diff options
Diffstat (limited to '21450.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 21450.txt | 7367 |
1 files changed, 7367 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/21450.txt b/21450.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6258e85 --- /dev/null +++ b/21450.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7367 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ben Burton, 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: Ben Burton + Born and Bred at Sea + +Author: W. H. G. Kingston + +Illustrator: Arch Webb + +Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21450] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEN BURTON *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Ben Burton; or, Born and Bred at Sea, by W H G Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +The story really consists of a series of nautical and shore incidents, +to do with Ben Burton and his family. During the course of the story he +goes from being born, to a senior Naval rank. Shortly after he is born +they come across a dinghy drifting with an ayah and a small white girl, +who grows up in parallel with Ben, though she is spared some of his more +martial adventures. + +It's always difficult to get a timescale with books like this one, as +the years seem to go past much faster than the supply of adventures. + +I was somewhat baffled by the paragraphing in this book. For most of +the book the paragraphing is as you would expect it to be, but there is +an over-supply of very long paragraphs, and some of these contain quite +complex conversations, so that one is tempted to split them up so that +passage looks more conventional and readable. I have not done so, +except in one flagrant case, because I suspect that Kingston may have +been experimenting in some way. On the other hand it may be that he had +contracted to write a book of so many pages, and this was a way of +condensing a long conversational exchange. + +There were some other strange things to be noticed, such as places and +people changing their spelling (Benjy and Benjie, for instance), within +a few lines. And there were some words that Kingston spells correctly in +other books, but anomalously in this one. It's almost as though he +dictated the book to a typist, and then never actually read it for +himself. It lends weight to the theory that Kingston books were +authored by more than one person, because this one is within his rules +of style, except for the really quite numerous typographical anomalies +mentioned above. + +Apart from that, the story is quite good to read or to listen to, just +as Kingston books always are. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +BEN BURTON; OR, BORN AND BRED AT SEA, BY W H G KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +"Dick Burton, you're a daddy! Polly's been and got a baby for you, old +boy!" exclaimed several voices, as the said Dick mounted the side of the +old "Boreas," on the books of which ship he was rated as a +quarter-master, he having just then returned from a pleasant little +cutting-out expedition, where he had obtained, besides honour and glory, +a gash on the cheek, a bullet through the shoulder, and a prong from a +pike in the side. + +"Me a what?" he inquired, bending his head forward with a look of +incredulity, and mechanically hitching up his trousers. "Me a daddy? +On course it's a boy? Polly wouldn't go for to get a girl, a poor +little helpless girl, out in these outlandish parts." + +"On course, Dick, it's a boy, a fine big, walloping younker, too. Why +bless ye, Quacko ain't no way to be compared to him, especially when he +sings out, which he can do already, loud enough to drown the bo'sun's +whistle, let me tell you," was the reply to Dick Burton's last question. + +That baby was me. Quacko was the monkey of the ship. I might not have +been flattered at being compared to him, though it must be owned that I +stood very much in the light of his rival. I soon, however, cut him out +completely. My mother was one of two women on board. The other was +Susan King, wife of another quarter-master. The two men enjoyed a +privilege denied to their captain, for they could take their wives to +sea, which he could not. To be sure, Polly and Susan made themselves +more generally useful than the captain's wife would probably have done +had she lived on board, for they washed and mended the men's shirts, +nursed them when sick or wounded, prepared lint and bandages for the +surgeons, and performed many other offices such as generally fall to the +lot of female hands. They had both endeared themselves to the men, by a +thousand kind and gentle acts, but my mother was decidedly the +favourite. This might have been because she was young and remarkably +handsome, and at the same time as good and modest as a woman could be; +and so discreet that she was never known to cause a quarrel among her +shipmates, or a pang of jealousy to her husband; and that, under the +circumstances of the case, is saying a great deal in her favour. Fancy +two women among nearly four hundred men, and not one of the latter even +thinking of infringing the last commandment of the Decalogue. What an +amount of good sense, good-temper, and self-command must have been +exercised on the part of the former. + +Susan's qualifications for the position she held were very different to +those of my mother. In appearance she was a very Gorgon, a veritable +strong-minded, double-fisted female, tall, gaunt, and coarse-featured. +A hoarse laugh, and a voice which vied with the boatswain's in +stentorian powers, and yet withal she was a true woman, with a gentle, +loving, tender heart. Bill King, her husband, knew her good qualities, +and vowed that he would not swap her for Queen Charlotte, or any other +lady in the land, not if the offer was made to him with a thousand gold +guineas into the bargain. + +I ought to be grateful to her, and do cherish her memory with affection, +for she assisted to bring me into the world; attended my mother in her +time of trial and trouble, and nursed me with the gentlest care. Yet +Sue had a tongue, and could use it too when occasion, in her judgment, +required its employment. But she always took the side of right and +virtue against wrong and vice, and woe betided the luckless wight who +fell under the ban of her just displeasure. She would belabour him, not +with her hands, but by word, look, and gesture, till he shrieked out for +mercy and promised never again to offend, or took to ignominious flight +like a thief with a _posse_ of constables at his heels. Bill King was a +quiet-mannered little man with a huge pair of whiskers, like +studden-sails rigged out on either side of his cheeks, and a mild +expression of countenance which did not belie his calm good-temper and +amiability of disposition. But though gentle in peace, he was as brave +and daring a seaman as ever sprang, cutlass in hand, on an enemy's deck, +or flew aloft to loose topsails when a prize had been cut out, amid +showers of bullets and round-shot. + +Of my father, I will only say that he was in no way behind his friend +Bill King in bravery, and though he spoke the sailor's lingo like his +shipmates, he was vastly his superior in manners and appearance. +Indeed, he and my mother were a very handsome couple. They were also, I +may say, deservedly looked upon with great respect by the officers, from +the captain downwards, and regarded with affection by all the crew. + +To go back to that insignificant little individual, myself, as I +certainly was on the day I have mentioned, when I made my first +appearance on board the HMS "Boreas". I came in for a large share of +the regard entertained by the ship's company for my parents. My father +was the first person introduced by Susan King into my presence. + +"Well, he is a rum little youngster!" he exclaimed, taking me up in his +open palms. "He is like Polly--that he is!" he added, as he gazed at me +affectionately, the feelings of a father for the first time welling up +in his bosom. "Yes, he is a sweet little cherub! Shouldn't wonder but +he is like them as lives up aloft there to watch over us poor chaps at +sea. Ay, that he must be. They can't beat him. Lord love ye, Sue, I +am grateful to you for this here day's work." + +I here interrupted my father's remarks by a loud cry, and other +infantine operations, on which Sue insisted on having me back again to +her safe keeping, while outside the screen several voices were heard +entreating my father to bring me out for inspection, a request with +which Mrs King had before steadily refused to comply. + +"I say, Dick, just let's have a look at him. One squint, Burton, just +to see what sort of a younker he may be. Come now, he ain't a chap to +be ashamed of, I'm sure. There ain't none like him here aboard, I'll +swear. He don't come up to Quacko anyhow. Come, Dick, show us him now, +do, there's a good chap." + +These and similar exclamations were sung out by various voices in +different tones, to which my mother, as she lay in her cot, listened not +unpleased, till at length my father having given her a kiss, and uttered +a few words of congratulation and thanks to Heaven--sailors are not +addicted to long prayers--again took me in his outstretched palms, and +thus brought me forth to the admiring gaze of his shipmates. So eager +were they to see me, that I ran no little risk of being knocked out of +my father's hands, as they were shoving each other aside in their +endeavours to get to the front rank. Then one and all wanted to have me +to handle for a moment; but to this Susan King, who had followed my +father from behind the screen, would on no account consent. + +"Why, bless you, my lads, you would be wringing the little chap's neck +off, if you were to attempt to take hold of him," said Susan. + +"Oh! No, don't fear, we will handle him just as if he was made of +sugar," was the reply. + +"Oh! You don't know what delicate, weak little creatures these babies +are when they are first born," observed Susan. "Just like jellyfish, +they will not stand any rough handling." + +Still in spite of my kind nurse's remarks, the bystanders continued to +urge my father to let them have me. + +"It is as much as my place is worth, mates," he answered at length; "I +would not let him out of my hands on no account." + +My new shipmates were, therefore, compelled to admire me at a respectful +distance. I believe the remarks they made were generally complimentary, +only they seemed to have arrived at the opinion that I was not at that +time so fat or so fair as the cherubs they had heard of who live up +aloft. + +"And now, mates, I will just hand him back to Susan, and go and get the +doctor to look at me, for I begin to feel pretty stiffish with the holes +I got made in me just now," said my father. + +And I was forthwith reconsigned to the charge of my mother and her +attendant, while he went to the surgeon to get his wounds dressed. +There were none of them, fortunately very serious, for the bullet had +gone through the fleshy part of the arm, and the pike had missed the +bone; the cut in the cheek, which at first appeared the most trifling, +giving in the end more trouble and annoyance than either of the other +hurts. The expedition in which he had been engaged was something out of +the common way, though when I come to note down the numerous ones he has +described to me, it is somewhat difficult not to mix them all up +together. + +The frigate, on board which I thus suddenly found myself, formed one of +the East India Squadron, of which Admiral Peter Rainier was +Commander-in-Chief. + +The "Boreas" had a short time before this been despatched to Macao for +the protection of the China trade. I speak of course from hearsay, as +what I am about to relate occurred just before I came into existence; +indeed, of many other subsequent events which I shall venture to +describe I cannot be said to have any very vivid recollection, although +present at the time. The frigate was standing to the eastward, some +three or four leagues from the coast, when one of the topmen, Pat Brady, +on the look-out at the mast-head, discovered a sail in shore to the +northward. Pat was a relation of my mother--she was an Irishwoman, and, +as Pat never failed to assert, a credit to her country. He would at all +times have been ready to fight any man who ventured to hold a different +opinion. + +Our Captain, Christopher Cobb, was a brave man, but somewhat peppery, +and very easily put out. + +The wind had previously been light. It fell a dead calm soon after the +stranger had been sighted. Our First-Lieutenant, Mr Schank, who, in +spite of having a wooden leg, was as active as any man on board, having +gone aloft himself to take a look at her, came to the opinion that she +was a brig of war. From the way in which she increased her distance +from the frigate after she was seen, it was very evident that she had +her sweeps out, and there was every probability of her escaping. + +"That must not be! That must not be!" muttered the Captain, as he paced +the quarter-deck, fretting and fuming under the hot sun of the tropics. +"Mr Schank, we must not let her go." + +"No, sir," said the First-Lieutenant, "that would never do." + +"We must take her with the boats if we cannot overtake her with the +ship," said the Captain, with one of his quiet laughs. + +"The very thing I was thinking of, sir," answered Mr Schank, who, I may +observe, presented a great contrast to his excellent superior, the one +being short and rotund, while in figure the Lieutenant was tall and +gaunt. + +"Then we will have the boats out and see what we can do," said the +Captain. + +"With all my heart, sir," answered the First-Lieutenant. "I will, if +you please, take the command." + +"Out boats!" was the order. The object was quickly known. In an +instant the men who had till then been listlessly hanging about the +decks in the few shady places they could find, for the sun was pretty +nigh overhead, were instantly aroused into activity. + +In a short time six boats were in the water manned and armed. In them +went three lieutenants and the master, two master's mates, fifty seamen, +and twenty marines. One of the gigs, the fastest boat, led the way, +each boat taking the one next to her in tow. As they shoved off their +shipmates cheered, and heartily wished them success. That they were +determined to obtain, though they well knew that they had a pull before +them of a good many hours under a burning sun, and probably some pretty +sharp fighting at the end of it. After following her for an hour or +more, Mr Schank perceived that they gained nothing on the brig. He +therefore ordered the boats to cast off from each other, and to make the +best of their way, provided no boat rowed ahead of the barge under his +command. It was just two o'clock when the expedition left the frigate. +My father was in the launch commanded by a master's mate, Mr Harry +Oliver, a slight delicate youth who appeared utterly unfit for such +work, but he had the heart of a lion, and daring unsurpassed by any +officer in the service. For four long hours the chase continued, when, +at about six in the evening, she was still four leagues ahead. Mr +Schank now ordered the master to proceed in the gig as fast as he could +pull, and by all means to keep sight of the brig, while in the event of +darkness coming on he was to hoist a light to show her position. It had +been arranged that the attack was to be made in two lines. The barge, +pinnace, and gig were to board on the starboard quarter; and the other +line, consisting of the three other boats, on the larboard quarter. For +upwards of two hours longer the boats pulled on, the gloom of evening +gradually closing over them. Still they could distinguish the dim +outline of the brig ahead. The First-Lieutenant having got within +musket-shot of the chase with Mr Oliver's boat, he directed his men to +lie on to their oars that they might arm, and allow the sternmost boats +to come up. Just then the master in the gig rejoined them. + +"What is she?" asked Mr Schank. + +"A French man-of-war brig of sixteen guns," was the answer. "She is +under all sail with her sweeps out, and we shall find it pretty brisk +work getting on board." The crews had of course been ordered to keep +silence, or I rather think that they would have uttered a hearty shout +at this announcement. In a few minutes more the sternmost boats got up, +and their crews also armed and prepared for the attack. They were +directed to steer one on each side of the brig, and to get in under the +sweeps and close to her sides. In ten minutes they were within +pistol-shot of the enemy, who was slipping along through the water, her +sweeps being aided by the light wind off the land, at about two knots an +hour. + +And now the silence which had hitherto been kept was broken by the voice +of their gallant leader shouting, "What vessel is that?" + +There was no answer. Again he asked the same question in French. It +was very bad French, and perhaps was not better understood than the +previous question. At all events no reply was made. + +"Then at her, lads!" cried Mr Schank; and the crews of the boats, +uttering three hearty cheers, dashed up towards the brig's stern. As +they got close up, however, a tremendous fire of heavy guns and musketry +was opened on them, the bullets whizzing round them and wounding many, +though fortunately none of the boats were struck by the round-shot, +while, as they got up, pikes were thrust down at them and pistols fired +in their faces. The bowmen in the leading boats which had got hold of +the ship's sides were killed or wounded, and the boats dropped astern. +Among those hit was their brave leader, but undaunted he shouted to his +men to pull up again. Again as they did so they met with the same +reception. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +The First-Lieutenant was not a man to be defeated. Wounded as he was, +he still resolved to persevere. + +"Never say die, lads!" he shouted, as they were driven back. "Give them +a taste of our powder in return!" + +On this, the boats poured a hot fire of musketoons and small-arms +through the brig's stern and quarter-ports. It told with tremendous +effect, for not a shot was now fired upon the boats. + +"On, on, lads!" shouted the First-Lieutenant; and before the Frenchmen +could recover, the boats were hanging on to her quarters, and the crews +were climbing up on deck. The First-Lieutenant, in spite of his wooden +leg and wound, was among the foremost. My father, though also hit, +followed close behind the brave young mate--Harry Oliver. Scarcely had +they gained the brig's deck, however, ere the Frenchmen rallied and +opposed them with the most determined bravery. The English crew +climbing up one after the other, quickly gained possession of the whole +of the after part of the brig, not, however, without several being +killed and wounded, the Second-Lieutenant being among the former. He +was cut down, after being twice shot through the body. For a few +minutes a most bloody and tremendous conflict ensued. A Frenchman +thrust his pike through Mr Oliver's side, and another was following it +up with his sword, and would certainly have put an end to the young +officer, had not my father, just as he got an ugly prong in his side of +the same description, with one sweep of his cutlass brought the man to +the deck, never to move again. French crews can very seldom, if ever, +stand against English boarders. The bravest of the enemy were cut down, +or began to give way. My father, with Mr Oliver on one side and the +First-Lieutenant and Master on the other, with the men at their backs, +now made a clear path, strewing the decks with the bodies of those who +attempted to oppose them. The remainder of the enemy fled; some leaped +down the hatchways, others took shelter on the bowsprit and jib-boom, +and the more nimble sprang up the shrouds, where, as my father declared, +like so many monkeys, they hung chattering and asking for quarter. + +"Of course, if they would but have been quiet and peaceable, we had no +wish to kill them," he used to say, "and glad enough we were when we +found ourselves in possession of the brig, just about five minutes from +the time we had first stepped on her decks. It was about the hardest +bit of work I ever was engaged in," he always averred. "We lost our +Second-Lieutenant, five seamen and three marines killed, three officers +and twenty-two men wounded. The Frenchman had a crew of one hundred and +sixty men and boys, out of whom there were no less than fourteen killed +and twenty wounded--pretty badly, too, for we were not apt to use our +cutlasses over gently, you may suppose. + +"We had still plenty of work to do, for, though cowed for the moment, +the Frenchmen would not have made much ceremony in trying to turn the +tables again upon us. We had barely fifty men fit for work, and they +had still one hundred and twenty--considerable odds against us. + +"Mr Schank, as soon as he saw that the deck was ours, directed one of +the officers to hurry down into the cabin and secure the private +signals, and ordered me, at the same time, to go with a couple of +marines to take charge of the magazine, for one never knows what +desperate fellows may do when they have lost their ship, and some mad +chap or other might have set fire to it, and blown us and themselves up +into the air. Such things have been done before now. + +"The next thing we did was to carry the wounded below. Our own people +and the enemy's were treated alike. Poor fellows! How some of them did +groan when they were lifted up. Next, an order was given to heave the +dead overboard, `And look out, lads, that you don't send any with the +breath in their bodies to feed the sharks,' said the First-Lieutenant. +The caution did not come too soon. Two men, one of whom was Paddy +Brady, were about shoving a big Frenchman through a port, when the poor +fellow uttered a groan. `What is that you say, monsieur? Just speak +again. Are you alive or dead?' exclaimed Brady. No answer was +returned, and Paddy began to drag the dead body nearer the port. Again +a groan, considerably louder than the first was heard. `Arrah, now,' +said Paddy, `I wish you would just make up your mind whether it is +overboard you would wish to go, or be carried below. Speak, man; I ax +ye again for the last time: are ye alive or dead?' + +"The Frenchman, maybe, might not have understood exactly what Brady was +saying, but he must have had a pretty horrible idea that he was about to +be sent overboard. This time he not only groaned, but uttered some +words, and endeavoured to drag himself along the deck. `Arrah, now, +that's like a dacent, sinsible man,' observed Pat. `Anyhow, you deserve +to have your hurts looked to, and so we will carry him below, Jim.'" + +The truth was that the man had been only slightly wounded, and +afterwards stunned by a blow. Had he not come to himself at that +moment, his career would undoubtedly have been finished. Hands were now +sent aloft, the studden-sails hauled down, and the brig brought on a +wind. The sweeps, which had all this time remained run out, were taken +in-board, and the boats were veered astern. + +"We now stood in the direction we hoped to find the frigate, hoisting +two lights at the mast-head, firing guns, and burning blue lights to +show our position. It was an anxious time, however, and we had to keep +a very watchful eye on the Frenchmen. They evidently were hatching +mischief, for they must have known as well as we did that the frigate +was still a long way off, and that if they could overcome us they might +yet get away with their brig. She was called the `Loup' (the Wolf), and +a wolf she had proved herself among our merchantmen. I had been +relieved at my station at the magazine, when Pat Brady came up to me. +`Burton,' he said, `I wish you would just take a look at the wounded +prisoners. There is one of them whom I thought dead, and there he is, +sitting up and talking away as if there was nothing the matter with him. +I cannot understand his lingo, but, by the way he moves his arms about, +I think he means mischief!' + +"I went below with Brady, and there, sure enough, was the man he had so +nearly thrown overboard, apparently very little the worse for his hurt, +and evidently, as it appeared to me, trying to persuade his countrymen +to do something or other which he had proposed. Sentries had been +placed over the other prisoners, of course, but desperate men might soon +have overpowered them, especially if the prisoners knew that there would +be a little diversion in their favour. + +"Hurrying on deck, I reported what we had seen to Mr Schank, who +immediately ordered the man to be brought on deck, and as his wound was +dressed, there was no cruelty in that. He grumbled considerably; the +more so, probably, because his plan had been defeated. + +"We continued every now and then sending up blue lights, keeping a very +watchful eye all the time on our prisoners. At length, far away on our +weather-beam, a bright light suddenly burst forth as if out of the dark +ocean. We tacked and stood towards it. However, as the wind was very +light, the Third-Lieutenant was sent off in the gig with an account of +our success. Two hours had still to pass away before we at length got +up to the frigate, and pretty well-pleased we were when the cheer which +our shipmates sent forth to congratulate us on our success reached our +ears." Such was the substance of my father's account, often +subsequently told. + +I do not know whether the anxiety which Burton felt when she saw her +husband setting out on what she knew must be a dangerous expedition had +any peculiar effect on her, but certain it is, that while my father was +slashing away at the Frenchmen, and the bullets were flying about his +head, I was born into the world. + +With regard to the prize, she was carried safely into Macao, in the +expectation that she would be fitted out as a cruiser, and that Mr +Schank would get the command of her. Her fate I shall have hereafter to +relate. + +I meantime grew apace, and speedily cut out Quacko in the estimation of +our shipmates. He, however, had his friends and supporters; for some +months, at all events, he afforded them more amusement than I could do. +They could tease him and play him tricks, which my mother and Mrs King +took very good care they should not do to me. I had no lack of nurses +from the first, and highly honoured were those into whose hands my +mother ventured to commit me. + +Mrs King had enough to do for some time after the action, in attending +both to my mother and the poor fellows who had been wounded, both +English and French, the latter receiving as much care from her gentle +hands as did our own people. The two chief rivals for the honour of +looking after me were my cousin, Pat Brady, and Toby Kiddle, boatswain's +mate. Although many of my old shipmates have passed away from my +memory, Toby Kiddle made an impression which was never erased. Nature +had not intended him for a topman, for though wonderfully muscular, his +figure was like a tun. His legs were short, and his arms were unusually +long. With them tucked akimbo, he could take up two of the heaviest men +in the ship, and run along the deck with them as lightly as he would +have done with a couple of young children. He had a generous, kind +heart, could tell a good story, and troll forth a ditty with any man; +and as to his bravery, where all were brave, I need scarcely mention it, +except to say that I do no not think anyone beat him at that. +Boatswain's mate though he was, Toby Kiddle had a heart as gentle as a +lamb's. He scarcely seemed cut out for the post, and yet there was a +rough crust over it which enabled him to do his duty, and when he had to +lay on with the cat, to shut his eyes, and to hit as hard as he was +ordered. And yet I always have pitied a kind-hearted boatswain's mate, +though he is not after all worse off than the captain and officers, who +have to stand by and see men punished. However, I will not say anything +about that matter just now. Time went on, and I grew bigger, and began +to chew beef and bacon with the rest of the ship's company becoming more +and more independent of my mother in every way. Yet I loved her, as +such a mother deserved to be loved. As I grew bigger I made more and +more friends. The Captain himself very frequently took notice of me, +and patted my head, which was beginning to get curls upon it, and often +gave me cakes and other Chinese manufactured delicacies which he had got +from the shore. Captain Cobb was a short man, and since he came out to +China had grown very round and stout. His face, as a boy, had been +probably pink and white, but it had now been burnt into a deep red +copper colour. His eyes, which were small, were bloodshot, with a +ferrety expression, and altogether his outward man was not attractive. +His uniforms, which had hung loosely on him when he left home, had been, +by the skill of the tailor, let out and out to meet the demands of his +increasing corpulency; but no art or skill could do more for them; and +as he was unwilling to procure others till those were worn out, he +looked, when walking the quarter-deck, very much as if he had on a +straight waistcoat. + +Captain Cobb was not disregardful of his creature comforts, and in order +to supply himself with milk for breakfast and tea, he had shipped on +board, some time back, a she-goat, which fully answered his wishes. +Seamen will make pets of everything--monkeys, babies, lions, pigs, +bears, dogs, and cats. The goat had become a favourite, for she was a +handsome creature, and very tame, but it was chiefly in connection with +Quacko, who was soon taught to ride upon her. Quacko was certainly very +well aware that he must never venture upon the quarter-deck, and before, +therefore, he reached the sacred precincts on his daily rides, he always +managed to wheel the goat about and retrace his steps forward. Quacko +was a wonderfully sagacious monkey, and held his position in the good +opinion of the crew in spite of my rival claims. Had I been thrown +entirely upon their mercy as Quacko was, I might have completely cut him +out; but having my mother and Mrs King, with two or three select +friends to look after me, the remainder very naturally felt that they +had not so much interest in the matter. On one occasion, when I was +about three years old, the frigate was caught in a typhoon. I was safe +below in my poor mother's arms, but Quacko remained on deck to see what +was going forward. Nobody was thinking of him. The seamen, indeed, had +to hold on with might and main to secure their own lives. Some +preparation had been made, and fortunately it was so, for all the sails +still set were blown out of the bolt ropes. The frigate was hove on her +beam-ends. Where Quacko had come from nobody knew, when on a sudden he +was seen hanging to the slack end of a rope. In vain one of the topmen +made an attempt to grasp him. The rope swung away far over the foaming +sea. He swung back, but it was to strike the side apparently, for the +next instant the rope returned on board and no Quacko hanging to it. +The ship righted without having suffered much damage; indeed, the loss +of Quacko was our greatest misfortune. + +After the sad event just mentioned, Quacko's friends made various +attempts to appropriate me; indeed, Mrs King and Toby Kiddle had, in +order to console them for their loss, to give me up to them +occasionally. + +"Here, Toby, let's have the little chap and learn him to ride," said Tom +Trimmers, one of the topmen. "Why, Nanny will be forgetting how to +carry a human being as she has been accustomed to do, and you will soon +see what a capital horseman he will make, won't you, Ben?" + +"Ay, ay," I answered, for though I could not say much I could say that, +and so Nanny was brought forth, and I was placed on her back, Toby, +however, remarking, that though some day I should have more sense than +the defunct Quacko ever had, yet at present, as I had no experience in +riding, he must decline allowing me to mount unless he held me up. "It +will be time when the little chap has had some practice to let him go +along by himself," he observed, looking round at our shipmates. "Now, +you don't know what would become of him, for Nanny is more than likely +to trot off on the quarter-deck and make herself disagreeable there, and +maybe pitch Master Benjy down the main hatchway. No, no, I will stand +by and hold him on till he is a bit older." + +This resolution was certainly very prudent; but I very soon began to +complain of it, and to assert, by signs rather than by words, that I was +well able to take care of myself, and steer the goat as Quacko had done. + +"And where is Quacko, Master Ben?" asked Toby, who understood me better +than anyone else. "He thought he could take care of himself, but he +could not do so, you see, nor can any of us, and that's my opinion. If +there was not one better able to take care of us than we are of +ourselves, we poor sea-going chaps would be in a bad way." + +In spite, however, of Toby Kiddle, my other friends managed occasionally +to let me have my own way; and with great pride they looked on while I, +with the end of a mop stick in my hand, went galloping about the deck, +belabouring the goat's hinder quarters, very much after the fashion of +an Irishman riding a donkey at a race. The Sergeant of Marines, Julian +Killock was his name, on seeing the use I made of my weapon, took it +into his head to teach me the broadsword exercise, which I very soon +learnt. The Jollies now began to contemplate appropriating me to +themselves, and thus, as it may be supposed, made the Blue-jackets +somewhat jealous. + +"No, no, Tom Sawyer," I remember hearing one of the latter observe, "you +shall not have little Ben to turn into a horse-marine on no account. He +is our'n and cut out for a blue-jacket, and a blue-jacket he will be +till the end of his days." + +Still the Jollies were in no way disposed to give up their share of me, +to which they considered they had a right. I was very nearly the cause +of a serious dispute between the two Services. A compromise was at +length entered into by the suggestion of my father, who agreed that the +Jollies might teach me the sword and platoon exercise, while the +Blue-jackets might impart as much nautical knowledge as I was capable of +taking in. + +But I was speaking of the goat. I was especially fond of mounting +Nanny's back, though she must have found me considerably heavier than +Quacko. However, as I never played her any tricks, which he constantly +had done, she had no objection to carry me. I consequently took my +daily ride round and round the deck, sweeping close round the mainmast +and forward again. + +It is not surprising that people should lose their temper under such a +climate as our ship's company was doomed for so many years to endure. +One afternoon, just as the men had finished dinner, it being a dead +calm, the ocean like a sheet of molten lead, smooth as a mirror, the +sun's rays striking down with tremendous force on our decks, making the +pitch hiss and bubble, while one of the midshipmen was frizzling a piece +of beef on a metal plate, that he might declare when he got home, +without injuring his conscience, that it was usual to cook dinners by +the heat of the sun out in China, and the men lay about gasping for +breath, I was brought up by Pat Brady, that, as he said, I might enjoy a +breath of air, only there happened to be none at the moment, and while +I, the least important personage on board thus made my appearance on the +upper regions of our ocean world, so did the most important, the +Captain, come up to look about him, and whistle for a breeze. It did +not come however, although the Captain kept whistling and whistling away +till his cheeks must have ached. Nanny had been let out of her pen to +discuss the remains of an old straw hat, the other part of which had +been given her for her supper the previous evening, when it came into +Pat Brady's head to place me on her back; I, nothing loth, sung out for +my broadsword, with which I began forthwith to whack the hinder quarters +of my long-horned steed. Off she set, but instead of wheeling round the +mainmast, on she galloped along the forbidden district of the +quarter-deck. The Captain just at that moment, with a stamp of his +foot, vexed at his not getting the wished-for wind, turned round, when +Nanny and I, at a furious speed, dashed bolt against him; and the goat, +catching him between the legs by the impetus she had obtained, sent him +sprawling on the deck, and her horns catching in his coat-tails, he and +she and I all went rolling over together. There we lay, the Captain +spluttering and swearing incontinently, though scarcely able in his rage +to utter a word clearly, the goat tugging away to get again on her legs, +I all the time shrieking out lustily for help. The officers, who had +been pacing the other side of the deck, could scarcely for laughter come +to their chiefs assistance, nor could he, from the struggles of the +goat, get again on his legs, for each time he made the attempt the +terrified animal in her efforts to escape his fury once more pulled him +down. I however, had managed to roll out of the way, while my cries, +which did not cease, although I was clear of danger, caught the ears of +Toby Kiddle, who was coming along the main-deck. He sprang up the main +hatchway ladder, and rushing up seized me in his arms. Just then the +purser and surgeon managed to raise up the Captain; not, however, till +Nanny had almost torn off his coat-tails, and finding herself released +was scampering back to the fore-part of the ship. The Captain's whole +frame seemed bursting with indignation and rage. Just then his eye fell +on Toby Kiddle and me in his arms. + +"Who did it? Who did it?" he exclaimed. "Who set them on? You did, +sirrah--you did. You shall have three dozen for your fun!" + +"Please, sir, it was not me," answered Toby, "and it could not have been +the poor innocent child. It was the goat, sir. What put it into her +head to do it, is more than I can tell." + +"Hang the goat!" exclaimed the Captain, who by this time had begun to +feel that his anger was not very dignified; and turning round he went +below to hide his annoyance, as well as to put on another coat, instead +of the nankeen garment which Nanny had destroyed. + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Kiddle, as he turned forward. "I will take care +the goat never plays such a trick again." + +As Toby had always objected to my riding the goat, he now came +triumphantly forward among those who had placed me on her back, telling +them the orders he had received from the Captain. + +"But the skipper will lose his milk if you hang his goat," observed one +of them. + +"Arrah, now, I suppose he is thinking it is time to wean himself," +observed Paddy Brady, who had been the chief cause of the accident. + +"At all events, his orders must be obeyed," observed Kiddle, "and so, +mates, as it was an evident case of mutiny, we will run her up to the +yard-arm at sunset. To my mind, if the goat was got rid of, we should +have a quieter ship than we have now." + +Fortunately, the preparations which the men were making for hanging the +goat were observed, and reported to the Captain. + +"Really, I do believe I did say so," he answered to the +First-Lieutenant. "Just go and tell Kiddle and the rest, that, in +consideration of her general good conduct, I purpose reprieving her. +That will settle the matter, and show my leniency and consideration in +favourable colours." + +Thus our worthy Captain was in the habit of arranging even more weighty +matters, by which mode of proceeding, in spite of his eccentricities, he +warmly attached the ship's company to him. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +Time passed by, as it does in youth as well as in old age. The ship's +company were looking forward to being relieved, for the frigate had +already been the best part of five years on the station. I was learning +to knot and splice, and could already perform a hornpipe, if not with +much grace, at all events with an exhibition of considerable elastic +power, and greatly to the admiration of Toby Kiddle, Pat Brady, and my +other friends, as well as my father and mother and Mrs King. They +would get round applauding me greatly, as I sprang up and down, shuffled +round and round and snapped my fingers, kicking out my legs in every +direction. Sometimes the officers would come forward to have a look at +me, and on several occasions I was invited aft to exhibit before the +Captain. + +Several changes had taken place on board, one of the lieutenants having +invalided home, while another had died, their places being filled by +others whom I shall shortly have to describe. The brig we had captured +was ultimately brought into the service, and she was about to be +commissioned. She was fitting out at Macao, and it was understood that +Mr Schank would take the command of her. He had long been expecting +promotion, though frequently disappointed, and he now made sure that he +should obtain it. He might also hope, in so fine a vessel, to make a +fair amount of prize-money. He required it much, for he had an old +mother and several maiden sisters at home to support, besides two or +three younger brothers to educate and send out in the world. This was +generally known among his brother officers, and, although the cut of his +uniforms was somewhat antiquated, and his best coat was tolerably +threadbare, even the most thoughtless never ventured to quiz him. Every +sixpence he could save went to the cottage in Lincolnshire. There his +father had been the incumbent of a living of under a hundred and fifty +pounds a year, on which he had to bring up his family and pay certain +college debts, which had hung like a millstone round his neck all his +life. I mention these things now, although, of course, I did not hear +them till many years afterwards. Mr Schank was still doing duty on +board the frigate expecting to be superseded, that he might commence +refitting the brig. It had just become dark. She was lying some +distance inside of us. Happily for themselves several of the crew in +charge had come on board the frigate. Suddenly a tremendous explosion +was heard. Bright flames burst forth from the spot where the brig lay, +and a huge pyramid of fire was seen to rush upward towards the sky, +where it burst into a thousand fragments, which, scattering far and +wide, came hissing back into the mirror-like ocean, reflecting, ere they +reached it, a thousand bright lights on its tranquil bosom. + +"What is that about?" exclaimed Captain Cobb, coming on deck. + +"The brig has blown up, sir," was the answer. + +"And so then are all my hopes!" exclaimed Mr Schank, who had followed +him on deck. "Lower the boats though, and we will try and pick up any +poor fellows who may have escaped." + +Mr Schank leaped into the first boat which reached the water, and in +his eagerness to save his fellow-creatures instantly forgot his own +bitter disappointment. Three men only were picked up alive, floating on +fragments of the wreck. It sank almost directly the boats got up to the +spot. What had caused the catastrophe no one could tell, but the brig +certainly must have had a larger amount of gunpowder on board her than +was supposed. Mr Schank therefore, as before, continued to act as our +First-Lieutenant. Once or twice we returned to the Hoogley to refit, +and on one occasion we were sent round to Madras and Bombay on special +service. We were running down the Coromandel coast; the wind fell, and +we lay, rolling our lower yardarms under in a long heavy swell, which +came moving onwards in giant undulations towards the coast. We had to +get rolling tackles set up, for sometimes it seemed as if the frigate +would shake the very masts out of her. The Captain was on deck +whistling away as was his wont. I do not know whether he expected his +whistling to produce a breeze, but certainly I observed that he never +failed to whistle when there was a calm. + +He was thus employed when Mr Schank, who had previously been on deck +for some hours, and had gone below to rest, once more made his +appearance. He cast a look round, and pointed out a dark spot in the +horizon. The order was immediately given to furl sails and strike +topgallant masts. The royal-masts had previously been sent down. It +was a time when a careless hold was likely to cause the stoutest seaman +a leap into eternity. Scarcely was the ship made snug when down came +the blast upon her. The sky grew of a leaden hue, and the long swell +was broken up into a thousand tossing seas, foaming and leaping, and +crossing each other in a way trying even to a frigate, and fearfully +dangerous to any smaller craft. We, having been prepared in good time, +ran on before the wind, having, however, as it shifted, which it did +suddenly several points at a time, to change our course. The gale was a +violent one, and did, I believe, send more than one ill-found ship to +the bottom, but it was fortunately short in its duration, and by +daylight had greatly decreased. Pat Brady, who had as sharp a pair of +eyes as anyone on board, being on the look-out, discovered an object +floating far away on the lee-bow. Whether it was a rock or a vessel on +her beam-ends it was difficult to say. The ship was, however, kept away +towards it, and the master being consulted, declared that no rock was to +be found thereabouts. As we approached nearer, there was no doubt that +the object seen was a vessel, and probably capsized in the late +hurricane. The sea was still running very high, and washing over the +greater portion of it, almost hiding it from view. Still the after part +was higher out of the water than the rest, and it was possible that some +human beings might still be clinging to it. As we approached, the +frigate was brought on a wind, and hove to, but lowering a boat was +still an operation of danger. All glasses were turned towards the +wreck. + +"I cannot help thinking there may be somebody on board," exclaimed Mr +Harry Oliver, the mate I have spoken of. "If you will let me go, sir, I +will board her," he added, turning to the Captain. + +"As you like, Oliver," said Captain Cobb. "You know the risk; you can +take a boat, but only volunteers must accompany you." + +Mr Oliver smiled. He knew well there would be no lack of them. Pat +Brady was the first to spring forward, and Bill King and my father both +volunteered to go likewise. The crew was soon formed, and the boat +safely reached the water. Away she went. No small skill was required +to keep her afloat. My mother and Mrs King were looking on, and I have +no doubt offering up prayers for the safety of their husbands. At +length the boat got round to the lee side of the wreck. A cloth of +shawl of some sort was seen to be fluttering from under the weather +bulwarks. + +The boat drew nearer. "There is somebody there, to a certainty," +exclaimed Mr Oliver. "We may get up under her quarter, and an active +man may then leap on board." + +My father volunteered. The boat approached. Taking a line in his hand, +he sprang on to the deck, half of which was under water. Supporting +himself by the stump of the after-mast, and then catching hold of a +portion of the weather-rigging, he hauled himself to the upper part of +the wreck, where, secured to a stanchion, was what looked like a bundle +of rags, out of the midst of which appeared a brown face, while his ear, +at the same time, amidst the roaring of the sea, caught the sound of an +infant's cry, to which, since I came into the world, his ears had been +pretty well accustomed. Although Mr Oliver and the men in the boat +gave him notice at that instant that the wreck was sinking, that cry had +aroused all the father's feelings in his bosom. He sprang forward, and, +as a seaman only could have done, cut away the lashings which secured a +dark female, in whose grasp he then discovered a fair young infant. +Seizing the woman and child in his arms, as the bow of the vessel was +already sinking, he gave one spring aft, and struggled out of the vortex +of the sinking vessel. + +"Haul away!" he cried out, while he held the rope with one hand and kept +his charges afloat with the other. A strong man alone could have saved +them, and even a strong one, unless a truly brave fellow, would not have +made the attempt. In a few seconds they were lifted safely into the +boat. The infant breathed freely, and seemed not to have got any harm, +but the poor black woman suffered greatly, and this further immersion +had contributed still more to exhaust her. Yet she was perfectly +conscious of what had occurred. Her lips moved, and a smile lighted up +her countenance when she saw the infant lifted carefully in my father's +arms. Unfortunately, there was no food in the boat, but just as Mr +Oliver was stepping in, the surgeon had put a small brandy-flask in his +pocket. This he produced, and attempted to pour a few drops down the +throat of the poor woman, but the instant she tasted it she spat it +forth as if it was poison, and showed signs of the evident disgust she +felt at its being put into her mouth. All that those in the boat could +do, therefore, was to make the best of their way back again to the +frigate. There was not a sign of another human being on the wreck. As +there were no boats, it was possible that the crew might have attempted +to make their escape in them, but then surely they would not have left +the woman and child behind. When the wreck went down, scarcely anything +floated up by which any information could be gained as to what she was. +From her appearance, Mr Oliver supposed that she was a snow, possibly +belonging to one of the neighbouring ports. The black woman, from her +dress and appearance, was at once known to be a native nurse--a class +noted for their fidelity to those to whom they become attached. Not +without great difficulty and danger, the boat at length reached the +frigate's side, when a cradle was sent down into which the nurse was +placed, and hoisted on board, my father following with the infant. I +rather think it created far more sensation than I did when I came on +board. In the first place, it made its appearance in a more public +manner, and the Captain and officers crowded round to look at it and the +poor nurse. + +"Wonder whether it's a boy or a girl," said Toby Kiddle, who was amongst +the foremost crowding round. "If it's a boy the younker will make a +fine playmate for our Benjy. Let's have a squint at it, Dick. He won't +cut our little chap out, anyhow; but we'll let the Jollies have him in +keeping, and let them see what they can make on him. He'll help, at all +events, to keep peace and quiet between us and them." + +From the delicate features of the child, the officers seemed to think, +however, that Toby's hopes would be disappointed; and the small stranger +being forthwith committed to the charge of my mother, she soon settled +the question by pronouncing her to be a remarkably fine healthy little +girl, the child of Europeans, and from her dress, and the handsome coral +ring and gold chain round her neck, of people of some wealth and +quality. + +The nurse was carried down into the surgeon's cabin, where Mrs King +came instantly to assist him in taking care of her. The poor creature +had fainted almost immediately on being brought on deck; when, at +length, restoratives being applied, she opened her eyes, she gave a look +round expressive of grief and alarm, uttering several words in an +unknown tongue. + +"It is the child she is asking for, sir," observed Mrs King. "Of +course, that would be the first thing in her mind." + +That Mrs King was right was proved when the child was brought to her. +Several times she pressed it to her bosom, but she had no nourishment to +afford it. Then, giving one convulsive gasp, before the surgeon could +pour the restorative he had ready into her mouth, she sank back and +expired. There was nothing about the woman to show who she was, or +whence she had come. Her dress, as I have said, was that of an ayah or +native nurse, such as all Europeans employ to take care of their +children. Conjecture was rife as to who the little stranger was. What +the Captain and officers thought about the matter I do not know. +Forward, however, the general opinion ran in favour of her being of +exalted birth. + +"She is a little lady, no doubt about that," remarked Toby Kiddle, as he +scrutinised her delicate features and the fineness of her clothing, and +the "Little Lady" she was ever afterwards called. + +But to whose charge she should fall was the next question. The Captain +had a wife ashore, but he seemed to think that she would not be +particularly well-pleased should he present her with an infant to look +after. It would be something like reversing the order of things, and it +might be difficult to persuade her that he was entirely ignorant of the +child's parentage. + +"You had better have her, Gunning," he said to the First-Lieutenant of +Marines, "you have eight or nine already, have you not? And surely +another can make no odds, and your wife will be delighted, I'm sure. +Mrs Cobb would not mind standing godmother, I dare say, supposing the +little damsel is not christened, and, to make sure, it will be just as +well to have that done when we get home. I suppose they can go to +heaven without it, but it is a matter I am not very clear about, and it +is as well to be on the right side, do you see." + +These remarks of the Captain enabled Mr Gunning to think over the +matter. He had only joined us a few months, and he had some idea that +on his return he should find a further increase to his large family. +Though he was a kind-hearted man, and really would have been glad to +look after the little stranger, yet he did not consider himself +justified in undertaking further responsibilities, in addition to those +already upon his shoulders. Still, who could take care of the little +girl? The junior lieutenants were all young men, not at all fitted for +the office. The surgeon was not exactly the person to whom a female +infant could be committed. The master was a good seaman, but a somewhat +rough hand, and he and his wife were known to live a cat-and-dog life +when he was ashore: whereby the service benefited, as he always took +care, for the sake of peace, to keep afloat. Then there was the purser. +Her life was not likely to prove a happy one should he assume her +guardianship, for as his great and sole pleasure in life seemed to be +the laborious occupation of skinning flints, it was not likely that he +would afford her a liberal education or a liberal maintenance. He was +therefore put out of the question. The only persons, therefore, who +appeared at all eligible among the officers were the Captain, the +First-Lieutenant, and the Lieutenant of Marines. Mr Schank, when the +matter was suggested to him, thought a good deal about it. "Perhaps his +old mother would like to look after the little girl, he was sure she +would, and so would his sisters, and very fit people they were in many +respects, barring the expense she would be to them." + +"What say you, Schank? Suppose I help you in that matter. I am in duty +bound to do so, and so you will excuse my making the offer," said the +Captain, his more generous feelings excited, as he thought of the +forlorn condition of the little creature. + +Lieutenant Schank thanked him, and promised if his mother would accept +the charge not to decline his proposal. In the meantime the Little Lady +was consigned to my mother's charge. Next to me and my father, the kind +woman soon learned to love her more than anything on earth; in fact, she +felt for her as for a daughter. The little creature from the first +clung to her, and from the way she looked into her eyes, I really +believe thought she was her own mother. At first she would not let +Susan King even touch her, and shrieked out with fear. Poor Susan's +tender heart was somewhat grieved at this. Her outward appearance and +hoarse voice was indeed calculated to frighten a discerning child. +However, in time, the Little Lady became reconciled to her, though she +still always showed a strong preference to my mother. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +I need scarcely say that I now, at all events, had a more powerful rival +on board than had existed since Quacko was consigned to a watery grave. +As may be supposed, the goat during a long sea voyage, where the food +was scarce, gave but a small quantity of milk, only sufficient indeed +for the Captain and any guest he might have at breakfast or tea. I do +not believe that he would have sacrificed it for the sake of anyone +else, but directly the child was brought on board he issued an order +that the whole of the milk should be reserved for her use. There was +something strange about this, for immediately the goat gave twice the +quantity that had for some time appeared on the Captain's table. It +was, to be sure, whispered that some of the young gentlemen were fond of +milk for their tea, and from that time forward not a drop was ever seen +in their berth. Before that time, one or two of them used to boast that +they had the art of manufacturing milk out of pipeclay, whereby they +accounted for the rare fluid which occasionally appeared on the +mess-table. + +I remember clearly the funeral of the poor nurse. As the Captain and +the First-Lieutenant had considered it important that her clothes should +be preserved, in the hopes of assisting in discovering to whom the +Little Lady belonged, Mrs King had dressed the body in one of her old +petticoats. It was then sewn up in a piece of canvas, with a shot at +the feet, and placed on a grating near an open port. The Captain, who +had somewhat obfuscated theological views, could not decide whether he +was bound to read the funeral service over the poor woman. + +"Supposing she is a heathen--and I never heard of these black people +being Christians--I shouldn't think it was much in their way, eh, +Schank? Would it not be something like sacrilege to bury her in a +Christian fashion?" he asked of the First-Lieutenant. + +"As to that," observed Mr Schank, "I suspect we are apt to perform the +ceremony over a good many who have no more claim to be considered true +Christians than she possibly had." + +"Well, I suppose it can't do much harm, eh, Schank?" observed the +Captain, after a moment's reflection, and the Little Lady's nurse was +buried, according to the notion of the crew, in a decent Christian +manner; they piously believing that, however she might have lived, she +would now at all events have a fair chance of getting a safe passage to +heaven. We were during this time standing to the southward, and having +rounded the south of Ceylon, we touched at Point de Galle, and +afterwards at Colombo, proceeding on to Bombay. Greatly to the +disappointment of the ship's company, the "Boreas" was here found to be +in such good condition, that, instead of going home, she was ordered +back to the China Seas. Passing through the Straits of Malacca, we +returned to Macao. + +We were here joined by another frigate, the "Zephyr," of thirty-six +guns. Captain Peter Masterman, her commander, presented a great +contrast to Captain Cobb. The former was a remarkably fine, handsome +man, with dignified manners and calm temper. We received orders soon +afterwards to proceed to the Philippine Islands, there to reconnoitre +the Spanish force supposed to be collected near their chief town of +Manilla, and if possible to cut out from under the batteries which guard +the harbour certain richly-laden ships which it was understood had there +taken shelter. We were also to attack all their armed dependencies, and +to give them as much annoyance as possible as we cruised up the +Archipelago. + +As soon as we were clear of the land, the crews of the two frigates were +employed in making them look as much like French frigates as possible, +both as to rigging and hulls. The Philippines, belonging to Spain, +consist of a number of islands, the largest of which is Luzon, and is +divided into two parts joined by an isthmus about ten miles wide. The +capital, Manilla, where the cheroots are made, is situated on a bay of +that name. It is a large place, consisting of several suburbs or towns +surrounding the city proper, which is built on the banks of the river +Pasig. South of Manilla is the fortress of Cavite, situated at the +extremity of a tongue of land about two miles long. It protects the +entrance to the only harbour in the bay of Manilla. The arsenal is +within the fortress, and a number of vessels are built there. It was +under the guns of this fortress that we expected to find our prizes, +and, in spite of its formidable appearance, to cut them out. As we were +running down the coast of Luzon, the large island I have spoken of, we +captured a trader of considerable size belonging to the island, but, as +she was bound northward, Captain Masterman generously declined detaining +her after we had taken out of her all the cash to be found on board, +amounting to about six thousand dollars. It was somewhat amusing to see +the grateful way in which the Spanish skipper thanked the Englishmen for +having so mercifully robbed him, so I have heard my father say. It +might have been supposed that they had done him the greatest possible +favour, instead of having mulcted him of a pretty considerable sum. He +also, to show his gratitude, told us that the squadron in the harbour of +Cavite consisted of four sail of the line and four frigates, but that +only one ship of each class was at all in a state to put to sea. Our +Captain considered that two English frigates were fully able to cope +with a Spanish line-of-battle ship and one frigate, hoping to draw them +off the land if they could be persuaded to come out of harbour, and to +capture them in detail. At all events, the news increased the good +spirits of the ship's company, and all on board anticipated some rich +prizes. + +The next day we came up with several other vessels which were treated in +the same liberal manner, although those which were sailing south were +allowed to pass unmolested, lest it might have been suspected that we +did not belong to the friendly nation which we pretended. + +Thus we proceeded on, till soon after sunset we approached the Bay of +Manilla, with the French flag flying at our peaks, and to Spanish eyes, +looking, I doubt not, like two Frenchmen. We had to pass close to a +small island on which a signal-house stands, and it now became doubtful +whether we should be detected. However, the Spaniards appeared not to +suspect us, and we stood on till we came to an anchor in about fourteen +fathoms at the entrance of the bay; both the frigates, however, keeping +their topsails at the mast-head, to be ready for a sudden start. + +The night was very calm; and sounds from a great distance could reach us +across the water. There was no chance therefore of our being surprised, +should the enemy have discovered our real character. It became, +however, hopeless for us to attempt cutting-out any of the vessels, as +we should not have had sufficient wind to carry them off, even when we +had taken possession. We, however, kept a very bright look-out, and the +men were in good spirits at the thoughts of the work they anticipated +the next day. + +Before morning dawned, we and our consort got under weigh, and, with +French colours flying, slowly worked up the bay, which, being broad and +free from dangers, we were enabled to do. Soon after sunrise, three +sail were seen to leeward, also apparently bound up the bay. They were +soon made out to be gunboats, and the Captains congratulated themselves +on the prospect of quickly capturing them without difficulty. I should +have before introduced a personage who, for a time, belonged to the +ship--Mr Noalles, our pilot. He was supposed to be a Jersey man, as he +spoke French perfectly, and also Spanish, and several other languages. +He had been in the China seas for a considerable number of years, though +he was still a young man. He had dark, strongly-marked features, +somewhat perhaps of a Jewish cast, with large black whiskers, and was +powerfully built. He was greatly respected on board, as he was known to +be a good seaman and a determined character, but my father used to say +there was something about him he could not exactly make out. He messed +with the officers, for he was perfectly the gentleman, and possessed of +a large amount of information, especially respecting that part of the +world. I rather think that it was he who suggested the plan of +operations we were now carrying out. Captain Cobb himself, having once +spent some time in France as a prisoner, spoke French sufficiently well +to deceive a Spaniard at all events, though I suspect a Frenchman would +soon have detected him. Several of our men also had been in French +prisons, or had lived among Frenchmen, and if they could not speak the +language grammatically, they could at all events imitate the sounds of a +party of Frenchmen talking together. The uniform of the officers did +not differ much from those of the French, while such alterations as were +necessary were speedily made. It was a great source of amusement to the +men to see the officers who were about to act in the proposed drama +going through their parts, Captain Cobb flourishing his hat with the air +of a Frenchman, and uttering the expressions with which he proposed to +greet his visitors. + +"I wonder whether we shall bamboozle the Dons," observed Toby Kiddle, +who, holding me in his arms, formed one of a group of seamen collected +on the forecastle. + +"No fear of that, Toby," observed Pat Brady. "If they once think we are +Frenchmen, they are such conceited fellows that they will never find out +that they are wrong." + +Onward we stood, till soon after breakfast we opened the ships in Cavite +Road. The glasses of all the officers were pointed in that direction, +when they made out three sail of the line and three frigates--tolerable +odds against us, it might be supposed; but they could not do us any harm +then, because four of them were without masts and the other two had only +their lower masts in, and no yards across. We, therefore, if we could +get possession of the gunboats, should be at liberty to commit any +mischief we chose along the coast. Three gunboats, at all events, were +likely soon to give us an opportunity of having something to say to +them. The wind was so light that we made but little way, and thus about +two hours afterwards we lay about three miles from Cavite, and the same +distance from the city of Manilla. At length, when nearly becalmed, a +guard boat was seen coming off to us from Cavite, and as she approached, +we made out that she pulled twelve oars, and had several officers and +men besides on board. + +"Now, Mr Noalles," said Captain Cobb to the pilot, "do your best to +induce these gentlemen to come on board. It will not do to let them +examine the ship, and then go back and express their suspicions, if they +have any." + +As the boat came alongside, Mr Noalles, in excellent Spanish, politely +invited the officers and men on board. The chief officer introduced +himself as the second captain of one of the frigates at anchor in +Cavite, and inquired who we were and whence we came. Our pilot in +return replied that the "Boreas" and her consort were two frigates +belonging to the French squadron in those seas, that we had been +cruising for some time along the coast of China, where our crews had +naturally become sickly, and that we had come to Manilla for +refreshment; as also, should the Spanish Admiral be pleased to accept +our services, to form a junction with his squadron; Mr Noalles also +said he was desired to express a hope that the Spanish ships would +accompany us to sea. Meantime, the seamen who had been stationed near +began jabbering French, as they had been directed to do, throwing the +Spaniards completely off their guard. The Spanish captain, in reply to +what had been said, stated that the Governor had directed him to +acquaint the French that their wants should be immediately supplied, +"but," he added, "it is with great sorrow that we cannot accompany you +to sea, because the truth is, none of our ships can by any possibility +be got ready in less than two months, as our crews are sickly; and to +confess the truth, we are in want of every species of stores." + +The boat meantime was secured alongside, and while the captain and +officers accompanying him were invited into the cabin, the seamen were +conducted below. Captain Cobb acted his part very well, and probably he +was just as well dressed as many of the Republican naval officers of +those days, who were in the habit of assuming a somewhat rough exterior +and rougher manners. Refreshments were immediately ordered, and our +consort having by this time got a considerable way up the bay, Captain +Masterman, who had seen the boat come off, arrived on board. Captain +Cobb immediately introduced him as the French Commodore, giving the name +of an officer who it afterwards turned out was at that time dead. Of +this fact, however, the Spanish captain was fortunately not aware, or +the ruse would have been discovered. + +Captain Masterman was able to speak a little Spanish. Refreshments +being ordered, the officers were soon engaged in pleasant and not +altogether uninstructive conversation at the table. Our Captain, in +return, gave the Spaniards a large amount of information, not likely, it +may be supposed, to benefit them very much. A great friend of mine, +Charlie Crickmay, one of the Captain's boys waiting at table, afterwards +gave me a full account of all that occurred. As the Spaniards were +plied with wine by their polite hosts, their hearts opened, and they let +out all the information which it was necessary to obtain. + +"Now, my excellent friends," said the Spanish Captain, "we will drink +success to the united exertions of the Spaniards and French against +those rascally British, who come out here and interfere with our trade, +and do us so much mischief." + +Just then a midshipman came down to say that a large barge and a felucca +were coming off from the shore. In reply to the toast, Captain Cobb +assured his guests that as far as they were concerned their great wish +was that the Spanish and French ships should never fail to fall in with +the English, as they had little doubt who would come off victorious. + +"Of course, excellent senors, the Spaniards will always conquer their +foes, whenever the latter dare stay to encounter their prowess," was the +answer. + +Our Captains continued to humour the gentlemen for some time till the +midshipman, again coming down, informed them that the large boats were +nearly alongside. At length, Captain Cobb laying his hand on the +Spanish officer's shoulder, looked him in the face. + +"My dear sir," he said, "you will pardon us for the little trick we have +played you; but the honest truth is, we are not the people you took us +for. There is an old proverb which says: `Deceit is lawful in love and +warfare.' In the latter it is at all events. Though we have the flag +of France now flying, that of Britain generally floats over our decks, +and will, I hope, do so till our ships are paid off at home." + +"Senor!" exclaimed the Spaniard, turning pale and gasping for breath, +"you surely are joking." + +The Captain's answer assured him that he was not. The poor man almost +fainted. + +"Come, my friend," said Captain Masterman, "we intend you no harm. +Here, take a glass of wine, you will find it excellent Madeira, and be +assured that many a worse event might have happened to you. All we +require is, that you should say nothing to your friends when they come +below. You will meet them here presently, whoever they are, and believe +us on our honours that we intend no one any harm." + +While Captain Cobb entertained his dismayed guest, Captain Masterman +went on deck to receive the new comers. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +The first boat which came alongside was announced to be the barge of +Admiral Don Martin Alaba. She rowed twenty oars, and had on board a +rear-admiral and two other officers, one of whom was the Governor's +nephew, who came to pay his respects to their supposed friends. The +other, a felucca, contained the same number of officers and men, and +among them was an aide-de-camp of the Admiral's, who sent his +compliments and congratulations to the French, with the information that +they would be supplied with all they desired. He also announced, which +was less agreeable to us, that several launches with anchors and cables +were getting ready to assist the frigates into the harbour. + +Unless, therefore, a good excuse could be framed for not going in, our +true characters would immediately be discovered. However, as Spaniards +are not very quick in their movements, it was hoped that some time would +pass before the arrival of the launches, and that an opportunity might +occur of taking a few more prizes without bloodshed. The new visitors +were ushered down, with every mark of respect, into the cabin, while the +crews were handed below as the others had been. The first glance the +Admiral caught of the Spanish captain's countenance gave him, probably, +some anxiety. This was still further increased when Captain Masterman, +with a polite bow, requested his pardon for the trick which had been +played off on him and his countrymen. + +"What trick!" exclaimed the Admiral. "Surely you do not mean to say +that you are not the people we took you for?" + +"We must confess that we are not," said Captain Masterman; "we beg to +assure you that neither you nor any of your countrymen will suffer the +least insult or hurt at our hands. We must, however, request you +contentedly to remain on board for a few hours, after which time I have +little doubt that we shall be able to set you at liberty." + +These remarks reassured the Spaniards, who were further reconciled to +their lot when they saw the cloth spread, and a number of covers brought +aft by active hands. The table glittered with plate and glass, and +numerous well-filled bottles of ruby wine. While, however, the dinner +was getting ready, the Spanish officers were invited to take a turn on +deck. Their astonishment and vexation had been considerable before; it +was now increased when they saw a number of Englishmen come up, dressed +in the clothes of the Spaniards, and immediately jump into the Spanish +boat. Several of the frigates' boats were also seen at the same time to +shove off with their officers and men well armed, and to pull towards +the three Spanish gunboats which lay at their anchors just outside the +river leading to Manilla. The Admiral and his officers watched them +anxiously. What could they be about? On they went till they were +alongside the gunboats. Not a sound of a shot was heard, not a trigger +apparently had been pulled. In a short time the gunboats under sail +were seen slowly dropping down towards the frigates. + +"Dinner is ready," observed our Captain to his guests. "We will inform +you of the particulars of what has taken place after you have enjoyed +it." + +The Spaniards were wise men. They shrugged their shoulders, twirled +their moustaches, but said nothing, quickly following their hosts into +the cabin. Their eyes could not help brightening up when they saw the +good dinner spread before them, for such will, with few exceptions, +touch the hearts of mortals of all nations. Toasts were proposed, +healths drunk, and the Spaniards began to think that the accounts they +had read of British ferocity and British barbarism must have been +somewhat exaggerated. Meantime the three gunboats were brought +alongside with about one hundred and twenty officers and men as +prisoners. Several of their people had managed to escape on shore. The +officers acknowledged to their captors that there were a considerable +number more gunboats in the harbour, all new and coppered, very fast, +and well fitted for service. We, having plenty of provisions on board, +our Captain had ordered a good entertainment to be prepared for all the +prisoners, who showed no unwillingness to make themselves happy and at +home. We had already had a pretty good morning's work, but the +Spaniards seemed still willing to present us with another prize, for +soon after the gunboats had been brought alongside, a second +felucca-rigged boat, pulling eighteen oars, was seen coming off. +Several officers were also aboard her. As she came alongside, they were +received with the same politeness as the others had been. The principal +officer informed us that he was Captain of the port. He requested to +know for what reason the boats were detained, saying that if they were +not immediately restored the authorities would consider the two frigates +as enemies, and not only decline giving them any assistance, but direct +the squadron to come out of harbour and drive them off. + +"Tell him what we know about the squadron," said Captain Cobb to our +pilot. + +"Why, my friend," observed Mr Noalles, "you must be aware that you have +the larger portion of your squadron without their masts, and that even +the others will not be able to follow us for a fortnight at least. We +know perfectly well what we are about; in fact, it must be confessed +that we are Englishmen!" + +The start given by the Captain of the port was even more violent than +that of his predecessors. What, had he actually run his head into the +lion's den, after so many of his companions had been already caught? +However, on being conducted into the cabin, he was received with shouts +of laughter from his countrymen, who by this time were feeling the +effects of the generous wine they had imbibed. The Spaniards were, +however, able to punish us slightly in return by the information they +gave, that of the two merchant vessels we had come to cut out, one was +aground, and the other had landed her cargo in consequence of the +appearance of a suspicious looking ship of war, which we afterwards +ascertained was one of our cruisers, whose melancholy fate I shall some +day have to relate. + +By this time we had fully two hundred prisoners on board, and a happier +set of prisoners it would have been difficult to find, for not only had +the officers' hearts been made merry, but the seamen had as much grog on +board as they could well carry. There could be little doubt that by +this time the people on shore must have been fully certain of our real +characters. Their suspicions must have been confirmed when they saw a +breeze spring up, and that we did not proceed into the roads as they had +supposed we should do. Our Captains, who were as generous and liberal +as brave, now told the Spanish officers that they should be at liberty +to return on shore, offering to present them with the Admiral's barge, +the guard boat, and the two feluccas; nor would they even ask for their +parole nor impose a restriction of any sort upon them. The Spaniards' +astonishment on being captured had been very great, but it was greater +still when they received this information. I did not hear what the +Admiral said, but I know he made a very long speech, full of +grandiloquent words, that he pressed his hands to his heart very often, +and in other ways endeavoured to show his sense of British magnanimity. +Evening coming on, he and his countrymen took their departure in their +respective boats, some of which were rather overcrowded, as, of course, +they had to carry the crews of the gunboats which we had detained. + +Our ship's company shook hands with all the men as they helped them into +their boats, and parted from them with three hearty cheers, as if they +had been their dearest friends. As soon as our guests had departed, we +once more stood out of the bay with our three prizes, keeping away to +the south in the hopes of visiting other places before the information +of our true character could reach them. The gunboats were manned, a +lieutenant from the "Zephyr" taking charge of one of them, and our +junior lieutenant and Mr Oliver having the command of the other two. + +They were respectively named by the ship's company the "Bam," the "Boo," +and the "Zel". The "Zephyr" took the "Bam" in tow, while we had the +"Boo" and the "Zel". It was young Mr Oliver's first command, and with +no small pleasure he descended the ship's side to go and take charge of +the craft, fully expecting to perform great deeds in her. Many another +young man has done the same, and found, after all, his expectations +sadly disappointed. I remember perfectly watching the little vessels as +they followed in our wake. They were handsome, graceful craft, very +well fitted for the work for which they were intended, cruising along +shore, and being able to run into harbour again on the appearance of bad +weather. Somehow or other Englishmen are apt to think if a vessel can +float she is fit to go anywhere, and that there is no considerable +difference between smooth water and a heavy cross sea,--a summer breeze +and a snorting gale. + +Mr Oliver had with him a young midshipman, ten seamen, and a boy--a +very much smaller crew than the gunboat had under the Spanish flag. Of +course, however, fewer Englishmen are required to man a vessel than +Spaniards, not but that Spaniards are very good sailors, but then they +have not got the muscle and the activity of Englishmen. As a rule, +Spanish vessels are far better found than English craft, and are rather +over than under manned. We continued to run down the coast without +meeting with any adventure till we sighted the large island of Mindanao. +We were standing off that island one night, when about midnight the +ship was struck by a heavy squall. She lay over till her yardarms +almost dipped in the ocean. Topsail and topgallant sheets were let fly, +and she soon again righted without much apparent damage to herself, but +at that instant there was a cry from aft that one of the gunboats had +parted. + +The night was dark, and those who looked out could nowhere distinguish +her. The frigate was, however, immediately brought to. A gun was +fired, but there was no report in return. A blue light was next ordered +to be lit. No answering signal was to be perceived. The missing boat +was the "Zel" under charge of young Harry Oliver. He was a great +favourite on board, and many anxious eyes were looking out for him. +Another and another gun was fired, and blue lights ever and anon sent +their bright glare over the foam-topped waves. While one of these blue +lights was burning, one of the men on the look-out whispered to another: +"What do you see there, Bill? As I am a living man there is a long low +ship under all sail gliding by right in the wind's eye." + +"And I see her too! And I, and I!" exclaimed several men in suppressed +voices. "Hark? There are sounds. There is music." + +"Why, they are singing on board. What can she be? I for one would +rather never have looked on her. Can you make out the words?" + +"No, I should think not." + +"Do you see her now?" + +"No, she seemed to shoot right up into that thick cloud to windward." + +Such and similar expressions were heard, and the men were still talking +about the matter when my father and Pat Brady, who had been below, came +on deck. At that moment Mr Schank's voice was heard shouting out +"Shorten sail!" and the ship was brought speedily under still closer +canvas, barely in time, however, to enable her to bear the effects of +the second violent squall which came roaring up from the quarter where +the supposed stranger had disappeared. Guns were again fired, and more +blue lights burned, and thus we continued waiting anxiously till morning +broke. The other gunboat was safe, but it was too certain that the +unfortunate "Zel" had foundered, and that her crew and the brave young +Harry Oliver and his still more youthful companion had perished. Many +hearts on board grieved for their loss. I will not say tears were shed, +because, however poets may write about the matter, it is my belief that +British seamen are not addicted to express their feelings in that way, +unless perhaps occasionally a few do so when they become sentimental +with a larger amount of grog on board than usual, but even that is not +very common. They are more inclined to become obstreperous and +combative on such occasions. + +The latter part of our cruise was not likely to prove so successful as +the commencement. + +Standing to the extreme south of the group, we came off a Spanish +settlement, guarded by a couple of forts, and which, as it was of +considerable size, our Captains determined to lay under contribution for +wood, water, and refreshments. We fortunately captured a felucca a +short distance from the coast, and her master was now directed to stand +in and make our request for the articles we required known to the +authorities of the place. They not understanding our amiable +disposition, or supposing that we were the bloodthirsty monsters we had +been described, declined acceding to our petitions. There was no help +therefore but to attempt to take by force what was denied to our modest +request. The wood and water we might have procured elsewhere, but +vegetables and fresh meat and other provisions we had no hopes of +finding. We accordingly stood in towards the town, hoping that our +appearance would overawe the enemy. The Spaniards, however, as soon as +we got within range of their guns, opened a hot fire upon us which +showed that they fully intended to keep to their resolution of not +rendering us assistance. Hungry Englishmen are not well-pleased to be +baulked of their provisions. The order was "Out boats and take the +fort." Four boats shoved off, under command of Captain Masterman, and +made for the shore, in spite of the hot fire with which they were +received. One, however, grounded on a sandbank, and several men were +hit while they were endeavouring to get her off. The intention was to +take the fort. They reached the beach, and on the men dashed, expecting +in a few minutes to be engaged in storming the fort. As, however, they +were rushing up the hill, a large body of armed men appeared on the top +of it, five or six times their number. A braver man than Captain +Masterman never stepped; but, unless the enemy were great cowards, they +could scarcely hope to drive them off, and to get into the fort at the +same time. The walls, too, as they approached them, were seen to be far +more difficult to climb than they had expected. Meantime the batteries +were keeping up a very heavy fire on the frigates, our guns making but +little impression in return. With a heavy heart Captain Masterman gave +the order to retreat and the British had to hurry down to their boats, +while the Spaniards were rapidly advancing. The latter, however, did +not venture to come to close quarters, being well content with their +success, but continued firing on the boats as long as they were within +reach of their muskets. By this time the frigates had lost several men. +The "Zephyr"--her master and three or four men killed, and a midshipman +and several men wounded. We lost five or six killed or wounded. Among +the latter was Pat Brady, who came on board vowing vengeance against the +Spaniards wherever he should meet them. The two frigates, besides, had +received considerable damage. + +Our wheel was hit, the head of our mizzen-mast wounded, several of our +shrouds were cut away, and running rigging and sails much injured. At +length a shot cut away two strands of our cable. The gunboats which +joined in the fight had escaped with very little damage, although they +kept up a pretty hot fire on the fort. There seemed to be not the +slightest possibility of our success, and as our chief object was to get +wood and water, which certainly could be obtained elsewhere, cutting our +cables, we made sail out of the harbour. Altogether we had paid pretty +dearly for our morning's amusement. + +I give the account, however humbling to our national pride it may be, to +show that it is possible for the bravest and most sagacious officers to +meet with reverses, and as a warning lesson to others not to think too +highly of themselves. + +I leave the reader to count up what we did during the cruise, and to +judge whether we had much cause for congratulation, I had the account +from my father in after years, and, calculating profits and losses, I +rather think that the balance was terribly against us. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +The two gunboats, "Bam" and "Boo," had been a source of anxiety to our +Captain, ever since they came into our possession, and fears were +entertained, should another gale come on, that they might share the fate +of the unfortunate "Zel". Their young commanders were ready to go +anywhere in them, but it seemed very unlikely, should they make the +attempt, that they would ever reach Canton, to which we were soon about +to return. They were condemned therefore to be destroyed. They were +beautiful looking craft, but were too likely to prove what the ten-gun +brigs of those days often did--coffins for their living crews. +Accordingly, all their stores being taken out of them, their crews set +them on fire and returned to the frigates. I remember well seeing them +blaze away and at length blow up, at which I clapped my hands, having +some idea that they were fireworks let off expressly for my amusement. +The frigates' damages being now repaired, a course was steered for the +north. Being greatly in want of water, we put into another harbour on +the coast where it was known that no Spanish settlement existed. The +watering parties from our frigates proceeded to the shore, making six +boats in all, the men being well armed. They ought properly to have +remained for each other, but our boats came off first, leaving the +"Zephyr's" to follow. Casks were being hoisted up, when the officers, +through their glasses, perceived several men running down to the beach, +making signals that an enemy was coming. Instantly all the remaining +boats were manned, and away they pulled to the support of those on +shore, led by the two Captains. There was no time to be lost, for as +they approached the shore they saw our men defending themselves against +a vast number of enemies. The natives, as the boats approached, took to +flight, but it was evident that the number of our people was greatly +diminished. The officer commanding the watering party was alive, though +he had with difficulty escaped from the enemy, but two poor fellows lay +dead upon the beach, and a third was desperately wounded, and was +evidently dying. No less than nine had been carried off as prisoners. +Our pilot, Mr Noalles, having accompanied the party, now proceeded with +Captain Masterman and a very strong body in search of the natives. +These, however, had fled at their approach. At length our party came +upon a hut, in which a man was found who appeared by his dress and air +to be of some consequence. He was lame from a wound, and had been +unable to make his escape. Mr Noalles explained to him that we were in +search of our men, and demanded their instant release. He was told that +unless they were delivered up, their village would be destroyed, and +their corn cut down. He promised to use his influence with his +countrymen, and as our people retired to a distance, one or two persons +were seen to enter his hut. After waiting, however, a considerable +time, no one approached. Again the chief was appealed to, but he +declared that he had no power in the place. At length Captain Masterman +directed his followers to set the village on fire, while our men rushed +into the corn fields, and in a short time made a clean sweep of several +acres. Whether or not it was a wise proceeding, I think, is doubtful, +for it was too probable that the natives would either kill their +prisoners in revenge, or else make them labour as slaves to repay them +for the damage they had received. This work being accomplished, the +frigates got under weigh, the Captains intending to call off a place +farther to the north where the Malay chief of the island resided, for +the purpose of making him exert his influence for the recovery of the +missing men. We were not very far from the latitude where the +unfortunate "Zel" had foundered. Our people very naturally talked of +their lost shipmates, and especially of young Mr Oliver, who, as I +said, was a great favourite with all of them. My father especially +looked on him with much affection, having saved his life once, seemed to +regard him almost in the light of a son. We had had a fair wind all the +morning, when suddenly it shifted round to the northward, and a sudden +squall very nearly took the masts out of the two frigates. As it was +impossible to say from what direction the breeze would next come, we +continued standing off the land towards the town of Palawan. The wind +had moderated, though it still blew strong, and we continued standing to +the west, when a small island was sighted on the weather bow. As we +drew in with it, Pat Brady, who was one of the look-outs, declared he +saw a signal flying from the highest point in sight. I speak of it as +an island--it seemed to be little more than a large rock--and the peak +of which Brady spoke was forty or fifty feet or so out of the water. +The ships' companies had been grumbling considerably at being delayed, +as they were anxious to get back to Canton, where, it was hoped, we +should receive orders to convoy the homeward-bound merchant fleet. The +midshipman of the watch having reported what Pat Brady had seen, after +we had run on some distance, the ship was hove to, and the glasses being +directed in that direction, a man was made out waving apparently a shirt +from the rock. A boat accordingly was instantly lowered and pulled +towards it. The man kept his post for some time as the boat approached, +making signals to those in her to pull round rather farther to the +westward, as the surf beating on that side of the rock would prevent +their landing. As the boat's head was once more put off the shore the +men caught sight of the person on the rock. Pat Brady, who formed one +of the boat's crew, looked up at him with a glance of astonishment. + +"I say, Jem," he exclaimed to the man next him, "either that's Mr +Oliver or his ghost, as sure as my name is Pat Brady." + +"It's his ghost," was the answer, "for there is no doubt the gunboat +went down a week ago; and it's not likely he or any other man could have +swum out of her." + +"By my faith, then," answered Brady, "it must be his ghost; and sure +enough he is more like a ghost than anything else." + +As they were speaking, the figure disappeared from the summit of the +rock. + +"I told you so," said Brady, "depend on it, when we land, we may hunt +about till doomsday, and we shall never find mortal man on this rock." +These remarks were overheard by the other men, who seemed to agree very +much with the opinions of the speakers. + +"He is fathoms deep down beneath the water, depend on that," observed +another; "we shall never see young Mr Oliver with our mortal eyes +again." + +At length Mr Martin, the Second-Lieutenant, who had gone in command of +the boat, overheard the remarks of the men. He, however, from being +somewhat near-sighted, had not observed any likeness in the figure on +the rock to his lost shipmate. "Mr Oliver, do you think he is? I only +hope so." + +"No, sir, we don't think it's Mr Oliver; but we think it is his ghost," +blurted out Pat Brady; "and as to finding him, there's little chance we +shall have to do that." + +"We will have a look for him at all events," answered Mr Martin. "Give +way, lads, I see the place he pointed out to us; and if he is a ghost, +at all events he has an eye for a good landing-place." + +The boat accordingly pulled in, and a small bay was found where the men +could land with perfect ease. No one, however, was to be seen, and this +confirmed the opinions the seamen had expressed. The island was rather +larger than it appeared from the sea, and Mr Martin, leaving a couple +of men in charge of the boat, proceeded with the rest inland. They +looked about in all directions, and yet no human being could they +discover. He at length began almost to fancy that they must have been +deceived by some means or other, and yet he was certain that the figure +he had observed at the top of the rock was that of a human being. I +should have said that when the boat was lowered a bottle of water and a +flask of spirits, with a small quantity of food, had also been put into +her. This the men carried, it being supposed probable that the person +on the rock would be suffering from hunger and thirst. + +"It's of no use," observed Pat to one of his companions. "I knew it was +a ghost from the beginning, or may be just the devil in a man's shape to +try and draw the ship in to get her cast away. We none of us know what +tricks he can play." + +At length the men began to be positively uneasy, and to wish their +officer to return. Mr Martin, however, had determined to examine the +island thoroughly, before he gave up the search, being perfectly +convinced that he had seen a man on the rock, though why he had +afterwards hidden himself was unaccountable. + +The distance by water from the rock was, in consequence of the shape of +the shore, considerably less than by land, and this might have accounted +for their getting there before the person they had seen, but some other +reason had now to be found for his not appearing. The more level part +of the land had been passed over. No signs of water had been +discovered. + +"Ah, poor fellow!" exclaimed Mr Martin, "he must, at all events, have +suffered greatly for want of that." + +They now got near to the foot of the rock, on the top of which the man +had been seen. All the sides appeared inaccessible, and it was +unaccountable how he could have got up there. This further confirmed +the men in the idea that they had beheld a ghost or spirit of some sort. +Never, perhaps, before had their officer found greater difficulty in +getting them to follow him. They would have done so ten times more +willingly against an enemy greatly outnumbering them, with the muzzles +of half-a-dozen guns pointed in their faces besides. Mr Martin +continued to push on. At length he came to a rock in which was a small +recess. Beckoning with his hand to his men, he hurried on, and there he +saw, seated on the ground, the person of whom he had been in search, +with a boy apparently in the last stage of exhaustion in his arms. He +himself was unable to speak, but he pointed to the boy's mouth, and then +to his own. Mr Martin understood the signs, and shouted to the men to +come on with the provisions. Even then he could scarcely recognise the +features of Harry Oliver, or of the young midshipman by his side, so +fearfully had famine and exhaustion told on them. The men were soon +gathered round the sufferers. Before Mr Oliver would take any of the +spirits and water brought to him, he watched to see a few drops poured +down the throat of his companion. The effect was almost instantaneous. +His eyes, already glazing, it seemed in death, recovered a portion of +their brightness, and a slight colour returned to his deadly pale +cheeks. A moderate draught of the same mixture greatly restored the +young officer, but he was even then unable to speak. + +"I told you he was a live man," observed Mr Martin at last to the +seamen; "but if you had given way to your fears, you see in a very few +minutes more both our young friends would have become what you supposed +them already to be." + +The men now hurried back to bring some of the boat's oars and a sail on +which they might convey the sufferers, for Mr Martin was anxious to get +them on board without further delay. After waiting a little time +longer, he considered that they were sufficiently recovered to be +removed. + +Great was the astonishment, and greater still the satisfaction, of all +on board when they arrived alongside. + +The young midshipman hovered for a considerable time between life and +death. Had it not been, I believe, for the watchful care of my mother +and the surgeon, he would, after all, have sunk under the hardships he +had endured. Not, indeed, till the following day, was Mr Oliver +himself able to give an account of his escape. Except the man at the +helm, the crew of the gunboat had been forward when the squall came on. +He and the midshipman Bramston were standing aft. He recollected, as +the vessel sank beneath his feet, catching the lad in his arms, and +springing over the taffrail. As to what became of the man at the helm, +or the rest of the crew, he could not tell. For a few seconds he was +drawn under the water, but returning to the surface again, he found +close to him several spars that had been lashed together, but, as it +appeared, not secured to the deck of the vessel. + +On these he threw himself and his young charge. A current, he supposed, +swept them away to the westward. When daylight broke, he could clearly +see the frigate; but after he had anxiously watched her, he observed her +standing to the southward. He had little hopes of surviving, yet he +resolved to persevere to the last. Still the spars afforded but a +slight support. He had to dread, too, the attack of sharks. About two +hours after daylight, however, he observed floating near him the stock +of a large ship's anchor. Leaving young Bramston secured to the spars, +towing them, he swam towards it. This afforded him and his companion a +far safer resting-place. He was now able to lash several spars to the +timber, while another formed a mast, and a second, which he and Bramston +cut through with their knives, supplied them with paddles and a yard. +On this they spread their shirts, which they split open. + +As the sun rose, his beams fell on an island in the far distance. The +wind was fair, and towards it they directed their course. The current, +too, favoured them. Without this their progress would have been very +slow. They soon began to feel the want of water, but Oliver urged +Bramston on no account to drink the salt water. The midshipman, on +searching in his pockets, happily found a small quantity of biscuit, +which he had thoughtlessly put there, he supposed, after supper that +very night. This supplied them with food when their hunger became +ravenous. Thus they sailed on the whole day. Happily the night was not +very dark, and they were thus able to keep the island in sight. It was +almost daylight the next morning when at length they found themselves +driving in towards the rocks. With great difficulty they kept off, and +coasted round to the very bay where Mr Martin had landed. Finding, +however, that they could not get in their frail raft, they had after +all, having repossessed themselves of their shirts, to swim on shore, +Mr Oliver towing young Bramston, who was supported on a spar. They +were almost exhausted when they landed, but, finding a shady place under +a rock, they fell asleep, and awoke considerably refreshed. A few +handfuls of water, in a crevice of a rock, assisted to keep them alive, +while they, not without considerable danger, managed to collect some +shell-fish from the rocks. Still, they found their strength daily +decreasing, till the young midshipman was utterly unable to move. Every +day Mr Oliver had climbed to the top of the rock in the hopes of some +vessel passing. His joy at seeing his own frigate may be conceived. It +was greatly damped, however, on finding that his young companion was, as +he supposed, at his last gasp; and had not the Lieutenant and his party +arrived at the moment they did, there can be no doubt that the lad would +have died. He himself, indeed, was so exhausted, that he could with +difficulty find his way down the rock, and after that was unable to move +farther. + +On our return to the Phillipines, the Sultan, as the chief was called of +whom I have spoken, had, we found, recovered our men, who little +expected to be rescued from the hands of the savages. We then proceeded +to Canton, where we found the homeward-bound merchant fleet ready to +sail. We had work enough, I have an idea, in keeping our convoy of old +tea-chests, as the merchantmen were called, together. I may say, +however, that at length, after no small amount of anxiety to the +Captains of the frigates, we arrived safely in the Downs. Our task +performed, we were ordered to Portsmouth to be paid off. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +My poor mother was crying bitterly. It was at the thoughts of parting +with the Little Lady. In vain my father attempted to console her. Give +her up, she said she could not. She loved her almost as her own child. +Lieutenant Schank had written home to his mother and sisters, who, in +return, had expressed their perfect readiness to receive the Little +Lady. But how was she to be conveyed into Lincolnshire? Captain Cobb +amply fulfilled his promise by putting a handsome sum into the +Lieutenant's hands. + +"There, Schank," he said; "it is not you who receive it, remember, it is +the little girl, so do not talk of thanking me. I only wish I had been +rather more certain of what Mrs Cobb would say, or that I felt +considerably more sure than I do that she would be pleased, and I should +have liked to have had the Little Lady myself. It would have been a +matter of interest to hear about her when one was away from home, and a +pleasure to look forward to see her again. She promises to be a sweet +little creature. Your womenkind will be well-pleased to see her, depend +on that; and I say, Schank, if I can help her on in the world in any way +I will do so. Remember, we are old shipmates, so do not stand on +ceremony." As Captain Cobb went on talking, and thought of parting from +the Little Lady, his heart warmed up; and at that time, I believe, if he +had had the will, he would have given her half his property. However, +there was one thing to be said of him: in spite of his peculiarities, he +was a man who would never depart from his word, and that Mr Schank knew +very well. But that in no way detracted from the Lieutenant's +generosity, for he had made up his mind to take charge of the Little +Lady, whether the Captain assisted him or not. Highly as he esteemed my +father and mother, he considered perhaps justly, that they were not in a +position to bring up a little girl whose parents were evidently +gentlefolks. Be that as it may, it was settled that she was to be sent +off as soon as an opportunity should occur, to old Mrs Schank's +residence, in the village of Whithyford, Lincolnshire. The difficulty +of sending her there was solved by the offer of my mother to convey her +herself, with the sanction of my father; indeed, he proposed to go down +also, provided the journey could be delayed till the ship was paid off. + +"Two children, you see, sir," he said to Mr Schank, "would be rather +too much for my good woman to take charge of alone, and I suppose, sir, +it would not just do for you to go and help her. People might think +what was not the case." + +Mr Schank laughed. He had never thought of that, and certainly had not +bargained either to take care of one child himself, or to assist my +mother in taking care of two. + +"By all means, Burton," he said. "I have some business in London which +will keep me for a few days, and the Little Lady will give interest and +amusement enough to my family till I make my appearance." + +The heavy coach took us to London under the escort of Lieutenant Schank, +who saw us off for Whithyford in another, far heavier and more +lumbering. My father and I went outside; my mother and the Little Lady +had an inside place. Behind sat a guard with a couple of blunderbusses +slung on either side of him, dressed in an ample red coat, and a brace +of pistols sticking out of his pockets. There were a good many +highwaymen about at the time, who robbed occasionally on one side of +London, and sometimes on the other, and an armed guard, from his +formidable appearance, gave the passengers confidence, though he might +possibly have proved no very efficient protector if attacked. My father +was in high spirits, and pointed out everything he thought worth +noticing to me on the road. Each time the coach stopped he was off his +seat with me clinging to his back, and looking in at the window to +inquire if my mother or the Little Lady wanted anything. Now he would +bring out a glass of ale for one, now a cup of milk for the other or for +me, or sandwiches, or cakes, or fruit. He had the wisdom never to let +me take either ale or grog. "Very good for big people," he used to say, +"but very bad for little chaps, Ben." + +At length we were put down at the inn at Whithyford. Mrs Schank lived +down a lane a little way off the road, and thither, my mother carrying +the Little Lady on one arm and holding me by the other, and my father +laden with bundles and bandboxes, we proceeded. The cottage was +whitewashed, and covered with fresh, thick thatch. In front was the +neatest of neat little gardens, surrounded by a well-clipped privet +hedge, and the greenest of green gates. Indeed, neatness and order +reigned everywhere outside as it did, as I was soon to find, in the +interior. The Misses Schank had been expecting us. Three of them +appeared at the door. They all seemed much older than Lieutenant +Schank. Two of them were very like him, tall and thin, and the other +bore a strong resemblance, I thought, to our worthy Captain. Their +names I soon learned. There was Miss Martha, and Miss Jemima, and the +youngest--a fat one--was Anna Maria. They all shrieked out in different +tones as they saw us. Miss Anna Maria seized me in her arms and gave me +a kiss, and then, looking at me, exclaimed, "Why, I thought it was to be +a little girl! This surely is a boy!" at which her sisters laughed, and +bending forward, examined the Little Lady, who was still in my mother's +arms, and whom Miss Anna Maria had not observed. Miss Martha at length +ventured to take her in the gentlest possible manner and kissed her +brow, and said, "Well, she is a sweet little thing; why, Mrs Burton, I +wonder you like to part with her," at which observation my mother burst +into tears. + +"I don't, ma'am, indeed I don't," she answered; when gentle Miss Martha +observed, "I did not wish to hurt your feelings, Mrs Burton"; and Miss +Anna Maria, who was fond of laughing, said something which made her +laugh, and then she laughed herself, so that with between crying and +laughing we all entered the cottage and were conducted into the parlour, +on one side of which sat old Mrs Schank in a high-back chair, and in a +very high cap, and looking very tall and thin and solemn, I thought at +first. + +My father followed with the bundles and bandboxes, but stood in the +passage, not thinking it correct for him to advance into the parlour. + +"Who is that?" asked the old lady, looking up and seeing him through the +open door. + +"Please, ma'am, that is my husband," answered my mother, courtesying. + +"What is he?" inquired the old lady. + +"A sailor, ma'am." + +"Eh, my son is a sailor, my Jack is a sailor, and I love sailors for his +sake. Let him come in. Come in, sailor, and put those bundles down; +they may tire you. There, sit down and rest yourself. And this is the +little girl my son wrote about. Let me see her, Mrs--what is your +name?" + +"Burton, ma'am," answered my mother. + +"Let me see her, Mrs Burton. A very pretty sweet little damsel she is; +and whose child is she, do you say?" + +"That is what we do not know, ma'am," answered my mother. + +"And I am sure I do not," said the old lady, who, I should observe, +never was at a loss for a remark. + +"Well, that does not much signify; we shall like her for herself. And +who is that little boy?" + +"That is my son, ma'am," answered my mother. + +"Oh! Then he is not the little girl's brother, I suppose?" + +"No, ma'am," answered my mother, "though I love the little girl as if +she were my own child, and indeed I sorely feel the thoughts of parting +with her." + +"Very natural, and right, and proper," remarked the old lady. "I am +sure I should love such a pretty little damsel, especially if I had +nursed her as I suppose you have. However, we will not talk about that +just now. You and your husband must stay here for some days, and your +little boy too, until this little lady gets accustomed to us. I +suppose, sailor, you do not want to go to sea in a hurry? What is his +name, my good woman?" + +"Richard Burton," answered my mother, "late quarter-master of HM frigate +`Boreas'." + +"Well, Richard Burton, you may make yourself at home here, and as happy +as you can. My son Jack has written to us about you, only I could not +recollect your name." + +Although the old lady did not appear at first very wise, she had, +however, a fair amount of shrewd good sense, and she was excessively +kind, and liberal, and generous as far as she had the means. The ladies +had prepared a very nice room for my mother and father, and I had a bed +in a corner of it, and they really treated them as if they were guests +of consequence. + +While the old lady was speaking, Miss Anna Maria stood laughing and +smiling at me, trying to gain my attention and confidence. As I looked +at her I thought she must be very good-natured. She was short, and very +round and fat, with black twinkling eyes and a somewhat dark complexion, +a smile constantly playing on her mouth. Her sisters, as I have +remarked, reminded me very strongly of their brother. They all made a +great deal of me, and still more of the Little Lady. Having no +servants, they did everything themselves, and were busily occupied from +morning till night, each having her own department. Miss Anna Maria was +cook, and I used to think that perhaps that made her so fat and dark. I +took great delight in helping her, and soon learned to peel the +potatoes, and wash the cabbages, and stone the raisins for plum +puddings. Indeed, knowing well that occupation is useful, not only for +small boys but for big ones, she set me to work immediately. Not only +did they work indoors but out of doors also, and kept the garden in +perfect order, trimming the hedges and mowing and digging. Besides +this, they found time to read to their old mother, as well as to +themselves; and from the way they talked of books and things, I have no +doubt were very well informed, though I was no judge in those days. In +the parish in which they had all been born they were looked up to with +the greatest affection. They had done much to civilise the people and +to keep them from falling back into a state of barbarism, or, I may say, +heathenism, for the vicar of the parish was a hunting parson who was +seen once a week in the church, where he hurried over the service, and +read a sermon which lasted some twelve or fifteen minutes; the shorter +the better, however, considering its quality. His horse used to be led +up and down by a groom during the time, and as soon as his work was over +he remounted and rode off again, not to be seen till the following week +unless one of his parishioners died, and he could get no one else to +perform the funeral service. He seemed to think that the Misses Schank +had a prescriptive right to labour in the parish; but he was excessively +indignant when on one or two occasions a dissenting minister came to +preach in a barn; and he declared that, should so irregular a proceeding +be repeated, he would proceed against him as far as the law would allow. +My kind friends' father had had three or four successors. The one I +speak of, I think, was the fourth, and, I hope, an exception to the +general rule. + +"It will not do for us to complain," observed the mild Miss Martha, "but +I do wish that our vicar more resembled a shepherd who cares for his +sheep, than the wolf he must appear to the poor people of the parish. +He takes to the last penny all he can get out of them, and gives them +only hard words and stones in return." Miss Martha, however, bless her +kind heart, gave the poor people not only gentle words, but many "a cup +of cold water," in the name of Christ, and to the utmost of her means +assisted her poorer neighbours, as, indeed, did also her sisters. Many +a day their meals were dry crusts and tea, when they were giving +nourishing food, good beef and mutton, to some of the poor around them, +requiring strengthening. I mention these things because it will show +that the Little Lady had fallen into good hands. My father and mother +did all they could to help them, and certainly their labours were +lightened after our arrival. The very first morning my father was up by +daylight, with spade in hand, digging in the garden, while my mother +helped Miss Anna Maria in the kitchen. Indeed, my father was not a man +to eat the bread of idleness either ashore or afloat. + +The happiest day we had yet spent was that on which Mr Schank arrived. +It was delightful to see the way in which his old mother welcomed him; +how she rose from her seat and stretched out her arms, and placed her +hands on his shoulders, and gazed into his weather-beaten face; and how +his sisters hung about him, and how Miss Anna Maria, who, I ought to +say, was generally called the baby, came and put her short fat arms +round his neck and kissed him again and again, just as she used to do +when she was a little girl. Indeed, just then she evidently had +forgotten her own age and his, and probably thought of him just as she +did when he came home a young midshipman the first time from sea, proud +of his dirk and uniform, and full of the scenes he had witnessed and the +wonders of the foreign lands he had visited. He patted me on the head +very kindly, and told me he hoped I would some day be as good a seaman +as my father. Then he told his sisters that he had been making interest +to obtain a warrant for Burton as a boatswain, and that he had little +doubt he would get it, for a better seaman never stepped, while it was +hard to find a more trustworthy or braver man. "Not that I have any +interest myself," he observed, "but I have put young Harry Oliver up to +it, and he has plenty of interest, and so he made the application in my +name through his friends." + +"If it is a good thing, brother Jack, to be a boatswain, I shall be so +glad to tell Mrs Burton," said Miss Anna Maria. "She is a very nice +good creature, and I should like to make her happy." + +"Yes, baby, it is a great rise for a seaman," answered Mr Schank, "and +I have no doubt Dick Burton is the man to appreciate it; so if you like, +you can go and tell them, for I feel very sure he will obtain it." + +I understood very clearly all that was said. Miss Anna Maria, taking me +by the hand, hurried off to the kitchen, where my father and mother were +sitting. I scarcely know which was the better pleased to hear this good +news. I rather think my father was. My mother remarked that it was +what her Richard fully deserved; indeed, I rather suspect that if she +had been told he had been made a lieutenant or even a commander, she +would only have thought that he had received his deserts; but that was +all very right and proper. It is a great thing that a woman should have +a high opinion of her husband, and it is a very unhappy matter for her +when she has not, or at all events when he does not deserve it. + +I believe my father had several times proposed leaving Whithyford, and +looking out for a ship; but my mother urged him to stay a day or two +longer, for she could not bear to part from the Little Lady. At length +he said he must go; and though Mr Schank told him that he was welcome +to remain, he said that he had been idle long enough, and must now look +out for another ship. + +"But, Burton, do you intend to take your wife to sea again with you?" +asked the Lieutenant. + +"I should like to, sir; and yet I am rather doubting about it," he +answered, "even if I can obtain permission; but if I do not, she would +like to go and pay a visit to her friends in Ireland. It is a long time +since she has seen them, and they made her promise to go when she could, +and now that I am likely to be a warrant officer, they will look upon +her and her boy with more respect than they might have done. Do you +see, sir, they are a somewhat upper class of people. Polly loved me, +and so we married; but they seemed to think that she was letting herself +down greatly in splicing with a seaman, and would not, indeed, for some +time have anything to say to her." + +Mr Schank reported this to his sisters. They, however, had taken such +a liking to my mother, that they had made up their minds to ask her to +stay with them instead. They knew that they had a powerful inducement +to make her accept their invitation; and Miss Martha, with a good deal +of tact, took care to make the offer, holding the Little Lady in her +arms, and when she smiled and held out her hands to my mother, very +speedily gained the victory. My father was too glad to leave his wife +in such safe keeping, and so the matter was soon arranged. + +My father was appointed to a sloop of war, which he at once joined, and +in which he saw a good deal of hard service. + +Several captains applied for Mr Schank, who was looked upon as such an +excellent First-Lieutenant, that even his best friends declared that it +would be a pity to have him promoted. The Admiralty, however, sent him +to look after a young lord in delicate health and indolent disposition, +who required a cruise to improve the first, and a man who would do all +his work for him, in order that he might indulge in the second. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +The Little Lady grew apace, and flourished under the careful nursing of +my mother and the Misses Schank. They gave her the name of Emily, in +compliment to an elder sister whom I have not before mentioned--a great +invalid, who never left her room. I had, indeed, not seen her, for she +was so nervous that it was feared I might agitate her. The Little Lady +was, however, once taken in to her, and she was so pleased that she +insisted on seeing her every day. She was, I afterwards learned, not +only an invalid, but occasionally affected in her mind, from some great +grief which had occurred to her in her youth. + +Time rolled on. I was somewhat spoiled, I think, by the kind ladies, +who treated me completely as if I had been in their own position in +life, and took great pains to teach me all I was then capable of +learning. + +At length my father came back to Whithyford. He could not remain long, +for he had been appointed to another ship. He told my mother that he +had been so unhappy without her that he had got leave to take her and me +with him, as I was now big enough to go to sea. My mother was too +sensible a woman not to know that she must some day of necessity part +from the Little Lady, and though it was like wrenching her very +heartstrings, she, without hesitation, agreed to accompany her husband +and take me with her. Our kind friends were, I know, very sorry to part +with us. The old lady folded her arms round me, and kissed me on both +cheeks, and on my forehead, and blessed me, and told me she hoped I +should be as brave and good a man as her son, and also as my father. +The frigate was fitting out at Portsmouth for the Mediterranean station. +She was the "Grecian," of thirty-eight guns, commanded by Captain Harry +Oliver, who, three years before, had been a Master's mate in the +"Boreas". He having since then served two years as Lieutenant, and one +as Commander, had just been posted to her. Some men in Mr Schank's +position would have declined serving as First-Lieutenant under an +officer who had before served under him, but Mr Schank had no pride of +the sort, and when Captain Oliver applied for him he readily consented +to accept the offer. + +There was every probability of our having a happy ship. I have +mentioned a young midshipman--Leonard Bramston--he was our junior +Lieutenant, having lately got his promotion; but the person above all +others I was delighted to see was Mrs King, whose husband had joined +the frigate. Bill King proposed also himself applying for a warrant as +gunner. However, for the present, he had come to sea with his old +rating as quarter-master. While the ship was fitting out, my mother and +Mrs King lived on shore. One Sunday we went to the Marine Barracks, +where we heard that Sergeant Killock and Tom Sawyer were stationed. +They were greatly pleased to see me. The Sergeant tried to persuade my +mother to let me remain on shore and turn into a drummer boy, at which I +was very indignant, holding a blue-jacket to be a being of far superior +grade, and a blue-jacket I hoped shortly to become. I was rather small +just then, but not smaller than some of the midshipmen who had joined +our frigate for the first time. Mere mites of boys were frequently then +sent to sea, who looked more fit to wear pinafores, and be attended by +nurses, as far as size was concerned; and yet, though now and then they +got into mischief and did not do very wise things, yet occasionally they +performed very gallant actions, such as men twice their age might have +been proud of, requiring judgment and discretion as well as courage. At +length we went out to Spithead and took our powder on board. Blue Peter +was flying, the remainder of the stores for the officers came on board, +the ship was cleared, the band struck up, the seamen tramped round with +the capstan bars to a merry tune, the topsails were sheeted home, and +with a blue sky above us and bright water below, we stood down the +Solent towards the Needle passage. It was a gay and beautiful sight. I +had been so long on shore that I had almost forgotten all about a ship. +The men looked so smart and active, for Mr Schank had taken care to get +a picked crew, which some officers in those days could get and some +could not; the Captain and Lieutenants and midshipmen in their new +uniforms looked so spruce, and the marines so trim and well set up, that +I could not help rejoicing that I was once more afloat, though I did not +forget my kind friends at Whithyford, nor the dear Little Lady. We +passed out at the Needle passage, with Hurst Castle on one side and the +tall pointed white rocks off the west end of the island on the other, +not ill-called Needles, sighting Weymouth, where the good old King +George the Third was accustomed to reside. Bless his memory, say I, +for, though he might have had his faults, he was a right-honest +true-hearted man--brave as the bravest of his subjects, and firm too; +though those who opposed him called his firmness obstinacy. However, I +am talking of things of which I knew at that period of my career nothing +at all. + +I had grown by this time into a stout, hardy-looking lad, tall and +proportionably broad, so that I looked much older than I was, and thus I +was already rated as a boy on board the ship, though I was the youngest +on board, and likely to remain so for a considerable time. When people +saw my mother, who looked remarkably young, and pretty as ever, they +could scarcely believe that I was her son. Few people retain their +health and good looks as she did. Running across the Bay of Biscay we +sighted Cape Finisterre, rounding which we stood in for the coast, in +hopes of picking up some of the Spanish Guarda Costas or any of the +enemy's merchantmen. However, when standing in for Finisterre Bay the +wind dropped and we lay perfectly becalmed, rolling gently to the swell +which nearly at all times sets in on that coast. + +Evening was approaching. Our young Captain walked the deck with +impatient strides. Though so gentle and quiet in his manners there was +a spirit in him that ever desired activity. Several times his glass was +turned towards the distant shore. He then summoned the master and +examined the chart. We had fallen in, the day before, with a Portuguese +Rasca, from the master of which a good deal of information had been +obtained, and as an honest man and a patriot it was supposed that it +could be relied on. Captain Oliver and Mr Schank were in consultation +for some time. We guessed there was something to be done. Now, I +thought to myself, I should like to see some fun. They are planning +something, that is certain. I wonder what it can be. In a short time +the cutter and barge were ordered away, it being understood that Mr +Schank would take the command of the former and would be accompanied by +Lieutenant Spry of the Marines, while the Third-Lieutenant, Mr +Bramston, took charge of the barge. Including marines and blue-jackets +the party mustered rather more than forty in all. They waited till dusk +to leave the ship. This just suited my plan of operation. As the arms, +provisions, and other articles were being lowered into the boat, I +managed to slip down and to stow myself away in the barge forward under +a sail. I required but little space for hiding away. Just at dusk the +two boats shoved off, and away we went towards the shore; I heard the +men say that the object of the expedition was to cut out several luggers +lying in a small harbour with a town at the further end of it. We had a +long pull, for we were at such, a distance from the coast that the +frigate could not have been seen from it. At all events the inhabitants +of the town would not have suspected that any boats would come from a +vessel whose topgallant sails could only just have been visible. At +length, after pulling for some hours, the lights on shore were seen, and +in a short time the boats came off the mouth of the harbour; but then it +was found that the luggers were some little way up it, and that a strong +fort guarded the town and entrance. Mr Schank and the Lieutenant of +Marines agreed that the first thing to be done was to take the fort. We +could not land close to it on account of the rocks, and therefore had to +pull some distance to the south before the party could get on shore. + +When they all left the boats I had no fancy to remain behind, and +therefore scrambled out after the rest, although one of the boat-keepers +attempted to stop me by catching hold of my leg. I escaped him, +however, and ran on among the men. + +"Hillo, little chap! Where did you come from?" exclaimed several of +them as they first discovered me. + +I replied that I wanted to go and help them fight the enemy. I was +passed to Mr Schank. "Why, Ben," he said, "what business have you to +be here? What can you do?" + +"Please, sir, I can carry your flask if you will let me, or if anybody +is hit I can stay by them and help them." + +"I have a great mind to send you back, Master Ben." + +I entreated that I might be allowed to go on. Perhaps he thought there +might be as much risk for me if I remained in the boat as there would be +should I accompany them. He therefore, greatly to my delight, allowed +me to go on with the party. On we pushed. Mr Schank, it appeared, had +been on shore before at the place and knew the position of the fort. We +had a heavy tramp, however, especially for him with his wooden leg, +which sank into the soft sand every step he took, and he sometimes had +to rest his arm on a man's shoulder to help him get along, but his +courage and determination were at all times equal to any emergency. On +we went till we could see the dim outline of the fort across the sand; +it was a great thing to approach without being discovered, for, although +we had determined to get in at all hazard, if we could take the +Spaniards by surprise, the work would be far more easy. There was no +cover, but we could only hope that the enemy would not be on the +look-out for us, or that if they were, their eyes would be turned +towards the harbour, the entrance-gate being on the land side. I own, +at last, I felt my legs aching with walking over the soft sand. I began +to wish that I had remained on board. The men must have suspected how +it was with me, and at last one of them took me up and carried me on his +shoulders, and then another and another, for even my additional weight +was likely to tire the stoutest had they carried me long. At last the +fort rose before us. Mr Schank in a low whisper ordered the men to +move forward crouching down to the ground, to step softly, and not to +utter a word. On we went, so close together, that had anybody watched +us, we might have looked like some huge animal moving on, or the shadow +of a cloud passing over the ground. Our leaders hurried on. The +drawbridge was down. The marines were ordered to level their bayonets +and the blue-jackets their pikes, and charge on. It was the work of an +instant. The Spaniards were totally unprepared for our coming at that +moment, although, as it turned out, they had been informed of our being +in the neighbourhood, and a gun was found pointed for the purpose of +sweeping the passage should the fort be attacked. Before, however, it +could be fired, the gunners had taken to flight. In a few seconds we +were in possession of the fort. + +Our men were pretty well knocked up with their long pull and march over +the sand, and the country might soon be raised, and overwhelming forces +sent against us. The order was, therefore, given to spike the guns, +which was very speedily done. The fort was found to contain eight brass +guns, twenty-four and twelve-pounders, with a considerable garrison. +Part of them, as we entered, laid down their arms to save their lives, +while the remainder scrambled over the walls, and made their escape to +the town. Our boats had, meantime, made their way into the harbour, +which, now that we had possession of the fort, they could do without +molestation. As soon as all the damage had been done to the fort which +time would allow, we once more embarked in the boats, and made a dash at +the luggers, which yielded without striking a blow. Directly we had +taken them, however, and had begun to move down the harbour, a battery +on the opposite side, which we had not yet seen, opened its fire, and +continued sending shot after us, which could not however have been very +well aimed, for neither the boat nor the prizes were once struck. It is +possible that the powder was bad, and the shot fell short. As we +approached the mouth of the harbour we saw that the whole neighbourhood +was roused. Beacon fires were blazing, guns firing, and musketry +rattling away in all directions. As we were getting through the +passage, a pretty sharp fire of musketry was opened on us, but though +the shot fell thickly, no one was struck, though the boats and vessels +were so frequently. It was my first battle, and a very bloodless one, +for I do not believe a Spaniard or Englishman was hurt. Our six prizes +were very acceptable, for they were laden with wine, which was +pronounced very good of its sort. It was broad daylight by the time we +got near the mouth of the harbour, and the land-breeze blowing enabled +us to carry out our prizes without difficulty, and with them under +convoy we sailed for Lisbon, where a good market could be found for +their cargoes. + +When I got on board, instead of being received as a hero crowned with +victory, my father seized hold of me, and looked me sternly in the face. + +"Ben," said he, "have you thought of the misery and anxiety you have +been causing your mother? She has been in a fearful taking about you +ever since you went away. How could she tell that you had not slipped +overboard? I could not say that you had not, myself; but I have heard +of boys doing just as you have done, and so I guessed pretty well the +state of the case. But I tell you, boy, I never saw her suffer so much. +I almost thought it would be the death of her." + +"Oh! Flog me, father! Flog me!" I cried out; for I could not bear the +thoughts of having made my mother unhappy. "Tell Dick Patch to lay it +on thick. The harder he hits the better. I did not think, father, what +I was doing; indeed, I did not." + +"No, Ben, I will not have you flogged," he answered, "your mother's +sufferings have been punishment enough for you. I believe you did it +without thought, indeed, I know you did; and just do you go and have a +talk with her, and see how pale and ill she looks; and I hope that will +be enough to make you never go and do a thing again which will cause her +anxiety and grief. The time will come when you will have to run all +sorts of risks and dangers, but it is a very different thing to run your +head into danger from fool-hardiness, and to go into danger because it +is your duty." These remarks of my father made a deep impression on me. +I hurried below, and there I saw my poor mother looking more ill and +distressed than I had ever seen her:--her eyes red from weeping, and her +cheeks pale and sickly; and then when she told me how much she had +suffered, I burst into tears, and promised never to play her such a +trick again. + +We took several other prizes on our way to the South; indeed, Captain +Oliver showed, that, young as he was, few officers were likely to prove +more active or energetic in their duties. He was well off and did not +seem to care for the prize-money. He thought of duty above everything +else. It was his duty to injure the trade of the enemy as much as +possible, and he did so to the very best of his power. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +Some time had passed since the "Grecian" had entered the Mediterranean. +We had not been idle during the time--now cruising along the coast of +Spain and France, now down that of Italy, now away to Malta, sometimes +off to the East among the Greek Islands. We had taken a good many +prizes; indeed, I may say that all our expeditions had been planned with +judgment, and carried out with vigour. I had a very happy time on +board, for the men treated me with kindness, and I was so young that +even the officers took notice of me. To Mr Bramston, especially, I +became much attached. As he had known me in my childhood, he took more +notice of me than anyone else. It has been my lot through life to lose +many kind friends, but I must acknowledge that they have been as often +replaced by others. When Mr Schank heard from home, he never failed to +send for me or my mother, to give us an account of the Little Lady; +indeed, Mr Bramston and others, as well as our Captain, took a warm +interest in her, and always seemed glad to hear that she was going on +well. Altogether, we were looked upon as a very happy and fortunate +ship. However, a dark reverse was to come. + +We were returning from Malta, and had run some way along the coast of +Italy, when the look-out from the mast-head discovered a sail on the +lee-bow. It was just daybreak. The sun rising over the distant land, +which lay like a blue line on our starboard side, shed his beams on the +upper sails of the stranger. The frigate was kept away a little, and +all sail made in chase. We continued standing on for a couple of hours, +when the wind drew more aft, and with studden-sails rigged on both sides +we glided rapidly over the smooth water, gaining considerably on the +chase. She must have discovered us, for she was now seen to rig out +studden-sails, and to make every attempt to escape. She was pronounced +to be a large polacca ship; and from the way she kept ahead of us, it +was very evident she was very fast. This made us more eager than ever +to come up with her. The general opinion was that she was a +merchantman, very likely richly-laden, and would undoubtedly become an +easy prize. Our people were in high spirits, making sure that they were +about to add a good sum to their already fair amount of prize-money. I +cannot say that these thoughts added much to my pleasure, considering +the very small share which would fall to my lot, but my father would +probably be very much the richer. In those days, it was no uncommon +thing for a seaman to return from a cruise with a couple of hundred +pounds in his pocket; and of course, under those circumstances, the +share even of a warrant officer would be very considerable. Mr Schank, +I doubt not, was thinking of the many comforts he would be able to +afford his family at home; and Mr Bramston, who had another reason for +wishing to add to his worldly store, was hoping that he might be able to +splice his dear Mary all the sooner, and leave her better provided for +when he had to come away again to sea. + +Hour after hour passed by. There was the chase still ahead and though +we had gained considerably on her, still there were many probabilities +of her escaping. The fear was that we might not get up to her before +nightfall, and that then in the darkness she might escape. The men were +piped to dinner, and of course the conversation at the mess-tables ran +on the probabilities of our capturing the chase. + +Some time afterwards, just as the watch on deck had been relieved, the +main topsail gave a loud flap against the mast. The other sails, which +had before been swelling out, now hung down. + +"The wind is all up and down the masts," I heard my father remark, with +a sigh; and going on deck, such we found indeed to be the case. +Scarcely a cat's-paw played over the surface of the water, while our +canvas hung down entirely emptied of wind. It was a time when Captain +Cobb would have almost cracked his cheeks with blowing for the purpose +of regaining it. Captain Oliver, however, did no such thing, but, +taking his glass, directed it towards the chase. + +"She is in our condition," he observed to Mr Schank. + +"She is not likely to get away from us, at all events," remarked the +First-Lieutenant, taking a look at her also. + +"I think, Schank; we may, however, make sure of her with the boats," +observed the Captain. "It will not do to give her a chance of escaping, +and she may get the breeze before we do." + +"Certainly, sir," answered Mr Schank. "It will be as well to secure +her, for fear of that." + +"Well, as there is no great glory to be gained, I will let Mr Mason and +Bramston go in the boats," said the Captain. + +The frigate's boats were accordingly called away. The two lieutenants +and my father and a couple of midshipmen went in them, with altogether +about seventy men. It was a strong force, but the ship was very likely +to have sweeps, and even a merchantman might offer some resistance +unless attacked by overpowering numbers. The people cheered as they +pulled off, and urged them to make haste with the prize. Never did an +expedition start with fairer prospects of success, and we fully hoped, +before many hours were over, to have the chase under English colours. +She was between four and five miles away at the time; but though the +pull was a long one, the men laid their backs to the oars for fear of a +breeze springing up before they could get alongside. My mother had +shown considerable anxiety on former occasions when my father had gone +away on dangerous expeditions, yet, in the present instance, she seemed +quite at ease, as there appeared to be no danger or difficulty in the +enterprise. Though no man ever loved his wife better than my father did +my mother, yet this never prevented him volunteering whenever he felt +himself called upon to do so, however hazardous and trying the work in +hand. As may be supposed, no one thought of turning in that night. All +hands were on the watch, expecting to see the ship towed by the boats, +or some of the boats returning with an account of their capture. The +Captain and First-Lieutenant walked the deck with easy paces, every now +and then turning their night glasses in the direction of the ship, +hoping to see her, but still she did not appear. At length the men +began to wonder why the ship had not come in sight, or why the boats did +not return to give notice of what had occurred. Afterwards they grew +more and more anxious, and they imparted their anxiety to my mother. +Our gunner, Mr Hockey, who was somewhat superstitious, now declared +that he had dreamed a dream which foreboded disaster. The substance of +it I never could learn, nor did he say a word about the matter till some +time had passed and the boats did not appear. He was a man of proverbs, +and remarked that "a pitcher which goes often to the well gets broken at +last," by which he insinuated that as we had been hitherto successful in +our expeditions, a reverse might be expected. All the boats had been +sent away. The Captain's gig was under repair, but there was a small +dinghy remaining. Mr Hockey went aft, and volunteered to pull in the +direction the ship had been seen, in the hopes of ascertaining what had +become of the boats. The Captain was as anxious apparently as he was. + +"Certainly, Mr Hockey," he answered. + +Just then the sound of oars in the distance floated over the calm water. + +"Stay, there are the boats," he said. + +They approached very slowly. At first it was hoped that they might be +towing the ship; but though they were evidently drawing near, no ship +could be distinguished. At length they came in sight. The Captain +hailed them. The voice of a young midshipman answered: "Sad news, sir! +Sad news!" + +"What has happened, Mr Hassel? Where is the ship?" + +"Beaten back, sir, beaten back!" was the answer, and the speaker's voice +was almost choked. The boats, as they got alongside, were seen to be +full of people, but they were lying about over the thwarts in confused +heaps, those only who were at the oars appearing to move. My mother was +at this moment fortunately below. The gunner came down and entreated +her to remain there. I, however, had gone up on deck, and was eagerly +looking about, expecting to see my father arrive. Mr Hassel was the +first to come up the side. He staggered aft to the Captain to make his +report. Meantime whips were rove, and, one after one, those who that +afternoon had left the frigate in high health and spirits were hoisted +up dead and mangled in every variety of way. Nearly thirty bodies were +thus brought on deck. Many others were hoisted up and carried +immediately below, where the surgeon attended them, and of the whole +number only seven were able to walk the deck steadily. I eagerly looked +out for my father. He was not among those unhurt. Among the dead I +dared not look. I hurried below, hoping to see him under the hands of +the surgeon, but neither was he there. My heart sank within me. I +hastened to the main-deck. There, with a lantern, I met my poor mother +frantically scanning the faces of the slain, who were laid out in a +ghastly row. Eagerly she passed along, bending over the pallid features +of those who a few hours before had been so full of life and courage, +jokes escaping their lips. Now as she looked at one, now at another, a +glance told her that the corpse was not that of her husband. + +"Oh! Mother! Mother! Where is father?" I cried out at length, as I +caught sight of her. + +"I know not, my boy, I know not," she answered. "Oh! Burton, Burton! +Where are you? Has no one seen my husband? Can anyone tell me of my +husband? Where is he? Where is he?" she frantically exclaimed, running +from one to the other, when she found that he was not among those +brought on board. + +"The boatswain!" said some one. "Bless her poor heart, I don't like to +utter it, but I saw him knocked overboard as he was climbing up the +polacca's side. He would not have let go had it not been for a thrust +in his shoulder, and he was hit, I know, while he was still in the +boat." + +"Who is that you speak of?" asked my mother, hearing the man's voice. + +"Bless your heart, Mrs Burton, but I am sorry to say it," answered Bill +Houston, one of the few who had escaped unhurt. "I was close to him, +but he fell by me before I could stretch out a hand to help him, and I +doubt, even if we had got him on board, it would have been much the +better for him, he seemed so badly hurt. I did not hear him cry out or +utter a sound." + +The lantern my mother had been holding dropped from her hand as she +heard these words. All hope was gone. "Oh I give me back my husband I +give me back my husband!" she shrieked out. "Why did you come away +without him?" + +"Oh! Mother! Mother! Don't take on so!" I exclaimed, running up to +her. She put her hands on my shoulders and gazed in my face. + +"For you, Ben, I would wish to live, otherwise I would rather be down in +the cold sea along with him." Then again she cried out frantically for +my poor father. Her grief increased mine. Seeing the state she was in, +Bill King, who had remained near her, hurried down to fetch his wife, +who was attending on the wounded. She did her best to soothe my poor +mother's grief, and not without difficulty she was led away to my +father's cabin; and there, placed on his bed, she found some relief in +tears. I did my best to comfort her, but I could do little else than +weep too. Perhaps that was the best thing I could do; there is nothing +like sympathy. + +"Oh! My boy! My boy!" she exclaimed, "you are still left to me; but +the day may come when you will be taken away, as your poor father has +been, and I shall be all alone--alone! Alone!" + +Then she burst forth in an Irish wail such as I had never heard before. +It was curious; because, though an Irish woman, her accent, under +ordinary circumstances, was but slightly to be detected. Mrs King, +having done all she could, returned to her duties among the wounded, of +whom there were upwards of thirty, several of them mortally. + +From Bill Houston, who had come to inquire for my mother, shortly +afterwards, I learned the particulars of what had occurred. The boats +approached the ship, all hands being fully persuaded that they had +little more to do than to climb up her sides and take possession. As, +however, they drew near her, and were just about to dash alongside, a +tremendous fire of grape, musketry, and round-shot was opened on them +from her ports, which were suddenly unmasked. In spite of this, +although numbers were hit, Mr Mason ordered them to board the ship. +Scarcely had he uttered the words than a shot laid him low, poor Mr +Bramston being wounded at the same time. Still the attempt to board was +made, but as they climbed up the sides they found that boarding nettings +were triced up the whole length of the ship, while pikes were thrust +down on them, and a hot fire of musketry opened in their faces. Again +and again they attempted to get on board, and not till nearly all were +killed or wounded did they desist from the attempt. Young Mr Hassel, +the midshipman, being the only officer left alive, then gave the order +to retreat, though it was not without difficulty that they could push +off from the ship's sides. The darkness of the night saved them from +being utterly destroyed. The enemy, probably, had not been aware of the +tremendous effect of their own fire, and expected another attack from +our men, or they would undoubtedly have continued firing at the boats +after they had shoved off. Some distance had been gained, however, +before the ship again commenced firing, and the aim being uncertain, +very few of her shot took effect. + +The next day was the saddest I had ever known. Our kind young Captain +felt the loss more than anyone. Really, it seemed as if his heart would +break as he walked along the main-deck, where our dead shipmates were +laid out. He paid a visit also to my mother, and endeavoured to comfort +her as well as he could. + +"I owe your brave husband much, Mrs Burton," he said. "We have been +shipmates a good many years altogether, and he more than once saved my +life; I cannot repay him, but I can be a friend to your boy, and I will +do my utmost to be of assistance to you. I cannot heal your grief, and +I cannot tell you not to mourn for your husband, but I will soothe it as +far as I can." + +Then came the sad funeral. Had the frigate been engaged in a desperate +action with a superior force we could scarcely have lost so many men as +we had done in this unfortunate expedition. I thought the Captain would +break down altogether as he attempted to read the funeral service. Two +or three times he had to stop, and by a great effort recover his +composure. There were the two lieutenants and a young midshipman, and +upwards of twenty men all to be committed to the ocean together. +Curiosity brought me up to see what was going forward, and though I +looked on quietly for some time I at length burst into bitter tears. I +thought there is my poor father--he had to go overboard without any +service being read over him. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +Soon after the funeral was over I was sent for into the Captain's cabin. +I found him and Mr Schank seated there. + +"Ben," he said, "my boy, we have been talking over what we can do for +your poor mother. The best thing, I think, will be for her to return to +her home on the first opportunity, and I daresay we shall find a ship +homeward-bound at Malta, on board which she can get a passage, while we +will do our best to raise funds to place her as much as possible at her +ease as to money matters. Now, Ben, I wish to stand your friend; but +you are very young still to knock about at sea without a father to look +after you, and I propose, therefore, that you should return with your +mother. After you have had schooling for a year or two on shore, you +shall rejoin this ship or any other I may command, and then your future +progress will much depend on your own conduct. You will behave well, I +have no doubt you will; but if not, I cannot help you forward as I +desire." + +I did not quite comprehend what the Captain proposed, but I understood +enough to know that I had a friend in him, and I accordingly thanked him +for his good intentions. I was still standing hat in hand in the cabin, +for the Captain seemed disposed to ask me further questions, when the +surgeon entered to make his report of the state of the wounded. + +"What, more dead I more dead!" exclaimed the poor Captain, as his eye +glanced on the paper. + +"Yes, sir," was the answer. "Turner and Green have both slipped their +cables. I had very little hopes of either from the first. There are +one or two more I am afraid will follow them before many days are over." + +The Captain hid his face in his hands, and a groan burst from his bosom. +"I would that I had gone myself. It would be better to be among the +sufferers than have this happen," burst from his lips. + +Mr Schank tried to console him. "No blame, sir," he said, "could be +attached to you. It was very unlikely that such a ship should have made +so determined a defence, and no forethought could have enabled you to +act differently." + +"Yes, yes," answered the Captain, "but to lose all these brave fellows +in such a way," and again he groaned. + +No one spoke for some minutes, till at length the surgeon observed that +he hoped Mr Hassel would do well, as his wounds, though severe were not +dangerous. + +"From what I can learn, sir," he observed, "he behaved with great +judgment and courage, and I believe it was through him that the boats +got away without further damage." + +When the surgeon had gone, the Captain once more addressed me, and made +inquiries about my mother's family and the place of their residence. I, +of course knew very little, but I gave him all the information I +possessed. + +"But, perhaps, Mr Schank," I said, "you will let us go and pay your +family a visit. Those were happy times we had there. I think my mother +would rather go there than anywhere else." + +Mr Schank who was not at all offended by the liberty I took, replied +that he thought the idea a very good one. When, however, my mother was +asked, she said that she would rather go and be among her own people, if +they would receive her. The truth was, I think I remarked, that her +friends were much above my father's position; and now that she would +have a pension, and a good deal of prize-money, she felt that she could +return and be on an equality with them, as far as fortune was concerned. +These ideas were, however, not on her own account as much as on mine, +as her great ambition was that I might rise in the world. It was, I +truly believe, her only weakness, if weakness it could be called, for +she was proud of me, and I suspect thought a good deal more of me than I +deserved. After this misfortune, we shaped a course for Malta, for the +purpose of replacing the officers and men we had lost, and from thence +the Captain intended to send home my mother and me. Towards evening, +three or four days after the occurrences I have described, several sail +were perceived inside of us, that is to say, to the east. As we were to +windward, we stood down towards them till we made out a line-of-battle +ship, two frigates and a brig. As there was no doubt they were enemies' +ships, our Captain determined to watch them during the night, to +ascertain in what direction they were proceeding. They, however, +objected to this, and were soon seen crowding all sail in chase. We had +now to run for it; and though the "Grecian" was a fast frigate, we well +knew that many of the Frenchmen were faster, and that, short-handed as +we were, it was too certain that we should be captured if they came up +with us. Fortunately the breeze continued, and we made all sail the +frigate could carry. But not only could we distinguish the enemy still +in chase, but the opinion was that they were rapidly gaining on us. I +remember coming on deck and looking out, seeing on our lee-quarter, far +away through the gloom, their dark outlines as they came on in hot +chase. I, saw that everybody was anxious, and I heard several of the +men talking of Verdun, and the way prisoners were treated there. For +the men this was bad enough, but for the officers to be made prisoners +was sad work. Unless they could make their escape or get exchanged, all +prospect of advancement was lost, as was the case with many; the best +part of their years spent in idleness. I understood enough, at all +events, to be very anxious about the matter. + +I went below, I remember, and told my poor mother; she, however, seemed +indifferent as to what might occur. Indeed her grief had stunned her, +and she was incapable of either thinking or speaking. As morning +approached the wind fell, and when daylight broke the sails hung up and +down against the masts. We were in a perfect calm, while not three +miles off appeared the French squadron. All hopes of escape seemed +over, and the men began putting on additional clothing and stowing away +their money in their pockets, as seamen generally do when capture is +certain, and often when they expect to be wrecked. The officers walked +the deck looking very anxious, but the Captain and Mr Schank kept their +eyes about on all sides. At length a few cat's-paws were seen playing +over the water. The First-Lieutenant pointed them out to the Captain. +His eyes brightened somewhat. They came faster and faster. And now the +sails once more felt the power of the wind, and away we went pretty +quickly through the water. Ahead of us lay a small island, towards +which the frigate steered. As we approached it we saw the +ship-of-the-line still following us, while the two frigates and corvette +stood away round the west side. Their object was very clear. They +hoped thereby to cut us off. + +"We may still disappoint them," I heard Mr Schank observe. + +"I trust so," said the Captain; but though he kept up his confidence, +his countenance was very grave. For some time we kept well ahead till +we reached the southernmost end of the island, when once more the wind +falling we lay almost becalmed. We could see to the east the two +frigates and the corvette, their canvas filled by a strong breeze, but +the line-of-battle ship was out of sight, hid by a point of land. The +former might have been five or six miles off, but they were coming up at +the rate of six knots an hour. There was no sign of the breeze reaching +us. Our escape seemed almost impossible. Mr Schank's courage, +however, never failed--at least, it never looked as if it did, and he +seemed to be saying something to the Captain which gave him +encouragement. One of the frigates was considerably ahead of the rest. +At all events we were not likely, therefore, to yield without striking a +blow, and if we could by any means cripple her before her consorts could +come up, we might afterwards be better able to deal with them. Still +there was the line-of-battle ship, and she would be down upon us before +long. A French prison in very vivid colours stared even the bravest of +our men in the face. The officers were looking at their watches. +Within little more than half-an-hour, unless we could get a breeze, we +should be hotly engaged, and then, unless we could beat our enemy in ten +minutes, there would be little prospect of getting away. On she came +over the blue ocean. Looking at the land, we could see a line, as it +were, drawn between us. On our side the water was smooth as a mirror; +on the other, still crisped by the fresh breeze, and glittering in the +sunlight. It was very tantalising. On the leading Frenchman came, +faster and faster. Still the breeze did not touch our sails. At length +we could clearly count her ports, and she appeared in the pure +atmosphere even nearer than perhaps she was. Suddenly she yawed. A +white puff of smoke was seen, and a shot came whizzing across our bows. +Another followed. It struck us, and the yellow splinters were seen +flying from our sides. The men stood at their quarters ready to begin +the fight. + +"Not a gun is to be fired till I give the order," cried the Captain. + +"That will not be long, I fancy," I heard one of the men say, as I with +other boys brought up the powder from below. + +The frigate still held the breeze and was approaching. Yet our Captain +let her get nearer and nearer. In vain, however, our people waited for +the order to fire. Several more shots came flying over the water, and +the Frenchmen seemed now convinced that they had got us well within +range. Suddenly luffing up, the enemy fired her whole broadside. The +shot came flying about us, but did no great damage. + +"Trim sails!" cried the Captain, and we edged away towards the blue line +I have mentioned, the wind just then filling out our canvas. Meantime +the Frenchman remained involved in a cloud of smoke. Again and again +she fired her broadside, only hiding herself more completely from view; +while her sails, which had hitherto been full, were now seen to flap +against her masts, and away we went with an increasing breeze. We could +just see the line-of-battle ship hull down on one side, and the two +frigates and corvette becalmed on the other, utterly unable to move, +while we were slipping through the water at the rate of seven or eight +knots an hour. + +"I thought it would be so!" exclaimed Mr Schank, increasing the +rapidity of his strides as he paced the deck, and rubbing his hands with +glee. On we went. In a short time not a trace of the Frenchmen could +be discovered, nor did we sight another enemy till we entered Malta +harbour. + +Captain Oliver and Mr Schank were as good as their words. They +mentioned among the inhabitants the circumstance of my father's death, +and that his widow and child were on board, and very soon collected a +considerable sum of money, which they presented to my poor mother. Her +excessive grief had now subsided, and a settled melancholy seemed to +have taken possession of her. An armed store-ship which had discharged +her cargo at Malta was returning home, bound for Cork; and on board her +our kind friends procured a passage for my mother and me. We had a sad +parting with our numerous shipmates. The men exhibited the regard they +had for my mother by bestowing on me all sorts of presents; indeed, the +carpenter said he must make me a chest in which to stow them away. My +mother felt leaving our kind friend, Mrs King, more than anything else. +It was curious to see the interesting young woman, as she still was, +embracing the tall, gaunt, weather-beaten virago, as Mrs King appeared +to be. + +"Cheer up, Polly, cheer up," said the latter. "You have lost a kind +husband, there is no doubt of that, but you have got your boy to look +after, and he will give you plenty to think about--bless his heart! The +time will come, Polly, when we will meet again, and you will have grown +more contented, I hope; and if not, we shall know each other up aloft +there, where I hope there will be room for me, though I cannot say as +how I feel I am very fit for such a place." Mrs King went talking on, +but my poor mother could make no answer to her remarks, sobs choking her +utterance. Her tears did her good, however, so Mrs King observed, and +told her not to stop them. I was glad to find that the Captain had +appointed Bill King as acting boatswain of the frigate. The midshipman, +Mr Hassel, who had been seriously injured in the unfortunate +expedition, took a passage home in the store-ship. Who should we see on +going on board but my old friends Toby Kiddle and Pat Brady. Pat was +overjoyed at seeing us, though he looked very sad when he heard of my +father's death. + +"Arrah, it's a pity a worse man hadn't been taken in his stead," he +observed, "but it can't be helped, Polly. Better luck next time, as Tim +Donovan said when he was going to be hung!" + +Pat had been to see his friends, he said, in the West of Ireland, and +Toby Kiddle had been wrecked on the same coast, and having found his way +across to Cork had there, with his old messmate, entered on board the +store-ship. She was to return to Cork, which was very convenient to us, +as my mother could thus more easily travel to the West of Ireland where +her family resided. + +The name of the vessel was the "Porpoise," and she was commanded by +Captain Tubb. He put me very much in mind of Captain Cobb, except that +he was considerably stouter. We sailed with a convoy of some fifty +other vessels of all sizes and rigs; the larger portion having generally +to lay to for the "Porpoise," which, with her Captain, rolled away over +the surface of the Atlantic in the wake of the rest. Captain Tubb +declared that his ship was very steady when she had her cargo on board, +but certainly she was very much the contrary under the present +circumstances, and Toby Kiddle remarked that it was a wonder she did not +shake her masts out of her. + +My poor mother could very seldom be persuaded to come on deck, but lay +in her cabin scarcely eating anything, or speaking to anyone except to +me, and even then it seemed a pain to her to utter a few words. + +From the account I gave Toby and Pat of Captain Oliver, they were very +eager to serve again with him, and they promised that should they ever +have the chance of finding him fitting out a ship, they would +immediately volunteer on board. + +I was very glad to hear this, because I hoped they would do so, and that +I again should be with them. We had not a few alarms on our homeward +voyage from the appearance of strange sails which it was supposed were +enemies' cruisers. We, of course, should have been among the first +picked out. However, we escaped all accidents, and at length arrived in +the Cove of Cork. As may be supposed, Toby Kiddle made many inquiries +about the Little Lady. When my mother got to Cork, her heart somewhat +failed her at the thought of going among her own kindred under the +present circumstances, and she began to regret that she had not agreed +to pay a visit in the first place to Lieutenant Schank's family, where +she would have had the consolation of looking after the little girl. +However, it was now too late to do that. We therefore prepared for our +journey to the West. Pat insisted on escorting us, declaring that he +had plenty of money and did not know what else to do with it. Toby, +however, remained on board the old "Porpoise," intending to go round in +her to Portsmouth, where she was next bound with provisions. It was no +easy matter making a journey in the West of Ireland in those days. +There were the coaches, but they were liable to upset and to be robbed. + +Although, therefore, posting was dear, Pat settled that such was the +only becoming way for the widow of the "Grecian's" late boatswain to +travel. My mother at length consented to go part of the way in a coach, +performing the remainder in a chaise, when no coach was available. + +The place for which we were bound was Ballybruree, a town, it called +itself, on the west coast of the green island. Her father, Mat Dwyer, +Esquire, he signed himself, and her mother, were both alive, and she had +a number of brothers and sisters, and a vast number of cousins to boot. +But I must reserve an account of our reception at Rincurran Castle, for +so my grandfather called his abode, for another chapter. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +"Ben, my boy, you are approaching the home of your ancestors," exclaimed +Pat Brady, who was seated on the box of the old battered yellow +post-chaise, on the roof of which I had perched myself, while my poor +mother sat in solitude inside. "They are an honoured race, and mighty +respected in the country. You will see the top of the ould Castle +before long if you keep a bright look-out, and a hearty welcome we'll be +after getting when they see us all arrive in this dignified way--just +like a great foreign ambassador going to court. It is a fine counthry +this of ours, Ben, barring the roads, which put us too much in mind of +our run home in the `Porpoise'. But we have mighty fine hills, Ben. Do +you see them there? And lakes and streams full of big trout, and +forests. But the bogs, Ben, they beat them all. If it was not for them +bogs, where should we all be? Then the roads might be worse, Ben. Hold +on there, lad, or you will be sent into the middle of next week. But +Ben, my boy, as the song says:-- + + "`If you'd seen but these roads before they were made, + You would have lift up your hands and blessed General Wade'." + +Thus Pat continued running on as he had been doing the whole of our +journey. It was certainly hard work holding on at the top of the +chaise, as it went pitching and rolling, and tumbling about over the +ill-formed path, which scarcely deserved the name of a road. Still +every now and then I sprang to my feet to look out for the castle which +he talked about. I had seen of late a good many castles on the coast of +the Mediterranean, Gibraltar, and Malta besides. I had some idea that +Rincurran Castle must be a very fine place. + +"Arrah! Ben, and there it is as large as life. Sure it's a grand +mansion, barring it's a little out of repair!" shouted Pat, as, turning +an angle of the road, we came in sight of a tall, stone, dilapidated +building, with a courtyard in front, and two round pillars on either +side of the entrance-gate. The pigs had possession of the chief part of +the yard, which was well littered for their accommodation, leaving but a +narrow way up to the entrance-door. + +I quickly scrambled down from the roof to assist Pat Brady in helping my +mother out of the chaise. Poor dear, overcome by her feelings, she was +leaning back, almost fainting, and scarcely able to move. At length the +door opened, and an old gentleman appeared in a scratch wig, with an +ominously red nose, and clothed in a costume which, in its condition, +greatly resembled his habitation. An old lady followed him, somewhat +more neatly dressed, who, on seeing my mother, hastened to the door to +receive her. + +"What! Is this our daughter Mary?" exclaimed the old gentleman; "and +that young spalpeen, can that be her boy?" he added, looking at me in a +way which did not seem to argue much affection. + +"Of course it is, Mat; and is it you, Mat, the head of the Dwyers, not +remembering your childer?" exclaimed the old lady, casting on him a +scornful glance. On this my grandfather gave my mother a paternal kiss, +a repetition of which I avoided by slipping round on the other side, +where Pat caught me, and presented me to the old lady. She then took me +in her arms and gave me an affectionate embrace. The tears dropped from +her eyes as she looked at my mother's pale countenance and widow's +dress. + +"I don't ask what has happened, Mary," she said; "but though the one for +whom you forsook all is gone, you are welcome back to the old home, +child." + +"Ay, that you are, Mary!" exclaimed my grandfather, warming up a little. +"To be sure, grand as it once was, it has been inclined for many a day +to be tumbling about our ears. But it will last my day, and there is +small chance of your brothers, Jim, or Pat, or Terence, ever wishing to +come and stop here, even if it's living they are when I am put under the +green turf." + +While Pat was settling with the post-boy, my grandmother conducted my +mother and me into the parlour. The more elegant portions of furniture, +if they ever existed, had disappeared, and a table, with a number of +wooden-bottomed chairs and a huge ill-stuffed sofa, were all that +remained. A picture of my grandfather in a hunting-suit, and a few +wretched daubs, part of them of sporting scenes and part of saints, +adorned the walls. Such was the appearance of the chief room in +Rincurran Castle. My aunts were not at home, two of them having ridden +to market, and the others being on a visit to some neighbours. At +length two of them came riding up on rough, ungroomed ponies, with +baskets on their arms. Having taken off the saddles, they sent their +animals to find their way by themselves into the open stable, while they +entered the house to greet my mother. They were not ill-looking women, +with rather large features, and fine eyes, but as unlike my mother as +could well be. So also were my other two aunts, who shortly after came +in. They all, however, gave their sister Mary a hearty welcome, and, +with better tact than might have been expected, made no inquiries about +her husband, her dress showing them that he was gone. I found that she +had been brought up by a sister of her mother's--a good Protestant +woman, residing near Cork, where my father had met her. My grandfather +was a Romanist, though my grandmother still remained as she had +originally been, a Protestant. The rest of her daughters attended the +Romish chapel. My mother had not been at home since she was quite a +girl, and I soon found had entirely forgotten her family's way of +living, and their general habits and customs. She therefore very soon +began to regret that she had not accepted Lieutenant Schank's invitation +to visit his family. Pat Brady made himself very agreeable to his +cousins, and had such wonderful stories to tell them that he was a great +favourite. I had plenty to amuse me; but there seemed very little +probability of my getting the education which Captain Oliver had +recommended. The castle also was not over well provisioned, potatoes +and buttermilk forming the staple of our meals, with an over-abundance +of pork whenever a pig was killed; but as it was necessary to sell the +better portions of each animal to increase the family income, the supply +was only of an intermittent character. My grandfather made up for the +deficiency by copious potations of whisky; but as my mother objected to +my following his example, I was frequently excessively hungry. I was +not surprised therefore that my uncles did not often pay the paternal +mansion a visit; they all considering themselves above manual labour, in +consequence of being sons of a squireen, were living on their wits in +various parts of the world, so I concluded from the bits of information +I picked up about them. + +I could not help remarking the contrast between Rincurran Castle and Mr +Schank's neat little cottage in Lincolnshire--the cleanliness and +comfort of one, and the dirt and disorder and discomfort of my +grandfather's abode. My mother, who had sufficient means to live +comfortably by herself, had had no intention of remaining long with her +parents, but had purposed taking a cottage in the neighbourhood. When +she discovered the state of things at home she had offered to assist in +the household expenses, and having done this her family were doubly +anxious to retain her. As however, she found it impossible to mend +matters, she resolved to carry out her original intention. The search +for a house was an object of interest. In a short time she discovered +one at the further end of Ballybruree, which, if not perfection, was +sufficient to satisfy her wishes. Here, at the end of a couple of +months, she removed, in spite of the disinterested entreaties of her +relatives that she should take up her permanent abode with them. Her +health soon improved, and I grew fatter than I had been since I landed +on the shores of old Ireland. + +Our new abode, though very much smaller than Rincurran Castle, was +considerably neater, yet not altogether such as would be considered tidy +in England. The roof was water-tight, and the chimneys answered their +object of carrying up the smoke from the fire beneath. The view from +the front window was extensive, ranging down the broad and unpaved +street, along which I could watch the boys chasing their pigs to market, +seated on the hinder parts of donkeys, urging them forward by the blows +of their shillalahs. Now and then we enjoyed the spectacle of a +marriage party returning from the chapel, at the further end of the +street, or still more boisterous funeral procession; when, of course, as +Pat Brady observed, "It 'ud be showing small honour to the decased if +all the mourners weren't respectably drunk, barring the praist, and bad +luck to him if he could not stand up steady at the end of the grave. +Sure he couldn't have a head for his office." + +Such, however, as was our new house, my poor mother was glad to get it. +We had been located there two or three weeks, and my mother had now time +to give me some instruction in the arts of reading and writing. She was +thus engaged, leaning over the book placed on her lap by the side of +which I stood, when we were startled by a voice which said, "Top of the +morning to you, Mistress Burton." + +We looked up, and there stood in the doorway a rubicund-nosed gentleman, +in a green coat and huge wonderfully gay coloured cravat, leather +breeches, and top-boots, with a hunting-whip under his arm, a peony in +his buttonhole, and a white hat which he flourished in his right hand, +while he kept scraping with his feet, making his spurs jingle. + +"Your servant, Mistress Burton. It is mighty touching to the heart to +see a mother engaged as you are, and faith I would not have missed the +sight for a thousand guineas, paid down on the nail. Ah! Mistress +Burton, it reminds me of days gone by, but I won't say I have no hopes +that they will ever return," and our visitor twisted his eyes about in +what I thought a very queer way, trying to look sentimental. + +"To what cause do I owe this visit, Mr Gillooly?" asked my mother, +perhaps not altogether liking his looks, for I rather think his feelings +had been excited by a few sips of potheen. Her natural politeness, +however, induced her to rise and offer him a chair, into which, after a +few more scrapes and flourishes of the hat, he sank down, placing his +beaver and his whip upon it by his side. + +"It is mightily you bring to my mind my dear departed Mistress +Gillooly," he exclaimed, looking very strangely I thought at my mother. +"She was the best of wives, and if she was alive she would be after +telling you that I was the best of husbands, but she has gone to glory, +and the only little pledge of our affection has gone after her; and so, +Mistress Burton, I am left a lone man in this troublesome world. And +sure, Mrs Burton, the same is your lot I am after thinking, but there +is an old saying, `Off with the old love and on with the new;' and, oh! +Mistress Burton, it would be a happy thing if that could come true +between two people I am thinking of." + +My mother might have thought this very plain speaking, but she pretended +not to understand Mr Gillooly, and made no answer. + +"Is it silence gives consent?" he exclaimed at last with one of those +queer turns of his eyes, stretching out his hands towards my mother. + +"Really, Mr Gillooly, seeing I have been a widow scarcely a year, and +have seen but little of you at my father's house, I cannot help thinking +this is strange language for you to use. I loved my husband, and I only +wish to live for the sake of our boy, and I hope this answer will +satisfy you." + +"But when you have seen more of me, Mistress Burton, ye'll be after +giving a different answer," exclaimed our visitor. "Ye'll be after +making a sweet mistress for Ballyswiggan Hall, and it's there I'd like +to see ye, in the place of the departed Molly Gillooly. It was the last +words she said to me--`Ye'll be after getting another partner when I'm +gone, Dominic, won't ye now?' and I vowed by all the holy saints that I +would obey her wishes, though to be plain with you, Mistress Burton, I +little thought I could do so to my heart's content, as I did when I +first set my eyes on your fair countenance." + +Much more to the same effect did Mr Gillooly utter, without, however, I +have reason to believe, making any impression on my mother's heart. +Without rudeness she could not get rid of him; and he, believing that he +was making great way in her affection, was in no wise inclined to +depart. Mr Gillooly, I may remark, was a friend of my grandfather's, a +squireen, with a mansion of similar description to Rincurran Castle, +though somewhat less dilapidated. His property enabled him to keep a +good horse, drink whisky, wear decent clothes, attend all wakes, +marriages, and fairs, and other merrymakings, and otherwise lead a +completely idle life. Mr Gillooly's visit had extended to a somewhat +unconscionable length, when a rap was heard at the door, and my mother +told me to run and open it; observing as she did so, "It's not all +people who so want manners as not to knock before they intrude into a +lone woman's house." + +This severe remark of my gentle mother showed me that she was by this +time considerably annoyed by our visitor's continued presence. The +person who now entered wore a brown suit, with a low crowned hat on the +top of his curled wig. I recognised him as Mr Timothy Laffan, one of +the lawyers of Ballybruree. Though short, he was a broad-shouldered, +determined-looking man, with a nose which could scarcely be more +flattened than it was, and twinkling grey eyes which looked out +knowingly from under his shaggy eyebrows. He cast an inquisitive glance +round, and then, paying his respects to my mother, took the seat which I +had brought him. + +"A good boy, Ben," he said, patting my head. "I came to see how you +were getting on in your new house, Mrs Burton, as is my duty as a +neighbour. Your servant, Mr Gillooly. I was after thinking that the +next time you came into Ballybruree ye would be giving me a call to +settle about that little affair. There's nothing like the present time, +and may be you will stop at my office as you go by, and arrange the +matter offhand." + +The lawyer's eyes twinkled as he spoke. Mr Gillooly began to fidget in +his chair, and his countenance grew redder and redder. He cast a glance +at his whip and hat. Suddenly seizing them, he paid a hurried adieu to +my mother, and turning to the lawyer, added, "Your servant, Tim Laffan. +I will be after remembering what you say"; and away he bolted out of the +door. + +I almost expected to hear the lawyer utter a crow of victory, for his +comical look of triumph clearly showed his feelings. I had reason to +believe that he also was a suitor for the hand of my mother, but I do +not think he gained much by his stratagem. Her feelings were aroused +and irritated, and at length he also took his departure, after +expressing a tender interest in her welfare. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +My mother's good looks, amiable disposition, and reputed fortune raised +up a host of admirers, greatly to her annoyance, for she had, or fully +thought she had, made up her mind to live a widow; or at all events, as +she told my Aunt Ellen, if she married anyone it should be a sailor, in +respect to my father's memory. I liked Ellen more than any of my other +relations. She was more like my mother than the rest of her sisters. +She had much of my mother's beauty, though with more animal spirits, and +was altogether on a larger scale, as I think I have said. She was +engaged to marry a certain Mr Pat Kilcullin, who I heard was a +gentleman of property some distance further west; and that he had a real +castle and a good estate, somewhat encumbered to be sure, as became his +old family and position. How many hundreds or thousands a year it might +once have produced I do not know; but as he and his father before him, +and his grandfather, and other remote ancestors had generally taken care +to spend double their income, it could not but be supposed that he and +they were occasionally in difficulties. As, however, his father had +lived, so my intended uncle purposed living also. I will not describe +the wedding further than to say that my grandfather was nearly out and +out ruined by it. He and his guests all got gloriously drunk. Mr +Gillooly and Tim Laffan fell out about my mother, and came to blows in +her presence. They were separated by two of the other guests--a certain +Dan Hogan, a good-looking exciseman, who was also a suitor for her hand, +and Captain Michael Tracy, the master of a merchantman, who had lately +come home after a few successful trading voyages to the West Indies. As +he, however, was the most sober of the party, he came worst off in the +fray, and had not my mother come to his rescue with the aid of her +sisters, he would, I have an idea, have been severely handled. Whether +or not he was touched by this exhibition of her courage I do not know; +but he certainly from that day forward became her warm admirer, and +certainly if she showed a preference to anyone it was to him. I did not +suppose I had so many relations in the world as turned up at that feast, +of high and low degree: the greater number, however, it must be +confessed, were of the latter rank. The bride looked beautiful, and the +bridegroom in the height of his feelings invited all the guests to pay +him a visit that day fortnight at Ballyswiggan Castle. The bridegroom +was taken at his word, and though I rather think my Aunt Ellen might +have been somewhat annoyed, there was no means of escaping. My mother +was, however, unwilling to be present at so uproarious a scene as she +knew pretty well was likely to take place; but my grandfather and her +sisters insisted upon her accompanying them, and of course I went with +her. Some of the guests, however, were not likely to make their +appearance, and for the best of reasons Mr Laffan and Dan Hogan could +not be present, as it was well-known that no lawyer nor exciseman had +ever ventured to set foot in the district in which Ballyswiggan Castle +was situated. Most of the guests went on horseback, as the approach was +scarcely suited to wheeled carriages. My grandmother was too infirm to +move, but my grandfather mounted a rawboned back which had carried him +in his younger days, and my aunts and mother rode on their rough ponies. +Pat Brady, who, finding himself so happy on shore, had put off going to +sea, and I rode together on a beast which we had borrowed for the +occasion. + +Ballyswiggan Castle was situated amidst fine wild scenery within sound +of the roar of the mighty Atlantic. The building itself was in a +somewhat dilapidated condition, but exhibited signs of having been once +a place of importance. Some out-houses had likewise been strewn with +fresh straw to afford sleeping accommodation to a portion of the guests +who could not find room within, while sheds and barns had been cleared +out for the reception of their steeds. + +"Ye are welcome to Ballyswiggan, by my faith ye are!" exclaimed Uncle +Pat, as our party arrived, a sentiment which was uttered by Aunt Ellen +without any pretension to mock modesty, while she laughed heartily at +the complimentary remarks which were passed on her good looks and high +spirits. + +"Small blame to Rincurran Castle if I am not after getting somewhat +stouter here than I did under my paternal roof," she answered, intending +to allude simply to the meagre fare of her ancestral mansion, though +from the giggles of some of the ladies, I rather suspect they put a +different interpretation upon the remark. To say the truth, +Ballyswiggan Castle had been stored with all sorts of provisions, and no +end of casks of whisky, so that there appeared little chance of the +guests starving or having to suffer from dry throats. We, with other +visitors from a distance, arrived the day before the dinner and ball +were to take place. On that morning, Peter Crean, steward and factotum +to my uncle, awoke him with the news that a ship of war was beating into +the Bay, "And sure," he observed, "it would be a fine opportunity, Mr +Kilcullin, to show your loyalty and love to His Majesty's government, to +invite the officers. They will make a fine show in the ball-room too, +with their gold lace coats, and white breeches, and may be may make some +of the gentlemen jealous, and just bring matters to a close, which have +been kept off and on for some months past. The mothers will be pleased, +and the girls will be thanking you from the bottom of their hearts." + +This sage advice was instantly followed by my uncle, who, habiting +himself in his wedding suit, ordered his horse that he might ride down +to the Bay, and be early on board to give the proposed invitation. +There were no fears about it being accepted, and, as may be supposed, it +formed the subject of conversation at the breakfast-table when it was +announced where my uncle had gone. His return was accordingly looked +for with no little anxiety, especially by the young ladies of the party, +including my three spinster aunts. Mr Kilcullin was not very long +absent. + +"They will all come!" he exclaimed, throwing up his hat, "and faith, +they're a fine set of gentlemen. She is a frigate, they tell me, but +her name has escaped me, and it is my belief they will toe and heel it +with the best of you, gentlemen, and may do something towards breaking +the hearts of some of you young ladies. However, we will do our best to +make them welcome, for the honour of ould Ireland." + +As the hour of dinner approached, the guests began to arrive in +considerable numbers; and carts, and cars, and waggons came bumping and +thumping over the uneven path, though the greater part made their +appearance on horseback. I was looking out of a window which commanded +the approach to the castle, when I saw coming along the road a large +party of naval officers, whose well-known uniform I at once recognised +as they drew nearer, and I fancied I knew two of those who led the way. +On they came; I could not be mistaken. There were Captain Oliver and +Lieutenant Schank, and several other officers and midshipmen whom I +remembered on board the "Grecian". I ran to my poor mother with delight +to tell her this. She turned pale, recollecting the sorrow she had gone +through when last she saw them. + +"I cannot face them," she said; "but you go, Ben; they will be glad to +see you; I should feel out of place in their company, and though my +family may be as good as that of many among them, they knew me under +such different circumstances, that I should not like to be sitting at +table with them." + +On hearing my mother make these remarks, I too was seized with a bashful +fit, but she insisted on my going down to meet them; and at length +mustering courage, I ran downstairs. Captain Oliver did not at first +know me, but Mr Schank recognised me at once. + +"What, Ben, my boy, what brings you here?" he exclaimed. + +I soon explained that Mr Kilcullin had married my aunt, and that my +mother and I were among the guests. + +"Ah! I always thought she was above her position on board," he observed +to Captain Oliver, who, when he found out who I was, shook me warmly by +the hand. + +"Well, Ben, recollect I shall keep to my promise, and when your mother +can spare you, I will take you with me." + +"I hope we shall see her, Ben," observed Mr Schank, kindly; "I should +like to shake hands with her." I told him how she felt on the subject. + +"Oh!" he said, "that cannot signify. Tell her we shall not half enjoy +the evening unless she comes down." The officers now arrived in the +entrance hall, where my uncle and aunt were standing to welcome their +guests. Of course they received them with all due honour. + +"We're in a wild part of the country, Captain Oliver and gentlemen, but +we will show you, at all events, that we have hospitable intentions, +however roughly we may carry them out," said my uncle. + +The great dining-hall was very soon filled, and several adjoining rooms, +the guests of inferior quality, of whom there were a good many, making +themselves happy in separate parties wherever they could find room to +sit down. Among those most active in attending to the wants of the +guests, and directing the other serving-men, were Peter Crean and Pat +Brady, who was a host in himself, for though second cousin to the bride, +he did not at all object to acting the part of a servant. As room was +scarce, I was among the picnickers outside. The feast was progressing, +when I saw Pat Brady come up to Peter Crean, pulling, for him, a +wonderfully long face. + +"Faith Peter!" I heard him say, "I do not at all like his looks. +There's a hang-dog expression about him, and to my mind he's a bailiff +in disguise!" + +"A what?" exclaimed Peter. "Has one of them vipers ventured into the +neighbourhood of Ballyswiggan? Faith, then, it would have been better +for him had he never seen this part of the country, for it will never do +to let him go boasting that he set his foot in it without being +discovered. Where is he?" + +"He is just now outside the gate," answered Pat; "but I told two or +three of the boys to keep him talking, and on no account to let him come +beyond it. I think they have just got an idea that he will not be +altogether a welcome guest." + +"I have no doubt who he is, then," observed Peter Crean. "I have been +expecting him. And, sure, he must not see the master, or he would be +spoiling the fun of to-day, and for many a long day afterwards. Here, +Pat, you go and talk to him, and I will just make arrangements to +receive him." + +Peter Crean was a man of action. A small room was cleared of visitors, +a table prepared with viands and various liquors. This done, Peter +hurried out to receive the guest. His suspicions were thoroughly +confirmed on his inspection of the man. + +"Your name, sir," he said, "that I may make you welcome to Ballyswiggan +Castle. My master is just now particularly engaged with a few guests, +but he will be happy to see you when the wine is on the table; and, in +the meantime, you will just come in and satisfy your appetite. You have +had a long ride since you took anything to eat, barring maybe the +whisky, which is not quite so rare on the road." + +"My name is Jonas Quelch, at your service," answered the stranger, "and +I come from England, though I have been living for some time in Dublin. +It's a fine city, that Dublin." + +"Faith it is, Mr Quelch," observed Crean; "and fine people in it, and +rogues in it, and the rogues sometimes come out of it, and when they do +they are pretty glad to get back again, for we don't like rogues in +these parts, Mr Quelch. But I will not keep you sitting on your horse; +that will be taken to the stable, and you will just come in, as I said, +and partake of the scanty fare this poor part of the country can +afford." + +He spoke in a satirical tone. Mr Quelch, holding his riding-whip in +his hand, as if for defence, followed him into the house. Peter. Crean +was, however, all courtesy and attention. He entreated his visitor to +make himself at home, and helped him abundantly to the good things in +the dishes placed before him, nor did he omit to ply him with whisky. +Glass upon glass he induced him to pour down his throat, till I began to +wonder how he could swallow so much without inconvenience. He was +evidently a hardened vessel. Crean, however, had not yet done with him. +He now placed before him a flagon of claret. + +"Faith, this is the stuff for a gentleman," he observed. "You may just +empty the bottle, and feel none the worse, but rather much the better +than when you began." + +The stranger, nothing loath, followed the advice of the steward. By +degrees, however, Mr Quelch's speech became thick, and his conversation +more and more incoherent. Crean watched him with a wicked look in his +eyes, continuing to press the liquor more and more warmly upon him. + +"Come, now, Mr Quelch, just let's begin another bottle. I have always +found, where one bottle confuses a man's head, a second one puts him all +to rights again. Now, I should not be surprised but that you are +beginning to feel a little fuddled." + +"You are right, friend," answered Mr Quelch, though the words were +jerked out in a manner indicative of his state. + +"Just so; and, now, follow my advice. Take the other bottle to cure +you. We never like a stranger to come to this part of old Ireland +without showing him due hospitality." + +Mr Quelch, unaccustomed to claret, drank it as he would beer, and +before he had finished the second bottle, on the top of almost an equal +quantity of whisky, his head began to nod, and finally it dropped down +on the table, where he let it remain, completely overcome. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +I was describing, at the end of my last chapter, my uncle's uninvited +guest--Jonas Quelch--dead drunk, with his head on the table. I sat at +the further end of the room watching proceedings. Peter Crean gave a +well-satisfied nod, and then left the room. In a short time he returned +with Pat Brady, and a bundle of papers in his hand. Without much ado, +they commenced an examination of the pockets of the stranger, and +produced from them several documents. One of them, as Peter ran his +eyes over it, seemed to excite his excessive indignation. However, +producing one from among his own papers, of a similar size and +appearance, he sat down and wrote off several paragraphs, which seemed +to afford him and Pat infinite amusement. This, with some other papers, +which he had taken from the stranger's pockets, he then returned to +them. This done, he and Pat--having removed the provisions and jugs-- +left the stranger still sleeping, with his head resting on his arms, as +before, I soon got tired of watching, and made my way into the +banqueting hall, from which shouts of boisterous merriment were +proceeding. His guests were, indeed, doing ample justice to my new +uncle's good cheer, and speeches and songs were succeeding each other in +rapid succession. Sometimes, indeed, two or three of the guests seemed +disposed to sing or speak at the same time, one exciting the other, and +adding not a little to the Babel of tongues. At this state of affairs +the ladies took their departure, though not without several gentlemen +rushing after them to bring them back. "Are ye after leaving us without +a sun in the firmament!" exclaimed one. "The stars are going out, and +we shall be in darkness presently," cried another. "A garden without +roses is a sorry garden, by my faith!" exclaimed a third. "What shall +we do without those beautiful eyes beaming out on us?" shouted a fourth. +However, in spite of the flatteries and efforts of Mr Tim Gillooly and +his companions--for he was among the most demonstrative of the party-- +the ladies made their escape to an upper room. Curiosity at length +prompted me to go back and see what had become of the stranger. As I +entered the room, he lifted up his head and looked about him, evidently +wondering where he was. At length he rose to his feet, and with +unsteady steps began to pace backwards and forwards. + +"This won't do," he said to himself. "I am not in a fit condition, I +have a notion, to execute this writ. However, it must be done. That +liquor was not bad, or I should not feel as comfortable as I do. If now +I can get a basin of water, and pour some of the cold liquid down my +throat, I shall be soon all to rights again. I wonder when that foolish +old steward will come back. He seemed to fancy that I had some favour +to bestow on his master by the way he treated me. However, these Irish +have very poor wits, and it is no hard matter to impose on them." + +While he was speaking, Peter opened the door. The stranger made his +request, with which he promised to comply. In a short time, Pat +appeared with a basin and a jug of water. "I am your man now," +exclaimed Mr Quelch, having dipped his head several times in the cold +water, "and shall be happy to pay my respects to your master." + +"To be sure, sir, to be sure," answered Pat. "He is with his friends in +the great hall, and you will be welcome as all gentlemen from England +are sure to be. You have only to go in and make your bow and give your +message, and depend upon it you will get a civil answer, whatever else +you get, and be requested to sit down and make yourself happy with the +rest." + +Peter, on this, led the way, followed by Mr Quelch. He did not observe +that a number of women and others who had been feasting outside brought +up the rear. A large party followed him into the hall, where he +enquired for Mr Kilcullin, as he said, that he might make no mistake. +"There he is to be sure, at the end of his table, where a gentleman, +with a beautiful wife always should be," answered Peter, pointing to the +lord of the mansion, who, with his guests, appeared to be enjoying +himself amazingly without any consciousness of the approach of a +bailiff. + +"Your servant, sir," said Mr Quelch, advancing towards him, and drawing +from his pocket a long document. + +"The same to you, I beg your pardon, what is your name?" said Mr +Kilcullin, with a complacent smile. "You are welcome to Ballyswiggan, +as all honest men are, and if they are not honest, by the powers they +had better keep away! And what is that paper with which you are about +to favour me?" + +"Perhaps, sir, you will read it," said Mr Quelch, with a somewhat +doubtful expression in his countenance. + +"Certainly!" exclaimed my new uncle, "with the greatest pleasure in the +world. Now listen, friends and gentlemen all. This is to give notice +to all present that the bearer--Jonas Quelch--has come across the +Channel to the west side of ould Ireland, on a fool's errand. There are +many more like him, may be, but he must understand that he will have to +go back the way he came, or else consent to be deported forthwith to the +coast of Africa, to live henceforth among the black sons of the soil, +for whom alone he is a fit associate." + +The astonishment of Mr Quelch on hearing this knew no bounds. Scarcely +recovered from the effects of his ample potations, the little sense he +possessed entirely forsook him. He began to storm and swear, and +declared that he had been vilely tricked. Loud peak of laughter from +the guests present were the only answer he received. + +"Come, come, Mr Quelch!" exclaimed Peter Crean, touching him on the +shoulder. "You have your choice, my boy, but, by my faith, if you go on +abusing Irish gentlemen in this fashion, you will be sent off sooner +than a Kilkenny cow can leap over the moon to the country where the +niggers come from, and it will be no easy matter for you to find your +way back again, I'm after thinking." This answer only increased the +anger of the unhappy bailiff. The consequence was that he found himself +seized by several of the men around, and amid the varied cries of the +guests quickly hurried out of the hall. Derisive shouts of laughter +followed the unhappy man as he was carried away. Most of the guests +had, in their time, taken part in a similar drama to that which was +about to be enacted, and knew full well how the man was to be treated. +The carouse continued till it was time to clear the room for the ball. +Several of the guests had to be borne off, and their heads bathed in +cold water to make them fit companions for the ladies in the dance. +Meantime, Jonas Quelch was carried back to the room he had left, where +Crean plied him with a further supply of whisky under the excuse of +keeping up his spirits. + +"Faith, my friend, we bear you no ill-will," observed the steward, "but +you should have known that in this part of ould Ireland it's against the +law to execute writs. Such a thing never has been done, and it would be +contrary to our consciences ever to allow it to be done, and, therefore, +though it's your masters are to blame, it's _you_ who will have to bear +the consequences." + +Mr Quelch, however, by the time these remarks were made, was scarcely +in a condition to understand their full meaning; and he was shortly +again reduced very much to the condition in which he had been before he +had gone into the hall. At this juncture a party of men entered the +room, one of them telling him that they had come to conduct him on board +the ship which was to convey him to the coast of Africa. In vain he +urged that he had no wish to go there, and that he would do anything, +even to going back to the country from which he had come, if that would +satisfy them. No excuses, however, were available. Away he was +carried, in spite of all his struggles, down to the sea-shore, where a +boat was waiting, as he was told, for him. As I preferred remaining to +see the dancing, I can only give the story as I afterwards heard it. In +spite of his struggles he was placed in the boat, which immediately +pulled off into the bay, where he quickly found himself transferred on +board a vessel which lay there at anchor. He was carried down below, +and placed in a small cabin by himself. + +"We will treat you decently," said one of the men, who appeared to be +the leader of the party. "There are just two things you will have to +do, you must understand, or have a chance of being knocked on the head. +You must not attempt to get out, and you must ask no questions. It is +to the coast of Africa we are going to carry you, and to the coast of +Africa you must go. The voyage will not be a long one if we have a fair +breeze, and they are dacent sort of people where we are going to land +you; may be they will make you a prince of their country, and let you +marry a princess, but you will understand that if you love your life, on +the shores of ould Ireland again you will never venture to set foot." + +The unfortunate Mr Quelch could make no resistance. All his +expostulations were in vain. He heard, as he fancied, the anchor being +got up and sail made, and was fully under the impression that he had +begun the voyage which was to carry him away for ever from his native +land. The man who had first spoken to him again came below. + +"We wish to treat you as a jintleman, though may be it's more than you +deserve," he said, "so we will not stint you in liquor. You shall have +as much as you can pour down your throat, for I have a notion you will +not get an over abundant supply when you reach Africa. It's a fine +country, I am told, though a little more sandy than ould Ireland." + +As may have been discovered, one of Quelch's failings was his fondness +for liquor, and he soon imbibed enough to bring him into a state of +unconsciousness. He thus had very little idea how the time passed. As +soon as he awoke he found another bottle placed by his side. Thus he +could not tell whether he had been days or weeks on board the ship. All +that he knew was, that he had been fearfully tossed about, and often +horribly uncomfortable. It had not occurred to him to feel his beard, +in so confused a state was his mind. At length he heard the Captain's +voice calling him. + +"Come up, if you please, Mr Quelch, we are off the coast of Africa, and +it is time for you to be on shore. We will just see you comfortably +landed, and then wish you farewell." + +The shades of evening were just settling down over the land, when Mr +Quelch made his appearance on the deck. He could not distinguish +objects distinctly, but he saw before him high hills and a sandy beach. +On looking over the side he discovered a boat with six black men in her. + +"Good-bye, Mr Quelch," cried the friendly Captain, as he took Mr +Quelch's arm. "Good luck go with you. May be the niggers will look +after you when they have put you on shore, but don't trust them too +much, for it's small love they have for white men." + +Poor Quelch did not feel very comfortable on hearing this, but though +inclined to resist, the butt end of a pistol which was sticking out of +the Captain's belt, and which that gentleman significantly began to +handle, reminded him that resistance was useless. With a trembling +heart he stepped into the boat. He was soon conveyed on shore. From +the suppressed laughter of the crew, and from the broad grin which, as +far as he could distinguish, appeared on their countenances, he had an +idea that they were inclined to be amused at his expense. + +"Dare, massa," said one of them, "step on shore. Welcome to Africa. +Make yourself at home. De king of de country come and see you +by-and-by. He very fond of eating men, but no eat you, me hope." + +Poor Jonas was compelled to obey, and being placed on shore, the boat +again pulled away. Soon after she had disappeared round a rocky point +he heard loud shouts coming from inland, and looking up he saw, to his +horror and dismay, several black men dancing and shrieking, and showing +by their gestures their intention of coming down, and of making him the +chief article of their supper. He was now utterly overcome with terror, +and dared not leave the shore lest he should fall into the hands of his +enemies. Yet, as he had not been supplied with food or water, he was +under the dread of dying from hunger or thirst. He sat himself down +disconsolately on a rock. The shouts continued round and above him, +which made him shrink within himself for fear. + +"Oh, if ever I get back home to England it is the last time that I will +undertake to serve a writ in the West of Ireland, at all events," he +said, over and over again to himself. Still the savages did not +descend, though he every instant expected to see them rushing towards +him. At length the sounds ceased, and he sat himself down on the rock, +where he remained all the night long, afraid of moving lest he should +find himself attacked by them. + +The morning broke. He saw a large ship in the offing, and after some +time a boat left her side and came towards the spot where he was +sitting. "Oh!" he thought to himself, "if I could get on board that +ship how happy I should be." No sooner did the boat's bow touch the +sand than he ran towards her. "Oh! Take me on board! Take me on board +out of this savage land!" he exclaimed. "I will do anything to serve +you! I will make myself generally useful on board! There is nothing I +will not do. Oh! Take me away out of the power of these blackamoors!" + +"You may enter as a seaman, perhaps," answered the midshipman, in +command of the boat. "If you will promise to do that, we will take you +on board, but we have no idlers, and if you do not know your duty you +must learn it as quickly as you can." + +Without further ado Quelch was lifted into the boat, which soon returned +to the frigate. He found that she was the "Grecian" frigate, and that +she was standing on and off the land, waiting to take the Captain and +some of the officers on board. He, however, was at once regularly +entered, and found himself speedily transferred into a man-of-war's-man. +Scarcely had he signed the papers, than loud peals of laughter broke +from the seamen round him. None, however, would explain the cause of +their merriment. At length once more the frigate put about and stood +towards the land. As he gazed at the shore, he could not help fancying +that its appearance was very much like that of the neighbourhood of +Ballyswiggan. At length he put the question to one of the people +standing near him. + +"Why, my boy," was the answer of an old quarter-master, "you have been +nicely bamboozled. This comes of attempting to serve a writ in this +part of the world. As to the coast of Africa, you have never been +nearer it than you are at this present moment, nor much further from the +place from which you started. However, take my advice; many a better +man than you has found himself on board a man-of-war, and has had no +cause to regret having done his duty." + +Jonas Quelch had the sense to see the wisdom of this counsel, and +fortunately, being an unmarried man, made the best of his case, and, I +can answer for it, became a very fair sailor in a short time, though his +besetting sin occasionally interfered with his happiness and liberty, +and brought him more than once into difficulties. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +I interrupted my narrative with an account of Mr Jonas Quelch's +adventures, with which I shortly afterwards became acquainted. I wish I +could describe the ball which followed the dinner I have already +mentioned; how perseveringly the ladies danced country dances and jigs, +and how furiously the gentlemen flung about, sprang here and there, +rushed up and down the room, and performed antics of every possible +description, such as might have astonished the more sober professors of +the art across the channel. My mother stole into a corner of the room, +where she could see without being observed, and nothing would induce her +to go further. Although Captain. Oliver found her out, and entreated +her to join in what was going forward, she refused to dance even with +him. + +"I could not resist joining in the fun as you do, Mrs Burton," said Mr +Schank, "but I am afraid the ladies would object to my hopping up and +down the room, lest I should come down upon their tender feet with my +timber-toe, so I am obliged to abandon the sport I delighted in in my +younger days." Mr Gillooly, also, at length discovered her, and was +far more persevering in his efforts to induce her to take part in the +dance, though with no more success. + +"Sure, Mistress Burton, you would not be after breaking a jintleman's +heart, which is as soft as butther whenever he is thinking of you!" he +exclaimed, pressing his hand on his bosom and looking up with an +expression which he intended to be extremely captivating. + +"Indeed, Mr Gillooly, but it is more likely that any heart you have got +would be after melting rather than breaking," remarked my mother, +observing the fiery countenance and the violent perspiration into which +her swain had thrown himself. "My dancing days are over, and had I not +supposed that the gentlemen here would have had the good taste not to +press me to do what I dislike, I should not have ventured into the +room." + +Nothing abashed, however, by this answer, Mr Gillooly continued to pour +out his compliments into my mother's ear, and she had to be still more +explicit before he would receive a refusal. At length he left her, and +was soon afterwards seen rushing about, as before, with one of my aunts, +or with some other young lady of equal powers of endurance. Captain +Oliver, after this, sat himself down by my mother's side. + +"Your boy has grown into a fine big lad," he observed, "and though he is +somewhat young, still I think he is strong enough to hold his own in a +midshipman's berth, and if you are disposed to let him go, I am ready to +take him." + +"A midshipman's berth!" exclaimed my mother, and a choking feeling came +into her throat. "Surely you cannot intend such advancement to my boy-- +the boatswain's son. I never wished him to be above his station, and if +he were to rise to be a boatswain like his dear father, I should be well +contented." + +"Do not say that, Mrs Burton. His father was a fine seaman, and would +have been an honour to the quarter-deck himself. I promised to befriend +your boy, and I can do so far more if he is in the rank of a midshipman +than if he is simply one of the ship's boys. From what I see of your +relations and friends, indeed, though to be sure some of their doings +are a little eccentric compared with our English notions, yet their +position is such that their young relative should be placed in the rank +of a gentleman. Say no more about it, I will assist him, and so I am +sure will Mr Schank, in procuring his necessary outfit. That matter, +therefore, need not trouble you, and I hope in a short time that he will +pick up so much, prize-money that he will be able to support himself +till he attains the rank of Lieutenant." + +Of course my mother could offer no objection to this very generous +proposal. All she pleaded was, that I might remain a short time longer +with her on shore. Lieutenant Schank then came in with a proposal which +he had to make. It was that she should return to his mother's house, +where I might employ my time to advantage in obtaining the instruction +which I could not get at Ballybruree. This offer she gladly accepted. +Indeed, she told me that she had herself thought of returning to +Whithyford, in order to avoid the persevering addresses of Mr Gillooly +and her other admirers. The frigate was to remain on the coast for a +week or ten days, after which time she had been ordered to go round to +Portsmouth to refit. Captain Oliver, therefore, kindly offered my +mother and me a passage, should she in the meantime be able to make +arrangements for her departure. For this proposal she was very +grateful. A journey across the whole width of Ireland and England was +both difficult, hazardous, and very expensive, if performed in a +comfortable manner. I was delighted with the thoughts of meeting again +the Little Lady with the kind Misses Schank; for I must confess that the +habits and customs of my relatives did not suit my taste much more than +they did that of my mother. As to the ball, I need not further describe +it. The ladies who came from a distance occupied all the upper rooms in +the house, while the gentlemen were stowed away in the lower rooms and +out-houses, many of them, however, little knowing how they got to bed or +where they were. + +Great was the lamentation her friends expressed when my mother's +determination of going to England was made known; indeed, some +considered that a decided insult was offered to her native country. Mr +Gillooly, indeed, made some remarks as to her motives, which certainly +did not further his cause. + +We set off the next day for Ballybruree with the rest of our party, my +uncle and aunt inviting us to return to Ballyswiggan, there to remain +till the frigate was ready to take us on board. Mr Tim Laffan, who +showed much good feeling, undertook to dispose of my mother's few +possessions, and in the course of a few days placed in her hands a sum +which she considered even more than their value. + +"Well, Mrs Burton, I had hoped other things," he said, as he shook her +warmly by the hand, as she was mounting her pony to proceed to +Ballyswiggan, "but I know enough about ladies' hearts to be aware that +they are more difficult to manage than the toughest lawsuit." + +Dan Hogan was away on duty, and we were off before he returned, but +Captain Michael Tracy insisted on walking by my mother's side all the +way to Ballyswiggan; indeed I could not help thinking that if anyone was +to win her heart, he was likely to be the happy man. We had a somewhat +moving scene when bidding farewell to my grandfather and grandmother. + +The old gentleman, indeed, wept bitterly as he was apt to do, especially +after his tenth tumbler of whisky and water, provided it was of the full +strength. I need not say anything more about him at present. We +reached Ballyswiggan Castle in safety, the small amount of property my +mother wished to retain following us in a cart. Mr Kilcullin was very +kind, and my aunt promised to write occasionally, and let us know how +the rest of the family got on. She was, indeed, the only one of her +sisters who was much practised in the art of penmanship, the others +having spent most of their time in gaining a knowledge of horseflesh, in +riding up and down the country, and in practising certain very useful +domestic duties. I certainly did feel very proud, and so I think did my +mother, when the boat from the frigate came to fetch us on board, and we +were seated in the stern sheets with our boxes in the bows, a young +midshipman in a fresh bright uniform steering. A short, somewhat stout +man pulled the stroke oar. He looked at my mother very hard. At length +a beaming smile came over his broad countenance, and he could no longer +help giving her a look of recognition. I thought I knew him. He was no +other than my old friend Toby Kiddle. Still, as the midshipman treated +us with so much respect, he evidently thought it did not become him to +address us. Our friends on shore, I should have said, saluted us with +loud shouts as we pushed off. "Long life to Ben Burton!" cried a voice. +"May he live to be an admiral, and an honour to old Ireland, and may he +never forget the land of his ancestors." My mother waved an adieu. Her +heart was too full with a variety of emotions to speak. + +"Is Ben Burton your name?" said the midshipman, looking at me. "I +understand you are going to join us. You are a lucky chap, for our ship +is a happy one, and we are likely to see a good deal of service." + +When we got on board, one of the first people I set eyes on was Pat +Brady. + +"I could not help it, Ben," he said. "Some of the boys got round me and +talked of old times, and faith, though I was living on shore like a +gintleman, after all I could not resist the look of the trim frigate, +and the thoughts of the fighting and the fun on board. But, Ben, I hear +you are to be one of the young gintlemen, and I know my place too well +and your interests ever to be claiming relationship with you. You will +understand that, Ben. If ever you can do me a good turn I am sure you +will, and I need not tell you that when we are boarding an enemy's ship, +and you are in the thickest of the fun, Pat Brady won't be far off your +side. Just tell your mother that, for may be I may not have an +opportunity of speaking to her as I would wish." + +"He is a good honest fellow, that cousin of ours," said my mother when I +told her. "It is just like him, and I am very thankful to think that +you have so true a friend among the men. If you behave wisely and +kindly to them, depend upon it you will always be able to get work done, +when others much older than yourself will fail, and that more than +anything else will gain you the approval of your superior officers." + +The Third-Lieutenant of the frigate had gone home on sick leave, and his +cabin was given up to my mother. She told me she felt very strange +occupying a berth aft when she had been so long accustomed to one in the +fore-part of the ship. It was satisfactory to see as much attention +paid her as if she had always occupied the position of a lady. Indeed I +may say with satisfaction that she was well deserving of all the +attention paid her, while in her manner and conversation she was +thoroughly the lady. I was said to take after her, and, at the risk of +being considered vain and egotistical, it is satisfactory to believe I +did. "It would be a shame not to place that boy on the quarter-deck," I +heard the Captain observe to Mr Schank one day, when he was not aware +how near I was. "He looks, and is, thoroughly the gentleman, and will +make a smart young officer, depend on that." + +I was delighted to find myself on board ship again, and if the choice +had been given me I suspect that I should have remained rather than have +accompanied my mother back to Whithyford. After we had doubled Cape +Clear a sail hove in sight, to which we gave chase. She was a large +brig, and soon showed us that she had a fast pair of heels, by keeping +well ahead. All sail was pressed on the frigate, and yet, after chasing +several hours, we appeared to be no nearer to her. Still Captain Oliver +was not a man to strike to an enemy, or to give up a chance of making a +prize as long as the slightest possibility of doing so remained. All +night long we kept in her wake; she probably expecting a fog, or a +change of wind, or some other circumstance to enable her to alter her +course without being perceived by us. The night, however, was very +clear, and when morning broke there she was still ahead. It was +evident, also, that we had gained on her considerably. + +"I say, Ben, our skipper and First-Lieutenant are licking their lips at +the thoughts of the prize we shall pick up before the day is many hours +older," observed my friend Tom Twigg, the midshipman who steered the +boat which brought us on board; he had ever since then marked me as an +object of his especial favour. He was a merry little fellow, with the +funniest round face, and round eyes, and round nose possible. He often +got into scrapes; but he declared that, like a hedgehog or slater, or +woodlouse, he always managed to roll himself out of them. "I rather +think the skipper has entered you on the books that you may have a share +in the prize we are going to make," he observed. "It will not be very +great, but it is something, and no man on board will grudge it you." +About noon we got the brig under our guns, when she hauled down her +colours, and proved to be a richly-laden Letter of Marque. It was very +pleasant returning into port with her, and this circumstance put +everybody on board in good humour, the Captain and Lieutenant Schank +especially, who of course had large shares. + +"I wish I could accompany you, Mrs Burton," said Mr Schank, when we +reached Portsmouth; "but that is impossible. You must let me frank you +up, however, to my mother's. I dare say by this time you pretty well +know how to manage on the road. Pay the postboys well, and take care +that youngster does not tumble off the roof and break his neck." Of +course my mother thanked the Captain and all the officers for the +kindness she had received on board. They insisted on her saying nothing +about the matter; indeed, they declared they had not done enough, and +would not let her go till they had made her accept a purse of gold, +which they declared would have been my father's share of the prize just +taken had he been alive. Lieutenant Schank had written on before to +announce our coming. The old lady, therefore, and the three Misses +Schank were on the look-out for us as our post-chaise drove up to the +cottage, while I saw poor Mrs Lindars looking out at an upper window +from the room she occupied, and there in the midst of the ladies +downstairs was the Little Lady, a perfect little fairy she looked among +the three mature Misses Schank. Miss Anna Maria held her up in her +arms, and the little girl cried out, "Oh! Mamma, mamma, I know you are +my mamma, though I have got four other mammas here." She had grown very +much, and instead of going off in beauty, had become one of the most +perfect little creatures I ever set eyes on. Nothing could be more +hearty than the welcome we received, and the dear old lady told my +mother that she must look upon herself as one of the family, and only +help the other ladies just as much as she felt inclined. Mrs Lindars, +soon after we arrived, begged we would come up, and the Little Lady, +taking me by the hand, led the way. There was something very striking +in the affectionate and tender way the Little Lady addressed Mrs +Lindars; indeed it for the moment struck me that they were something +alike, though one was somewhat advanced in life, and the features of the +other were scarcely yet formed. Mrs Lindars welcomed my mother very +kindly. "And Ben has indeed grown into a fine lad," she observed. "And +Emily, too, you see her greatly improved, Mrs Burton. Ben, you must be +her champion if she requires one. Alas! I fear she will. I trust her +fate may be happier than mine." + +"Yes, ma'am, I will fight for her, that I will," I answered, looking at +Emily; "not that I think anyone would ever be so wicked as to try and +harm her." The poor lady smiled sadly and shook her head. + +"Beauty is rather a snare than a protection," she observed. + +Of course I did not exactly understand her meaning; I heard afterwards, +though I think I have already alluded to the fact, that the poor lady +had, at a very early age, married a foreigner, calling himself Lindars, +and that she had one child, a girl. Her husband, after frequently +absenting himself, returned to Whithyford, when one day he and the child +disappeared. The poor mother was left in an agony of doubt as to what +had become of her infant, persuading herself that it had been murdered. +A letter, however, at length reached her from her husband, saying that +he was on the point of leaving England, and that he purposed carrying +the child with him. From that day she had never received the slightest +intelligence of her husband or daughter. Her brother Jack had been +absent from home at the time of her marriage, and five years passed away +before he again returned, so that he had been unable to assist her in +her inquiries. I was placed for instruction under the care of an old +gentleman residing in the village, who had formerly been a schoolmaster. +He was well able to impart to me the knowledge I most required, and as +I was very anxious to learn, I made considerable progress. My spare +time was spent almost entirely in the company of little Emily. I was +never tired of attending on her. As was then the custom, she wore a +little red mantle as a walking dress. One day we were out in the +fields, when she ran off in chase of a butterfly. At the further end of +the field a bull was grazing, having been turned out to indulge his +sulky humour by himself. The sight of the red cloak fluttering over the +green meadow suddenly excited his rage, and with a loud roar he came +rushing up towards it. I saw the little girl's danger, and quick as +lightning darted towards her. The cloak was fortunately secured by a +very slight string. I tore it off and told her to run on; while, +seizing the cloak, which I at once guessed was the cause of the bull's +rage, I darted off in a different direction. The animal followed, as I +had expected. On he came, however, at a speed which was likely soon to +bring him up to me. It was some distance to the nearest hedge. Towards +that, however, I made my way, as the best means of escape. The bull was +not five yards from me. The hedge was thick and high. Into it or over +it I must go, or run the certainty of a toss. I sprang towards the +hedge. Just at the spot I reached was the stem of a small tree; one +branch alone had escaped the pruner's hatchet. Throwing the cloak +against the hedge, I seized the bough and sprang to the top--not a +pleasant position, considering the brambles of which it was composed. +The bull, with a loud roar, dashed into the hedge below me, into which +he fixed his head, tearing up the ground, and making the bushes shake +all round. I looked out and saw that Emily had reached the gate in +safety; but how to descend was now the difficulty, for if I jumped back +into the field out of which I came the bull would probably again attack +me, whereas, on the other side, I could not descend without the risk of +tearing my clothes and scratching myself with the brambles. + +"Thou be a brave lad; I seed it all!" exclaimed a voice near me, and +looking down I saw a person who appeared to be a farmer, standing on the +further side of the hedge. + +"Jump into my arms, I'll catch thee, lad," he added, seeing the +predicament in which I was placed. I willingly did as he bid me, and, +caught by his arms, reached the ground in safety. "We must have the +little maiden's cloak, though," he said, laughing. "I will bring up +some of my men, and we will soon handle the old bull." He was as good +as his word. Five or six farm servants soon made their appearance with +a stout rope, which they threw over the bull's neck and led him quietly +off, while, accompanied by the farmer, I passed through a gate a little +way on, and, securing the cloak, crossed the field to where Emily, still +in a great fright, was waiting for me. The farmer insisted on +accompanying us home. He was well-known, I found, to the ladies, and +with great glee he recounted to them my exploit, bestowing more praise +on me, I thought, than I deserved. Emily, however, declared that he was +right, and that if it had not been for me, she was sure the bull would +have tossed her up into the moon, or at all events as high as the moon. + +My mother was now busily employed in preparing my outfit, and many a +tear did she shed over her work when she thought that I was soon to be +separated from her. A letter came at length from Captain Oliver, saying +that the frigate was ready for sea, and that I must come at once down to +Portsmouth. Fortunately my friend Farmer Cocks was going up to London, +and undertook to escort me thus far, and from thence he was to see me +off in the coach for Portsmouth. I will not describe my parting. There +was a good deal more crying than I like to think of, and the dear Little +Lady wept till her heart seemed about to break. However, her tears +probably soon dried up, but my poor mother's sorrow was likely to be far +more enduring. + +"Thou art a brave, honest lad, Ben Burton," said the good farmer, +pressing a five-pound note into my hand as I was about to mount on the +top of the Portsmouth coach. "Thou wilt have plenty of use for this in +getting thy new clothes for sea; but if not, spend it as thou thinkest +best. I have no fear that thou wilt squander it as some do, and mark +thee, shouldst thou ever want a home to come to, thou wilt always find a +warm welcome at Springfield, from my good dame and me." I pocketed his +gift with a sincere "Thank you," and he wrung my hand warmly, again and +again, until I got fairly out of his reach on to the top of the coach. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +Captain Oliver had directed me to meet him at the "George," and I found +him standing on the steps of that aristocratic hotel to which very few +midshipmen of those days ever thought of going. My mother, being well +acquainted with the internal economy of a man-of-war, had provided me +with a chest of very moderate dimensions, at which no First-Lieutenant, +however strict, could cavil. It and I were deposited at the hotel, and +the waiter, seeing the kind way in which the Captain treated me, must +have taken me for a young lord at least, and ordered the porter to carry +it forthwith inside. + +"That will do," said the Captain, as he eyed it. "And now you must come +and get measured for your uniforms, and procure other necessaries, as I +hope we may be off in two or three days at furthest." + +I found that Captain Oliver had paid off the "Grecian," and commissioned +a new frigate, the "Orion," to which most of his officers and men had +been turned over, and that she was about to proceed to the Indian +station. "There was no use telling your poor mother this," he observed. +"The thoughts that you would be so long separated from her would only +have added to her grief at parting from you, and as far as you are +concerned, my boy, the time will soon pass by, and you will come back +nearly ready for a swab on your shoulder." + +The tailor, under the Captain's inspection, having examined the contents +of my chest, made a note of the things I required besides. My outfit +was soon complete. + +"And now, my lad, my coxswain will take charge of you and your chest," +said the Captain, "and see you safely on board." + +Greatly to my delight, Toby Kiddle soon afterwards made his appearance. +"Why, Mr Burton," he said, and I thought his eyes twinkled as he +addressed me with that title. "Why, you see, the Captain's last +coxswain slipped his cable a few months ago, and as I was one of the +Captain's oldest shipmates, and he knew he could trust me, he has +appointed me, and I never wish to serve under a better captain." Having +purchased a few other articles with Farmer Cocks' five-pound note, which +Toby Kiddle suggested I should find useful, we chartered a wherry to go +to the frigate. + +Among other things I got two or three pounds of tobacco. "You see, Mr +Burton, if you deal it out now and then to the men, it will show them +that you have not forgotten them; and though you are on the +quarter-deck, that you are not proud, as some youngsters show +themselves, but still have a kindly feeling towards them." I gladly +followed his advice. As we approached the "Orion," and I observed her +handsome hull, her well-squared yards, and her trim and gallant +appearance, I felt proud of belonging to so fine a frigate. The +boatswain's whistle was piping shrilly as we went up the side, and as my +eye fell on the person who was sounding it, I had an idea that I +recollected him. I asked Toby who he was. "Your old friend, Bill +King," he said. "I wanted to see whether you would remember him; I am +glad you do. It is a good sign when old friends are not forgotten." + +While Kiddle got my chest up, and paid the boatman, I went and reported +myself to Mr Schank as come on board; and very proud I felt as I +stepped on the quarter-deck in my bran-new midshipman's uniform. The +First-Lieutenant, who was stumping on his wooden leg here and there with +active movements, watching the proceedings of the various gangs of men +at work in different ways, stopped when he saw me and smiled kindly. He +had grown thinner, if not taller, since I last saw him, and looked +somewhat like the scathed trunk of a once lofty poplar, battered and +torn by a hundred tempests. + +"You know the ways of a ship, Ben, pretty well, but as you are still +somewhat small, I have asked Mr Oldershaw--one of the mates--to stand +your friend, and he will give you a help also in navigation. And, Ben, +mind, do not you be ashamed of asking him anything you want to know. +You may live a long time on board ship, and still learn nothing about +seamanship, if you do not keep your eyes open, and try to get others to +explain what you do not understand." As Mr Schank spoke, he beckoned +to a grey-headed old mate who just then came on deck. "This is the +youngster I spoke to you about, Mr Oldershaw," he said. "You will have +an eye on him, and I hope you will be able to give a good report of his +behaviour." I naturally looked up at my protector's countenance, and +was well-satisfied with the expression I saw on it. He soon afterwards +took me down below, and on my way told me that I was to be in his watch, +and that if I did not become a good seaman before the cruise was up, it +should not be his fault. + +"You see, Ben, I feel an interest in you on many accounts. I entered +before the mast, and was placed on the quarter-deck, much as you may be +said to have been, and was also left an orphan at an early age. I have +not been very fortunate as to promotion; indeed, though my family were +very respectable in life, I had no interest. I suppose some day I shall +be made a lieutenant, and then I do not expect to rise much higher; but +a lieutenant is a gentleman by rank, and though the half-pay is not +overwhelming, yet, as I have saved a little prize-money, I shall have +enough to keep me till I am placed under the green sward. When I visit +some quiet churchyard, I often think how sweet a resting-place it would +be after having been knocked about all one's life on the stormy ocean, +and after having met with so many disappointments and sorrows." + +I do not know what induced Oldershaw to speak to me in that way, for in +truth he was one of the happiest and most contented people on board, so +it seemed to me. While others grumbled and growled he never uttered a +word of complaint in public, but took everything as it came, in the most +good-humoured manner. He was a true friend to me from that time +forward, and gave me many a lesson in wisdom as well as in other +matters, which was of value to me through life. Tom Twigg who was the +only midshipman I knew, received me cordially. There was another young +gentleman, who, though he might have been older, was considerably +smaller than I was. There was a roguish, mischievous look about the +countenance of Dicky Esse, which showed me at once that I must be +prepared for tricks of all sorts from him. Another mate was seated in +the berth, to whom Oldershaw introduced me. His name, I found, was +Pember. He was a broad-shouldered, rough-looking man, with a +suspiciously red countenance and nose, his features marked and scored +with small-pox and his eyelids so swelled, that only a portion of the +inflamed balls could be seen. He uttered a low growl as I entered. + +"We have kids enough on board already," he observed. "They will be +sending the nurses with them next." + +"Never fear, Pember, he will soon grow out of his kidhood," observed +Oldershaw. "We want young blood to supply the place of us oldsters when +we slip off the stage." + +"You mean to be placed over our heads, and to trample us down," said +Pember. "Why there is our skipper. I was a passed midshipman when he +came to sea, and now he is a post-captain, and I am where I was, and +shall be probably to the end of the chapter." + +As soon as I could leave the berth I hurried to the boatswain's cabin, +to which Bill King had just then descended. "You do not remember me, +Mr King," said I, shaking him by the hand, "but I recollect you, and +that you were one of my father's oldest shipmates, and my mother's +kindest friend." + +"Bless my heart, Ben, is it you?" he exclaimed, for he really had not at +first known me. "Well, I did not think it. I am glad, that I am, boy, +to see you, whom I have dandled in my hands many a time, come to sea on +the quarter-deck. You must be an admiral, Ben, some day, that you must. +Those who have sent you to sea must give you a shove upwards while you +have still youth and strength and health in your favour. To many, +promotion comes too late to do them any real good. When hope is knocked +out of a man he is fit for very little in this world, or rather, I +should say, nothing!" + +"And Mrs King?" I asked; "how is she?" + +"I could not bring her on board again, Ben, but she is very well, and as +strong and active as ever. She has set up a coffee-shop in Gosport, +which gives her something to do, and will help her to keep the pot +boiling till I get back." + +We had a fine run down Channel, and a fair wind carried us along, till +we were in the latitude of the Azores. Our orders were, not to go out +of our way, but to do as much damage and harm to the enemy as we +conveniently could on our voyage to the South. We consequently kept a +bright look-out, in the hopes of falling in with a ship worth capturing. +Several times we had chased vessels, but they either managed to escape +us during the night, or proved to be neutrals. At length, however, when +about twenty leagues to the north of Teneriffe, we saw a sail standing +apparently towards that island. That she was a Spaniard seemed +probable, and there were great hopes that she might prove a merchant +vessel. We made all sail, hoping to overhaul her before the sun went +down, but she was a fast craft, and kept well ahead of us. Hour after +hour passed by. All the glasses on board were constantly turned towards +her. Great doubts at length began to be entertained of our capturing +her after all. In our berth, especially, some of the young gentlemen +were ready to sell their expected share of the prize-money, while others +of more sanguine temperament were not unwilling to buy. Dicky Esse, +especially, wanted to purchase my share. + +"What will you give, Esse?" I asked, not, however, making up my mind +that the transaction was a very wise one. + +"Ten shillings would be handsome, but I have no objections to give you +thirty. She is very likely to be in ballast, and we are more likely +still not to catch her, so that you at all events will be the gainer of +thirty shillings." + +"I should not object to the thirty shillings, but if we take her I may +possibly get thirty pounds, and more than that if she is a richly-laden +craft." + +"Don't have anything to do with the business, Ben," exclaimed Oldershaw. +"I do not bet, and do not intend to begin, but I say there are five +chances to one that we shall take her, so keep your prospects in your +pocket, my boy, and I hope they will prove good ones." Although the +hammocks were piped down at the usual hour, very few officers or men +turned in. It was well-known that Captain Oliver would not let the +chase escape as long as there was a prospect of getting hold of her. +There was a bright moon, and by the master's calculation we should sight +Teneriffe before dawn. A sailor's eye alone could have made out the +shadowy form of the chase ahead of us, but not for a moment was she lost +sight of. The wind fell as the night drew on, and the sea became calm, +rippled over only by little wavelets, upon which the moonbeams played +brightly. It was a lovely night. Bright as was the moon, many of the +stars were to be seen also, vying with her in splendour. Yet here were +we, with thousands of stars looking down upon us, about to commit an act +of rapine and slaughter, for such, lawful as it might be thought, was +the deed we were about to do. It was Oldershaw's watch, and I was +walking the deck with him. I made some remark of that sort. He +responded to it. + +"Yes, Ben," he said, "I wonder what the bright seraphic beings up +there--for surely there must be such in that pure heaven above us--are +thinking of the proceedings of us mortals down here below. We have to +fight, and it is right to defend our country, but I tell you, Ben, I +have seen a good deal of it, and, putting what people call glory aside, +it is very fearful, disgusting, dirty work. It makes a man feel like a +devil for a time, and it is devilish, there is no doubt about that. I +am in for it, and I expect to have plenty more of the same sort of work +to do, but I am very sure that for men to kill each other is hateful to +the God who made us. There is only one thing worse, and that is when +they lie, and cheat, and deceive each other, and it seems often to me +that more than one-half of the world is employed in doing one or the +other." + +"Have we gained much on the chase, Mr Schank?" asked the Captain, who +just then appeared on deck. + +"The best part of a mile, sir, I should think, in the course of the last +hour. If the wind does not fall still more, we shall come up with her +soon after daylight. She is heavily laden, and requires a breeze to +send her along." + +Oldershaw at length persuaded me to go below and turn in, promising to +have me called should anything occur. When I came on deck in the +morning, as the hammocks were piped up, the chase was still some +distance off, running in for the land, which appeared on our +starboard-bow. We followed her pertinaciously, however, though, as the +wind frequently shifted, we did not gain upon her as at first. At +length, however, we saw her run in for a bay with a fort on one side of +it. "We have her safe now," observed Captain Oliver to Mr Schank. +"Before this time to-morrow I hope she will be ours." + +Having reconnoitred the bay, and found that the fort was rather too +strong to attack in the day, Captain Oliver stood off the land once +more. It soon became known that a cutting-out expedition was in +contemplation, and the men were busily employed in sharpening their +cutlasses, and looking to the locks of their pistols. From the +appearance of the chase, there was no doubt that she was a merchant +vessel, and it was hoped would offer no great resistance. Every +precaution which prudence could dictate was taken. Four boats were +ordered to be got ready, and towards evening we again stood in for the +land. A bright look-out had been kept all day, so that there was no +risk of the expected prize having made her escape. I greatly longed to +be in one of the boats, but Oldershaw told me there was no use asking, +as he was sure the Captain would not let me go. He, too, was +disappointed, finding that he was not to be one of the party. The +Second and Third Lieutenants, with Pember and the master, commanded the +two boats, and, all things being ready, away they pulled. They had got +to some distance when it was discovered that they had gone without +signal-rockets or port-fires. Oldershaw, on this, volunteered to carry +them in the dinghy, and I begged that I might accompany him. + +"Well, look after the boy, and take care he gets into no mischief, Mr +Oldershaw," said the Captain, "and he may then go." + +I was delighted. Toby Kiddle and Pat Brady offered to pull the boat, +for, of course, she had no regular crew. Two other men also +volunteered, and away we went. The other boats, however, had got a long +way ahead. We could only just distinguish the dim outline of the bay. +We pulled rapidly on, when, just as we were at the entrance of the +harbour, suddenly, from the deck of the ship, there burst forth loud +shouts and cries, the flashing of pistols and musketry, and the clashing +of steel, the sounds coming over to us across the calm water. Our men +were hotly engaged, of that there was no doubt, but, from the frequent +flashes of pistols, and the shouts of Spaniards as well as Englishmen, +it was doubtful which was gaining the day. The contest was evidently a +fierce one. Oldershaw's blood, in spite of his principles, was quickly +up, and he evidently thought very little about me or anything else, +except getting on deck as fast as he could, and joining in the fray. +Our crew strained every nerve to get alongside. As we pulled by, the +shouts and cries increased. The whole deck seemed one blaze of fire +from the rapid discharge of pistols and muskets, while every now and +then fearful shrieks burst from the bosoms of those who had been cut +down. The ship was a high one, and there was some difficulty in +climbing up out of our small boat. + +"Here's a lower port open!" exclaimed Pat Brady, springing up and +hauling himself into it. We all followed, and found ourselves the sole +possessors of the lower-deck. Whether our people had the fore or after +part of the deck we could not ascertain. We were about, however, to +make our way up, when we caught sight of several figures descending. +They were Spaniards, going apparently to the magazine for more +ammunition. Before they were aware of our presence, our men had sprung +upon them and cut them down. Scarcely had they ceased to breathe when +three other persons came down, apparently for the same object. Led by +Oldershaw, Kiddle and Brady with the others were upon them, and they too +were cut down. It being supposed, probably, that they were skulking, a +still larger number of people came down to look them up in the same +incautious manner, and before they had time to cry out they also were +slaughtered. An officer and several more men, swearing fearfully at the +cowardice of their companions, now jumped below, and were in like manner +cut down. I scarcely like to say how many people were killed in this +fearful way. Our men now made a dash aft with such fury that the +Spaniards on deck thought only of defending their lives. Two dead +bodies came tumbling down the hatchway, as well as another poor fellow, +only half killed, with a desperate wound on his shoulder. I should say +from the way he groaned, and an exclamation he uttered, I felt sure he +was an Englishman. I ran up to him, "Who are you?" I asked. It was +one of our men. + +"Is that you, Mr Burton?" he answered, in a faint voice. "It is going +hard with us, for the ship was full of people and they are fighting +well." Oldershaw, who just then came up, heard the words. "We will +turn the tide then!" he exclaimed. "Come on, lads!" + +We on this made our way forward, and reached the fore hatchway. Pat +Brady sprang up first, shouting, "The ship is ours! The ship is ours!" + +Oldershaw then taking the lead, we rushed aft, where our men were +fighting with a number of Spanish soldiers and seamen. With loud shouts +we dashed at our enemies, who, not seeing our numbers and supposing that +a fresh set of boarders had gained the deck, began to give way. + +We pressed on them, those who refused to yield or escape over the +taffrail being speedily cut down. The ship was ours, but we had still a +good deal to do. We had lost several people, killed and wounded, and we +had a large number of prisoners to keep in order. As yet the garrison +in the fort, not knowing who had gained the day, had not commenced +firing at us. We had time, therefore, to secure our prisoners. Sail +was then made on the ship, and her cable being cut, the boats towed her +head round. The topsails were sheeted home, and with a light +land-breeze we stood out of the bay. Having to pass pretty near the +fort, Mr Tilhard, the Second-Lieutenant, ordered the greater number of +the people to go below, he and Kiddle taking the helm; while the few who +remained on deck were directed to keep close under the bulwarks. It was +fortunate that these arrangements were made, for, as we drew near, the +Spaniards began to pepper us pretty sharply with round-shot and +musketry, the bullets flying thickly about us, while several shots +struck the hull. Had they been better gunners they might have done more +damage. Happily no one was hurt, though the sails were riddled and the +white planks laid bare in several places. + +As soon as the fight was over I thought of the poor fellow who had been +tumbled below. I went to look for him with a lantern. For some time I +could not discover where he was, for several Spaniards who had been +killed had fallen down at the same spot. Pat, who accompanied me, at +length discovered him. "He will not want any more human aid," he +observed, holding the lantern to his face. "The Spaniards have already +done for him." Whether, if instant aid had been afforded him, the man +might have escaped, I do not know, but his wound was a desperate one, +and he had apparently bled to death. We were received with loud cheers +from the frigate's decks, as in the grey dawn of morning we passed close +under her stern. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +Our prize--a ship of six hundred tons, and mounting fourteen guns-- +called the "Santiago," proved to be of considerable value. A prize crew +being put on board, we steered for Saint Helena, where it was possible +we might find a purchaser, and if not, Captain Oliver resolved to take +her to the Cape. Fortunately, at Saint Helena we found the officers and +crew of an Indiaman, which had been burnt at sea; and the Company's +agent there was very glad to purchase our prize, and send her on, most +of the goods being suitable to the Indian market. On concluding the +bargain, the agent presented the Captain with a couple of young tigers. +They were somewhat inconvenient pets, though they would have been +valuable had we been going home. However, as we had no others on board, +he accepted them, thinking they might serve to amuse the ship's company, +and having an idea, I believe, that they might be perfectly tamed. We +in the midshipmen's berth welcomed them with glee, and at once began to +teach them to perform all sorts of tricks. They would let us ride on +their backs, and they learned to leap through hoops and over ropes, and +they would rush round and round the deck at a rapid rate, and soon they +became the most playful, engaging creatures possible. Oldershaw was the +only person who expressed doubts about their amiability. + +"If I were the Captain, I would clip their claws and draw their teeth +before I would let them play with you youngsters," he observed. "Their +tricks may be playful now, but they will serve you a scurvy one before +long, or their nature is more changed than I believe it to be." + +Of course we laughed at his prognostications, and continued to amuse +ourselves with our pets as usual. The Cape was reached. We took on +board a supply of live and dead stock, having now a long run before us +across the Indian Ocean, into that part of the world where I had first +seen the light--the China Seas. We had several sheep and a supply of +hay to feed them on. Some of the men had an idea that our tamed pets +would gladly feed on the hay, but their carnivorous teeth refused to +munch it. They, however, turned suspiciously hungry glances towards the +newcomers. Oldershaw observed it, "They have probably never eaten sheep +or midshipmen," he observed, "but the nature to do so is in them, and +depend upon it their nature will have sway if we give them the +opportunity." However, as the animals were tolerably well-fed, and were +carefully caged, they gave no exhibition when anyone was watching them +of their evil propensities, if they possessed them. When our stock of +fresh meat was exhausted, first one sheep and then another was killed to +supply the Captain and officers' tables, a portion falling to the lot of +some of the men's messes. Their skins, which were peculiarly fine, were +cleansed and prepared by the armourer, who happened also to understand +the trade of a currier. Two of them were hung up to dry, when it came +into the brains of Tom Twig and Dicky Esse to clothe themselves in the +skins, and in high glee they came prancing about the deck, baa-ing away, +imitating two frolicsome lambs, with a tolerable amount of accuracy. +They afforded much amusement to us, their messmates, and not a little to +the men who happened to be on deck. Not content with amusing us, off +they went, into the neighbourhood of the tigers' cage. It ought to have +been shut, and generally was shut. So exact was their imitation of +nature that the beasts, after watching them with great eagerness for +some moments, could no longer resist their natural propensities. With +fierce leaps they rushed against the door of their cage. It gave way, +and out they sprang. One bound carried them on to the backs of their +expected prey. In another instant Tom and Dicky Esse would have been +torn to pieces, had they not, in a way midshipmen alone could have done, +slipped out of their skins, and rolled pale with terror across the deck. +The animals, finding only the dry skins, were about to make another +spring, when the man who had charge of them and had witnessed the scene, +came rushing up with his stick of office, and several other men coming +to his assistance with ropes, the savage creatures were forthwith +secured. Both the midshipmen were rather more frightened than hurt, and +in consideration of their terror they escaped any further consequences +of their conduct which was looked upon by the First-Lieutenant as +somewhat derogatory to the dignity which they were in duty bound to +maintain. + +After leaving the Cape, we were constantly becalmed, and then, getting +further east, fell in with a hurricane, from the effects of which +nothing but first-rate seamanship, under God's Providence, could have +preserved the frigate. We were now getting much in want of water, and +Captain Oliver, unwilling to go out of his way to any of the settlements +to obtain it, resolved to search for a supply at the first island we +should fall in with. At length we came in sight of a large island, with +yellow sands, and green palm trees waving in the breeze. Nothing could +be more attractive, but it appeared that nobody on board had been there +before. The master knew the existence of the island on the chart, but +whether it was inhabited or not, or by whom, he could not say. As no +anchorage was found, the ship was hove to, and three boats, with casks, +under the command of the Second-Lieutenant, and my friend Oldershaw, and +Pember, were directed to go on shore. I went with Oldershaw, and Twigg +and Esse went in the other boats. We pulled into the bay abreast of the +ship, where, between two projecting rocks, we found an excellent +landing-place, and not far from it a stream of water, clear and limpid. +As no natives appeared, the opinion was that that part of the island, at +all events, was uninhabited, and this made us somewhat careless. All +the casks being filled, the boats were sent back for a fresh supply, as +we could not hope to find a better place for filling up with that +important necessary. Pember, directing Tom Twigg to take charge of his +boat, invited Dicky Esse and me to accompany him meantime on a stroll to +see the island farther inland. He directed Toby Kiddle and Pat Brady to +follow with a couple of muskets. + +"Not that they will be wanted," he observed; "but if we do fall in with +any natives, it will make them treat us with respect." + +"If I were you, Pember, I would not go far from the bay," observed +Oldershaw, as he shoved off. + +"You are always uttering warnings, old Careful," muttered Pember; and, +leading the way, he turned his back on the sea and proceeded inland. + +The country was very beautiful. We soon came to a grove of cocoa-nuts, +when Pember proposed that we should procure a supply. This, however, +was more easily thought of than done. Pat Brady, who was the most +active of the party, declared that he could manage it after the native +fashion. He and Kiddle having placed the muskets against a tree, were +considering the best way of mounting. We went first to one tree and +then to another, to find one which seemed most easy to climb, with a +satisfactory reward at the top of it for our trouble. Having made a +band of sufficient strength with our handkerchiefs, Pat commenced his +ascent. He had got some way up, Kiddle having helped him as far as he +could reach, when suddenly a dozen dark-skinned savages sprang out from +among the trees, and before we could draw our pistols they had brought +us all to the ground. Forthwith they proceeded to bind our arms behind +us. Pat, seeing there was no use going higher, came gliding down the +tree, and was secured in the same manner. We endeavoured to make them +understand that we had desired to do them no harm, and that if the +cocoa-nuts were theirs, we should be happy to pay for them. Whether +they understood us or not I cannot say, but without more ado, three of +them attaching themselves to Pember, and a like number to each of the +other men--one black fellow, however, only taking charge of Dicky and +another of me--they dragged us off into the interior. In vain Pember +struggled and expostulated. The fierce gleam of their dark eyes, and +the keen blades of their glittering creeses which they flourished before +us, showed that it would be dangerous to dispute the point with them. +All we could do, therefore, was to move forward as they insisted, hoping +that, when our absence was discovered, a strong party might be sent in +pursuit of us, and that we might be recovered. We had not gone far when +they were joined by another band of a similar number, and we could not +help suspecting that they had been watching us all the time, but seeing +so many armed men round the boats had not ventured to attack us. This +made us still more regret our folly in having ventured alone into the +country. On, on we went. We had great reason to fear that they had no +intention of restoring us. At length they stopped at a village of +bamboo huts, covered with cocoa-nut leaves, from which a number of women +and children came forth to gaze at us. The children went shrieking away +when they saw our white skins, while the women advanced cautiously and +touched us, apparently to ascertain whether the red and white would come +off. + +"Faith, they take us for white niggers!" said Pat Brady, observing the +look of astonishment, not unmixed with disgust, with which the women +regarded us. "It's to be hoped they won't set us to work as we do the +blacks, though, to be sure, it would be better than eating us, and I +don't like the looks of those fellows at all, at all." + +"Depend upon it, if they don't eat us they will make us work, or why +should they otherwise carry us off?" observed Kiddle. "These Malay +fellows make slaves of all the people they can lay hands on. If it was +not for that they would cut our throats." + +These remarks made Dicky Esse and me feel very uncomfortable, till +Pember observed that perhaps they had carried us off in the hopes of +obtaining a ransom. This idea kept up our spirits a little; but as they +continued to drag us on further and further into the country, our hope +on that score greatly decreased. At length we reached another village, +in which was a large hut. Under the shade of a wide-spreading verandah +in front of it an old chief was seated on cushions; a dozen half-naked +savages with drawn swords standing behind him. He was dressed in a +dark-coloured turban, with a shawl over his shoulders, a belt, in which +were three or four formidable looking daggers with jewelled hilts, and a +curved sword by his side. His dark countenance was unpleasantly savage +and morose, and we felt that our lives would be of little value if they +depended upon the amiability of his disposition. Our captors arranged +us before him, and then appeared to be explaining how they had got +possession of us. He smiled grimly at the narration. As Pember, Dicky +Esse, and I were placed in advance, it was evident that our captors +looked upon us as of more value than the men. This made us hope that +they were entertaining some thoughts of allowing us to be ransomed, for +in every other way the men were likely to prove more useful to them than +we should. + +After our captors had said all they had to say, the old chief made a few +remarks in return. Before he had ceased speaking, several of his guards +advanced towards us with their sharp-looking swords glittering in the +sunbeams. It was a moment of intense anxiety. It seemed evident they +intended to kill us. We could, however, neither fly nor defend +ourselves. + +"I say, Ben, have you said your prayers?" whispered Dicky to me. "If +not, it is time to begin." + +Pember prepared to meet his fate with dogged resolution, his dark red +countenance turning almost to an ashy hue. Kiddle and Brady, as I cast +my eye on them, were evidently preparing to show fight. + +"Knock the fellow next you down, Pat," said Toby, "and get hold of his +cutlash. I will treat mine the same, and if we cannot get away we will +die game." + +Suddenly our expected executioners stopped, and stood waving their +weapons at a short distance from our necks. The chief continued +haranguing for some time, and when he ceased others stepped forth from +the crowd and addressed him. Whether or not the chief had intended to +kill us, we could not ascertain, but having kept us in most disagreeable +suspense for half-an-hour or more, though it seemed several hours, the +men with the swords faced about, and marched back to their former +position. Our guards then carried us off to a hut at a little distance, +into which we were all thrust, several men standing outside as a guard +over us. After some time they brought us a mess of grain of some sort, +well seasoned with pepper. + +"I suppose they don't intend to kill us, or they would not give us +this," observed Pat, taking a handful from the bowl, as, of course, we +were left to feed ourselves, with our fingers. "Faith, it's not so bad, +after all." + +His example was followed by Dicky and me, and after a time Pember and +Kiddle, unable any longer to restrain their appetites, also commenced +eating. A supply of dry leaves and long grass, with several carpets, +were brought in, and we were given to understand that they were to serve +us as beds. This sort of treatment again raised our hopes that our +captors might give us our liberty on receiving a ransom. Our difficulty +would be to communicate with the ship. + +"They cannot expect any very large sum for us," observed Pember, who, +deprived of any stimulant, was getting sadly out of spirits. "The +Captain would not consent to pay much for me, I am afraid, and you two +youngsters are worth little enough." + +"Speak for yourself," answered Esse. "I rather think the Captain sets a +higher estimation on me than you do." + +"Whether or not, for the honour of the flag they will not desert us," I +observed. + +Pember on this gave a faint sickly laugh. + +"Few inquiries would be made at the Admiralty as to what had become of +an old mate and two youngsters. Expended on a watering party--killed by +savages. Such would be our epitaph, and the matter would be settled to +the satisfaction of all parties." + +No wonder, considering the circumstances, that our conversation did not +take a more lively tone. Pat Brady, to be sure, did his best now and +then to get up a laugh, but with very poor success. + +"Keep silence, man!" exclaimed Pember, at last, in a surly tone. "You +will be singing out in a different way to-morrow morning when they get +the ovens ready." + +"Faith, I suppose they would be after making me into an Irish stew, or a +dish of bubble and squeak!" exclaimed Pat, whose spirits were not to be +quelled even with the anticipation of being turned into a feast for +cannibals. I had an idea, however, that the people into whose hands we +had fallen were not addicted to such practices, and was, therefore, not +much influenced by the remarks which Pember occasionally made as to our +probable fate. We were allowed to pass the night in quietness, and next +morning another bowl of food was brought to us, with a basket of fruit +of various sorts, very acceptable in that hot climate. We waited +anxiously, expecting the arrival of a party from the frigate, either to +rescue us by force, or to offer a ransom for our liberty; but no one +appeared, nor did any of the natives, except the man who brought the +food, come to the hut. Once, during an interval of silence, Esse +declared he heard firing, but though we listened with all our might, the +sounds reached no other ears. After a time, indeed, we all fancied we +heard the boom of great guns, but even of that we could not be quite +certain. Night again came round, and no one had come to look for us. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +Several days passed by; we were still prisoners, and all hope of being +rescued by our friends vanished. We came to the conclusion that they +supposed we were killed, especially as Kiddle told us he had known of +several boats' crews having been cut off by the natives in those seas. +What was to be our fate we could not tell; it was not likely to be a +pleasant one, at all events. One day the whole village appeared to be +in commotion; loud shouts were heard, and presently the door of our hull +was thrown open, and several men entered, who dragged us out into the +midst of a large crowd collected in the open space in front of it. +Among them was the old chief whom we had seen on the day of our capture; +a number of the men had hoes and other implements of agriculture. After +a good deal of palaver, a hoe was put into Pember's hands, and signs +were made to him that he was to go to work with it. Toby and Pat had +hoes given to them also. Esse fancied that we should be allowed to +escape. + +"They think us too little to work, I hope," he observed; but scarcely +were the words out of his mouth than we both of us had implements put +into our hands, and a pretty heavy whip being exhibited, signs were made +to us that we should join our companions. We were forthwith marched off +to a field where several natives were already at work. Apparently it +belonged to the old chief, for he sat on a raised spot at the further +end, under an awning, watching the proceedings with a complacent air +which especially excited Pember's wrath. When, also, at times the old +mate relaxed in his labours, a dark-skinned fellow with a turban on his +head, who seemed to act the part of an overseer, made him quickly resume +them by an unmistakable threatening gesture. Thus we were kept at work +till late in the evening, when we were all allowed to knock off and go +back to our hut, where a larger amount of food than usual was awarded +us. Next day we were called up at early dawn, and the hoes again were +put into our hands. Sometimes the overseer, and sometimes one of the +other men, came and showed us how to use them. All day long we were +kept at work with the exception of a short time, when we were allowed to +rest and take some food which was brought to us in the fields. We could +no longer enjoy any hopes of regaining our liberty. It seemed as if we +were destined to be turned into slaves, and to be worked as hard as any +negroes in the West India plantations. At first Pember was very +miserable, but abstinence from his usual liquor at length, I think, did +him good, and he grew fatter and stronger than he had been since I first +knew him. Still he persisted that he was dying, and should never again +see the shores of England. The rest of us did our best to keep up our +spirits, Esse and I told stories to each other, and formed plans for +escaping. Some of them were very ingenious, and more or less hazardous; +most, in reality, utterly impracticable, because, not knowing where we +were, and having no means of getting away from the coast, even had we +made our way to the shore, we should very soon have been brought back +again. I might spin a long yarn about our captivity, but I do not think +it would be interesting. Our days were monotonous enough, considering +we were kept at the same work from sunrise to sunset. What a glorious +feeling is hope! Hope kept us alive, for in spite of every difficulty +we hoped, some time or other, to escape. At length one day as we were +working, the old chief as usual looking on, a stranger arrived, and, +going up to where he was seated, made a salaam before him. After a +palaver of some minutes, which I could not help thinking had reference +to us, the old chief called the overseer, and sent him down to where we +were working. He went up to Pember, and made signs to him to go to the +chief. + +"Sure that's a message for us!" exclaimed Pat Brady. "Arrah, Ben, my +boy, you will be after seeing your dear mother again; and the thought +that she has been mourning for you has been throubling my heart more +than the hard work and the dishonour of labouring for these blackamoors. +Hurrah! Erin-go-bragh! I am right sure it's news that's coming to +us." + +By this time the overseer had spoken to Kiddle, and finally we were all +conducted up to the chief. What was our astonishment to see the +stranger produce a letter and hand it to Pember. It was written by the +captain of a frigate, stating that having heard that some British seamen +were detained by a petty chief, he had gone to the Rajah of the country, +who had agreed that they should be liberated. The letter was addressed +to any officer, or the principal person who was among them, advising +them to follow the messenger, who could be trusted. The old chief +seemed very indignant, but the envoy was evidently determined to carry +out his instructions. + +"Sure he need not grumble," observed Pat Brady, "the big thief has been +getting a good many months' work out of us, and sure that's more than he +had any right to. Still we will part friends with him, and show him +that we bear him no ill-will." On this, Pat, not waiting for the rest, +went up and insisted on shaking the old chief cordially by the hand; the +rest of us, with the exception of Pember, did the same. I need scarcely +say that it was with no little amount of satisfaction that we began our +march under the guidance of the Rajah's envoy. I doubt if any of our +friends would have known us, so changed had we become during our +captivity. Rice and other grain diet may suit the natives of those +regions, but it certainly does not agree with an Englishman's +constitution. We were all pale and thin, our hair long and shaggy, our +clothes worn and tattered. We had darned them and mended them up as +best we could with bits of native cloth, but in spite of our efforts we +officers had a very unofficerlike appearance; while the two men might +have served for street beggars, representing shipwrecked sailors, but +were very unlike British men-of-war's men. Eager as we were to get on, +we made little progress across the rough country, and not till nearly +the close of the second day did we obtain a glimpse of the bright blue +sea. Our hearts bounded with joy when we saw it. Still more delightful +was it to gaze down from a height which we reached on the well-squared +yards and the white deck of a British frigate which lay at anchor in the +harbour below us. Pat threw up his hat and shouted for joy. He was the +only one of us who retained anything like a hat; only an Irishman, +indeed, would have thought of preserving so battered a head-covering. + +"Sure it serves to keep my brains from broiling," he observed, "and what +after all is the use of a hat but for that, and just to toss up in the +air when one's heart's in the mood to leap after it?" So near did the +frigate appear that we felt inclined to hail her to send a boat on +shore, though our voices would in reality have been lost in mid-air, +long before the sound could reach her decks. We should have hurried +down to the shore, had not our guide insisted on our proceeding first to +the Rajah's abode, where he might report our arrival in safety and claim +a reward for himself, as well as the better to enable the Rajah to put +in his own claims for a recompense. We were still standing in the +presence of the great man, when a lieutenant and a couple of midshipmen +with about twenty armed seamen made their appearance in the courtyard. +Dicky Esse and I no sooner caught sight of them than, unable to restrain +our eagerness, we rushed forward intending to shake hands with them. + +"Hillo, what are these curious little imps about?" exclaimed one of the +midshipmen, as we were running towards them. + +"Imp?" exclaimed Dicky. "You would look like an imp if you had been +made to hoe in the fields all day long with the sun right overhead for +the best part of half-a-year. I am an officer like yourself, and will +not stand an insult, that I can tell you!" This reply was received with +a burst of laughter from the two midshipmen; but the lieutenant, +guessing who we were, received us both in a very kind way, and Pember +with Kiddle and Pat coming up, he seemed highly pleased to find that we +were the prisoners he had been sent to liberate. The frigate, he told +us, was the "Resolution," Captain Pemberton, who, having heard through +some of the natives that some English seamen were in captivity, had +taken steps to obtain our release. + +"We told the Rajah that if any of you were injured, or if his people +refused to restore you, we would blow his town about his ears--a far +more effectual way of dealing with these gentry than mild expostulations +or gentle threats. And now," he added, "if there are no more of you we +will return on board." In a short time we were standing on the deck of +the frigate. Her captain received us very kindly, and soon afterwards +we made sail. The frigate being rather short of officers, we were +ordered to do duty till we could fall in with our own ship. Pember +grumbled somewhat, declaring that he ought to be allowed to rest after +the hardships he had gone through. People seldom know what is best for +them, nor did he, as will be shown in the sequel. Both Dicky Esse and I +were placed in the same watch, as were our two followers. The +"Resolution" had not fallen in with our frigate, and therefore we could +gain no tidings of any of our friends, and as she, it was supposed, had +sailed for Canton, we might not fall in with her for some time. We +cruised round and about the shores of the numberless islands of those +seas, sometimes taking a prize, and occasionally attacking a fort or +injuring and destroying the property of our enemies whenever we could +meet with it. One night, while I was on watch, I found Kiddle near me. +Though he did not hesitate to speak to me as of yore, yet he never +seemed to forget that I was now on the quarter-deck. + +"Do you know, Mr Burton," he observed, "that I have found an old +acquaintance on board? He was pilot in the `Boreas,' and he is doing +the same sort of work here. I never quite liked the man, though he is a +fair spoken enough sort of gentleman." + +"What! Is that Mr Noalles?" I asked. + +"The same!" and Toby then gave me the account which I have before noted +of that person. + +"That is strange!" I said. "I really fancied I had seen him before. +Directly I came on board it struck me that I knew the man, and yet of +course I cannot recollect him after so many years." He was a dark, +large-whiskered man, with a far from pleasant expression of countenance. +The ship had been on the station some time, and rather worse for wear +and tear. We had not been on board long, when one night as I was in my +hammock I felt it jerk in a peculiar manner, and was almost sent out of +it. I was quickly roused by a combination of all conceivable sounds:-- +the howling of the wind, the roar of the seas, which seemed to be +dashing over us. The rattling of ropes and blocks, the creaking of +bulkheads, the voices of the men shouting to each other and asking what +had happened, were almost deafening, even to ears accustomed to such +noises. + +"We are all going to be drowned!" I heard Dicky Esse, whose hammock +slung next to mine, sing out. "Never mind, Dicky," I answered, "we will +have a struggle for life at all events, and may be, as the savages did +not eat us, the sea will not swallow us up." + +Finding everybody was turning out, I huddled on my clothes as best I +could, and with the rest found my way on deck, though I quickly wished +myself below again, as it was no easy matter to keep my footing when I +was there, and preserve myself from slipping into the sea, which was +dashing wildly over our bulwarks. The ship was on her beam-ends. By +the light of the vivid flashes of lightning which continued incessantly +darting here and there round us, I saw the Captain half-dressed, with +his garments under one of his arms, shouting out his orders, which the +lieutenants, much in the same state as to costume, were endeavouring to +get executed, their voices, however, being drowned in the tempest. For +some minutes, indeed, even the best seamen could scarcely do anything +but hold on for their lives. One thing appeared certain: either the +masts must be cut away, or the guns hove overboard. It seemed +impossible, if this could not be done, that the ship would continue +above water. Suddenly with a violent jerk up she rose again on an even +keel with her topmasts carried away, and the rigging beating with +fearful force about our heads. + +"Clear away the wreck!" shouted the Captain. Such was now the no easy +task to be performed. The officers, however, with axes in their hands, +leading the way, sprang aloft, followed by the topmen. Blocks and spars +came rattling down on deck to the no small risk of those below. At +length the shattered spars having been cleared away, head sail was got +on the ship, and off she ran before the hurricane, the master having +ascertained that we had a clear sea before us. When morning dawned, the +frigate, which had looked so trim at sunset, presented a sadly battered +appearance, her topmasts gone, the deck lumbered with the wreck, two of +the boats carried away, a part of the lee-bulwarks stove in. The +carpenter too, after going below with his mates, returned on deck and +reported that the ship was making water very fast. "We must ease her, +sir," I heard him say, "or I cannot answer for her weathering the gale." +The Captain took a turn or two along the quarter-deck, his countenance +showing the anxiety he felt. + +"It must be done," I heard him say. "Send Mr Block aft." He was the +gunner. "We must heave some of our upper-deck guns overboard, Mr +Block." The gunner seemed inclined to plead for them. + +"It must be done," said the Captain. And now the crew, who would have +sprung joyfully to the guns to man them against an enemy, began with +unwilling hands to cast the tackles loose in order to launch them into +the ocean. Watching the roll of the ship, first one gun was sent +through the port into the deep--another and another followed. + +"By my faith it's like pulling out the old girl's teeth, and giving her +no chance of biting," observed Pat Brady, who was standing near me. + +"We will keep a few of her grinders in though, Pat," observed Kiddle: +"we must handle them the smarter if we come alongside an enemy, to make +amends for those we have lost." + +The heavy weight on her upper-deck being thus got rid of, the frigate +laboured less, and the pumps being kept going, the water no longer +continued to gain upon us. However, it was necessary to work the chain +pumps night and day to keep the water under. At length we arrived at +Amboyna, where we remained some time repairing damages and refitting the +frigate as far as we were able. + +"I wish we were aboard our own ship again," said Kiddle to me one day, +"for I don't know how it is, but the crew of this ship declare that she +is doomed to be unlucky. I don't know how many men they have not lost. +They have scarcely taken a prize, and they are always getting into +misfortune. It's not the fault of the Captain, for he is as good a +seaman as ever stepped, and the officers are all very well in their way, +and so there's no doubt it's the ship's fault. Some of the people, to +be sure, don't like Mr Noalles, the pilot. They don't know who he is +or where he came from, though that to my mind has nothing to do with it, +for it's not likely he would be aboard here if he was not known to be a +right sort of person." + +At length we once more sailed for a place called Booroo, where we got a +supply of wood and water, as well as refreshments and stock, and then +sailed for the Straits of Banca. As we were standing along the coast, +when daylight broke one morning, we saw towards the land a number of +vessels, which were pronounced to be pirate prows. In their midst was a +large brig, which they had apparently captured. We were standing +towards them when the land-breeze died away, and we lay becalmed, unable +to get nearer. On this the boats were ordered out, and two of the +lieutenants, the master, and a couple of mates took the command. Dicky +Esse and I accompanied the Second-Lieutenant. Our orders were to board +the prows, and if they offered any resistance, to destroy them. The +water was smooth and beautifully blue, while the rising sun tipped the +topmost heights of the lofty hills, which rose, as it were, out of the +ocean, feathered almost from their summits to the water's edge with +graceful trees. There lay the brig, while the prows were clustered like +so many beasts of prey around their quarry. The pirates seemed in no +way alarmed at our approach. Our leader, however, had made up his mind, +in spite of their numbers to board the brig, and then, should the prows +interfere, to attack them. As soon as this resolution was come to, we +dashed forward to get on board her without delay. The pirates seemed +scarcely aware of our intention, and before any of the prows had lifted +an anchor we were on board. Some forty or fifty dark-skinned, +villainous-looking fellows had possession of the brig, but they were +probably unable to use the big guns, and though they made some little +resistance, we soon drove them forward, a considerable number being cut +down, the rest jumping overboard, and attempting to swim towards the +prows, which, instantly getting out their sweeps, began to approach us. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +The brig was ours, but we were not to be allowed to carry her off +without a struggle. There were certainly not less than twenty prows, +each of them carrying from fifty to a hundred men; and though the +frigate's guns would have dispersed them like chaff before the wind, she +was too far off to render us any assistance. We had therefore to depend +upon the guns of the brig for our defence. They had all been discharged +probably by her former crew, who had struggled desperately in her +defence. Several of them lay about the deck, cut down when the pirates +boarded. They appeared to be Dutchmen, with two or three natives. One +of the mates and I, with a couple of men, were ordered down immediately +we got on board to bring up shot and powder from the magazine. On our +way I looked into the cabin. There, a sight met my eyes which made me +shudder. Close to the entrance lay on his back a tall, fine looking old +gentleman with silvery locks, while further in, two young women, their +skin somewhat dark, but very handsome, they seemed to me, and well +dressed, lay clasped in each other's arms, perfectly dead. It seemed as +if the same bullet had killed them both. We had no time, however, to +make further observations, but hurrying down we found that the magazine +was open. We immediately sent up a supply of powder, as well as +round-shot, which were stowed not far off. We were hurrying on deck +again, when I thought I saw something glittering under the ladder. It +was a man's eye. Repressing the impulse to cry out, I told Esse what I +had seen. At the same moment we sprang down and seized the man, Esse +receiving a severe cut as we did so. At the same instant a pistol +bullet whistled by my ear. It was shot at the magazine, but happily it +was at too great a distance to allow the flash to ignite the powder. +Fortunately my right hand was free, and drawing my dirk, I pinned our +antagonist through the throat to the deck. He still struggled, but +another blow from my companion silenced him for ever. I felt a +sensation come over me I had never before experienced, but it was not a +time to give way to my feelings. Had I not discovered the man, we +should probably in a few minutes have all been blown into the air. The +prows were coming rapidly on. + +"If we had a breeze we should do well," observed our commanding officer, +"but if not we shall have tough work to keep these fellows off." Our +guns were loaded and run out. "We must not throw a shot away," observed +the Lieutenant. He kept looking out in hopes of a breeze. The topsails +had been loosened, and all was ready for making sail. "Cut the cable," +he shouted at length. + +"Sheet home the topsails! Man the starboard braces! Up with the helm!" +Our sails filled and the vessel's head slowly turned away from the +shore, just as the nearest prow was a dozen fathoms from us. A couple +of shot threw her crew into confusion, and before they could grapple us +we glided by them, every instant gathering way. "Give the next the +stem," shouted the Lieutenant. We did so, but we had scarcely way +enough to do the vessel much injury. The other prows were now gathering +thickly round us, and it was time for us to open on them with our guns. +The enemy had no great guns, but the instant we began firing, they +returned the compliment with matchlocks and javelins, which came flying +thickly on board. As we had to fight both sides at once, we had but +little time to use our own small-arms. However, while the men were +working the guns, Esse and I and another midshipman loaded the muskets +with which the men fired while the guns were being sponged and loaded, +we youngsters doing our part by firing the muskets which were not used. +So rapidly did we work our guns, that many of the prows at a distance +hesitated to approach us, while those which got near were quickly half +knocked to pieces. "Hurrah! There goes one of them down!" sung out +Kiddle, who was hauling in his gun. "And there's another! And +another!" shouted others of the crew. The breeze was increasing. Again +the prows came on on both sides, but our guns were all loaded, and we +gave them such a dose, few of our guns missing, that once more they +dropped astern in confusion. The wind had now reached the frigate, +which under all sail was standing towards us. When the pirates saw this +they well knew that their chance of victory was gone, and the crews of +the headmost ones, again firing their matchlocks and darting a few more +spears at us, pulled round, and made off with all speed towards the +shore. Luffing up, we brought our broadside to bear upon them, and gave +them a few parting shots, our crew giving a hearty cheer in token of +victory. We were soon up to the frigate, when Captain Pemberton ordered +us by signal to run back, and keep as close in shore as we could, in +order to watch the proceedings of the pirates. However, before long it +again fell a calm, and both the frigate and brig had to come to an +anchor. Soon after, the Captain and several officers came on board the +brig to examine her, and to ascertain more particularly what she was, +and who were the murdered persons on board. Among others was Mr +Noalles the pilot. No sooner did he enter the cabin than he started +back with a cry of horror. + +"What is the matter? Who are those?" asked the Captain, seeing the +glance he cast at the dead man and the two ladies. + +"Little did I expect to see them thus," he answered. "They were my +friends, from whom I have often when at Batavia received great +attention. That old man was one of the principal merchants in the +place, and those poor girls were his daughters," and again I observed +the look of grief and horror with which Mr Noalles regarded them. +There had apparently been two or three other passengers on board, but +what had become of them, or the remainder of the crew, we could find +nothing on board to tell us. The sight of those poor girls, cruelly +murdered in their youth and beauty, was enough certainly to make the +hardest heart on board bleed, and yet how much worse might have been +their fate. A prize crew was put on board the brig, but of course the +cabin was held sacred till the murdered people were committed to their +ocean grave. At first it was proposed to bury them on shore, but a +strong force would have been required had we landed, and as their +remains might afterwards have been disturbed, it was determined to +commit them to the deep. For this purpose the next morning the Captain +came on board the brig with most of the officers, the sailmaker having +in the meantime closely fastened up each form in several folds of stout +canvas, with a heavy shot at the feet. As Mr Noalles informed the +Captain the deceased were Protestants, he used the burial service from +the Church of England prayer book. The words, indeed, sounded +peculiarly solemn to our ears. All present probably had heard it over +and over again when a shipmate had died from wounds in battle or +sickness brought on in the service, but their deaths were all in the +ordinary way. These people had been cut off in a very different manner. +I remember particularly those words, "In the midst of life we are in +death." They made an impression on me at the time, and more so from +what afterwards occurred. As they were uttered the old man's corpse was +allowed to glide off slowly into the calm ocean, into the depths of +which it shot down rapidly. The bodies of the poor girls were launched +one by one in the same manner, and I could not help jumping into the +rigging to watch them, as the two shrouded figures went down and down in +the clear water, till gradually they were lost to view. Most of us then +returned on board the frigate. Such stores as the brig required were +sent to her, as well as a prize crew, and she was then despatched to +Amboyna to bring the frigate certain stores which it appeared she +required. As our ship was supposed to be cruising in another direction, +we remained on board, in the hopes of falling in with her. A light +breeze towards evening enabled the brig to get under weigh three or four +days after the circumstances I have just related. Esse, who drew very +well, made a sketch of her as she stood along the land, the rays of the +setting sun shedding a pink glow on her canvas, while the whole ocean +was lighted up with the same rosy hue. One side of the picture was +bounded by the horizon, the other by the yellow shores and the lofty +broken tree-covered heights of the island. We remained at anchor, +intending to sail in the morning, should there be sufficient wind to +enable us to move. As the sun was sinking into the ocean, the sky and +water for a few seconds were lighted up with a glow of brightest orange, +which faded away as the shades of night came stealing across the water +from the east. In a short time the stars overhead burst forth, and +shone down upon us, their light reflected in the mirror-like expanse on +which we floated. The heat was very great. Esse and Pember had the +middle watch under the Third-Lieutenant of the ship (the second had gone +away in the prize). The heat making me unwilling to turn into my +hammock, I continued to walk the deck with Esse. Sometimes we stopped +and leaned against a gun-carriage, talking, as midshipmen are apt to +talk, of home, or future prospects, or of late occurrences. + +"That foreign-looking pilot aboard here is a strange fellow," observed +Esse to me. "The people think him not quite right in his mind. They +say he talks in his sleep, and did you observe his look when he caught +sight of the murdered people aboard the brig?" I did not, however, +agree with Dicky's notions. + +"The man had been employed on board ships of war for many years, I am +told," I answered. "And if he was not a respectable character it is not +likely that they would take him." + +"As to that I have my doubts," answered Esse. "All they look to is to +get a good pilot who knows the ugly navigation of these seas, and that, +I suppose, at all events, he does. But see, who is that on the other +side of the deck?" As he spoke he pointed to a person who was standing, +apparently looking out at some object far away across the sea. + +"Yes, that is he," I whispered. "I hope he did not hear us." + +"If he did it does not signify," said Esse. While we were looking at +him, the man walked directly aft, and remained gazing, as he had done +before, into the distance over the taffrail. The watch at length came +to an end. "I shall caulk it out on deck," said I. Esse agreed to do +the same. Indeed several of the crew were sleeping on deck--Kiddle and +Brady among them. There also was Pember. Indeed it seemed surprising +that anybody could manage to exist in the oven-like heat which prevailed +in the lower part of the ship. "Sound slumber to you, Burton," said +Esse, and he and I before a minute passed were fast asleep. How long we +had slept I do not know, but I was awoke with the most terrific roar I +had ever heard. I felt myself lifted right up into the air, and then, +as it were, shoved off with tremendous violence from the deck on which I +was lying, and plunged into the water. Down! Down! I sank. My ears +seemed cracking with the continued roar. My breath was going. The +horror of deep waters was upon me. Then suddenly I appeared to be +bounding up again. I thought it was all a dream; I expected to find +myself in my hammock, or in my bed at Whithyford, and certainly not +struggling amidst the foaming waters in the Indian Seas. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +When I came to the surface, I found myself amidst a mass of wreck, and +several human beings struggling desperately for dear life. Some were +crying out for help, others clutching at fragments of timber which +floated near, and others striking out and keeping themselves afloat by +their own exertions. I had become a pretty good swimmer, and seeing a +part of the wreck above water not far from me, I made towards it. On my +way I saw a person clinging to a spar a couple of fathoms off. "Who is +that?" said a voice. It was that of Dicky Esse. "Burton," I answered. +"Oh! Do help me!" he cried out. "I cannot swim, and I cannot hold on +much longer, and if I do not reach the wreck I shall drop off and be +drowned!" + +"Hold on," I shouted, "and perhaps I may be able to tow the spar up to +the wreck. I will try at all events; but do not let go, Dicky! Do not +on any account!" + +I swam to the spar, and, partly resting on it, shoved it before me +towards the wreck, but still I made but slow progress. I was afraid +that I should be obliged, after all, to give it up, as I felt my +strength going, when a man swimming powerfully reached us. "Help! +Help! Do help me!" I cried out. He said nothing, but just touching +the spar with one hand, so as not to sink it deeper in the water, he +shoved it on till we reached the wreck. The hammock nettings were just +above water, and afforded us a better resting-place than we could have +expected. "Thank you! Thank you!" I said, as the man hauled Dicky and +me into this place of refuge. "What shall we next do?" + +"Wait till morning, and if we are then alive, we must get on shore as +best we can," he answered. I knew by the voice and accent of the +speaker that he was Mr Noalles. The bright stars shining down from the +sky gave us sufficient light to distinguish objects at a considerable +distance. As we looked out we saw several other persons still alive, +some swimming, others holding on to bits of timber. We shouted out to +them, lest they should not be aware that they could obtain a place to +rest on, at all events, until morning. A voice not far off answered us. +"Who is that?" I cried out, for I thought I recognised it. "Toby +Kiddle, sir," was the answer. He was swimming up towards us. "I have +just passed Mr Pember clinging to a piece of the wreck. I will go back +and try to bring him here." + +"I will go with you," I said. + +"No, no, youngster, stay where you are," observed Mr Noalles; "you will +be drowned if you make the attempt; I will go!" The next instant he was +striking out in the direction in which Toby was now swimming. + +Esse and I watched them anxiously as they disappeared in the gloom. I +was very thankful to think that Toby Kiddle was alive, but I could not +help wishing that Pat Brady had escaped also, as I knew that he had been +on deck and close to Kiddle. While we were looking out for the return +of our shipmates, another man, one of the seamen, reached the wreck. He +said he was greatly scorched, and it seemed surprising that he should +have been able to swim so far. There were yet a number of people +floating about alive, and when we shouted several voices answered us. +Among them I thought I recognised Pat's. "Brady, is that you?" I cried +out. "By the powers it's myself, I belave," answered Pat, "but where I +have been to, or what I have been about, or where this is happening +bothers me particularly. And how I am ever to get to you is more than I +can tell." + +"I must go to help him," said I to Esse, "for he will be drifted away, +even if he manages to cling to whatever he has got hold of." + +"But surely he is drifting towards us," observed Esse. "He has got +nearer since he began to speak." Such indeed was the case, and even +before Kiddle and Mr Noalles returned with Pember, not only Pat, but +two or three other men had been drifted up to us. Pat had helped +himself along by striking out with his feet, though he was but a poor +swimmer; indeed, I have scarcely ever met an Irish seaman who could +swim. We could make out other people still floating at some distance. +Now and then a cry was heard. We shouted in return, but there was no +reply. It was the last despairing utterance of one of our shipmates, +before he sank below the surface. Those on the wreck were already so +exhausted that no one could go to their assistance. There were rather +more than a dozen altogether, I believe, clinging to the wreck. Several +of them, from the exclamations they uttered, I found were suffering from +scorching, or the blows they had received from falling pieces of the +wreck. + +Morning at length dawned upon us poor human beings--the sole survivors +of the ship's company, who but a few hours before were I enjoying life +and strength. Just then the words which I had heard at the funeral came +across my mind--"In the midst of life we are in death." How true it had +proved to them. It might prove true to us also, for our prospects of +escape were small indeed. Pieces of the wreck were floating about +around us, and I thought I made out two or three people still holding on +to the fragments, but I could not be certain. In the far distance were +the shores of the island. It seemed so far off, that we could scarcely +hope to reach it; yet reach it we must, if our lives were to be saved. +The sea was smooth, and the warmth of the water prevented our being +benumbed from being so long in it. Still, as the sun rose, all hands +began to complain of thirst. Something must be done, however. I asked +Pember what he would advise, as he, being the highest in rank among us, +would have to take the command; but his drinking habits had unnerved +him, and he answered, incoherently, "We must swim, I suppose, if we +cannot get the wreck under way." Esse and I then turned to Mr Noalles. +He had occasionally uttered a deep groan, as if in pain. I found that +he was severely hurt, partly from the fire, and also from the blows he +had received. At first, apparently, he had not been aware how seriously +he had been injured. "We must build a raft, lads," he answered at +length. "See! Here is the main-yard alongside of us, with the +main-sail and plenty of rope hanging on to it. We shall have no lack of +materials, but there are not many of us, I am afraid, fit for the work." +He spoke too truly. Esse and I had escaped the best. Kiddle, also, +was only slightly injured, and two of the ship's company had escaped, +while all the rest were more or less hurt, two or three of them very +badly. It seemed a wonder they could have got on to the wreck, while +Pember, either from external injury or the shock his nerves had +received, was likely to be of little use. + +While we were looking out for the spars and pieces of timber to form our +raft, a round object appeared at a little distance. "It's a pumpkin!" +cried one of the men. I darted into the water and struck out for it. +Thankful, indeed, was I to get such a prize. I soon brought it back. +It was meat and drink to us, and though, divided into so many, there was +little for each, yet it might assist in saving our lives. A double +share was awarded me, but I declined taking more than the rest. It +revived us greatly, and with our strength somewhat restored, we began +the building of our raft. Those who could swim every now and then +struck off to get hold of pieces of wood to serve our purpose. Among +other things the jolly-boat's mast was found, and it was agreed that it +would serve us well for a mast for the raft. It was hard work getting +up the canvas which hung down in the water, but at length with our +knives we cut off a sufficient quantity for a sail. The rope served as +for lashing the spars which we had collected together. At length we +managed to get a frame-work formed. Across this we lashed other spars +and planks, but it was a very slow business, for some of the men could +only use one hand. Others had their legs so injured that they could not +move from where they sat; while so greatly diminished was the strength +of everyone of us, that we were unable to secure the lashings as +thoroughly as was necessary. + +"It is to be hoped no sea will be after getting up, or all our fine work +will be tumbling to pieces entirely," observed Pat, as he surveyed what +we had done. + +"This will never do as it is," observed Mr Noalles. "We must build a +platform on the top of it, to keep us out of the water." + +There was no lack of materials to do as he proposed, and we, therefore, +immediately set about building the platform. Its weight brought the +lower part of the raft deeper into the water, but that could not be +helped. Some hours passed by while we were thus engaged, and again +thirst attacked us. We had only eaten half the pumpkin. Some of the +men entreated that they might have the remainder. "Give it them--give +it them," sang out Pember, "and give me a piece. It is the last morsel +we shall probably put into our mouths." The fruit was cut up into +twelve small slices, and distributed evenly. Even now I recollect the +delight with which my teeth crunched the cool fruit. Every particle, +rind and all, was consumed, as may be supposed. We now stepped our +mast, and got a sail ready for hoisting. As the raft was small for +supporting so many people, great care was necessary in balancing +ourselves on it. Mr Noalles, who was evidently suffering greatly, and +three of the men who were most injured, were placed on the platform in +the centre. The rest of us ranged ourselves round them, Kiddle steering +with a spar, which we had rigged as a rudder. There was very little +wind; what there was, was blowing in the direction of the low land of +Sumatra, which we calculated to be about four leagues off. Mr Noalles +told us that some fifteen or twenty leagues to the north of it was a +Dutch settlement. If we could reach it, we might there obtain +assistance. By this time Pember had roused up a little, and was able to +assume the command of our frail craft, for when he had his proper wits +about him he was a very good seaman. Noalles, meantime, was getting +worse and worse. It was nearly two hours after noon before our task was +accomplished. We had picked up everything we could find floating about +the wreck, but not a particle of food appeared, nor did a cask of water +pass near us. What would we not have given for that. All this time the +sun, in burning splendour, had been beating down upon our unprotected +heads, for most of us had lost our hats. I secured a handkerchief round +my head, and Esse did the same. + +"Are you all ready, lads?" asked Pember. "Ay! Ay! Sir," was the +answer. "Then shove off, and I pray we may reach yonder coast before +dark." We glided slowly on. For some time we appeared to be +approaching the land. Then, from the way we moved, we discovered that a +current was running, and was carrying us to the southward, rather away +from than nearer the point we hoped to reach. Mr Noalles, who was just +able to sit up, saw what was happening. + +"I thought so," he muttered. "With so great a wretch as I am on board, +there is little chance of the raft reaching the shore. If the people +were wise they would heave me overboard; but, oh! I am not fit to die. +I dare not face death and that which is to come after it!" + +These words were said in so low a tone that I alone, who was sitting +close to him, could understand him. + +"Die! Did I say? And yet how often have I faced death, without a +moment's thought of the future, or a grain of fear!" + +"What makes you then think so much about it now, sir?" I asked. "I +hope we shall get on shore, and that you will recover." I was anxious +to calm the feelings of the poor man, though I was scarcely surprised to +hear him speak as he did. + +"Is that you, Burton?" he said, hearing my voice. "They tell me that we +have been shipmates before, and that I was on board the ship when you +were born; but I don't remember the circumstance." + +"I have been told so," I said, "and the man steering, Toby Kiddle, +remembers you." + +"Ah! Yes, I think I have an idea of your mother--a pretty woman. Where +is she now?" And I told him that she was living with Mrs and the +Misses Schank, and I added, "There is another sister--a Mrs Lindars, +whose husband deserted her." + +"Mrs Lindars?" he said slowly, "and is she still alive?" + +"Yes," I answered, rather astonished at the question. + +"I have been saved another crime!" he muttered between his teeth. He +was silent for some minutes. Then he abruptly addressed me. "Burton, I +believe I am dying. I should like to make a clear bosom before I go out +of the world. A viler wretch than I am has never been borne shrieking +through the air by demons to the place of torment. You speak of Mrs +Lindars. She is my wife, for that is my real name. I have borne many +since then. I was young then, and so was she--very young and very +beautiful, I thought. I wished to run away with her, but she would not +consent, and we married. At first I thought I could settle down in the +country, and support myself by my literary and musical talents. I soon +found that this would not bring me a sufficient income to supply my +wants, for I had somewhat luxurious tastes. My wife gave birth to a +child--a daughter. She was a sweet little creature. I loved her in a +way I never loved anything before. Each year she increased in beauty. +At length I had an opportunity of obtaining a large sum by committing a +crime. A fearful crime it was, and yet I did not hesitate. It was +necessary to fly the country. I could not bear the thoughts of leaving +my child behind me. It was a cruel act to desert my wife, and still +more cruel to carry away the child, for I knew that her mother loved her +as much as I did. My wife was ill, and I pretended to take the child to +see a relation, from whom I told her I had expectations. I knew she +could not follow me. Changing my name, I crossed to France where I had +relations. I never cared for gambling, or I should probably quickly +have got through my ill-acquired wealth. I had followed the sea during +the early part of my life, and soon again I got tired of remaining on +shore. I was eager to start on a new expedition, but what to do with my +daughter in the meanwhile I could not decide. I ought in common +humanity to have sent her back to her poor mother; but had I done so, I +was afraid I should not be able again to see her. She was so young when +I took her away that she did not know her real name. I therefore +carried her to Jersey, to which island my family belonged, and there +left her, pretending that her mother was French, and had died soon after +her birth. The arrangement having been made, I came out to the Indian +Seas and China, and, engaging in the opium trade, made a considerable +sum of money. I lost, however, the larger portion, and then once more, +seized with a desire to see my child, I returned to Jersey. I found her +grown into a beautiful girl. A new undertaking had presented itself to +me. I would go out to India, and make my fortune by serving under one +of the native princes. I had several times visited that country during +my wanderings. My daughter, I knew, would materially aid me in my +undertaking. As I placed before her the advantages to be gained in the +most glowing colours, and hid what I knew would be objectionable, she +willingly consented to accompany me. Her beauty, I felt sure, would +enable me to secure a wealthy marriage for her, but, as that might not +assist my views, I secretly resolved to throw her in the way of some +native prince, and she, once becoming his favourite wife, I felt very +sure that I should rise to the highest offices in his court. The +degradation to which I was dooming my child did not deter me; indeed, I +persuaded myself that I was about to procure a splendid position for +her, which she might well be satisfied to gain." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +Mr Noalles, as I will still call him, spoke with difficulty, but some +secret impulse, it seemed, made him anxious to disburden his mind. "I +make these confessions to you, Burton," he said, "because I want you to +convey to my poor wife, should you ever return to England, the +expression of my sorrow for the way I treated her; and if you can by any +means discover my daughter, that you may tell her, her miserable father +died blessing her; though, alas! I feel that blessings proceeding from +such lips as mine may turn to curses. But I did not tell you that +mercifully she escaped the dreadful fate to which I devoted her. Among +the passengers on board the ship in which we went out to India was a +young writer. He was pleasing in his manners, but far more retiring and +silent than his companions, and I did not for a moment suppose that he +was likely to win the affections of my daughter. He had already been in +India some years, and was returning after a short absence. He therefore +knew the country, and immediately on landing proceeded to his station. +I flattered myself that I had got rid of him, for latterly I had +observed that my daughter was more pleased with his society than with +that of anybody else on board. We remained some time at Calcutta, +where, as I expected, my daughter was greatly admired. I, meantime, was +perfecting myself in Hindostanee, and gaining information to guide my +further proceedings. At length we got off up the country, but on the +way I was taken seriously ill. It happened to be at the very station +where Mr Bramston was residing. He heard of my being there and +instantly called, and very naturally pressed his suit with my daughter. +Believing that I was dying, I consented to his becoming her lawful +protector, for otherwise I dreaded lest she should be left in the +country alone and destitute. Scarcely, however, had the marriage taken +place than I recovered, and all the plans I had designed were brought to +nothing. I found that my character was suspected, and hastening back to +Calcutta, I took a passage on board a ship bound for Canton, again +changing my name to that by which you know me. From that time forward I +have knocked about in these seas in various capacities, just able to +support myself, but ever failing to gain the wealth for which I had been +ready at one time to sell my soul. Of the child I had loved so dearly I +had never heard. If she wrote to me, her letters must have miscarried, +and from that day to this I have received no tidings of her. Often and +often I have thought of returning to India, but the dread of being +recognised has deterred me, and I felt that my appearance would more +likely produce shame and annoyance than afford her any satisfaction or +pleasure. Thus all my plans and schemings have come to an end, and such +fruits as they have produced have been bitter indeed; I cannot talk +more, Burton. Promise me that you will try to find out my daughter and +her husband. Bramston, remember, Charles Bramston of the Civil +Service--the Bengal Presidency, and his wife bore the name of Emily +Herbert. Herbert was the name I then assumed. She often asked me +questions about her childhood, but I invariably led her off the subject, +so that of that she knew nothing. Tell her that you saw her father die, +and that his last thoughts were of her." + +I entreated the unfortunate man to keep up his spirits. I pointed out +that we were approaching the shore, and that before many hours had +passed we should probably land on it; when, although the Dutch were our +enemies, our forlorn condition would assuredly excite their compassion, +and induce them to afford us all the relief we could require. "Do not +trust too much to them," he answered slowly. "Besides, the natives on +this coast are savage fellows, who would scruple very little to put us +all to death, and as to getting on shore at all, you will not be there +for many hours, depend on that!" + +He ceased; appearing very much exhausted from having spoken so long. +His sufferings, indeed, also, had become very intense, for the salt +water and the heat of the sun had greatly inflamed his legs, which had +been severely burnt. His voice, in a short time, almost failed, but his +lips continued to move, and I heard him murmuring, "Water! Water! Oh! +Give me but one drop to cool my tongue! Where am I? Is this hell begun +already? Water! Water! Will no one have compassion on a burning +wretch?" + +Still, so strong was his constitution, that in spite of his sufferings +he lingered on. Another poor man, apparently not more hurt than he was, +in a short time sank under the injuries he had received. The man had +been sitting up trying to catch a breath of air, when suddenly he +uttered a low groan, and fell back on the platform. + +"The poor fellow is dead, I am afraid," said Esse, taking up his hand, +which fell helpless to the position from which it had been raised. "Can +we do anything to restore him?" + +"There is no use," said Pember, putting his hand on the man's mouth, "he +will never speak again. The sooner we heave him overboard the better." + +He was the first of our number we had to launch into the deep. The body +floated astern for some time, and we could scarcely help casting uneasy +glances at it. "Oh! Look! Look! He was alive after all!" exclaimed +Esse. We turned round. The body seemed to rise half out of the water, +the arms waving wildly. Then down it sank and disappeared from view. +We also expected to hear a shriek proceed from it. "Oh, Pember!" I +exclaimed, "why did you let us throw him overboard? What a dreadful +thing!" + +"Save your sympathy for those who want it, youngster," answered the old +mate. "He was as dead as a door nail. Don't fear that. Jack Shark had +got hold of his heels, and that made the body rise suddenly out of the +water, as you saw him. Well! It will be the lot of more of us before +long. I do not like the look of the weather. I wonder what Mr Noalles +thinks of it." Noalles, however, was unable to speak. The wind was +increasing, and the sea had already got up considerably, making the raft +work in a very unsatisfactory manner. We had the greatest difficulty in +holding on, while the smaller pieces of timber, which had been less +securely lashed to the frame-work, began to part. Still we ran towards +the island, our sail helping us considerably. As the sea increased, +steering became more difficult, while the lower part of the raft was so +completely immersed in the water, that we had the greatest difficulty in +preventing ourselves being washed off, when the foaming seas came +rolling over it. We held on as best we could, by the beckets, which had +been secured to the raft for this purpose. We had all now reason to +dread that we should lose our own lives; for though the raft appeared to +be still approaching the shore, yet so furiously was it tumbled about by +the fast rising seas, that we could with difficulty cling on to it, +while we could scarcely hope that it would hold together. Noalles, as I +have said, had been with Pember and two other men on the platform. A +foam-covered sea came roaring towards us. We all held on to the main +part of the raft. The sea struck it, and before we could make any +effort to secure it, away it was carried, to a considerable distance +from us, with our three shipmates still resting on it. It seemed +surprising that they should not have been washed off. The same sea +carried off one of our number, thus leaving six of us only clinging to +the main part of the raft. At the same moment our mast and sail were +carried away, and we were left at the mercy of the seas. In vain we +endeavoured with the paddles, which we had saved, to get up to the other +raft. It appeared to be receding further and further from us, when +another sea, similar in size to that which had torn it from the main +part, struck it with full force, and hid it from our view. We looked +again. The few fragments of the wreck could alone be seen; but our late +companions had sunk beneath the surface of the troubled waters, which +now leaped, and foamed, and raged above their heads. We had little time +to mourn their fate, for we were compelled to look after our own safety. +Night was coming on. A dreary prospect was before us. Still Pat Brady +kept up his spirits wonderfully. "Sure, Mr Burton, old Mother Macrone +of Ballynahinch was after prophesying you would become an admiral one of +these days, and sure if we was drownded, we should not live to see it, +nor you neither for that matter; and so sure as Mistress Macrone is an +honest woman, and spoke the truth, we need not be after throubling +ourselves about not getting to land. It will be some time before we can +manage to reach it, however." I cannot say that Paddy's remarks had +much effect on us, although I fully believe he spoke what he thought to +be the truth. We were still a long way from the land, when darkness +settled down upon us, and the shattered raft continued tossing up and +down on the foaming seas. Every instant we thought would be our last, +for we knew that the spars to which we were clinging might be torn from +the frame-work, and we might be deprived of our last remaining support. +Still, life was sweet to all of us. We who had escaped were the least +injured of the party. Twelve had left the wreck, six now alone remained +alive, two only of the crew of the ill-fated frigate--Smith, an +Englishman, and Sandy McPherson, from the North of the Tweed. They were +both brave, determined fellows, but Sandy's spirit was troubled, not so +much, apparently, by the fearful position in which we were placed, as by +what he called Pat Brady's recklessness and frivolity. Even when thus +clinging to our frail raft, now tossed high up on a foaming sea, now +sent gliding down into the bottom of the trough with darkness around us, +almost starved, and our throats parched by thirst, Brady's love of a +joke would still break forth. "Arrah, but it's illegant dancing we're +learning out here!" he exclaimed, "though, faith, I would rather it were +on the green turf than footing it on the top of the green waves, but we +will be safe on shore before many hours are over." + +"Ay, laddie, but it's ill dancing o'er the graves of your friends," +observed Sandy. "Just think where they are, and where we may be not ten +minutes hence. You will not keep the breath in your body half that time +under the salt water, and we may, one and all of us, be fathoms deep +before five minutes have passed away." + +Sandy spoke what we all knew to be the truth, but still we would rather +have shut our eyes to the unpleasant fact. It is extraordinary that men +should be able to disregard the future, even when on the very brink of +the grave. Is it apathy, or stolid indifference, or disbelief in a +future existence that enables them to do so? I speak of those without +the Christian's hope--men who lead profligate lives; men stained with a +thousand crimes; men who have never feared God, who seemed scarcely to +have a knowledge of God. I have thought the matter over, and have come +to the conclusion that some men have the power of shutting out thought. +They dare not let thought intrude for a moment. They struggle +desperately against thought. Sometimes thought conquers, and then +fearful is their condition. Then the terrors of hell rise up, and they +would give ten thousand worlds to escape the doom they know well they +have merited. Even now I do not like to think of that night. Slowly +the hours dragged on. We fancied as we rose to the top of the sea, that +the wind was blowing with even greater force than before, and our frail +raft was dashed here and there, with even greater violence than it had +yet endured. We felt it breaking up. With a desperate grip we held on +to the larger portions of the timber which composed it. At length it +parted, and Kiddle and I were left clinging to one part, while our four +companions held on to the other. We could scarcely hope finally to +escape. The two portions, however, continued floating within hailing +distance of each other. We shouted to our friends to hold on. Pat +Brady answered with a cheerful "Ay! Ay!" It cheered our spirits +somewhat, though not very greatly, it must be owned. From that moment +the sea appeared to be going down, and gradually daylight, which we +thought had been much further off, stole over the world of waters. +Fortunately there were some thin boards still secured to the portion of +the raft which supported Kiddle and me. We agreed to tear them up, and +with them to paddle towards our friends. + +After a considerable amount of labour we reached them, and immediately +set to work, as the sea had again become almost smooth, to repair our +raft. So thirsty had we become by this time, that it was with +difficulty we could avoid drinking the salt water. We counselled each +other, however, not to do so, well knowing the ill effects which would +be produced. We felt now the loss of our sail, for the wind was setting +directly on shore. Still, slight as was the breeze, it assisted us +along, when we stood up, which we did by turns, while the rest laboured +with the paddles we had constructed. We gazed anxiously at the land, +but the current still appeared to be sweeping towards the south. +Suddenly it changed, and we advanced with far more rapidity than we had +hitherto done. We could now distinguish objects on the shore. We +looked out eagerly. No houses or huts were to be seen, nor any vessels +at anchor. A heavy surf, however, was setting on the beach, and Kiddle +urged us on no account to attempt to land there. This was tantalising, +but the danger of having our raft upset and being carried out to sea was +too great to be encountered. With might and main, therefore, we +continued to paddle along the shore, hoping to find some place into +which we might stand with less danger. We had to continue for some +distance, till at length we got round a point by which the land on the +other side was completely sheltered. We could scarcely hope to find a +better place. And now, exerting ourselves to the utmost, we made +towards the beach. With thankfulness did we hear the timbers grate +against the sand. Esse and Brady, who were nearest the shore, attempted +to spring on to the beach, but so weak were they, as we all were, that +in doing so they fell flat on their faces. Had we not kept the raft off +with our paddles, the next sea which came up would have thrown it over +them. By great exertions they worked themselves up, however, out of the +reach of the water, and the rest of us crawled on shore with more +caution. We looked round. No one was to be seen. Our first impulse +was to throw ourselves down on the sand and rest, but scarcely had we +done so when the sensation of thirst came over us, and weak as we were +we set out at once to search for water. The trees came down very nearly +to the shore, here and there rocks appearing among them. We soon +separated, each one going in the direction in which he hoped he should +find the longed-for fluid. I went forward almost as in a dream. My eye +at length caught sight of a rock at a little distance. I had a feeling +that water would be found not far off. A sound struck my ear--a low, +soft, trickling. Yes! It was water, I was sure of it--I almost fell in +my eagerness to hurry on. I cannot easily forget the delight with which +my eye rested on a natural fountain--a rocky basin, into which a bright +stream flowed from a crevice in the rock. I rushed on shouting out +"Water! Water!" Eagerly I put my mouth to the pure fountain-head. Oh! +How deliciously sweet I found it! I let it run over my face, parched +and cracked by the hot sun and salt water. Brady, who was nearest to +me, heard me shout. "Hurrah, lads! Hurrah, lads! Here's water!" he +cried out, making a few attempts at leaps, as he rushed forward. The +others took up the cry, till the whole six of us were putting our mouths +to the fountain, for scarcely had I withdrawn mine than I returned again +for a fresh draught, the others doing the same thing. It is surprising +that we did ourselves no harm by the quantity we swallowed. Brady +declared that he heard it fizzing away as it went down his throat, from +the heat of his inside. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +Having quenched our burning thirst, our next impulse was to seek for +rest. Since we had been sleeping on the deck of the ill-fated frigate, +not one of us had closed his eyes. Collecting, therefore, a quantity of +dried leaves and boughs, we made a bed, on which we threw ourselves, the +boughs forming a shade overhead. In an instant almost I was asleep, and +so, I believe, were most of my companions. We had escaped the dangers +of the sea, but we had a good many more to encounter. The thoughts of +them, however, could not drive away sleep. I was awakened by feeling a +gnawing sensation of hunger. It was not so painful, perhaps, as thirst, +but it was very trying. I could have eaten a raw lizard had I found it +crawling over my face. My companions soon awoke from the same cause, +but nothing eatable, animal or vegetable, could we find. We hurried +down to the beach, and searched about for shell-fish. Not one could we +see. + +"It will not do, lads, to stop here to starve," observed Kiddle. "What +do you say, Mr Burton? Had not we better push on along the shore, +while we have a little strength left, and try and find some natives who +may give us food?" + +Esse and I agreed at once to Toby's suggestion, and returning once more +to our fountain for another draught, we set out along the coast. Esse +and I had on shoes, but, after being so long in the salt water, they +became shrunk and shrivelled when they dried, and were rather an +inconvenience than any assistance in walking. The rest of the party had +no shoes, and the hot sands burned and blistered their feet. We dragged +ourselves on for about a mile, or it might have been more, when, turning +a point, we saw before us in the deep bay a prow at anchor. She was so +close in shore, that should we continue in that direction we could +scarcely hope to escape the observation of those on board. Should she +prove to be one of the fleet with which we had had the scratch a few +days before, her people might not be inclined to treat us very civilly. +Still, hunger made us desperate. We pushed on, therefore; when, +surmounting a rocky height and looking over the ridge, we saw down below +us a party of dark-skinned natives, collected at a short distance from +the shore, while three or four other prows were at anchor a little +further on. Some of the people were squatting round a fire cooking, +others were repairing a boat, and others lying on the ground. An old +man with silvery beard, whom we took to be a chief, was seated on a +carpet, under the shade of a tree, smoking his long pipe, while two or +three men squatted at a little distance, apparently ready to obey his +commands. We discovered that they had each of them some ugly-looking +weapons in their hands, and it suddenly occurred to us that should we +make our appearance together, they might, without asking questions, use +them upon our heads. I, therefore, undertook to go forward by myself, +advising my companions, if they saw me killed, to make the best of their +way off in an opposite direction. + +"By the powers, though, but that will never do!" exclaimed Brady. "If +anybody's to be killed, I'm the boy, and so just let me go forward, if +you plase." + +"No, no," I said, "I am young, and much less likely to excite their +anger than you would be." + +Pat still demurred. At length I had to exert my authority, and directed +him to stay quiet while I went forward. I shall not forget the poor +fellow's look of anxiety as he saw me creep away down the hill, for I +was anxious that the Malays should not discover from what direction I +came. I confess that I did not feel quite comfortable about the matter, +but I thought to myself, it is just as well to be killed outright as to +die by inches from starvation. The Malays were not a little astonished +at seeing an English midshipman in their midst, although I certainly had +very little of the smart look which belongs to the genus. The guards in +front of the old Rajah, as soon as they cast eyes on me, started to +their feet with uplifted weapons, at which I halted, and made a profound +salaam to the old gentleman beyond them. It had its due effect, for +directly afterwards they lowered their swords, and their looks became +much less threatening. I thought, therefore, that I might venture to +approach, and advancing slowly, I made another salaam. As I could not +speak a word of Malay, I had to explain by signs the intelligence I +wished to convey. I therefore pointed to the sea, and then put my hands +together, rocking them up and down, in imitation of a vessel, and then +making the sound of an explosion, I endeavoured to explain that my ship +was blown up. Next, I pointed to myself, holding up one finger, adding +five others, and then, moving the palm of my hand from the sea toward +the shore, indicated that we had just landed. I judged from the +expression of the spectators' countenances that they understood me, and, +making another salaam, I asked permission of the Rajah to go and fetch +my companions. He nodded, and I hurried off. I could not, however, +resist the temptation of passing near the fire where the men were +cooking. On it was boiling a large pot of rice. I held out my hands, +and entreated that the cooks would put some of their food into them. +They understood me, and I presently had my hands filled with hot rice, +so hot, indeed, that I nearly let it fall. In spite, however, of the +heat, my mouth was soon embedded in it. Before I had gone far, I had +eaten the whole of it. I made signs that I should like to take some to +my companions, but the Malays in return signified that they must come +and fetch it themselves. Pat Brady's delight on seeing me knew no +bounds. Followed by the party, I quickly returned. We were none of us +objects to excite fear. Malay pirates are not much addicted to feelings +of pity. Such we believed to be the occupation of the gentry before us. +Smith, I found, could speak a little Malay, and, putting him forward as +interpreter, we explained more clearly to the Rajah what had happened, +and begged him to help us to reach some European settlement, whence we +could find our way back to our ship. This request made him cast a +suspicious look at us. + +"Are you Dutch?" he asked us suddenly. + +Smith assured him that we were British. + +"He says, sir, it is fortunate we are so," observed Smith to me, +interpreting the Rajah's reply. "They vow vengeance against the Dutch, +whom they say tyrannise over them, and declare that if we had been Dutch +they would have cut the throat of every mother's son of us." + +"If they have any doubt about the matter," exclaimed Brady, "tell them +that I will dance an Irish jig, and, by the powers, that's more than any +Dutchman could ever do. But I say, Bill, before I favour them with a +specimen of my talents, just hint that a little provender will be +acceptable down our throats." + +Smith explained that we had a great dancing-man among us, an art in +which the chief in his sagacity must be aware the Dutch did not excel, +and he hinted that not only to the dancing-man but to the rest of us +some food would be very acceptable. The Rajah in reply told him, if we +would sit down, our wants should soon be supplied. By this time the +messes over the fire were cooked, and, with more liberality than I had +expected, the Malays placed before us a couple of bowls full of fish and +rice. Without ceremony, we plunged our hands into the food, which +disappeared with wonderful rapidity down our throats. + +"Take care the bones don't stick in your gullets, boys," cried Pat, +every now and then turning round to the Rajah and making him a bow. "I +say, Smith, just tell his Majesty, or whatever he calls himself, that as +soon as I have stowed away as much as I can carry, I will give him a +specimen of the jintalist Ballyswiggan jig that he ever saw in his life +before." + +Paddy was as good as his word, and no sooner was our meal finished than, +jumping up, forgetting all his fatigue, he began dancing a real Irish +jig with wonderful agility, making the music with his own voice, crying +out to us, every now and then, to strike up an accompaniment. The +effect was at all events very advantageous to us, for the old Rajah +looked on with astonishment and approval as Paddy continued his +performance. When he ceased, the chief called Smith up to him, and +spoke a few words. + +"He asks where you learnt the art of dancing," said Smith. + +"Oh! Jist tell his honour, or his riverence, if that title plaises him +the better, that it comes natural to an Irishman with his mother's milk. +I have danced ever since I put foot to the ground. Just as natural, +tell him, as it comes to him and his friends to go out robbing and +murdering, and such like little divartisements." + +I rather fancy Smith did not give an exact interpretation of Brady's +answer; at all events the performance put the old pirate into a very +good humour. Seeing the condition of our clothes, which were the worse +for having been soaked in salt water so long, he sent a boat aboard his +prow, which returned with a supply of Eastern garments. How they were +come by we did not inquire. They had never been worn, and were most +probably part of the cargo of some captured trader. We very thankfully +put them on, and the chief then told Smith that if we liked to lie down +and sleep, we should have another meal when we woke up again, provided +our dancing-man would undertake to give more of his performances, as he +would then have a few other friends as spectators. + +"Tell his honour I will do it with all the pleasure in the world," +answered Brady, making a salaam at the same time towards the Rajah, who +seemed highly pleased with his good manners. The chief then pointed to +a shady spot, on which his attendants spread some carpets. Here we +thankfully lay down, and I do not think I ever slept more soundly in my +life, forgetting all the hardships I had gone through. When we awoke +the sun was well-nigh dipping into the ocean, and the Malays had +finished the repair of their boat. The old chief was, however, still +seated on his carpet, with four or five other individuals, habited much +in the same way, and all gravely smoking. As soon as we sat up, another +bowl of rice and fresh meat was brought us. After we had partaken of +it, the Rajah called to Smith, who told Paddy that he was expected to +begin his performance. + +"With the greatest pleasure in life!" he exclaimed, springing up, "but +you must all come and support me, and sing and clap your hands, and toe +and heel it, too, every now and then. It will make my dancing go off +better, and show the old boy that we wish to do our best to please him." + +Paddy's strength having been completely recruited by his sleep and ample +meals, he far outdid his morning's performance, and elicited the warmest +signs of approval from the spectators of which Orientals are capable. +When it was over, all hands got into the boats, the Rajah taking us with +him on board his vessel. We had from the first suspected, as was the +case, that the prows did not belong to this part of the country. It +being evident that the pirates did not intend us any harm, we went to +sleep again soon after we got on board, in spite of our afternoon +snooze. At daybreak the fleet of prows made sail for the spot where the +frigate had blown up. No part of her was, however, now above water. A +few seamen's chests were seen floating about, and pieces of the wreck; +and the saddest sight of all, here and there, the corpses of some of our +late companions. From the way we were treated, we concluded that our +friends did not form part of the fleet with which the boats of the +"Resolution" had been engaged a few days before, and of course Smith +wisely forbore to mention the subject. Finding that nothing more was to +be picked up from the wreck, the pirate fleet continued their cruise +along the coast, looking out for trading craft, from China, Java, and +other parts. At night, when the weather was fine, we kept under way, +like a pack of wolves, hoping to come suddenly upon a quarry. In the +day-time the fleet would lie hid behind some point of land, so that they +might dart out on any unwary passer-by. I learnt a lesson from their +mode of proceeding, from which I hoped some day to benefit, should I, in +the course of service, be ever sent to look after such gentry. What +were their intentions regarding us all this time we could not tell. The +old chief, though ready enough to ask questions of us, was not very +communicative in return, and Smith could learn nothing from him. + +"Perhaps he intends to demand a ransom for us," I observed. + +"He may, sir, but I rather think that he will keep us until some day he +is hard pressed by any of our men-of-war, and then he will threaten to +cut our throats if our friends do not let him get off, and it is my +belief he would do it, sir. These sort of people are very civil as long +as you please them, but just get on the other tack, and they will not +scruple a moment to knock their best friend on the head." + +This was not a pleasant piece of information, but it did not greatly +damp our spirits. We had all recovered from the effects of our exposure +on the raft, but were getting somewhat weary of our long detention on +board the prows. That Smith was right in the description of our hosts, +we had soon too clear evidence. It was night. We were gliding calmly +over the moon-lit ocean when suddenly we came upon three native craft. +Smith said they were Javanese. The prows boarded, one on each side of +the strangers. In an instant the Malays threw themselves on board. +There was very little resistance, and they returned almost immediately, +each man laden with a bale of goods. With wonderful rapidity the more +valuable part of the cargo was transferred on board the prows. The +chiefs prow remained at a little distance, ready to render assistance +apparently if required. Esse and I were watching what was taking place. +Presently we saw a figure appear at the stern of the prize. The next +instant there was a plunge, and the waters closed over the man's head. +Another and another followed. The prow then cast off, and a bright +flame burst forth from the merchant vessel. The materials of which she +was composed ignited rapidly, and in another instant she was one mass of +fire; one after the other was treated in the same way. We had got +half-a-mile from the scene before all the vessels taken had burned to +the water's edge and sunk, leaving not a trace behind, while we sailed +away with the goods which had lately filled their holds. I confess I +did not feel quite as comfortable in the society of our friends after +this occurrence as I had done before. We had been nearly six weeks on +board, and the pirates had taken a considerable number of prizes, when +Smith told us that he suspected, from the conversation he overheard, +that they were about to return to their own stronghold, to which traders +were wont to resort for the purchase of their goods. Our best chance of +escape will be to make a bargain with one of the captains, and get him +to buy us of the Rajah, we promising to repay him. Esse and I talked +over the matter, and, though it did not appear very promising, we of +course agreed to attempt it, if we could find no other way of escape. +Two nights after this we were at sea, with the wind aft, and the water +smooth, though the sky was overcast. Now and then the moon came forth, +soon again, however, to be obscured. Our prow was leading. A small +vessel, apparently a trader, appeared ahead, and we gave chase. She +must have seen us, and made all sail to escape. We pursued eagerly. +Now we saw her, now the darkness hid her from sight. On we went. The +night was hot, and Esse and I, with our companions, were on the +fore-part of the deck watching the chase, hoping heartily she would +escape. + +"She's distancing us, sir," observed Kiddle. "She's in luck, for I +don't think the black fellows will have her this time." + +Suddenly the moon beamed forth. + +"Hillo! Why, what is that?" exclaimed Esse. + +We all eagerly looked out. A little on the starboard-bow, the rays of +the bright luminary fell upon the white canvas of a tall ship standing +across our course. + +"She's a man-of-war, or I am a Dutchman!" exclaimed Kiddle, "and a +frigate too." + +"Perhaps she is the Orion herself, after all," cried Esse. "Hurrah! +Hurrah! Hurrah!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +Directly the crew of the prow discovered the frigate they lowered the +sails, and getting out the oars, began to pull her head round in the +direction of the wind's eye. At that moment, however, the chase had got +close to the frigate. + +"She is telling her what sort of gentry we are, and depend upon it she +will be after us directly," said Kiddle. + +He was right, apparently, for immediately the frigate's head sails were +seen shivering in the breeze, and slowly coming about, she stood towards +us on the other tack. The other prows discovered her at the same moment +that we did, and were now pulling away as fast as their crews could urge +them through the water. The frigate, as she approached, began firing +from her foremost guns. Had one of her shots struck us between wind and +water, it would have sent us to the bottom. As to the prows escaping, +it seemed scarcely possible. Still the Malays held on, tugging +desperately at their oars. While some of the crew were rowing, the rest +were employed in examining the priming of their muskets and feeling the +edge of their swords, while a low conversation was carried on among +them. + +"I do not quite like what they are saying, sir," said Smith to me. "As +far as I can make out, they are vowing to Allah, that if the frigate +comes up with them they will knock us all on the head and blow +themselves up. They are in earnest, I am afraid, for I know their +people have done the same sort of thing before now." + +"Tell them," I said, "that as they have treated us so well, that if they +will haul down their colours we will use our influence with the captain +of the ship to have them set at liberty. Tell them we think she is the +ship we belong to, and that if they are wise men they will follow our +advice." + +Smith, knowing pretty well that our lives depended upon the way he might +put the matter to the old chief, began to address him slowly. Gradually +he grew more energetic and warm. While he was speaking a shot came +flying close by us, carrying away the greater number of the oars on one +side. Escape now seemed impossible. Again we urged our advice. The +chief seemed unwilling to follow it. + +"Ask him if he hasn't got a wife or two and a few young children at home +who would like to see him again," said Brady to Smith. "Tell him at all +events we have, and if he's a wise man that he will live himself and let +us live. Faith, it's a little exaggeration as far as some of us are +concerned, but if it excites the old gentleman's commiseration, sure +Father O'Rouke would absolve me for that as well as a few other lies I +have had to tell in my life." + +Smith interpreted these remarks. The Rajah spoke to his crew. Directly +afterwards the uninjured oars were thrown in. + +"We have got your promise, then, young officer, that my people and I +shall be uninjured, and shall be allowed to go free?" said the chief. + +"Yes," I answered, "I fully believe if that frigate is the one to which +we belong, that the captain will carry out my promises." + +On this the chief briefly addressed his crew. + +The frigate, understanding apparently that we had given in, ceased +firing, and directly afterwards hove to. There was just time to lower a +boat, when again she stood on in chase of the other prows. The moon was +now shining brightly, and by her light we saw a boat approaching us. In +a few minutes she was alongside, and her crew, led by an officer, sprang +on board. I thought I recognised Oldershaw's figure. "They have given +in," I shouted out, "and we have promised that you would spare their +lives and let them go free." + +"Hillo! Who is that? Bless my heart, who are you?" exclaimed +Oldershaw. "What! Ben Burton! Is it possible!" + +We were all of us, it must be remembered, in Eastern dresses, finding +them far more comfortable than those we had laid aside. + +"Yes, and I am here too!" sung out Dicky Esse. + +"I am heartily glad of it," exclaimed Oldershaw. "We thought you had +all been knocked on the head by the savages long ago. And have any more +of you escaped?" + +"Yes, sir," said Toby Kiddle. "Here am I, and here's Pat Brady, and +these two men of the `Resolution,' and fortunate men they are, for they +are the only ones alive out of the whole ship's company." + +Oldershaw now learned from us, for the first time, of the sad loss of +the frigate. We told him also how well we had been treated by the +Rajah. On this Oldershaw went up and shook him by the hand, and told +Smith to assure him that no harm would be done him or his people, and +that the captain of the frigate would be very much obliged to him for +the way he had treated us. The old chief seemed highly pleased, and +ordered pipes and coffee to be brought aft, and in ten minutes we were +all seated in the after part of the prow, smoking the fragrant weed and +sipping the warm beverage, while the Malays were doing the honours to +our men. I need not say, however, that Oldershaw told us all to keep a +bright look-out, so that, in case of treachery being intended, we might +not be taken by surprise. The frigate stood on, and from the rapid +firing we heard, it was pretty evident that she was roughly handling the +other prows. The chief shrugged his shoulders. "It was the will of +Allah," he said: "if his people were killed, it was not his fault, nor +was it ours, so he hoped it would not interfere with our present +friendly relations." Such, at least, was something like the +interpretation which Smith gave us of his remarks. At length the +frigate was seen running back. As she approached, we fired a gun to +draw her attention, and in a short time she was up to us, shortening +sail as she approached. Another boat now came off from her, when Esse +and I went on board and reported ourselves to Captain Oliver. He was +walking the quarter-deck when we appeared at the gangway. "What!" he +exclaimed, "you my midshipmen! I thought when I saw you that you were a +couple of young Malays. Come into the cabin, and let me hear your +account. I am, indeed, heartily glad to hear that you have escaped." +Mr Schank expressed equal satisfaction at again seeing us, as, indeed, +did all our shipmates. When he heard how well we had been treated by +the old Rajah, he sent to request his presence on board, that he might +thank him personally for his kindness to us. After some little delay, +notice was given that the Rajah was coming on board in one of our boats. +The sides were manned to do him honour, and in a short time he appeared +at the gangway, no longer habited in the dingy costume in which we had +seen him, but superbly dressed with a turban glittering with gems, and +richly jewelled sword by his side, attended by four other persons also +finely habited. Without the slightest embarrassment, he followed the +captain, after a due amount of salaams had passed between them, into the +cabin. He there took his seat with perfect composure, and Smith was +summoned to act as interpreter. Captain Oliver again thanked him for +his kindness to us, and then took occasion to express his regret that he +should ever be engaged in deeds of which the English could not approve, +such as robbing vessels and knocking their crews on the head, or sending +them overboard. The old chief did not for a moment deny that such were +his usual occupations, but observed quietly that his fathers had done +the same before him, and, as it was necessary to live, he should be glad +to hear if the English chief could point out any better occupation. +"Surely," he remarked, "you do just the same. What are all these guns +for? For what are the arms you and your people carry, but to rob and +kill your enemies?" and the old gentleman chuckled, fully believing that +he had checkmated the infidel chief. + +"Well, well," answered Captain Oliver, "we will talk of that another +time; but have you any favour to ask which it is in my power to grant, +as I shall be glad to do anything to please you, to show my gratitude." + +The Rajah thought a moment. "No," he said. "You have refrained from +sending my vessel to the bottom when you had the power to do so, and I +have no more to ask since you allow me to go free. But there is one +favour. I should like again to see your dancing-man go through his +wonderful performance." + +Until we explained the remark, Captain Oliver was puzzled to know what +his guest meant. "What do you say, Schank. We have a few men on board +who can dance, besides the Irishman, have we not?" + +"Yes, sir, there are several," observed Mr Schank. + +"Very well, just go and make such arrangements as you can best manage on +deck, and we will have our guest up when all is ready." In a short time +Tom King entered the cabin. + +"Please, sir," he reported, "the ball-room is prepared, and the dancers +are ready." + +"Very well," said the Captain, and he made a sign to our Malay friends +to accompany him on deck. + +A number of the crew with lanterns in their hands had been arranged +round the quarter-deck. On the after part, carpets and cushions had +been spread, on which our guests were requested to take their seats, +while between every two men with lanterns stood others, each with a blue +light case in his hand. We had on board a couple of fiddlers, besides +the marines' fifes and drums. All our musical powers had been mustered +for the occasion. + +"Strike up!" cried Mr Schank, and the fiddlers began to play, joined in +by the other instruments as they did so. The circle of lantern men +opened, and Pat Brady, followed by nearly a dozen other men, sprang into +the centre. Pat first performed a jig for which he was celebrated. It +was followed by a regular sailor's hornpipe. When this was finished, +the band struck up a Scotch reel. At the same time the blue lights were +ignited, and four men in kilts and plaids sprang into the circle and +commenced a Highland fling, shrieking and leaping, and clapping their +hands in a way that made the old Rajah almost jump off his cushions with +astonishment, the glare of the blue lights increasing the wild and +savage appearance of the dancers. + +"Bismillah! These English are wonderful people!" exclaimed the old +Rajah. "If they would but follow the prophet, and take to piracy like +us, they might possess themselves of the wealth of all the world, for +who could stand against them!" So delighted was the old gentleman with +his entertainment, that he declined receiving any further present with +the exception of a few bottles of rum, which he could not bring himself +to refuse. He promised also that should any English people fall into +his power, that, for the sake of us and our dancing friends, he would +always treat them with kindness, and assist them in reaching any port +they might desire. + +We now put him on board his prow, and sent him rejoicing on his way. +Possibly he might not have been so well-pleased when he came to discover +that three of his fleet had been sunk by our guns, and yet he was +evidently too great a philosopher to allow such a matter to weigh +heavily upon his spirits. I was very thankful to be once more on board +the frigate. Captain Oliver treated me and Esse with the greatest +kindness, for, though we had kept up our spirits, we were rather the +worse for the hardships we had gone through, and the strain on our +nerves; for midshipmen have nerves, whatever may be thought to the +contrary, though they are fortunately very tough and not easily put out +of order. We were accordingly put into the sick list and relieved from +duty for a couple of weeks. I repeated to Mr Schank the account which +Mr Noalles had given me of himself. He was greatly astonished at what +I told him. + +"I little thought the man I knew so well when I was last in these seas +was the one who had behaved so cruelly to my poor sister," he said. +"However, he has gone, and peace be to his memory. I will do my utmost +to discover his daughter, and I should think, as Mr Bramston must be +well-known in Bombay, there can be little difficulty in doing that. I +will write the first opportunity to a friend I have in Calcutta, and get +him to make all the inquiries in his power." After cruising for some +months among the East India Islands, we returned to Canton. We were +there directed to convoy a fleet of merchantmen round to Calcutta. What +with risks from pirates, from rocks and shoals, from hurricanes, from +enemies' cruisers, and from the unseaworthiness of some, it is a wonder +that we managed to bring the greater portion of the vessels under our +charge safe to their destination. Mr Schank's friend told him that he +had inquired for Mr Bramston, and found that he had for some years been +residing as a district judge in Ceylon, where, indeed, he had passed the +greater portion of his time. He understood that he was alive and +married, but how long he had been married he could not tell, or whether +he had married a second time. This much was satisfactory. + +We had now been upwards of four years on the station, and were every day +expecting to be ordered home. The Admiral, however, told our Captain, +that not having more frigates on the station than he required, he must +keep us till we were relieved. We were just weighing anchor to proceed +back to Canton, when a frigate was seen standing towards us. + +She soon made her number. "The Thetis." The signal book was in instant +requisition, and the answer to our question was: "Direct from England to +relieve the `Orion'." The signal midshipman threw up his hat as he read +it. A shout ran along the decks. Before she had come to an anchor, our +boat was alongside, and returned with a bag of letters and newspapers. +We delayed our departure that we might receive her letters home in +return. For a long time I had not heard from my mother. She was well, +and she gave me a very good account of Mrs and the Misses Schank, and +the dear Little Lady. But she said that she herself was sorely annoyed +by letters from Mr Gillooly, who still persevered in his suit. "They +are warm enough and devoted enough in all conscience," she observed, "so +much so, indeed, that I feel sure they are written under the influence +of potent tumblers of whisky. Though I never could endure a milk-sop, +yet I have a still greater objection to the opposite extreme. Besides, +Ben," she added, "my dear boy, however my friends may urge me, I wish to +die as I have lived, faithful to the memory of your brave father." + +I could not but applaud the resolution of my mother, at the same time +that I felt anxious that she should do whatever would most conduce to +her happiness. The officers and parties of the ships' companies having +exchanged visits with each other, we bade our relief farewell, and with +joyous hearts made sail for Old England. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +Old England was reached at length. I need not give the particulars of +the passage home. Nothing very particular occurred. Portsmouth was a +very busy place in those days. Ships fitting out or paying off kept up +a constant bustle. The water was alive, the streets were alive with +human beings, and the inns were full of them. We were several days +paying off, but at length were once more free. I was eager to go and +see my mother, and the Little Lady, and our kind friends. Mr Schank, +having business in Portsmouth, told me to go on before him, promising to +follow in a few days. + +"Give my love to my mother and sisters, and my very kind regards to your +excellent mother," he said. + +I thought he looked somewhat oddly as he spoke, and I have an idea that +a more ruddy glow than usual came over his features; but that of course +might have been fancy. Oldershaw, who lived a little to the north of +Whithyford, agreed to accompany me, and Dicky Esse and Tom Twig happened +to be going up to London the same day. We therefore all took our places +on the coach together. Oldershaw had secured the box seat; we three +took our places behind him. There was one other spare place, and we +were wondering who would occupy it, when a stout, large-whiskered, +middle-aged man climbed up and took the seat. By the way he stepped up, +and by his general appearance, I saw at once that he was a seaman. +Whether he was an officer or not I could not exactly make out. The +guard's horn sounded, and off we dashed up Portsmouth High Street. I +had by this time grown into a tall, well-made lad. I looked indeed, as +I was, quite a young man, particularly contrasted with my companions, +who, though really older, were both remarkably small for their age. We +were not too old, however, to be up to all sorts of midshipmen-like +pranks, and Oldershaw had some difficulty in keeping us in order. Dicky +and Tom were somewhat inclined to play their tricks on our companion, +and made several attempts to sell him. He took their jokes, however, in +very good part, and always turned their batteries upon themselves. I +was sitting on the opposite side to him. + +"Take care what you are about," I whispered to Esse. "He may be a +post-captain or an admiral, and you will find he is one of your +examining captains when you come to pass." + +"They do not travel on the top of stage coaches," answered Dicky. "Only +small fry enjoy that privilege--lieutenants, mates, and midshipmen." + +"Do not be too sure of that," I said. "At all events, you may find him +the First-Lieutenant of the next ship you join, and he may not forget +your free and easy style." + +"If he is worth his salt he will not harbour revenge for what I have +said or done," persisted Dicky. + +However, I observed that both he and Twig were more careful than before +in their way of addressing the stranger. I heard them telling him where +we had been and some of the adventures we had gone through. + +"Have you ever been out in those parts, sir?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, and I know something about them, but it is a good many years ago, +probably before any of you young gentlemen were born, or so much as +thought of," answered the stranger. + +"Have you been away from England lately?" asked Tom. + +"For a good many years, young gentleman," answered the stranger. + +"To a distant station, I suppose--to North America or the West Indies?" + +"No," answered the stranger; "I have been where I hope you may never be, +and where I may never be again--kept from all you love or care for on +earth. I have been inside the walls of a French prison." + +"I hope not, indeed," said Tom. "Parlez-vous Francais, Monsieur?" + +"As to that, I may understand a few words, but it is no pleasant matter +to learn the lingo of one's enemies, and I felt something like an old +master who was shut up with me, and declared he would never prove such a +traitor to his country as to learn one single French word all the time +he was in prison." + +In a very short time Dicky and Tom got back to their chaffing mood. I +was sorry not to have some conversation with the stranger. The latter, +however, did not seem inclined to exchange jokes with them and became +silent, every now and then, however, speaking a few words with +Oldershaw, behind whom he sat. We separated in London, where Oldershaw +took us to a respectable lodging-house with which he was acquainted, and +early the next morning we started by the coach for Lincolnshire. +Oldershaw and I occupied the only two places outside. + +Just as the coach was starting, who should we see but the stranger who +had come up with us from Portsmouth. + +"There is one place inside if you do not mind taking it," said the +guard. "Very sorry, otherwise you will have to wait for the night +coach, or to-morrow morning." + +The stranger stepped in and the coach drove off. I need not describe +the incidents of the journey. It was dusk when we arrived at +Whithyford. At length the light from the window of the little inn, at +the end of the lane where I purposed getting down, appeared in sight. +Begging the coachman to stop, I wished Oldershaw good-bye, and descended +from my perch on the roof. My chest and bag were handed down, and the +coach drove on. + +"I cannot believe my eyes, Master Burton, sure it's not you!" exclaimed +Mrs Fowler, the landlady of the "Wheatsheaf." + +I assured her that I was no other than little Ben Burton, though +somewhat increased in bulk during the five years I had been absent. + +"And my mother?" I asked. "Is she well? And her kind friends?" The +answer was satisfactory. The Misses Schank had, however, gone out to a +tea party at Mr Simmon's the lawyer. + +"And my mother?" I asked, "is she there too?" + +"Oh! No, Lor' bless you, she never goes to such gay doings. She would +be stopping to look after the old lady, who keeps up wonderfully. And I +should not be surprised but what you find somebody else there. There +was a strange gentleman came over from Ireland some days gone, and has +been stopping in my house. He is a free and easy spoken sort of man, +though I do not understand all he says, for he speaks in the Irish way, +but he is a good customer at the bar, and is liberal-handed enough. +However, Master Burton, I do not know as I should advise your mother to +go and do it. You see if he was to ask me, it would be a different +matter. I could hold my own. Besides, I am accustomed to such doings +as his. When my good man that's gone, Simon Fowler, was alive, he was +not happy till he had got a few quarts of beer in his inside--not to +speak of gin and rum. But do you see, your dear mother is a different +sort of person, and it would not do for her to take up with a gentleman +with such habits." + +I now began to comprehend the drift of the landlady's remarks. + +"What!" I exclaimed, "is there a person such as you describe wanting to +marry my mother?" + +"Well, that's the plain matter of fact," answered Mrs Fowler; "and what +is more he swears he will have her. He has come all the way over from +Ireland, and is not going back nonplussed." + +I was greatly concerned at hearing this, for although, had my mother +wished to marry again, I should have been very thankful if she could +have found a suitable protector, yet I was sure that such a person as +Mrs Fowler described would make her miserable. There was another +person I was longing to ask about, but I own, from a somewhat different +feeling, I hesitated. "And Miss Emily?" I asked at length, trying to +get out of the light of the candle as I spoke. "How is she?" + +"Oh! She is the light of the house--the most beautifullest and +brightest little creature you ever did see," answered Mrs Fowler, with +enthusiasm. "Whether she's the captain's daughter, or anybody else's +daughter, it does not matter to me, but I know she is a blessing to all +around her." + +"Thank you, Mrs Fowler, thank you," I answered, scarcely knowing what I +said. "I am anxious to see my mother. Take care of my chest; I will +take my bag with me." Saying this, I darted out of the house and +hurried down the lane. I well knew how delighted my mother would be to +see me, and I had an undefined feeling that the sooner I could be with +her the better. Passing through the wicket I found the house-door +partly open, and heard a voice proceeding from the back parlour. It was +a somewhat loud one too: + +"Oh! Mistress Burthen! Mistress Burthen! Ye will be after breaking my +heart, ye will; and me waiting for you these long years, and now at last +come all the way over from old Ireland to find ye as hard and obdurate +as the blacksmith's anvil in the corner of Saint Patrick's street, in +Ballybruree," were the first words that caught my ear. "Shure you will +be afther relenting and not laving me a disconsolate widower, to go back +to Ballyswiggan all alone by myself." + +"Indeed, Mr Gillooly, I feel that your constancy--your pertinacity +shall I call it?" and there was a slight touch of sarcasm in the +voice,--it was my mother who spoke, "deserves to be rewarded; but at the +same time I confess that I cannot bring myself to undertake to +recompense you as you desire. All I can do is to give you my best +advice, and that is to try and find some other lady who is more disposed +to receive your addresses than I am." + +I did not wish to be an eaves-dropper, and at the same time I scarcely +liked suddenly to rush unnoticed into the room. Old Mrs Schank would, +I concluded, be in the front parlour, and perhaps Emily might be with +her, and I would ask her to break my arrival to my mother. Again Mr +Gillooly pleaded his cause. I began to fancy, from the tone of my +mother's voice and the answers she made, that she was somewhat +relenting. I knew enough of the world to be aware that even sensible +people sometimes marry against their convictions, and I thought it was +now high time for me to interfere. Just then I heard my mother exclaim: + +"Who's that? I saw someone at the window. It is impossible; yet--Oh! +Mr Gillooly, you are very kind, you are very generous, but I cannot, I +cannot marry you. After what I have just now seen, it is impossible!" + +"It's on my knees, then, I implore you, widow Burthen!" exclaimed Mr +Gillooly. "Oh! Say, would you render me a desperate man and send me +forth to join the Ribbonmen, or Green Boys, or other rebels against King +George? It's afther killing me ye'll be by your cruelty; and it's more +than Jim Gillooly can stand, or has stood in his life, and so by the +powers, Mistress Gillooly, you shall be, in spite of your prothestations +and assartions, and--" + +I now thought it high time to interfere, and rushing into the room, +presented myself to the astonished gaze of Mr Gillooly, who was on the +point of rising from his knees, with anger depicted on his countenance, +and a gesture sufficient to alarm even a less timid person than my +mother. She was staring with eyes open and lips apart towards the +window which looked into the garden. The light from the lamp on the +table fell on the face and figure of a man whom I at once recognised as +my fellow-traveller from Portsmouth. + +"Who are you?" exclaimed Mr Gillooly, as he saw me advancing. "That +lady's son," I answered. + +"Then out upon you for an impostor. That lady can have no big spalpeen +of a son like you!" exclaimed Mr Gillooly, rushing towards me with +uplifted fist. I could easily have escaped him by flight, but that I +disdained to do, though his blow was likely to be one capable of felling +me to the ground. My mother uttered a scream. At that instant the +window was flung open, and in sprang the stranger. The scream arrested +my assailant. He turned his head and discovered the stranger, a man of +powerful frame, rushing towards him. + +"Murther! murther! I'm betrayed!" shouted Mr Gillooly. "Oh! Widow, +it's all your doing, and you have led me into an ambush! Murther! +Murther!" and without stopping to pick up his hat or whip he rushed from +the door and out through the garden and along the lane, so I concluded, +as I heard his heavy footsteps growing less and less distinct as he +gained a distance from the cottage. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +I left my mother, at the end of the last chapter, standing in the middle +of the back parlour of Mr Schank's cottage, her Irish admirer, Mr +Gillooly, scampering up the lane as fast as his two legs would carry +him, the stranger who accompanied me from Portsmouth having just before, +most opportunely for me, sprung through the window and saved me from the +effects of that worthy's anger. + +I had no disposition to follow him; indeed, I had a matter of far more +interest to occupy my attention at the moment. My mother sank into a +chair. I sprang forward to embrace her, and while she threw one of her +arms round my neck, she pointed at the stranger, exclaiming: + +"Is it real, or am I in a dream? Who are you? Say! Say! Do not mock +me!" + +"Polly, you are my own true loving wife, and I am your live husband-- +your faithful Dick Burton!" exclaimed my father, for he it was in +reality, as he came forward and took my mother in his arms. + +"No wonder you thought me dead, Mary, and a long yarn I have to tell +you, how it all happened. And is this young gentleman Ben, our Ben?" he +asked, as he put his arm round my neck and kissed me on the brow. "I +know it is; yet if I had not seen him here I should not have known him. +Well, to see him a quarter-deck officer, and on the road to promotion, +and you, Mary, alive and well, and as young looking as ever, repays me +for all I have gone through, and that's no trifle." + +Now, most women under the trying circumstances I have described would +have fainted away or gone into hysterics, but my mother did neither one +nor the other. Perhaps we had to thank Mr Gillooly for saving her from +such a result. My idea is the agitation which that worthy gentleman had +put her into counteracted the effects which might have been produced, +first from my sudden appearance, and then by the unlooked-for return of +my father. I do not mean to say that she was not agitated, and was very +nearly fainting, but she did not faint; indeed, her nerves stood the +trial in a most wonderful manner. After I had been with my mother and +my newly-found father for some time, I bethought me that I ought to go +and pay my respects to Mrs Schank and to Miss Emily, who, my mother +told me, was sitting with her; I therefore went to the drawing-room +door, and, tapping, asked if I might enter. + +"Come in," said a sweet voice. The owner of the sweet voice started +when she saw me, for she was evidently uncertain who I could be, while +the old lady peered at me through her spectacles. + +Emily, however, coming forward, put out her hand. + +"How delightful! You are welcome back, Ben!" she exclaimed. "I mean +Mr Burton. It is Mr Ben Burton, ma'am," she said in a higher key, and +turning to the old lady. + +"Ah, Ben! You are grown indeed, and you are welcome, lad. You are +always welcome," she added after a minute, and made some inquiries of +her son. "And you have come back in the very nick of time, for there is +an Irish gentleman wants to marry your mother, and we do not like him, +do we, Emily?" + +"Oh! No, no," said Emily, shaking her head; "it would never do." This +gave me the opportunity of saying that Mr Gillooly had taken his +departure, and also that there was another very strong reason for my +mother's not marrying him--the return of my father. The old lady's +astonishment knew no bounds on hearing this. "And my girls are out! +Dear me, they will be surprised when they come back. What a pity they +should not have been here. It is a mercy your mother did not faint away +altogether. And he is actually in the next room. Your father, who has +been killed so many years!" + +"They thought he was killed, ma'am," exclaimed Emily. "He could not +have been killed or he would not be here!" + +"No! To be sure! To be sure!" said the old lady. "That is very clear, +and very wonderful it is; but if he had been killed it would be still +more wonderful! Well, I am very glad he has come back." After a little +time I went back to my father and mother, and brought him in to see Mrs +Schank and the Little Lady, both of whom welcomed him cordially. I +inquired after Mrs Lindars. + +"She is much as usual," answered Emily, "but she looks almost as old as +grandmamma. You know I call Mrs Schank grandmamma now. She really is +like a grandmother to me, and the Misses Schank are like kind aunts, +though I look upon your mother, Ben, quite as a mother, for one she has +been to me all my life." + +I was doubtful how I ought to convey her husband's message to Mrs +Lindars. Indeed, I felt that it would be a very difficult task. +However, it was managed. I determined first to consult my mother and +the poor lady's sisters. At length they returned, and various were the +notes of exclamation and astonishment with which they heard of the +existence and return of my father, and still more so when they saw him. + +"Well, I must say you are a very substantial, good-looking ghost," said +Miss Anna Maria, in her funny, chirruping voice, "and a much better +husband you will make her, I am sure, than that strange Irishman who has +been haunting the village for the last week." + +"Thank you, miss," said my father, looking affectionately at my mother. + +"And you must stay here as long as you can, Mister Burton," said old +Mrs Schank. + +"Thank you again, ma'am. I shall be in no hurry to leave my wife now I +have come back to her," he said, with a sailor's bow. + +"But we want to know, Mr Burton, where you have been, and what you have +been about," said Miss Martha Schank. + +"That would take up a long time, but I will try and satisfy you ladies +as soon as you are ready to hear." + +"As to going to bed without some notion, we should not sleep a wink all +night for thinking of it, and not be sure, after all, whether you are +yourself, or your ghost, or somebody else," exclaimed the Misses Schank +almost in chorus, Miss Anna Maria adding the last remark: "We heard that +you were knocked overboard and killed attacking a French ship off the +coast of Italy. Was that not the case?" + +"It is all very true that I was knocked overboard," said my father. +"But had I been killed, I do not think I should be here. The fact is, +that when I fell into the water I came to myself, and not being able to +reach the boats I got hold of the rudder chains of the vessel we had +hoped to capture. There I hung on till the anger of the Frenchmen had +somewhat cooled down, and then, finding I could hold on no longer, I +sang out, and asked them to take me on board. They did so, and there +being a surgeon in the ship, he dressed my wounds. They treated me +pretty fairly till I got well, I must say that for them, but after that +they sent me to a French prison. Unfortunately I had no money in my +pocket, and was unable to buy paper to write a letter. What with the +hard treatment I received, and the thoughts that my wife and child were +left without anybody to look after them, I fell sick, and remained +between life and death for many months. A kind French widow and her +daughter took compassion on me, and by their means my life was saved. I +after this wrote several times, but my letters must have been treated as +were many others, and were never sent. I should, however, in time have +got my freedom, but I fell in with an English officer who was going to +be married, he told me, to a beautiful young lady, just when he was +taken, and now she would have to wait for him for many years, or perhaps +go and marry somebody else, thinking he was dead. He would, he said, +give everything to make his escape, so I promised to help him, which I +wished to do for his own sake. But I thought also that I might get away +myself. It would be a long yarn if I was to tell you all our plans, and +all the tricks we had to play to get out of prison. At last, however, +we managed to get free and stand outside the walls of the town. He +could talk French like a Frenchman, but I could not say a word. We were +both dressed as countrymen--he of the better sort, and I, as a lout, +born deaf and dumb. This did very well for some time, and whether or no +the country people suspected us I cannot say, but I rather think they +did, though many of them were very kind to Englishmen, and would gladly +have helped them to escape if they dared. We worked our way north, +travelling by unfrequented paths, or, when we had to take to the high +road, going on generally at night. We got into high spirits, thinking +that all would be right. This made us careless, when one day, just as +we were leaving the town, a party of their abominable gendarmes pounced +upon us. The captain showed great surprise, and wondered why they +should lay hold of two innocent people. This was of no use, however. +They soon showed him they knew who we were, and we were marched back to +prison, looking very foolish, and the next morning sent off, with +several other prisoners, to the place we had escaped from. There we +were kept closely shut up. It was very hard and very cruel in them, +just because we wanted to get our liberty. I made several other +attempts, for I was determined to get free if I could. Life was worth +nothing away from my wife and child. At last I succeeded with two +others--an officer and another man. We reached the coast, cut out a +small boat, and were making our way across the Channel when we were +picked up by a man-of-war. It had come on to blow very heavy. Our boat +was swamped alongside, and, as she was outward bound, we had to go away +in her. I entered on board. We took several prizes, and I filled my +empty pockets with gold. I was one of the prize crew of the first +man-of-war we took worth sending home, and at last I once more set foot +on the shores of England. As soon as I was free of the ship I came down +here. There you have my history; I will tell you more particulars +another day. It may serve, however, to convince you that I am no ghost, +or that if I am, I am a big liar, saving your pardons, ladies, and that +is what Dick Burton never was. Besides, I have an idea that my wife +believes me, at all events. Don't you, Polly?" + +Following my father's example, I must be somewhat brief in the remainder +of my yarn. I should say, that soon after his arrival he and my mother +took a cottage which happened to be vacant in the village. He +fortunately had a considerable amount of prize-money and pay due to him, +for which it appeared my mother had neglected to draw, and with this, in +addition to what he had lately obtained, he was well able to keep house. +Mrs and the Misses Schank, however, insisted upon my remaining with +them, which, as may be supposed, I was very glad to do. + +I spent a very happy time at Whithyford. Little Emily was my constant +companion, and every day I was with her. I learned to love her more and +more. At first we talked of being brother and sister, but we knew we +were not, and somehow or other in time we came to leave off calling each +other so. After this, at first I called her for a few days Miss Emily, +but I soon dropped that again. Then I began to talk of how I was going +to rise in my profession, and make heaps of prize-money, and I scarcely +know, indeed, what I was going to do and be. There was Lord +Collingwood, and Lord Nelson, and Lord Saint Vincent, and old Lord +Camperdown, who had all been midshipmen once on a time, and were +admirals and lords, and why should I not be a lord too? Emily, of +course, thought that I should be, and I am not quite certain that we did +not choose a title. I was to be Baron Burton of Whithyford, and I took +to calling her Lady Burton, and sometimes Lady Whithyford. I do not +mind confessing this now. It did no harm, and at all events made us +very happy. Why should not people be happy when happiness is so easily +obtained--by a little exercise of the imagination? I quite forgot to +mention my mother's devout admirer, Mr Gillooly. On inquiring the next +morning after our arrival of what had become of him, we found that he +had been taken ill and was laid up in bed; so it was said at the +"Wheatsheaf," where he remained for some time under the tender care of +Mrs Fowler. When he recovered, unwilling to go back to Ireland without +an English wife, which he promised he would bring, I rather think to +spite some Irish fair one who had refused him, as a reward to the +landlady for all her kindness, he made her an offer of his hand, which +she accepted. They were married shortly afterwards. She disposed of +her establishment, and, dressed in a new satin gown of the gayest +colours, accompanied him back, not only as a blooming bride, but, as +Anna Maria observed, a thoroughly full-blown one, to become the mistress +of Ballyswiggan Hall. When Mr Schank at last came home, there was a +great rejoicing, and two days afterwards the postman's knock was heard +at the door, and Emily, running out, brought back a long official +looking letter. + +"It has come at last," he exclaimed, and his voice showed more emotion +than he was wont to exhibit. "Oliver is a fine fellow; I knew he would +do his best;" and holding up the letter to us all, we saw it was +addressed to Commander Schank. "And now the next thing they must do is +to give me a ship and post me, and then, mother, I may perhaps do +something to place you and my sisters in the position you ought to +occupy, and make you all comfortable to the end of your days." + +"No, no, Jack! We are as well off as we wish to be. You must marry as +you said you would. We would far rather see you married happily than +change to the finest house in London." + +"No, no, sisters," he answered, and something very like a sigh burst +from his heart. "I once had a dream, but that has passed. I shall +marry my ship when I get one, and I hope never to lose her while I have +life." + +Captain Schank was known to be too good an officer to be allowed to +remain long unemployed, or I should say Captain Oliver was too zealous a +friend to allow his merits to be passed by. At length another letter +arrived, appointing him to the command of a fine brig sloop just off the +stocks at Portsmouth. He was at once to go down and commission her, and +fit her for sea. + +"Ben," he said, "Captain Oliver writes me too that you will be appointed +to her. You have only one year to serve, and after that he hopes you +will get your commission. If the Ministry keeps in and he lives, his +hopes will, I am very sure, come true. Oldershaw, as you know, is +promoted, and has been appointed Second-Lieutenant of her. The +First-Lieutenant is a stranger to me. I see he has been a good many +years at sea as First-Lieutenant; but he may not be the worse as a +First-Lieutenant on that account I hope. I must get your father to come +down to Portsmouth, to help me pick up hands for the brig Oliver hopes +to get him a berth on board a ship in ordinary, as some recompense to +him for his long imprisonment, and for his gallant efforts to assist the +Honourable Captain Burgoyne in escaping from prison. + +"You should not miss the opportunity of seeing a ship fitted out. Take +my advice. Make yourself practically acquainted with everything on +board, from stowing the hold to rigging the topgallant masts." The next +day Mr Schank started for Portsmouth, telling me to be prepared to +follow him in the course of a few days. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +CONCLUSION. + +The last days I spent at Whithyford ought to have been very delightful, +for my kind friends vied with each other in making much of me, as of +course so did my mother. My father talked of going down to Portsmouth +with me, but he changed his mind. + +"No, no," he said, "you know how to take care of yourself; and it is as +well the old boatswain should not come and interfere with you. God +bless you, my boy; go on as you have begun, and you will do well." + +And Emily. I am not going to repeat all we said to each other. We were +very young, and I dare say very silly. We exchanged vows, and hoped to +marry when I became a commander, or perhaps, we agreed, it might not be +so long; perhaps when I was a lieutenant. Many lieutenants had wives, +and though, to be sure, some were not very well off, yet we hoped to be +an exception to the general rule, and to have at all events enough to +live upon. Thus, full of love and hope, I started away for Portsmouth. +I was quickly on board the "Pearl". The First-Lieutenant, Mr Duff, was +a man after Captain Schank's own heart--a thorough tar, and under him, +doffing my midshipman's uniform, I was speedily engaged with a +marline-spike slung round my neck, and a lump of grease in one hand, +setting up the lower rigging. The brig was soon fitted for sea. +Oldershaw joined her as Second-Lieutenant. My two other friends Tom +Twig and Dicky Esse were glad to go to sea again with Captain Schank. I +also fell in with Toby Kiddle and Pat Brady at Portsmouth. I persuaded +both to join, Toby being rated as a quarter-master, and Pat as captain +of the foretop. + +"You see, Mister Burton," he observed, with a wink, "I can now write +home to Ballybruree to tell them I have been made a captain; and sure +it's the truth, and it will help to raise the family in the estimation +of the neighbours, and may be they will think one captain as good as +another." + +I confess that I should have preferred being in a rattling frigate; and +yet we had brave hearts on board the brig, and hoped at all events to do +something in her. We were ordered out to the North American station, +and then to proceed on to the West Indies. It used to be thought, in +those days, a good thing to give ships' companies the advantage of a hot +and cold climate alternately. The cold was to drive away the yellow +fever, and the heat to cure us of frostbites, to which we might be +subjected at Halifax or up the Saint Lawrence. We preferred, on the +whole, the West Indies, for, being constantly at sea, we had not much +sickness on board. We took a good many of the enemy's merchant vessels, +which struck without offering much resistance; but, though they assisted +to fill our pockets, we gained little honour, or glory, or a chance of +promotion. We had been, indeed, a year and a half on the station +without exchanging a shot with the enemy. At length, when off the east +end of Jamaica, while we were on the starboard tack, a strange ship was +discovered steering under easy sail on the opposite tack. What she was +we could not make out. She was considerably larger than we were, but +still Captain Schank determined, should she be an enemy, to attack her. +About an hour before noon she passed to leeward of us, and almost within +gun-shot. We made a private signal. It was not answered. + +"About ship!" cried the Captain, and away we stood in chase. In about a +couple of hours we were within gun-shot. Our bow gun was fired and +returned by the enemy's stern chaser. She then hoisted French colours +and set more sail, edging away to the southward. At length we got up +abreast of her, and brought her to close action. She, however, fought +well, and we soon had our braces, bowlines, and tiller-ropes shot away. +The enemy, now expecting to make us an easy prize, ran us aboard. + +"Boarders away!" cried Captain Schank. The Captain's wooden leg +preventing him from getting on board the enemy as rapidly as he wished, +Mr Duff led our men. Scarcely, however, had he reached the ship's deck +when a pistol bullet through his head laid him low. I was close behind +him. Oldershaw was bringing on a fresh set of boarders. + +"On, lads, on!" shouted Oldershaw. We swept the enemy before us, and, +though they made a stout resistance, in ten minutes we had killed, or +driven below or overboard, the greater part of the crew. The remainder, +who had escaped aft, threw down their arms and cried for quarter. Our +prize mounted twenty-four guns, and the crew amounted to upwards of two +hundred men. Two days afterwards we were entering Kingston Harbour with +her in triumph. Oldershaw was appointed First-Lieutenant of the brig, +and I received an order as her Second-Lieutenant. Soon after this, we +were ordered to proceed, with three ships of the line and two frigates, +in search of a French squadron, which had been committing depredations +on the African coast, and had just been heard of in the neighbourhood of +the West Indies. We were delayed by a hurricane which raged over those +seas. Fortunately we were in harbour, but some of the ships which were +outside suffered greatly. However, as Toby Kiddle observed, "What is +sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander," and we could only hope +that the enemy had suffered in the same way. At length, after cruising +for some time, we, being ahead, discovered a frigate, which, from the +cut of her sails, we had little doubt was French. Signalling to our +consorts, we gave chase, keeping considerably ahead of all the rest. In +about two hours we had got within two miles of the chase, and as we +approached still nearer we commenced firing our bow guns. The French +frigate, hoisting her colours, returned our fire with her stern chasers. +We now shortened sail. + +"If we get much nearer," said Captain Schank, "she may send us to the +bottom with one of her broadsides; but at this distance we may cripple +her and prevent her escaping." The nearest English frigate was by this +time about three miles astern of us. Already the Frenchman had cut up +our rigging a good deal, and at length one of her shots struck our bow +between wind and water. It was quickly plugged, and we continued at +some distance firing away, our shot every now and then striking the +enemy, but what damage we had done we could not ascertain. The leading +frigate was a very fast one, and was now rapidly coming up. We, I +confess, were anxiously looking out for her, for, although prudence +might have forbade us getting nearer the enemy, our eagerness to stop +her would have made us run every risk to effect that object. At length +the English frigate got within gun-shot of the enemy. She opened fire +with her bow chasers. Down came the Frenchman's flag, when once more we +made sail and hove to close to the prize. Captain Schank ordered me to +proceed on board and take possession. I felt, I must confess, almost as +surprised as a mouse would do at conquering a lion. The French captain, +however, with becoming politeness though with somewhat a wry face, +presented me with his sword, and we found ourselves in possession of a +forty-four gun frigate, measuring upwards of one thousand tons, and a +crew of three hundred and fifty men. Besides Frenchmen, there were on +board several Englishmen, who formed part of the crew of an Indiaman the +frigate had captured two days before. Among them were the second and +third officers. The Indiaman had been overtaken at night, and the +French ship had fired into her, and killed the captain and first officer +and a number of the crew. The passengers who were below had happily +escaped. The Indiaman's officers, thorough gentlemanly young fellows, +told me that they had only lost sight of the prize the day before, that +she was a slow sailer, and from the direction in which she was standing, +they had little doubt in what direction we should find her. The +recaptured prisoners also told us whereabouts we should fall in with the +remainder of the French squadron. + +We accordingly sent one of the Indiaman's officers on board the frigate, +while Captain Schank received orders from the Commodore to proceed in +search of the Indiaman. Scarcely had we lost sight of our squadron, +which was standing in the direction the Frenchmen were supposed to be, +when it came on to blow from the north-west. The wind rapidly increased +till it became a downright heavy gale. Our brig, however, was a fine +sea-boat, and under close-reefed topsails rode it out bravely. Our +chief anxiety was, however, on account of the risk we ran of losing the +Indiaman. Still the mate was convinced that she could not have passed +to the northward of where we then were. + +"She will be standing on the larboard tack, Captain Schank," he +observed; "if she sees all clear she will run through the Gut of +Gibraltar, or if not, will make for some port in the Bay of Biscay." + +However, as the Atlantic is a broad highway, our hopes of falling in +with her were far from sanguine. For three days we lay hove to, till at +length the gale moderating we once more made sail and stood to the +eastward. A bright look-out was kept for the sight of a sail, and from +sunrise to sunset volunteers were continually going aloft, in the hopes +of being the first to see the wished-for ship. Next morning, when it +was my watch on deck, I heard a voice from the maintopmast head +shouting: + +"A dismasted ship on the weather-beam not four miles away." + +I sent Esse, who was midshipman of the watch, aloft, and he corroborated +Pat Brady's statement. + +Sending below to call the Captain, I kept the brig away in the direction +of the ship. The sea was still running very high. As daylight +increased, we could see her clearly rolling in the trough of the sea, +and in an utterly helpless condition. For some time the mate could not +tell whether it was his own ship or not. + +"Too likely," he observed, "for the Frenchman's shot had wounded some of +our masts, and she very probably lost them in the late gale." + +Captain Schank and all the officers were quickly on deck, as were the +crew, and all eyes were turned to the wreck. As we drew near, we were +left in no doubt of her being a large Indiaman; and Mr Paul, the mate, +soon recognised her as the "Yarmouth Castle," to which he had belonged. +The signal of distress was flying on the stump of her mizzen-mast. As +we drew near, we discovered that the gale had otherwise severely handled +her. Most of her boats were gone, and her bulwarks stove in, probably +when the masts were carried away. As we passed a short distance to +windward of her, a person ran to the side with a large board, on which +was chalked, "Keep by us! Sprung a leak! Pumps choked! Captured by +Frenchmen!" + +"Ay, ay," shouted Captain Schank, and his voice borne down by the wind +probably reached them. As we passed, several people rushed up to the +man who had shown the board, and tore it out of his hands. This showed +us that we must be careful when going alongside, lest the Frenchmen +should attempt to beat us back. The difficulty of communicating with +the ship was still very great, for the sea continued high and broken, +and she rolled very much. We accordingly wore round and hove to at a +little distance, intending to wait till the sea should go down. + +The mate told us that there were a great many of the English crew and +Lascars left on board, and he thought, should they make the attempt, +they would be able to retake the ship from the Frenchmen. No attempt +was made, however, and at length, the weather moderating, a boat, of +which I took the command, was lowered, the brig being sufficiently near +at the time to fire into her, should the French prize crew offer any +resistance. + +What was taking place on board the Indiaman we could not see, but just +as we got alongside several people appeared and hove ropes to us, and +assisted me with four of my men to get on board. I observed, as I +reached the deck, that a scuffle was taking place forward, and I then +found that the passengers and some of the crew had suddenly attacked the +Frenchmen, who, it appeared, had intended manning their guns in the +hopes of beating off the brig. Our appearance quickly gave an easy +victory to our friends. The superior officers of the Indiaman had all +been taken out of her. The carpenter, however, was on board, and told +me he hoped, if the pumps could be cleared and properly worked, that the +leak could be kept under. A richly-laden Indiaman was indeed a prize +worth recovering. The passengers had nearly all remained on board, and +expressed their gratitude for the timely succour which had been afforded +them. The Frenchmen, finding that all hope of carrying off their prize +was gone, yielded themselves prisoners; their commanding officer, who +had, with his men, been driven forward, delivering up his sword to me. +I sent the boat with Dicky Esse back to tell Captain Schank that I +thought, with some thirty of our hands in addition to the ship's crew +whom we had on board, to be able to keep the pumps going, and to rig +jury-masts by which the ship might be safely carried to England. Among +the passengers a gentleman was pointed out to me who had been very +active in retaking the ship from the hands of the Frenchmen. I inquired +his name. "Mr Bramston," was the answer. + +"How strange," I thought: "and is Mrs Bramston on board?" + +"Yes, sir, she is, but she is very ill, and has constantly kept her +cabin." + +"Have they any children?" I asked. + +"No, none, sir," said a lady who overheard the question. "Poor lady, +she once had a daughter, a little girl, who was lost in a very sad way, +and I do not think she has ever recovered that event." + +As may be supposed I could not then ask further questions, as my entire +attention was required for the duty of the ship. I asked Kiddle, who +accompanied me on board, what he thought of the weather. + +"It's moderating, sir, and I hope we shall be able to keep the ship +afloat if we get more assistance." + +The sea rapidly went down, and the men I asked for were sent on board. +The pumps were again speedily set going, and as the ship laboured less +we began to gain upon the leak. Fortunately there was a good supply of +spars on board, and I hoped, should the weather continue moderate, to be +able to rig jury-masts the following day. We worked hard till +nightfall, most of the Frenchmen giving their assistance at the pumps. +Indeed, had we not fallen in with them, the probabilities are that the +ship would have gone down; so that they owed their lives to us, although +they were not well-pleased at being made prisoners. I now for the first +time was able to enter the cuddy. Coming off the dark deck, I was +struck by the bright light of the cabin, the tables glittering with +plate and glass set for supper, well secured, as may be supposed, by the +fiddles, a number of passengers, ladies and gentlemen, being collected +round them. They greeted me warmly, and numerous questions were put to +me as to the probability of the ship's reaching home in safety. I +assured them that I hoped in the course of a week or so, if the wind was +favourable, that we might find ourselves in the Chops of the Channel. +"Although," I added, "you know the chances of war, but I promise you +that our brig will stick by you and fight to the last for your +protection." + +I was not sorry to take my seat at table among them, as I had eaten +nothing for some hours. The gentlemen all begged to take wine with me, +and assured me they believed that, had we not fallen in with them, the +ship would have gone down. When Mr Bramston addressed me, I replied +that I knew his name, and asked if he came from Ceylon. + +"Yes," he answered, "I have been there for many years." + +I then told him that my commander, Captain Schank, had some time before +written to him on an important matter, and asked whether he had received +the letter. + +"Yes," he answered, "just before I left India, and I will speak to you +by-and-by on that matter." + +After supper he took me aside, and begged to know further particulars of +the death of Mr Herbert. "Though," he remarked, "that was not the name +by which you knew him." + +"Well," he said, after I had told him, "the less his poor daughter knows +of these painful circumstances the better. I am now returning with her, +and, I am thankful to say, her health has already benefited by the +voyage. I trust the meeting with her mother will have a beneficial +effect on her." + +"I am sure it will on Mrs Lindars," I observed: "her great wish was, +that should her daughter have been taken away, she might have left some +children on whom she might bestow her long pent-up affection." + +"Alas!" said Mr Bramston, "our one only child, a little daughter, was +taken from us at an early age in a very sad way. Mrs Bramston had been +very ill, and had been advised to proceed to Madras for change of air. +An old naval friend offered her and me a passage, and I accordingly +hurried on board, leaving our child under the charge of a friend at +Colombo. I returned as soon as possible, and finding my wife yearning +for her little one, I resolved to send her to her. A dhow was on the +point of sailing, in which several friends had taken a passage. I +committed our child and nurse to their charge. The dhow never reached +her destination, and we have every reason to believe that she foundered +with all on board." + +"That is indeed strange!" I said aloud. I stopped, for I was afraid of +raising hopes in the heart of the father which might be disappointed. +He heard me. + +"What do you mean?" he asked. + +"When was this?" I inquired. + +"In the month of July, in the year ---," he said. + +"That is indeed wonderful," I exclaimed, scarcely able to restrain my +feelings. "I was a child at the time," I said, "but I was on board a +frigate, which fell in with the wreck of a dhow. The only people alive +on board were an Indian nurse and a child--a little girl. The nurse +died; but the child was taken care of by my mother, and is now under the +protection of the family of the commander of the brig to which I belong, +Captain Schank, the officer who wrote to you on the subject of Mr +Herbert's death." + +"God be praised!" exclaimed Mr Bramston. "I cannot have the shadow of +a doubt that the little girl who was picked up by your frigate was my +daughter." + +"By-the-by, I have a man with me who was on board the `Boreas' at the +time, and he can tell you even more than I can," I remarked. + +Mr Bramston was eager to see him. I sent for Kiddle. He corroborated +my account, adding further particulars, which left no doubt whatever on +the mind of Mr Bramston that the Little Lady--my Emily--was his +daughter. + +"And is she a pretty child? Can you give me an idea of her size and +appearance?" + +"Yes, she is, sir, indeed, very pretty; but you must remember she is no +longer a child; she is a young lady," I answered, feeling that my voice +was very likely to betray my feelings. + +"I long to see her," exclaimed Mr Bramston. "But I must break the +tidings gently to her mother, or the sudden joy may be too much for +her." + +We were busily employed all the next day getting up jury-masts, and not +till the next evening was I able to go into the cabin. I was then +introduced to Mrs Bramston. I found that she was somewhat prepared for +the narration I had to give her. The moment I saw her I was convinced +that Emily was her daughter, for the likeness was very striking. Well, +I must cut my yarn short. Having rigged jury-masts we made sail, and, +the wind coming to the southward, steered a course for England. The +brig kept cruising about us like a vigilant sheep-dog, ready to do +battle with any who might interfere with his charge. At length England +was reached, and getting leave, I accompanied my new-found friends to +Whithyford. I will not describe the meeting of the mother and her +child, and the elder child and her mother. One thing only made me +unhappy. I dreaded lest Mr Bramston, who I found had made a large +fortune in India, should object to his daughter marrying a poor +lieutenant of no family. I could not bear suspense, and so Emily and I +told him that we were engaged, and she added that she should break her +heart if she were not allowed to marry me. Mr Bramston smiled. + +"You are rather young to think of such matters now," he said, "but when +my friend here becomes a commander, if you are still in the same mind, I +promise you that neither your mother nor I will object." + +In the course of two years I did become a commander. We were in the +same mind and married. I stuck to my profession, however, was posted, +got the command of a dashing frigate, in which I did good service to my +country, and am now a KCB with my flag in prospect. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ben Burton, by W. H. G. Kingston + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEN BURTON *** + +***** This file should be named 21450.txt or 21450.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/4/5/21450/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |