain and mate, who were, in consequence of their late debauch, +suffering fearfully from thirst; but O'Carroll, William, Trundle, +Kelson, and two or three of the passengers formed a body-guard round the +Frenchman, to enable him to do as he thought right. Only half a little +liqueur glass of the precious fluid was served out to each person. It +was pleasant to see the eyes of the poor children brighten as the pure +water touched their lips. The younger ones, however, directly their +allowance was gone, cried out for more. Several times we had to stop +till more water was distilled. + +While we were thus engaged, the wind had again got up, and the sea, +dashing over the reef, began to burst with violence against the shore. +The effect produced on the wreck was soon apparent. The remaining upper +works began to give way. As the sea rolled in with increasing violence, +plank after plank was torn off, then larger portions were wrenched from +the hull, the deck burst up, and was soon dashed into pieces against the +rocks. As soon as we had swallowed enough water somewhat to slake our +burning thirst, we hastened to the beach to save what we could from the +wreck. We hauled on shore all the planks and timber we could get hold +of, with the vague idea that we might be able to build a raft of some +sort, in which to make our escape. At all events the wood would be +useful to construct huts for the women, or to burn. As darkness set in, +a large portion of the wreck had disappeared, and even the captain was +convinced that her keel would never leave its present position, except +to be cast up in fragments on the rocks. He and the mate had been very +quiet and low-spirited. They were craving for their accustomed +stimulants, and several times I heard them grumbling at us for not +having landed any liquor for them. Neither they nor the larger portion +of their crew had exerted themselves in the slightest degree to assist +us in our labours. Most of them sauntered along the beach with their +hands in their pockets, or sat coolly watching us. Fatigued with our +exertions, we at last returned to the camp, where Jacotot was able to +give us a glass of water, and we then, thankful even for that small +supply, lay down to rest. + +It was not till late that any of us awoke; we then found that the +captain and mate, and several of their men, had withdrawn themselves to +a distance from the camp. We were glad to be rid of their company, +though why they had gone away so suddenly we could not tell. We could +not help suspecting, however, that they had done so with the intention +of hatching mischief. When I speak of _we_, I mean our party from the +_Dore_, for we of necessity kept very much together. I have not +particularly described the emigrants, for there was nothing very +remarkable about them. Two or three were intelligent, enterprising men, +who had made themselves acquainted with the character of the country to +which they were going, and had tolerably definite plans for the +employment of their capitals. The rest had mostly failed in England, +and were rather driven by want into exile than attracted by the +advantages the new colony had to offer. They were all married men with +families, and this made them associate with each other for mutual +assistance. The steerage passengers were generally small tradesmen, and +had emigrated for much the same reason as the others. Three gentlemen +of the first-class, who were bachelors, had begged leave to join our +mess. One of them had already been in New South Wales, and was able to +give us much interesting information about it. So much taken was I, +indeed, with what I heard, that I resolved, should I be unable to find +the _Barbara_, to visit the colony before returning home. We thus, as I +have explained, formed three chief messes. We were not as yet either +very badly off. We had saved provisions from the wreck sufficient, with +economy, to last us a couple of months or more; and now that we could +obtain fresh water, though but in small quantities, we were not afraid +of dying of thirst. We were in hopes, too, of finding turtles and +turtles' eggs, and perhaps wild fowl, and we might also catch fish to +add to our stock of provisions. Could we only find water, and some sort +of vegetables, we might be able, we thought, to support existence for +any length of time; and as far, indeed, as we could judge we might not +have an opportunity of escaping from the island for months, or it might +be for years. This was not, however, a subject pleasant to contemplate. +I thought of my merchandise, William of his promotion, and of the +opportunities he might lose of distinguishing himself, while Jacotot, +though not idle, was unable to make money where he was. Toby Trundle, +however, took things very easily. He laughed and joked as much as ever, +and declared that he never was more jolly in his life. He used to say +the same thing in the midshipmen's berth; he had said it on board the +boat, and I believe he would have said it under nearly any circumstances +in which he could have been placed. The poor emigrants, on the +contrary, were very far from content. Most of them had lost all they +possessed in the world, and knew that, should they even ultimately +arrive at their destination, they must land as beggars, dependent on the +bounty of others. They were therefore naturally very loud in their +complaints of the captain and his mate, while they were continually +bewailing their own hard lot. Those persons had, as I observed, removed +themselves to a distance from the rest of our shipwrecked band. + +We had retired to tents for the night, and had lain down to sleep, when +after some time I was awoke by sounds of shouting and laughter, followed +by shrieks and cries, which seemed to come up from the beach where the +captain and his associates had taken up their quarters. The noises +increased, and O'Carroll awoke. He got up, and we went together to the +entrance of our tent. The night was very calm. The stars shone forth +from the dark sky with a brilliancy I have never seen surpassed; even +the restless sea was quiet, and met the shore with an almost noiseless +kiss; all nature seemed tranquil and at rest. A shot was heard, and +then another, and another, followed by shouts and execrations. "There +will be bloodshed among those madmen," exclaimed O'Carroll. "They have +got hold of some liquor unknown to us, and are fighting with each other: +we must try and separate them." Calling my brother and the rest of the +party to come to our assistance, we hurried off in the direction whence +the sounds proceeded. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +LIFE ON THE ISLAND. + +When we got sufficiently near the beach to distinguish objects, we saw +the captain standing with a pistol in his hand, which was pointed at the +mate, who held a long knife in his hand, with which he was about, it +seemed, to make a rush at his opponent, while three or four men had +arranged themselves on either side, and were nourishing various weapons. +The shots we heard told us that they had already fired at each other +several times, but were too tipsy to take a steady aim. One man, +however, lay wounded on the ground, and from the gestures of the mate, +he would in another instant plunge his knife in the bosom of the +captain, unless stopped by the latter's bullet. + +"You knock up the skipper's arm, while I seize the other fellow," +exclaimed O'Carroll to me, springing forward. + +I did as he bid me; he ran a great risk of being shot. The mate turned +on O'Carroll with an oath, and the captain snapped his pistol at me, but +fortunately he had already discharged it, and in another instant I +brought him, as he attempted to grapple with me, to the ground. +O'Carroll had mastered the mate, and the other men stood staring at us, +but offering no opposition. "Is this the way for men to behave who have +just been saved from death, to make yourselves worse than the brute +beasts? This--this is the cause of it!" exclaimed O'Carroll, kicking a +cask from which a stream of spirit was even then running out. "It would +have been no loss to us if you had killed each other, but we could not +see our fellow-creatures perish without trying to save them." + +The bold and determined tone in which O'Carroll spoke, aided by the +arrival of the rest of our friends, had such an effect on the seamen, +that those who were still able to move slunk away to a distance, while +the captain and his mate, when we let them go, sat down helplessly on +the sand, forgetting entirely their quarrel and its cause. There they +sat, laughing stupidly at each other, as if the affair had been a good +joke. While O'Carroll was emptying the rum cask, which it appeared had +been washed on shore and secreted by the captain, his men went to the +wounded man. He did not speak: he seemed scarcely to breathe. I took +his hand: it was already cold. All this time he had been bleeding to +death: an artery had been shot through. We did our best in the dark to +bind up the wound and stop the bleeding; the spirit which might have +kept his heart beating till nature, in her laboratory, had formed more +blood, was gone; indeed, probably in his then condition it would not +have had its due effect. The wretched man's breath came fainter and +fainter. There was no restorative that we could think of to be +procured. We lifted him up to carry him to the camp, but before we had +gone many paces, we found that we were bearing a corpse. + +"That man has been murdered," exclaimed O'Carroll, turning to the +captain. "By whose hand the shot was fired which killed him I know not, +but I do know that his blood is on the head of the man who ought to have +set a good example to his inferiors, and prevented them from broaching +the cask they had found." + +Whether this address had any good effect we could not tell, but hoping +that the men would remain quiet and sleep off the effect of their +debauch, we returned to our tent, leaving the body on the ground. The +next morning we returned to the beach. The captain and his drunken +companions still lay on the sand asleep. They were out of the reach of +the sea, but the hot rays of the rapidly rising sun, which were striking +down on their unprotected heads, would, I saw, soon give them brain +fever or kill them outright, if they were to be left long exposed to +their influence. I therefore proposed that we should rouse them up, and +advise them to go and lie down in the shade of some shrubs and rocks at +a little distance. + +"Before we do so, we'll take away their weapons, and at all events make +it more difficult for them to do mischief to us or to themselves," said +O'Carroll. Some of the men grumbled on being disturbed, as we turned +them round to take away their knives. We left the unloaded pistols, +which, as they had no powder, could do little harm. Having taken their +arms to our tents, we returned and awoke them, not without difficulty, +by shaking them and shouting in their ears. One after the other they +got up, lazily rubbing their eyes and stretching themselves, and staring +stupidly about them. The captain was one of the last to come to his +senses. He started when he saw the dead body of his companion. + +"Who killed that man?" he exclaimed, in an anxious tone. + +"You did, most probably," answered O'Carroll. "We heard shots fired and +found the man dead." + +The captain felt in his pocket, and drew out a pistol with the hammer +down: it had been discharged. "Then I am a murderer!" he exclaimed, in +a tone of horror, his countenance expressing his feelings. "It wanted +but that to make up the measure of my crimes." + +"It is but too true, I fear," said O'Carroll. + +"Yes, too true, too true!" cried the captain, rushing off towards the +sea, into which he would have thrown himself, had not O'Carroll, +William, and I held him back. It was some time before we could calm him +sufficiently to leave him alone. He then went and sat down in the shade +at a little distance from his companions, who looked on at him with dull +apathy, while he gave way to the feelings which the prickings of his +awakened conscience had produced. How he and the mate had got possessed +of the pistols we could not guess, till we found the chest of one of the +emigrants, a young man, broken open, and from this they had helped +themselves. One of them soon after came for a spade which had been +landed, and we saw them hurriedly bury the corpse, as if eager to get +the silent witness of their crime out of sight. For the remainder of +the day they were perfectly quiet, the mate coming humbly when the +provisions were served out to ask for their share; still we could not +trust them, as we knew that if they could get at more liquor, they would +very quickly again be drunk. In the evening, indeed, they were seen +walking along the beach, evidently watching for the chance of another +cask being washed on shore. They did not find one, however, and the +next morning were excessively sulky, keeping together and evidently +plotting mischief. They, with the rest of us, were aroused, however, +soon after breakfast by the appearance of a sail in the offing. The +more sanguine at once declared that she was standing towards us, and +that our fears regarding a prolonged stay on the island were groundless; +others thought that she would pass by and leave us to our fate. Every +spyglass was in requisition, and numerous were the surmises as to the +character and nationality of the stranger. + +"What if she is an enemy?" observed William. + +"She will not find much plunder, at all events," answered Trundle. +"There is nothing like being at the bottom of the hill, so that you +cannot be kicked lower." + +"Even an enemy would respect our condition," remarked O'Carroll; "we +have nothing to fear from one, I should hope." + +"No, but an enemy would leave us where we are: a friend would carry us +away, or send us assistance," said I. It was dinner-time, and Jacotot +had prepared our messes with his usual skill; but so eager were the +people watching the approaching stranger, that the food was scarcely +touched, except by the children, who of course little knew how much +depended on her character. At length there was no doubt that she was +standing for the island, and the exhibitions of joy and satisfaction +became general among the unfortunate emigrants. They would now be able +to leave the island and reach their land of promise; every countenance +beamed brightly except O'Carroll's. After some time I saw his fall. It +gained a more and more anxious look. He scarcely withdrew the glass +from his eye. + +"What do you make her out to be, O'Carroll?" I asked. + +"Braithwaite, as I am a living man, she's the _Mignonne_," he answered, +in a hoarse voice, his countenance still further showing the agitation +of his mind: "if that villain La Roche gets hold of me again, he'll not +let me escape with my life. And these poor emigrants to have his +lawless crew come among them,--it will be terrible; better rather that +they had all gone to the bottom in their ill-fated ship with their +drunken captain." + +Notwithstanding O'Carroll's opinion, I doubted whether the stranger was +the _Mignonne_, for she was still too far off, I thought, for him to be +certain on the subject. I therefore tried to tranquillise his mind, +wondering that a man so brave, and cool, and collected, as he generally +was, should have such a dread of the French captain. + +"I tell you yonder vessel is the _Mignonne_, and if you had been treated +as I was, and had witnessed the scenes I saw enacted on board, you would +not have a less horror of La Roche and his scoundrel crew than I have. +My reason does not help me; I cannot think of that man without +trembling." + +I understood him, for I have myself been affected in the same way with +regard to one or two people who have done me some injury, or would, I +have had reason to believe, do me one should they have the opportunity. + +"The only way to escape the pirates is to remain concealed while they +are passing," he observed. "As there is no harbour here, and there are +no signs of them having been here, they will, in all probability, go to +the other side of the island, and we may escape them." + +As I still further examined the stranger I began to fear that O'Carroll +was right in his conjectures, and I therefore agreed to assist him in +trying to persuade the rest of the people to hide themselves till the +privateer was out of sight. The emigrants, frightened out of their wits +by the account O'Carroll gave of the privateer's men, were ready enough +to do as he advised, and began running here and there, not knowing where +to hide themselves. We advised them simply to pull down the tent, to +put out the fire, and to sit quiet among the rocks and shrubs till the +ship had passed. + +We then went on to see the captain and his men. As we got in sight of +where they were, we saw that they had already got up a spar, which had +been washed on shore, and were in the act of hoisting a man's shirt to +the top of it in order to attract the attention of the stranger. On +this O'Carroll shouted out to them in no very gentle tones, "Fools! +idiots! what are you about? would you bring an enemy on shore to murder +us?" I then told them the character of the vessel in sight. "What's +that to us?" answered one of the men. "All masters are much the same to +us; they'll use us while they want us, and cast us adrift when they've +done with us. Whether French or Spaniards, they'll not harm us. +They'll have liquor aboard, and that is what we shan't have as long as +we remain here." + +It was useless attempting to argue with such men. I turned to the +captain. He had lost all authority over his people, who treated him as +an equal, or rather as an inferior. He shrugged his shoulders and +walked away without speaking. I saw that it was time, therefore, to +interfere, and William and I, rushing forward, hauled down the signal, +which one of the men was on the point of hoisting. "If you are willing +to become slaves, we are not!" I exclaimed, in a determined tone, +seizing the halliards and hauling down the signal. The men threatened, +but as they had no arms, and we were firm, they did not attempt to +prevent us from carrying off the spar. + +The ship approached, and as she passed along the coast so that we had a +broadside view of her, I had no longer any doubt that she was the +_Mignonne_. I observed that even the seamen, notwithstanding their +bravado, kept so far among the rocks, that unless the privateer's men +had been especially examining the shore there was not much probability +of our being discovered. We watched the vessel from the highest point +of ground we could reach, and we conjectured that she must have touched +at the other side of the island, concealed by an intervening ridge of +elevated land. "If we are careful we shall escape all molestation from +the privateer's men," I remarked, addressing the emigrants. "They are +not likely to come to our part of the island." + +It was curious to observe the change which had come over O'Carroll. He +was no longer the bold and sagacious seaman, but an anxious, nervous, +timid man. At night I frequently heard him crying out in his sleep, +thinking that the dreaded La Roche was on him, and was about to carry +him on board the privateer. As we could not do without a fire to obtain +fresh water, we were compelled to light one, though we thus ran the +risk, should any of the privateer's men wander into the country, of +being discovered. Still that was a risk which must be run. It was +curious, also, to observe the humble way in which, after a few hours, +the seamen came to beg for a draught of the pure liquid. I was very +glad of this, as I saw that it would enable us to exert an influence +over them and to keep them in order. The wretched captain held out for +some time, but at last came, with parched lips and bloodshot eyes, +entreating even for a few drops of the precious fluid to cool the tip of +his tongue. It raised our pity to see how the wretched man suffered, +physically and mentally, and all the time without hope. In vain I urged +him to seek for mercy as a penitent. "Impossible! impossible!" he +exclaimed, with a wild laugh. "You do not know what I have done, what I +am doomed to do." And tearing himself away from me, he rushed off, and +was hid from sight among the rocks and bushes. Day after day passed by, +and we kept anxiously hoping that the privateer would take her +departure. It was suggested that if she came to the island to refit, +the Frenchman might possibly have a storehouse, with boats, perhaps, or +means of building one, and that we might thus be assisted to make our +escape. At last, so long a time had elapsed since her arrival, that we +began to fancy that she had gone out of harbour during a moonlight +night, and reached the offing without our perceiving her. To settle the +point, William and Trundle volunteered to reconnoitre, and I, afraid +that they might venture too far, resolved to go with them. We fixed on +that very afternoon to start, our intention being to get as close to the +harbour as we could before dark, and then to rest till the moon rose and +afforded us light. + +"I hope that you'll have success, but it is a dangerous work you are +going on, young gentlemen," observed one of the emigrants, a Mr Peter +Lacy, or Lazy, as he was generally called, for it was most difficult to +arouse him to any exertion. + +"Never fear, Mr Lazy, danger is a sweet nut we midshipmen are fond of +cracking to get at the kernel--honour. We shall be back all safe before +morning, and able to give a satisfactory report." + +In good spirits we set off, for a considerable part of the distance +keeping along the shore, to avoid the tangled bush and rocks of the +interior. As, however, we approached the harbour, or rather the place +where we supposed the harbour to be, we left the beach and kept a more +inland course, taking advantage of all the cover we could find to +conceal ourselves. At last the sun went down and it quickly grew dark, +so we called a halt, and ate some of our provisions with a good +appetite. We listened attentively, but could hear no sound, so we +agreed to push on directly the moon got up. As we did not speak above a +whisper, a very soporiferous proceeding, I was not surprised that both +Toby and William fell asleep. It was more necessary, therefore, that I +should keep my eyes and ears open. At last I saw what looked like the +illuminated dome of some vast cathedral slowly emerge from the dark line +of the horizon; up it rose, till it assumed a globe-like form, and +appeared to decrease in size, while it cast a bright silvery light over +the hitherto obscured landscape. I roused up the two midshipmen, who +were sleeping as soundly as if they had been in their hammocks. We +worked our way onward among tangled underwood, not without sundry +scratches and inconvenient rents in our clothing, till we reached a +hill, up which we climbed. From the top we looked down, as we had +expected to do, on the harbour. Below us lay the _Mignonne_, or a ship +very like her; her sails were loose and bulging out with the land +breeze, while from the sounds which reached us it was evident that her +crew were heaving up the anchor preparatory to sailing; boats were +moving backwards and forwards over the surface of the calm water of the +harbour, on which the moon shone with a refulgence which enabled us to +see all that was taking place. The anchor was shipped, the sails were +sheeted home, and the privateer slowly glided out of the harbour on her +errand of mischief; two, if not more, boats returned to the shore fully +manned. Farther up the harbour lay three large hulks, with their lower +masts only standing; they were high out of the water, showing that they +had no cargoes in them. There were also several smaller craft, but all +were dismantled, and looked as if they had been there for some time. +The French, then, had a settlement on the island. The inhabitants were +sure to be armed, and probably were as numerous as our party. If so, it +would be unwise to attempt gaining anything by force, though of course +we might surprise them. We waited till the people in the boats had had +time to turn in and go to sleep, and then descended to reconnoitre the +place more nearly. We crept cautiously on till we reached several +scattered cottages, or huts rather, built, without any regularity, as +the nature of the ground seemed most suitable. There were also two or +three storehouses close to the water; indeed, we saw enough to show us +that there was a regular settlement made by the French for the purpose +of refitting their ships. The barking of several poodles in the +cottages made us afraid of moving about much, lest their inmates should +look out and discover us. We therefore retraced our steps to the hill. + +"A magnificent idea," exclaimed Trundle, as soon as we called a halt. +"We'll surprise and capture the place and hold it for the King of +England. You'll be made governor, Braithwaite, to a certainty." + +"To be turned out by the first French privateer which enters the +harbour--to be thrown into prison and perhaps shot. Thank you," said I, +"I would rather not." + +"This establishment solves a mystery," observed William. "We have often +been puzzled to know what has become of vessels which have disappeared, +and which, from the fineness of the weather, and for other reasons, we +did not suppose had been lost. We should do good service if we could +get away without being discovered, and send some of our cruisers to +watch in the neighbourhood." + +I agreed with William; at the same time the idea of capturing the place +was very attractive. If we should make the attempt and succeed, +however, we should find liquor there, and the seamen would certainly get +drunk and mutinous. No object would be gained, either, unless we could +immediately send a vessel to sea, to give notice at the Mauritius of our +success and obtain assistance. Discussions on these points occupied us +till daylight, when we recommenced our journey to the tents. The news +we brought was so far satisfactory to our companions, that we were not +likely to be starved to death, and as peace would come some day or +other, we might then hope to make our escape. No one, however, seemed +at all desirous of attacking the French settlement; the risk was +considerable, the gain problematical. It was finally agreed that we +should remain quiet where we were, and only in case of extremity make +ourselves known to our foreign neighbours. The more energetic of the +party became, as may be supposed, very impatient of the inactive life we +were compelled to lead. We could do little else than fish all day, and +make expeditions in search of water. In this we were at last +successful; the spring was more than a mile away, and it became a +question whether we should move our camp there, the objection to our so +doing being that it was so much nearer the French settlement. The next +morning, on going near the spot where the captain and his companions had +erected their tent, I saw no one moving. I called to them. There was +no reply. I went to the tent. It was empty! It was supposed that they +had gone to the newly-discovered spring, but those who had gone to bring +water from it told us that they were not there. While we were wondering +what had become of the men, as William happened to be sweeping the +horizon with his telescope, he cried out that he saw a sail in the +offing. In a short time afterwards another was descried, her topsails +gradually rising out of the water. She was pronounced to be larger than +the first which had appeared. + +"It is that scoundrel La Roche again!" exclaimed O'Carroll, after eyeing +the nearest stranger for some time. "I knew that it would not be long +before he would be back again, and there he comes with a big prize, +depend on it." + +"But suppose, instead of the big ship being his prize, he has been +captured by one of our cruisers, and has been sent in first to show the +way?" I suggested. + +"No, no, the headmost craft is the _Mignonne_, and the big one is an +Indiaman, her prize, depend on that," said O'Carroll. + +There seemed every probability that he was right, but this did not +increase our satisfaction. The only thing that could be said was that +we should now have companions in our misfortune. As may be supposed, +however, we watched the approach of the two ships with the greatest +interest, feeling assured that in some way or other they would have a +considerable influence on our fate. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +AN ANXIOUS TIME. + +Our anxiety to ascertain the fate of those on board the ship which the +_Mignonne_ had brought in as a prize induced me, with my brother William +and Trundle, to make another expedition to the French settlement. We +ventured much nearer during daylight than we had done the first time, as +we were certain that the people would be watching the arrival of the +privateer and her prize. We were able, indeed, to reach a spot +overlooking the harbour, where, among some thick bushes, we concealed +ourselves before the ships came to an anchor. William had brought his +telescope, and we could almost see the countenances of the people on the +decks of the ships. The large one was, we saw at once, an Indiaman +outward bound. We knew that by the number of young men and the young +ladies on board, and their clear ruddy complexions. Had she been +homeward bound, there would be old yellow-faced generals and judges, +black nurses, sickly ladies, and little children. + +We anxiously watched the proceedings of those on board. The passengers +were walking up and down in a very disconsolate mood: the crew were +clustered forward. By their looks and gestures as they cast their eyes +towards the privateer, we thought that even then they were about to +attack the Frenchman, and attempt to regain their liberty. + +"I hope they will. I should like to help them," exclaimed William and +Trundle, starting up simultaneously. + +I drew them back. "Nonsense! we could not help them, and they will not +make the attempt," I said. "See, the Frenchmen are going on board +armed. They know what they are about." + +Two large boats with armed men were pulling from the privateer to the +Indiaman to strengthen her prize crew, while Captain La Roche was going +on board her in his gig. He was soon up her side, and began bowing and +scraping away most politely to the passengers, especially to the ladies. +We could almost fancy that we heard him apologising to them for the +inconvenience and disappointment he was causing them, with a spice of +mockery in his tone, suggesting that it was the fortune of war, and that +another day their turn might come uppermost. The crew of the Indiaman +were then sent down the side, and rowed off to one of the hulks, while +the passengers were conveyed to another. + +"Then those hulks are prison ships after all," observed William, when +the operation was concluded. "We may get on board them and let out the +prisoners some day." + +In this I partly agreed with him, though I could not help seeing the +difficulties in the way. Even this hope was likely to be frustrated, +for as we watched the Frenchmen who came on shore, we saw that they were +joined by several men whom we had little difficulty in recognising as +the crew of the wrecked ship, the very people who had lately deserted +us. The mate was with them, but we did not see the captain. Perhaps, +drunkard as he was, he was ashamed to go over to the enemy. All the +party now entered a drinking-house together, being evidently on the most +friendly terms. + +We had therefore no longer any doubt that our existence would be made +known to the privateer's men, and that the difficulty of surprising them +would consequently be much greater than we had calculated on. We found +that it was time to retrace our steps, all we had gained from our +expedition being the knowledge that many of our countrymen and +countrywomen were in even a worse condition than we were. Our report +when we got back to the tents put our companions very much out of +spirits. What were we to do? was the question. Some proposed that we +should go at once and deliver ourselves up to the French, petitioning +for their clemency. O'Carroll strongly opposed this. + +"We are at liberty now, boys: if we once get into the hands of these +French they will be our masters, and make us do what they like," he +observed; and his influence, supported as he was by us, carried the +point. + +We wondered that Jacotot did not betake himself to his countrymen; but +he laughed and said that he was now an English subject, that he should +then be only one among many, that he was with us not only the principal +cook, but the only man worthy to be called a cook; indeed, that he was +perfectly content to continue to share our fortunes. + +As several days passed and we received no visit from the Frenchmen, we +began to hope that the seamen had not betrayed us. So far that was +satisfactory, but had they remained faithful, I think that there is +little doubt that we should have attempted the rescue of the prisoners. +At last once more we saw the _Mignonne_ put to sea; and immediately on +this, with O'Carroll and Sam Kelson in company, after watching for some +time without seeing anything of the English sailors, we therefore +conjectured that either they had quarrelled with the French and been put +in prison, or had gone on board the privateer--too probably the latter. +After a consultation, we agreed that we would, at all events, pay a +visit to the passengers of the Indiaman. The French could scarcely +think it necessary to keep guards constantly watching them, and we might +therefore easily accomplish the undertaking. We accordingly set off to +move round the harbour, intending to conceal ourselves in some spot near +the Indiaman, that we might watch our opportunity for getting on board. +We had gone on for some distance, and were approaching the spot, +concealing ourselves carefully as we advanced, when sounds of laughter +reached our ears--honest English laughter. We stole on, very much +inclined to join in it, considering that we had not had a good laugh for +some time, when from some rocks up which we climbed we saw below us a +large party of ladies and gentlemen engaged in discussing a dinner in +picnic fashion on the grass. They all seemed remarkably merry and +happy. The younger gentlemen were running about helping the ladies, and +doing the polite in the most approved fashion. + +Trundle smacked his lips so loudly at the sight that some of the party +turned a hasty glance in the direction where we lay hidden, supposing +probably that the noise was made by some bird in the foliage above their +heads. In a short time one of the young gentlemen was called on for a +song. He without hesitation complied. I forget the strain. It was a +right merry one. Another followed him, and then another. + +"I say, Braithwaite," whispered Toby Trundle, "just let me go down and +introduce myself, and then you know I can introduce you all, and I'm +sure that they will be glad to make your acquaintance." + +I nodded to Toby, and in an instant he slid down the rock, and was in +the very midst of the party before any one observed where he had come +from. Their looks of astonishment at finding an English midshipman +among them were amusing. + +"Why, where have you dropped from, youngster?" exclaimed a civilian, a +judge returning from--what was more unusual in those days than at +present--a visit to England. "The clouds?" + +"Not exactly; 'tis but from up there, where I have a number of friends +who would be glad to make your acquaintance," answered Toby promptly. +"May I introduce them?" + +"By all means--very happy to see them," answered the nabob, as all civil +servants of the Company were called in those days if they were well up +the tree, and had made money. "Bring them down at once." + +"I have not a gun, sir, or I might do it; but I'll hail them, which will +answer the purpose," answered Master Toby, with a twinkle in his eye. + +We scarcely waited for his call, but tumbling down one after the other, +we stood before the assembled company, to whom Toby, looking as grave as +a judge, introduced us formally by name, finishing off with "Sam Kelson, +boatswain's mate of his Britannic Majesty's frigate _Phoebe_." + +"The very ship we spoke the day before we were captured," observed our +friend the judge. "She was on the look-out for Captain La Roche and his +merry men, and if she falls in with them, they will have a hard matter +to escape; but sit down, gentlemen, we are very glad to make your +acquaintance. We are companions in misfortune, though in some respects +you have the advantage over us, by being at liberty." + +We found that the passengers were allowed to live as before on board the +Indiaman, and were under no sort of restraint, they having given their +word not to attempt to escape from the island while the French had +possession of it. We were treated in the most friendly manner by all +the party, Sam Kelson finding a companion in a corporal, the servant of +a military officer going out to rejoin his regiment Trundle soon let out +to our new friends the intention we had entertained of trying to release +them. They thanked us, but said that the attempt would have been +useless, as the mouth of the harbour was strongly guarded. There were a +good many other people on board the ships, while the officers and seamen +remained strictly guarded, and were not allowed to visit the shore, +except when the _Mignonne_ or some other privateer ship of war was in +the harbour. Their only fear was that they might run short of +provisions before they were released, or that at all events they should +have to live on very coarse and scanty food. They advised us to keep +out of the Frenchmen's sight, lest we should be pounced on and treated +as seamen and belligerents; this we very readily promised to do. +Altogether we had a very pleasant and merry meeting, and were sorry when +our friends told us that the hour for their return on board had arrived. +It was arranged that they should have another picnic party in the same +spot in three days, and they kindly invited us to join them. On our way +back we had, as may be supposed, plenty of subjects for conversation. + +"That Miss Mary Mason," said Toby, "is a sweetly pretty girl. I would +go through fire and water to serve her." + +"And Julia Arundel is one of the most lively, animated girls I have met +for a long time," remarked William, with a sigh. I had observed +O'Carroll in conversation with a lady who seemed to be a former +acquaintance. He told me that he had known her in her younger and +happier days, that she had married an officer in India, had come home +with three children, who had all died, and that she was now on her way +to rejoin her husband. + +"Her case is a very hard one," he remarked. + +"So I suspect we shall find are the cases of many," I answered. "Sad +indeed are the effects of war! The non-combatants suffer more even than +the combatants. That is to say, a far greater number of people suffer +who have nothing to do with the fighting than those who actually carry +on the murderous work. Oh, when will war cease throughout the world?" + +"Not until the depraved heart of man is changed, and Satan himself is +chained, unable further to hurt the human race," answered O'Carroll. +"What has always struck me, besides the wickedness of war, is its utter +folly. Who ever heard of a war in which both sides did not come off +losers? The gain in a war can never make amends for the losses, the men +slain, the physical suffering, the grief: the victorious side feel that +only in a less degree than the losers." + +I cordially agreed with him. Yet how many hundreds were daily falling +at that time in warfare--how many thousands and tens of thousands were +yet to fall, to gratify the insane ambition of a single man, permitted +to be the fearful scourge that he was to the human race? We said as +little about our expedition as we could, for the emigrants, as soon as +they heard of so many of their countrymen being in the neighbourhood, +were eager to set out to see them. We, however, persuaded them to +remain where they were, for a visit of so large a party would not fail +to be discovered by the French, and greatly increase the annoyances of +our position. We, however, paid our second visit to the passengers of +the Indiaman, and found them on shore at the place where we had first +met them. Their spirits, however, had already begun to flag; their +guards had been less courteous than at first, sickness had attacked two +or three, gloomy apprehensions were troubling the minds of many. Still +we had a pleasant dinner, and the song and the jest went round as +before. The two midshipmen were the merriest of the party, and paid, as +may be supposed, the most devoted attention to the two young ladies whom +they thought fit to admire. Their happiness was, however, disagreeably +interrupted by the appearance in our midst of half-a-dozen armed +Frenchmen. They nodded familiarly at us. "Bien, messieurs; you have +saved us the trouble of going to fetch you," said one of them, in a +sarcastic tone. "You will not leave this, but as you are seamen, you +will accompany us to the prison ship." + +We soon found that they had been made acquainted by the seamen of the +_Kangaroo_ of our being on the island, and had only waited for leisure +to go and bring us to the settlement. Another party had already been +dispatched to bring in the emigrants, and from the rough unmannerly way +in which these treated our new friends, we could not but feel the +gravest apprehensions as to the indignities to which they might be +subjected. Our own existence in the hands of lawless ruffians would be +very different from what it had hitherto been. The appearance of these +unwelcome visitors completely broke up the picnic party, and while our +friends returned to their ship, we were marched off towards one of the +hulks. We soon had evidence of the bad disposition of our captors +towards us, for Toby Trundle, who was very indignant at being thus +caught, beginning to saunter along as if he had no intention of hurrying +himself to please them, one of them threatened to give him a prog with +his bayonet. As we were walking along as slowly as Trundle could +contrive to go, the sound of a shot reached our ears. It came from the +sea. Our guards started and talked rapidly to each other. Several +other shots followed in succession, some close together. + +"There are two at it, of that I am sure," exclaimed O'Carroll. + +The Frenchmen continued their gesticulations with increased animation. +They were evidently eager to get to the mouth of the harbour, whence +they could look seaward. + +"They think that there is something in the wind, depend on that," +observed Trundle. + +Presently the firing became more and more rapid, seeming to our ears to +come nearer and nearer. The Frenchmen could no longer restrain their +eagerness to learn the cause of the firing, and totally disregarding, +probably indeed forgetting us, off they set running towards the shore as +fast as their legs could carry them. We waited for a few minutes to let +them have a fair start, and then followed in their wake for some +distance, turning off, however, after a time, to the right, so that, +should they come back to look for us, we might not so easily be found. +We in a short time reached a high rocky mound, whence we got a view of +the sea spread out before us. Within a mile and a half of the land were +two ships, both with topgallant sails set, standing in close-hauled +towards the harbour. The wind was somewhat off the land, but yet, if it +continued steady, it was possible that they might fetch the +harbour-mouth. Such, it appeared evident, was the object of the one, +while to prevent her so doing was the aim of the other, which was the +larger and nearer to us. As soon as the two midshipmen set eyes on the +latter, they clapped their hands like children with delight, exclaiming +at the top of their voices, "The _Phoebe_! the _Phoebe_! hurrah! +hurrah!" O'Carroll took a more steady glance at the other ship, and +then shouted, with no less delight, "And that's the _Mignonne_, and La +Roche's day has come at last." + +"I should hope so, indeed," cried Trundle; "depend on it the _Phoebe_ +won't have done with him till she has made him eat a big dish of humble +pie." + +The frigate kept firing rapidly her foremost guns at the Frenchman, who +replied to them in a spirited manner with his aftermost ones, as they +could be brought to bear. He was all the time luffing up, trying to eat +into the wind, as it were; but as that was scant, it gave the _Phoebe_, +which was well to windward, a great advantage, and she was now rapidly +coming up with him. As she did so, she every now and then luffed up for +an instant, and let fly her whole broadside, doing considerable +execution. We eagerly watched the effect of the shot. The Frenchman's +sails were soon riddled, and several of his spars seemed to be wounded, +many of his ropes, too, hanging in festoons. At last, directly after +another broadside, down came his spanker gaff, shot away in the jaws, +while the mizen topsail braces shared the same fate. In vain the crew +ran aloft to repair the damage; the ship rapidly fell off, and all +prospect of her fetching up to the harbour was lost, unless by a miracle +the wind should suddenly shift round. The instant the sail came down, +the midshipmen gave vent to their feelings of exultation in a loud "Hip, +hip, hurrah!" in which we could not help joining them, and the crew of +the _Phoebe_, whom we could fancy at the moment doing the same thing. + +"Don't be too sure that the _Mignonne_ is taken, however," cried +O'Carroll. "I never saw a faster craft, and see, she is keeping away, +and going to try what her heels can do for her, dead before the wind." + +The _Mignonne_, however, could not keep away without being raked by the +_Phoebe_, whose shot, now delivered low, must have told with fearful +effect along her decks. This done, the _Phoebe_ instantly bore up in +chase, and not having lost a spar, though her sails had several +shot-holes through them, rapidly gained on her. The Frenchmen, to give +themselves every chance of escape, were now busily employed in getting +out studden-sail booms, in spite of the shot which went whizzing after +them. In a marvellously short space of time a wide spread of canvas was +exhibited on either side, showing that, though many of her men had +fallen, she had a numerous and well-trained crew. + +"They are smart fellows, indeed," I remarked. "Many of them fight with +halters round their necks." + +"That makes fellows smart in more senses than one," answered O'Carroll. + +The _Phoebe_, of course, had to set her studden-sails, and away the two +ships glided before the freshening breeze. We watched them with +breathless interest. Their speed at first seemed so equal that the +chased had still, it seemed, a chance of escaping. + +"Trust to our captain, he'll stick to her till he has made her strike, +or he will chase her round the world," said the two midshipmen, in the +same breath. + +The _Mignonne_ was firing away all the time with her stern chasers, +while the frigate was replying from those at her bows. They were both +firing at each other's spars, the one hoping, by crippling her opponent, +to escape, the other to prevent her doing so. What had become of our +guards all this time we had not for a moment thought, while we hoped +that they had equally forgotten us. The chase, indeed, probably +absorbed their attention as it did ours. Few of us doubted that the +English frigate would ultimately capture the Frenchman; but should she +do so would she of necessity come back with her prize to our island, or +would she sail away, and, perhaps ignorant of our existence, leave us to +our fate? One thing was evident, that we ought to guard ourselves +against the insolence of the French garrison. The men were evidently +the scum of society, and should they find themselves without restraint, +it was impossible to say what atrocities they might not commit. Anxious +as we were to know the result of the chase, we agreed at once to go back +to our friends to give them warning, and to consult with them what steps +to adopt. Before leaving our look-out place we took one more anxious +glance at the two ships. Both O'Carroll and the midshipmen declared +that the _Phoebe_ was positively overhauling the _Mignonne_, and that in +a short time we should see the latter haul down her flag. I doubted it. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +ATTACKED BY THE FRENCH FLEET. + +Our friends on board the Indiaman were thrown into high spirits on +hearing of the prospect of being released. They advised us, however, to +get on shore again as fast as we could, and hide ourselves, lest the +soldiers, hoping to be ultimately successful, should ill-treat us for +having run away from them. We told them that our intention had been to +release all the English prisoners, and to overpower the Frenchmen. + +"Blood will be shed if you do, to no purpose," observed the judge; +"should the frigate be successful and come back here, as I have no doubt +she will, we shall be released; if the _Mignonne_ escapes and returns, +her crew would quickly again overpower us and obtain what they wish, a +good excuse for ill-treating us, of which they will not fail to avail +themselves." + +The judge's opinion carried the day, and we hurried on shore, and +returned by a circuitous route to the spot whence we had witnessed the +engagement between the two vessels. William eagerly swept the dark +well-defined line of the horizon with his telescope. + +"Hurrah! there is one--yes, there are two sails! Here, O'Carroll, see +what you can make out of them," he exclaimed, handing him the glass. + +It was some time before O'Carroll would pronounce an opinion. He then +declared positively that there were two ships, and that they were +approaching the land. There was a strong breeze. We sat down on the +ground, watching anxiously. They came nearer and nearer. We had no +longer any doubt that the _Phoebe_ had captured the privateer. The +midshipmen declared positively that the largest was their ship. + +"We ought to know her, though, to be sure, it is more of the inside than +the out we see of her," observed Toby. + +All our doubts were set at rest at length, when the British ensign was +seen flying proudly over that of the French. + +Three cheers burst almost involuntarily from our throats, which could +hardly have failed to have shown our whereabouts to the French soldiers; +but if they guessed the cause, they thought it prudent to take no notice +of our proceedings, but, as we supposed, hurried back to their abodes, +to conceal any property of value which they might possess. William and +Trundle meantime were unable to resist the temptation of going on board +the Indiaman, to give our new friends the joyful news. They said that +they should be back in plenty of time to see the ships enter the +harbour. O'Carroll and I preferred waiting to watch proceedings. At +length the frigate and privateer got close in with the land, when both +hove-to. What was now to happen? Boats were seen passing between the +two vessels, and then the _Mignonne's_ head came slowly round towards +the mouth of the harbour, and on she glided towards it. The flags +remained as they were, and men, we saw, were stationed at the guns. +Some opposition was probably expected. There was a fort at the entrance +of the harbour--not a very formidable-looking affair--with five ship's +guns mounted in it. Round them we saw the greater part of the mongrel +garrison clustering as if they were going to show fight, but if so, they +thought better of it, for, after a short consultation, they sneaked +away, leaving the fort to take care of itself. The _Mignonne_ came +gliding on, bearing evident traces in her masts and rigging of the +punishment she had received, and of the obstinacy--or what would have +been valour in a better cause--with which she had been defended. We met +the midshipmen running down towards the landing-place, and jumping into +the first boat we could find, we got alongside her directly she dropped +anchor. + +"Why, Braithwaite, Trundle! where have you come from?" exclaimed several +voices, as the midshipmen clambered up the side. + +They soon gave an account of themselves, and I need scarcely say that we +were heartily welcomed by the officers of the _Phoebe_ in charge of the +prize, who were in high spirits at having captured a vessel which had +proved one of the greatest pests to British commerce in the Eastern +seas. The Frenchmen had not yielded till more than a third of their +number lay dead or desperately wounded on her decks. Among them were +several of the seamen of the unfortunate _Kangaroo_, including her +wretched captain and mate. The survivors of the Englishmen declared +that they had been forced on board and compelled to fight. We declined +to express any opinion on the subject. All we could say was that we had +missed them from the encampment, and had every reason to suppose that +they had fallen into the hands of the French. They thus escaped +hanging, which I certainly believe they deserved. The chief offenders +had already paid the penalty of their crimes. I need scarcely describe +the delight of the passengers of the Indiaman on finding that they could +now proceed on their voyage, or of the prisoners who were released from +the different hulks. They were the officers and seamen taken in +different prizes by the _Mignonne_. The excuse the Frenchmen gave for +treating them thus barbarously was that the French taken by English +cruisers were shut up on board hulks in English harbours without good +food or any exercise. They pretended not to understand that, in one +instance, the prisoners would inevitably have escaped had they been left +at liberty, while in the present they had had no opportunity of +escaping. The mouth of the harbour having been surveyed, the frigate +came in the next day, that her crew might assist in repairing the +_Mignonne_ and getting the Indiaman and the other vessels ready for sea. +I was curious to ascertain what O'Carroll would say to finding La Roche +at length a prisoner. I asked him if he would go on board the frigate +with me to see the French captain. + +"I would not do so to triumph over a fallen foe, but perhaps if I was to +set eyes on him again for a few times I might get over the intense +dislike--even more, the dread, I feel for him," he answered. "I have +reason to feel dislike. He ruined my prospects, he killed my +companions, and he treated me with every indignity and cruelty he could +devise while I remained on board his ship. He made me serve him as a +menial--wait behind his chair, clean his shoes, arrange his cabin, and +if I displeased him he ordered his men to flog me. Ay! I never told +you that before, I was ashamed to do so. He well-nigh broke my spirit. +Had I remained much longer with him he would have done so, or I should +have gone mad and jumped overboard. Still I will see him." + +We went on board the frigate and enquired for the privateer captain. +Having already, it appeared, broken his parole in England when he had +once before been taken, Captain Young had refused to receive it, and he +was therefore confined below in a cabin, with a sentry placed over him. +It was naturally supposed that he would otherwise take some opportunity +of getting on shore, and, knowing the locality, might remain concealed +till he could escape from the island altogether. Accompanied by the +master-at-arms, we entered the cabin. La Roche was seated in an +easy-chair reading a book when the door opened. He did not rise, but, +looking up, nodded to O'Carroll, whom he seemed instantly to recognise. + +"Ah, mon ami! it's the fortune of war, you see. Once I had you in my +power, now your countrymen have me," he said, in a cool, unconcerned +manner. "It is pleasant, is it not?--pleasanter for you than for me. +However, my turn may come next, and then--" + +"I hope not. I hope while I live that I may never again be in your +hands!" exclaimed O'Carroll, interrupting him. "You remember how you +treated me?" + +"Oh, well! and it is in your power to inform the captain of this +frigate, and probably he will treat me in the same way." + +"No, indeed! Englishmen never treat their prisoners as you treated me," +answered O'Carroll; "Monsieur knows that well enough. I did not come +here to insult you; I did not come to triumph over you. You had +inspired me with a horror I could not get over. I came here to be +cured. I am so, thoroughly. You have done much injury to the commerce +of my country, and the only ill I wish you is that you may be kept a +close prisoner till the termination of the war, and never again be able +to do an injury to Englishmen." + +La Roche shrugged his shoulders at this address, and smiled. "Well, you +Irishmen are indeed curious. I should have thought that you would have +liked to see me hung up to the yard-arm," he observed, in the same cool +tone as before. "However, your moderate wishes may be gratified, or I +may make my escape; and if I do, and ever capture you again, I promise +you that I will remember your moderation, and treat you to the best of +everything I have on board." + +We soon after this brought our interview with the famous privateer +captain to an end, and O'Carroll assured me that all his unpleasant +monomaniacal feelings with regard to him had been, as he hoped, +completely dissipated. As we were about to leave the ship Captain Young +politely invited us to remain and dine with him. He showed much +interest in O'Carroll's account of his misfortunes, and finally arranged +that he should take the command of one of the vessels in the harbour to +convey the emigrants to New South Wales. I, of course, received no +direct communication from Captain Hassall, but from the information +Captain Young gave me I had great hopes that the _Barbara_, instead of +sailing immediately for the east, had gone to the coast of Madagascar, +in which direction the _Phoebe_ herself was bound. Captain Young +offered me a passage should I wish to rejoin my ship. The Indiaman +being refitted for sea by the united exertions of all the crews, we all +sailed out of the harbour in succession, the _Phoebe_ leading. The +_Mignonne_, with her prize crew and some of the prisoners on board, was +bound for the Mauritius, to give information of the capture of the +island; the emigrant ship was bound for New South Wales, the Indiaman +for Calcutta, we for Madagascar. I went on board the _Argo_, the ship +commanded by O'Carroll. I found him well satisfied with his change of +circumstances. There was only one thing about which he was concerned. +La Roche, though still a captive, was alive, and might soon regain his +liberty. + +"If he does I'm sure that he will cause me trouble again," he observed. +"I don't know what causes it, but I even now cannot think of the +venomous little man without a feeling of dread--a creeping sensation, +Braithwaite. Do you know what it is?" + +"Not exactly," said I. "But the remedy I suggest is not to think of +him. Whenever his image appears banish him with a kick. Or, let me be +serious, O'Carroll. Is it not our own fault if we go on living in fear +of death all our life long! Put your trust in God, and fear not what +man can do to you." + +"You are right! you are right!" exclaimed O'Carroll, warmly; "it is just +the want of doing that has made me--no coward, as you know--constantly +tremble at unseen dangers. Henceforward I will try to follow your +advice." + +"Do," said I; "and depend on it your dread of the little Frenchman will +completely and for ever vanish." + +I parted from O'Carroll--as honest a man as ever broke a biscuit--with +the sincere hope that we should meet again. The crews of our respective +ships gave three hearty cheers as we separated on our respective +courses. We accompanied the _Mignonne_ for some distance towards the +Mauritius, when several sails were reported in sight from the mast-head. + +"I hope that they are enemies!" I heard Trundle thoughtlessly exclaim. +"Glorious fun to have a fight. We, too, should soon give a good account +of them." + +Both ships were speedily got ready for action, for in those days it was +difficult to sail far without meeting an enemy. It might be one to be +captured--snapped up in an instant; it might be one of equal or not of +vastly superior size, to be fought bravely, and taken in the end; or, +mayhap, one so much larger that it would be necessary to make all sail +and run away, a proceeding not very often practised in those days by +British naval commanders. It was rather doubtful, however, from the +number and size of the ships in sight, whether we should not find it +necessary to have recourse to the last expedient. We continued, +however, steering as before, and rapidly nearing the strangers, when, to +the relief of the less pugnaciously disposed, first one and then the +others made their number, and we discovered, as we got sufficiently near +to exchange telegraph signals, that they were three frigates--the +_Galatea, Racehorse_, and _Astrea_--on their way to the coast of +Madagascar to look after a French squadron, which, having been driven +away from the Mauritius, had gone in that direction. We should now be a +fair match for the Frenchmen whenever we should meet them. Having put +most of our prisoners well guarded on board the _Mignonne_, we parted +from her, she to continue her passage to the Mauritius, we to accompany +our consorts in search of the enemy. + +A bright look-out was now kept for the enemy, and from sunrise to its +setting the mastheads were adorned with eager watchers, each wishing to +be the first one to espy the Frenchmen. However, the lofty mountain +ridges of Madagascar hove in sight before any of them were seen. I had +become very anxious about the fate of the _Barbara_. Had she prosecuted +her voyage to this coast, and fallen in with the enemy? If so, she must +have been captured, and too probably sent away to one of the +settlements. In spite of my advice to O'Carroll, this idea took +complete possession of my mind, and I felt convinced that the voyage +from which so much had been expected would come to nought. + +Night closed in on us, and the usual answer was given to the watch below +by those who had come off deck, "Not a sign of a sail in sight." The +next morning the sun arose out of his ocean bed brighter even than is +his wont in that bright clime, first lighting up the topmost heights of +the mountains with a roseate tinge, while a purple hue still lay spread +over the calm ocean. As usual, officers and men were going aloft, with +telescopes over their shoulders, to take a look round for the enemy, +when, as the sun rose higher, a shout of satisfaction burst from many a +throat, for there lay, well in with the land, their white canvas shining +brightly in his beams, the French frigates of which we were in search. +The wind came off the land, and we were far to leeward. They thus had +greatly the advantage of us. We did our utmost, however, to beat up to +them. Every sail that could draw was set, and we continued to tack and +tack hour after hour, hoping to reach them, and that some fortunate +shift of wind would give us the weather gauge and enable us to choose +our own time for action. As I went along the decks I was struck by the +bold and determined appearance of the men as they stood at their +quarters, stripped to the waist, and mostly with handkerchiefs of many +colours tied round their heads. The costume was appropriate, for the +heat was excessive, besides which, sailors know well that the suffering +is much less, should they be wounded, if no pieces of cloth are carried +into the body with the shot. They were chatting and laughing, and many +of them were cutting all sorts of jokes. I had volunteered to serve as +the captain's aide-de-camp, to carry messages for him to any part of the +ship, or to assist the surgeons in the cockpit. + +"You would do good service on deck, and I respect your feeling in +offering to be there," he answered; "but you are a non-combatant. You +have nothing to gain by exposing your life. You will therefore oblige +me by performing the far more painful task of assisting the surgeons." + +I bowed with a feeling of disappointment at my heart, which I probably +exhibited. + +He smiled and said, "It is possible, after all, that there may be very +little employment for your talents." + +There was a shout on the upper deck, taken speedily up by the men on the +main deck. The enemy were seen bearing down on us. On they came, +nearer and nearer. Where we lay it had fallen a perfect calm, and our +sails kept flapping against the masts. Still the breeze favoured them. +I felt very queer, I confess. I had no intention of going below till I +was wanted, and it did not occur to me that I might be turned into a +patient myself. The delight of the sailors at seeing the French thus +boldly approaching was excessive, nor did they fail to praise them for +their courage. + +"Bravo! Johnny Crapaud. That's more than I thought of you. Come +along! Don't leave us again. We won't hurt ye more than we can help. +You are brave fellows, that you are; we always thought so. Now you show +it. Bear a hand, though." + +I heard such and similar expressions from most of the men as I passed +along the decks. Suddenly there was a gloom from one end of the ship to +the other. The breeze which had been bringing the Frenchmen along +suddenly dropped. It had served, them, however, well enough to bring +them pretty close up to us. + +"Now," I thought to myself, "I shall see what a regular stand-up +sea-fight is like." + +Still I could not help feeling all the time that my vocation was one of +peace, and that I had no business to be where I was. That is not a +pleasant sensation. The great thing for a man to feel in time of danger +is that he is at his post and doing his duty. As I was in for it, I +determined to do my best to be of me, and to trust to the God of mercy +for protection. The enemy soon showed us that they had no intention of +being idle. A shot came whistling over our heads, and fell a +considerable distance on the other side of us. This showed them that we +were within gunshot range of each other, and immediately they opened +fire in earnest. Some of the shot flew over our heads, others on one +side or the other, but hitherto none had struck us. I had a hope that, +after all, there would be no bloodshed. We meantime had commenced +firing, but either the Frenchmen's powder was better or their guns +longer, for our shot mostly appeared to fall short, greatly to the +vexation of our crew. The enemy also having had the last of the wind, +while we were becalmed, were able to take up a better position than we +had, and continued warmly engaging us, we often being scarcely able to +return a shot. + +As I had nothing to do below, I remained on deck. More than once, +however, I could not help ducking my head as a shot whistled above it. +Possibly it might have been too high to have struck me. However, I soon +got accustomed to that, and as no one had as yet been hurt, I began to +fancy that after all a sea-fight was not so terrible an affair as I had +supposed, and that possibly we and the Frenchmen might part without +doing much harm to each other. I had been standing near a fine young +fellow, Jem Martin by name, captain of a gun, who had for some time past +been cutting, with more than ordinary humour, numbers of jokes on the +enemy. I was struck by his bold attitude and thoroughly sailor-like +look. His bright blue eye beamed with life and animation. I had turned +my head away from him when a shot whistled by, and I heard a piercing +shriek, such as a strong man utters but once, wrung from his bosom by +mortal agony. I looked round, and on the deck lay the shattered body of +a human being. There were a few spasmodic movements of the limbs, and +all that remained of Jem Martin was the mangled corpse at my feet. I +shuddered, for I could not help feeling that such as he was I might now +have been. + +The event seemed to affect his shipmates but little; another seaman took +his place, and the gun was loaded, run out, and fired. The fact was +that they had no time just then for thought or the indulgence of +feeling. The enemy's shot now came thicker and thicker; many went +through the sails, others wounded the masts and spars and cut away the +rigging, and several more of our men were hit. As soon as they were +carried below, I followed, to assist the surgeon in attending to their +wounds. I had long before this forgotten all about the danger to which +I was myself exposed, but I could not forget that I had a young brother +on board who might any moment be numbered among the killed or wounded. +It seemed to me, indeed, that we were getting so much the worst of it, +that I began to dread that the flag of England might have to strike to +that of France. The idea was not a pleasant one; it was not, however, +shared in by others on board. + +After we had received a pretty severe battering for the space of two +hours, the breeze got up, and the Frenchmen hauled off to repair +damages. On seeing this the rage of our men became very great, and they +cried out to the officers that they might be allowed to go after them. +As the enemy were to windward this was not easily to be done, and we had +to wait patiently in the hope that the enemy would choose to renew the +fight, while in the meantime our top-men were knotting and splicing +rigging, and the carpenter's crew were strengthening the wounded yards +and stopping shot-holes. At length the breeze reached us, and as it +filled our sails the crew cheered in anticipation of being able soon to +get to closer quarters with the enemy. After making numerous tacks, two +of our squadron got up to two of the French ships, which seemed in no +way disposed to refuse battle. While our gallant commodore closed with +the _Renomme_ we engaged the _Clorinde_. The fight soon gave work for +our surgeons, and I went below, as I had undertaken to do, to help them. +As I left the deck I cast a glance at my young brother, who had charge +of a division of the guns, and was standing on the deck cheering on the +men, full of life and animation. The shots were thickly flying about +his head; any moment one might lay him low. I could but offer up a +prayer for his safety. + +The surgeon and his mates were already at work. I hung up my coat and +tucked up my sleeves, prepared to assist them. I will not describe the +scene of suffering I witnessed. Most of the poor fellows bore their +agony with wonderful fortitude. Two officers had been brought below +wounded. I kept looking up anxiously every time I saw the feet of men +descending the ladder, dreading that they might be bringing down my +young brother. Still I kept praying for his safety while I followed the +surgeons' directions. A young seaman had been brought down fearfully +wounded. I had remarked him on several occasions among the most active +and zealous of the crew. The surgeon examined him. He did not groan-- +indeed, he did not appear to suffer much pain. + +The surgeon shook his head. "I can do nothing for him," he whispered to +me. "You may be able, perhaps, to speak a word of comfort, and there is +nothing just now for you to do." + +I was rather surprised at the surgeon saying even thus much. Perhaps +the light of the lantern, which at that moment fell on my countenance, +revealed my thoughts, for he added, "I was asked to look after the lad, +whose mother is a widow, and, God help me! I have done little for him, +and now it is too late." + +The young seaman was placed on a hammock opened out on the deck of the +cockpit. I knelt down by his side, and, after repeating such passages +out of the Word of life as occurred to me, I engaged in prayer. He +followed me in a low voice. Suddenly he was silent. I looked toward +him; the immortal spirit had taken its flight from his frail body. +Still the battle raged; more of our poor fellows were brought down, and +I once more was called on to assist the surgeons in their painful task. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +A GLORIOUS VICTORY. + +I began seriously to fear that we were getting the worst of it. Shot +after shot came crashing on board, and several more men were brought +down. I expressed my fears aloud to the surgeon. A poor fellow already +on the table about to undergo amputation overheard me. "Don't think of +that, sir," he exclaimed; "they are tough ones, those mounseers, but +we'll go down with our colours flying sooner than strike them." + +At that instant our ears were saluted by loud cheers, which burst from +the crew on deck. Still the firing was kept up, and it was evident that +our ship continued in action. At last, another wounded man being +brought down, we heard that the _Renomme_, the French commodore's +frigate, had struck. + +In a few minutes another cheer was heard, the firing ceased, and we had +the satisfaction of finding that the _Clorinde_ had also struck her +colours to us. My heart felt intense relief when I found that the +action was over, and that my young brother had escaped without a wound. +Then I recollected that those who had been killed had not been brought +below. I wondered that he had not come below to relieve my anxiety. +Those of whom I inquired could not tell me what officers had been +killed. The instant, therefore, I could leave the poor suffering +fellows I had undertaken to assist, I hurried on deck. When I went +below the frigate had presented a trim and orderly appearance. Now her +sails were torn and full of shot-holes, her running rigging hung in +loose festoons, with blocks swaying here and there, her bulwarks were +shattered, her lately clean deck ploughed up with round shot covered +with blood and gore, and blackened by powder. The thickening shades of +evening threw a peculiar gloom over the whole scene. I looked anxiously +round for William. I could not see him. My heart sank within me. +Could he be among the slain? A midshipman hurried past me. + +"Where is Braithwaite, my brother?" I asked, in a trembling voice. + +"There; don't you see him on the forecastle?" + +I looked in the direction to which he pointed. My heart bounded up +again as I saw him directing the men engaged in bending a fresh +foresail, which had before concealed him from my sight. My voice +trembled with emotion as I ran forward, and, shaking him by the hand, +congratulated him on our victory and his safety. He seemed scarcely to +understand my agitation. + +"Yes, I am thankful to say we have thrashed the enemy, and I wish there +were a few more to treat in the same way. There is one fellow making +off, and I am afraid the _Astrea_ will not be able to work up to bring +her to action." + +I looked out as he spoke. One of our frigates, to which he pointed, was +a long way to leeward, while a French frigate was standing under all +sail to the north-west. Our two antagonists appeared fearfully +shattered, both the French commodore's ship and the _Clorinde_, which +was even in a worse condition than we were. All our boats had been so +injured by shot that we were unable to send one to take possession of +our prize, and as the night was now rapidly coming on, we could not hope +to do much to repair damages till the morning. As long, however, as the +men could work, the carpenter's crew continued putting the ship to +rights. The rest of the already overworked crew were then piped below, +that they might be able to renew their labours on the morrow. I had +plenty to do in assisting the surgeons in attending on the wounded, till +at last, well wearied out, I turned into my hammock, thankful that my +dear brother and I had escaped the perils of the fight, and sincerely +hoping that, as it was my first battle, so it might be the last in which +I should be engaged. Before going below I took a look towards our +prize, whose light I saw burning brightly at no great distance from us. +I had now time to think of my own affairs, and of course was not a +little anxious about the fate of the _Barbara_, for it was too probable +that she had fallen into the hands of the Frenchmen. If so, they would +probably have sent her to France, as she was well provisioned for a long +voyage, or to one of their settlements, where she could be disposed of +to advantage. My sleep was sadly disturbed with these thoughts and with +the scenes of pain and suffering I had witnessed. I awoke soon after it +was light, and dressing quickly went on deck. It was to find everybody +there in a state of no small anger and vexation. + +"She is off, gone clean out of sight," I heard people saying. + +I inquired what was the matter. + +"Why, it is enough to vex a man, Mr Braithwaite," observed the first +lieutenant. "As we could not send on board last night to take +possession of our prize, she has managed to slip away during the +darkness. She left a light burning astern on a cask to deceive us. If +we ever come up with her we'll make her pay dearly. The other fellow, +too, has got clear away; however, we will find him out, wherever he has +hid himself." + +Soon after this the commodore signalled to us to send our boats to +assist in removing the prisoners from the _Renomme_. Thanks to the +exertions of the carpenter and his crew, three were already made capable +of floating. I asked to take an oar, as I wished to go on board the +prize. No sooner did I step on board than I regretted having come. +Terrible was the scene of slaughter I witnessed. The frigate had been +crowded with troops, nearly one-half of whom had been cut down by the +_Galatea's_ shot, which she had poured into the Frenchman's hull. The +crew were only now beginning to throw the dead bodies of their shipmates +overboard. The French commodore, a gallant officer, and many others, +were killed. But the wounded nearly doubled the killed, and they +chiefly excited our sympathy. Their own surgeons were already almost +worn out with attending to them, and of course we could not spare any of +ours to render them assistance. The more of the effects of war I saw, +even on this small scale, the more I longed for the time when wars are +to cease and nations to live at peace with each other. It was not, +however, the fashion to speak on that subject in those days, nor do the +nations of the world, alas! appear more inclined now than then to bring +about that happy state of things! + +When taking some of the prisoners on board the _Galatea_, I found she +had also suffered severely, though not at all in proportion to the +_Renomme_. Captain Schomberg ordered us, as soon as our damages were +repaired, to make sail for the port of Tamatave, on the east coast of +Madagascar, where he suspected the other French frigate had taken +refuge, her captain supposing probably that we should return at once +with our prizes to the Mauritius. The _Astrea_ coming up, her crew went +on board the _Renomme_, to put her to rights, and this being done, all +four frigates made sail together for Tamatave. It is merely a +reef-formed harbour, and by no means a secure or good one. The English +had sent a force of about fifty men there after the reduction of the +Mauritius, and they had, we understood, built a fort, or taken +possession of an old one. It was a question whether they had been able +to hold it against the French, or had been compelled to surrender. As +we approached the coast, all our glasses were in requisition, to +ascertain whether any ships were at anchor off the place. There were +two, certainly, one larger than the other. The wind was light, but we +at length got in close enough to see that the French flag flew at their +mastheads, as also over the fort, and that there were several smaller +vessels. I thought that there would be more fighting, but instead of +proceeding to that extremity, the commodore sent in a boat with a flag +of truce, pointing out the overpowering force he had under him, and +demanding the instant surrender of the ships and fort. + +We anxiously watched for the return of the boat, for if the demand were +not acceded to we should have, it was understood, to go in and cut out +the ships with our boats. Many liked the thought of such an exploit, in +spite of its dangerous character. It was very possible that the French +captain might hope, with the support of the fort, to be able to beat off +the boats, and to hold out until the squadron should be driven off by a +storm. At last the boat was seen returning. The frigate was the one +which had escaped from us. Her captain wisely agreed to yield to the +fortune of war, and to give her up with all her prizes, and the fort +into the bargain. + +"And what is the name of the other ship?" I asked. + +"The _Barbara_ merchantman," answered the lieutenant. "She was on the +point of sailing with a French crew when we appeared, so that her owners +have had a narrow chance of losing their property." + +This was, indeed, satisfactory news. I was, of course, very eager to go +on board and hear from Captain Hassall what he intended doing. The +account brought off as to the state of the English garrison was +melancholy. The fort was built in an especially unhealthy spot, with +marshy undrained land close round it. The consequence was, that of the +fifty men who had been sent there, when the French appeared not a dozen +were alive, and that sad remainder were scarcely able to lift their +muskets. They had therefore at once yielded to the enemy. Several +others had since died, but the sickly season being now over, it was +hoped that the remainder would live on till the next year, when in all +probability during the same season they would share the fate of their +comrades. I got a passage in one of the next boats which pulled in. +Captain Hassall had been allowed by the French to return to his ship, +and he was taking a turn on deck when I went alongside. He looked at me +curiously two or three times when I stepped on deck, and, raising his +hat, inquired what I wanted. Suddenly he stopped when he got close up +to me, exclaiming, "What! James Braithwaite, my dear boy, is it really +you? I am delighted to see you, for to say the truth, I had given you +up as lost. I never supposed that cockleshell of a boat in which you +left the ship would have survived the hurricane which came on directly +afterwards." + +There was one question above all others I wished to ask him, "Have you +written home to tell my friends of my loss?" + +"No," he answered; "I have so often found people turn up whom I thought +had been lost, that I am very unwilling to send home bad news till it is +absolutely necessary, and as I did not require your signature, I was +able to avoid mentioning that you were not on board." + +This answer greatly relieved my mind, and I was in a short time able to +talk over our arrangements for the future. The capture of the _Barbara_ +would, of course, be a heavy expense to the owners; but if the voyage +should prove as successful as we still hoped it would, a handsome profit +might yet be realised. To that object we had now to bend all our +energies. We were therefore anxious as soon as we could to proceed on +our voyage. I had heard from the captain of the _Phoebe_ that an +expedition was fitting out in India for the capture of Batavia, the +chief town in Java, of which the French now held possession; and we had +great hopes, if we could reach it soon after the English had gained the +place, which of course we expected they would do, that we should sell a +large portion of our cargo to great advantage. Before sailing, however, +we determined to see what trade could be carried on with the natives. +Fortunately, the French had not touched our cargo for that purpose. +Though they had made frequent attempts to form settlements in +Madagascar, they had never succeeded in gaining the confidence and +goodwill of the natives. Had the plans of the Count Benyowsky been +carried out when he offered his services to France, they might possibly +have obtained a powerful influence in the affairs of the country, if not +entire possession of it. His plans were, however, completely defeated +by the governor of the Mauritius, who, looking on Madagascar as a +dependency of that island, was jealous of his--the Count's--proceedings, +and finally drove him to make common cause with the natives against the +French Government. I heard some details of the life of that +extraordinary adventurer. The Count Benyowsky was a Polish nobleman, +who for some political reason was banished by the Russian Government to +one of its settlements in the extreme eastern part of Siberia, whence it +seemed impossible for him ever to find his way back to Europe. The +governor of the town in which the Count was compelled to reside had a +daughter, young and lovely, who had conceived a warm affection for him, +which appears to have been fully returned. Through the means of this +young lady he was able to gain information as to everything which was +taking place. He heard, among other things, that two large Russian +ships were expected at the neighbouring port. He had long been looking +out for the means of making his escape from Siberia. + +Here was an opportunity. None but a man of great boldness and energy +would, however, have considered it one. He was a prisoner in a +fortified town; it contained a considerable number of his countrymen, +but they were prisoners strictly watched. Still he was determined to +make the attempt. He set to work and gained over a hundred men to +assist in his dangerous undertaking. By some means they were able to +provide themselves with arms. The governor's fair daughter undertook to +obtain the keys of the fortress, provided her father's life was spared. +The adventurers found it impossible to make their escape without first +mastering the garrison. The conspirators were mustered, and were ready +for the enterprise. The young lady brought her lover the keys. Her +last words were, "Do not injure my father." + +"Of course not, if he makes no resistance," was the Count's answer. + +The gates were opened; the conspirators rushed in. The old governor +was, however, not a man to yield without a struggle. Putting himself at +the head of some of his men, he endeavoured to keep back the assailants. +Again and again he charged them, calling on the troops to rally round +him. It was evident to the Count and his companions that if he were +allowed to live their undertaking would fail. He therefore, pressed on +by numbers, was killed, with all who stood by him. + +The adventurers, now putting all who opposed them to the sword, became +complete masters of the place, and without difficulty obtained +possession also of the two ships which had just arrived. A sufficient +number of officers and seamen were found to navigate the ships, and, +having provisioned them for a long voyage, the Count, taking the +daughter of the governor with him, went on board them, with a hundred +companions, and made sail to the southward. The Count had taken +precautions against pursuit; indeed, there were probably no Russian +men-of-war in those waters at the time, and thus he made good his +escape. He touched at a variety of places. He reached Canton in +safety. Here he wisely sold his ships, as, had he fallen in with any +Russian men-of-war, his destruction would have been certain. At Canton +he and his companions embarked on board two French vessels, in which +they proceeded to the Isle of France. Here he announced his intention +of forming a colony in Madagascar, or perhaps of conquering the country +for France. + +His plans, as I have said, excited the jealousy of the governor of the +Mauritius, and of other people of authority in that island, who +determined to oppose him. Notwithstanding, he proceeded to France, +where he so completely gained the good opinion of the French minister +that he was appointed to take command of an expedition to found the +proposed settlement, with the title of governor-general. He had married +the daughter of the Russian governor, and she accompanied him in all his +travels, but what was her ultimate fate I do not remember having heard. +After returning to the Isle of France, where the governor still kept up +his hostility, and opposed him by every means in his power, he set sail +with about three hundred men for Madagascar. He landed at Antongil Bay, +where he was well received by the chiefs, but he at first was subject to +a good deal of opposition from the natives generally. He did his best +to conciliate them, but as he had often to employ force, and to keep up +a strict military rule at the same time, it must have been difficult to +persuade them that his intentions were pacific and philanthropic. He +seems to have met with heroic courage all the innumerable difficulties +by which he was beset. He lost many of his officers and men by +sickness, as the position where he attempted to found his first +settlement, from being surrounded by marshes, was very unhealthy. Among +others, his only boy lost his life by fever. He was left without the +necessary supplies he expected from the Isle of France, the governor +purposely neglecting to send them. The natives also were incited by +emissaries of the governor to oppose him, while, of the officers sent to +him, some were incapable, and others came with the express purpose of +betraying him. Notwithstanding all these difficulties, by the middle of +1775 the settlers had built a fort in a more healthy situation, which +was called Fort Louis, had constructed all the necessary buildings for +the town of Louisbourg, and had formed a road twenty-one miles in length +and twenty-four feet in breadth. The Count had also done something +towards civilising the people, and among other important measures had +persuaded the women to give up their practice of infanticide, which had +been terribly prevalent. They, however, refused to ratify the +engagement without the presence of the Count's wife, who was residing at +the Isle of France. She was accordingly sent for, and on her arrival +the women of the different provinces, assembling before her, bound +themselves by an oath never to sacrifice any of their children. They +agreed that any who should break this oath should be made slaves, while +they were to send all deformed children to an institution which had been +founded by the Count in the settlement for that purpose. + +He had by this time formed alliances with many of the surrounding +chiefs, who ever afterwards remained faithful to him. In other parts of +the island combinations were formed against him. He accordingly +mustered his forces, and marching against his enemies, who had brought +forty thousand men into the field, put them to flight. Those who fell +into his hands he treated with so much leniency and kindness that he +ultimately attached them to his cause. A curious superstition of the +natives was the cause of his being at length raised to the dignity of +the principal chief of the island. It appears that the hereditary +successor to the title was missing, when some of the natives took it +into their heads that the Count Benyowsky was the lost heir. The idea +gained ground at the very time that the affairs of the Count were in a +very precarious condition. His own health was failing, the more +faithful among his European officers were dead, his enemies in the +Mauritius had succeeded in prejudicing the minds of the members of the +French Government against him, and two, if not more, vessels bringing +out supplies had been lost. Under these circumstances it is not +surprising that he should have accepted the proffered dignity, which +shortly led to his being recognised as the principal chief and supreme +ruler of the whole island. + +Commissioners had been sent out from France to investigate the affairs +of the settlement. While they were there he took the opportunity of +giving up the command of the settlement to another officer, and entirely +dissolved his connection with it and with France, though he at the same +time, with the other chiefs, expressed his desire to live on friendly +terms with the inhabitants, and to support the settlement to the best of +his ability. He employed some time after this in consolidating his +power and in improving the condition of the people. He also drew up a +constitution, which for those days was of the most liberal character. +Having done all he could to civilise the people, he resolved to go to +Europe to establish mercantile relations with different countries for +the improvement of the commerce of his adopted country. + +In France, though he had some friends who welcomed him cordially, he was +coldly received by those in power, though his course was supported by +the celebrated Dr Franklin, who was at that time in Paris. At length, +quitting the country, he went to England; but though he offered to place +the country under the protection of the English Government, no +encouragement was afforded him. All his hopes in Europe having failed, +he set sail for the United States, in the vessel he chartered with a +cargo of goods suited to the markets of Madagascar. After remaining for +some time in the United States and obtaining another ship and cargo, he +reached Antongil Bay in July 1785. He was here cordially welcomed by +the chiefs, but instead of going into the interior and assuming the +reins of government, he remained on the coast for the purpose of +establishing trading-posts where his goods might be disposed of. He had +captured one port from the French, and was engaged in repairing a fort +built by them, when a body of troops landing from a French frigate +attacked him. He retired with some few Europeans and natives into the +fort, where he attempted to defend himself. The French advanced, he was +shot through the body, and being ignominiously dragged out, directly +afterwards expired. Poor Count Benyowsky! I could not help feeling +sorrow when I heard of his sad fate. + +The climate of the low lands near the seashore was, from what we heard, +_very_ unhealthy, but in the hill country of the interior it is as +healthy as any part of the world. We heard a good deal of the English +and French pirates, who had formed, a century before, some flourishing +settlements on the northern coasts. The name of a bay we visited +(Antongil) was derived from one of the most celebrated, Anthony Gill. +Several other places also obtained their names from members of the +fraternity of freebooters. While the pirates continued their +depredations on the ocean, they in general behaved well to the natives, +but when being hotly pressed by the men-of-war of the people they had +been accustomed to rob, they entered upon the most nefarious of all +traffics, that of slaves, and to obtain them instigated the people of +one tribe to make war on those of another. This traffic has ever since +been carried on, greatly contributing to retard the progress of +civilisation. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +ARRIVAL AT JAVA. + +I was very sorry to have to part from my brother William, and not a +little so from that merriest of merry midshipmen, Toby Trundle. + +"We shall meet again one of these days, Trundle," I said, as I warmly +shook hands with him. "I hope it will be in smooth water, too; we have +had enough of the rough together." + +I did my best to express to the captain and officers of the _Phoebe_ my +sense of the kindness with which they had treated me from the first +moment I had stepped on board their frigate to the last. We all sailed +together, the men-of-war and their prize, to proceed to the Mauritius, +then to refit and get ready for the expedition to Java. We also were +bound for Java, but intended first to visit Antongil Bay for the purpose +of trading with the natives. I was pleased to find myself among my old +shipmates again. They had had no sickness on board, and not a man had +been lost. The officers were the same in character, while their +individual peculiarities seemed to stand out more prominently than +before. + +We found the natives at Antongil Bay very honourable in their dealings. +Many of the chiefs spoke French perfectly well, and looked like +Frenchmen. They were, we found, indeed, descendants of some of the +Count Benyowsky's followers, who had married native women. The children +of such marriages were generally highly esteemed by the natives, who had +raised them to the rank of chiefs. From what I saw of all classes of +the natives of Madagascar, but especially of the upper ranks, I should +say that they were capable of a high state of civilisation, and I see no +reason why they should not some day take their place among the civilised +nations of the east. When that time will come it is impossible to say. +Neither adventurers, like the brave and talented Benyowsky, nor French +settlements, will bring it about. One thing, indeed, only can produce +it--that is, the spread and the firm establishment of true Christianity +among the people. + +Some days after our departure we had a distant view of the island of +Rodriguez. In about a fortnight afterwards we were glad to put on warm +clothing instead of the light dress suitable to the tropics; yet we were +only in the same parallel of latitude as Madeira. It showed us how much +keener is the air of the southern hemisphere than that of the northern. +We soon after fell in with the monsoon, or trade wind, which sent us +flying along at a good rate; till early in August, on a bright morning, +the look-out at the mast-head shouted at the top of his voice, "Land ho! +Land ahead!" It was the north-west cape of New Holland, or Australia, +a region then, as even to the present day, almost a _terra incognita_ to +Europeans. As we neared it, we curiously looked out with our glasses +for some signs of the habitations of men, but nothing could be seen to +lead us to suppose that human beings were to be found there. The shore +was low, sandy, and desolate, without the least intermixture of trees or +verdure. A chain of rocks, over which the sea broke furiously, lined +the coast. We continued in sight of this most inhospitable-looking land +till the next morning. I could not help thinking of the vast extent of +country which intervened between the shore at which we were gazing and +the British settlement at Port Jackson, of which we had lately heard +such flattering accounts. Was it a region flowing with milk and honey? +one of lakes and streams, or of lofty mountains? did it contain one vast +inland sea, or was it a sandy desert of burning sands, impassable for +man? + +This was a problem some of my emigrant friends had been discussing, and +which I longed to see solved. After losing sight of the coast of New +Holland, we had to keep a bright look-out, as we were in the supposed +neighbourhood of certain islands which some navigators, it was reported, +had seen, but no land appeared. One clear night we found ourselves +suddenly, it seemed, floating in an ocean of milk, or more properly, +perhaps, a thick solution of chalk in water. The surface was quite +unruffled, nor was there the slightest mixture of that phosphoric +appearance often seen on a dark night when the sea is agitated. The air +was still, though it was not quite a calm, and the sky was perfectly +clear. It took us some hours to slip through it. We drew up some in +buckets, and found it to contain a small, scarcely perceptible, portion +of a fine filamentous substance, quite transparent, such as I have +occasionally seen where seaweed is abundant. Whether this was the cause +of the milky appearance of the sea or not we could not determine. We +were now sailing almost due north, for the Straits of Bally, as the +passage is called between that small island and the east end of the +magnificent island of Java. About the middle of August, early in the +morning, again land was seen from the mast-head, and in a few hours we +entered the Straits I have just mentioned. We could see the shores on +both sides, that of Bally somewhat abrupt, while the Java shore, +agreeably diversified by clumps of cocoa-nut trees and hills clothed +with verdure, looked green and smiling, contrasting agreeably with that +of New Holland, which we had so lately left. A large number of small +boats or canoes were moving about in all directions, those under sail +going at great speed. They were painted white, had one sail, and were +fitted with outriggers. We had to keep a bright look-out lest we should +run suddenly into the jaws of any French or Dutch man-of-war, which, +escaping from our cruisers, might be pleased to snap up a richly-laden +merchantman like the _Barbara_. We could not tell at the time whether +the proposed expedition had arrived, or, if it had, whether it had been +successful. + +As we were coasting along, a hill appeared in sight, early in the +morning, the summit thickly surrounded by clouds. As this nightcap of +vapours cleared away, a remarkable cone was exposed to view, the base +covered with the richest vegetation. Soon after this we got so +entangled among clusters of rocky islands and coral reefs that we were +very much afraid we should be unable to extricate ourselves, and that +our ship would get on shore. Though there was not much risk of our +losing our lives, the dread of having our ship and cargo destroyed was +enough to make us anxious. Fortunately the wind fell, and by keeping +look-outs at each fore-yard-arm and at the mast-head, we were able to +perceive the dangers with which we were surrounded before we ran on any +of them. At length we got into seemingly more clear water, but there +being still several reefs and islands outside of us, Captain Hassall +thought it prudent to anchor for the night. The shore off which we lay +was lined with cocoa-nut and other palm-trees, rivulets were seen +flowing down the sides of the hills, which were clothed with +spice-bearing and other shrubs, the whole landscape presenting a scene +of great tropical beauty. + +"If I ever had to cast anchor anywhere on shore, that's the sort of +country I should choose, now," observed Benjie Stubbs, our second +officer, who had been examining the coast for some time through his +glass. + +"I wouldn't change one half-acre of any part of our principality for a +thousand of its richest acres," said David Gwynne, our surgeon, to whom +he spoke. "Poets talk of the spicy gales of these islands; in most +cases they come laden with miasma-bearing fevers and agues on their +wings; while it a fellow has to live on shore he gets roasted by day, +with a good chance of a sunstroke, and he is stewed at night, and bitten +by mosquitoes and other winged and crawling things, and wakes to find a +cobra de capella or green snake gliding over his face." + +"Oh, a man would soon get accustomed to those trifling inconveniences, +as the natives must do; and money goes a long way in these regions for +all the necessaries of life," answered Stubbs. + +I must confess that, lovely as I had heard are many parts of those +eastern isles, I was inclined to agree with the surgeon. + +It was discovered this evening that in consequence of the heat, or from +careless coopering, our water-casks had let out their contents, and that +we had scarcely any fresh water in the ship. At Batavia it was very +bad, and it might be some days before we should get there, or we could +not tell when, should the expedition not have succeeded. It was +therefore necessary to get water without delay, and as a river was +marked on the chart near to where we lay, we agreed the next morning to +go up, and, should we see no fort, to run in and obtain water and any +fresh provisions we might require. Accordingly we weighed by sunrise, +and, standing in, ran along the coast till we arrived off the mouth of +the river we hoped to find. Some native houses were seen, but no +fortifications and no buildings of an European character. We therefore +thought that we should be perfectly safe in going ashore. On dropping +our anchor, several canoes came off laden with turtles, ducks, fowls, +cockatoos, monkeys, and other small animals and birds; besides sweet +potatoes, yams, and other vegetables, grown by the natives for the +supply of the ships passing along the coast. They found plenty of +customers among our men, and the ship was soon turned into a perfect +menagerie. We without difficulty made the people in the canoes +understand that we wanted to replenish our water-casks, and we +understood them to say that they would gladly help us. Two boats were +therefore lowered and filled with casks; Stubbs took charge of one of +them, and I went in the other, accompanied by little Jack Nobs, +intending to exchange a few articles which I took with me suitable to +the taste of the natives for some of the productions of their country. +As we pulled up the river we saw the low shores on either side lined +with houses built on high piles, by which they were raised a +considerable distance above the ground, some, I should think, fully +twenty feet. The only means of entering them was by a ladder, which we +found it was the custom of the inhabitants to lift up at night to +prevent the intrusion of strangers, but more especially, I should think, +of wild beasts. The chief object, however, of their being built in this +way is to raise them above the miasma of the marshy ground, which often +rises only two or three feet. They were all on one floor, but had +numerous partitions or rooms. The roofs, which were covered with palm +leaves, projected some distance beyond the walls, so as to form a wide +balcony all round. The ground beneath was also in many instances railed +in, and thus served for the habitation of ducks, poultry, and cattle. + +At the landing-place some way up a number of natives were collected, who +received us in a very friendly way. We saw no Dutchmen nor other +Europeans. As we could not make ourselves understood by the natives, we +were unable to ascertain what had occurred at the other end of the +island. The men in the canoes had for clothing only a cloth round their +waists, but the people who now received us were habited in a much more +complete fashion. They wore the _sarong_, a piece of coloured cloth +about eight feet long and four wide, part of which was thrown over the +shoulder like a Highlander's plaid, the rest bound round the waist +serving as a kilt. They all had on drawers secured by a sash, and +several wore a short frock coat with buttons in front, called a _baju_. +All had daggers, and several, who were evidently people of some +consequence, had two in copper or silver sheaths. The latter had their +teeth blackened, which was evidently looked on as a mark of gentility. +They also wore turbans, while the lower orders only had little caps on +their heads. The watering-place was some little way up the river, and +while the mates proceeded there with the boats, I landed at the village +or town. I had not proceeded far when I was given to understand that a +chief or some person of consequence wished to see me, for the purpose, I +supposed, of trading. His habitation was pointed out to me on the +summit of some high ground at a distance from the river. It appeared to +be far larger than the houses of the village. Without hesitation I set +off, followed by Jack, and accompanied by several of my first +acquaintance, towards it. I now more than ever regretted having lost +O'Carroll, for understanding as he did the languages of the people of +the Archipelago, he would greatly have facilitated our proceedings. + +The house or palace of the great man was surrounded, as are all the +island habitations of every degree which I saw in Java, with gardens. +We entered on the north side into a large square court, on either side +of which were rows of Indian fig-trees, with two large fig-trees nearly +in the centre. Passing through this we found ourselves in a smaller +court, surrounded by pillars, and covered in by a light roof. Here most +of my companions remained, but I was conducted up a flight of steps to a +handsome terrace in front of a building of considerable size, in the +centre of which was a spacious hall, the roof richly painted with red +and gold. This hall of audience was on the top of the hill; steps from +it led down to other houses which composed the dwelling of the chief and +his family. + +As I looked down from the terrace, I could see the tops of the houses of +the poorer class of people, which surrounded the palace of the chief. +They were all in the midst of gardens, and had walls round them. I +found, indeed, that I was in the centre of a town, or large village, +though in coming along I had scarcely seen any habitations, so +completely shut in were they by trees and shrubs. I had thus an example +of the fertility of Java, and of the industry of its inhabitants. With +regard to the habitations of the barbarians whose lands I visited, I +must observe that, though there were exceptions to the rule, they were +generally far superior in respect to the wants of the occupants than are +the dwellings of a large number of the poorer classes in Scotland, and +especially in Ireland, and in some districts even in England. They are +in good condition, clean, sufficiently furnished, and well ventilated. +Granted that the materials of which they are built are cheap, that from +the fertility of the land a man by labouring three days in the week can +supply all his wants for the remaining four, and has time to repair his +house and furniture, and that he has no rates and taxes to pay, still I +cannot help believing that there is something wrong somewhere, that God +never intended it to be so, and that it is a matter it behoves us to +look to more than we have done. Though distance seemed to increase my +love for Old England, it did not blind me to her faults, and I often +blushed when I found myself among heathen savages, and saw the +superiority of some of their ways to ours. These or similar thoughts +occupied me while I stood on the terrace gazing on the fine prospect +around, and waiting for the appearance of the chief. + +After some time the chief appeared at the entrance of the hall of +audience, with a gay coloured umbrella borne over his head, a slave +carrying the indispensable betel-box by his side, a handsome turban on +his head, and his sash stuck full of jewel-hilted daggers with golden +scabbards, while all his attendants stood round with their bodies bent +forward and their eyes cast to the ground, as a sign of reverence. I +thus knew that I was in the presence of a very important person. I was +rather puzzled to discover who he took me for, that he treated me with +so much state. How we were to understand each other, and I was to +ascertain the truth, I could not tell. I think I mentioned that I +learned a little Dutch, which I had practised occasionally with Peter +Klopps, my old cousin's butler. + +I tried the chief with some complimentary phrases in that language, but +he shook his head; I then tried him with French. He shook his head +still more vehemently, and, from the signs he made, I thought that he +was annoyed that I had not brought an interpreter with me. After a +time, however, finding that he could get nothing out of me, he said +something to one of his attendants, who, raising his hands with his +palms closed till his thumbs touched his nose in rather a curious +fashion, uttered a few words in reply, and then hurried off by the way I +had come. I was after this conducted into the hall, where on a raised +platform the chief took his seat, making signs to me to sit near him, +his attendants having done the same. Slaves then brought in some basins +of water, in one of which the chief washed his hands, I following his +example. Trays were then brought in, with meat and rice and fish, and +certain vegetables cut up into small fragments. There were no knives, +or forks, or spoons. The chief set an example, which I was obliged to +follow, of dipping his fingers into the mess before him, and, as it +were, clawing up a mouthful and transferring it to his mouth. Had his +hands not first been washed, I certainly should not have liked the +proceeding, but as I was by this time very hungry, and the dishes were +pleasant tasted and well cooked, I did ample justice to the repast. + +The chief and his attendants having eaten as much as they well could, my +young attendant Jack, who sat somewhat behind me, having done the same, +water was again brought in, that everybody might wash their hands. + +I heard Jack Nobs in a low tone give rough colloquial expressions of his +satisfaction. + +"They don't seem much given to talking, though," he added to himself. +"I wonder whether it is that they think we don't understand their lingo, +or that they don't understand ours; I'll just try them, though." + +Whereon in a half whisper he addressed the person sitting next to him, +who bowed and salaamed very politely in return, but made no reply. + +"What I axes you, mounseer, is, whether you feels comfortable after your +dinner," continued Jack, in a loud whisper. "And, I say, will you tell +us who the gentleman in the fine clothes is, for I can't make out nohow? +Does he know that my master here is a great merchant, and that if he +wishes to do a bit of trade, he is the man to do it with him?" + +The same dumb show on the part of the Javanese went on as before. +Jack's attempt at opening up a conversation was put a stop to by the +return of the servant with dishes containing a variety of vegetables and +fruits, which were as welcome, probably, to him as to me. One dish +contained a sweet potato cooked. It must have weighed from twelve to +fifteen pounds. I have heard of one weighing thirty pounds. The +natives appeared very fond of it. We had peas and artichokes and a dish +of sago, the mode of obtaining which I afterwards saw, and will describe +presently. I heard Jack cry out when he saw one of the dishes of fruit. +It was, I found, the _durian_, a fruit of which the natives are very +fond, and which I got to like, though its peculiarly offensive odour at +first gave me a dislike to it. It is nearly of the size of a man's +head, and is of a spherical form. It consists of five cells, each +containing from one to four large seeds enveloped in a rich white pulp, +itself covered with a thin pellicle, which prevents the seed from +adhering to it. This pulp is the edible portion of the fruit. However, +a dish of _mangostine_ was more to my taste. It is one of the most +exquisite of Indian fruits. It is mildly acid, and has an extreme +delicacy of flavour without being luscious or cloying. In external +appearance it resembles a ripe pomegranate, but is smaller and more +completely globular. A rather tough rind, brown without, and of a deep +crimson within, encloses three or four black seeds surrounded by a soft, +semi-transparent, snow-white pulp, having occasionally a very slight +crimson plush. The pulp is eaten. We had also the well-known +Jack-fruit, a great favourite with the natives; and the _champadak_, a +much smaller fruit, of more slender form and more oblong shape. It has +a slightly farinaceous consistency, and has a very delicate and sweet +flavour. I remember several other fruits; indeed, the chief seemed +anxious to show to me, a stranger, the various productions of his +country. There were mangoes, shaddocks, and pine-apples in profusion, +and several other small fruits, some too luscious for my palate, but +others having an agreeable sub-acid taste. + +We sat and sat on, waiting for the return of the messenger. I observed +that whereas a calabash of water stood near the guests, from which they +drank sparingly, a jug was placed close to the chief, and that as he +continued to sip from it his eyes began to roll and his head to turn +from side to side in a curious manner. Suddenly, as if seized with a +generous impulse, or rather having overcome a selfish one, he passed the +jug with a sigh over to me, and made signs that if I was so inclined I +was to drink from it. I did so without hesitation, but my breath was +almost taken away. It was the strongest arrack. I could not ascertain +how the chief, who was a Mohammedan, could allow himself to do what is +so contrary to the law of the prophet. I observed that his attendants +looked away when he drank, as they did when I put the cup to my lips; so +I conclude that they knew well enough that it was not quite the right +thing to do. All the inhabitants of Java are nominally Mohammedans, +but, in the interior especially, a number of gross and idolatrous +practices are mixed up with the performance of its ceremonies, while the +upper orders especially are very lax in their principles. Most of them, +in spite of the law of their prophet prohibiting the use of wine and +spirits, drink them whenever they can be procured. The rich have as +many wives as they can support, but the poor are obliged to content +themselves with one. I should say that my host, when I returned him the +jar of arrack, deprived of very little of its contents, gave a grunt of +satisfaction, from which I inferred that his supply had run short, and +that he was thankful that I had not taken more. I kept anxiously +waiting all the time for the arrival of an interpreter, for whom I was +convinced the chief had sent. After we lost Captain O'Carroll we +returned to our original intention of procuring one at Batavia. This +must account for my being at present without one. I had come on shore +in the hope that I might make myself sufficiently understood to carry on +a trade by means of signs, as I knew was often done. As, however, my +new friends would not make the attempt to talk by signs or in any other +way, I had to wait patiently till somebody should arrive to help us out +of our dilemma. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +A PRISONER OF WAR. + +I at length lost all patience at the non-arrival of the expected +interpreter, and, rising, made a profound salaam to the chief, which +was, I saw, accurately imitated by Jack, who was at my side with a +comical expression of countenance not indicative of much respect for the +great man. The chief said something which I understood to mean that he +hoped I would remain longer, but as I really was anxious to return on +board, I only bowed again lower than before, and pointed towards the +harbour, continuing to move in the direction of the entrance. He did +not attempt to stop me, and the people who had come with me were, I saw, +prepared to accompany me back. + +I had just reached the outside, when I saw approaching an individual +dressed in the native shirt and _sarong_, or kilt, whom I naturally took +to be a Javanese. + +He stopped and looked at me attentively, saying in Dutch, "I was sent +for by the chief to come and interpret for a French gentleman who has +arrived here on some diplomatic business of importance. I shall be +happy to do my best, but you are aware that some of the troops of your +countrymen will be here soon, and that then there will be no lack of +people better able to interpret for you than I am. You of course know +that the English attempted to make a landing, but have been defeated, +and it is thought probable that they will make another attempt in this +direction." He appeared to say this in a very significant manner. The +information he gave might or might not be correct, but there was a +friendliness in his look and tone which led me to suppose that he knew I +was English, and that he wished to warn me of my danger. I was doubtful +what to say in return, but quickly resolved to hurry down to the +watering party to advise them to return on board and to warn Captain +Hassall, that he might be ready immediately to get under way. I turned +to the seeming native, whom I now discovered to be a Dutchman, and +thanked him for what he had told me, remarking that our business was of +no consequence, and that as it was possible the wind might change, I +proposed returning on board at once. He smiled, and said he thought it +was the best thing I could do. This convinced me of his good feeling, +and that he knew I was English. Just at that moment a guard of soldiers +emerged from the palace, and their officer, addressing the Dutchman, +made signs to me that I was forthwith to return. + +"I am sorry," observed the Dutchman to me in English; "we must attend +the summons, but your boy need not, and you may send him to let your +companions know." + +I took the advice and ordered Jack to find his way down to the boats, +and to tell the mates to hurry on board with or without water, and to +advise Captain Hassall to get under way immediately. I added, "Tell him +to stand off and on for a couple of hours. If I am at liberty I will +put off in a native boat, but if I am detained, tell him to save the +ship and cargo, and that I hope before long to make my escape." + +Jack fully understood my message, but I must say, to his credit, that he +seemed very unwilling to leave me to my fate. + +"I am in no danger," I remarked; "I may possibly be detained a few days, +but I am not likely to suffer any other inconvenience. Now, quick, my +lad, or the ship and all hands may be caught in a trap." + +Jack gave me a nod, and was off like a shot. I scarcely expected, +however, that he would be allowed to go free; but no one, I suppose, had +received orders to stop him, and so he pursued his way unmolested. The +officers of the guard had, in the meantime, been speaking to the +Dutchman, who told me that I must return forthwith, as the chief was +waiting to receive me. I of course could do nothing else than face +about, and with my new friend accompany the guard. The men were armed +with formidable long spears and daggers, but the officer carried a +musket, which looked more like an ensign of authority than a weapon to +be used. As I returned through the courtyard I considered what I should +say to the chief. "Tell the truth and be not afraid," said conscience. +I determined to do so. + +When I re-entered the hall of audience, the chief was seated on his +divan, and evidently intended to receive me in greater state. Some of +the assemblage sat down cross-legged on cushions in front of the divan, +while others stood with their bodies bent forward on either side, the +guards who remained turning their backs on the great man. The Dutchman +and I took our seats on cushions directly below the divan. I found +afterwards that among the Javanese a sitting posture is considered more +respectful than an upright one. The chief, through the Dutch +interpreter, now asked me a number of questions, which, according to my +previous determination, I answered correctly. The great man, I thought, +looked somewhat surprised at finding that I was not so important a +person as he had at first supposed. + +Occasionally my Dutch friend remarked that I had better not reply to +some of the questions put to me, but I answered that I was perfectly +ready to stand by the consequences of anything I might say. Such has +been my practice through life--I might say, more modestly, my +endeavour--to do right on all occasions, to avow whatever I have done, +and to take the consequences, whatever they may be. I do not say that +such a mode of proceeding may not occasionally get a man seemingly into +trouble, but I do say that it is the only right course, and that he is +equally certain to get out of it again; whereas an opposite course must +lead him into difficulties, and involve him more and more as he tries to +extricate himself by prevarication, subterfuge, or falsehood. I +therefore told the chief that I had come on shore hoping to open up a +trade with him, under the belief that the country was no longer either +in possession of the Dutch or French, but that it was now under the rule +of England. If I was mistaken I was ready to undergo the penalty, and +must run the risk of being treated as a prisoner of war should I fall +into the hands of the French, but that as the English were the friends +of the rulers and people of Java, I expected to be treated by him as a +friend. + +This answer, which I had reason to believe the Dutchman faithfully +interpreted, seemed to please the chief. However, he made no direct +reply to me, but spoke for some time aside to his companions, whom I +took to be officially counsellors or advisers. One made a remark, then +another, and at last one said something at which I thought my friend the +Dutchman looked rather blank. A good deal of discussion took place, +when I heard the chief issue some orders to the officers of the guards. +Immediately on this two of the counsellors got up, and with the officer +and several other persons, and part of the guard, left the hall. + +The movement seemed to give great satisfaction to the counsellors, +especially to the gentleman who had made the suggestion, as I fancied, +which led to it, while a pleased smile played over the countenance of +the chief. All the time the honest Dutchman looked very much annoyed. +At length I asked him what it was all about. + +"I suppose that I shall not be found fault with for telling you," he +answered. "And I assure you that I would much rather not have to give +you such unpleasant information. Do not look surprised or annoyed, and +no harm can come of it. The fact is that the chief here, the governor +of this district, Mulock Ben Azel, is not a bright genius, and though he +had made up his mind to detain you, it had not occurred to him to detain +your vessel. The idea, however, was suggested to him just now by one of +these cunning gentlemen, and he has sent a party to stop her. The +Javanese are rather daring fellows, so that the captain must be smart if +he would get away from them." + +This was indeed a disagreeable announcement. I congratulated myself, +however, at having sent off Jack to warn Captain Hassall, and I had +great hopes that he would have followed my advice and got the _Barbara_ +under way before the Javanese could reach her. I thanked the Dutchman +for his sympathy and kindness. + +"I have a warm regard for the English," he answered: "I have received +much kindness at the hands of your countrymen, and am glad of an +opportunity of proving my gratitude. As far as you are concerned I may +be of service, but if these gentry get hold of your vessel, I am afraid +that they will not let her go till they have cleaned out her hold." + +I, of course, on hearing all this became very impatient to go and see +whether the _Barbara_ was leaving the harbour, but as far as I could I +concealed my feelings, and desired my Dutch friend to inquire of Mulock +Ben Azel whether he desired my presence any longer; and if not, I begged +leave to go forth into the open air that I might gaze on the beautiful +scenery amidst which he had the happiness of dwelling and I had the +happiness of finding myself. I fancy that the interpreter gave my +request a more oriental turn. The chief was at all events pleased to +comply with it, and directed some of his attendants and my Dutch friend +to accompany me. I made a profound salaam, as if I was highly pleased +at all that had occurred. The act was somewhat hypocritical, I must +confess, but, at all events, I was heartily glad to get over the +audience, which was becoming very tedious. As soon as I got out on the +terrace I have before described as affording a magnificent view of the +surrounding country, I eagerly looked seaward in search of the +_Barbara_. I almost gave a shout of satisfaction as I saw her with a +strong breeze off shore, standing away under all the canvas she could +carry. She had good reason to make the best use of her heels, for a +whole fleet of boats, some of considerable size and full of men, were in +hot chase after her. I stood with my companions eagerly watching the +chase, though the objects of our interest were very different. I was +anxious that the _Barbara_ should escape, they that she should be +caught. I knew for one, though, that if good seamanship would enable +him to get away, Captain Hassall would give his pursuers the slip. I +knew too that he would not be taken, even if the boats should catch him +up, without a fight. My earnest hope was therefore that the breeze +might continue. In that climate, however, the land wind often falls +towards the evening, and if it should do so, it would give the Javanese +a great advantage. I found my new friend by my side, and I glanced at +him. + +"Your vessel sails well, and I am glad of it," he observed. "The orders +were to bring her in at all risks; at the same time, if her captain +shows a bold front I do not think the natives will dare to attack him at +a distance from the land." + +My hopes and fears alternately rose and fell as I watched the chase. +Sometimes the boats seemed to be gaining on her. At other times she +appeared to be obtaining the advantage. She continued to increase her +canvas till every stitch she could carry was set on her, studding sails +on either side, royals, and even still lighter sails above them, which +we used to call skyscrapers. I now observed that although there were +several large boats engaged in the chase, they were but slow sailers, +and that the small ones were drawing ahead of them. These of course +would be more easily dealt with by the _Barbara's_ crew than the larger +craft. + +The latter were vessels of about forty tons, carrying fifty or sixty +persons. The hulls of those I had seen on landing were neatly built, +with round heads and sterns; and over the hulls were light small houses, +composed of bamboos, and divided into three or four cabins. The sides +were formed of split bamboos about four feet high, with windows in them +to open and shut at pleasure; the roofs were almost flat, and thatched +with palm leaves. The oars are worked by the crew standing at the fore +and after-part of the vessel. I thought that probably the boats now in +chase of the _Barbara_ were modifications of this sort of craft, and +more adapted to warlike purposes than they were. The natives became at +length even more excited than I was as the breeze occasionally fell and +gave their boats an advantage. They knew also that the land breeze +would soon set in, which I did not. They probably fancied that when it +did the vessel would be caught in a trap, not knowing that she could +haul her wind and still keep ahead of them. + +I stood watching the various circumstances of the chase, till at length, +greatly to my relief, I saw the boats, as if by signal, begin to return +together towards the shore, while the _Barbara_ continued standing off +shore till she met the sea-breeze, when she hauled her wind and stood +away to the northward. My Dutch friend congratulated me on her escape. + +"And as it appears that you are not to be detained as a prisoner, the +sooner you get out of this place the better," he observed. "I will +gladly welcome you to my abode, where you can remain till we gain +further information as to the result of the British expedition against +Batavia. If it is ultimately successful, your ship will put in at that +place, and you can rejoin her." + +I gladly accepted his offer. As we passed through the large entrance +court he pointed out two large Indian-fig-trees, and told me that under +them was the place where criminals were executed. On each side of the +court was a row of the same description of tree. We descended the hill +towards the harbour. On approaching it I heard the shrill voice of a +boy crying out loudly amid the shouts and chattering of a number of +natives. I soon recognised the voice of Jack Nobs, who had, I had +hoped, made his escape in the boats. The people, seeing me accompanied +by guards, made way for Jack, who ran towards me, crying out-- + +"Oh, save me, Mr Braithwaite! save me, sir! These savinges are a-going +to cut off my head, or to hang me up and cook and eat me. They eat +people in these parts, and they look as if they would make nothing of +devouring me." + +In vain I tried to pacify him. He seemed to fear that the natives were +going to treat me in the same way he thought that they were about to +treat him. + +"But what made you come back, Jack?" I asked. "I thought that you had +gone off to the ship." + +"What, leave you all alone among the savinges!" he answered, looking up +reproachfully at me. "No, no, sir. After you have been so kind to me, +and always took me with you wherever you've been, and we was nearly all +drowned together! No, no, if harm is to come of it, I says to myself, +I'll go shares with Mr Braithwaite, whatever happens; so, when the +boats shoved off, I scud away, and when the men called me to come along +with them, and not to mind you, for that I could do you no good, I +wouldn't go back, but kept beckoning them to be off; so away they went, +and I ran up in shore and hid myself. The savinges, howsomdever, found +me out at last, and as long as they thought that they should get hold of +the ship they treated me civil enough, as they might a pet monkey; but +when they found that they could not catch her, they turned their rage on +me, and what they're going to do with us I'm sure I don't know. Oh +dear! oh dear!" + +Jack's fears were very natural, for the dark-skinned, half-naked +Javanese, with their glittering kreeses or daggers in their hands, which +they flourished about while they vociferated loudly, were very +ferocious-looking fellows. + +"They are disappointed," said the Dutchman, "at the escape of your ship, +and they accuse the boy of being the cause of the boats going off and +giving her warning. Let him, however, keep close to me, and I will do +my best to protect him." + +My new friend, who, by-the-bye, told me his name was Peter Van Deck, now +addressed the people and told them that the boy was not to blame; +whatever he had done was in consequence of the orders he had received, +and that he had no intention of offending them. I had slipped a few +small pieces of coin, which I had fortunately in my pocket, into his +hand, and on his distributing these among the most influential of the +assemblage, public opinion was turned completely in our favour, and we +were allowed to proceed without further molestation. A small sum +bestowed on the officer of the guard had a like beneficial effect, and +after receiving an assurance from Mynheer Van Deck that we would not run +away, and would be found at his house if wanted, he and his men, very +much to my relief, took their departure, while the Dutchman, Jack, and I +set off in an opposite direction. + +The island of Java, it must be remembered, runs about due east and west. +Our course was towards the west, or in the direction of Batavia. There +was, however, not far off--about twenty miles I understood--a town and +fort, garrisoned by French troops, called Cheribon. The scenery was +very fine, heightened by the luxuriance of tropical vegetation. On our +left rose a succession of heights, beyond which appeared the summits of +the ridge of lofty mountains which runs down the centre of the island, +dividing it longitudinally into two parts, of which, however, the +northern is the largest, most fertile, and best known. My Dutch friend +was very communicative respecting the productions of the country, and +the manners and customs of the inhabitants. I noted down, therefore, +the information I received from him, which I give in as concise a form +as I can. + +The climate is certainly hot, as might be expected from being so near +the equator, but it is much more endurable than I had expected to find +it, and on the sides of the mountains it is often quite cool, so that +thick clothing is necessary. As also the nights are nearly the same +length as the days, there is time for the air to cool while the sun is +below the horizon. The bad or unhealthy monsoon blows from the west, +from the end of November to the beginning of March. This is the rainy +season. After it the easterly winds blow for some time. The breaking +up of the monsoon is the most unhealthy season of all. There are no +navigable rivers, but numerous streams descend from the mountains and +irrigate the land. One of the chief productions of this country is +pepper. It is produced from a plant of the vine kind, _Piper nigrum_, +which twines its tendrils round poles or trees, like ivy or hops. The +pepper-corns grow in bunches close to each other. They are first green, +but afterwards turn black. When dried they are separated from the dust +and partly from the outward membranous coat by means of a kind of +winnow, and are then laid up in warehouses. The white pepper is the +same production as the black. It undergoes a process to change its +colour, being laid in lime, which takes off the outer black coat and +leaves it white. + +Rice is also produced in large quantities. It grows chiefly in low +fenny ground. After it has been sown, and has shot up about half a foot +from the ground, it is transplanted by little bundles of one or more +plants in rows; then, by damming up the many rivulets which abound in +this country, the rice is inundated in the rainy season, and kept under +water till the stalks have attained sufficient strength, when the land +is drained by opening the dams, and it is soon dried by the great heat +of the sun. At the time of the rice harvest the fields have much the +same appearance as our wheat and barley fields, and indeed are uniformly +covered with a still more brilliantly golden hue. The sickle is not +used in reaping the rice, but instead of it a small knife, with which +the stalk is cut about a foot under the ear; this is done one by one, +and the ears are then bound in sheaves, the tenth of which is the pay of +the mower. The _paddee_, which is the name given to the rice while in +the husk, does not grow, like wheat and barley, in compact ears, but, +like oats, in loose spikes. It is not threshed to separate it from the +husks, but pounded in large wooden blocks hollowed out, and the more it +is pounded the whiter it becomes when boiled. Rice, with fish or a +little meat chopped up, constitute the chief food of the inhabitants. +Sugar, coffee, and indigo are also largely produced. + +For the purposes of agriculture buffaloes are used instead of horses. +They are very large animals, bigger and heavier than our largest oxen, +furnished with great ears, and horns which project straight forward and +bend inwards. A hole is bored through the cartilage of the nose, and +these huge animals are guided by a cord which is passed through it. +They have little eyes, and their colour is generally ashy grey. They +are so accustomed to be led three times a day into the water to cool +themselves, that they cannot without doing so be brought to work. The +people themselves, by-the-bye, are great bathers, both men and women, +the children, who seldom wear clothes till they are seven or eight, +being constantly in the water. That said custom must be a great saving +of expense to the parents of a large family. The people are generally +of a light brown colour, of the middle height, and well proportioned, +with a broad forehead and a flattish nose, which has a slight curve +downward at the tip. Their hair is black, and is always kept smooth and +shining with cocoa-nut oil. The dress of the women consists of a piece +of cotton cloth wrapped round the body and covering the bosom, under +which it is secured; it then hangs down to the knees, and sometimes to +the ankles, while the shoulders and part of the back remain uncovered. +The hair of their head, which they wear very long, is turned up and +twisted round like a fillet, fastened with long bodkins of different +sorts of wood, tortoiseshell, silver, or gold, according to the rank of +the lady. It is often adorned with a variety of flowers. The Javanese +are nominally Mohammedans, but in the interior especially a number of +idolatrous practices are still kept up. + +Pleasantly conversing we at length reached the residence of Mynheer Van +Deck. It was built in the best style of native architecture, that is to +say, on a raised platform of stone or brick; the outer walls were of +brick, with a verandah of bamboo, all round which the partitions, as was +most of the furniture, were of bamboo, which had a very cool appearance, +and was sufficient for a hot climate. My host was a bachelor, not from +choice, he assured me, but from necessity, on account of the scarcity of +European ladies in the island. + +"Those who are born here are so ill-educated, and so indolent, that a +man is better without their society," he remarked. + +In spite of this drawback he received me very hospitably and kindly, and +though I was vexed at having again been separated from my ship, I +confessed to myself that I had very little cause to complain of my lot. +I was leaning back on an easy bamboo chair and gazing out through a +vista of palm-trees on the deep blue sea, when the clatter of horses' +feet coming along the road caught our ears. As they drew near the clank +of sabres was heard at the same time. The voice of an officer crying +"Halt" was next heard, and soon afterwards we saw him approaching the +house. My host, with a look of considerable annoyance, rose to receive +him. He was a young and pleasant-looking man. + +"Ah, Mynheer Van Deck, bon jour," he said. "You have in your house, I +am given to understand, a foreigner, supposed to be an English spy. I +am come to demand him from you." + +"I am the person to whom you allude, monsieur," I said, rising from my +seat and going forward. "You are, however, wrongly informed. I am an +Englishman, but not a spy. I landed, not knowing that this part of the +island was in possession of the French, and had I not been detained I +should have returned to my ship." + +"I am not here to dispute the point, monsieur," he said, bowing +politely. "I must perform my duty, and that is to convey you with me to +Cheribon, where my superior officers will investigate the matter. You +have supped, I conclude; we will therefore take advantage of the cool of +the evening, and make good as much of our journey as the waning day will +allow us to perform." + +My Dutch friend shrugged his shoulders. There was not much time for +consideration. I saw that I had no resource but to obey, though I must +own that I did so with a very bad grace. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +PIRATES. + +My host, in spite of his annoyance, did not forget the duties of +hospitality, and warmly pressed our unwelcome visitor to take some +refreshment. The young officer, however, declined, on the plea that the +day was already far spent, and that he had no time to spare. On going +round to the front of the house, I found two led horses under the charge +of a soldier. They were absurdly small for cavalry, and would have been +quickly ridden over by any one of our heavy regiments. + +I was about to bid Mynheer Van Deck farewell. + +"No, not yet, my friend," he answered. "I purpose accompanying you to +Cheribon, that I may render you any service in my power. I have a +horse, and will follow immediately." + +The officer made a sign of impatience, so I mounted one of the steeds, +and Jack sprang on the back of the other, where he sat very much as a +big monkey would have done, fully resolved, it seemed, to enjoy any fun +which might be forthcoming. As the French soldiers treated him kindly, +and spoke in a good-natured tone to him, though he could not understand +what they said, his fears quickly vanished, and he was speedily "hail +fellow well met" with them all. + +The officer I found a very gentlemanly young man. He rode up alongside +me after we had proceeded a little way, and seemed eager enough to talk +about La Belle France and Paris; but when I endeavoured to draw any +information from him respecting the proceedings at the west end of the +island, he closed his mouth, or gave only vague answers. From this I +argued that affairs had not gone with the French in quite as +satisfactory a manner as they wished. I asked him at last whether he +thought that I should be detained or be otherwise inconvenienced by the +commandant at Cheribon. + +"We shoot spies," he answered laconically, at the same time shrugging +his shoulders as a Frenchman only can do. "C'est la fortune de la +guerre." + +"But, my dear sir, I am no spy," I answered. "The governor, or native +chief, purposed to seize my vessel, and I was left on shore while she +made her escape. I am but a supercargo anxious to sell the goods +entrusted to me." + +The young officer gave a smile of incredulity, yet with an air of so +much politeness that I really could not be angry with him; indeed it +would have done me no good if I were. We were in a short time joined by +Mynheer Van Deck, who came galloping up on a much finer horse than any +possessed by the French soldiers. I found from my captor that the +journey would be far longer than I had expected, as we had to make a +considerable _detour_ to visit a native chief, or prince, to whom he had +a message. My belief was that he was beating up for native recruits to +oppose the British force, which, if not arrived, must have been hourly +expected. We had several natives with us, armed with long spears and +daggers, a few only having firelocks. Van Deck told me that we should +soon have to pass a river, rather a dangerous spot, on account of the +number of tigers which came there to drink, and which had already +carried off several natives. + +"But surely they would not venture to attack so large a body of men as +this," I remarked. + +"Not if we could keep together, unless they happen to be very hungry," +he answered. "Unfortunately, however, the path in some places is so +narrow that we have to proceed in single file, and as there are fallen +trees and other impediments in the way, travellers are apt to get +separated, when, of course, they are more liable to be picked off. I +always keep my pistol cocked in my hand, that I may have a chance of +shooting my assailant." + +"But I came on shore unarmed, and have no pistols," I answered. + +"Then keep ahead of me, and if I see a tiger spring at you I will fire +at him, and do my best to save you." + +"But the poor boy who is with me--he has a poor chance, I am afraid," I +observed, after I had thanked my friend for his offer. + +"Oh, he is safe enough if he keeps close to the soldiers; the clatter of +their arms frightens the beasts." + +While the Dutchman was speaking we came in sight of the river. It was +fordable, though rather deep, and as the leading men on their small +horses plunged in the water was up to their saddle-girths. I naturally +looked out on either side for our expected enemies. Three or four large +animals sprang off just as the leading horses reached the opposite bank. +I thought they were tigers. + +"Oh, no, they are only wild cats," said Van Deck. "Rather unpleasant to +be caught by one of them asleep, but they are easily frightened." + +I thought to myself, If those creatures are Java wild cats, what must +Java tigers be like? We all passed across the stream without any +accident, a small body of half-clad natives bringing up the rear. They +were climbing up the somewhat steep bank, when a fearful shriek, +followed by loud shouts and cries, made me turn my head, and I caught +sight of a monster bounding along the bank, with the writhing, +struggling body of a human being between his huge jaws. The poor +wretch's _sarong_, or plaid, had become loose, and dragged after him. +Already several natives were setting off in chase, while others were +discharging their firearms at the animal, though at the risk of killing +the man. The French officer called out to them to desist, and seizing a +lance from one of the people, gallantly dashed after the tiger. I +naturally wished to join in the chase, but Van Deck entreated me to +stop, telling me that I should very likely, if I went, be picked off by +another tiger on my return. As it would have been folly to disregard +his advice, we pushed on as fast as we could to get out of the narrow +defile. We could for several minutes hear the shouts of the natives +still in pursuit of the tiger. After some time they rejoined us, but +they had not saved the poor man, and had, moreover, lost another of +their number, who had been carried off by a tiger just as the first +leaped over a cliff fifty feet above the valley, with the man still in +its mouth. It was followed triumphantly by its companion. + +"This is not the country I should choose to travel in, still less to +live in," I said. + +"It cannot be helped," observed the Dutchman. "I am well off here, a +great man among small people. I should be a beggar elsewhere. This is +not, however, the country in which a man of education and mind would +choose to pitch his tent." + +Torches were lit for the latter part of our journey. It will be +remembered that so nearly under the equator as we were the days and +nights are of equal length all the year round; we therefore did not +enjoy the delightful twilight of a northern clime. + +Notice had been given of our proposed visit to the chief, or prince, who +was, I was told, of Malay descent. Preparations were therefore made for +our reception, and very handsome they were. Though a prisoner, I was +treated like the rest of the guests. The house was much in the style of +those I have before described. But I was not prepared to find a table +elegantly set out and spread with fine linen and beautiful silver plate. +It was lighted by four large wax flambeaux in massive silver +candlesticks. The provisions were dressed in the Malay fashion, many of +the dishes being very palatable, and toasts were drunk with three times +three, the Malays of inferior rank, who sat round the room on the ground +against the walls to the number of thirty, joining in the huzzas. It +was altogether a curious scene of barbaric splendour. The prince +escorted us to our rooms, where we found capital beds, beautiful linen, +and very fine mosquito-nets, ornamented with fringe. The Malay servants +slept under the beds on mats, or in the corners of the rooms, to be in +readiness if required. Breakfast was prepared at daybreak, that we +might continue our journey in the cool of the morning. + +We rested under the shade of some trees during the day, the soldiers +keeping up a fearful din to scare away any wild beast who might chance +to be prowling about in search of a dinner. The young officer had +fortunately a French cook among his men, who very soon contrived to +place before us a capital dinner, though of what it was composed I could +not discover. I rather think that hashed monkey formed one of the +dishes. As, towards night, we approached Cheribon, my kind Dutch friend +did his best to keep up my spirits, assuring me that he would spare no +pains to prove that I was not a spy. He was not quite sure that the +accounts received of the defeat of the English were correct; and the +French commandant would scarcely venture to hang me without very strong +proofs of my guilt, and with the possibility of being made a prisoner +himself by my countrymen ere long, should they have been victorious. +Still it was with no very pleasant feelings that I was formally +conducted into the fort as a prisoner. + +The forts of Cheribon had been allowed to fall into decay by the Dutch, +but since the French occupation of the island had been repaired and +considerably strengthened. I was told that the commandant boasted that +he could hold out against any force likely to be sent against him, even +should my countrymen gain the day. I was taken at once before him and +examined, but though he had no evidence to prove me guilty, as I was +accused of being a spy he would not take my parole. I was by his orders +accordingly locked up in a cell with iron bars to the windows, a +three-legged stool, and a heap of straw in a corner for a bed. Mr Van +Deck had not entered the fort. In a little time Jack was thrust into +the cell with very little ceremony. He brought me a message from my +Dutch friend, saying that there had been a battle, and he suspected that +the French had been defeated. I heartily hoped that he was correct. I +had reason to believe that my prison, bad as it was, was the best in the +fort, for Jack told me that he had seen guards going round with messes +of food which they had put into wretched dark holes, and in one, as he +was led along, he saw a miserable gaunt man, with long matted hair, put +out a lean yellow hand to take the food. This information made me hope +more than ever than Van Deck was right in his suspicions, for I had no +fancy to be shut up in a dark cell for months in such a climate, with +the possibility of being taken out and shot as a spy. Had I been a +naval or military man I should not have been thus treated. Several very +unpleasant days and nights passed by, a scanty allowance of coarse food +only being brought to me and my young companion. + +At length, one day the sergeant threw open my prison door, and Van Deck +appearing, took me by the hand and led me out of my noisome dungeon, +followed by Jack, who gave a shout of joy as he found himself in the +open air. + +"I sent to Batavia, where your ship has arrived, and where your +statement was fully corroborated, and the commandant had therefore no +further excuse for keeping you a prisoner," said my friend. "But there +is another reason why he would not venture to do so much longer. Look +there!" + +He pointed seaward where several large ships were seen approaching the +land. He handed me a glass. I examined them eagerly; they were +frigates, with the flag of Old England flying at their peaks. Jack, +when he heard this, gave a loud huzza, and threw up his cap with +delight, jumping and clapping his hands, and committing other +extravagances, till I ordered him to be quiet lest the French soldiers +should put a sudden stop to the exhibition of his feelings. + +The frigates approached till they had got just within long gunshot range +of the fort, when after some time a boat put off from one of them and +approached the fort, bearing a flag of truce. That was, at all events, +pleasant. There was a chance of a battle being avoided, yet the +commandant had so loudly sworn that nothing should make him yield to the +English that I was afraid he might be obstinate and insist on holding +out. We were on the point of hurrying down to meet the boat, when a +sergeant with a guard stopped us and told us politely enough that we +must stay where we were, or that Jack and I must go back to prison. + +"We must obey orders," observed Van Deck. "The fact is, that the +commandant is aware that you are acquainted with the weak points of the +fort, that the gun-carriages are rotten, and many of the guns are +themselves honeycombed or dismounted." + +We were conducted out of the way when the officer with the flag of truce +entered the fort. Looking from the ramparts, however, we could see the +boat and the people in her through Van Deck's glass, and a young middy +was amusing himself, so it appeared to me, by daring some little Dutch, +or rather native boys to come off and fight him, which they seemed in no +way disposed to do, for whenever he held up his fists they ran off at a +great rate. Of one thing I was very sure, that if the French commandant +did not yield with a good grace he would be very soon compelled to do +so. That squadron of frigates had not come merely to give a civil +message and to sail away again. We walked up and down, impatiently +waiting to hear what was to be done. + +At length, after an hour's delay, the officer who had brought the +message--Captain Warren, of the _President_--issued from the +commandant's house with his coxswain bearing a flag under his arm. Down +came the tricolour of France, and up went the glorious flag of England. +Jack was beside himself on seeing this, and I could scarcely refrain +from joining in his "Hurra! hurra!" as I hurried forward to meet the +English captain, whose acquaintance I had made at the Mauritius. The +French commandant intimated, on this, that I was at liberty; but as I +felt it would be ungrateful to leave my friend Van Deck abruptly, I +resolved to remain on shore for the present with him. + +In a very short time the marines came on shore to secure the thus easily +acquired possession, but scarcely had they formed on the beach than it +was ascertained that a large body of the enemy had entered the town. +The order was given to charge through them, and, taken by surprise, the +French and Dutchmen threw down their arms, and several officers and +others were taken prisoners. Among them was General Jumel, second in +command to General Janssen, and Colonel Knotzer, aide-de-camp to the +latter, who with others were at once carried off to the ships. + +Cheribon I found to be a much larger place than I at first supposed; the +streets are narrow but numerous, and in the outskirts especially the +houses of the natives are so completely surrounded by trees and bushes +that it is impossible to calculate their number. I heard that the +_Phoebe_ was one of the squadron, and soon had the satisfaction of +shaking hands with my brother William, Toby Trundle, and other officers +belonging to her. From them I heard a full account of the engagement +which had given the greater part of the magnificent island of Java to +the English. I was the more interested as my military brother had taken +part in it, and distinguished himself. I hoped to meet him when I got +to Batavia. + +The army which was commanded by Sir Samuel Auchmuty, consisting of +11,000 men, half being Europeans, disembarked on the evening of the 5th +of August at the village of Chillingchin, twelve miles north of Batavia. +Colonel Gillespie advanced on the city of Batavia, of which he took +possession, and beat off the enemy, who attempted to retake it. A +general engagement took place on the 10th at Welteureden, when the +French were defeated and compelled to retire to the strongly entrenched +camp of Cornells. It was supposed to contain 250 pieces of cannon. +Here General Janssen commanded in person, with General Jumel, a +Frenchman, under him, with an army of 13,000 men. Notwithstanding this, +the forts were stormed and taken, and the greater number of the officers +captured. The commander-in-chief, with General Jumel, escaped--the +latter, as I have mentioned, to fall very soon afterwards into our +hands. + +An expedition, consisting of marines and bluejackets, was now organised +to meet a body of the fugitive army said to be marching from Cornells. +As William was of the party, I got leave to accompany it. That we might +move the faster, horses had been obtained, and both marines and +bluejackets were mounted--that is to say, they had horses given them to +ride, but as the animals, though small, were frisky and untrained, they +were sent very frequently sprawling into the dust, and were much oftener +on their feet than in their saddles. Our force, as we advanced, +certainly presented a very unmilitary appearance, though we made clatter +enough for a dozen regiments of dragoons. We were in search of the +military chest said to be with the fugitives. We fell in with a large +party, who, however, having had fighting enough, sent forward a flag of +truce and capitulated. We got possession, however, of some waggon-loads +of ingots, but they were ingots of copper, and were said to be of so +little value in the country as to have been fired as grape-shot from +Cornells. The moon shone brightly forth for the first part of the +march, but no sooner did it become obscured than a considerable number +of the marines were seized with a temporary defective vision very common +within the tropics, called, "Nyctalopia," or night blindness. The +attack was sudden; the vision seldom became totally obscured, but so +indistinct that the shape of objects could not be distinguished. While +in this state the sufferers had to be led by their comrades. With some +it lasted more than an hour, with others not more than twenty minutes, +and on the approach of day all traces of it had disappeared. + +On our march, during the heat of the day, we passed through a wood, +every tree in which seemed to have been blasted by lightning. Not a +branch nor leaf remained to afford us shelter from the scorching rays of +the sun. Had I not known that the story of the noxious effects produced +by the upas-tree was a fiction, I might have supposed that the +destruction had been caused by a blast passing amid the boughs of one of +those so-called death-dealing trees in the neighbourhood. Probably the +forest had been destroyed partly by lightning and partly by the +conflagration it had caused. + +On returning to Cheribon, I found that my friend Van Deck was anxious to +proceed to Batavia, and I was fortunate in being able to procure him a +passage on board the _Phoebe_, which was going there at once. + +"Well, Braithwaite, I shall never despair of your turning up safe!" +exclaimed Captain Hassall, shaking my hand warmly as I stepped on the +deck of the _Barbara_. "You saved the ship and cargo by your +promptness, for had I not got your message by young Jack there I should +have been captured to a certainty. Garrard, Janrin and Company have +reason to be grateful to you, and I have no doubt that they will be so." + +Everybody knows that Batavia is a large Dutch town built in the +tropics--that is to say, it has broad streets, with rows of trees in +them, and canals in the centre of stagnant water, full of filth, and +surrounded by miasma-exuding marshes. But the neighbourhood is healthy, +and the merchants and officials mostly only come into the town in the +daytime, and return to their country houses at night. Some seasons are +worse than others, nobody knows why. Captain Cook was there on his +first voyage round the world during a very bad one, and, in spite of all +his care, lost a number of people. We were more fortunate, but did not +escape without some sickness. + +Captain Hassall had disposed of most of that portion of our cargo suited +for the Batavian market, so that I soon got rid of the rest. I then +made arrangements for the purchase of sugar, tea, coffee, spices, and +several other commodities which I believed would sell well at Sydney, to +which place we proposed to proceed, touching at a few other points +perhaps on our way. + +The articles had, however, first to be collected, as the army had +consumed the greater portion in store at Batavia. Part of the purchase +I made from a brother of my friend Van Deck. He was on the point of +sailing in a brig he owned along the coast to collect produce, and +invited me to accompany him. I gladly accepted his offer, as the +_Barbara_ could not sail till his return. + +In those days, as well, indeed, as from the memory of man, these seas +swarmed with pirates, many of whom had their headquarters on the coast +of Borneo. Among them was a chief, or rajah, named Raga, notorious for +the boldness and success of his undertakings. We, however, believed +that with so many British men-of-war about he would seek some more +distant field for his operations. The harbour was full of native craft +of all sorts. Of the native prahus alone there are many varieties, some +built after European models, and carrying sails similar to those of our +English luggers. Others are of native construction, with lateen sails; +and many, built with high stems and sterns, have the square mat-sail, +such as impels the Batavian fishing prahus. Of course, among so many +craft a pirate chief could easily find spies ready to give him +information of all that was going forward. However, we troubled our +heads very little about the pirates. + +By-the-bye, I have not said anything about the alligators of Java, which +are, I believe, larger than in any other part of the world. The +Government will not allow those in the harbour of Batavia to be +disturbed, as they act the part of scavengers by eating up the garbage +which floats on the water, and might otherwise produce a pestilence. I +often passed them floating on the surface, and snapping at the morsels +which came in their way, quite indifferent to the boats going to and fro +close to them. Captain Beaver, of the _Nisus_ frigate, described to me +one he saw in another part of the island when on an exploring +expedition. It was first discovered basking on a mud-bank, and neither +he nor the officers with him would believe that it was an animal, but +thought at first that it was the huge trunk of a tree. At the lowest +computation it was forty feet in length. The circumference of the +thickest part of the body seemed nearly that of a bullock, and this +continued for about double the length. The extent of the jaws was +calculated to be at least eight feet. The eyes glistened like two large +emeralds, but with a lustre which nothing inanimate could express. The +officers examined it through their glasses, and came to the conclusion +that it was asleep, but the native guides assured them that it was not. +To prove this, one of them fearlessly leaped on shore and approached the +creature, when it glided into the water, creating a commotion like that +produced by the launch of a small vessel. + +I bade farewell to William and my friends of the _Phoebe_, not without +some sadness at my heart. In those time of active warfare it might be +we should never meet again. Of my soldier brother I got but a hurried +glimpse before he embarked on an expedition which was sent to capture +Sourabaya, at the other end of the island. A few words of greeting, and +inquiries and remarks, a warm long grasp of hands, and we parted. +Directly I stepped on board Van Deck's brig the _Theodora_, the anchor +was weighed, and we stood out of the harbour with a strong land breeze. +The easterly monsoon which prevailed was in our teeth, so that we were +only able to progress by taking advantage of the land and sea-breezes. +The land breeze commenced about midnight, and as it blew directly from +the shore, we were able to steer our course the greater part of the +night; but after sunrise the wind always drew round to the eastward, and +we were consequently forced off the shore. The anchor was then dropped +till towards noon, when the sea-breeze set in. Again we weighed, and +stood towards the shore, as near as possible to which we anchored, and +waited for the land breeze at night. + +We had thus slowly proceeded for three or four days, having called off +two estates for cargo, when, as we lay at anchor, a fleet of five or six +prahus was seen standing towards us with the sea-breeze, which had not +yet filled our sails. Van Deck, after examining them through his glass, +said that he did not at all like their appearance, and that he feared +they intended us no good. On they came, still directly for us. We got +up all the arms on deck and distributed them to the crew, who, to the +number of thirty, promised to fight to the last. Then we weighed anchor +and made sail, ready for the breeze. It came at last, but not till the +prahus were close up to us. Under sail we were more likely to beat them +off than at anchor. They soon swarmed round us, but their courage was +damped by the sight of our muskets and guns. Of their character, +however, we had not a shadow of doubt. After a short time of most +painful suspense to us they lowered their sails and allowed us to sail +on towards the shore. Here we anchored, as usual, to wait for the land +breeze. Had there been a harbour, we would gladly have taken shelter +within it, for the merchant, the elder Van Deck, said that he knew the +pirates too well, and that they might still be waiting for an +opportunity to attack us. There was, however, no harbour, and so we had +to wait in our exposed situation, in the full belief that the pirates +were still in the offing, and might any moment pounce down upon us. The +Van Decks agreed that we might beat them off, but that if they should +gain the upper hand they would murder every one on board the vessel. +"We might abandon the vessel and so escape any risk," observed the +merchant--not in a tone as if he intended to do so. "You, at all +events, Mr Braithwaite, can be landed, and you can easily get back to +Batavia." Against this proposal of course my manhood rebelled, though I +had a presentiment, if I may use the expression, that we should be +attacked. "No, no! I will stay by you and share your fate, whatever +that may be," I replied. Night came on, and darkness hid all distant +objects from view. + +We were in the handsome, well-fitted-up cabin, enjoying our evening +meal, when the mate, a Javanese, put his head down the skylight and said +some words in his native tongue, which made the Dutchmen start from +their seats, and, seizing their pistols and swords, rush on deck. I had +no difficulty, when I followed them, in interpreting what had been said. +The pirate prahus were close upon us. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +MUTINY ON BOARD THE "BARBARA." + +We have learned from the sad experience of centuries that nominal +Christianity, which men call religion, is utterly powerless to stop +warfare; it may, in a few instances, have lessened some of its horrors, +but only a few. The annals of the wars which have taken place for the +last three hundred years since the world has improved in civilisation, +show that nations rush into war as eagerly as ever, and that cruelties +and abominations of all sorts, such as the fiercest savages cannot +surpass, are committed by men who profess to be Christians. Read the +accounts of the wars of the Duke of Alva and his successors in the +Netherlands, the civil wars of France, the foreign wars of Napoleon, the +deeds of horror done at the storming and capture of towns during the war +in the Peninsula, not only by Frenchmen and Spaniards, but by the +British soldiers, and indeed the accounts of all the wars in the pages +of history, and we shall learn what a fearful and dreadful thing war is, +and strive to assist the spread of the true principles of the Gospel as +the only means of putting a stop to it. + +Such thoughts as these had been occupying my mind on board the brig, on +the morning of that eventful day of which I have just been speaking. +Here was I, a peace-loving man, engaged in a peaceable occupation, and +yet finding myself continually in the midst of fighting, and now there +was every probability of my having to engage in a desperate battle, the +termination of which it was impossible to foretell. As I reached the +deck I could see a number of dark phantom-looking objects gliding slowly +over the water towards us almost noiselessly, the only sound heard being +that produced by their oars as they dipped into the water. The pirates, +for such we were still certain they must be, expected, perhaps, to find +us asleep. The guns were loaded and run out as before. The men stood +with their muskets in their hands, and pikes and cutlasses ready for +use. The strangers drew closer and closer. They still hoped, we +concluded, to catch us unprepared. We, however, did not wish to begin +the combat unless they gave us indubitable signs of their intentions. + +The elder Van Deck, who had, I found, been a naval man, took the +command, and everybody on board looked up to him. We were not left long +in doubt that the strangers were pirates, and purposed to destroy us. +Not, however, till they were close to us with the evident intention of +boarding did our chief give the order to fire. The effect was to make +them sheer off, but only for a moment. Directly afterwards they +arranged themselves on our starboard bow and quarter, and commenced a +fire with gingalls, matchlocks, and guns of various sorts, sending +missiles of all shapes and sizes on board us. Our men kept firing away +bravely, but in a short time, so rapid was the fire kept up on us, that +three or four were killed and several wounded. I was standing near the +brave Dutchman when a dart shot from a gun struck him, and he fell to +the deck. I ran to raise him up, but he had ceased to breathe. His +death soon becoming known among the crew, their fire visibly slackened. +The pirates probably perceived this, and with fearful cries came dashing +alongside. The Javanese are brave fellows, and though they knew that +death awaited them, they drew their swords and daggers and met the enemy +as they sprang upon our deck. On came the pirates in overwhelming +numbers, their sharp kreeses making fearful havoc among our poor +fellows. I saw that all was lost. I was still unwounded. Rather than +fall alive into the hands of the pirates, as with the survivors of the +crew I was driven across the deck, I determined to leap overboard, and +endeavour to swim to land. That was not a moment for considering the +distance or the dangers to be encountered. Death was certain if I +remained in the ship. Unnoticed by the enemy, I threw myself overboard, +and struck out in the direction, as I believed, of the shore. I was a +good swimmer, but light as were my clothes, I was not aware of the +impediment they would prove to me. Already I was beginning to grow +tired, and to feel that I could not reach the shore. Yet life was +sweet, very sweet, in prospect I prayed for strength, and resolved to +struggle on as long as I could move an arm. I threw myself on my back +to float. I could see the brig, at no great distance, surrounded by the +prahus. All sounds of strife had ceased. Only the confused murmurs of +many tongues moving at once reached my ears. Now that I had ceased for +a few minutes to exert myself, two fearful ideas occurred to me: one, +that I might be swimming from the land, the other, that at any moment a +shark might seize me and carry me to the depths below. Had I allowed my +mind to dwell on these ideas, I should speedily have lost courage, but +instead I had recourse to the only means by which, under similar trials +and dangers, a man can hope to be supported. I turned my thoughts +upwards, and prayed earnestly for protection and deliverance. + +I was striking out gently with my feet to keep myself moving through the +water when my head struck something floating on the surface. I turned +round, and found that it was one of the long bamboo buoys employed by +the native fishermen on the coast to mark where their nets, or fish +traps, are placed. They are very long and buoyant, and capable of +supporting more than one man with ease. I threw my arms over the one I +had found, and was grateful that I had thus found an object by means of +which my life might possibly be preserved. + +I looked round me; the prahus and brig were still to be seen, but after +watching them for some time, they appeared to be drifting away with the +faint land breeze from the spot where I lay. Thus was the danger of +being seen by them at daylight lessened. Hitherto I had feared, among +other things, should I be unable to swim on shore, that when the pirates +discovered me in the morning they would send a boat and give me a +quieting knock on the head. Still my position was a very dreadful one. +Any moment a passing shark might seize hold of me; that I escaped was +owing, I think, humanly speaking, to my having on dark clothes, and my +having kept constantly splashing with my legs. I was afraid of resting, +also, lest I should lose consciousness, and, letting go my hold of the +bamboo, be swept away by the tide. + +At length, when my legs became weary of moving about, I thought that I +would try the effect of my voice in keeping the sharks at a distance. I +first ascertained that the pirate prahus had drifted to such a distance +that I was not likely to be heard by them, then I began shouting away at +the top of my voice. + +What was my surprise, as soon as I stopped, to hear an answer! For a +moment I fancied that it must be some mockery of my imagination; then +again I heard the voice say, "What, Braithwaite! is that you?" + +It must be, I knew, my friend Van Deck who spoke, yet the voice sounded +hollow and strange, very unlike his. + +I can scarcely describe the relief I felt at discovering, in the first +place that my friend had escaped, and then on finding that a civilised +human being was near me. I could not tell whether he knew that his +brother was killed. I did not allude to the subject. We did our best +to encourage each other. We would gladly have got nearer together to +talk with more ease, but were afraid of letting go our hold of the +support, frail though it seemed, to which we clung. Van Deck encouraged +me by the assurance that it would soon be daylight, and that at early +dawn the fishermen would come off to examine the nets. + +"They bear the Dutch, I am sorry to say, no good will," he observed. +"We are accused too justly of laying the produce of their industry under +tribute; but they will respect you as an Englishman, and for your sake +save the lives of both of us. Till I found that you had escaped I was +very anxious on that score." + +As I have said, we talked continually, for silence was painful, as I +could not tell when my companion's voice was silent whether he had been +drawn down suddenly by a shark, or had sunk overcome by fatigue. Even +with conversation kept up in this way the time passed very slowly by. +How much worse off I should have been alone! At length Van Deck +exclaimed that he saw the dawn breaking in the sky. Rapidly after this +objects became more and more distinct; the tall bamboo buoys, with their +tufts of dry grass at the top, floating on the glassy water; then I +could distinguish my companion's head and shoulders just above the +surface; and the land about two miles off, on which, however, a surf +broke which would have made landing difficult, if not dangerous. The +tall trees and the mountains, range above range, seemed to rise directly +out of it. + +Soon the fishermen's voices, as they pulled out, singing in chorus, +towards their buoys, greeted our ears. Two boats came close to us. The +fishermen exhibited much surprise at finding us, but instead of at once +coming up and taking us on board, they lay on their oars, and appeared +to be consulting what they should do with the strangers. How the +discussion might have terminated seemed doubtful, had not Van Deck told +them that I was an Englishman, whose countrymen had just conquered the +island; that he was my friend; and that if any harm happened to us my +people would come and cut off all the people in the district, whereas if +we were well treated they would be munificently rewarded. This address, +which, taken in its oriental meaning, was literally true, had the +desired effect; one of the boats approached me. Immediately that I was +in the boat I fainted, and I believe that my friend was much in the same +condition. He, however, quickly recovered, and by the promise of an +increased reward induced the fishermen to return at once to the shore. +I did not return to consciousness till I found myself being lifted out +of the boat and placed on a litter of wicker-work. Van Deck was carried +in the same way, as he was too weak to walk. We were thus conveyed to +the house of a chief, who resided not far from the shore, built on the +summit of a rising ground overlooking the sea. + +The chief, who was every inch a gentleman, received us with the greatest +hospitality, and, seeing what we most required, had us both put into +clean, comfortable beds in a large airy room, where, after we had taken +a few cups of hot coffee, we fell asleep, and did not awake again till +the evening. Our host had then a sumptuous repast ready for us, of +which by that time we were pretty well capable of partaking. Poor Van +Deck was naturally very much out of spirits at the loss of his brother, +but the necessity of interpreting for me kept him from dwelling on his +own grief. + +At the time of which I have hitherto been speaking, when I was in the +east, the spot on which Singapore, with its streets of stone palaces, +its superb public edifices and rich warehouses, now stands, was a sandy +flat, with a few straggling huts inhabited by fishermen or pirates. I +am about to give a piece of history posterior to my voyage as a +supercargo. After the peace of 1814, when Java and its dependencies +were given up to the Dutch, their first act was to impose restrictions +on British commerce in the Archipelago. They were enabled to effect +this object from the position of their settlements, those in the Straits +of Malacca and Sunda commanding all the western entrances to the China +and Java seas, and it therefore became evident that, without some effort +to destroy their monopolies, the sale of British manufactures in the +eastern islands would soon cease. Sir Stamford Raffles, who was at that +time Governor of Bencoolen, represented the case so strongly to the +Supreme Government at Bengal that the governor-general gave him the +permission he asked to make a settlement near the north-east entrance of +the Straits of Malacca. He accordingly, in the year 1819, fixed on +Singapore, which stands on the south side of an island, about sixty +miles in circumference, separated by a narrow strait from the Malay +peninsula. Of course the establishment was opposed by the Dutch, who so +strenuously remonstrated with the British Government that the latter +declined having anything to do with it, and threw the whole +responsibility on Sir Stamford Raffles. It was not until it had been +established for three years--in the last of which the trade was already +estimated at several millions of dollars--that Singapore was recognised +by Great Britain. + +After a rest of a couple of days, poor Van Deck and I were sufficiently +recovered to commence our journey back to Batavia. He was anxious to be +there that he might take charge of his late brother's affairs--I, that I +might report the loss of the brig, and make fresh arrangements for +securing a cargo for Sydney. We met with no adventures worthy of note +on our journey. + +On our return to Batavia much sympathy was excited for my friend Van +Deck among the merchants at the loss of his brother, and the naval +commander-in-chief, returning soon after from Sourabaya, dispatched two +frigates and a brig of war in search of the pirates. They were supposed +to belong to some place on the coast of Borneo, which has for many years +abounded with nests of these desperadoes. The fleet in question was +supposed to belong to a famous chief, the very idol of his followers on +account of the success of his expeditions. His title was the Rajah +Raga, and he was brother to the Sultan Coti, a potentate of Borneo. The +Raja Raga had subsequently some wonderful escapes, for he probably got +due notice that an English squadron was looking after him, and took good +care to keep out of their way. He was afterwards cruising with three +large prahus, when he fell in with an English sloop-of-war, which he was +compelled to engage. Two of his prahus, by placing themselves between +him and the enemy, held her in check a sufficient time to enable him to +escape, and were themselves then sent to the bottom; indeed, they must +have expected no other fate. + +On another occasion the rajah remained on shore, but sent his own prahu, +which carried upwards of a hundred and fifty men and several large guns, +on a cruise, under the command of his favourite panglima, or captain. +Falling in after some time with a brig merchantman, as he supposed, and +wishing to distinguish himself by her capture, he fired into her, and +made preparations to board. Great was his dismay when he saw a line of +ports open in the side of his expected prize, and he found himself under +the guns of a British man-of-war. The panglima hailed, and with many +apologies tried to make it appear that he had acted under a +misapprehension, but his subterfuge was of no avail; a broadside from +the man-of-war sent his vessel at once to the bottom, and he and all his +crew perished, with the exception of two or three who, clinging to a +piece of the wreck, were picked up by a native craft, and carried an +account of the disaster to their chief. + +Piracy had been the bane of these seas for years. + +We were fortunate in obtaining the full amount of the goods we required +without having to wait much longer at Batavia. There is an old proverb, +"It is an ill wind that blows no one good." The vessel for which they +were intended had lost her master and both mates by sickness, and the +merchant therefore sold them to me. We had not altogether escaped, and +several of our men who were perfectly healthy when we entered the +harbour fell victims to the fever engendered by the pestiferous climate. +We were compelled to fill up their places with others, who afterwards +gave us much trouble. + +It was with sincere regret I parted from my friend Van Deck. I was +glad, however, to find that he was likely to obtain employment suited to +his talents under the English Government. The most direct course for +New South Wales would have been through Torres Straits, but the east +trade wind still blowing, compelled us to take the longer route round +the south of New Holland, and through Bass's Straits, not many years +before discovered, between that vast island and the smaller one of Van +Diemen's Land. A northerly breeze at length coming on, enabled us to +sight the south-west point of New Holland, and thence we sailed along +the coast, occasionally seeing tall columns of smoke ascending from the +wood, showing the presence of natives. + +On approaching Bass's Straits, the captain was one day expressing his +regret to me that we had not time to anchor off one of the islands in it +to catch seals, great numbers of which animals frequented the place in +those days. He had known, he remarked, considerable sums made in that +way in a very short time. Our conversation, it appeared, was overheard +by one of the men we had shipped at Batavia. We had had a good deal of +insubordination among the crew since we left that place, and we traced +it all to that man, Miles Badham, as he called himself. He was about +thirty, very plausible and insinuating in his manner, a regular +sea-lawyer, a character very dangerous on board ship, and greatly +disliked by most captains. He had managed to gain a considerable +influence over the crew, especially the younger portion. His appearance +was in his favour, and in spite of the qualities I have mentioned, I +would not have supposed him capable of the acts of atrocity which were +with good reason laid to his charge. Ben Stubbs, the second mate, had +charge of the deck one night, and, unable to sleep, I was taking a turn +with him, when Mr Gwynne, the surgeon, came up to us. + +"There is something wrong going on among the people below," he +whispered. "I cannot make out what it is exactly, but if we do not look +out we may possibly all have our throats cut before morning." + +"You must have been dreaming, Gwynne," answered Stubbs; "there isn't a +man in the ship would dare do such a thing." + +"I am not certain of that," I observed; "at all events, let us be on the +right side. Forewarned, forearmed. We will let the captain know, and I +trust that we may thus defeat the plot, whatever it is." + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +HOME AGAIN! + +I went down into the captain's cabin, and, awakening him, told him what +the surgeon had said. + +"Mutiny!" he exclaimed, as he dressed himself with the usual rapidity of +a seaman. "We will soon settle that matter." He stuck his pistols into +a belt he put on for the purpose, and took a cutlass in his hand. +"Here, Braithwaite, arm yourself," he said. "Tell the officers to do so +likewise. We will soon see which of the two, that sea-lawyer or I, is +to command the _Barbara_." + +Telling Gwynne and Toby to guard the arm-chest, and Randolph to rally +round him the most trustworthy men on deck, he desired Stubbs and me to +follow him forward. Without a word of warning he suddenly appeared +among the men, who were supposed to be in their berths asleep. Going +directly up to the berth Badham occupied, he seized hold of him and +dragged him on deck, with a pistol pointed at his head, exclaiming at +the same time, "Shoot any one who offers to interfere!" + +The captain was very confident that he had the ringleader, and that the +rest would not move without him. "Now!" he exclaimed, when he had got +him on the quarterdeck. "Confess who are your accomplices, and what you +intended to do! Remember, no falsehood! I shall cross-question the +others. If you are obstinate, overboard you go." + +Badham, surprised by the sudden seizure, and confused, was completely +cowed. In an abject tone he whined out, "Spare my life, sir, and I will +tell you all." + +"Out with it then!" answered the captain. "We have no time to spare." + +"Well, sir, then I will tell you all. We didn't intend to injure any +one, that we didn't, believe me, sir; but some of us didn't want to go +back to Sydney, so we agreed that we would just wreck the ship, and as +there are plenty of seals to be got hereabouts, go sealing on our own +account, and sell the oil and skins to the ships passing through the +straits, and, when we should get tired of the work, go home in one of +them." + +"And so, for the sake of gaining a few hundred dollars for yourself, you +deliberately planned the destruction of this fine ship, and very likely +of all on board. Now, understand, you will be put in irons, and if I +find the slightest attempt among the crew to rescue you, up you go to +the yard-arm, and the leader of the party will keep you company on the +other." + +Badham, in his whining tone, acknowledged that he understood clearly +what the captain said, and hoped never again to offend. On this he was +led by two of the mates to one of the after store-rooms, where he could +be under their sight, when irons were put on him, and he was left to his +meditations, the door being locked on him. The next morning the crew +went about their work as usual, Badham's dupes or accomplices being +easily distinguished by their downcast, cowed looks, and by the unusual +promptness with which they obeyed all orders. The officers and I +continued to wear our pistols and side-arms as a precautionary measure, +though we might safely have dispensed with them. + +A short time before this, in 1802, a settlement had been formed in Van +Diemen's Land, and lately Hobart Town, the capital, had been commenced. +It was, however, a convict station, and no ships were allowed to land +cargoes there except those which came from England direct with stores or +were sent from Sydney,--in consequence of which restriction the +colonists were several times nearly on the point of starvation. + +The heads of Port Jackson at length hove in sight, and we entered that +magnificent harbour, the entrance of which Cook saw and named. Wanting +in his usual sagacity, he took it for a small boat harbour, and passed +by without further exploring it. Having first brought up in Neutral +Bay, that we might be reported to the governor, we proceeded some miles +up to Sydney Cove, where we anchored in excellent holding ground about +half-pistol-shot from the shore. Sydney had already begun to assume the +appearance of a town of some consideration, and contained fully 5,000 +inhabitants, though still called the camp by some of the old settlers. +It is divided into two parts by a river which runs into the cove, and +affords it unrivalled advantages of water communication. Several +settlements in the country had already been established, among the chief +of which were Paramatta and Hawkesbury. The latter settlement was about +six miles long, and about forty miles from Sydney; vessels of two +hundred tons could ascend by the river up it a distance of at least +forty miles. The town, such as it then was, covered about a mile of +ground from one end to the other, and already gave promise of becoming a +place of considerable extent. A wise and active governor, +Lieutenant-Colonel Lachlan Macquarie, had ruled the settlement for about +a year, during which period it had made rapid progress. The previous +governor was the notorious Captain Bligh, whose tyrannical conduct when +in command of the _Bounty_ produced the disastrous mutiny which took +place on board that ship. The same style of conduct when governor of +New South Wales, especially in his treatment of Mr John McArthur, the +father, as he was called, of the settlement, induced the colonists to +depose him. The officers and men of the New South Wales corps marched +up to the Government House, and, after hunting for him for some time, +found him concealed under a bed. His person and property were, however, +carefully protected, and he was shortly afterwards put on board the +_Porpoise_ sloop-of-war, and sent off to England. The settlement, +however, quickly recovered from the mismanagement of this unhappy man, +and was at the time of my visit in a flourishing condition. + +I was fortunate in disposing of the larger part of the cargo under my +charge at good prices. Hassall and I agreed, however, that more might +be done for our owners, and we proposed, therefore, visiting some of the +islands in the Pacific, and either returning home the way we had come, +or continuing on round Cape Horn. We had not been long in harbour +before O'Carroll made his appearance on board. He had brought the ship +of which he had taken charge in safety into harbour, when the emigrants +presented him with so handsome a testimonial that he resolved to settle +in the colony and lay it out to advantage. The governor had made him a +grant of a large extent of farm land, and assigned him some twenty +convict servants, land in those days being given away to free settlers, +and labour of the nature I have described found them gratis. + +"Altogether I am in a fair way of some day becoming a rich man," he +observed, "the which I should never have been had I continued ploughing +the salt ocean. Besides," he added, with a twinkle in his eye, "how do +I know, if I did, that I should not some day fall into the clutches of +that fearful little monster La Roche? and if I did, I know that he would +not spare me. Do you know that even to this day I cannot altogether get +over my old feelings, and often congratulate myself as I ride through +the bush that I am far out of his reach." + +O'Carroll kept to his resolution, and became a very successful and +wealthy settler. I frequently received letters from him after my return +home. In one of them he told me that he had had a surprise. The +governor asked him one day, as he could speak French, whether he would +like to have some French convicts assigned to him. He had no objection, +as he thought that he could manage them easily. What was his +astonishment, when the party arrived at the farm, to recognise among +them, in a little wizened-looking old man, his once dreaded enemy La +Roche! He determined to try and melt the man's stony heart by kindness. +At first he was almost hopeless in the matter, but he succeeded at +last. La Roche confessed that he had placed himself within the power of +the British laws in consequence of a visit he paid to England after the +war, for the purpose of carrying out a speculation which ended +unfortunately. It was satisfactory to hear that he lived to become a +changed man, truly repenting of his misspent life, and thankful that he +had been spared to repent. + +I have not spoken of the would-be mutineer, Badham. It must be +remembered that he had committed no overt act of mutiny, and though +Captain Hassall was perfectly right in putting him in irons, he could +not have been brought to trial on shore. The day before we reached +Sydney he pleaded so hard to be forgiven, and so vehemently promised +amendment in all respects, that the captain resolved to give him a +trial. It must be confessed that he was not altogether disinterested in +this, as it would have been impossible to get fresh hands at Sydney, the +temptation to settle in the country having by that time become very +great, so that it was with difficulty we could keep several of our +people who had come from England. + +Once more we were at sea. We touched at Norfolk Island, to which +convicts from New South Wales were sent. It seemed a pity that so +fertile a spot, so perfect a little paradise, should be given up for +such a purpose. We obtained here a supply of vegetables and pork, which +were not to be got at that time at any price at Sydney. After a rapid +voyage from this lovely little island we anchored in Matavai Bay, in the +island of Otaheite. It was at an interesting time of the history of the +island and its king, Otoo, who since the death of his father had taken +the name of Pomarre. For many years the band of zealous missionaries +who had come out in the ship _Duff_ had laboured on among the people, +but though they taught the king, the young prince Otoo, and some of +their people, to read and write, they confessed that they had not made +one satisfactory convert. In 1808 the greater number of the +missionaries retired from Otaheite to the island of Huahine, and the +following year all the married ones left that island for New South +Wales, in consequence of the wars in which the king was constantly +engaged, the destruction of all their property, the risk they ran of +losing their lives, and the seeming hopelessness of introducing +Christianity among such a people. After an absence of between two and +three years, several of them, having wished to make a fresh attempt to +carry out the work, sailed from Sydney for Tahiti, but stopped at the +neighbouring island of Kimeo, where the king was residing, as Tahiti was +still in a state of rebellion. They taught the people as before, and +now some began to listen to them gladly. They still seemed to have +considered the king as a hopeless heathen; but misfortune had humbled +him, he felt his own nothingness and sinfulness, and the utter inability +of the faith of his fathers to give him relief. After the missionaries +had lived in the island about a year, the king came to them and offered +himself as a candidate for baptism, declaring that it was his fixed +determination to worship Jehovah, the true God, and expressing his +desire to be further instructed in the principles of religion. The king +proved his sincerity, and ever after remained a true and earnest +Christian. He still resided at Kimeo, but a considerable number of +people in Tahiti had by this time been converted, and the old heathen +gods were falling into disrepute. + +So devastating had been the character of the late wars in Tahiti, that +we found it impossible to obtain supplies, and we therefore sailed for +Ulitea, the largest of the Georgian group, where we were informed that +we should probably be more successful. No sooner had we dropped anchor +within the coral bed which surrounds the island than the king and queen +came off to pay us a visit. They were very polite, but not +disinterested, as their object was to collect as many gifts as we were +disposed to bestow. This island was the chief seat of the idolatry of +the Society Islands. It was looked upon as a sacred isle by the +inhabitants of the other islands of the group, and more idols existed +and more human sacrifices were offered up there than in all the others. +We were so completely deceived by the plausible manners of the king and +queen and those who accompanied them, that the captain and I, the +surgeon, and two of the mates, went on shore to visit them in return, +accompanied by several of the crew, leaving the ship in charge of Mr +Randolph, the first mate. We fortunately carried our arms, though +deeming it an unnecessary measure of precaution. The king had an +entertainment ready for us, and afterwards we were allowed to roam about +the island wherever we pleased. I observed the people at length +pressing round us, and not liking their looks, advised Captain Hassall +to order our men to keep together, and to be prepared for an attack. +Whether or not they saw that we were suspicious of them we could not +tell, but from this time their conduct changed, and they would only +allow us to proceed in the direction they chose. At length, however, we +got down to the landing-place. As we approached the boats we saw a band +of armed natives making for them. We rushed down to the beach, and +reaching the boats just before they did, we jumped in and shoved off. +These savages, though savage as ever, were also more formidable enemies +than formerly, as many of them had firearms, and all had sharp daggers +or swords. + +On reaching the ship we found that Badham and his associates had, soon +after we left, seized a boat, and, in spite of all Mr Randolph could +say or do, had taken all their clothes and other property with them, and +gone on shore. Although by this conduct Badham showed that he could no +longer be trusted, and therefore that we were well rid of him, it was +important that we should get back the other men, and we agreed to go on +shore the next morning to recover them. Accordingly, the chief mate and +I went on shore as we proposed, with eight well-armed men, and demanded +an interview with the king. He did not come himself, but sent his prime +minister, who agreed, for six hatchets and a piece of cloth, to deliver +them up. We waited for some hours, but the deserters were not +forthcoming, and at last the minister and another chief appeared, and +declared that as the men were likely to fight for their liberty, it +would be necessary that we should lend them our arms. + +"Very likely, indeed, gentlemen," answered Mr Randolph, at once +detecting the palpable trick to get us into their power. + +"I say, Braithwaite, what say you to seizing these fellows and carrying +them on board as hostages? It could easily be done." + +"Cook lost his life in making a similar attempt, and we might lose +ours," I answered. "I would rather lose the men than run any such +risk." + +In vain we endeavoured by diplomacy to recover the men, and at last we +returned on board, the minister losing the hatchets and piece of cloth. +A feeling of anxiety prevented me from turning in, and I walked the deck +for some time with Benjie Stubbs, the officer of the watch. At length I +went below and threw myself on my bed, all standing, as sailors say when +they keep their clothes on. I had scarcely dropped asleep when I was +awoke by hearing Stubbs order the lead to be hove. I was on deck in a +moment, followed by the captain and the other officers. + +"We are on shore to a certainty," exclaimed Stubbs, in an agitated tone. + +"Impossible!" observed the captain, "the anchors are holding." + +"We'll haul in on the cables and see, sir," answered Stubbs, calling +some of the crew to his assistance. The cables immediately came on +board. They had been cut through. Still there was a perceptible motion +of the ship towards the shore. Another anchor with an iron stock was +immediately cleared away, but some time was lost in stocking it, and +before it could be let go we felt the ship strike against a coral reef +with considerable force. Happily there was no wind, or she would +speedily have gone to pieces. At last we carried the anchors out, and +hauled her off but not without unusual difficulty. Suddenly the captain +jumped into a boat and pulled round the ship. + +"I thought so!" he exclaimed; "the villains have fastened a rope to her +rudder, and were towing us on the rocks." He cut the rope as he spoke, +and with comparative ease we got the ship out of her perilous position. +Still she was so near the high cliffs which almost surrounded us that we +might be seriously annoyed, not only by musketry but by stones and +darts. It was evident, also, that should a breeze set in from the sea, +the single anchor would not hold, and that we must be driven back again +on the coral rocks. + +We were not left long in doubt as to the intention of the savages and +the deserters, their instigators. Suddenly fearful shouts burst from +the cliffs above us, and we were assailed by a fire of musketry and by +darts and stones hurled on our deck. To return it would have been +useless, for we could not see our enemies. Meantime we kept the men +under cover as much as possible, and got another anchor stocked and +ready to carry out ahead. The savages must have seen the boat, for as +soon as she was clear of the ship they opened fire on her, and it was +not without difficulty that the anchor was carried out to the required +distance, and the crew of the boat hurriedly returned on board. + +Owing to Badham's machinations, some of the crew had at first been +disaffected, but a common danger now united them, as they saw full well +the treatment they might expect should the savages get possession of the +ship. Besides the ship's guns we had four swivels, thirty muskets, and +several blunderbusses and braces of pistols. These were all loaded and +placed ready for use, with a number of boarding-pikes, for we thought +that at any moment the savages would come off in their canoes and +attempt to board us. The whole night long they kept us on the alert, +howling and shrieking in the most fearful manner. Soon after day broke +their numbers increased, and as they could now take aim with their +firearms our danger became greater. Fortunately they were very bad +marksmen, or they would have picked us all off. Strange as it may seem, +no one was hit, though our rigging and boats received much damage. +After the crew had breakfasted we sent two boats out ahead to tow off +the ship, but the bullets and other missiles flew so thickly about them +that they returned, the men declaring that the work was too dangerous. +However, Benjie Stubbs, jumping into one of the boats, persuaded them to +go again, while we opened a fire from the deck of the ship. As soon as +the savages saw us ready to fire, they dodged behind the rocks, so that +none of them were wounded. Still we hoped that by this means the boats +would be allowed to tow ahead without molestation. We were mistaken, +for the savages shifted their ground, and once more drove the boats on +board. We clearly distinguished Badham and the rest of the deserters +among the savages, and several times they were seen to fire at us. +Happily they also were wretched shots, and their muskets thoroughly bad +also. That they should venture to fire showed that they had no doubt of +getting us into their power, for should we escape and inform against +them, they would run a great chance of being captured and hanged. Later +in the day, Jack and I again made attempts to tow out the ship from her +perilous position. + +The savages all the day continued howling and shrieking and working +themselves into what seemed an ungovernable fury, while they were, +however, biding their time, knowing that probably a strong sea-breeze +would soon spring up and cast the ship helpless into their power. Thus +another night closed on us. Ere long great was our joy to feel a light +air blowing off the shore. The pawls of the windlass were muffled, and +not a word was spoken. The anchors were lifted, the topsails were +suddenly let drop, and slowly we glided off from the land. The weather +becoming very thick and dark, we were compelled again to anchor, lest we +might have run on one of the many reefs surrounding the island. Here we +remained on our guard till daylight, when we could see the natives +dancing and gesticulating with rage at finding that we had escaped them. +The favourable breeze continuing, we were soon able to get far out of +their reach, I for one deeply thankful that we had not only escaped +without loss ourselves, but without killing any of the unhappy savages. +The treatment we received was such as at that time might have been +expected from the inhabitants of nearly all the islands of the Pacific, +including those of New Zealand, and numberless were the instances of +ships' companies and boats' crews cut off by them. + +A very few years after our visit, this same island was brought under +missionary influence, the idols were overthrown, heathenism and all its +abominable practices disappeared, and the inhabitants became a +thoroughly well-ordered, God-fearing, and law-obeying Christian +community. The same account may be given of the larger number of the +islands which stud the wide Pacific, and ships may now sail from north +to south, and east to west, without the slightest danger from the +inhabitants of by far the greater portion of them. + +But it is time that I should bring my narrative to a conclusion. This +adventure at Ulitea was amongst my last. Finding that our trading +expedition to the Pacific Islands was not likely to prove of advantage +to our owners, Captain Hassall and I resolved to proceed home at once +round Cape Horn. + +We happily accomplished our voyage without accident and without any +further occurrence worthy of note. Our path was no longer beset by +hostile cruisers, for there was a lull in the affairs of Europe. After +the many excitements of the past few months, the days seemed long and +tedious as I had never known them before; and it was with a sense of +relief, as well as of real pleasure, that I again saw in the early +morning light the shores of old England looming clear in the distance. +I need not dwell on all the happy circumstances of my return, or on the +special satisfaction with which I looked again on one familiar face. +Suffice it to say that I had the gratification of receiving the +commendation of my kind friend Mr Janrin for the way in which I had +carried out his instructions and performed my duties as Supercargo; and +that this voyage prepared the way for more substantial proofs of his +favour. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of James Braithwaite, the Supercargo, by +W.H.G. 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