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diff --git a/21455.txt b/21455.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3bf3deb --- /dev/null +++ b/21455.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10509 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Cheveley, 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: Dick Cheveley + His Adventures and Misadventures + +Author: W. H. G. Kingston + +Illustrator: W. H. C. Groome + +Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21455] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK CHEVELEY *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Dick Cheveley, His Adventures and Misadventures, by W.H.G Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +Dick is the teenage son of an early nineteenth century vicar in England. +The boy has a passionate desire to go to sea, but his family, especially +his Aunt Deb, oppose this. One reason is that if he were to go as a +midshipman he would be required to have at least fifty pounds a year to +keep appearances up, and that money wasn't available. + +He forms a friendship with another boy, Mark, who gets into trouble for +being a poacher. Dick peaches on the local smugglers, who imprison him, +and he is nearly killed by them. + +Wandering out of curiosity round the decks of a ship that is about to +sail he falls through a hatchway, and right down into the lower hold. +When he comes to the ship is at sea, and the hold is battened down. It +takes him several weeks before he can attract attention. But the +captain is a horrible man, and some of the crew are not much better. +Eventually Dick jumps ship by stealing a ship's dinghy, and lands on a +tiny rocky islet. The dinghy is lost in a storm. Eventually Dick is +rescued and is taken back to his home town, where he vows never to go to +sea again. + +The story was written as a cautionary tale to advise boys like Dick +never to go to sea as a stowaway, which is effectually what Dick did, +and was inspired by a real case, in which the boy was found dying after +only thirteen days at sea. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +DICK CHEVELEY, HIS ADVENTURES AND MISADVENTURES, BY W.H.G KINGSTON. + +Preface. + +So extraordinary are the adventures of my hero, Master Richard Cheveley, +son of the Reverend John Cheveley, vicar of the parish of S--, in the +county of D---, that it is possible some of my readers may be inclined +to consider them incredible, but that they are thoroughly probable the +following paragraph which appeared in the evening edition of the +_Standard_ early in the month of November, 1879, will, I think, amply +prove. I have no fear that any sensible boys will be inclined to follow +Dick's example; but if they will write to him at Liverpool, where he +resides, and ask his advice, as a young gentleman did mine lately, on +the subject of running away to sea, I am very sure that he will +earnestly advise them to stay at home; or, at all events, first to +consult their fathers or mothers, or guardians, or other relatives or +friends before they start, unless they desire to risk sharing the fate +of the hapless stowaway here mentioned:-- + + "A shocking discovery was made on board the National steamer + _England_, which arrived in New York from Liverpool on the 29th + October. In discharging the cargo in the forehold a stowaway was + found in a dying state. He had made the entire passage of thirteen + days without food or drink. He was carried to the vessel's deck, + where he died." + +My young correspondent, in perfect honesty, asked me to tell him how he +could best manage to run away to sea. I advised him, as Mr Richard +Cheveley would have done, and I am happy to say that he wisely followed +my advice, for I have since frequently heard from him. When he first +wrote he was an entire stranger to me. He has had more to do with this +work than he supposes. I have the pleasure of dedicating it to him. + + WILLIAM H G KINGSTON. + + +CHAPTER ONE. + + Some account of my family, including Aunt Deb--My father receives an + offer--A family discussion, in which Aunt Deb distinguishes herself-- + Her opinions and mine differ considerably--My desire to go to sea + haunts my dreams--My brother Ned's counsel--I go a-fishing in Leighton + Park--I meet with an accident--My career nearly cut short--A battle + with a swan, in which I get the worst of it--A courageous mother--Mark + Riddle to the rescue--An awkward fix--Mark finds a way out of it--Old + Roger's cottage--The Riddle family--Roger Riddle's yarns and their + effect on me--Mark takes a different view--It's not all gold that + glitters--The model--My reception at home. + +We were all seated round the tea-table, that is to say, my father and +mother, my five sisters, and three of my elder brothers, who were at +home--two were away--and the same number of young ones, who wore +pinafores, and last, but not least, Aunt Deb, who was my mother's aunt, +and lived with us to manage everything and keep everybody in order, for +this neither my father nor mother were very well able to do; the latter +nearly worn out with nursing numerous babies, while my father was +constantly engaged in the duties of the parish of Sandgate, of which he +was incumbent. + +Aunt Deb was never happy unless she was actively engaged in doing +something or other. At present she was employed in cutting, buttering, +or covering with jam, huge slices of bread, which she served out as soon +as they were ready to the juvenile members of the family, while my +eldest sister, Mary, was presiding at the tea-tray, and passing round +the cups as she filled them. + +When all were served, my father stood up and said grace, and then all +fell to with an eagerness which proved that we had good appetites. + +"I say, Aunt Deb, Tom Martin has lent me such a jolly book. Please give +me another slice before you sit down. It's all about Anson's voyage +round the world. I don't know whether I shall like it as well as +`Robinson Crusoe' or `Captain Cook's Voyages,' or `Gulliver's Travels,' +or the `Life of Nelson,' or `Paul Jones,' but I think I shall from the +look I got of it," I exclaimed, as Aunt Deb was doing what I requested. + +"I wish, Dick, that you would not read those pestiferous works," she +answered, as, having given me the slice of bread, she sat down to sip +her tea. "They are all written with an evil intent, to make young +people go gadding about the world, instead of staying contentedly at +home doing their duty in that state of life to which they are called." + +"But I don't understand why I should not be called to go to sea," I +replied; "I have for a long time made up my mind to go, and I intend to +try and become as great a man as Howe, or Nelson, or Collingwood, or +Lord Cochrane, or Sir Sidney Smith. I've just to ask you, Aunt Deb, +what England would be without her navy, and what the navy would be +unless boys were allowed to go into it?" + +"Stuff and nonsense, you know nothing about the matter, Dick. It's very +well for boys who have plenty of interest, for sons of peers or members +of parliament, or judges or bishops, or of others who possess ample +means and influence, but the son of a poor incumbent of an out of the +way parish, who knows no one, and whom nobody knows, would remain at the +bottom of the tree." + +"But you forget, Aunt Deb, that there are ways of getting on besides +through interest. I intend to do all sorts of dashing things, and win +my promotion, through my bravery. If I can once become a midshipman I +shall have no fear about getting on." + +"Stuff and nonsense!" again ejaculated Aunt Deb, "you know nothing about +the matter, boy." + +"Don't I though," I said to myself, for I knew that my father, who felt +the importance of finding professions for his sons according to their +tastes, had some time before written to Sir Reginald Knowsley, of +Leighton Park,--"the Squire," as he used to be called till he was made a +baronet, and still was so very frequently, asking him to exert his +influence in obtaining an appointment for me on board a man-of-war. +This Sir Reginald had promised to do. Aunt Deb, however, had made many +objections, but for once in a way my father had acted contrary to her +sage counsel, and as he considered for the best. Still Aunt Deb had not +given in. + +"You'll do as you think fit, John," she observed to him, "but you will +repent it. Dick is not able to take care of himself at home, much less +will he be so on board a big ship among a number of rough sailors. Let +him remain at school until he is old enough to go into a counting-house +in London or Bristol, where he'll make his fortune and become a +respectable member of society, as his elder brother means to be, or let +him become a master at a school, or follow any course of life rather +than that of a soldier or a sailor." + +I did not venture to interrupt Aunt Deb, indeed it would have been +somewhat dangerous to have done so, while she was arguing a point, but I +had secretly begged my father to write to Sir Reginald as he had +promised, assuring him that I had set my heart on following a naval +career, and that it would break if I was not allowed to go to sea. This +took place, it will be understood, some time before the evening of which +I am now speaking. + +Aunt Deb suspected that my father was inclined to favour my wishes, and +this made her speak still more disparagingly than ever of the navy. + +Tea was nearly over when the post arrived. It only reached us of an +evening, and Sarah, the maid, brought in a large franked letter. I at +once guessed that it was from Sir Reginald Knowsley, who was in London. + +I gazed anxiously at my father's face as he read it. His countenance +did not, however, exhibit any especial satisfaction. + +"Who is it from?" asked my mother, in a languid voice. "From Sir +Reginald," he replied. "It is very kind and complimentary. He says +that he has had great pleasure in doing as I requested him. He +fortunately, when going down to the Admiralty, met his friend Captain +Grummit, who has lately been appointed to the `Blaze-away,' man-of-war, +and who expressed his willingness to receive on board his ship the son +of any friend of his, but--and here comes the rub--Captain Grummit, he +says, has made it a rule to take no midshipmen unless their parents +consent to allow them fifty pounds a year, in addition to their pay. +This sum, the Captain states, is absolutely necessary to enable them to +make the appearance he desires all his midshipmen to maintain. Fifty +pounds a year is a larger sum, I fear, than my purse can supply," +observed my father when he had read thus far. + +"I should think it was, indeed!" exclaimed Aunt Deb. "Fifty pounds a +year! Why, that's nearly half of my annual income. It would be +madness, John, to make any promise of the sort. Suppose you were to let +him go, and to stint the rest of his brothers and sisters by making him +so large an allowance--what will be the result, granting that he is not +killed in the first battle he is engaged in, or does not fall overboard +and get drowned, or the ship is not wrecked, and he escapes the other +hundred and one casualties to which a sailor is liable? Why, when he +becomes a lieutenant he'll marry to a certainty, and then he'll be +killed, and leave you and his mother and me, or his brothers and +sisters, to look after his widow and children, supposing they are able +to do so." + +"But I shall have a hundred and twenty pounds full pay, and ninety +pounds a year half-pay," I answered; "I know all about it, I can tell +you." + +"Ninety pounds a year and a wife and half-a-dozen small brats to support +on it," exclaimed Aunt Deb in an indignant tone. "The wife is sure to +be delicate, and know nothing about housekeeping, and she and the +children will constantly be requiring the doctor in the house." + +"But you are going very far ahead, Aunt Deb, I haven't gone to sea yet, +or been made a lieutenant, and if I had, there's no reason why I should +marry." + +"There are a great many reasons why you should not," exclaimed Aunt Deb. + +"I was going to say that there are many lieutenants in the navy who have +not got wives, and I do not suppose that I shall marry when I become +one," I answered. + +"It seems pretty certain that you will never be a lieutenant or a +midshipman either, if it depends upon your having an allowance of fifty +pounds a year, for where that fifty pounds is to come from I'm sure I +don't know," cried my aunt. "As it is, your poor father finds it a +difficult matter to find food and clothing for you all, and to give you +a proper education, and unless the Bishop should suddenly bestow a rich +living on him, he, at all events, could not pay fifty pounds a year, or +fifty shillings either, so I would advise you forthwith to give up this +mad idea of yours, and stay quietly at school until a profitable +employment is found for you." + +I looked up at my father, feeling that there was a good deal of truth in +what Aunt Deb said, although I did not like the way she said it. + +"Your aunt only states what is the case, Dick," said my father. "I +should be glad to forward your views, but I could not venture, with my +very limited income, to bind myself to supply you with the sum which Sir +Reginald says is necessary." + +"Couldn't you get Sir Reginald to advance the money?" I inquired, as +the bright idea occurred to me; "I will return it to him out of my pay +and prize-money." + +Aunt Deb fairly burst out laughing. + +"Out of your pay, Dick?" she exclaimed. "Why fifty pounds is required +over and above that pay you talk of, every penny of which you will have +to spend, and supposing that you should not be employed for a time, and +have to live on shore. Do you happen to know what a midshipman's +half-pay is? Why just nothing at all and find yourself. You talk a +good deal of knowing all about the matter, but it's just clear that you +know nothing." + +"I wish, my dear Dick, that we could save enough to help you," said my +mother, who was always ready to assist us in any of our plans; "but you +know how difficult I find it to get even a few shillings to spend." + +My mother's remark soothed my irritated feelings and disappointment, or +I should have said something which might not have been pleasant to Aunt +Deb's ears. + +We continued talking on the subject, I devising all sorts of plans, and +arguing tooth and nail with Aunt Deb, for I had made up my mind to go to +sea, and to go I was determined by hook or by crook; but that fifty +pounds a year was, I confess, a damper to my hopes of becoming a +midshipman. + +If I could have set to work and made the fifty pounds, I would have done +my best to do so, but I was as little likely to make fifty pounds as I +was to make fifty thousand. Aunt Deb also reminded my father that it +was not fifty pounds a year for one year, but fifty pounds for several +years, which he might set down as three hundred pounds, at least, of +which, through my foolish fancy, I should be depriving him, and my +mother, and brothers, and sisters. + +There was no denying that, so I felt that I was defeated. I had at +length to go to bed, feeling as disappointed and miserable as I had ever +been in my life. To Ned, the brother just above me in age, who slept in +the same room, I opened my heart. + +"I am the most miserable being in the world!" I exclaimed. "I wish +that I had never been born. If it had not been for Aunt Deb father +would have given in, but she hates me, I know, and always has hated me, +and takes a pleasure in thwarting my wishes. I've a great mind to run +off to sea, and enter before the mast just to spite her." + +Ned, who was a quiet, amiable fellow, taking much after our kind mother, +endeavoured to tranquillise my irritated feelings. + +"Don't talk in that way, Dick," he said in a gentle tone. "You might +get tired of the life, even if you were to go into the navy; but, +perhaps, means may be found, after all, to enable you to follow the bent +of your wishes. All naval captains may not insist on their midshipmen +having an allowance of fifty pounds a year; or, perhaps, if they do, +some friend may find the necessary funds." + +"I haven't a friend in the world," I answered. "If my father cannot +give me the money I don't know who can. I know that Aunt Deb would not, +even if she could." + +"Cheer up, Dick," said Ned; "or rather I would advise you to go to +sleep. Perhaps to-morrow morning some bright idea may occur which we +can't think of at present. I've got my lessons to do before breakfast, +so I must not stop awake talking, or I shall not be able to arouse +myself." + +I had begun taking off my clothes, and Ned waited until he saw me lie +down, when he put out the candle, and jumped into bed. I continued +talking till a loud snore from his corner of the room showed me that he +was fast asleep. I soon followed his example, but my mind was not idle, +for I dreamed that I had gone to sea, become a midshipman, and was +sailing over the blue ocean with a fair breeze, that the captain was +talking to me and telling me what a fine young sailor I had become, and +that he had invited me to breakfast with him, and had handed me a plate +of buttered toast and a fresh-laid egg; when, looking up, I saw his +countenance suddenly change into that of Aunt Deb. + +"Don't you wish you may get it?" he said. "Before you eat that, go on +deck and see what weather it is." + +Of course I had to go, when to my astonishment I found the ship rolling +and pitching; the foam-covered seas tossing and roaring; the officers +shouting and bawling, ordering the men to take in sail. Presently there +came a crash, the masts went by the board, the seas dashed over the +ship, and I found myself tumbling about among the breakers, until it +seemed almost in an instant I was thrown on the beach, where I lay +unable to crawl out of the way of the angry waters, which threatened +every moment to carry me off again. In vain I tried to work my way up +the sands with my arms and legs. Presently down I came, to find myself +sprawling on the floor. + +"What can have made all that row?" exclaimed Ned, starting up, awakened +by the noise of my falling out of bed. + +"I thought I was shipwrecked," I answered. + +"I'm glad you are not," said Ned. "So get into bed again, and if you +can go to sleep, dream of something else." + +Feeling somewhat foolish, I did as he advised, but I had first to put my +bed-clothes to rights, for I had dragged them off with me to the floor. +It was no easy matter, although I was assisted by the pale light of +early morning, which came through the chinks of the shutters. + +In a short time afterwards Ned again got up to go to his books, for he, +being somewhat delicate, was studying under our father, while I, who had +been sent to school, had just come home for the holidays. I had a +holiday task, but had no intention of troubling myself about it at +present. I was, therefore, somewhat puzzled to know what to do. While +I was dressing, it occurred to me that I would go over to Leighton Park +with my rod, to try the ponds, hoping to return with a basket of fish. +I might go there and get an hour's fishing, and be back again before +breakfast. I tried to persuade Ned to accompany me, but he preferred to +stick to his books. + +"Much good may they do you," I answered, rather annoyed. "Why can't you +shut them up for once in a way. It's a beautiful morning, and by going +early we are sure to have plenty of sport, and you can learn your +lessons just as well after breakfast." + +"Not if I had been out three or four hours fishing, and came home wet +and dirty; and I want to get my studies over while the day is young, and +the air fresh and pure. I can read twice as well now as I shall be able +after breakfast." + +"Well, if you are so unsociable, I must go by myself," I said, getting +down my rod from the wall on which it hung with my fishing-tackle and +basket. Swinging the latter over my shoulder I crept noiselessly out of +the room and down stairs. No one was stirring, so I let myself out by a +back door which led into the garden. Even our old dog "Growler" did not +bark, for he was, I suppose, taking his morning snooze after having been +on the watch all night. + +Before setting off I had to get some bait. I found a spade in the +tool-house and proceeded with it to a certain well-known heap in the +corner of the kitchen garden, full of vivacious worms of a ruddy hue, +for which fish of all descriptions had a decided predilection. Even +now, whenever I smell a similar odour to that which emanated from the +heap, the garden and its surroundings are vividly recalled to my mind. +I quickly filled a box, which I kept for the purpose, with wriggling +worms. It had a perforated lid, and contained damp moss. + +"I ought to have thought of getting these fellows yesterday and have +given them time to clean themselves," I said to myself. "They'll do, +notwithstanding, although they will not prove as tough as they ought." +Shouldering my rod I made my way out of the garden by a wicket gate, and +proceeded across the fields on which it opened towards Leighton Park. +The grass was wet with dew, the air was pure and fresh, almost cold; the +birds were singing blithely in the trees. A lark sprang up before me, +and rose into the blue air, warbling sweetly to welcome the rising sun, +which he could see long before its rays glanced over the ground on which +I was walking. I could not help also singing and whistling, the bright +air alone being sufficient to raise my spirits. I hurried away, as I +was eager to begin fishing, for I wanted the fish in the first place, +and I knew in the second that Ned would laugh at me if I came back empty +handed. The pond to which I was going, although supplied by the same +stream which fed the ornamental piece of water in the neighbourhood of +the Hall, was at a distance from it, and was accessible without having +to pass through the grounds. It was surrounded by trees, and one side +of the bank was thickly fringed by sedges which extended a considerable +way into the water. It served as a preserve for ducks and wild fowl of +various descriptions, and was inhabited also by a number of swans, who +floated gracefully over its calm surface. As they were accustomed to +depend upon their own exertions for a subsistence, they generally kept +at a distance from strangers, and I had never been interrupted by them +when fishing. I made my way to a spot where I knew that the water was +deep, and where I had frequently been successful in fishing. It was a +green bank, which jutted out into a point, with bushes on one side, but +perfectly free on the other. I quickly got my rod together, and my hook +baited with a red wriggling worm. I did not consider that the worm +wriggled because it did not like to be put on the hook, but if I had +been asked I should have said that it was rather pleased than otherwise +at having so important a duty to perform as catching fish for my +pleasure. I had a new float, white above and green below, which I +thought looked very pretty as I threw my line out on the water. Up it +popped at once, there being plenty of lead. Before long it began to +move, gliding slowly over the surface, then faster and faster. I +eagerly held my rod ready to strike as soon as it went down; now it +moved on one side, now on the other. I knew that there was a fish +coquetting with the bait, trying perhaps to suck off the worm without +letting the hook run into its jaws. Before long down went the float, +and I gave my rod a scientific jerk against the direction in which the +float was last moving, when to my intense satisfaction I felt that I had +hooked a fish, but whether a large or a small one I could not at first +tell. I wound up my line until I had got it of a manageable length, +then drew it in gradually towards the bank. I soon discovered that I +had hooked a fine tench. It was so astonished at finding itself dragged +through the water, without any exertion of its fins, that it scarcely +struggled at all, and I quickly hauled it up on the bank. It was +three-quarters of a pound at least, one of the largest I had ever +caught. It was soon unhooked and placed safely in my basket. As I +wanted several more I put on a fresh worm, and again threw my line into +the water. + +Some people say there is no pleasure in float-fishing, but for me it +always had a strange fascination, that would not have been the case, if +I could have seen through the water, for I believe the interest depends +upon not knowing what size or sort of fish has got hold of the hook, +when the float first begins to move, and then glides about as I have +described, until it suddenly disappears beneath the surface. I caught +four or five fine tench in little more than twice as many minutes. I +don't know why they took a fancy to bite so freely that fine bright +morning. Generally they take the hook best of a dull, muggy day, with a +light drizzling rain, provided the weather is warm. After I had caught +those four fish, I waited for fully ten minutes more without getting +another bite; at last, I came to the conclusion that only those four +fish had come to that part of the pond. There was another place a +little further on, free of trees and bushes, where I could throw my line +without the risk of its being caught in the bushes above my head; I had +not, however, generally gone there. Tall sedges lined the shore, and +water-lilies floated on the greater part of the surface and its +immediate neighbourhood. It was also somewhat difficult to get at, +owing to the dense brushwood which covered the ground close to it. I +waited five minutes more, and then slinging my basket behind my back, I +made my way to the spot I have described. After catching my line two or +three times in the bushes, and spending some time in clearing it, I +reached the bank and unslinging my basket quickly, once more had my +float in the water. The ground, which was covered with moss rather than +grass, sloped quietly down to the water, and was excessively slippery. +As I held my rod, expecting every moment to get a bite, I heard a low +whistling sound coming from the bushes close to me. At first I thought +it was produced by young frogs, but where they were I could not make +out. I observed that several of the swans I have before mentioned were +floating on the surface not far off. Now one, now another would put +down its long neck in search of fish or water insects. Presently one of +them caught sight of me, and came swimming rapidly towards the extreme +point of the bank. In an instant it landed, and half-flying, +half-running over the ground, came full at me through the bushes. To +retreat was impossible, should it intend to attack me, but I hoped it +would not venture to do so. Before, however, I had any time for +considering the matter, it suddenly spread its powerful wings, with one +of which it dealt me such a blow, that before I could recover I was sent +down the slippery bank, and plunged head over heels into the water. In +my fright I let go my rod, but instinctively held out my hands to grasp +whatever I could get hold of. + +The swan, not content with its first success, came after me, when, by +some means or other. I caught hold of it by one of its legs. To this +day I don't know how it happened. The water was deep, and I had very +little notion of swimming, and having once got hold of something to +support myself I was not inclined to let go, while the swan was as much +astonished at being seized hold of as I was. I shouted and bawled for +help, although, as no one was likely to be at the pond at that early +hour, or passing in the neighbourhood, there was little chance of +obtaining assistance. + +Away flew the swan, spreading out her broad wings to enable her to rise +above the surface. Instead of seeking the land, to my horror, she +dragged me right out towards the middle of the pond; while the other +swans, alarmed at seeing the extraordinary performance of their +companion, flew off in all directions. Fortunately I was able to keep +my head above the surface, but was afraid of getting a kick from the +other leg of the swan as she struck the water with it to assist herself +in making her onward way, but as I held her captive foot at arm's +length, fortunately she did not touch me. I dared not let go with one +of my hands, or I should have tried to seize it. Whether it was +instinct or not which induced her to carry me away from her nest I +cannot tell, but that seemed to be her object. I felt as if I was in a +horrid dream, compelled to hold on, and yet finding myself dragged +forward against my will. The pond was a long and narrow one, but it +seemed wider than it had ever done before. The swan, instead of going +across to the opposite bank, took a course right down the centre. My +shouts and shrieks must have filled her with alarm. On and on she went +flapping her huge wings. I knew that my life depended upon being able +to hold fast to her foot, but my arms were beginning to ache, and it +seemed to me that we were still a long way from the end. When we got +there, I could not tell what she might do. Perhaps, I thought, she +might turn round and attack me with beak and wings, when, exhausted by +my struggles, I should be unable to defend myself. Still I dared not +venture to let go. I heartily wished that I had been a good swimmer, +because then, when we got near the end, I might have released her and +struck out, either for one side or the other. As it was, my safety +depended on being dragged by her to the shore. She frequently struck +the water with her wings. Showers of spray came flying over my head, +which prevented me from seeing how near I was to it. At last I began to +fear that I should be unable to hold on long enough. My arms ached, and +my hands felt cramped, still the love of life induced me not to give in. + +I shouted again and again. Presently I heard a shout in return. + +"Hold on, young fellow. Hold on, you'll be all right." This encouraged +me, for I knew that help was at hand. Suddenly, as I looked up, I saw +the tops of the trees, and presently afterwards I found the swan was +trying to make her way up the bank, while my feet touched the muddy +bottom. + +I had no wish to be dragged through the bushes by the swan, so, as I was +close to the shore, I let go, but as I did so, I fell utterly exhausted +on the bank, and was very nearly slipping again into the water. The +swan, finding herself free after going a short distance, closed her +wings, and recollecting, I fancy, that I had been the cause of her +alarm, came rushing back with out-stretched neck, uttering a strange +hissing sound, preparing, as I supposed, to attack me. I was too much +exhausted to try and get up and endeavour to escape from her. Just as +she was within a few feet of me, I saw a boy armed with a thick stick +spring out from among the bushes, and run directly towards her. A blow +from his stick turned her aside, and instead of making for me, she again +plunged into the water, and made her way over the surface in the +direction from which we had come. + +"I am very much obliged to you, my fine fellow, for driving off the +swan, or I suppose the savage creature would have mauled me terribly, +had she got up to me." + +"Very happy to have done you a service, master; but it didn't give me +much trouble to do it. However, I would advise you not to stop here in +your wet clothes, for the mornings are pretty fresh, and you'll be +catching a bad cold." + +"Thank you," I said, "but I do not feel very well able to walk far just +yet." + +"Have you got far to go home?" he asked. + +I told him. + +"Well, then, you had better come home with me to my father's cottage. +It is away down near the sea, and he'll give you some hot spirits, and +you can turn into my bed while your clothes are drying." + +I was very glad to accept his proposal, for I did not at all fancy +having to go home all dripping, to be laughed at by my brothers, and to +get a scolding from Aunt Deb into the bargain, for I knew she would say +it was all my own fault, and that if I had not been prying into the +swan's nest, the bird would not have attacked me. I did not, however, +wish to lose my rod and basket of fish, and I thought it very probable +that if I left them, somebody else would carry them off. I asked my new +friend his name. + +"Mark Riddle," he answered. + +"Before I go I must get back my rod and basket of fish; it won't take us +long. Would you mind coming with me?" + +"No, master, I don't mind; but I would advise you to be quick about it." + +Mark helped me up, and as I soon got the use of my legs, we ran round +outside the trees as fast as we could go. The basket of fish was safe +enough on the bank, but the rod was floating away at some distance. + +"Oh dear, oh dear. I shall never be able to get it," I exclaimed. + +"What! Can't you swim, master?" asked Mark. + +I confessed that I was afraid I could not swim far enough to bring it +in. + +"Well, never you mind. I'll have it in a jiffy," and stripping off his +clothes he plunged into the water and soon brought in the rod. + +"There's a fish on the hook I've a notion," he said, as he handed me the +butt end of the rod. + +He was right, and as he was dressing, not taking long to rub himself dry +with his handkerchief, I landed a fine fat tench. + +"That belongs to you," I said. "And, indeed, I ought to give you all +the fish I have in my basket." + +"Much obliged, master; but I've got a fine lot myself, which I pulled +out of the pond this morning, only don't you say a word about it, for +the Squire, I've a notion, doesn't allow us poor people to come fishing +here." + +I assured Mark that I would not inform against him, and having taken my +rod to pieces and wound up my line, I said that I was ready to set out. +Mark by that time was completely dressed. Just as we were about to +start I saw the swan--I suppose the same one which had dragged me across +the pond--come swimming back at a rapid rate towards where we were +standing, in the neighbourhood, as I well knew, of her nest. Whether or +not she fancied we were about to interfere with her young, we could not +tell, but we agreed that it was well to beat a retreat. We accordingly +set off and ran on until we reached the further end of the pond, when +Mark, asking me to stop a minute, disappeared among the bushes, and in a +few minutes returned with a rough basket full of fine tench, carp, and +eels. I had a notion that some night-lines had assisted him to take so +many. I did not, however, ask questions just then, and once more we set +off running. Wet as I was, I was very glad to move quickly, not that I +felt particularly cold, for the sun had now risen some way above the +trees, and as there was not a breath of air, his rays warmed me and +began to dry my outer garments. I must have had a very draggled look, +and I had no wish to be seen by any one at home in that condition. In +little more than a quarter of an hour we came in sight of a cottage +situated below a cliff on the side of a ravine, opening out towards the +sea. A stream which flowed from the Squire's ponds running through it. + +"That is my home, and father will be right glad to see you," said Mark, +pointing to it. + +A fine old sailor-like man with a straw hat and round jacket came out of +the door as we approached, and began to look about him in the fashion +seafaring men have the habit of doing when they first turn out in the +morning, to ascertain what sort of weather it is likely to be. His eyes +soon fell on Mark and me as we ran down the ravine. + +"Who have you got with you, my son?" he asked. + +"The young gentleman from the vicarage. He has had a ducking, and he +wants to dry his clothes before he goes home; or maybe he'd call it a +swanning, seeing it was one of those big white birds which pulled him +in, and towed him along from one end of the pond to the other, eh, +master? What's your name?" + +"Richard," I replied, "though I'm generally called Dick," not at all +offended at my companion's familiarity. + +"You are welcome, Master Dick, and if you like to turn into Mark's bed, +or put on a shirt and pair of trousers of his, we'll get your duds dried +before the kitchen fire in a jiffy," said the old sailor. "Come in, +come in; it doesn't do to stand out in the air when you are wet through +with fresh water." + +I gladly entered the old sailor's cottage, where I found his wife and a +young daughter, a year or two older than Mark, busy in getting breakfast +ready. I thought Nancy Riddle a nice-looking pleasant-faced girl, and +her mother a good-natured buxom dame. As I had no fancy for going to +bed I gladly accepted a pair of duck trousers and a blue check shirt +belonging to Mark, and a pair of low shoes, which were certainly not +his. I suspected that they were Nancy's best. + +I quickly took off my wet things in Mark's room, and getting into dry +ones, made my appearance in the room which served them for parlour, +kitchen, and hall, where I found the table spread, with a pot of hot +tea, cups and saucers, a bowl of porridge, a loaf of home-made bread, +and a pile of buttered toast, to which several of Mark's freshly caught +fish were quickly added. I offered mine to Mrs Riddle, but she +answered-- + +"Thank you kindly, but you had better take them home to your friends, +they'll be glad of them, and we've got a plenty, as you see." + +I was very thankful to get a cup of scalding tea, for I was beginning to +feel somewhat chilly, though Mrs Riddle made me sit near the fire. A +saucer of porridge and milk, followed by some buttered toast and the +best part of a tench, with a slice or two of bread soon set me up. + +Nancy, however, now and then got up and gave my clothes a turn to dry +them faster--a delicate attention which I duly appreciated. Mr Riddle, +who was evidently fond of spinning yarns, as most old sailors are, +narrated a number of his adventures, which greatly interested me, and +made me more than ever wish to go to sea. Mark had already made a trip +in a coaster to the north of England, and I was much surprised to hear +him say that he had had enough of it. + +"It is not all gold that glitters," he remarked. "I fancied that I was +to become a sailor all at once, instead of that I was made to clean out +the cabin, attend on the skipper, and wash up the pots and the pans for +the cook, and be at everybody's beck and call, with a rope's-end for my +reward whenever I was not quick enough to please my many masters." + +"That's what most youngsters have to put up with when they first go to +sea," remarked his father. "You should not have minded it, my lad." + +I found that Mark's great ambition was to become the owner of a +fishing-boat, when he could live at home and be his own master. He was +fonder of fishing than anything else, and when he could not get out to +sea he passed much of his time with his rod and lines on the banks of +the Squire's ponds, or on those of others in the neighbourhood. He did +not consider it poaching, as he asserted he had a perfect right to catch +fish wherever he could find them, and I suspect that his father was of +the same opinion, for he did not in any way find fault with him. When +breakfast was over Mark exhibited with considerable pride a small model +of a vessel which he and his father had cut out of a piece of pine, and +rigged in a very perfect manner. I was delighted with her appearance, +and said I should like to have a similar craft. + +"Well, Master Cheveley, I'll cut one out for you as soon as I can get a +piece of wood fit for the purpose," said the old sailor; "and when Mark +and I have rigged her I'll warrant she'll sail faster than any other +craft of her size which you can find far or near." + +"Thank you," I answered, "I shall be very pleased to have her; and +perhaps we can get up a regatta, and Mark must bring his vessel. I feel +sure he or I will carry off the prize." + +As I wanted to get home, dreading the jobation I should get from Aunt +Deb for not making my appearance at prayer-time, I begged my friends to +let me put on my own clothes. They were tolerably dry by this time, +though the shoes were still wet, but that was of no consequence. + +"Well, Master Dick, we shall always be glad to see you. Whenever you +come this way give us a call," said the old sailor, as I was preparing +to wish him, his wife and daughter good-bye. + +I shook hands all round, and Mark accompanied me part of the way home. +I parted from him as if he had been an old friend, indeed I was really +grateful to him for the way in which he had saved my life, as I believed +he had done, when he drove off the enraged swan. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + + Aunt Deb's lecture, and what came of it--My desire to go to sea still + further increases--My father, to satisfy me, visits Leighton Hall--Our + interview with Sir Reginald Knowsley--Some description of Leighton + Hall and what we saw there--The magistrate's room--A smuggler in + trouble--The evidence against him, and its worth--An ingenious plea-- + An awkward witness--The prisoner receives the benefit of the doubt-- + Sir Reginald consults my father, and my father consults Sir Reginald-- + My expectations stand a fair chance of being realised--The proposed + crusade against the smugglers--My father decides on taking an active + part in it--I resolve to second him. + +On reaching home, the first person I encountered was Aunt Deb. + +"Where have you been, Master Dick?" she exclaimed, in a stern tone, +"you've frightened your poor father and mother out of their wits. They +have been fancying that you must have met with some accident, or run off +to sea." + +"I have been fishing, aunt," I answered, exhibiting the contents of my +basket, "this shows that I am speaking the truth, though you look as if +you doubted my word." + +"Ned said you had gone out fishing, but that you promised to be back for +breakfast," she replied, "it has been over half an hour or more, and the +things have been cleared away, so you must be content with a mug of milk +and a piece of bread. The teapot was emptied, and we can't be brewing +any more for you." + +"Thank you, aunt. I must, as you say, be content with the mug of milk +and piece of bread you offer me," I said, with a demure countenance, +glad to escape any questioning. "I shall have a better appetite for +dinner, when I hope you will allow these fish to be cooked, and I fancy +that you will find them very good, I have seldom caught finer." + +"Well, well, go in and get off your dirty shoes, you look as if you had +been wading into the pond, and remember to be home in good time another +day. While I manage the household, I must have regularity; the want of +it throws everybody out, though your father and mother do not seem to +care about the matter." + +Glad to escape so easily, I hurried away. My father had gone out to +visit a sick person who had sent for him. My brothers and sisters were +engaged in their various studies and occupations, and my mother was +still in her room. Jane, the maid, by Aunt Deb's directions, brought me +the promised mug of milk and piece of bread, and I, without complaint, +ate a small piece of the one, and drank up the contents of the other, +and then said I had had enough, and could manage to go on until +dinner-time. It did not strike me at the time that I was guilty of any +deception, though I really was; but I was afraid if I mentioned my visit +to Roger Riddle's cottage, the rest of my adventures in the morning +would come out, and so said nothing about the matter. + +When my father came home, I told him that I was sorry for being so late, +but considering the fine basket of fish I had brought home, it would add +considerably to the supply of provisions for the family, and hoped he +would not be angry with me. + +"No, Dick, I am not angry," he said, "but Aunt Deb likes regularity, and +we are in duty bound to yield to her wishes." + +"I wish that Aunt Deb were at Jericho," I muttered to myself, "and I +should not have minded saying the same thing aloud to my brothers and +some of my sisters, for we most of us were heartily tired of her +interference with all family arrangements, and were frequently on the +verge of rebellion, but my father paid her so much deference, that we +were afraid of openly breaking out." + +Finding that my father was disengaged, I followed him into the study, +and again broached the subject of going to sea. + +"Couldn't you take me to Squire Knowsley, and talk the matter over with +him," I said. "You can tell him that 50 pounds a year is a large sum +for you to allow me, and perhaps he may induce Captain Grummit to take +me, although I may not have the usual allowance. I promise to be very +economical, and I would be ready to make any sacrifice rather than not +go afloat." + +"Sir Reginald came back yesterday, I find," said my father. "You know, +Dick, I am always anxious to gratify your wishes, and as I do not see +any objection to your proposal, we will set off at once to call on him; +perhaps he will do as you desire. If he does not, it will show him how +anxious you are to go to sea, and he may assist you in some other way." + +I was very grateful to my father, and thanked him for agreeing to my +proposal. + +"It won't do, however, for you to go in your present untidy condition," +he remarked; "go and put on your best clothes, and by that time I shall +be ready to set off." + +I hurried to my room, and throwing my clothes down on my bed, rigged +myself out in the best I possessed. I also, as may be supposed, put on +dry socks and shoes. It did not occur to me at the time, that the +condition of the clothing I threw off was likely to betray my adventure +of the morning. I went down stairs and set off with my father. We had +a pleasant walk, although the weather was rather hot, and in the course +of about an hour arrived at Leighton Park. + +Sir Reginald, who was at home, desired that we should at once be +admitted to his study, or rather justice-room, in which he performed his +magisterial duties. It was a large oak room, the walls adorned with +stags' horns, foxes' brushes, and other trophies of the chase, with a +couple of figures in armour in the corner, holding candelabra in their +hands. On the walls were hung also bows and arrows, halberds, swords, +and pikes, as well as modern weapons, and they were likewise adorned +with several hunting pictures, and some grim portraits of the Squire's +ancestors. On one side was a bookcase, on the shelves of which were a +few standard legal works, with others on sporting subjects, veterinary, +falconry, horses and dogs, and other branches of natural history. + +Sir Reginald himself, a worthy gentleman, with slightly grizzled hair +and a ruddy countenance, was seated at a writing-table covered with a +green cloth, on which was a Bible and two or three other books, and +writing materials. He rose as we entered, and received us very +courteously, begging my father and me to take seats near him on the +inner side of the table. + +"You will excuse me, if any cases are brought in, I must attend to them +at once. I never allow anything to interfere with my magisterial +duties. But do not go away. I'll dispose of them off-hand, and shall +be happy to continue the conversation. I want to have a few words with +you, Mr Cheveley, upon a matter of importance, to obtain your advice +and assistance. By-the-bye, you wrote to me a short time ago about a +son of yours who wishes to enter the naval service. This is, I presume, +the young gentleman," he continued, looking at me, "Eh! My lad? And so +you wish to become a second Nelson?" + +"I wish to enter the navy, Sir Reginald, but don't know whether I shall +ever become an admiral; my ambition is at present to be made a +midshipman," I answered boldly. + +"I am very ready to forward your wishes, although it is not so easy a +matter as it was a few years ago during the war time. I spoke to my +friend Grummit, who has just commissioned the `Blaze-away,' and he +expressed his willingness to take you. I think I wrote to you, Mr +Cheveley, on the subject." + +"That is the very matter on which I am anxious to consult you, Sir +Reginald," said my father. "You mentioned that Captain Grummit insists +on all his midshipmen having an allowance from their friends of 50 +pounds a year, and although that does not appear to him probably, or to +you, Sir Reginald, a large sum, it is beyond the means of a poor +incumbent to furnish, and I am anxious to know whether Captain Grummit +will condescend to take him with a smaller allowance." + +"I am sorry to say he told me that he made it a rule to receive no +midshipman who had not at least that amount of private property to keep +up the respectability of his position," answered Sir Reginald, "and from +what I know of him, I should think he is not a man likely to depart from +any rule he may think fit to make. However, my dear Mr Cheveley, I +will communicate with him, and let you know what he replies. If he +still insists on your son having 50 pounds a year, we must see what else +can be done. Excuse me for a few minutes, here come some people on +business." + +Several persons who had entered the hall, approached the table. One of +them, a dapper little gentleman in black, with a bundle of papers in his +hand, took a seat at one end, and began busily spreading them out before +him. At the same time two men, whom I saw were constables, brought up a +prisoner, who was dressed as a seafaring man, handcuffed. + +"Whom have you got here?" asked Sir Reginald, scrutinising the prisoner. + +"Please, your honour, Sir Reginald, we took this man last night +assisting in running contraband goods, landed, as we have reason to +believe, from Dick Hargreave's boat the `Saucy Bess,' which had been +seen off the coast during the day between Milton Cove and Rock Head." + +"Ah, I'm glad you've got one of them at last. We must put a stop to +this smuggling which is carried on under our noses to the great +detriment of the revenue. What became of the rest of the crew, and the +men engaged in landing the cargo?" + +"Please, your worship, the cargo was sprighted away before we could get +hold of a single keg or bale, and all the fellows except this one made +their escape. The `Preventive' men had been put on a wrong scent, and +gone off in a different direction, so that we were left to do as best we +could, and we only captured this one prisoner with a keg on his +shoulders, making off across the downs, and we brought him along with +the keg as evidence against him." + +"Half a loaf is better than no bread, and I hope by the punishment he +will receive to induce others now engaged in smuggling to abandon so low +a pursuit. What is your name, prisoner?" + +"Jack Cope, your worship," answered the smuggler, who looked wonderfully +unconcerned, and spoke without the slightest hesitation or fear. + +"Well, Mr Jack Cope, what have you to say for yourself to induce me to +refrain from making out a warrant to commit you to gaol?" asked the +magistrate. + +"Please, your worship, I don't deny that I was captured as the +constables describe with a cask on my shoulders, for I had been down to +the sea to fill it with salt water to bathe one of my children whose +limbs require strengthening, and I was walking quietly along when these +men pounced down upon me, declaring that I had been engaged in running +the cargo of the `Saucy Bess,' with which I had no more to do than the +babe unborn." + +"A very likely story, Master Cope. You were caught with a keg on your +shoulders; it's very evident that you were unlawfully employed in +assisting to run the cargo of the vessel you spoke of, and I shall +forthwith make out the order for your committal to prison." + +"Please, your worship, before you do that, I must beg you to examine the +keg I was carrying, for if it contains spirits I am ready to go; but if +not, I claim in justice the right to be set at liberty." + +"Have you examined the keg, men," said the squire, "to ascertain if it +contains spirits?" + +"No, your worship, we would not venture to do that, seeing that t'other +day when one of the coastguard broached a keg to see whether it had +brandy or not he got into trouble for drinking the spirits." + +"For drinking the spirits! He deserved to be," exclaimed Sir Reginald. +"However, that is not the point. Bring the keg here, and if you broach +it in my presence you need have no fear of the consequences. There can +be little doubt that we shall be able to convict this fellow, and send +him to gaol for twelve months. I wish it to be understood that I intend +by every means in my power to put a stop to the proceedings of these +lawless smugglers, who have so long been carrying on this illegal +traffic with impunity in this part of the country." + +Jack Cope, who had kept a perfectly calm demeanour from the time he had +been brought up to the table, smiled scornfully as Sir Reginald spoke. +He said nothing, however, as he turned his glance towards the door. In +a short time a revenue man appeared carrying a keg on his shoulders. + +"Place it on the table," said Sir Reginald. "Can you swear this is the +keg you took from the prisoner?" he asked of the constable. + +"Yes, your worship. It has never been out of our custody since we +captured it," replied the man. + +"And _I_, too, can swear that it is the same keg that was taken from +me!" exclaimed the bold smuggler in a confident tone. + +"Silence there, prisoner," said Sir Reginald, "You are not to speak +until you are desired. Let the cask be broached." + +A couple of glasses and a gimlet had been sent for. The servant now +brought them on a tray. One of the officers immediately set to work and +bored a couple of holes in the head and side of the cask. The liquid +which flowed out was bright and sparkling. The officer passed it under +his nose, but made no remark, though I thought his countenance exhibited +an odd expression. + +"Hand it here," said Sir Reginald. "Bah!" he exclaimed, intensely +disgusted, "why, it's salt water." + +"I told you so, your worship," said Jack Cope, apparently much inclined +to burst into a fit of laughter. "You'll believe me another time, I +hope, when I said that I had gone down to the seaside to get some salt +water for one of my children; and I think you'll allow, your worship, +that it is salt water." + +"You are an impudent rascal!" exclaimed Sir Reginald, irritated beyond +measure at the smuggler's coolness. "I shall not believe you a bit the +more. I suspect that you have played the officers a trick to draw them +away from your companions, and though you escape conviction this time, +you will be caught another, you may depend upon that; and you may expect +no leniency from me. Set the prisoner at liberty, there is no further +evidence against him." + +"I hope, Sir Reginald, that I may be allowed to carry my keg of salt +water home," said the smuggler demurely. "It is my property, of which I +have been illegally deprived by the officers, and I demand to have it +given to me back." + +"Let the man have the keg," said Sir Reginald in a gruff voice. "Is +there any other case before me?" + +"No, your worship," replied his clerk. + +And Jack Cope carried off his cask of salt water in triumph, followed by +the officers and the other persons who had entered the hall. + +I had observed that Jack Cope had eyed my father and me as we were +seated with the baronet, and it struck me that he had done so with no +very pleasant expression of countenance. + +"These proceedings are abominable in the extreme, Mr Cheveley," +observed the justice to my father. "We must, as I before remarked, put +an effectual stop to them. You have a good deal of influence in your +parish, and I must trust to you to find honest men who will try and +obtain information, and give us due notice when a cargo is to be run." + +"I fear the people do not look upon smuggling as you and I do, Sir +Reginald," observed my father. "The better class of my parishioners may +not probably engage in it, but the _very_ best of them would think it +dishonourable to act the part of informers. I do not believe any bribe +would induce them to do so." + +"Perhaps not, but you can place the matter before them in its true +light. Show them that they are acting a patriotic part by aiding the +officers of the law in putting a stop to proceedings which are so +detrimental to the revenue of the country. If they can be made to +understand the injury which smuggling inflicts on the fair trader, they +may see it in a different light from that in which they at present +regard it. The Government requires funds to carry on the affairs of the +nation, and duties and taxes must be levied to supply those funds. We +should show them that smuggling is a practice which it is the duty of +all loyal men to put a stop to." + +"I understand your wishes, Sir Reginald, and agree with you that +energetic measures are necessary; and you may depend upon my exerting +myself to the utmost." + +"My great object, at present, is to capture the `Saucy Bess.' The +revenue officers afloat will, of course, do their duty; but she has so +often eluded them that my only hope is to catch her while she is engaged +in running her cargo. I will give a handsome reward to any one who +brings reliable information which leads to that desirable result." + +"I am afraid that, although one or two smugglers may be captured, others +will soon take their places; as while the present high duties on +spirits, silks, and other produce of France exist, the profit to be made +by smuggling will always prove a temptation too strong to be resisted," +observed my father. "If the smugglers find that a vigilant watch is +kept on this part of the coast they will merely carry on their +transactions in another part." + +"At all events, my dear Mr Cheveley, we shall have the satisfaction of +knowing that we have done our duty in removing what I consider a +disgrace to our community," observed Sir Reginald. "As to lowering the +duties, that is what I will never consent to. I shall always oppose any +scheme of the sort while I hold my place in Parliament. I feel that I +am bound to preserve things as they are, and am not to be moved by the +brawling cries of demagogues." + +"Of course, Sir Reginald, you understand these things better than I do. +I have never given my mind to politics, and have always been ready to +record my vote in your favour, and to induce as many as possible of my +parishioners to follow my example." + +All this time I had been sitting on the tenter-hooks of expectation, +wondering if my father would again refer to the subject which had +induced him to pay a visit to the baronet. + +"I must wish you good morning, Sir Reginald," he said, rising. "You +will, I feel sure, not forget your promise regarding my son Dick, and if +Captain Grummit cannot take him, I trust that you will find some other +captain who does not insist on his midshipmen having so large an +allowance." + +"Of course, my dear Mr Cheveley, of course," said the baronet, rising; +"although it did not strike me as anything unreasonable. Yet I am aware +how you are situated with a numerous family and a comparatively small +income; and, believe me, I will not lose an opportunity of forwarding +the views of the young gentleman. Good morning, my dear Mr Cheveley, +good morning," and nodding to me, he bowed us out of the hall. + +"I hope Sir Reginald will get me a berth on board some other ship," I +said to my father, as we walked homeward. "He seems wonderfully +good-natured and condescending." + +"I don't feel altogether satisfied as to that point," answered my +father, who knew the baronet better than I did. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + + The crusade against the smugglers--Sir Reginald's measures--The "Saucy + Bess"--My father's sermon, and its effects in different quarters--Ned + and I visit old Roger Riddle--Mr Reynell's picnic and how we enjoyed + it--Roger Riddle tells the story of his life--Born at sea--The pet of + the ship--Stormy times--Parted from his mother--His first visit to + land--Loses his parents. + +Day after day went by and nothing was heard from Sir Reginald Knowsley +about my appointment as a midshipman. Aunt Deb took care to remark that +she had no doubt he had forgotten all about me. This I shrewdly +suspected was the case. If he had forgotten me, however, he had not +forgotten the smugglers, for he was taking energetic steps to put a stop +to their proceedings, though it was whispered he was not always as +successful as he supposed. + +Whenever I went to the village I heard of what he was doing, yet from +time to time it was known that cargoes had been run while only +occasionally an insignificant capture was made, it being generally, as +the saying is, a tub thrown to a whale. + +The "Saucy Bess" appeared off the coast, but it was when she had a clean +hold and no revenue officer could touch her. She would then come into +Leighton bay, which was a little distance to the westward of the bar, +and drop her anchor, looking as innocent as possible; and her hardy crew +would sit with their arms folded, on her deck, smoking their pipes and +spinning yarns to each other of their daring deeds, or would pace up and +down performing the fisherman's walk, three steps and overboard. On two +or three occasions I caught sight of them from the top of a rocky cliff +which formed one side of the little bay, and I acknowledge that I had a +wonderful longing to go on board and become better acquainted with the +sturdy looking outlaws, or rather, breakers of the law. As, however, I +could find no boat in the bay to take me alongside, and as I did not +like to hail and ask them to allow me to pay them a visit, I had to +abandon my design. + +My father was busy in his way in carrying out the wishes of the baronet. +He spoke to a number of his parishioners, urging them to assist in +putting a stop to the proceedings of the smugglers, and endeavouring to +impress upon them the nefarious character of their occupation. More +than once he got into the wrong box when addressing some old sea dog, +who would curtly advise him to mind his own business, the man he was +speaking to probably being in league with the smugglers. He said and +did enough indeed to create a considerable amount of odium against +himself. He went so far as one Sunday to preach a sermon in which he +unmistakably alluded to smuggling as one of the sins certain to bring +down condign punishment on those engaged in it. + +Sir Reginald Knowsley, who had driven over, as he occasionally did, to +attend the service, waited for my father in the porch, and complimented +him on his sermon. "Excellent, Mr Cheveley, excellent," he exclaimed, +"I like to hear clergymen speak out bravely from the pulpit, and condemn +the sins of the people. If the smugglers persist in carrying on their +nefarious proceedings, they will now do it with their eyes open, and +know that they are breaking the laws of God and man. I was delighted to +hear you broach the subject. I expect some friends in a few days, and I +hope that you will give me the pleasure of your company at dinner. I +have some capital old port just suited to your taste, and I will take +care to draw your attention to it. Good-bye, my dear Mr Cheveley, +good-bye; with your aid I have no doubt smuggling will, in a short time, +be a thing of the past;" and the squire walked with a dignified pace to +his carriage and drove off, not regarding the frowning looks cast at him +by some of his fellow-worshippers. + +As I afterwards went through the churchyard I passed several knots of +persons talking together, who were making remarks of a very different +character to those I have spoken of on the sermon they had just heard. +They were at no pains to lower their voices even as they saw me. + +"I never seed smuggling in the Ten Commandments, an' don't see it now," +remarked a sturdy old fisherman, who was looked upon as a very +respectable man in the village. "What has come over our parson to talk +about it is more than I can tell." + +"The parson follows where the squire leads, I've a notion," remarked +another seafaring man, who was considered an oracle among his mates. +"He never said a word about it before the squire took the matter up. +Many's the time we've had a score of kegs stowed away in his tool-house, +and if one was left behind, if he didn't get it I don't know who did." + +On hearing this I felt very much inclined to stop and declare that my +father had never received a keg of spirits, or a bribe of any sort, for +I was very sure that he would not condescend to that, though I could not +answer for the integrity of John Dixon, our old gardener, who had been, +on more than one occasion, unable to work for a week together; and +although his wife said that he was suffering from rheumatics, the doctor +remarked, with a wink, that he had no doubt he would recover without +having much physic to take. + +Some of the men were even more severe in their remarks, and swore that +if the parson was going to preach in that style, they would not show +their noses inside the church. Others threatened to go off to the +methodists' house in the next village, where the minister never troubled +the people with disagreeable remarks. + +I did not tell my father all I had heard, as I knew it would annoy him. +It did not occur to me at the moment that he had introduced the subject +for the sake of currying favour with Sir Reginald, indeed I did not +think such an idea had crossed his mind. + +He was greatly surprised in the afternoon, when the service was +generally better attended than in the morning, to find that only half +his usual congregation was present. When he returned home, after making +some visits in the parish, on the following Tuesday, he told us he +suspected from the way he had been received that something was wrong, +but it did not occur to him that his sermon was the cause of offence. + +I, in the meantime, was spending my holidays in far from a satisfactory +manner. My elder brothers amused themselves without taking pains to +find me anything to do, while Ned was always at his books, and was only +inclined to come out and take a constitutional walk with me now and +then. My younger brothers were scarcely out of the nursery, and I was +thus left very much to my own resources. I bethought me one day of +paying the old sailor Roger Riddle a visit, and perhaps getting his son +Mark to come and fish with me. + +I told Ned where I was going, and was just setting off when he called +out-- + +"Stop a minute, Dick, and I will go with you; I should like to make the +acquaintance of the old sailor, who, from your account, must be +something above the common." + +I did not like to refuse, at the same time I confess that I would rather +have gone alone, as I knew that Ned did not care about fishing, and +would probably want to stop and talk to Roger Riddle. + +I was waiting for him outside in front of the house, when a carriage +drove up full of boys, with a gentleman who asked me if my father was at +home. I recognised him as a Mr Reynell, who lived at Springfield +Grange, some five or six miles inland. Two of the boys were his sons, +whom I knew; the others, he told me, were their cousins and two friends +staying with them. + +"We are going to have a picnic along the shore, and we want you and your +brother to come and join us," said Harry Reynell, the eldest of the two. + +Ned came out directly afterwards, and said he should be very happy to +go. + +"Can't you get any of your friends to go also? The more the merrier." + +There were two or three other boys whom I knew staying with an aunt in +the village, and I offered to run down and ask them. + +"By all means," said Harry, "we have provisions enough, so that they +need not stop to get anything; but I'm afraid we cannot stow them all +away; if it's not very far off we may go on foot." + +"It is no distance to the prettiest part of the coast," I replied; "and +I know a capital spot where we can pick up shells and collect +curiosities of all sorts, if any of you have a fancy for that sort of +thing." + +"That will do," said Harry Reynell; "go and fetch your friends, and we +will walk together." + +I accordingly ran down the village to Mrs Parker's, whose nephews were +at home. We formed a tolerably numerous party. As my father was unable +to go, Mr Reynell was the only grown-up person among us. The spot I +had fixed upon was not far from Roger Riddle's cottage. As I had been +thinking of him, I proposed asking the old sailor and Mark to join our +party. + +From the account I gave to Mr Reynell of Roger Riddle, he did not +object to this. As Harry Reynell, his brother, and friends were +good-natured merry fellows, we had a pleasant time as we walked or ran +along, laughing and singing, and playing each other tricks. We soon +left Mr Reynell behind, but he told us not to mind him, as he should +soon catch us up. The carriage followed with the prog, but as the road +was in many places heavy, it did not move as fast as we did. We at +length reached the spot I had proposed, a small sandy bay, with cliffs +on either side, out of which bubbled a stream of sparkling cold water, +with rocks running out into the sea. + +"This will do capitally," said Harry. "See, the whole beach is covered +with beautiful shells, and there may be sea anemones and echini, and +star-fish, and all sorts of marine creatures." + +Having surveyed the place, we heard Mr Reynell shouting out to us to +carry down the baskets of pies, tarts, cold ham, and chicken, plates, +knives and forks. While the rest of the party were so engaged, I ran on +to invite old Roger. I found him and Mark within. + +"Much obliged to the young gentlemen, but I've had my dinner," he +answered; "however, I'll come and have a talk with them, if you think +they'll like it. May be, I'll spin them a yarn or two, which will do to +pass the time while they are sniffing in the breezes, which they don't +get much of while they are away up the country." + +"You'll come as soon as you can," I answered, "for they will be +disappointed if you don't take a tart or two and a glass of wine." + +"Never fear, I'll come before long," said old Roger. + +Mark, however, looked as if he would have no objection to taste some of +the good things in our hampers, so he very readily agreed to accompany +me. We found the cloth spread out on the smooth dry sand, and covered +with pies and other dainties, and the plates and the knives and forks. +Mr Reynell was engaged in making a huge salad in a wooden bowl. I +introduced Mark in due form. + +"Come and sit down," said Harry to him in a kind way which soon made him +feel quite at home. I don't know whether he had much of a dinner +before, but he did ample justice to the good things which our friends +had brought. We had nearly finished before old Roger made his +appearance. + +"Your servant, gentlemen all," he said, making a bow with his tarpaulin; +"Master Dick here has asked me to come, saying it was what you wished, +or I would not have intruded on you." + +"Very pleased to see you, Mr Riddle," said Harry, who did the honours +of the feast, "sit down, and have some of this cherry pie, you will find +it very nice, and, for a wonder, the juice hasn't run out." + +Harry chose the largest plate, and filled it with fully a third of the +pie. + +"Thank you, young gentleman; I may take a snack of that sort of thing;" +and the old sailor set to work, his share of the pie rapidly +disappearing, as he ladled up the cherries with his spoon. + +"Take a glass of cider now, Mr Riddle," said Harry, handing him a large +tumbler, which the old sailor tossed off, and had no objection to two or +three more. + +Meantime the tide had been rising, and no sooner was dinner over, than +we had to pack up and beat a rapid retreat. We soon washed the plates +and dishes in the water as it rose, and Ned packed them up. The +expectations of those of our party who hoped to pick up shells, and +collect sea curiosities were thus disappointed. + +"Never mind, lads," said old Roger; "Master Dick here tells me that you +would like to hear a yarn or two; the grass here, as much as there is of +it, is dry enough," and Mr Riddle seated himself on the bank, while we +all gathered round him. Mr Reynell placed himself at a little +distance, although within earshot, when he took out his sketchbook to +make a drawing of the scene. + +"None of you young gentlemen have ever been to sea, I suppose?" +continued the old sailor. "I dare say you fancy it all sunshine and +smooth sailing, and think you'd like to go and be sailors, and walk the +deck in snowy-white trousers and kid gloves. I have known some who have +taken that notion into their heads, and have been not a little +disappointed when they got afloat, to find that they had to dip their +fists into the tar-bucket, to black down the rigging, and swab up the +decks, though some of them made not bad sailors after all. If any of +you young gentlemen think of leading a seafaring life, you must be +prepared for ups and downs of all sorts, heavy gales, and rough seas, +shipwrecks and disasters. You'll be asking how I came to go to sea, +perhaps you may think I ran off, as some silly lads have done, but I +didn't do that. If I had run, it would have been ashore, seeing as how +I was born at sea. It happened in this wise:--My father, Bob Riddle, +was bo'sun's mate of the old `Goliath,' of eighty guns, and as in those +days two or three women were allowed on board line-of-battle ships to +attend to the sick, and to wash and mend clothes, provided the captains +did not object; so my mother, Nancy Riddle, who loved her husband in a +way which made her ready to go through fire and water for his sake, got +leave to accompany him to sea. She made herself wonderfully useful on +board, and won the hearts of all the men and officers too, who held her +in great respect, while the midshipmen just simply adored her; indeed, +I've heard say that she saved the lives of several who were sick of +fever by the careful way in which she nursed them. She had had no +children, and I've a notion that if she had known what was going to +happen, like a wise woman she would have remained on shore, but as the +ship was in the East India station, and she wanted her boy to be British +born, for she guessed she was going to have a boy, she had no help for +it but to remain on board and take her chance. The `Goliath' had just +been in action, and beaten off two of the enemy's ships which wanted to +take her but couldn't, when she was caught in a regular hurricane, and +had to run before it under bare poles. During that time I came into +this world of troubles. I can't say that I remember anything about it, +but I've been in many a typhoon and hurricane since then, with the big +foaming seas roaring, the wind whistling and howling in the rigging, the +blocks rattling, the bulkheads creaking and groaning, and the ship +rolling and pitching and tumbling about in a way which made it seem +wonderful that wood and iron could hold together. It wasn't exactly +under such circumstances that the wife even of a boatswain's mate would +have chosen to bring a puling infant into the world. The doctor thought +that mother would have died, and, as there was no cow on board, that I +should have shared her fate, but she got through it and nursed me, and I +throve amazingly, so that in six months I was as big as most children of +a year or more old. Before the ship was ordered home, I could chew +bacon and beef, and toddle about the decks. Of course I was made much +of by officers and crew. Mother rigged me out in a regular cut seaman's +dress. The midshipmen taught me the cutlass exercise, and to ride a +goat the captain bought as much for my use as his own. For'ard my +education was equally well attended to, and I don't remember when I +couldn't dance a hornpipe--double shuffle and all--or sing a dozen sea +songs, some of them sounding rather strange, I've a notion, coming from +juvenile lips. All went on smoothly till the ship was paid off, and my +early friends were scattered to the four winds of heaven. My father, +who felt like a fish out of water when ashore, soon obtained another +berth, with the same rating on board the `Victorious,' seventy-four, but +he had great difficulty in getting leave for my mother to accompany him, +and if another woman who was to have gone hadn't fallen ill just in the +nick of time, he would have had to sail without her. I was smuggled on +board instead of a monkey shipped by the crew, which fell overboard and +was drowned. It was some weeks before the captain found out that I +wasn't the monkey he had given the men leave to take. When the first +lieutenant at length reported to him that I was a human being without a +tail, he was very angry, and father was likely to have got into trouble. +Still as he had done nothing against the articles of war, which don't +make mention of taking babies to sea, he couldn't be flogged with his +own cat. The captain then swore that he would put mother and me ashore +at the first port we touched at; but the men, among whom I had many +friends, begged hard that we might be allowed to remain, and when he saw +me scuttling about the rigging in a hairy coat and a long tail, laughing +heartily, he relented, and as he got a hint that the men would become +very discontented if he carried his threat into execution, father was +told that he would say nothing more about the matter. Soon afterwards +the captain fell ill, and mother nursed him in a way no man could have +done, so that he had reason to be thankful that he had allowed mother +and me to remain on board. The `Victorious' became one of the best +disciplined and happiest ships in the service, all because she had a +real live plaything on board. She fought several bloody actions. +During one of them, when we were tackling a French eighty-gun ship, I +got away from mother, who was with the other women in the cockpit +attending to the wounded, and slipped up on deck, where before long I +found father. `Here I am,' I said, `come to see the fun. When are you +going to finish off the mounseers?' The round shot were flying quickly +across the decks, and bullets were rattling on board like hail, for +though the French were getting the worst of it, they were, as they +always do, dying game. `Get below, boy, get below!' shouted father, +`what business have you here?' As I didn't go, he seized me by the arm, +and dragged me to the hatchway, in spite of my struggles and cries. `I +want to see the fight. I want to see the mounseers licked,' I cried +out. `Let me go, father; let me go!' Just then there was a shout from +the upper deck, `The enemy has struck--the enemy has struck!' Father +let me go, and up I ran and cheered, and waved my hat among the men with +as hearty good will as any of them. When I saw the men shaking hands +with each other, I ran about, and, putting out my tiny fist, shook their +hands also, exclaiming, `We've licked the mounseers, haven't we? I knew +we would. Hoora! Hoora!' This amused the men greatly, and they called +me a plucky little chap, though I certainly could not boast of having +contributed to gain the victory, as I was considerably too young to act +the part even of a powder-monkey. We had lost a good many officers and +men, some of whom I saw stretched on the deck, and wondered what had +come over them, as they did not move or speak. As long as the +`Victorious' remained in commission, I continued with my father and +mother aboard her; but when she was paid off, an order came out, +prohibiting women from going to sea on board men-of-war, and mother, +greatly to her grief, had to live on shore. It was now a question +whether I should accompany my father or stay with my mother and get some +book-learning, of which I was as yet utterly ignorant, as I did not even +know my letters. I was scarcely old enough to be rated as a ship's boy, +though father would have liked to take me with him, but mother said she +could not lose us both, and, fortunately for me, father consented to +leave me with her. As the `Victorious' was paid off at Plymouth, mother +remained there, and father soon afterwards got his warrant as boatswain +to the `Emerald' sloop-of-war, ordered out on the West India station. +This was the first time I had been on shore, except for a few days when +the `Goliath' was paid off, during the whole of my life, and I did not +find it very easy to get accustomed to the ways of shore-going people. +At first I did not at all like them. There was no order or regularity, +and I missed more than anything the sound of the bell striking the hours +and half-hours day and night. However, I got accustomed to things by +degrees. I was sent to school, where I gained a good character for +regularity and obedience, just because I had been trained to it, do ye +see. I couldn't bear not to be there at the exact time, and I never +thought of disobeying the orders of these under whose authority I was +placed. I also was diligent, and thus made good progress in my studies. +I might have become a scholar had I remained at school, but after I had +been there about two years, when I got home one day I found mother +leaning back in her chair, in a fit, it seemed to me, and the parson of +the parish, who had a letter in his hand, trying to rouse her up. As +soon as I came in, he bade me run for the doctor, who lived not far off. +He came at once with a woman, a neighbour of ours, and while they were +attending to mother, the parson, sitting down, placed me between his +knees, and looking kindly in my face, said that he had some bad news to +tell me, which he had got in a letter from the West Indies. It was that +my brave father was dead, carried off by the yellow fever which has +killed so many fine fellows on that station. My mother was a strong and +hearty woman, and any one would have supposed that it would have taken a +great deal to kill her; but, notwithstanding her robust appearance, she +had gentle and tender feelings, and though for my sake she wished to +live, within a year she died of a broken heart for the loss of my father +and I was left an orphan." + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + + Roger Riddle continues his story--Goes to sea as a man-o'-war's-man-- + His voyages--The Mediterranean--Toulon--Chasing the enemy--Caught in a + trap--A hard fight for it--Escape of the frigate--Corsica--Martello + Bay--The tower and its gallant defenders--Its capture--Origin of its + name--San Fiorenzo--Convention redoubt--What British tars can do-- + Capture of the "Minerve"--The taking of Bastia--Nelson loses an + eye--"Jackass" frigates--Toulon again--More fighting--The advantage of + being small--Prepare to repel boarders--The colours nailed to the + mast--The chase--Never despise your enemy--Teneriffe--Attack on Santa + Cruz--Nelson loses his arm--Abandonment of the enterprise--What people + call glory--The Hellespont--The captain steers his own ship--The + island of Cerigotto--Breakers ahead--The ship strikes--The value of + discipline--Their condition on the rock--The ship goes to pieces-- + Their chances of escape--The gale--A brave captain--A false hope--The + effects of drinking sea-water--Water, water everywhere, and not a drop + to drink--Reduced to extremities--They lose their brave captain and + first lieutenant--They construct a raft--Cowardice of the Greek + fishermen--The rescue of the survivors--Fresh adventures--The + Dardanelles--Fire!--An awful spectacle--Destruction of the ship-- + Reason to be thankful--A father's love--How they took a Spanish + sloop-o'-war--The ruse and how it succeeded--Between two fires--Good + and bad captains--Roger quits the navy--Becomes mate of a merchantman + and retires on his laurels--His marriage and settlement--Our picnic + breaks up. + +"Mother had a good many friends, old shipmates of hers and father's, but +most of them having families of their own were not able to do much for +me. I was now, however, big enough to go to sea, and of course there +was no question but that I should be a sailor. England had been at +peace for some time, but she and France were once more at loggerheads, +and ships were fitting out with all despatch at every port in the +kingdom. There was no difficulty therefore in finding a ship for me, +and an old messmate of father's, Andrew Barton, having volunteered on +board the `Juno' frigate, of thirty-two guns, took me with him. He was +rated as captain of the maintop and I as ship's boy, having to do duty +as powder-monkey. I quickly found myself at home, and those who didn't +know that I had been to sea before, wondered how well I knew my way +everywhere about the decks and aloft. I soon took the lead among the +other boys, many of them much bigger and older than myself. `Why, one +would suppose that you had been born at sea,' said Tom Noakes, a big +hulking fellow, who never could tell which was the stem, and which the +stern. `And so I was,' I answered. I then told him how many storms and +battles I had been in, and all that I remembered about my early life. +This made my messmates treat me with wonderful respect, and they never +thought of playing me the tricks they did each other. + +"Our frigate was bound out to the Mediterranean to join the fleet under +Lord Hood. She was, I should have said, commanded by Captain Samuel +Hood, a relation of the Admiral's. We knew that we should have plenty +of work to do. When we sailed, it was understood that an English force +had possession of Toulon, which was besieged by the republicans, who had +collected a large army round the city, but it was supposed that they +would be kept at bay by the English and royalists. We had been cruising +off Toulon, when we were despatched to Malta to bring up supernumeraries +for the fleet. We were detained, however, at the island for a +considerable time, by foul winds. At length we sailed, and steered +direct for Toulon. We arrived abreast of the harbour one evening, some +time after dark. The captain, anxious to get in, as we had no pilot on +board, nor any one acquainted with the dangers of the place, stood on, +hoping by some means or other, to find his way. The officers with their +night-glasses were on the look-out for our ships, but they were nowhere +to be seen. Our captain, however, concluded that as a strong easterly +wind had been blowing, they had run for shelter into the inner harbour. +We accordingly shortened sail, and stood on, under our topsails. As at +last several ships could be distinguished, it was supposed that we were +close up to the British fleet. We soon afterwards made out a brig, and +in order to weather her, the driver and topsail were set. As we were +tacking under the brig's stern, some one on board her hailed, but not +being able to make out what was said, Captain Hood shouted, `This is His +Britannic Majesty's frigate "Juno."' `Viva,' cried the voice from the +brig, and after this we heard the people on board her jabbering away +among themselves. At last one of them shouted out, `Luff, luff.' The +captain on this, ordered the helm to be put down, but before the frigate +came head to wind, she grounded. The breeze, however, was light, and +the water perfectly smooth, and the sails were clewed up and handed. +While this was being done, we saw a boat pull away from the brig, +towards the town. Before the men aloft had left the yards, a sudden +flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank, when her anchor was let +go, and she swung head to wind. Her heel, however, was still on the +shoal, and the rudder immovable. To get her off, the launch was hoisted +out, and the kedge anchor with a hawser, was put into her. While we +were engaged in hauling the frigate off the shoal, a boat appeared +coming down the harbour, and being hailed some one in her answered `Ay, +ay.' She quickly came alongside, and the crew, among whom were two +persons apparently officers, hurried on deck; one of the latter +addressed our captain, and said he came to inform him that according to +the regulations of the port, the frigate must go to the other part of +the harbour, and perform ten days' quarantine. The Frenchmen, who were +supposed to be royalists, were jabbering away together, when one of our +midshipmen, a sharp young fellow, cried out, `The chaps have national +cockades in their hats.' The moon which shone out brightly just then, +threw a gleam of light on the Frenchmen's hats, and the three colours +were distinctly seen. They finding that they were discovered, coolly +said in French, so I afterwards heard, `Make yourselves easy, the +English are good people, we will treat you kindly. The English fleet +sailed away some time ago.' + +"`We are prisoners, caught like rats in a trap!' cried the men from all +parts of the ship. The entrance to the harbour is guarded by heavy +forts on either side, between which we had run some distance, and their +guns pointed down on our decks might sink us before we could get outside +again. The officers, on hearing the report, hurried aft, scarcely able +to believe that it was true. They found, however, on seeing the +Frenchmen, that there was no doubt about the matter. Just then a flaw +of wind came down the harbour, when our third lieutenant, Mr Webbley, +hurrying up to the captain, said, `I believe, sir, if we can get her +under sail, we shall be able to fetch out.' `We will try it at all +events!' cried the captain; `send the men to their stations, and hand +those French gentlemen below.' The mounseers, on finding that they were +not yet masters of the ship, began to bluster and draw their sabres, but +the marines quickly made them sound another note, and in spite of their +`_Sacres_!' they were hurried off the deck under a guard. The men flew +aloft, and in three minutes every sail was set, and the yards braced up +for casting. The frigate was by this time completely afloat, the cable +was cut; her head paid off, the sails filled, and away she stood from +the shore. The wind freshening, she quickly gathered way. The launch +and the French boat were cut adrift, and we had every hope of escape. +Directly we began to loose sails, we saw lights appear in the batteries, +and observed a stir aboard the brig. She soon afterwards opened fire on +us, as did the fort on the starboard bow, and in a short time every fort +which could bring a gun to bear on us, began to blaze away. We were +now, however, going rapidly through the water, but there was a chance of +our losing a topmast, as the shot came whistling through our sails, +between our rigging. The wind shifting, made it seem impossible that we +could get out without making a tack, but our captain was not a man to +despair, and I am pretty sure that there was no one on board who would +have given in, as long as the frigate was afloat. Fortunately the wind +again shifted and blew in our favour. Blocks and ropes came falling +from aloft, we could see the holes made in the canvas, by the shot +passing through them. Several of the masts and spars were badly +wounded, and two thirty-six pound shot came plump aboard, but no one was +hurt. As soon as the hands came from aloft, they were ordered to their +quarters, and we began firing away in return at the forts, as well as at +the impudent little brig, which we at length silenced. As may be +supposed, we gave a right hearty cheer when we saw the shot the +Frenchmen were firing at us fall far astern, and we found that we were +well clear of the harbour. We made sail for Corsica, where we found a +squadron under Commodore Linzee, engaged in attempting to drive the +French from that island. The first expedition in which we took part was +to Martello Bay. It was guarded by a strong round tower, to which the +same name had been given. The troops to the number of fourteen hundred, +were landed the same evening, and while they took possession of a +height, which overlooked the tower, we, and the `Fortitude' frigate were +ordered to attack it from the sea. The `Fortitude' got the worst of it, +for the French turned their fire chiefly on her, while for three hours +we kept blazing away, without producing any visible effect. Some guns +had been got up by the troops to the height, and by the use of hot shot +they managed to set on fire some bass junk which lined the parapet. At +last the gallant little garrison had to give in, when it was found, that +they numbered only thirty-three men, and had but one six and two sixteen +pounders; yet so well did they work their guns, and so strong was the +tower, that they had held it for nearly two days against a large body of +troops and our two frigates. During the time the `Fortitude' had lost +six killed, and fifty-six wounded. Three of her lower-deck guns had +been dismounted, and she had been set on fire by the red-hot shot +discharged at her, besides other damages. The tower, I believe, took +its name from the myrtles growing on the shores of the bay. In +consequence of the way this little tower had held out, the government +had a number of similar towers built on the English coast, which were +called after the original, `Martello' towers. We next attacked a +fortification called the Convention redoubt, which was considered the +key to the town of San Fiorenzo. The redoubt was commanded by a rocky +hill, rising to the height of seven hundred feet above the level of the +sea. As it was nearly perpendicular at its summit, it was considered +inaccessible, but British sailors had to show the Frenchmen that where +goats could find a foothold they could climb. + +"Looking up at the hill, it certainly did appear as if no human being +could reach the summit. Not only, however, did our men get up there, +but they carried several eighteen-pounders with them. On the right +there was a descent of many hundred feet, down which a false step would +have sent them headlong, and on the left were beetling rocks, while +along the path they had to creep, only one man could pass at a time. +The pointed rocks, however, served to make fast the tackle by which the +guns were hoisted. To the astonishment of the Frenchmen, the +eighteen-pounders at length began firing down upon their redoubt, which +was then stormed by the troops, and quickly carried. Part of the +garrison were made prisoners, but a good number managed to scamper off +on the opposite side. We, however, took possession of a fine +thirty-eight-gun frigate, called the `Minerve,' which the Frenchmen had +sunk, but which we soon raised and carried off with us. She was then +added to the British navy, and called the `San Fiorenzo,' and was the +ship on board which King George the Third used often to sail when he was +living down at Weymouth. She also fought one or more actions when +commanded by Sir Harry Neale, one of the best officers in the service. +However, young gentlemen, these things took place so long ago that I +don't suppose you will care much to hear about them." + +"Oh, yes, we do. Please go on!" cried out several voices from among us. +"It is very interesting, we could sit here all day and listen to you." + +"If that is the case, I'll go ahead to please you," said old Riddle. + +"In those days we didn't let grass grow on our ship's bottoms. Soon +after we left San Fiorenzo we took Bastia, the seamen employed on shore +being commanded by Captain Nelson, of the `Agamemnon.' After we had +besieged it for thirty-seven days the garrison capitulated, we having +lost a good many officers and seamen killed and wounded. + +"We next attacked Calvi, which we took with the loss of the gallant +Captain Serocold and several seamen killed, and Captain Nelson and six +seamen wounded. It was here Captain Nelson had his right eye put out. +I saw a good deal of service while on board the `Juno.' Whilst still on +the station I was transferred with Andrew Barton and others, to the +`Dido,' twenty-eight-gun frigate, commanded by Captain Towry. These +small craft used to be called `Jackass' frigates, but the `Dido' showed +that she was not a `Jackass' at all events. Soon after I joined her she +and the `Lowestoff,' thirty-two-gun frigate, were despatched by Admiral +Hotham to reconnoitre the harbour of Toulon. We were on our way, when, +one evening, we discovered standing towards us two large French +frigates. We made the private signal, when, supposing that we were the +leading frigates of the fleet, they both wore and stood away. We chased +them all night, but in the morning, when they discovered that there were +only two frigates, and both much smaller than themselves, they tacked +and stood towards us. One of the Frenchmen was the `Minerve,' of forty +guns, and the other the `Artemise,' of thirty-six guns. When the +`Minerve' was about a mile away from us, on the weather bow, and ahead +of her consort, she wore, and then hauling up on the larboard tack, to +windward, commenced firing at us. I was still, you will understand, +only a powder-monkey. My business was to bring the powder up from the +magazine in a tub, upon which I had to sit till it was wanted to load +the guns. Still, I could see a good deal that was going forward through +the ports; besides which I heard from the men what was taking place. My +old messmate, Tom Noakes, had joined the `Dido.' He was now seated on +his tub next to me--the biggest powder-monkey I ever knew. Poor Tom was +not at all happy. He said that we smaller fellows had only half the +chance of being killed that he had, as a shot might pass over our heads +which would take his off. I tried to console him by reminding him that +there were a good many parts of the ship where no shots were likely to +pass, and that he had less chance of being hit than the men who had to +stand up to their guns all the time. We stood on till the `Minerve' was +on our weather beam, when we could see her squaring away her yards, and +presently the breeze freshening, she bore down upon our little frigate +with the evident intention of sinking us. So she might have done with +the greatest ease, but having fired our broadside just as her flying +jibboom was touching our mainyard, we bore up, and her bow struck our +larboard quarter. So great was the shock, that for the moment many +thought we were going down, but instead of that our frigate was thrown +athwart the `Minerve's' hawse, her bowsprit becoming entangled in our +mizen rigging. The Frenchmen immediately swarmed along their bowsprit, +intending to board us. Our first lieutenant then shouted for `boarders +to repel boarders,' but as the French crew doubled ours, we should have +found it a hard matter to do that. Fortunately the Frenchman's bowsprit +broke right off, carrying away our mizen-mast, and with it the greater +number of our assailants, who failed to regain their own ship. With our +mizen-mast of course went our colours, but that the Frenchmen might not +suppose that we had given in, Harry Barling, one of our quarter-masters, +getting hold of a Union Jack, nailed it to the stump of the mizen-mast. +All this time, you must understand, we had been blazing away at each +other as fast as we could bring our guns to bear. The `Minerve' at last +ranged ahead clear of us, but we continued firing, till the `Lowestoff,' +seeing how hard pressed we were, came up to our assistance, and tackled +the Frenchman. In a few minutes, so actively did she work her guns, +that she had knocked away the enemy's foremast and remaining topmast. +As the `Minerve' could not now possibly escape, we threw out a signal to +the `Lowestoff' to chase the `Artemise,' which instead of coming to the +assistance of her consort was making off. She however had the heels of +us, and we therefore, returning again, attacked the `Minerve,' which, on +her mizen-mast being shot away, hauled down her colours. We had our +boatswain and five seamen killed, two officers and thirteen men wounded. +The `Lowestoff' had no one hurt, and so, although she certainly +contributed to the capture of the prize, we gained the chief credit for +the action, which, considering the difference in size between our +frigate and the Frenchman, we certainly deserved. But in those days we +didn't count odds. We thought that we had only to see the enemy to +thrash him. Even our best captains, however, sometimes made a mistake. + +"I afterwards belonged to the `Terpsichore' frigate, Captain Richard +Bowen, which formed one of a squadron under Lord Nelson, who was then +Sir Horatio, to attack Santa Cruz, in the Island of Teneriffe. The +squadron consisted of three seventy-fours and one fifty-gun ship--which +afterwards joined us--three frigates, and the `Fox' cutter. It was some +time before we could get up to the place. At last we managed to embark +nearly seven hundred seamen and Marines in the boats of the squadron, +nearly two hundred on board the `Fox' and others, including a detachment +of Royal Artillery, in some captured boats. Sir Horatio himself took +the command. Shoving off from the ship some time after midnight, we +pulled in for the town. The plan was to make a dash for the mole, and +then to fight our way forward along it, we fully believing that the +enemy would run as soon as we appeared. When the leading boats, under +the command of Captains Freemantle and Bowen, had got within half +gunshot of the mole head, the enemy took the alarm, and immediately +opened fire on us from forty heavy guns. A hot fire it was, I assure +you. The `Fox' cutter, crowded with men, was sunk by the heavy shot +which struck her, and nearly a hundred of those on board perished. I +was in the `Terpsichore's' barge with my brave captain, when, just +before she reached the mole, a shot struck her, and down she went, +drowning seven of my shipmates; but the captain, with the rest of us, +managed to get on shore. In spite of the hot fire with which we were +met from the mole head, we succeeded in effecting a landing, and drove +the enemy before us. Having spiked the guns which had done us so much +mischief, we advanced along the mole, led by Captain Bowen, and our +first lieutenant, Mr Thorpe. Here we encountered a tremendous fire of +musketry from the Citadel and houses, so that the greater number of our +party were either killed or wounded. Our brave leader, Captain Bowen, +was among the first who fell, and soon afterwards Lieutenant Thorpe was +killed. Nearly all the rest of the officers were killed or wounded. It +being found at last that there was no chance of success, we were ordered +to fall back. + +"We had neither seen nor heard anything of Sir Horatio who would have +been certain, had not something happened to him, to have been ahead. We +now learned that just as he was landing and about to draw his sword, he +had been struck by a shot on the elbow, and that he had been carried on +board his ship by the few men who remained in the boat, the rest having +landed. One of them, John Lovell, who I knew well, as soon as he saw +the Admiral wounded, took the shirt from his own back, and tore it into +strips, to bandage up his shattered arm. In the meanwhile we were +waiting for the arrival of Captains Trowbridge and Waller with another +squadron of boats. They however missed the mole head, but though some +landed to the southward of it, in consequence of the heavy surf breaking +on the shore, others put back. Captain Trowbridge, not finding the +Admiral and the other officers he expected to meet there, sent a +sergeant to summon the Citadel to surrender. The poor fellow did not +return, having probably been shot. The scaling-ladders had also been +lost in the surf. When morning broke we altogether mustered only 340 +men. Every street in the place was defended by artillery, and we heard +that a large force of 8000 men was advancing. The enterprise had +therefore to be abandoned. Captain Trowbridge proposed to the Governor +that we should re-embark with our arms, and he engaged that the squadron +should not further molest any of the places in the Canary Islands. +These terms were agreed to. We obtained also permission to purchase +such provisions as we required. The affair was a disastrous one. We +gained nothing, for besides 150 men killed or drowned, among whom were +several brave officers, we had upwards of 100 wounded, and the Admiral +lost his right arm. + +"People call this sort of thing `Glory,' but for my part I could not +make out what advantage we expected to gain, or what business we had to +go there at all." + +"I say, Mr Riddle, were you ever shipwrecked?" sang out one of the old +sailor's auditors, who was getting rather tired of the long yarn about +his battles with which he had been indulging us. + +"Bless you, young gentlemen, that I have, well-nigh a score of times I +might say. Some time after this I belonged to the `Nautilus' sloop of +war, commanded by Captain Farmer. We belonged to the squadron of +Admiral Lewis, then cruising in the Hellespont, when we were ordered to +England with despatches of the utmost importance. We had a fresh breeze +from the north-east as we threaded our way through the numerous islands +of that sea. When at length we got off the island of Anti Milo, the +Greek pilot we had with us declared he knew nothing of the coast to the +westward. As, however, our captain was anxious to make a quick passage +for the sake of the despatches, he determined to try and pilot her +himself. Though the weather looked threatening, we sailed at sunset +from Anti Milo, and shaped a course for Cerigotto. As the night grew on +the wind increased to a heavy gale, torrents of rain fell, the thunder +roared and rattled, the flashes of lightning were as vivid as I ever saw +in my life. Sometimes it was almost brighter than day, then pitchy +dark. The captain had just given orders to close reef the topsails, +intending to bring the ship to till daylight, when a bright flash of +lightning showed us the Island of Cerigotto right ahead, about the +distance of a mile or so. Now, knowing his position, the captain +resolved to run on, believing all danger past. The watch below was +ordered to turn in. Those who remained on deck stowed themselves away +under shelter of the hammock nettings. + +"We of course kept a bright look-out, though it was not supposed that we +had anything to fear. Except the officer of the watch, the rest had +gone below--the captain and master probably to examine the chart--when +the look-out on the forecastle shouted out `Breakers ahead!' `Put the +helm a lee!' cried the officer of the watch. Almost before the order +could be obeyed we felt a shock which lifted us off our feet, and sent +those below out of their hammocks. We knew too well that the ship was +ashore. In one instant the sea struck the ship, now lifting her up and +then dashing her down upon the rocks with tremendous force. It seemed +like a fearful dream. Almost in a moment the main-deck was burst in, +and soon afterwards the lee bulwarks were carried away. The captain and +officers did their best to maintain discipline. The first thing to be +done was to lower the boats, but before they could be got into the water +they were all either stove or washed away, and knocked to pieces on the +rocks. Only a whale-boat of no great use was launched by the boatswain +and nine other hands. As soon as they got clear of the rocks they lay +on their oars, but it would have been madness in them to come back, as +the boat already contained as many people as she could carry with +safety. The captain accordingly ordered her to pull towards the Island +of Pauri, in the hope that assistance might there be obtained for us. +The ship continued to strike heavily. Every instant I expected that she +would go to pieces, when one and all of us would have been lost. About +twenty minutes after she struck the mainmast fell over the side towards +a rock, which we could distinguish rising above the water, followed by +the foremast and mizen-mast. Hoping that the rock would afford us more +security than the ship herself, I, with others, made my way towards it, +though at no little risk of being carried off by the seas. On reaching +it we shouted to the rest to come on, as at any moment the ship might go +to pieces. The whole crew followed our example. Many parts of the rock +itself were scarcely above water. It seemed, as far as we could judge, +to be about 400 yards long, and half as many wide. Here all hands +collected, for as yet none had been washed away or lost, but many of the +people had no clothing on, or only just their shirts, in which they had +turned out of their hammocks. We had not a scrap of food, and we knew +that it might be some hours before the whale-boat could bring us +assistance. Scarcely had we reached the rock when we knew by the +crashing, rending sounds, and the loud thundering noise, as the planks +and timbers were dashed against it, that our stout little ship had gone +to pieces. When day dawned we saw the foaming sea covered on all sides +with fragments of the wreck, while several of our shipmates were +discovered clinging to spars and planks, they having returned to the +ship in the hopes of obtaining either food or clothing. It was known to +the captain and officers that we were about twelve miles from the +nearest island. There was but little chance of the boat getting back to +us during the day. We secured a flag which had been washed up. This we +hoisted to the end of a spar, and fixed it in the highest part of the +rock. The day was bitterly cold, many of the men were almost perished +for want of clothing. The officers made inquiries if any man had a +flint. At last one was found. At the same time a small keg of powder +which had been floating about was thrown up. The powder, though damp, +served instead of tinder. We were able to get a fire alight. It gave +us some occupation to collect fuel, though at the risk of being carried +away by the seas, as they rolled up on the rock. We got also a quantity +of canvas, and with this, and the help of some planks, we put up a tent, +which afforded us some shelter. Though we had no food to cook, the fire +warmed us, and enabled us to dry our clothes. We kept it burning all +night in the hope that it would serve as a beacon. Another night passed +away. In the morning we saw to our joy a boat pulling towards us. She +was our own whale-boat, with the boatswain and four hands; but they +brought no food nor water, as they found neither one nor the other on +the Island of Pauri. The boatswain tried to persuade our captain to +leave the rock, but he refused to desert us; so he ordered the boatswain +to take ten men and make the best of his way to Cerigotto, and to return +as soon as possible with assistance. + +"We had been badly enough off before. Matters now grew worse, the wind +again increasing to a heavy gale, which sent the seas washing nearly +over the rock. We should have all of us been carried away, if we had +not secured ropes round a point which rose higher than the rest. I +don't like, even now, to think of that night. The cries and groans of +my poor shipmates still ring in my ears. Now one man sank down, now +another. The cold was terrible, even to those who, having been on +watch, were well clothed. In the morning, several of our number were +missing, and others lay dead on the rock. We were looking out for the +whale-boat, when a sail was seen standing directly down for us. In our +eagerness to get off, we began to form rafts of the spars and planks we +had collected. As the ship approached, she hove-to and lowered a boat, +which came towards us till almost within pistol-shot, when her crew +rested on their oars, and looked at us earnestly. Who they were we +could not tell. The man at the helm waved his hat, and then, seeming +suspicious of our character, steered back to the ship. In vain we waved +and shouted, the fellows paid no attention to us. To our bitter +disappointment, we saw the boat hoisted up, when the ship again made +sail. We were now in despair. I'd before felt somewhat hungry and +thirsty, but till now never knew what real thirst was. Some of the men +drank salt water, but that only made them worse. + +"Another day came to an end. Fortunately the weather had moderated, and +we tried to keep ourselves warm by huddling close together. Death was +now making rapid progress amongst us. Those who had drunk salt water +went raving mad, and threw themselves into the sea; others died of +exhaustion, among them our captain, and first lieutenant. I never +expected to see another day, when, the voice of the boatswain hailed us. +The cry was at once raised for `water! Water!' but to our bitter +disappointment, he told us he had brought none, as he could only get +some earthen jars, in which it was impossible to bring it through the +surf. He said, however, that a large vessel would arrive the next +morning, with provisions and water. The thought of this kept up our +spirits. When daylight returned, we eagerly looked out for the expected +vessel, but she didn't appear, and all that day we had to wait in vain. +More of our people died. It seemed a wonder that any of us should have +survived, suffering so terribly from hunger and thirst as we were. Some +attempted to satisfy their hunger in a way too horrible to describe. +All day long we were on the look-out, expecting the boats to appear +which the boatswain said would come, but hour after hour passed. I can +tell you they were the most dreadful hours I ever remember. To remain +longer on the rock seemed impossible. It was agreed therefore next day +to build a raft on which we might reach some shore or other. It would +be better, we thought, to die afloat than on that horrible spot. As +soon as daylight broke we set to work, lashing together all the larger +spars we could find, but our strength was not equal to the task. Still +we contrived to make a raft. At length we launched it, but scarcely was +it in the water, when the sea knocked it to pieces. Many of our poor +fellows rushed in to try and secure the spars, and several of them were +swept away by the current. Unable to render help, we saw them perish +before our eyes. In the afternoon the whale-boat again came to us, but +the boatswain told us that he had been unable to get the Greek fishermen +to put to sea while the gale continued. He brought us neither food nor +water, though many of us thought he might have managed to bring off some +of the goats and sheep from the island. Even if we had eaten them raw, +they would have assisted to keep body and soul together. I had hitherto +kept up, but at last I lay down, unable to move hands or feet, or to +raise my head from the rock. During the night many more of my unhappy +shipmates died. I was lying on the rock, just conscious enough to know +that the day had returned, when, I heard some one sing out, `The boats +are coming! The boats are coming!' I raised my head and tried to get +up on my knees. Looking out, I saw four fishing vessels with the +whale-boat pulling towards us. I can't tell you the joy we felt. Many +of us who had before been unable to move, sat up, some few even were +able to stand on their feet, while we made an attempt to cheer, as the +boats drew near. They brought us water and food. Our second +lieutenant, now commanding officer, would allow only a small portion to +be given to each man at a time, and thus saved us from much suffering. +When our strength was a little restored, we were carried on board the +boats, which at once made sail for Cerigotto, where we were landed in +the evening. Of our complement of one hundred and twenty-two people, +only sixty-four remained. When I think of all we went through, it seems +surprising that any of us should have lived to reach the shore. We were +treated in the kindest way by the people of the island. After staying +with them for eleven days, at the end of which time most of us had +somewhat recovered our strength, we proceeded to Cerigo, and thence +sailed for Malta. There have, I'll allow, been more terrible +shipwrecks. Few people, however, have suffered as much as we did during +the six days we were on the rock, without food or water. As soon as I +was recovered, I was drafted on board the `Ajax,' seventy-four, +commanded by Captain Sir Henry Blackwood. We lay off the mouth of the +Dardanelles, forming one of the squadron of Vice-Admiral Sir John +Duckworth. I'm fond of old England, as I hope all of you young +gentlemen are, but I must own that the spot where we lay is a very +beautiful one. + +"It had just gone four bells in the first watch, and all hands except +those on duty were asleep, when we were roused up by the cry of fire! +Directly afterwards the drum beat to quarters, and the guns were fired, +as signals of distress. A boat was also sent off with one of the +lieutenants and a midshipman, to summon assistance from the other ships. +We all stood ready to obey the orders we might receive. The captain +and one of the officers at once went down to the cockpit, from which +clouds of smoke were bursting out. They quickly had to beat a retreat. +We then, forming a line, passed the buckets along full of water, to pour +down upon the seat of the fire, as far as it could be discovered. So +dense was the smoke, that several of the men who were closest and whose +duty it was to heave the water, were nearly suffocated. It was soon +evident that the flames had the mastery of the ship. The carpenter +endeavoured to scuttle the after part, but had to abandon the attempt. +In less than fifteen minutes after the alarm had been given, the flames +raged with such fury, that it was impossible to hoist out the boats. + +"The jolly-boat alone had been lowered by the captain's orders, directly +he came on deck. The fire was now bursting up through the main +hatchway, dividing the fore from the after part of the ship. The +captain accordingly ordered all hands forward. There we were nearly six +hundred human beings huddled together on the forecastle, bowsprit, and +sprit-sail yard, while the after part, from the mainmast to the +taffrail, was one mass of fire. Smoke in thick columns was now rising +from all parts of the ship, while the flames crackled and hissed, then +they caught some of the poor fellows who had taken refuge in the tops. +Some kept silent, but others shrieked aloud for mercy. Above the roar +of the flames, and the cries of the men, the sound of the guns could be +heard when they went off as the fire reached them. Captain Blackwood +retained his composure and cheered us up by reminding us, that the boats +of the squadron would soon arrive. They came at last. It was no easy +matter to get on board. Many of the men jumped into the sea, in their +eagerness to reach them. Others stood, shouting and shrieking to them +to come nearer. I, at last seeing a boat which had not as yet taken +many men aboard her, and thinking it was time to save myself, leapt +overboard, and was soon picked up. Many who had imitated my example +were of necessity left swimming or floating, and would have perished had +not other boats arrived and saved them. The ship's cable had some time +before this been burnt through. All this while she was drifting towards +the island of Tenedos--now her stern, now her broadside alternately +presented to the wind. One of the men in the boat had been hurt. I +took his oar. I found that the boat I was aboard of belonged to the +`Saint George,' and was under the command of Lieutenant Willoughby. As +soon as we fell in with another boat, we put the rest of the people on +board her, and rowed back again, to try and save some more. This we +succeeded in doing. The third time we returned to our burning ship. +Just then she rounded-to, and we saw several men hanging by ropes under +her head. The brave Lieutenant resolved to rescue these poor fellows +before she again fell off. Straining at our oars, we dashed up to her, +and succeeded in taking all of them on board, but before we could get +clear of the ship she again fell off, carrying us with her, and as she +surged through the water nearly swamping us. At the same time flames +reached the shank and stopper, when her remaining bower anchor fell over +her sides, very nearly right down upon us. Just then, the cable caught +our outer gunwale, over which it ran, apparently one sheet of fire. The +flames were at the same time raging above our heads, and rushing out +from her bow-ports. Our destruction seemed certain; we might have left +the boat to try and save ourselves by swimming, but we were too much +exhausted to try and reach any of the other boats; all we could do was +to try and keep the flames from off our own. Just as we had given up +all expectation of escape, the anchor took the ground, and though the +cable was nearly burnt through, it had strength sufficient to check the +ship's head, which enabled us to clear ourselves; though we were +somewhat scorched, no one was otherwise much hurt. In a short time the +wreck drifted on shore on the north side of the island of Tenedos, where +she blew up with a tremendous explosion, which must have been heard +miles away. We who were saved had reason to be thankful, but of the +ship's company two hundred and fifty perished that night by fire or +water, including several of the officers, together with the greater +number of the midshipmen, who, being unable to swim, were drowned before +they could reach the boats. There were three women on board, one of +whom was saved by following her husband down a rope from the jibboom. +The boatswain had two sons on board. When the alarm of fire was given, +he had rushed down, and bringing up one of them, had thrown him into the +sea, where he was picked up by the jolly-boat. He then descended for +the other, but never returned, being, as several of the midshipmen +probably were, suffocated by the dense smoke rising from that part of +the ship. I could go on into the middle of next year, as the saying is, +telling you of my shipwrecks and adventures, but I have a notion that +you would get tired of listening before I had brought my yarn to an +end." + +"Oh, no! No! Go on, Mr Riddle, go on, go on!" we shouted out. + +"Well, then, young gentlemen, I'll just tell you the way we once took a +Spanish sloop-of-war. + +"I belonged at the time to the `Niobe' frigate out in the West Indies. +We had been cruising for some weeks without taking a prize, when we +captured a Spanish merchant schooner, after a long chase. From some of +her crew our captain learnt that a Spanish corvette, of twenty guns, lay +up a harbour in Cuba. He determined to cut her out. He had intended +sending the boats away for that service, when our second lieutenant, as +gallant an officer as ever stepped, proposed to take in our prize under +Spanish colours, and running alongside the corvette, to capture her by +boarding. Having shifted the prisoners to the frigate, the second +lieutenant, with three midshipmen and thirty volunteers, I being one of +them, went on board the schooner. There were batteries on either side, +with heavy guns which would have opened fire upon us had it for a moment +been suspected what we really were. The lieutenant and one of the +midshipmen blackened their faces, and rigged themselves out in check +shirts and handkerchiefs bound round their heads. The rest of the crew +wanted to do the same, but the lieutenant would only allow me and +another man to rig up as he had done, and regular blackamoors we made of +ourselves. We laughed, I can tell you, as we looked at each other and +talked the nigger lingo, so that even if a boat had come alongside they +would not have discovered who we were. We had besides a real black and +mulatto on board belonging to our crew. The rest of the people were +sent below, with their cutlasses and pistols ready for the moment they +were wanted. Everything was prepared by the time we got near the mouth +of the harbour. The midshipman, a fine young fellow, taking the helm, +the lieutenant sat on the companion-hatch smoking a cigarette, and +Sutton, the other man, and I, with the mulatto and negro, lolled about +the deck with our arms folded. On we stood close under the batteries, +which, if we had been discovered, would have sunk us in pretty quick +time, but as the schooner was very well-known in the harbour, her real +character was not suspected. As soon as we got inside the harbour, we +saw the corvette anchored right in the centre. The breeze headed us. +That would be all in our favour, we knew, when we had to come out again. +We made four or five tacks, taking care not to do things too smartly. +The lieutenant turned his eye every now and again on the batteries. I +think he expected, as I can tell you I did, that the Spaniards would +before long smell a rat, and begin blazing away at us. They seemed, +however, to have no suspicion, and we were allowed to beat up the +harbour without being interfered with. We had got nearly up to the +corvette, when we saw two or three boats coming off from the shore +towards us. We well knew that if they got alongside they would soon +find out that the schooner had changed hands. We could see only a few +people on the deck of the corvette, and the rest of her crew we guessed +were either below or gone ashore. In the latter case we hoped soon to +master her. As the boats drew near us the breeze freshened, and the +lieutenant ordering the helm to be put down, we luffed up alongside the +corvette, before those on board suspected what we were about to do. No +sooner did they discover what we were up to, than they began shouting +and shrieking, some running to the guns, others to get hold of muskets +and cutlasses, while numbers of the crew came swarming up from below. +Several officers made their appearance. We didn't give them much time, +you may be sure, to defend themselves, before, led by our brave +lieutenant, we threw ourselves upon their deck, and were soon slashing +away with our cutlasses. But few of them stopped to meet us, so +completely did we surprise them, but leaped below faster than they had +come up. The officers for a few seconds held out, but they were quickly +disarmed and placed under a couple of sentries in the after part of the +poop. Three or four hands only had been left on board the schooner, and +the lieutenant at once ordered her to lead the way down the harbour, +while the corvette's cable was cut and the topsails loosed. We had made +such quick work of it, that the soldiers in the fort didn't discover +what had happened until the corvette was under way, with her topsails +and courses set, following the schooner. They then began to open a hot +fire on us and the schooner, but the breeze freshening, we made such +good way, that they could not get a proper range; their shot, however, +came pretty thickly on board, passing through the sails, cutting away a +rope now and then, and several times hulling us, but not a man was hurt. +As soon as we could get some powder and shot from below, we fired in +return, though there was but little use in doing that, you may be sure. +We gave three hearty cheers when we at last got clear of the harbour, +and sailed away with our prize for Jamaica, accompanied by our frigate. +Our lieutenant and all engaged gained great credit for the way the +enterprise had been accomplished. + +"Had I been a wise man, I should have stuck to the navy; but soon after +this, I had the misfortune to belong to a ship commanded by a very +different sort of officer to any I had before served under. If ever +there was a hell afloat she was one. Well-nigh a quarter of the crew at +a time were on the black list. Not a day passed that one or more were +not flogged. At last, two other men and I, when off the coast of +America, leaped into a boat alongside and made for the shore. If we had +been caught, we should have been well-nigh flayed alive. So we took +good care to keep in hiding till the ship had sailed. I afterwards +shipped on board an American merchantman, but I would not join Uncle +Sam's navy on any account. I can't say that I found myself in a perfect +paradise, and I was not sorry, after two or three years, to get on board +an English merchant vessel. I became mate of her, and in one way or +another saved money enough to buy my cottage here, with a boat and nets, +and to settle down with my wife and family. I mustn't keep you any +longer, young gentlemen, listening to what befell me in the meantime; +but if you'll pleasure me by coming here another day, I'll go on with my +yarn." + +"Thank you, my friend," said Mr Reynell, getting up, "it's time for all +of us to be returning home, but I am very sure these young gentlemen +will be very much obliged to you, if we can manage to make another +excursion here, to listen to some more of your adventures." + +While some of us gathered round the old sailor, asking him questions, +the rest were employed carrying the baskets of provisions to the +carriage, which set off on its return, we soon afterwards following on +foot. Although many of the party declared that they had no wish to go +to sea, the accounts I had heard only strengthened my desire to become a +sailor, and I determined more resolutely than ever to use every means to +accomplish my object. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + + I form plans against the smugglers--Ned's brotherly advice--I continue + to visit old Riddle--He presents me with a cutter--My first lessons in + sailing--Reception of my present at home--Aunt Deb again gives her + opinion--A present in return--Sudden disappearance of Mark, which + leads to a further expression of sentiments on the part of Aunt Deb--I + visit Leighton Hall--My interview with the Squire--I obtain permission + to visit Mark in prison--"Better than doing nothing"--I console Old + Roger--"A prison's a bad place for a boy"--Returning homewards, I + unexpectedly gain some important information--The barn--The smuggler's + conference--Rather too near to be pleasant--I contrive to escape--Am + pursued and captured by the smugglers, but finally released--Aunt + Deb's disapproval of my friendship for Mark Riddle. + +I have taken up so much space in describing the adventures of old +Riddle, that I must be as brief as I can with my own. Although I had +been inclined to think smugglers very fine fellows, I had lately heard +so much against them that I began to consider it would be a very +meritorious act if I could gain information which might lead to the +capture of some of them; besides which, I flattered myself Sir Reginald +would be so highly pleased at my conduct that he would exert himself +more than he at present seemed inclined to do, to obtain me an +appointment as midshipman on board a man-of-war. I kept my ideas to +myself; I didn't venture to mention them even to the old sailor, as I +suspected that if not actually in league with the smugglers, he was +friendly to them. I thought it better also to say nothing about it to +my father, for although I knew that he would be pleased should I +succeed, he might very naturally dread the danger I should have to run +in my undertaking. How to set about the matter was the difficulty. I +had no intention of acting a treacherous part, or to try to become +friendly with the smugglers, for the purpose of betraying them. My plan +was to hunt about to try and find out their hiding-places, and where any +cargoes were to be run; then to give information to the baronet. The +only person to whom I confided my plan was Ned, under a promise of +secrecy. He tried to dissuade me, pointing out that it was a very +doubtful proceeding at the best, and that, should I succeed, the +smugglers would be sure to take vengeance on me. + +"They will either shoot you or carry you off to sea, and drown you, or +put you on board some outward-bound ship going to the coast of Africa, +or round Cape Horn; and it may be years before you get back, if you ever +return at all," said Ned. + +Still his arguments didn't prevail with me, and I only undertook to be +cautious. Had he not given his promise to keep my intentions secret, he +would, I suspect, have told our father or Aunt Deb, and effectual means +would have been taken to prevent me from carrying out my plan. A +considerable time passed by, and although I was on the watch, I could +gain no information regarding the proceedings of the smugglers. During +this period I paid several visits to old Riddle, who always seemed glad +to see me. I was highly delighted one day when he presented me with a +cutter, which he had carved out and rigged expressly for me. It was +about two feet long and of a proportionable width, fitted with blocks, +so that I could lower or hoist up the sails, and set such canvas as the +wind would allow. The inside was of a dark salmon colour, the bottom +was painted and burnished to look like copper, while the rest was of a +jet black. Altogether I was highly delighted with the craft--the first +I had ever possessed--and I only wished she was large enough to enable +me to go aboard her, so that I might sail in her. + +Near old Rogers' house was a lagoon of considerable length and breadth, +filled by the sea at high tide. It was open to all winds, and was thus +a capital place for sailing a model. He and Mark at once accompanied me +to it, and they having trimmed the sails, and placed the rudder in the +proper position, the model vessel went as steadily as if the ship had +had a crew on board. When she had finished her voyage across the +lagoon, the old sailor, taking her out, showed me how to trim the sails. +I then, carrying her back to the place whence she started, set her off +myself. I had fancied that I could make her sail directly before the +wind; but he explained the impossibility of doing this without a person +on board to steer, as she would have a tendency to luff up to the wind. +He evidently took a pleasure in teaching me, and I didn't grow weary of +learning, so that at the end of the first day I fancied I could manage +my little craft to perfection. I called her "The Hope." He promised to +have the name painted on her stern by the next day I came. I went +almost day after day for a week or more. At last old Roger declared I +could sail "The Hope" as well as he could. Sometimes Mark came with me, +but he didn't take as much interest in the amusement as I did, he being +more accustomed to practical sailing; besides which he had other +employments into which he didn't think fit to initiate me. As I before +said, he frequently went fishing on the Squire's ponds, and from a light +fowling-piece which I saw in his room, together with several nets and +other contrivances for catching game, I suspected that he also spent +some of his time in the Squire's preserves. I didn't like to hint to +him that I had any suspicion on the subject. When he saw my eyes +directed towards a gun, he observed-- + +"I sometimes go out wild-duck shooting in the winter. My gun is not +large enough for the purpose, so when I can contrive to get up close +enough I now and then kill a bird or two." + +"I should think your gun was more suitable for killing partridges or +hares or pheasants," I remarked. + +"Ah, yes, so it may be; but then pheasants and partridges and hares are +game, and I should run the risk of being hauled up before the Squire if +I were to bag any." + +He laughed in a peculiar way as he spoke. I tried to get information +from him about the smugglers; but if he knew anything he held his +tongue, evidently considering it wiser not to trust me. At last, as I +wanted to show my cutter to Ned, my sister, and the rest, I told old +Roger that I should like to carry it home. To this he raised no +objection. + +"You'll find her rather a heavy load, Master Dick," he said. "However, +you can rest on your way. I advise you to stow the sails first, so that +if you meet a breeze they will not press against you." + +I did as he advised me, lowered the mainsail and stowed it as he had +shown me how to do, and lowered the foresail and jib. Mark had gone out +that morning and had not returned, or he would have helped me, I had no +doubt. Wishing old Roger, Mrs Roger, and Nancy good-bye, I set out. + +Sometimes I carried the cutter on one shoulder, sometimes on the other, +and then under my arm; but before I got half way I began to wish that +there was a canal between old Roger's cottage and the vicarage. My arms +and shoulders ached with the load. After resting some time, I once +again started and managed at last to get home. "The Hope" just as I had +expected, met with general admiration from my brothers and sisters. +They were much astonished to see me unfurl the sails, and all wished to +come and see her sail. I promised to give them that pleasure, provided +they would undertake to carry the cutter between them. Aunt Deb was the +only person who turned up her nose at seeing my model. + +"Mr Riddle might have thought of some other present to give the boy," +she observed; "there was no necessity indeed for his giving a present at +all. Dick's head is already too much turned towards sea matters, and +this will only make him think of them more than ever. I shall advise +your father to return the vessel to the old sailor, with the request +that he will dispose of it to some one else. In my opinion, it was very +wrong of him to make such a present without first asking leave." + +I thought it better to say nothing, and Aunt Deb didn't carry out her +intentions. My mother, who was always generously inclined, gave me +leave to take a few pots of jam in return. A few days afterwards Ned +and I, and two of my sisters, set out to carry our present. They had +been interested in what I had told them about the old sailor and his +pretty daughter, and wanted to see them. On our arrival they received +us in a friendly way, and Mrs Riddle and Mary hurried to place chairs +for my sisters. They thanked us much for the present we had brought. I +observed that they all looked graver than usual. I inquired for Mark. + +"He hasn't come home since yesterday evening," answered his father. "I +don't fancy that any harm has befallen him; but still I can't help +thinking all sorts of things. If he doesn't come back soon, I must set +out to look for him." + +I found that Mark had taken his gun, and said that he was going along +the shore to get a shot at a gull, but it was not as yet the season for +wild fowl to visit the coast. Still I could not help fancying that old +Roger knew more about Mark's intended proceedings than he thought fit to +tell me. It struck me that perhaps the smugglers had something to do +with the matter. Had I been alone I should have offered to have +accompanied him; but he didn't ask me, and indeed seemed to wish that we +should take our departure. Telling my sisters, therefore, that it was +time to go home, we wished the family good-bye, and set out on our +return. At tea that evening my sisters mentioned the disappearance of +Mark. + +"Depend upon it that boy has got into mischief of some sort," observed +Aunt Deb; "though I never saw him that I know of, I am very sure from +the remarks Dick has made that he is a wild monkey, and a very unfit +companion for a young gentleman." + +I defended Mark, and asserted that it was just as likely that he had met +with some accident. + +"At all events, I intend to go over to-morrow morning, and inquire what +has happened to him," I said. "I don't remember making any remarks +which would lead you Aunt Deb, to suppose that he was otherwise than a +well-conducted fellow. He seems much attached to his family, and +they're evidently very fond of him." + +"Perhaps his father spoils him as other parents are apt to do," remarked +Aunt Deb, glancing at the Vicar. "The sooner you break off your +intimacy with him the better in my opinion--and now you are aware of my +sentiments." + +The latter was a remark Aunt Deb usually made at the conclusion of an +argument, by which she intended it to be understood that her opinion was +not to be disputed. + +Next morning, without waiting for breakfast, taking only a crust of +bread and a cup of milk, I set off, anxious to learn what had happened +to my friend Mark. On nearing the cottage I saw Mary at the door. + +"Oh! Master Dick, I'm so glad you're come," she exclaimed. "Father and +mother are in a great taking. Mark has got into trouble. When he went +out yesterday evening he met Jack Quilter and Tom Bass, and they +persuaded him to go shooting where he ought not to have gone, and all +three were caught by Sir Reginald's keepers. They had a fight for it, +and Quilter and Bass knocked one of the keepers down, and would have +treated him worse if Mark had not interfered. Three other keepers +coming up, they were all carried off to the Hall, where they have been +locked up ever since. Father only heard of it yesterday evening after +you went. He at once set off to try and see Sir Reginald, and he only +got back late last night, or rather this morning, so he has only just +now got up. He said that the Squire was very savage with him, and +threatened to send Mark off to sea. It was with great difficulty that +father got leave to see Mark, who told him how he had saved the keeper's +life, but the Squire would not believe it, and said that he had been +caught poaching, and must take the consequences." + +"I'm very sorry to hear this," I said to Mary; "but don't despair of +your brother getting off. I'll ask my father to plead for him; and if +he won't do that, I'll go myself and tell the Squire what a capital +fellow Mark is. It would be a shame to send him to sea against his +will, although he might be ready enough to go of his own accord." + +After I had talked the matter over with Mary for some time, I went into +the cottage, where I found Mrs Riddle looking very downcast, and soon +afterwards old Roger made his appearance. He repeated what Mary had +said, and added that he intended to engage the services of Lawyer Roe to +defend Mark, though the expenses would be greater than he could well +bear. I was afraid, however, that Lawyer Roe could do nothing for Mark, +taken as he had been with a gun in his hands, in Sir Reginald's +preserves, should the baronet resolve to prosecute. I again offered to +go off at once to see Sir Reginald. I however much doubted that my +father would undertake the mission, especially as Aunt Deb would +endeavour to persuade him to have nothing to do with the matter. Mrs +Riddle and Mary pressed me to take some breakfast, which they had just +prepared, and as by this time I was very hungry, I gladly accepted their +invitation. As it was important to get early to the Hall, directly +breakfast was over I started, resolved to employ every means I could to +get Mark liberated. It didn't occur to me that probably Sir Reginald +would pay no attention to my request, or that he would consider my +interference as a piece of impertinence. I made up my mind to speak +boldly and forcibly, and felt very confident that I should gain my +object. Old Roger accompanied me part of the way, but he thought it was +better not to be seen near the Hall, lest it should be supposed I had +been influenced by him. I was but a little fellow, it must be +remembered, and without any experience of the world, or my hopes would +not have risen so high. + +"Never fear, Mr Riddle," said I, as I parted from the old sailor. +"I'll manage, by hook or by crook, to get Mark set free, so tell Mrs +Riddle and Mary to keep up their spirits." + +When I reached the Hall, I walked boldly up to the front porch, and gave +a sturdy pull at the bell. A powdered footman opened the door. In a +firm voice I asked to see Sir Reginald. + +"He is at breakfast." + +"Then say Mr Richard Cheveley has called, and begs to see him on an +important matter." + +The footman gave an equivocal smile down at me, and went into the +breakfast-room at one side of the Hall. + +I heard a lady's voice say-- + +"Oh! Do let him come in." + +The servant reappearing, showed me into the breakfast-room, in which +several ladies were at one end of a well-covered table. Lady Knowsley +was seated, presiding at the tea-urn, with several young ladies on +either side, and Sir Reginald at the foot. + +I made my bow as I entered. Lady Knowsley held out her hand without +rising, and Sir Reginald turned partly round in his chair and gave me a +nod, then went on eating his breakfast, while the young ladies smiled. +The footman placed a chair for me in a vacant place at the table. + +"You have had a long walk, and must be ready for breakfast," said Lady +Knowles, in a kind tone. + +"Thank you, I took some on my way," I answered, not wishing to loose +time by having to repeat an operation I felt that I could not perform in +the presence of so many young ladies with my accustomed appetite. + +"You must have got up another appetite by this time," observed Sir +Reginald. "Come youngster! Here is an egg and some ham. Julia, cut +him a slice of bread, and Lady Knowles will supply you with tea. Fall +to, now, and let me see what sort of a man you are." + +Thus pressed, I was compelled to eat what was set before me, which I did +without any great difficulty. Sir Reginald was too polite to ask me the +object of my visit till I had finished. He pressed me to take more, but +I declined, and I then told him that I had heard that Mark Riddle had +been taken poaching with some other lads who had led him astray. + +"That is your opinion, Master Cheveley," observed Sir Reginald, with a +laugh; "why the fellow is the most arrant young poacher in the +neighbourhood. My people have been aware of it for a long time, but +have hitherto been unable to capture him." + +"I hope that they are mistaken, Sir Reginald," I observed; "I have seen +a good deal of Mark Riddle, and his father is a very fine old sailor." + +"He may be that, although I have reason to believe that he is, besides, +as determined a smuggler as any on the coast, though he is too cunning +to be caught," answered the baronet. "No, no, Master Cheveley; young +Mark must be sent to prison unless he is allowed as a favour to go to +sea instead." + +I was determined not to be defeated, notwithstanding what the baronet +had said. I still pleaded for Mark, and the ladies, who are generally +ready to take the weaker side joined with me. + +"Suppose he is guilty. He is very young. If he would promise not to +poach again, will it not be kind to let him off?" said Lady Knowles. + +"It would be kinder to give him a lesson which he will not forget," said +Sir Reginald; "notwithstanding all his promises, he would be certain to +poach again. He might end by killing a keeper, and have to be sent to +the gallows, as has been the fate of many. Poachers and smugglers must +be put down at all costs." + +In spite of my intention to persevere, I found that I hadn't the +slightest chance of moving the feelings of the baronet. I, however, +supported by the ladies, got leave to pay Mark a visit, and I learned +from them that he and the other men were not to be sent off to prison +until the following day, when the constables would come to carry them +away. I stayed for some time, the young ladies chatting pleasantly with +me, till at length thinking that I ought to take my departure, I asked +to be allowed to go to Sir Reginald's study, to obtain an order for me +to visit Mark. + +"I'll get it for you," said Miss Julia; "we all feel compassion for the +poor lad, who has evidently been led astray by bad companions." In a +short time she returned, with an order to the constable in charge of the +prisoners. + +Thanking her very much, and wishing her and her sisters and Lady Knowles +good-bye, I hastened round to the back of the house, where the lock-up +room was situated. + +The constable, on seeing the order, admitted me without hesitation. + +"Well, Master Dick, this is kind of you to come and see me when I'm in +trouble," said Mark, immediately stretching out his hand. "From what I +hear, it will go hard with me." + +I asked him if he could not prove that he had been misled by others, and +would promise not to go poaching again. + +"No; that I can't, either one or the other," he answered promptly. "I +went of my own free will, and if I was let out, as long as I had a gun +and powder and shot, I should go and make use of it. But I don't want +to go to prison; and if I'm sent to sea, I should like to choose how and +when I am to go." + +"You must find it very dull work sitting here all day, having nothing to +do," I remarked. "Would you like to make some blocks? I have got some +wood and a sharp knife, with a saw and file, in my pocket. It will be +better than doing nothing." + +Mark gave a sharp look in my face, and said-- + +"Yes, that I should. I never like to have my hands idle. You shall +have the blocks for your cutter when I have finished them." + +Thinking only of the amusement it would afford Mark, I handed him out +the necessary tools, and promised to obtain some more wood for him to +work on should he be sent to prison. The other two men were lying down, +apparently asleep, while I paid my visit to Mark. They took no notice +of me. After I left, instead of going directly home, I returned to old +Roger, that I might report the ill-success of my visit to Sir Reginald. + +"I feared it would be so from the first," said Roger. "A prison is a +bad place for a boy, and I'd rather he had been sent off to sea." + +"I'll ask my father to try what he can do, though I'm afraid he'll not +be more successful than I have been." + +"Do, Master Dick," said Mrs Riddle. "We should not let any stone +remain unturned. I would not have our Mark sent to prison for anything. +It would be the ruin of the boy." + +I of course promised to do my best. It was getting late in the day, for +I had spent a considerable time at the Hall, and a further period had +been occupied in getting to old Roger's cottage. Mrs Riddle insisted +on my stopping to take tea, and as I had had no dinner I was very glad +to accept her invitation. I remained on afterwards for some time, +talking to the old sailor, so that it was pretty late when I at length +set out to return home. As I had told Ned where I was going I knew that +they would not be anxious about me, and therefore did not hurry my +steps. I had got about half way, when feeling tired I sat myself down +to rest, with my back against the side of an old barn, at a spot whence +I could obtain a good view of the sea. I sat for some time watching the +vessels passing up and down channel, and observing a few boats putting +out for their night's fishing from Leighton Cove. The weather was warm, +and I was sheltered from the light breeze which blew off the land. I +had been on foot all day since early dawn, and very naturally became +drowsy. Instead of at once jumping up I sat on, and in consequence fell +fast asleep. When I awoke I found that the sun had set, and that the +daylight was fast departing. I was just going to get up, when I heard +voices proceeding from the inside of the barn. Though not intending to +play the part of an eavesdropper, I could not help listening to what +they said. The men spoke in low voices, so that I didn't catch +everything, but I heard enough to convince me that the speakers were +smugglers arranging a spot where a cargo was to be run the first night +when there would be no moon, and the wind blowing off shore. As far as +I could make out, it was to be close to where I then was. Below me was +a little sandy bay, where the boats could come ashore even should there +be a heavy sea running outside. + +One of the speakers, whom I knew to be Ned Burden, lived in a cottage +hard by, and he was to show a light in his window should the coast be +clear. At present the weather was far too favourable for their purpose, +but they counted on a change in four or five days. At last I heard them +fix on the following Wednesday. I was afraid of moving lest the +smugglers should hear me, and I knew that if they discovered my +whereabout they would look upon me as a spy, especially as everybody was +aware of the way my father, had been speaking against smuggling. Still +they went on talking, and I heard some more of their designs. + +In order to draw off the Revenue-men from the spot, it was proposed to +set one or two hayricks on fire at a large farm near Sandgate, when it +was supposed that they would collect to try and extinguish the flames, +so as to prevent the fire communicating with the other surrounding +ricks. As this was sure to be no easy work, it was calculated that the +smugglers would have time to run the cargo, and carry the goods away +into the interior. It was an opportunity I had long been looking for. +I could now, by giving the information I possessed, secure the favour of +Sir Reginald, and thus induce him to further my object. I sat on, +scarcely daring to breathe, lest I should be heard, and heartily wishing +that the men would go away. They had evidently, however, met there for +the purpose of discussing various subjects. Ned Burden probably didn't +wish to go far from home, and apparently was unwilling to receive his +visitors in his own cottage. He had therefore fixed upon this spot. At +last I began to think that they intended to spend the night there. I +heard footsteps approaching, and I now feared that I should be +discovered; but the new comers followed the path which led to the +opposite side of the barn to that where I was sitting. I judged by the +voices that there were three of them. They once more went over the +matters that the others had before discussed, having apparently no fear +of being overheard. They all spoke in their ordinary voices, only +occasionally dropping them. "Now is the time," I thought, "of making my +escape; while they are talking they will not hear me, and I may creep +away to a distance without being discovered." I put my plan into +execution. The men continued talking on; their voices sounded fainter +and fainter as I got farther away from the barn. Fancying that I was +safe, I at last rose to my feet, intending to run as fast as my legs +could carry me. Scarcely, however, had I began to move forward, when I +heard a shout, followed by the sound of footsteps. I fully expected, +should the smugglers fancy that I had overheard them to get a knock on +the head if I was overtaken. I had always been tolerably fleet of foot, +and as I had no desire to be so treated, I set off running as hard as I +could. I hadn't got far, however, before I fancied I heard some one +coming. In a short time I was nearly certain of it, but I didn't stop +to listen. In daylight I should have had no difficulty in keeping ahead +of my pursuers, but the ground was rough, and I had to turn aside to +avoid bushes and rocks. Still the impediments in my way would also +assist to stop them, and I didn't despair of escaping. I had to cross +over a ridge, at the top of which I was exposed to view. I had just +reached it, when I heard some one shout. "You may shout as loud as you +like," thought I, "but I'm not going to stop in consequence." Down the +hill I rushed, hoping soon to find shelter, so as to be able to turn off +to one side or the other, and thus to evade my pursuers. I knew that a +little way on was a lane which led directly to the village, and that if +I could once get into it I might run on without much chance of being +overtaken. I could see before me a thick hedge, through which I should +have to get into the lane. I was making my way towards it, when down I +came into a deep ditch or watercourse, the existence of which I had +forgotten. It was perfectly dry, but I was severely hurt by the fall, +and for some seconds I lay unable to move. I soon, however, recovered, +and attempted to scramble out on the opposite side. But the bank was +steep, and the top was above my reach. I fancied that it would be lower +farther down, and ran or rather scrambled on in that direction. It +didn't occur to me at the time that it would be wiser to remain +perfectly still, when my pursuers, if they were continuing the chase, +would have passed me unobserved in the darkness. I at last reached a +part where the bank was broken away, and began climbing up, when I heard +footsteps close to me; and, as I gained the top, I saw a man coming +along at full speed on the opposite side. I determined, however, not to +be caught if I could help it; but to my dismay, when I began to run, I +found that I had sprained my ankle. This, though it didn't stop me +altogether, prevented me from running as fast as before; but if I could +get through the hedge I thought that I might keep ahead, or that the +smugglers would not venture to follow me. To ascertain how far off they +were I gave a glance over my shoulder. This was fatal to my success, +for my foot caught in a low bush and down I came. In vain I endeavoured +to regain my feet. Next instant I found myself in the grasp of two men. + +"Hulloa! Youngster; what made you try to get away from us?" asked one +of them, in an angry tone. + +"I am on my way home, and wish to get there as soon as possible," I +answered. + +"Who are you?" asked the man. + +I told him without hesitation. + +"And your father has joined Sir Reginald and the other squires about +here in persecuting the smugglers." + +"I don't see what that has to do with my being in a hurry to get home," +I replied. + +"Maybe not; but we want to know where you were lying hid just before you +took to running," said the other man. + +"I was not lying hid anywhere," I answered. "I was going along from +paying a visit to Roger Riddle, after seeing his son Mark, who was +caught by the Squire's keepers, and accused of poaching, when being +tired I sat down to rest and fell asleep." + +"Whereabouts were you sleeping?" asked the smuggler. + +"On the ground," I answered. + +"So I suppose," said the man, with a laugh. "But whereabouts on the +ground?" + +"Not far from the old barn, to the best of my recollection; but it was +too dark when I started to make out where I had been." + +This answer seemed to satisfy my interrogator. I was afraid that he +would inquire every moment whether I had heard the conversation going on +within the building. + +"Well, my lad," he said, "take care you don't shove your nose into +places where you're not wanted. If you're a friend of old Riddle's, I +don't suppose you'll have any ill-feeling against the smugglers. So +now, good-night. You would have saved us a long run if you hadn't been +in such a hurry to get home." + +Thankful to escape so easily, I told the men I was sorry to have given +them so much trouble. They accompanied me to a gate not far off, over +which I climbed into the lane. I then, as fast as my sprained ankle +would let me, made the best of my way home. I found that my family had +been somewhat alarmed at my non-appearance. My father, who always took +matters coolly, accepted my excuses, but Aunt Deb scolded me roundly for +having played truant. + +"What business had you to go to trouble Sir Reginald about that young +scapegrace Riddle?" she asked, in her usual stern manner. "He'll +consider that you and your friend are alike. He'll not be far wrong +either. You have lost all chance, if you ever had one, of interesting +Sir Reginald in your favour. You may as well give up all hope at once +of being a midshipman. Now I suppose you want some supper, though you +don't deserve it. You're always giving trouble to Betsy in coming home +at irregular hours." + +"Thank you," I said, "I'm not so very hungry. I'll go into the kitchen +and get some bread and cheese; that is all I want before I go to bed." + +So thus I made my escape. I had no opportunity that night of informing +my father of what I had heard, but when we went to our room I gave Ned +an account of my adventures. + +"I would advise you, Dick, not to interfere in the matter," said Ned. +"It's all very well for our father to preach against smuggling; the +smugglers themselves don't mind it a bit; but were he to take any active +measures they would very likely burn the house down, or play us some +other trick which would not be pleasant." + +Notwithstanding what Ned said, I determined to inform Sir Reginald of +what I had heard, still hoping that by so doing I should gain his +favour. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + + I revisit the baronet--My information and its worth--Am somewhat taken + aback at my reception--Well out of it--Mark's escape--Old Riddle's + gratitude--A night of adventure--The run--Night attack on Kidbrooke + Farm--The fire--My curiosity overcomes my prudence--The struggle on + the beach--The luck of the "Saucy Bess," and ill-luck of Mark--I am + again captured by the smugglers--Buried in a chest--My struggle for + freedom, and its result--A vault in the old mill--My explorations in + the vault. + +The next morning I found my father in his study before breakfast. I +told him of my having overheard the smugglers arranging the plans for +running a cargo shortly, and asked him whether he wished me to let Sir +Reginald know. + +"You are in duty bound to do so," he answered. "At the same time you +must take care it is not known that you gave the information. He'll +certainly be pleased, and will be more inclined than before to assist +you. You had better set off directly breakfast is over, and I will +write a note for you to deliver, which will be an excuse for your +appearance at the Hall. Do not say anything about the matter to any one +else, as things that we fancy are known only to ourselves are apt to get +abroad." + +I followed my father's advice, and said nothing during breakfast. As +soon as it was over I set out. Aunt Deb saw me, and shouted out, asking +me where I was going; but pretending not to hear her, I ran on. I +suspect I made her very irate. I noted the people I met on my way, and +among others I encountered Ned Burden. He looked hard at me, but said +nothing beyond returning my "Good morning, Mr Burden," with "Good +morning, Master Dick," and I passed on. I looked back shortly +afterwards for a moment, and saw that he had stopped, and was apparently +watching me. As soon as I reached the Hall I gave my father's note to a +servant, saying that I was waiting to see Sir Reginald. In a short time +the man came back and asked me to follow him into the study. + +"Well, Master Richard Cheveley," remarked the baronet, without inviting +me to sit down, "I wonder you have the face to show yourself here after +what has occurred." + +"What have I done, sir?" I asked with astonishment. + +"Connived or assisted at the escape of the poachers I had shut up in my +strong room yesterday evening, waiting the arrival of the constables to +convey them to prison." + +"I beg your pardon, Sir Reginald. You must be under a mistake," I +exclaimed. "I have in no way assisted any poachers to escape. I merely +yesterday, with your permission, visited the boy Mark Riddle. He had +been captured with two persons much older than himself, and he was, I +believe, led astray by them." + +"You, or somebody else, left them some tools--a file and a small saw-- +with which they managed to cut away a bar in the strong room and effect +their escape. Here are the instruments, which they must have dropped as +they were getting off. Do you recognise them?" + +As Sir Reginald was speaking I recollected giving the knife and file and +saw to Mark, that he might amuse himself by cutting out some blocks. +When I saw them I at once acknowledged them as mine, telling the baronet +my object in giving them to Mark. + +"It was thoughtless, to say the least of it, and a very suspicious +circumstance, young gentleman," remarked Sir Reginald. + +"Have they not been retaken?" I inquired, anxious to know what had +become of my friend Mark. + +"No, there is but little chance of that," he answered, in a tone of +vexation. "Now, let me know what you have come about. Your father +gives no reason for your visit." + +Without claiming any merit, I at once gave a clear account of all I had +heard on the previous evening. Sir Reginald appeared much interested, +and his manner became more friendly than at first. + +"I am ready to believe that you had no intention to assist young Riddle +to escape," he said at last, after taking notes of all I told him. "Now +return home, and keep your own counsel." + +I confess that I was secretly very glad Mark had made his escape. I +hoped that he would return to his father, and keep in hiding till the +affair had blown over, and also give up poaching for the future. I +wanted as soon as possible to go and see the old sailor, and learn what +had become of Mark, but I knew that my father would be expecting me; and +accordingly, after leaving the Hall, went directly home. My father +complimented me more than I deserved on the way I had conducted the +matter. I didn't tell him just then of my having unintentionally +assisted Mark and the other poachers to make their escape. + +"If the smugglers and their cargo are taken, you will deservedly have +the credit of the affair, and Sir Reginald will, I hope, feel bound to +assist you as you desire," he observed. + +I had to wait till the next day to go over and see old Roger. I almost +expected to find that Mark had returned home, and was concealed in the +house; but none of his family knew anything about him, except that he +had escaped from Sir Reginald's strong room. They all thanked me warmly +for the assistance I had given him, and of which they had heard by some +means or other. They would not believe that I had had no intention, +when I lent him my knife and other things, of helping him to get out. I +took care to return home at an early hour, as I had no wish to encounter +Ned Burden or the other men on the way. I waited somewhat impatiently +for the result of the information I had given. I was very sure the +baronet would take the necessary steps for capturing the smugglers. The +weather, which had for a long time been fine, now completely changed. A +strong westerly gale sprung up, the sky was clouded over, and as there +was no moon the nights were very dark. The evening on which I had heard +the smugglers propose to run the cargo arrived. I should have been wise +to have gone to bed at the regular hour, as if I had had nothing to do +in the matter. Instead of that, as soon as Ned was asleep I slipped on +my clothes and went out by the back door, which I carefully closed +behind me. As soon as I got clear of the village, and could see to a +distance, I turned my eyes towards Kidbrooke Farm, which the smugglers +had planned to attack in order to draw off the coastguard-men from the +spot where the cargo was to be run. In a few minutes I observed a +bright light burst forth from the surrounding darkness, and rapidly +increase until it assumed the appearance of a huge bonfire. I then knew +that the outlaws had carried out the first part of their plan, as I +concluded they would the second. It seemed to me that the whole farm +and all the stacks would speedily be in a blaze. Eager to see the fire, +I ran towards the farm. On getting nearer, the hum of human voices +showed me that a number of people had assembled, some of whom were +engaged in throwing water over the stacks, others in pulling down the +burning one. As I got up to them, I found that they were mostly +labourers from Leighton, together with those belonging to the farm, with +a few of the villagers from Sandgate. There were, I remarked, none of +the revenue-men present, by which I concluded that they had not been +drawn away from the coast, as the smugglers expected they would be. +Precautions having been taken in time, and there being plenty of hands +to extinguish the flames, the fire didn't communicate to the other +ricks; and, as far as I could see, even a portion of the first was +saved. + +It would have been better for me had I returned home and gone to bed +again; but I was curious to know if the "Saucy Bess" had succeeded in +running her cargo, or whether Sir Reginald had acted on the information +I had given him, and had sent the coastguard-men to watch for the +smugglers and capture them. Without stopping, therefore, in the +neighbourhood of the burning rick, I hurried away towards the spot at +which I had heard Ned Burden and his companions propose to run the +cargo. I must have been running on for twenty minutes or so when I +heard a pistol-shot fired; it was succeeded by two or three others. +This made me more than ever eager to ascertain what was going forward. +I doubled my speed. The path was tolerably good, and I knew the way. +All the time I had not met a single person. After some time I heard +more shouts, sounding much nearer, and cries mingled with the clashing +of cutlasses, so it seemed to me. I had no doubt that the +coastguard-men and the smugglers were having a desperate fight, the +latter endeavouring to defend their property, and the former to capture +it. Which would succeed in their object seemed doubtful. I pictured +the whole scene, though as yet I could see nothing. This I was eager to +do, forgetting that bullets flying about were no respecters of persons. +At last I reached the top of a cliff overlooking the bay, whence I could +see a lugger, which I guessed to be the "Saucy Bess," with her sails +loose, a short distance from the shore, and two or three boats near her; +while on the sands were a number of men, who from their movements, and +the babel of tongues arising from the spot, were evidently struggling. +That the revenue-men had the best of it, I had no doubt. It appeared to +me that they had captured part of the cargo, and some of the smugglers, +and that others were endeavouring to rescue their comrades. That this +was the case I had little doubt, when I saw the lugger's head turned +seawards, and presently she disappeared in the gloom of night I was now +satisfied that Sir Reginald had acted on the information I had given +him, and that he would find it had been correct. I was at last about to +return home, when, just as I reached a lane leading from the cliffs, I +heard footsteps close to me, and, turning round, saw three men +approaching. Whoever they were I thought it better to keep out of their +way, and began to run. But they must have seen me, and at once made +chase. I could easily have kept ahead, but unfortunately stepping into +a deep rut, I stumbled, and before I got under weigh again the men were +upon me. + +"Where are you bound for, youngster?" cried one of them, whom I +recognised by the voice to be Ned Burden. + +"I came to see what was going forward," I answered. + +"Not the first time you have done that, young gentleman," said one, in +an angry voice. "We know who you are. Somebody gave information about +the run which was to be made to-night, and putting two or three things +together no one will doubt that it was you. Shall we heave him over the +cliffs, or what shall we do with him, mates?" + +"Let us take him along with us, at all events," said one of the other +men. "If he has spoiled our plans to-night, he deserves to be knocked +on the head." + +"Spoilt our plans indeed he has," said Burden; and he presently detailed +to his companions how he had caught me listening at the old barn, and +how, not supposing that I had heard anything of importance, he had let +me go. + +I could not deny this, and I saw that it would be useless to attempt to +defend myself. My captors, without more ado, proceeded to tie my arms +behind my back, and to bind a handkerchief over my eyes. + +"Remember, youngster," said Burden, "if you shout out or utter a word +we'll send a bullet through your head." + +From the fierce way in which he spoke I thought he was very likely to do +this. I did not tell him that I knew who he was, as I was sure that +this would only make matters worse for me. I did not, however, believe +that they really meant to kill me; but what they would do was more than +I could guess. Two of them taking me one by each arm led me along the +road, without wasting another word on me. They walked very fast indeed. +Had they not supported me I should have fallen several times. Every +moment I thought they would stop. I tried to ascertain in what +direction they were leading me, but very soon lost all means of doing +so. At length they made me sit down on what I supposed was a bank. I +tried to judge from what quarter the wind was blowing, but the spot was +sheltered, and sometimes it blew on one cheek and sometimes on the +other. I could hear the roar of the waves, by which I knew that I could +be at no great distance from the shore. While one of them held me +tightly by the arm, the others withdrew to a distance to consult as to +how they should proceed. After a time they came back, and we continued +our march at the same rate as before. On and on we went. I was getting +very tired, and would gladly have again sat down. When I complained, +the men laughed at me. + +"You'll soon have time enough to rest yourself, youngster," said one of +them. "You may consider yourself fortunate that things are no worse +with you." + +Finding that it would be useless to say anything more, I held my tongue. +I must own that I now bitterly regretted having interfered against the +smugglers. They were fully convinced that I had done so, and I could +not defend myself. I had heard of the fearful punishment that they had +at times inflicted on informers; and even should they spare my life, I +thought it too probable that they would ship me off to some distant part +of the world, or shut me up in a cavern or some other place from which I +could not make my escape. It seemed to me that several hours had passed +since I was captured, and that it must now be broad daylight; but the +bandage was so tightly secured over my eyes that I could not move it +with my eyebrows, nor could I, from my arms being fastened behind my +back, get my hands free to do so. Again and again I begged my captors +to listen to me and loosen my arms, as the ropes hurt me. When I +declared that I could go no farther, one of the men answered fiercely:-- + +"We'll soon see that, youngster." + +He gave me a prod with the point of a knife or cutlass, I could not tell +which. It showed me that they were not likely to treat me very +ceremoniously. "I must make the best of a bad matter, I suppose," I +thought, and did not attempt to stop. Suddenly the men brought up, and +then turning sharp round told me to lift my feet, and I found that we +were walking up some wooden steps. This I could judge of by the sound +made by our feet. Then we went along a level floor. Presently, after +passing through two or three doorways, as I supposed, we descended also +by wooden steps, till I felt convinced, by the closeness of the +atmosphere, that we had reached a vault. + +"You may make yourself comfortable here, young gentleman, for the rest +of your life," said one of the men, with a hoarse laugh. "I've a notion +that you'll not again be inclined to go and inform against poor fellows +who are carrying on their business without wishing to do you or any one +else harm." + +"Stay; that jacket of his, and his waistcoat, are a great deal too good +for him," observed another man. + +And forthwith, having released my arms, they took off the garments they +spoke of. + +My first impulse, on getting my hands free, was to try and get the +bandage from my eyes, but one of the men caught hold of my hands and +prevented me from accomplishing my object. I, however, clutched hold of +my clothes with the other, unwilling to give them up; but they quickly +mastered me, leaving me only my shirt and trousers. I now began to fear +that they intended some serious violence. In vain I struggled; I felt +myself lifted up by the shoulders and feet, and placed on a rough board. +As I now had my hands free, I immediately tore off the bandage. A +gleam of light, which came from one side, showed me that I was in what +appeared to be a large chest, placed on its side; but before I could +turn myself round the lid was shut down, and I heard the men securing +it. I was thus imprisoned in, so far as I could tell, a living tomb. I +shouted and shrieked, and tried to force open the lid. My captors were +holding it on the outside, and it seemed to me were driving in screws. +I could hear them talking outside, but what they said I could not make +out. Could it be possible that they intended to leave me here to perish +by hunger? The act would be too diabolical for the worst of wretches to +think of, and yet what other reason could they have for shutting me up +in such a place? Finding that I could not release myself, I thought I +would try to move their feelings. + +"I am very sorry if I have brought you or any others into trouble," I +said. "If you'll ask Roger Riddle, he'll tell you that I have no +ill-feeling towards smugglers. I was the means of getting his son Mark +out of prison. If you keep me here you'll make my father and mother +very miserable, for they won't know what has become of me. You can't be +so cruel, surely." + +The men went talking on. I was sure they heard me, though they made no +answer. It then occurred to me that perhaps they had shut me up in the +chest for the purpose of carrying me on board a vessel, and that I +should then be set free and enjoy the light of heaven and the warmth of +the sun. Then I recollected having read how cruelly boys are treated on +board ship, and that if I were sent under such circumstances I should +have to lead a dog's life at the best. Well, it was some consolation to +have reason to hope that I was not to be murdered as I at first feared, +or to be kept shut up in this horrible vault for an indefinite period, +when I might be forgotten, and possibly be allowed to die of starvation. + +These thoughts passed rapidly through my mind. As soon as I grew calm, +I listened to ascertain what the men were about. As far as I could +judge, in a short time they quitted the vault, and I was left alone. I +listened and listened. No sound could I hear. A sufficient amount of +air came through the chinks in the chest, and enabled me to breathe +without difficulty. I had no notion of staying where I was without some +endeavour to extricate myself. I knew that after a time I should grow +weak from want of food. I was in total darkness, and the chest, for so +I supposed it, was large enough to enable me to move about. It struck +me, as I was feeling round the sides, that it was perhaps a bunk, such +as is fitted on board ship for the men to sleep in. If my captors had +not taken away my jacket I should have had my knife, and I might then, I +thought, have cut my way out; but they left me without any means of +effecting my purpose. The only way of freeing myself was to knock out +by main strength either the top or one side of the bunk or chest. I +feared that if I at once commenced doing this the noise I should have to +make would attract the attention of my jailers. I therefore lay still +for some time, listening attentively. Not a sound of any description +reached my ears. I thought that it must now be day, though no light +penetrated into the vault. If it had I should have seen it, I thought, +through the chinks of the chest. It was very roughly put together, and +this circumstance gave me better hope of being able to force it open. +At length I determined to commence operations, and placing myself on my +back, with one hand to defend my head, and one foot against the end, I +struck out with the other on the part above me. A cracking sound +encouraged me to go on. Each time I struck out the planks appeared to +move slightly. I used so much force that every nerve in my body was +jarred, and I was afraid of laming myself. Notwithstanding that, I +persevered, stopping every now and then to listen, lest my captors +should return; but as no one came I was satisfied that they had gone +away, and now redoubled my efforts. Several loud cracks were the +result; and at length, to my intense satisfaction, the planks above me +fell off, shattered by my foot. + +I was thankful for my success. At all events I should not have to die +shut up in a chest. But I was very far from being free. Getting up on +my feet I thrust my head through the hole I had made, and tore back the +broken pieces of plank. Had I possessed a light I should have seen how +next to proceed, but I was still in total darkness. I could not tell +what I might find outside the chest. Moving carefully I climbed out, +moving about with my feet to find the ground, which was lower I thus +ascertained than the bottom of the chest, but how much lower I could not +tell. I therefore held tight on with my hands while I let myself down, +and I then discovered that it had been placed on another chest of about +the same size; but I had to move very cautiously, as there might be +still some lower depth beneath my feet, though I didn't think that very +likely. The ground was dry and hard, without either bricks or +flagstones. This I found out by stopping down and touching it with my +hand. I now began to move on very carefully, feeling my way from chest +to chest. I discovered in my progress not only chests, but casks and +bales. I had little doubt, therefore, that I had been conveyed to the +smugglers' store, but where it was situated I was totally unable to +surmise. That it was some way inland I thought probable, as I could not +hear the sound of the surf breaking on the sea shore, which I thought I +should have done had I been near the coast. I tried to think if I +recollected any building which it was at all probable would be thus used +by the smugglers. There were, I at last remembered, two mills not far +from the coast, but one was in the possession of too respectable a +farmer to allow any lawless proceedings to be carried on in his +premises. The other was an old windmill that had been abandoned the +last two or three years; two of the arms had fallen down, and the whole +building was in a very ruinous and tottering condition. The property I +had heard was in Chancery, the exact meaning of which I didn't +understand, but knew no one was ever seen about the place, and that the +villagers from the neighbouring hamlet were unwilling to approach it +after dark, there being a report that it was haunted by a headless +miller, who had been killed while in a fit of drunkenness by his own +machinery. Could this be the place, I thought. The idea didn't make me +feel more comfortable, not that I had any strong belief in ghosts or +other spirits walking the earth in bodily shape; but yet I didn't feel +perfectly certain that such beings did not exist, and I confess to +having had an indefinite dread of seeing the headless miller appear out +of the darkness surrounded by a blue light. I tried to banish the idea, +and felt much more at my ease. I suddenly recollected that although I +was in darkness it was daylight outside, and that the headless miller +was possibly resting quietly in his grave in the churchyard a mile away. + +One thing I had to do, and that was to get out of my prison as soon as +possible. I felt round and round the vault. My great object was to +discover the steps by which my captors and I had descended, but to my +dismay I could not find them. Either they had been drawn up through a +trap-door above, or we had come through a door in the side of the vault +which had been closed by them when they went out. I searched and +searched in vain for such a door, one side consisting of a blank wall +partly of stone and partly of perpendicular timbers, which I concluded +supported the superstructure. This made me more certain than before +that I was in a vault beneath the old mill. I was in hopes by this time +that the smugglers had gone away, and that I should thus be able to make +my escape without interruption. How to do so was the question. I +remembered that we had descended the building by steps to the bottom of +the vault. I concluded, therefore, that the roof must be a considerable +height above my head. There were numerous boxes, chests, and bales, as +far as I could judge, in the vault, and if I had had light I should have +found, I thought, little difficulty in piling one upon another, and thus +reaching the top; but in the dark this was a difficult and hazardous +undertaking. I could scarcely expect to place them with sufficient +evenness to make a firm structure, and they might, after I had got up +some distance, topple down again with me under them, and perhaps an arm +or a leg broken. Still I could think of no other way of getting out. I +again felt about, and tried to lift some chests and bales, but they were +mostly too heavy for my strength; I might, however, discover some which +I could tackle. + +It must be remembered that all this time I was perfectly ignorant of my +surroundings. I was, indeed, in the position of a blind man suddenly +placed in a position which he had never before visited without any one +to give him a description of the scenery. The only knowledge that I had +obtained of the vault was from the sense of touch. I now determined to +take a further survey, if so I could call it, of my prison, to start +from a certain point to feel my way round, and reach as high as I could, +to extend my arms, and to grope along the floor from one side to the +other. One point I considered was to my advantage. My captors would +suppose that I was shut up in the chest, and would therefore not have +taken much trouble to secure the outlet to the vault. Probably, indeed, +they had gone away, as they would certainly avoid being seen in the +neighbourhood of the old mill during daylight. I didn't suppose that +they intended to murder me, and I therefore expected that they would +come back again at night to bring me some food, or perhaps to carry me +off and ship me on board some vessel, for such I was convinced was their +intention. I must therefore effect my escape before nightfall. The +necessity of obtaining food would alone induce me to do this, though as +yet I did not feel very hungry. + +Serious as the situation was, I did not give way to despair. I could +not believe that I was doomed to die, but how my deliverance was to be +effected was more than I could tell. Again starting from the chest in +which I had been shut up, and which I could distinguish by the short +fragments of the top, I continued groping my way round and round the +vault. My first object was to try and find the door, which I was +persuaded existed, as I thought I had previously missed it. Any one who +has played at blind man's buff may have a faint idea of my situation. +Only the objects round me remained stationary, whereas in the game +people run away from the blinded person, and he has to try and catch +them as they run round him. I had the advantage over the blinded man in +the game. I was sure that in time I should gain a knowledge of my +locality. Time, however, was precious, and it would not do for me to +delay my search. + +I would have given anything for a tinder-box and flint and steel, so +that I might light up the vault even for a few seconds; but as that was +not to be had, I tried to make use of my other senses. Stretching out +my arms and feet as I went along, touching one place with my left hand, +while I felt about my head as far as I could reach straight out with my +right; I then brought my left up to the spot my right had last touched, +and so I went on. Occasionally my right foot struck against a bale or +chest which extended beyond the others above it. Had there been an +opening in the pile of goods I was sure that I could not have missed it. +For the supposed door I searched in vain, and at length came to the +conclusion that the only entrance to the vault was from the roof above. +It did not occur to me that there might be one above my reach by which +my captors might have made their exit with the assistance of a short +ladder. Though I had moved slowly, what with the exercise I had taken +during the night, and the efforts I had made to get out of the chest, I +felt very tired; and, discovering a bale of convenient height, I sat +down to rest myself, and to consider with such calmness as I could +command, what I should next do. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + + A prisoner in the vault--The headless miller--I continue my + explorations--My perilous position--My further attempts at escape--The + recess--An unexpected shower-bath--A glimpse of light--I escape from + the vault, but not from prison--A lower chamber in Old Grime's mill-- + The result of my further endeavours to escape--My signal of distress-- + The Revenue-men--My rescue--The search for the smugglers' goods--My + hunger relieved--On guard--Meeting with my father--The last of old + Grime's mill. + +Strange as it may seem, I fell asleep. How long my eyes had been closed +I could not tell. I fancied I heard the voices of people coming down +through the roof. A door directly opposite to me opened, through which +a pale light streamed, when what was my amazement to see "Old Grimes" +the miller dressed in his short frock, his iron-grey hair streaming over +his shoulders, and holding on his head with both hands, proving that it +could not retain its position without such assistance. He glared at me +with his saucer-eyes; his lips moved, but what he said I could not make +out. Had he approached I thought I would have spoken to him and asked +what he wanted, but he did not advance beyond the doorway. Presently he +faded from my sight. The light grew dimmer and dimmer. I thought that +I got up and tried to make a straight course for the door; but when I +reached the wall opposite I could not find it, and so groped my way back +to my seat. + +It was not until fully a minute after I was awake that I became aware +that I had been dreaming. I was soon convinced that the vision of Old +Grimes was a mere dream, but I was not quite so well satisfied about the +voices I had heard. I listened, expecting to hear them again, but all +was silent as before. I now got up, resolving to try and make my way +out. Though I had not previously experienced any inconvenience from the +want of breakfast, I began to feel excessively hungry; and if I had come +across a package of hams or tongues, or a cask of salted herrings, I +should have eaten them raw with considerable satisfaction. The more +hungry I felt the more desperate I became. I at last fixed on a place +for commencing operations. There appeared to be more woodwork there +than anywhere else, or else the chests were piled upon each other. At +all events they would afford me a foothold. That I might have less +chance of slipping I had kicked off my boots, supposing that I could +easily find them again. I climbed up and up. Of course I had to move +very cautiously, not leaving go with one hand until I had a firm grasp +of some fixed object with the other. I got up a considerable distance, +and pressing against a board, it gave way, and a tremendous crash +followed, as if a number of boxes filled with bottles had fallen to the +ground. Putting up my hand, I felt a beam above my head; could it be +one of the rafters, or the roof? I was for some time afraid to move, +lest I should fall headlong down. I passed my hand along the beam, but +could not reach the floor it supported. I now tried to crawl cautiously +along on the top of the woodwork or the pile of chests, for I could not +determine which they were. Every now and then I stopped and stretched +out my hand, but could feel nothing above me. + +I must again beg my readers to try and picture to themselves my +unpleasant position. The only wonder to myself is that I kept up my +spirits. I did not forget that any moment something might give way +below me, and that I might pitch down to the floor of the vault on my +head. I had gone on some way, when, stretching out my hand, I +discovered nothing beyond me. I was on the very edge of the erection. +The only thing I could do was to go back the way I had come, or to +descend to the floor. Fearing that I should be unable to pass the spot +where I had thrown over the cases, I resolved to adopt the latter +alternative. + +I bethought me that if I had had a pole it would have assisted me +greatly to discover the trap-door leading to the vault. It was easier +to climb up than to climb down, as I could not feel with my feet as I +could with my hands. The attempt, however, must be made. Having got to +the edge of the plank and ascertained that it was secure, I gradually +let myself down, when I found myself resting on another plank or the +edge of a chest, I could not tell which. Let any one try in the dark to +do what I was attempting to do, and it will be found no easy matter. +Could I have stood securely, I might have crouched down till I could +have got hold of the plank on which my foot rested, but there was +scarcely room for that, and if I let go the plank above me I might +tumble over on my back; yet there was no other way of descent, so +holding on with my left hand I tried to find something which I might +grasp with my right lower down. + +My satisfaction was considerable when my hand came in contact with the +rope-handle of a large chest. It appeared to be secure, and holding it +I was able to stoop down and fix my other hand on the ledge on which my +feet rested. One stage of my descent was thus accomplished. I now held +the ledge tight with both hands, let my legs slip off, and felt about +with my feet for another resting-place. For some seconds I was swinging +about, holding on by my hands. There might be another ledge not half an +inch below my feet. I stretched down my toes to the utmost. I could +not discover it. Should I let go I might have a serious fall. I worked +my way on, hoping to be more fortunate. At last my feet struck against +the end of a chest, and after making a little further exertion I found +that it was secure, and that I could venture to stand upon it. + +I was still uncertain how far I was off the ground; all the difficulty I +experienced arose from being in darkness. I could probably, I knew, +have scrambled over the whole of the building with perfect ease had +there been light. I might already be close to the ground, but at the +same time I might be many feet above it, and I therefore could not +venture to step down without going through the same process as before. +Leaning on my elbows, I stretched my arms along the top of the chest. I +slipped off, and unexpectedly found my feet touch the ground. I was too +eager to escape to allow myself time to rest after my exertions. I once +more began to search round the vault, hoping to find an oar, a boat's +mast or spar, or somewhat that might serve my purpose. I felt about in +vain; indeed it was not likely that the smugglers should have placed +such things in the vault. + +I at last reached the part where the boxes or chests, as I supposed they +were, rested, and I began to stumble among them. The region in which I +had spent the last two or three hours was considerably disarranged. I +fancied that I knew every part, and now I was completely thrown out in +my calculations. One chest stood up on end on another. I feared, +should I move it, that I might bring others down on my head. I should +have liked to have put them all back in their places, but that was +impossible. By great care I made my way among them; when I at last +reached the walls, it was the part I had not before examined. How I +could have passed it I could not account for, unless I had been +prevented reaching it by the chests piled up in front, and which I had +displaced. As I was extending my arms my hands touched what felt like a +wooden latch. There was no doubt about it; it was the latch of a door. +I lifted it up and pulled it towards me. The door opened, but all was +dark within the recess. I felt sure that it must be the entrance to the +vault. I was going to step forward when it occurred to me that it might +lead to a lower vault and that I should be precipitated into an unknown +depth should I move without feeling my way. I knelt down, extending my +hands, when they touched the ground as far as I could reach. This +satisfied me that my first conjecture was correct. + +Cautiously feeling my way, I stepped forward and explored the recess as +I had the larger vault. Contrary to my expectation, I could discover no +ladder. I was thus no nearer to my deliverance than before. I felt +round and round this smaller vault, without being able to decide as to +its object. That it was the entrance to the vault I thought very +likely. I wished that I could find out the height of the roof, and of +what it was composed. It seemed probable that it was lower than that of +the larger vault. I thought that I might drag in some of the smaller +chests and place one on another against the wall and climb up. I made +my way accordingly back to the large vault, in search of some which I +could move. + +In going along my foot struck an object on the ground. It was a long +spar--the very thing I was in search of. I supposed it had fallen down +with the boxes, having either been placed upon them or assisting to +support them. It appeared, as far as I could judge, to be twelve or +fourteen feet long, and was thick enough to enable me to swarm up it, +and thus to serve the purpose of a ladder. I first tried to reach the +roof of the large vault with it, but it was not long enough, though I +lifted it as high as I could; and then carrying it in my hands went back +to the recess, and, eager to ascertain the height, I struck upwards. It +at once met with resistance, not as I supposed, from a beam or vaulted +roof, but from some soft object. That soft object must be removed. + +I poked and poked again and again, now in one part, now in another, when +suddenly down came a shower of powder, which, before I could make my +escape, covered me from head to foot. I was certain that it was, from +the smell and feel, flour, though old and musty. The flour filled my +nose, eyes, and mouth, nearly suffocating me. I, however, willingly +endured this dry shower-bath, for as it fell a glimpse of light came +through a hole which I had burst in the upper part of the sack, which +had evidently been drawn across the trap leading to the vault for the +purpose of concealing it. I worked away with my pole until I had pretty +nearly emptied the sack of flour, and then, with a little more exertion, +I brought the whole down, and had a clear view upwards. For a minute or +so my eyes, long accustomed to darkness, were so dazzled with the light +that I could not make out anything distinctly. They were, besides, so +full of flour that it took me some time to clear them. + +After this I did not delay in endeavouring to get out of the vault. +Having placed the upper end of the pole against the corner of the trap, +I tried to swarm up it. At first my exertions made the pole slip, and I +ran the risk of having a disagreeable fall; but descending, I placed the +half rotten sack with some of the flour round the foot, and then drew in +several pieces of wood, with which I further secured it. + +I now made another determined effort to climb up it by twining my arms +and legs round it. With considerable effort I succeeded in catching +hold of the edge or sill of the trap, and then getting up my knees I was +out of the vault, but not out of prison. I was, however, far better off +than before. Instead of darkness, I had light--instead of a close +vault, an airy chamber, on the lower floor of which sacks of flour had +evidently been kept. There were no regular windows, but only a few +slits high up above my head to admit light and air. The door was +securely closed. The room was in much better order than I should have +supposed from the generally ruinous appearance of the building from the +outside. + +Of course, having thus far freed myself, I did not despair of getting +out by some means or other. I was in a hurry to do so lest the +smugglers should come back, and thrust me back into my prison, or treat +me even worse. Looking round the room I observed an opening on one side +opposite the windows. It struck me that if I could get to it I might +make my way into the main part of the building. Once there, there could +be no difficulty in escaping. In the last few minutes I had forgotten +my hunger, but it again came upon me; and as I had no other food, I +thought I would try some of the flour, which would stay my appetite, +even though eaten raw. I believe that a person eating nothing else for +several days would make himself ill, if he did not die. I made a hole +in one of several sacks leaning against the wall, and which had been +there probably since the occupant's death. It was excessively musty, +but hunger prevented me from being particular, and rolling it up into +little balls I swallowed several in rapid succession. Having eaten on +till I had sated my appetite, I hauled up the pole with which I had made +my escape from the vault below. + +I then placed it against the foot of the small door high up in the wall. +It was sufficiently long. But then the thought occurred to me, will +the door be closed so that I shall be unable to open it? That point +must be settled by experiment; so having assured myself that the upper +end would not slip, I began to ascend. It was not at all an easy task, +and I did not feel satisfied that it would not give way. Up and up I +went, remembering what my father often used to say, that "fortune +favours the brave." I gained the top, and holding on to the sill +beneath the door, pressed against it. It moved, and, contrary to my +expectation, opened. It was a difficult matter notwithstanding to get +in; but I managed at last to get my knee on the sill, and then creeping +forward I found myself in a gallery in the main part of the mill, in the +centre of which was the shaft and the machinery for working the +grindstones beneath. I ran round the gallery till I came to a ladder +leading to the floor below, expecting that I should find the main door +open. It was firmly closed and locked, so that I could not get out. +This was a disappointment. + +Having in vain tried to find any other outlet, I ran up the steps again +to the gallery, looked out of one of several windows to ascertain if I +could reach the ground by any of the woodwork; but the height was too +great to allow me to drop out without danger of breaking my legs. I +observed several people in the distance passing along by a path which +led by the foot of a hill on which the mill was situated. My first +thought was that they were smugglers; but then I recollected that such +characters were not likely to be abroad in a body during daylight, and +the glitter of the gold lace round the cap of one of them convinced me +that they were the revenue-men. I shouted at the top of my voice. +Hungry and faint as I was, it did not sound as loud as usual. They did +not hear me. I was afraid they would go on. Again and again I shouted. +One of the men turned his head. Having no handkerchief, in a moment I +stripped off my shirt, and waved it wildly out of the window. The men +saw it, and came hurrying up the hill. + +"Who are you, youngster?" shouted one of the men as they came near. + +"Master Cheveley, son of the Vicar of Sandgate," I answered. + +"Why, he looks more like the ghost of a miller," said one of the men. + +"How did you get up there?" inquired the first speaker a head boatman in +charge of the party. + +"I got up out of a vault where the smugglers put me," I answered. "Make +haste and come in, for I'm almost starved." + +"Here's a door," cried the head boatman; "but I say, mates, it's locked. +Is there no other way in?" he shouted. + +"None that I know of," I answered. "I have been trying to open the +door, but could not." + +"We'll see what we can do," said the man. + +And he with two others placing their shoulders to it quickly sent it +flying inward shattered into fragments, the rotten wood giving way +before their sturdy shoves. + +I ran down to meet them. The head boatman, a strong seamanlike-looking +man, at once began to question me as to what had happened. I told him +as briefly as I could adding-- + +"But, I say, I'm desperately hungry, as I've only had some lumps of +musty flour to eat for several hours, and thirsty too. I shall faint if +I don't have some food." + +"We'll get you that, youngster; and then you must try and show us the +way into the vault," said the speaker. "We may get a better haul than +we've had for many a day if it should prove one of the smugglers' +hiding-places." + +He then directed one of the men to run down to the next farmhouse and +bring up some bread and cheese, or anything else he could obtain, and a +jug of milk, or if that was not to be procured, some water. + +I thanked him, begging the man to make haste, for now that the +excitement was over I could scarcely stand. + +"Do you know you are whitened all over?" he asked. "You look as if you +had come out of a flour-bin!" + +I had for the moment forgotten how I must have looked. The man +good-naturedly began to brush the flour off my clothes and hair, and one +of them lent me his handkerchief to wipe my face. They inquired what +had become of my jacket and waistcoat. I told them how the smugglers +had taken them from me. + +"Perhaps the fellows may have hidden them somewhere about here. They +wouldn't like to have the things found on them. Jenkins and Brown, do +you go and search all round. Maybe we'll come upon another opening into +the vault." + +The two men hurried off to obey the orders they had received, while the +others examined the mill; and the chief boatman sat by me fanning my +face, for he evidently thought me in a bad way. The time appeared very +long since the man had started for the provisions, but I believe he was +not absent many minutes. I was thankful when he returned, bringing a +basket with some eggs, and ham, and cheese, and some delicious bread, +and a bottle of milk. I fell to immediately like a hungry wolf, and +felt very much better by the time I had finished. + +"We'll keep the remainder in case you want any more, my lad. And now we +must get you to show us the way into the vault," said the officer. + +I was quite ready to do this, for I confess that I had a bitter feeling +against the smugglers on account of the treatment I had received. We +soon reached the trap which had been covered over by the sacks of flour. +The men looked down, not quite liking to descend into the darkness. +The spar by which I had got up was still in its place. I offered to go +down first, but this the chief boatman would not allow, and he and +another man at once lowered themselves to the bottom. It was, however, +so dark beyond the smaller vault, that they declared they could see +nothing, and they had to wait until a man was sent to the farm for a +lantern. We then too descended, but as the lantern only dimly lighted +up the vault, I could scarcely believe that it was the same place in +which I had spent so many hours. I had fancied that it was of immense +size and height, and crowded with piles of boxes, and bales, and casks. +Instead of this there were only a few old packing-cases, in one of which +I found I had been shut up. There were besides about a dozen bales, +most of them apparently damaged, and what the revenue-men considered of +more value, nearly half-a-hundred small casks of spirits, and some boxes +of tobacco. These had been covered over with planks. I had not felt +them on my exploring expeditions in the dark. The revenue-men were well +satisfied with their haul, as they called it, though they had thought +that it was possible they might find some articles of value. + +As I was anxious to return home to relieve the anxiety of my father and +mother, I begged the chief boatman to let me do so at once. + +"We cannot let you go alone; some of these smugglers might meet you and +give you a clout on the head for having shown us their hiding-place. +Wait a bit until I can send one of the men with you. We must first get +these casks up. We can't spare a hand at present, as one of the men +must go on to the station to give information of our find, and to +procure some carts for carrying the things away." + +In hunting about the men had discovered a coil of rope and some blocks, +which had evidently been used for lowering the casks into the vault. +The seamen were not long in fitting up a tackle to hoist them out. +While one of the men was sent off as proposed, the rest worked away with +a will. In a short time the chief contents of the vault were hoisted up +and rolled outside. + +"Here's a job for you, my lad," said the chief boatman. "You stay by +these things, and give us notice if you see any suspicious characters +coming, while we get up the remainder." + +This task I gladly undertook, for I was heartily sick of the vault where +I had spent so many unpleasant hours, and glad to breathe the fresh air +outside. I sat down on the cask, nibbling away at some of the contents +of the basket, for my appetite had returned. At last a drowsiness stole +over me, and slipping off the cask, against which I placed my back, I +fell fast asleep. I was awakened by hearing some one shouting, and +looking up I saw a person running towards me. I sprang to my feet, when +what was my surprise to see my father, who rushed forward, and at the +joy of seeing him I leaped into his arms. + +"Why, Dick, my boy," he exclaimed, "we have been in fearful anxiety +about you. How have you got into this plight? Where have you been? +What has happened?" + +I answered him as fast as I could. + +"I won't find fault with you now, though you had no business to steal +out of the house at night. You have had a narrow escape. Though the +ruffians who carried you off and put you into the vault might not have +intended to leave you to starve, they most probably would have been +unable to return. Several have been captured, and so hot is the hue and +cry after the rest that they would have been afraid to come back to the +spot to bring you food, or to carry you off, as you fancy they intended +to do." + +The chief boatman now came out of the mill, and was evidently well +pleased to hand me over to my father, who thanked him for the attention +he had paid me. + +Just as we were setting off the carts arrived with a party of +revenue-men, armed to the teeth, to carry off the smugglers' goods, for +it was thought likely that a rescue might be attempted. We had got to +no great distance, when on looking back I saw a cloud of smoke issuing +from the old building. It increased in density, and presently flames +burst out. + +"Could they have set the place on fire?" + +"Not intentionally," said my father; "but it is very evident that the +mill is burning, and from the nature of the materials of which it is +composed there is not the slightest chance of its escaping destruction." + +Tired as I was, I persuaded him to go back to see what had happened. As +we got nearer the building we saw that the whole of it was enveloped in +flame. The revenue-men were busily engaged in loading the carts. They +had soon found that any attempt to save the mill would be useless, and +that they would only run the risk of losing their lives. We were at +some short distance when a tremendous roar was heard, the ground shook +beneath our feet, and the whole building came toppling down, a vast heap +of burning ruins; while planks, and beams, and masses of earth, were +thrown up into the air, showing that an explosion had taken place in the +vault where I had been confined. No one suspected that any casks of +powder had been deposited there, but that such was the case there was no +doubt. I had now reason to be very thankful that I had not found a +tinder-box, for I should certainly have tried to light a fire in the +vault, and probably the sparks would have communicated to the powder. +How the fire originated no one could tell, but I suspected that one of +the men had lit his pipe, and that the ashes had fallen out upon some +loose grains of powder. We, as well as the revenue-men, had a narrow +escape from being crushed by the ruins which fell close to us. + +Such was the end of Old Grime's mill. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + + My reception at home--Aunt Deb again gives her advice--My father and I + pay another visit to Leighton Hall--Our guard--Interview with Sir + Reginald--A score that was not settled to my satisfaction--My awkward + position--My father receives a threatening letter--Aunt Deb decides on + action--Preparations for my departure--The journey in the coach--Our + fellow-travellers--A false alarm--My aunt's character further comes + out--Our arrival at Liverpool--Our reception--Mr Butterfield--I + explore Liverpool--My first visit to the "Emu"--I gain some + information--I lose my way--Aunt Deb's anxiety on my account--A small + difficulty well got out of--I pay another visit to the "Emu"--My ideas + as to officers and seamanship receive a somewhat rude check--I make + the acquaintance of Gregory Growles--I lose my cutter--"Thief! + Thief!"--I speak to Mr Butterfield as to my going to sea--His + opinions on the subject--He makes me a kind offer--Matters still + unsettled--A reference to Aunt Deb. + +My father supported me as we walked home; for, now that the excitement +was over, I felt so exhausted that without his assistance I could not +have got along. Before we had got far, however, we fortunately fell in +with some of the people who had been sent by my father to look for me. +They, taking me in their arms, saved me from the necessity of making +further exertions. As we went on we met several seafaring men, boatmen +and others, who I thought scowled at me as I passed. + +The news of the capture of the goods having got abroad, it had been +reported that I had given the information. My mother and sisters +received me affectionately. To my satisfaction I found that Aunt Deb +was out in the village. On her return, having heard some account of my +adventures, looking at me sternly she said-- + +"Well, Master Richard; and so you have been continuing your foolish +pranks, and throwing us all out of our wits. Depend upon it, nephew, +you'll come to a bad end if you don't manage to act with more discretion +during your future course in life." + +I felt too tired just then to reply to Aunt Deb's remarks as I should +have liked to do. I merely said-- + +"I could not help being carried off by the smugglers; and as I have been +the means of getting a good many of them captured, and also of enabling +the revenue-men to seize their stores, I hope that Sir Reginald will now +feel anxious to reward me by obtaining for me the appointment I have so +long wished for." + +"If it suits Sir Reginald's convenience he may do so," said my aunt. +"We shall see; we shall see." + +I had to give an account of my adventures to every one in the house, and +I was very thankful when I was able to go to bed, feeling no inclination +to put myself in the way of going through any fresh adventures. + +Next morning, after breakfast, I asked my father if he would accompany +me to Leighton Park, that I might make another appeal to Sir Reginald. + +"You'll only get a flea in your ear, John," remarked Aunt Deb. "Sir +Reginald will just consider you troublesome. You are much more likely +to succeed if you let him alone." + +My father, however, for a wonder, ventured to differ with Aunt Deb, and +agreed to take me to see the baronet. He had become, I found, very +anxious about my safety, being convinced that the smugglers would, if +they had the opportunity, punish me severely for having interfered in +their affairs. This made him more than ever anxious to get me away from +home. Not satisfied that even during the walk to Leighton Park we might +not be attacked, he directed old Thomas, the gardener, to arm himself +with a blunderbuss and a brace of pistols, and to follow, keeping us +always in sight. He didn't think it would become him as a minister of +the gospel to carry fire-arms through his own parish, and he was afraid +to entrust them to me. + +"Remember, Thomas, that if you see any smugglers come near, you are to +march up and point your blunderbuss at their heads." + +"You may be sure, sir, as I'll do that," answered Thomas. "I have been +a man of peace all my life, but I'm ready to fight in your cause, and I +believe the Lord will forgive me if I kill any one." + +"I don't think there is much chance of that," said my father. "Your +appearance with your blunderbuss loaded up to the muzzle will be +sufficient to deter any of the ruffians from attacking us." + +We set out together. Thomas gradually dropped behind to the required +distance. As we walked along I looked every now and then over my +shoulder to be sure that he was following, for I had an uncomfortable +feeling that the smugglers would be on the watch for me. We, however, +reached the park without any adventure. + +Sir Reginald kept us waiting longer than usual before we were admitted +into his presence. + +"Well, Mr Cheveley, we have succeeded at last in giving a blow to the +smugglers which will put a stop to their proceedings for some time to +come at all events. Though the `Saucy Bess' got off, we captured some +of her crew and several of the men assisting them." + +"I congratulate you, Sir Reginald," said my father; "and I ventured to +call on you to explain that my son Richard has rendered considerable +service to the cause. It was through him that information of the +intended run the other night was obtained, and he also discovered one of +the smugglers' hiding-places, `Grime's Mill,' and was the means of +enabling the revenue-men to capture a considerable store of their +contraband goods." + +Sir Reginald smiled. + +"I'm glad to hear this," he observed; "for to say the truth, I have had +strong doubts as to your son's connexion with the smugglers. He is +intimate, I find, with an old sailor, Roger Riddle, who though too +cunning to be caught is known to aid and abet them in their proceedings. +By his means young Mark Riddle, who is both smuggler and poacher, made +his escape from my lock-up room only last week. Had it not been for my +respect for you, I could not have passed the matter over, and I am happy +now to be able to set the services you say he has rendered against his +former conduct. I am the more willing to do this as young Riddle was +taken just as he landed from the `Saucy Bess,' and we shall now get rid +of him, as he will be either committed to prison for two years or sent +off to sea to serve his Majesty for seven years." + +I was very sorry when I heard this, but of course did not express my +feelings to Sir Reginald. My father looked rather uncomfortable; he was +a nervous man, and Sir Reginald always awed him. He, however, mustered +courage to proceed. + +"I hope, Sir Reginald, that my son's good conduct will induce you to +interest yourself in his favour, and that you will forward his views by +exerting yourself to obtain the appointment he so greatly desires. I am +very anxious to get him away from the neighbourhood, as I am afraid the +smugglers, who are aware that he has been instrumental in the capture of +their friends and goods, will revenge themselves on his head. I dare +not let him leave the house alone, and even coming here I was obliged to +bring an armed attendant for his protection." + +"I have told you, Mr Cheveley, that I consider his late conduct is a +set-off against his unpardonable proceeding. I will, however, remember +his wish; and, should an opportunity occur, will forward his views. I +must now wish you good morning, for my time is much occupied with my +magisterial and parliamentary duties, and you must excuse me." + +The baronet prepared to bow us out of the room. He shook hands with my +father, who took the hint and backed towards the door, and gave me only +a formal nod, without allowing a smile to irradiate his features. + +We found old Thomas waiting at the hall door with his blunderbuss on his +shoulder. My father walked on with hurried steps some distance, not +uttering a word. At last he said-- + +"To what did Sir Reginald allude when he talked of your connexion with +young Riddle?" + +I told him how Mark had been seized and locked up and how I had +unintentionally assisted him to escape. + +"I believe what you say, Richard; but you can't be surprised at the +baronet being annoyed, and I'm afraid from his tone that we must not +expect much from him." + +We had got about two-thirds of the way home when we saw three men coming +towards us, one of whom I recognised as Burden. I had not yet told my +father that I believed him to be one of the men who had shut me up in +the old mill. He started as he saw me, and then scanned me narrowly, as +if uncertain whether it could really be myself. + +Though I knew that old Thomas and his blunderbuss were close behind us, +I felt very uncomfortable, as I could not tell how the men might be +inclined to act. Mustering courage at last, I looked Burden in the +face. My father nodded to him and the other men, as he was accustomed +to do to his parishioners. They hesitated for a moment, and then passed +on. I looked back and saw them watching old Thomas, but they didn't +speak to him, and he trudged sturdily after us without paying them any +attention. + +"I wonder what was the matter with Burden?" asked my father, as we got +to some distance. + +I then told him it was my belief that he was one of my captors. + +"We can't prove it, even if he were," said my father. "He deserves +punishment, but the law is expensive and uncertain, and I should prefer +letting him alone." + +As far as I could tell the matter was likely to rest here. I lost a +jacket and waistcoat, but was not otherwise the worse for my adventure. +The next day, however, a letter came by the post addressed to my father, +at the top of which was a death's head and cross-bones, very rudely +drawn, and beneath it the words:-- + +"Informers must look out for what informers deserve. The young master +who got off t'other day must look out for squalls. He has been and dug +his own grave, and in it he'll lie before long; so he had better say his +prayers. He won't have long to say them. This comes from one who knows +him. John Grimes." + +My father turned pale when he read the letter. Aunt Deb insisted on +seeing it, and then my mother wished to read the contents. She almost +fainted. + +"This is terrible," she exclaimed. "Yet, surely, the smugglers will not +have the barbarity to injure a mere boy like Dick." + +"I'm not so certain of that," said Aunt Deb. "Warnings ought not to be +neglected. I have long been contemplating paying a visit to my second +cousin, Godfrey Butterfield, who is now a flourishing merchant at +Liverpool. I'll write and say that I am coming, and bringing with me +one of my nephews. I shall not wait for an answer, but will set off +immediately; for I'm certain I shall be welcome." + +When Aunt Deb said this I saw a smile on the countenance of my elder +sisters and brothers, who had not been so much affected by the +threatening letter as the rest of the family. + +"I'll post the letter at once, and we will set off this evening. What +do you say, John?" + +My father at once agreed to Aunt Deb's proposal. + +"Thank you!" exclaimed my mother. "I shall be much more at my ease when +Dick is out of the reach of these terrible men." + +Aunt Deb wrote and despatched her letter, and the rest of the morning +was employed in making preparations for the journey. Ned had to give up +one of his jackets and waistcoats, which exactly fitted me, and my other +things were quickly packed in a small chest. I also unrigged and did up +the cutter which Roger Riddle had given me, as I fancied I should have +an opportunity of sailing it at Liverpool. I made Ned also promise to +go and call on the old man, and to tell him how sorry I was to hear that +Mark had been sent off to sea, and how much I regretted not being able +to wish him good-bye before I went. + +We had some distance to drive before we reached the town at which the +coach stopped. My father at once sent off for a postchaise, and old +Thomas went on the box, armed as before with a blunderbuss and a couple +of horse-pistols. As we drove through the village Aunt Deb made me sit +back, while she leant forward as if there was no one else inside. +Whether or not this precaution was necessary I don't know; but at all +events we reached our destination without being stopped by highwaymen. + +There were two places vacant in the coach, and although I should have +preferred going outside, Aunt Deb insisted on my remaining with her. +The other passengers were fat old women, who eat apples and drank +gin-and-water for supper, and then snored, and sneezed, and groaned all +night long. I know that I wished myself anywhere but where I was. The +old ladies talked of highwaymen, coaches stopped, and passengers +murdered, till they talked themselves into a state of nervous fear. One +or the other was constantly poking her head out of the window, and +declaring that she saw a man galloping after the coach with a +blunderbuss over his shoulder. However, as the guard gave no signal, I +was very sure that their imaginations had conjured up the robber. + +"Pray, ladies, do sit quiet," at length exclaimed Aunt Deb, who being a +strong-minded woman was not influenced by similar fears. "It will be +time enough to cry out if a highwayman does come to demand our purses, +and we'll hope that the guard will shoot him dead before he has had time +to open the door." + +"Oh! How dreadful!" shrieked out one of the ladies. "I would sooner +let him have everything he asked for than see a handsome highwayman +shot." + +"Fiddle-de-dee about a handsome highwayman," said Aunt Deb, in a +scornful tone. "They're ugly ruffians, and miserable arrant cowards to +boot. If one does venture to stop the coach, I'll not give him any of +my property as long as I have hands to defend it." + +Notwithstanding Aunt Deb's remarks, our fellow-travellers continued in +the same state of alarm the greater part of the night, and to comfort +themselves took further sips of gin; until, becoming perfectly fuddled, +they dropped off to sleep. + +I almost wished that a highwayman would appear, to see how Aunt Deb +would behave; but morning at length dawned, and I fell asleep, nor did I +wake till the coach stopped for breakfast. We travelled on all day with +the same unpleasant companions, and I was glad to find that we were to +go no farther that night. I remember that I dropped off to sleep before +supper was over, and was very unwilling to get up the next morning when +Aunt Deb called me. The fear of offending her, notwithstanding, made me +jump out of bed and hurry on my clothes, and I was in time to take my +seat in the coach, which came up soon after breakfast. She still +refused to let me go outside, and I had to endure another day's misery, +shut up with her and a lady and a fat gentleman, who took snuff and +snored, and nearly tumbled over me in his sleep, and a young woman with +a baby, who at intervals kept up a chorus of squalls, which considerably +aggravated my respected aunt; and I really thought that, if she had +given way to her feelings, she would have tossed it out of the window. + +As sublunary troubles always do, the journey came to an end, and the +coach deposited us at the door of Mr Butterfield, Aunt Deb's cousin. +The worthy merchant--a bald-headed, rosy-faced gentleman, of large +proportions, who wore brown cloth knee-breeches, large silver buckles, a +flowered waistcoat of ample length, with a snowy neckcloth, and a +frilled shirt, a coat of the same hue as his unmentionables--received +us, as he descended the steps, with a cordiality I little expected. + +"Glad to see you, Cousin Deb, though times have changed since you and I +played hide-and-seek in our great-aunt's garden. You have shot up in +one direction and I have grown in the other considerably. And this is +John Cheveley's boy, is he? You are welcome to Liverpool, lad. We'll +see what we can make of you here. Plant you on a high stool, and set +you quill-driving. Are you a good hand at figuring? We don't value the +Latin and Greek most lads have crammed into their heads to the exclusion +of all other useful knowledge. Pounds, shillings, and pence are what we +have to do with in our commercial city." + +Thus the old gentleman ran on without even waiting for me to answer. He +then conducted us to our bedchambers; and as soon as we had washed our +hands we descended to the supper-room, where the board was amply spread. +He did not again allude to the high stool and quill-driving, but his +remark had made a deep impression on my mind. There was nothing I hated +so much as the thought of being shut up in a counting-house. He asked +me if I was accustomed to go out alone, and satisfied on that score from +what Aunt Deb and I said, he told me that I might amuse myself the next +morning by exploring Liverpool, provided I took good note of the way +home. This was just what I thought of doing, and to my relief Aunt Deb +said she would be too tired to go out. + +Accordingly the next morning, after breakfast, I got ready to sally +forth. Mr Butterfield had gone to his office, and did not see me. I +in reality cared very little for exploring the town, and accordingly +inquired my way to the river. Instead of the stream I expected to find +I saw a broad expanse of water, with vessels of all rigs and sizes in +spacious docks, or moored alongside the quays. I was going along the +quay when I saw a large ship taking in cargo. Making my way on till I +got astern of her, I observed that she was called the "Emu." I walked +up and down admiring her amazingly. + +"Now if I can't go on board a man of war, and wear a cockade and a dirk +by my side, I should like to take a voyage in a ship like that. What a +magnificent craft! What proud fellows the captain and officers must be +to belong to that ship. I wonder whether the captain would like me as a +midshipman? The crew--I can fancy how they sit on the forecastle and +sing `Rule Britannia,' `Poor Tom Bowling,' `One night it blew a +hurricane.' Happy chaps! I should like to belong to her. I think I'll +go on board and ask the captain to take me. + +"Mr Butterfield evidently intends that I should go into his +counting-house. Dreadful work to have to set on a high stool, to dot +and carry one, and to scribble away all day. I could not stand it. It +would kill me. It was bad enough to have to go to school, and then we +had a good many play-hours; but in these stuffy, musty, dark offices, I +have heard that they have only half-an-hour for dinner, and work away +till ten o'clock at night. That sort of life would never suit me. + +"Yes, I'll go and see the captain, and I'll tell him that I was intended +for the navy, that I should have become an admiral some day, and that +will make him treat me with consideration." + +Such were my cogitations as I stood, with my hands in my pockets, gazing +at the "Emu." When it came to the point I felt somewhat nervous about +going to speak to the captain. Perhaps he would not treat me with the +respect I should desire. He might not have a vacant berth, and I could +scarcely expect a stranger to make a place for me. At last, after +walking backwards and forwards very often, I ascended a plank which led +me to the gangway in the after part of the ship, and stepped on board. + +For some time, all the men being occupied in hoisting in cargo, no one +took notice of me. I was thinking that I must go and speak to the +captain if I were to speak to him at all, when one of the men coming aft +asked me what I wanted. + +"I wish to see the captain of this ship," I said. + +"He is not on board, and is not likely to be until she sails," he +replied. "Do you bring any message for him? If you do, you had better +see the second mate." + +"No thank you," I replied; "I want to see the captain," in as important +a tone as I could command. + +"Well, then, you may find the captain at the ship-broker's in Dale +Street." + +This threw me out, for I knew that the second mate would not have power +to receive me on board, and I did not like the thought of having to +confront the captain in an office full of clerks. I therefore, losing +courage, turned round and walked on shore again. Still I could not tear +myself from the ship, but continued pacing backwards and forwards, now +taking a look at her lofty masts and spars, now at her hull freshly +painted, now at the men working at the cranes and tackles hoisting in +cargo. + +While I was thus engaged a sailor-like man, who I supposed was an +officer, stopped near me. + +"Please, sir," I said, "could you tell me where that ship is going to?" + +"Yes, my lad. She's bound out by Cape Horn into the Pacific, and up the +west coast of America, and perhaps to go across to Australia, and may be +away for two or three years." + +"Thank you, sir," I said. "She's a very fine ship." + +"As to that there are many finer, but she's a tidy craft in her way," +remarked the seaman, turning on his heel. + +"Now that is just the sort of voyage I should like to make. To double +great Cape Horn. What a grand idea! And visit the country of the Incas +and Peruvians, and the wonderful coral islands of the Pacific. I am +much inclined to ask Mr Butterfield if he can get me on board her. +Perhaps she's one of his ships, and I shall then very likely come back +as a mate. I might have to remain a long time in the navy before I +became a lieutenant, and after all perhaps one might enjoy a much more +independent life in the merchant service. + +"Yes, I'll ask the old gentleman; but then I'm afraid Aunt Deb will +interfere. She doesn't want me to go to sea, and she'll say all sorts +of things to prevent him doing what I wish. There's nothing like +trying, however; and if he agrees, I must get him to obtain Aunt Deb's +consent to my going. I'm sure my father won't make any objection." + +Having arrived at this conclusion, I was now eager to get back to have a +talk with Mr Butterfield. I forgot that he was not likely to leave his +office till much later in the day. I had become desperately hungry +also, and as I had come out without any money in my pocket, I was unable +to buy a bun or a roll to appease my appetite. I set off, fancying that +I should have no difficulty in finding my way, but I wandered about for +a couple of hours or more before I succeeded in getting back to Mr +Butterfield's house. + +Aunt Deb received me with a frown. + +"Now where have you been all this time?" she asked. "I've had luncheon +an hour or so, or more. I suppose the servant has cleared the things +away, and you can't expect her to bring them up again for your +pleasure." + +"Thank you, Aunt Deb," I answered. "But I'll just run and see." + +To my infinite satisfaction, on going into the parlour I found the table +still covered with roast beef, and pies, tarts, and puddings; for Mr +Butterfield liked the good things of this life, and wished his friends +to enjoy them also. Didn't I tuck in. I often afterwards thought of +that luncheon; it presented itself to me in my dreams; I recollected it +with longing affection during my waking hours. I helped myself to two +or three glasses of wine to wash down the food. With a sigh of regret I +felt that I could eat no more. I then stowed myself away in a +comfortable arm-chair in the corner of the room, and very naturally fell +fast asleep. I had a dim recollection of seeing Aunt Deb come into the +room to look for me, but as I didn't speak, she left the room supposing +that I had gone out of the house to take another walk. When I awoke +Martha was laying the things for dinner. + +"Why, Master Cheveley, Miss Deborah has been asking for you for ever so +long," she said. "You had better go and see her, for she's in a +dreadful taking, I can assure you." + +I knew Aunt Deb too well to venture into her presence under the +circumstances if I could avoid it, so I ran into my room, washed my +hands, and brushed my hair, so as to present myself in a respectable +state before Mr Butterfield. I watched for him till he went into the +drawing-room, and then followed. Aunt Deb had not yet come down. I was +thinking of asking him about my going to sea on board the "Emu." He +didn't give me the opportunity, but he at once questioned me as to what +I had seen in the city. + +"You think Liverpool a very fine place?" he remarked. + +"Yes, sir, a very fine place indeed," I answered boldly. + +But when he came to inquire where I had been, and what part I admired +most, I was nonplussed, and had nothing to say about the matter. My +thoughts had been entirely occupied with the docks and the shipping. + +"Ah, yes, Liverpool has become an important port; superior to Bristol, +or Hull; and some day we shall be equal to London, we flatter +ourselves." + +I thought this would be a good opportunity of telling him how fond I was +of the sea, and that I hoped he would let me go on board one of his +ships, when just at that moment Aunt Deb entered. She began scolding me +for having absented myself so long from her, but Mr Butterfield +interfered. + +"The lad naturally wishes to see a new place, where he may spend some +time perhaps. So don't be too hard on him, Cousin Deborah." + +We soon went down to dinner, and Aunt Deb said no more. I ate as many +of the good things as I could, but after so large a luncheon I had less +room than usual. Mr Butterfield placed my moderation to the score of +my modesty. + +"Come, come, lad, eat away," he said. "These things were given to us +for our benefit, and can't fail to do us good." + +I at last had to give in, letting Martha take away my plate with a large +portion of its contents untasted. I should have liked to have remained +to talk to Mr Butterfield when Aunt Deb retired, but she insisted on my +coming up, afraid that the old gentleman in his hospitality would be +giving me more wine than would be good for me. I had thus no +opportunity of talking to him alone. The following morning I begged +leave to go out again. Mr Butterfield willingly consented, though Aunt +Deb observed that I should be better employed at home summing and +writing. + +"He'll have enough of that by-and-by. In the meantime he can learn his +way about the city," said the old gentleman. + +I thanked him very much, and he went away to his office. + +Going into my room, I bethought me that I would take my cutter down to +the river and give her a sail. It took me some time, however, to step +the mast and set up the rigging. As soon as this was done, not thinking +it necessary to see Aunt Deb first, I started off, carrying the little +vessel under my arm. The boys in the streets, I thought, admired her +exceedingly. It made me feel that I was a nautical character amid the +seafaring population. Though I didn't exactly recollect the way, after +making various turnings, I found myself at the quay where the "Emu" lay. +"Now," I thought to myself, "I'll go on board, and if I can't see the +captain, I'll have a talk with the crew. They'll perceive by my cutter +that I'm not a greenhorn, and I can offer to show them what I know by +explaining how I sail her." With more confidence than I had felt on the +previous day, I walked up the plank. I could nowhere see the captain, +nor any other officer, and therefore turned towards the spot where the +men were at work taking in the cargo. + +"Well, boy, what do you want?" inquired a rough, surly-looking old +seaman, who was handling a large case? + +"I have come to see the ship; and as I like her, I think of getting the +captain to take me as an officer," I answered, with as much confidence +as I could assume. + +"Officer!" the old sailor answered, with a hoarse laugh. "You an +officer, jackanapes; why we should want a cow on board to give you +milk." + +"What is your name?" I asked, determined not to be put down. + +"Gregory Growles," answered the seaman. + +"Well, look, Gregory Growles, if that's your name, I understand sailing +this cutter as well as you do," and I began to explain how I was wont to +navigate her according to Riddle's instructions. I then announced the +names of the ropes and sails. + +Gregory Growles, with his arms akimbo, and several of the other seamen, +stood listening to me, evidently highly amused. When I had finished, +they all laughed in chorus. + +"You know the ABC, maybe, of seamanship; but, look here, just tell us +the names of some of the ropes and spars of this ship." + +I looked about exceedingly puzzled, for I could not give the name of one +of them. + +"I thought so," said Growles. "You had better go to school again, and +learn a little more before you think of topping the officer over us." + +"I only want to become a midshipman," I said; "I could soon learn when I +got to sea." + +"We have no midshipmen on board the `Emu,'" said Growles. + +"Come, youngster, clear out of this, for we have to go on working, and +you're in the way." + +Abashed, I retired to the after part of the deck, followed by the +derisive laughter of the seamen, who went on, as before, hauling and +hoisting in the cargo. I walked about, examining various things on the +deck, and looking into the cabin, and thinking what a fine place it was, +for it was handsomely furnished, and how I should like to be its +occupant. No one took any further notice of me, and at last I +unwillingly returned on shore. I looked out for a place to sail my +vessel, but the landing-place was crowded with boats, and it struck me +that if I let her go I should find it impossible to recover her. I had, +therefore, to carry her about all day without any advantage, and my arms +ached, though I held her sometimes under one arm and sometimes under +another, and occasionally placed her on my shoulder. Several boys asked +me what I would take for her, and one or two begged that I would let +them examine her. At last one biggish fellow snatched her off my +shoulder. I tried to recover her, but another tripped me up. Getting +up, I made chase, but the thief, turning sharp round the corner, +disappeared. I shouted in vain for him to come back. My cutter was +gone. There was no one to whom I could appeal for help--no watchman, no +constable. Some persons I met said it was a great shame, but they +didn't help me. Others only laughed, and observed that such things were +very common. I waited about. A number of boys joined me and shouted +"Thief! Thief!" but, as may be supposed, I could not find him, and had +to return home very disconsolate at my loss. That evening, much to my +satisfaction, Aunt Deb had a bad headache, and could not make her +appearance at dinner. This gave me an opportunity of speaking to Mr +Butterfield. + +"I should be happy to further your views, my lad, but I have promised +your Aunt Deborah to take you into my counting-house, and I have only +been waiting a day or two until a boy has left, whose place I intend you +to fill. You'll begin low down, but by perseverance and industry you +will, in the course of a few years, rise to a respectable position. +Many lads fancy they would like to go to sea, and bitterly repent it +afterwards. You will have a far more comfortable life on shore, and the +position of an English merchant is as honourable a one as a man could +desire to follow." + +These remarks didn't at all suit my taste. I thanked Mr Butterfield, +but told him that my heart had long been set on going to sea, and that I +didn't expect to be happy in any other calling. + +"That's what many lads say, but afterwards find out that they have made +a very great mistake," he remarked. + +"But they don't all do that, or we should have no sailors," I argued. I +then told him that I had been on board the "Emu," which, I concluded, +would sail in a few days, and that I should much like to go in her. + +"She's not my vessel," he answered, "though I know something of the +captain. He is a good sailor, though he is not the man under whom I +should wish to place a lad. However, when your aunt is better, I'll +talk the matter over with her; and should she consent, then I'll see +what can be done." + +I fancied that I had made some way; and, in spite of the loss of my +cutter, I went to bed more contented in my mind than I had been for some +time. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + + Mr Butterfield's office--My future prospects--I again visit the + "Emu"--Aunt Deb's good advice--I rebel--All sailors are not beggars-- + My next visit to the "Emu"--Shall I stow myself away?--Conflicting + ideas--Looking over the ship, I meet with an accident--Once more a + prisoner--The hold of the "Emu"--Not a stowaway--My possible fate--No + bones broken--"The blue above and the blue below"--Perseverance + conquers all difficulties--On the high seas--Sea-sick--On the kelson-- + I give way to despair--"Help! Help!"--The yarn of Sam Switch's + ghost--I feel the pangs of hunger--I review my past life--Never say + die--Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink--My efforts meet + with some success. + +Aunt Deb made her appearance at the breakfast-table, but nothing was +said about my plans for the future. As soon as I had finished, Mr +Butterfield, looking at his watch, told me to run out for a quarter of +an hour or twenty minutes, and said that when I came back he would take +me down with him to his office. + +"I shall not keep you there," he remarked; "you will afterwards come +back to your aunt, who will probably find something for you to do." + +I obeyed, and as soon as I got out of the house I ran off in the +direction of the country. I wanted to see green fields and hedges and +trees. I enjoyed the fresh air and exercise, and was longer away than I +intended. On my return I found Mr Butterfield waiting for me at the +door. + +"Punctuality is the soul of business. Remember that," he remarked. +"You have kept me waiting for ten minutes. Come along." + +I begged pardon, saying that the time had passed faster than I had +expected. + +He walked along with sedate steps, for he was not given to rapid +locomotion, his gold-headed cane heavily striking the ground as he went. +He had not spoken since we left the house, and I felt that I was +passing from the position of a guest to that of a junior clerk. Still, +not being overwhelmed with bashfulness at any time, and as I was anxious +to know what had passed between him and Aunt Deb regarding my future +career, I looked up and asked him. + +"Your aunt will communicate her wishes to you," he answered. "You will +see presently the sort of work you will be expected to perform in my +office. Let me tell you that many lads would consider themselves +fortunate if they had the opportunity I am ready to give you." + +He said no more. His manner, it struck me, was far less cordial than it +had been, and I could not help thinking that I was indebted for this to +Aunt Deb, who had probably given him an account of my adventures at +home. Now I am bound to say that I consider Mr Butterfield was right; +but I did not think so at the time. + +We at length reached Water Street, and entered the office of Tallow, +Candlemas, and Co. It was a dingy-looking place, consisting of a small +outer room, the walls covered over with posters announcing the sailing +of ships and other information. In it was an enclosed space, behind +which sat on high stools two venerable-looking clerks, busily engaged in +writing. Speaking a few words to them, Mr Butterfield passed on to an +inner room, where, at a long desk running from one side to the other +were arranged eight or ten persons of various ages, all scribbling away +as fast as their pens could move. Their thin and pallid faces did not +prepossess me in favour of the life they were leading. At the farther +end, in a darker corner, was a vacant stool. + +"That will be your place, Richard, when you come here to-morrow or next +day," said Mr Butterfield. "You will gradually rise, till one day I +may hope to see you one of my head clerks." + +I looked askance at the dark corner, and I then scanned the faces of the +occupants of the other seats. I could say nothing likely to please Mr +Butterfield, and I therefore kept silence. + +"You will begin work on Monday. Now go back to your aunt, who wishes to +have you with her for the present." + +I longed to say, "I thought, sir, you were going to talk to my aunt +about my going to sea;" but before I could speak, Mr Butterfield, +turning round, walked into his private office and left me standing by +myself and looking, I felt, very foolish. As I did not wish to undergo +a long inspection from the younger clerks, who were peering at me from +over the desks, I passed out, breathing more freely when I found myself +in the open street. + +Of course I ought to have returned home; but instead of that I made my +way down to the docks to amuse myself as before, by looking at the +vessels. I was not long in finding out the "Emu." She was now +considerably lower in the water, having apparently got most of her cargo +on board, although there were still some bales and packages lying +alongside ready to be shipped. I had a great longing to go on board and +try to see the captain, and to ask him if he would take me. I could see +no one, however, whom I could imagine to be the captain; and I +therefore, after walking up and down the quay for some time, and looking +at a number of other vessels, guessed by my hunger that it must be near +luncheon-time, and took my way homewards. On entering the house I met +Aunt Deb, who was coming down into the dining-room, by which I knew that +I was not late. + +"I am glad to find that you are more punctual than usual, Dick," she +said. "You will soon, I hope, become regular in your habits. Follow +the example of so excellent a man as my cousin, Godfrey Butterfield. +You are pleased with your excellent prospects in his office, I hope?" + +To this remark I made no reply, but said, "I thought, Aunt Deb, that Mr +Butterfield was going to speak to you about my wish to go to sea. He +told me that he would do so, and that he would have no difficulty in +getting me on board a ship." + +"Fiddle-de-dee about going to sea!" replied Aunt Deb. "My cousin did +speak to me on the subject, and I told him at once that I would never +consent to your doing so, and that I felt sure your father would not do +so either. What! To throw away the brilliant prospects which through +my means have been opened out to you? What! Desert your family and me, +your affectionate aunt, and the kind friend who so generously consents +to become your patron from the regard he has for me? What! Go and run +all the risks of a turbulent ocean, and perhaps lose your life, and +cause sorrow to those who have an affection for you, merely to gratify +an insane fancy? No, Dick--no! I told my cousin Godfrey Butterfield, +at once, that if he had any regard for me he would never encourage you +in so mad a proceeding; and I begged him, as soon as possible, to give +you employment in his office, so as to turn your mind away from the +silly ideas you have entertained." + +"I'm not at all obliged to you, Aunt Deb, for what you have done," I +said, my choler rising. "It was no idle fancy in my mind, but my fixed +resolution to become a sailor; and a sailor I'll be, notwithstanding +your opposition." + +"Hoity-toity!" exclaimed Aunt Deb, who was not accustomed to be set at +defiance. "You will understand, Dick, that you were placed in my +charge, and must obey my directions; and that I intend you to go into +Mr Butterfield's office, and to work hard there, so that you may do +credit to my recommendation some day, and render support to your family. +In case of your father's death, what would become of you all? I, who +have devoted my life to your family, should have the charge of their +maintenance." + +"Sailors are not beggars, and I should very likely make as much money by +going to sea as by any other means." + +"Fiddle-de-dee," again exclaimed Aunt Deb; "eat your luncheon, and don't +talk nonsense." + +As I was very hungry, I obeyed her, but at first I felt as if the food I +put in my mouth would choke me. Ultimately, however, I was able to get +on as well as usual. Aunt Deb's behaviour to me during the next few +days did not contribute to reconcile me to my proposed lot. She kept me +working at writing and adding up long columns of figures, not failing to +scold me when I made mistakes. I pictured to myself my future dreary +life--to have to sit in a dull office all day, and then to have to come +home with no other society than that of Mr Butterfield and Aunt Deb as +long as she remained at Liverpool. I knew nobody at Liverpool, and did +not see how I was to form any acquaintances of my own. After luncheon, +on Saturday, Aunt Deb, in consideration, she said, of my diligence, +allowed me to go and take a walk by myself, as she felt indisposed to +leave the house. I very naturally wandered down to the docks to have a +look at the "Emu" before she sailed, and to inspect any other vessels +that might take my fancy. I much missed my cutter yacht, as I found +there existed places where I could have sailed her. I had spent some +time in walking about, when I again got back to the quay where the "Emu" +was moored. As I was pacing to and fro, I thought of the high stool in +the dark corner of Mr Butterfield's office; the dreary, dreary days I +was doomed to sit there; the dull, dull evenings in the society of Aunt +Deb and her cousin, and the not more lively Sundays, with attendances at +three services, for Aunt Deb was very strict in this respect. Hapless +fate, with nothing better to expect than a head clerkship. The business +I knew I should detest. Then I thought of the free life on the ocean, +the strange lands I should visit, the curious people I should see, and +the liberty I fancied I should enjoy. + +As I had had a fair education, and knew that I could master navigation, +I expected without difficulty to work my way up till I became an +officer, and then to have the command of such a fine ship myself, just +such a one as the "Emu." But how was I to get to sea? Mr Butterfield +positively refused to obtain an appointment for me without the consent +of Aunt Deb and that of my father, and I was confident such would not be +given. Would the captain take me without further introduction, if I +should offer myself? I had sense enough to know that that was very +unlikely. + +Suddenly the idea seized me, should I stow myself away on board, and not +appear until the ship had sailed out to sea? I had a notion, +notwithstanding, that this would not be a wise proceeding. I should +certainly not be treated as an officer, and should very probably be sent +forward to become a drudge to the crew. Still, what other chance had I +to get to sea? I thought and thought. + +Well, I'll go on board at all events. The blue Peter was flying at the +masthead, besides which there was a board announcing that she would sail +with the morning's tide. It was the custom, in those days especially, +for merchantmen to sail on a Sunday. The stages leading on board had +been removed, with the exception of a single plank to the gangway. My +longing to go on board increasing, I indulged it. None of the crew were +moving about aft. The officers, if any were on board, were, I supposed, +in their cabins. I looked forward, where I saw a few of the crew, who +were preparing for their supper. The cook just then made his appearance +from the caboose with a large bowl containing a smoking mess of some +sort. I had never been below on board ship. I thought I should like to +look round and see what sort of place the hold was. The tackle which +had been used for lowering the cargo was not yet unrove, and hung over +the main hatchway, which had been left open for stowing some goods +which, as it turned out, had not yet arrived. Seeing that no one was +observing me, I seized the rope, and swung myself down till my head +disappeared below the coamings of the hatchway. + +Now at this place space had been left to permit of the lower hold being +reached. The rope I grasped was not as long as I thought it was, and +suddenly the end slipped through my fingers, and down I fell, hurting +myself so much that I was unable to rise. Afraid of calling out for +assistance, I lay there for some time, till the pain increased so much +that I fainted away. When I came to my senses, what was my horror to +find myself in total darkness, and on lifting up my hand as high as I +could reach I discovered that some planks had been placed across the +aperture through which I had fallen, and I was shut in. Though I had +been doubtful about acting the stowaway, here I was, shut up against my +will. Had I carried out the idea which occurred to me, I intended to +have done it in a very different fashion, as I expected to find some +comfortable place where I might obtain air, if not light and access to +the store-room and water-casks. I had no notion of running the risk of +starving myself, having had sufficient experience of the uncomfortable +sensations accompanying inanition when I was shut up in the mill. I had +thought myself very badly off then, but I was now in a much worse +condition, and suffering great pain, and, as far as it appeared to me, +with more than one limb broken. I tried to move, to ascertain whether +this was the case. First I moved one arm, and then another. They were +sound, though they hurt me. Then I tried my right leg, and then my +left. They were certainly unfractured. + +I was doubtful about one of my ankles. It pained me more than any other +part of my body. I drew it up and felt it all over. It was tender to +the touch, but none of the bones appeared to be out of their places. +This examination occupied some time. I did not call out for fear of the +consequences. The pain which had hitherto prevented me thinking about +what would follow now decreased, and I began to consider the awkward +position in which I was placed. I tried to persuade myself that I had +not positively intended to act the part of a stowaway. I could not but +know that I had thought about it, yet I had only gone below for the sake +of seeing the hold of a ship. I could say that when I was discovered, +with a tolerably clear conscience, so I fancied. Should I be +discovered? That was the question. For what I could tell I might be +entombed beneath the cargo and be unable to get out till I was starved +to death. The thought was too dreadful for contemplation, and I tried +to put it from me. I remembered how I had escaped from the old mill and +the way I got out without any one to help me. + +"Perseverance conquers all difficulties," I said to myself as I said +then. My situation in some respects was very similar, only on that +occasion I had expected, on obtaining my freedom, to meet my friends, +and now I should find myself confronted by a rough crew and an irate +captain, who might send me on shore, and, for what I could tell, have me +put into jail if there was time for doing so. I had, at first, no idea +of the size of the place in which I was shut up. I only knew that I +could touch the boards above my head by extending my hand when sitting +upright. I thereby knew that there would not be room for me to stand. +I now crawled about and ascertained that I was in a tolerably wide +place, extending fore and aft and from side to side. I was, in fact, in +the lower hold or bottom of the ship, far, far down beneath a mass of +cargo. How long I had been there was also a mystery to me. I might +have remained in a fainting state only for a few minutes, or hours might +have passed. I knew that I began to feel hungry, though I had had an +ample luncheon--for on Saturdays Mr Butterfield dined early--which +showed that I could not be very much hurt, and that I must have been +some considerable time on board. I had, however, as I intended to stay +out till dark, put a couple of buns, which I had bought at a +pastrycook's, into my pocket. I refrained, as yet, from eating them, +not knowing how long I might have to remain below. I thought that it +must now be night, and as I supposed the crew would be asleep forwards +and the captain and officers aft, they would not hear me, even if I +shouted out at the top of my voice. I therefore concluded that it would +be foolish to exhaust myself uselessly. "I'll wait for daylight, when +they're moving about, and I shall have a better chance of making myself +heard," I thought. + +The place where I lay was dry and clean, though it smelt horribly of tar +and other odours from which the hold of a vessel is seldom free, and was +besides disagreeably close. After a considerable period had elapsed, +and when the pain had much gone off, a drowsiness stole over me, and +having got into a comfortable position, I fell fast asleep. I think I +must have awoke at intervals, for I remember hearing a curious rippling +sound beneath me. It must have had a lulling effect, for I dropped off +again. + +The next time I woke I heard not only a rippling sound, but a dashing of +water against the sides, and presently the ship began to pitch slowly +and gently. The idea at once occurred to me that I must be at sea. If +so, it was where I had long wished to be, though the circumstances +accompanying my entrance into a naval life differed greatly from such as +I had intended them to be. Could it then be daylight?--if so, I had +been much longer below than I had calculated on. The ship, I +remembered, was to sail with the morning tide. That might have meant +one or two o'clock, for how the tides ran I didn't know. There must +have been time, at all events, for her to get away from the wharf, and +to descend the Mersey. In that case the day must now be well advanced. +Probably, I thought, the ship has had a fair wind, and with a favourable +tide must have got rapidly along. I could not sing:-- + + "I'm on the sea, I'm on the sea, + I am where I would ever be; + With the blue above, and the blue below, + In silence wheresoe'er I go." + +Silence there certainly was, but instead of the blue above and the blue +below, there was pitchy darkness. The long sleep and the perfect rest +had taken away all the pain which I had at first felt, except an +uncomfortable sensation in one of my ankles. + +When I was fairly aroused I again began to feel very hungry, so I ate +one of my buns. I could have bolted the other, but I was becoming +wonderfully prudent, and I knew that if I did so I might have nothing +else to eat. All this time I had remained perfectly silent, for the +reasons I have before given. I had become accustomed to the atmosphere, +and I suppose that some fresh air must have come through some unseen +apertures which enabled me to breathe without difficulty. It was +sufficiently close, however, to make me feel drowsy, and having eaten +the bun, I again dropped off to sleep. + +I awoke with a horrible nausea, such as I had never before experienced. +The sensations I experienced in the old vault were nothing to it. The +air there, as I mentioned, was perfectly pure, besides which I was then +upon solid ground; now I felt an unpleasant movement, sometimes a sort +of plunging forward, then a rise and fall, and then a rolling from side +to side, though being close to the keel I didn't experience this so much +as if I had been on deck. It was quite sufficient, however, to make me +feel terribly sick. + +Oh how wretched I was! Didn't I repent of having gone down into the +hold. I would ten thousand times sooner have been perched on the +highest stool in the darkest corner of Mr Butterfield's counting-house +than have been where I was. I was too miserable to cry out. I only +wished that the ship would strike a rock and go down, and thus terminate +my misery. + +I need not describe what happened. For hours I was prostrate; but at +length the feeling of sickness wore off, and I again became not only +hungry but thirsty in the extreme. I would have given anything for a +draught of water; but how was I to obtain it. One thing I felt was, +that if I could not I should die. Though I was hungry I could not +masticate the smallest portion of my bun, but I tried to arouse myself +and began once more to move about. As I did so my hand came in contact +with what appeared to be a large cask. I felt it all over. Yes, I was +certain of it. It must be one of the ship's water-casks stowed in the +lower tier. + +I thought I might possibly find some outlet through which I might make +my way into the upper part of the ship, but none could I discover. I +was, in reality, right down on the kelson, though I didn't know what it +was called at the time. It is just above the keel, the object of it +being to strengthen the vessel lengthways, and to confine the floors in +their proper position. It is placed above the cross-pieces and +half-floors, and a bolt is driven right through all into the main keel. +The half-floors, it must be understood, are not united in the centre, +but longitudinally on either side. + +Of course I was not aware of this at the time. All that I knew was, +that I was down in the bottom of the ship in a horrible dark confined +space, where I should be starved to death or suffocated could I not find +some way out. Again and again I made the attempt, but in every +direction met with obstructions. Stretching out my arms, I found I +could touch each side of my prison. + +Resolute as I had hitherto been, I at length gave way to despair, and +shrieked and shouted for help. I bawled till my voice was hoarse and my +strength exhausted; then I sat down in a state of apathy, resigned to my +fate. But the love of life soon returned. I got up and crawled to the +further end of my prison-house, where I met with some stout boarding +which effectually prevented my further progress. After this I turned +round and crawled to the other end along the kelson, but was stopped by +a strong bulkhead. + +Once more I stopped to listen, half expecting to hear the sailors making +their way down to the hold to ascertain whence my shouts and cries +proceeded, but no sound except the creaking of the bulkheads reached my +ears. "I won't give in yet," I said to myself; "perhaps the crew are on +deck or in the fore part of the ship, and the officers in their cabins, +and my voice could not reach them; but somebody must, before long, be +coming into the hold, and then, if I shout at the top of my voice, I +cannot fail to be heard." + +The question, however, was, when would any one come down? I had no +means of ascertaining, though the steward must be getting up provisions, +or the boatswain or carpenter stores from their store-room, and yet no +sound might reach me, or perhaps my voice might not penetrate as far as +where they were at work. Still, there was nothing like trying. Placing +my hands to my sides, I shouted out, "Help, help! I'm shut up below. I +shall die if you don't let me out. Oh, do come, sailors. Don't you +hear me? Help! Help! Help!" + +Then I gave way to a loud roar of agony and despair. After this I +stopped for a few minutes listening as before, then putting my hands to +my mouth, as if by so doing I should increase the loudness of my voice, +I shouted with all the strength of my lungs. Suddenly the idea occurred +to me that the sailors would hear my voice, but not knowing whence it +proceeded would fancy the ship was haunted and would be in a dreadful +fright. Strange as it may seem the thought amused me, and I gave way to +an hysterical laugh. "Now I'll warrant not one of them will like to +come below on account of the supposed ghost. They will be spinning all +sorts of yarns to each other about hobgoblins appearing on board." Old +Riddle had spun several such yarns, and they came to my recollection. +One was about a boy named Sam Smitch. Sam was the dirtiest fellow on +board, and could never understand what cleanliness meant. He was +constantly, therefore, being punished. That didn't mend his ways, and +he was a nuisance to all the crew, who, of course, gave him a frequent +taste of the rope's-end and bullied him in all sorts of ways. At last +Sam declared that he would jump overboard and end his misery. The men +laughed at him, and said that he hadn't the courage to do it. + +"Haven't I?" said Sam, "you'll see that I'll do it, and my blood will be +upon your heads." + +Still none would believe that Sam would do away with himself, till one +morning his jacket and hat were found in the head, and when the ship's +company was mustered at divisions, Sam didn't answer to his name. He +was searched for everywhere, but could not be discovered, and at length +it became very evident to all that Sam must have put his threat into +execution and thrown himself overboard during the night. Whether any of +the men recollected that it was their cruelty that had driven him to +this act of desperation I can't say, but probably it didn't much trouble +their consciences; they only considered he was a fool for his pains. +Two or three days passed away, when Sam Smitch was well-nigh forgotten. + +One night, however, one of the carpenter's crew was going along the +lower-deck, when he saw a figure in white gliding past him in the +distance. The figure for a moment turned its head, when, as the light +of the lantern fell on it, he recognised the face of Sam Smitch. It was +more than his nerves could stand, and he bolted like a shot up the +ladder. Night after night some one of the crew had a similar occurrence +to relate, till one and all were convinced that the ship was haunted by +Sam Smitch's ghost. At last the men, gallant fellows as they were, were +afraid to go below even when sent on duty. Many of them swore that even +when in their hammocks they had seen Sam Smitch's ghost gliding +noiselessly about the deck. The whole crew were in a very nervous +state, and many were actually placed on the sick list by the doctor. At +last the circumstance reached the ear of the purser, who happened not to +be a believer in ghosts. + +"Whew!" he exclaimed, when he heard it; "that accounts for the +mysterious disappearance of some of my stores." + +He informed the first lieutenant, who placed a watch in the +neighbourhood where the ghost had appeared. The next night, in bodily +form, the ghost of Sam Smitch was captured, dirtier than ever, but yet +fat and sleek, though rather pallid. Not, however, till he was brought +on deck, to be well scrubbed under the superintendence of the master at +arms, were the crew convinced that the ghost was no ghost at all, but +that dirty Sam, fool as he was, had been bamboozling them effectually, +while he enjoyed his ease and plenty to eat below with nothing to do. + +It is curious that this yarn should have occurred to me, but I suppose +it did so from my case being somewhat similar to that of Sam Smitch, +only he had voluntarily stowed himself away and had plenty to eat, while +I was shut up against my will without a particle of food, except the +buns I had in my pockets. It served also to draw me for a few minutes +from the thoughts of my own misfortunes. The exertion of shouting +increased the thirst I had already begun to feel. I was at the same +time very hungry, but when I again tried to eat a piece of my remaining +bun I could not get down the mouthful. I became rapidly more and more +thirsty. The sea-sickness had worn off, but I felt more thoroughly +uncomfortable in my inside than I had ever before done in my life. If +any of my readers have at any time suffered from thirst, they will +understand my sensations better than I can describe them. My mouth and +throat felt like a dust-bin, and my tongue like the end of a burnt +stick. I moved my mouth about in every possible way to try and produce +some saliva, but so dry were my lips that they only cracked in the +attempt. + +I had scarcely hitherto believed that I should die, but now so terrible +were my sensations that I didn't expect to live many hours unless I +should be released. I thought over my past life. The numberless wrong +and foolish things I had done came back to my recollection, while not a +single good deed of any sort occurred to me. I thought of how often I +had vexed my father and mother, how impudent I had been to Aunt Deb, how +frequently unkind and disagreeable to my brothers and sisters. I tried +to be very sorry for everything, but all the time I was conscious that I +was not as sorry as I ought to have been. + +Exhausted by my efforts as well as by my hunger and thirst, I lay +stretched upon the kelson till I had, I suppose, somewhat recovered. +Once more I said to myself, "It will not do to give in; out of this I +must get." I managed again to get on my feet, feeling about in all +directions. As I was doing so my hands touched what appeared to me like +the side of a large cask. I was certain of it. I could make out the +hoops which went round the cask, and the intervening spaces. Suddenly +it occurred to me that it was one of the water-casks of the ship stowed +in the lower tier. I put my ear to it, and as the ship rolled I could +hear the water move about. I felt, however, very much like the fellow I +had read about at school, who was placed when dying of thirst in the +midst of water which remained up to his chin, but into which he could +never get his mouth. Here was the water, but how I was to reach it was +the question. + +I felt about in the hope that some moisture might be coming through; +even a few drops would help to cool my parched tongue, though I could +have drunk a gallon without stopping, but the cask was strong and +perfectly dry outside. I considered whether it would be possible to +knock a hole in the cask, but I had no instrument for the purpose, and +should not have had strength to use it even if I had found it. It was +indeed tantalising to hear the water washing to and fro, and yet not be +able to obtain a drop. By chance I happened to put my hands in my +pockets, which always contained a knife, bits of string, and all sorts +of things. Suddenly I recollected that I had been making a stand for my +cutter before she was stolen, and that I had had a gimlet to bore holes +in the wood. To my joy I found that I had fixed a cork on the end of it +and had thrust it into my pocket. There it was. I might, by boring a +hole in the cask, reach the water. How anxiously I clutched the gimlet. +How fearful I was that in attempting to bore a hole I might break it. +Feeling as far as I could judge for the centre of the cask, I began +boring a hole, using the greatest care. At length the gimlet went right +through. As I drew it forth I put it to my mouth. It was wet. How +deliciously cool it felt. I then applied my mouth to the hole, but +bitter was my disappointment when no water came out. I sucked and +sucked at the hole, and then I blew into it, but with no satisfactory +result. + +I was again almost driven to despair. I tried the hole with the gimlet. +It passed through it, and the iron was again wet. "What a fool!" I +exclaimed, just then recollecting that to get liquor out of a cask two +holes are necessary, the one to serve as a vent-hole to let in the air +and the other to let out the liquid. I accordingly set to work and +began boring a hole as high as I could reach above the former one. I +soon accomplished my task, and as the air rushed in the water from the +lower hole rushed out. I eagerly applied my mouth to it and sucked and +sucked away until I was almost choked. Still I didn't feel as if I had +had enough. + +How delicious was the sensation as it wetted my lips, moistened my +mouth, and flowed down my parched throat. I felt very much like a +pitcher being filled at a fountain. The hole was small, so that only a +thin stream came out. It was fortunate for me that it was no larger, or +I believe that I should have killed myself by over-drinking. Not until +I had withdrawn my mouth did I recollect that I must find some means of +stopping the flow of water. Feeling in my pocket, I found some pieces +of wood, one of which I thought I could form into a plug. In doing so I +nearly cut my fingers. + +After a time I succeeded, and shutting up my knife, I knocked the plug I +had made in with the handle. The vent-hole was not so important to +stop, so I let it alone. I was now able to eat my remaining bun, though +I recollected that it was the last article of food I possessed. I +afterwards took another pull at the water-cask. I had no longer any +fear of suffering from thirst, which was some comfort, but I had serious +apprehensions about the means of obtaining food, should I fail to make +my escape from my prison. I was, however, wonderfully hopeful. I +remembered how I had fed myself on the musty flour in the old mill. I +kept up my spirits, in the hopes of finding something to eat among the +cargo. I was aware that few edibles were exported from England, our +teeming population consuming the whole produce of the country, and as +much more as they can get. + +I could not tell all this time whether it was night or day, as I had no +means of calculating how long I had been in the ship's hold. Had I been +told that a week or more had passed, I should not have been surprised, +the time appeared to me so long. I now began to feel excessively +sleepy, and creeping about until I discovered where the planks, if not +soft, were less rough than in other parts, I lay down, and in a few +seconds was fast asleep. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + + Dreamland--A vision of home--Strange proceedings of my brother Ned-- + Roughish weather--I make a slight progress--A ray of light--The + cargo--The wooden case--A disappointment--In darkness again--A welcome + draught--My bed--My slumbers interrupted by ugly visitors--I determine + to catch some rats--My further efforts at escape--My ill-success--My + conscience troubles me, but I succeed in quieting it--My visions-- + Tantalising Aunt Deb and Mr Butterfield--The conference of the rats-- + Their opinion of mankind--Their grievances and proposed remedies--A + sneeze and its effects. + +My slumbers were far from tranquil. I think, indeed, that sometimes I +must have been half awake, for I was convinced that creatures were +running over me; but when I put my hand out they escaped. Then I began +to dream, and I fancied I was at home again in my own room. How I got +there I could not tell. + +Suddenly my brother jumped out of bed, and began scrambling about the +room, overturning the chairs and table, and then got behind the chest of +drawers, and sent them down with a loud crash to the ground, laughing +heartily as he did so. It was very unlike his mode of proceeding, as he +was the quietest and best conducted member of the family. When he got +tired of this sort of amusement he began pulling the bed about, and +lifting it from side to side. + +Naturally I expected to be tumbled out. I begged him to let me alone, +as I had gone through a great deal of fatigue, and wished to be quiet. +But he would not listen to me, and only shook the bed more violently +than before. Losing patience, I was going to jump up and seize him, +when I awoke. + +I found that the movement was real, for the ship was rolling and +pitching more heavily than she had before done, and I could hear the +bulkheads creaking, and the timbers complaining, and the heels of the +mast working, and the dull sound of the water dashing against the sides +of the ship. There was still less chance than ever of being heard +should I again shout out, so I refrained from exhausting my strength by +the exercise of my voice. So much did the stout ship tumble about that +I could not attempt to make another exploring expedition. I therefore +lay still, waiting till the ship would again be quiet. I didn't know +then that a storm sometimes lasts for days, and that I might be starved +to death before it was over. Though the bun and draught of cold water +had somewhat satisfied my appetite, I again began to feel hungry, though +not so hungry as I might have been without them. Having nothing to eat, +I went off again to sleep. + +When I once more roused up I began to think of the astonishment and +alarm my disappearance would cause to Aunt Deb and Mr Butterfield. +Would they have any suspicion of what had become of me? Perhaps they +would fancy that I had fallen off the quay into the river; but then Aunt +Deb would most likely insinuate that such was not to be my case. I +confess that any anxiety she might feel didn't trouble me, but I +regretted the anxiety my disappearance would cause my parents, and +brothers and sisters at home. However I could not help it, so I put the +thought from me. Hunger at last induced me to make another attempt to +escape, in spite of the way the ship was tumbling about. I fancied that +one of the bulkheads against which I had come was not so stout and +strong as the others. I thought I would try and force my way through, +but with only my hands how was that to be done. + +Whilst creeping about I shoved my legs or arms into any opening I came +across. In doing so I kicked against some object which moved. I worked +my foot on till I came to the end of it, and then contrived to draw from +under one of the casks what proved to be a handspike, which had probably +on some occasion dropped down into the hold. I can't express the +satisfaction the possession of this instrument gave me. I felt it all +over, and tried its strength by a blow on the kelson, for at first I was +afraid it might be rotten. It proved sound. Armed with it I returned +to the bulkhead, against which I determined to make my attack. Standing +as firmly as I could, I dealt blow after blow as high up as I was able +to reach. + +I suspected that had it not been for the noises which were constantly +issuing from all parts of the ship the sound of my blows would have been +heard. At last, to my joy, I felt something give way. This encouraged +me to proceed. On feeling with my hands I found that I was working +against a small upright door, which opened, I concluded, into another +part of the hold. I redoubled my efforts, and getting in the handspike +worked away till the door yielded still more. This further encouraged +me to proceed, but the operation took me a long time. Occasionally no +progress was made, but, like the dropping of water on a hard rock, +ultimately prevailed. + +Now one nail was drawn, now another, and I was sure that the door was +giving way. A strong man would with one or two wrenches have forced it +open. Weak as I was for want of food, it now seems surprising to me +that my exertions should have produced any effect. I had begun at the +top. By working the handspike lower and lower down I by degrees tore +away the door, or as I may more properly say the panel, as there were no +hinges that I could discover. I was exerting all my strength in another +effort when it gave way, and down I fell with my head almost through the +aperture I had made. A faint light which came down from an opening +far-away revealed the sort of place I was in. Had I not been so long +accustomed to darkness I don't think that its strength would have been +sufficient for me to discover the objects around. I made out several +bales, cases, and packages, stowed tightly together; but still I failed +to see any outlet. + +After recovering from my fall, by which I was somewhat hurt, I crept +out, endeavouring to move some of the huge packages; but I did so in +vain. I tried one and then another, but they did not yield to the +utmost efforts I could make. Though I could not move the packages, I +determined to try if any of them contained something edible. I first +felt the packages. I was convinced they were bales of canvas or loose +cloth. At last I came upon a wooden case. This I hoped might prove to +be full of biscuits or hams. I accordingly got out my knife, expecting +by patience to make a hole sufficiently large to admit my hand. As I +was completely in the dark I had to be very cautious not to cut myself +or break my knife, an accident which I knew was very likely to occur, I +cut out, therefore, only a small piece at a time. Then I felt with my +left hand to ascertain how I had got on. The case was very thick, and +it must have taken me a couple of hours or more before I could make a +hole an inch square. Even then I was not through it. I cut and cut +away, till to my satisfaction my knife went through. I now made fast +progress, and before long, as I ran in the blade it struck against a +hard substance. Still I went on, and at last found to my bitter regret +that the case contained iron goods of some sort. In spite of all the +care I had taken I had much blunted my knife, and I was afraid I might +not be able to make a hole in any other case I might find. I was ready +to cry with vexation, but it would be of no use to do that, so I shut up +my knife until I could discover some promising package to attack. I +felt about in vain for another case. By this time the faint light I had +observed had faded away, and I thus knew that evening had come on. I +had had only two buns all this time. Unless I could get some food I +fancied that I must die. Though I had nothing to eat I had plenty to +drink, and to refresh myself I returned to the part of the ship out of +which I had clambered. I soon discovered the water-cask, to which, +pulling out the plug, I eagerly applied my mouth. The huge draught of +water I swallowed greatly refreshed me, and prevented me feeling the +pangs of hunger. I now went back once more to that part of the hold to +which I had just gained access. + +Feeling about, I came upon a piece of canvas, and I thought to myself +that it would somewhat add to my comfort could I make use of it to sleep +on. I dragged it out, and found that it was of sufficient size for my +purpose. + +The exertions I had made had greatly exhausted my strength. I should +have lain down on the packages, but when I felt about I found that they +would not form an easy couch. There was no room to stretch myself, and +they were secured by hard ropes. Besides this I thought it possible +that from the working of the ship some of them might slip out of their +places, and come down upon me. I therefore dragged the piece of canvas +into the lower part of the hold, and, stretching it under one of the +water-casks, lay down to rest, intending before long to be up again and +at work. + +I quickly dropped off to sleep, but was soon awakened by feeling some +creatures crawling over me. That they were rats I could have no doubt, +from their weight and the loud thud they made as they jumped off and on +the kelson. I lay perfectly quiet. Now I felt a fellow running up my +leg--now scrambling over my body. But the rogues did not venture near +my hands, their instinct telling them that they would have their necks +wrung if they did so. My object was to catch one or two of them, and, +disgusting as the idea would have been at any other time, I determined +if I could to get hold of one forthwith to eat him. + +I had often grumbled at home of having on a Monday morning to consume +the dry bread which had remained over from the previous week. This +system had commenced on the arrival of Aunt Deb, who would not allow a +scrap of food to be lost, and she therefore persuaded my mother to give +up the hot rolls which we previously had for breakfast on that day. It +was the first of the many reforms introduced by our respected aunt which +didn't endear her to us. + +The rats continued their gambols. Now I felt a fellow perched on my +leg--now he would run along my arm, and before I could lift up my hand +he was off again. I kept my feet covered up in the canvas, for I had no +wish to have them nibbling at my toes. Somehow or other none of them +came near my face, or I should certainly have caught one. + +At length I jumped up determined to make chase, but the moment I moved +they were off in all directions. Perhaps they thought they had a hungry +enemy to deal with. I felt about everywhere, thinking I might find one +of them stowed away under a cask, or in some hole or corner, but they +had gone off, like imps of darkness as they were, at sunrise. + +I wished more than ever for light. I thought that I could then +infinitely better have endured my confinement. + +Fortunately for me, the ship must have been well cleaned out before the +cargo was taken on board; and as she was as tight as a bottle, there was +no bilge-water in her. Had there been, I could not have existed so long +far down in the depths of her hold. + +The chase after the rats had aroused me, and I felt less inclination +than before to sleep, so I got up, resolved to have another search for +food of some sort. I was not very particular. A pound of tallow +candles would have been welcome as a meal. I did not stop to consider +whether I could have digested them. They would at all events have +allayed the gnawing of hunger. I remembered reading of people suffering +from hunger when navigating the ocean in open boats, and how much a +flying-fish, or a booby, or a lump of rancid grease, had contributed to +keep body and soul together. But neither booby nor flying-fish could I +possibly obtain. I tried to think of all the various articles with +which the ship was likely to be freighted. During my numerous visits to +the quay alongside which she had been moored, I had had the curiosity to +try and ascertain the contents of the packages about being hoisted on +board. I had in some places observed large packages of raisins, dried +figs, and hams, and kegs of butter, and dried fish, but they were being +landed. I had, however, seen no things of the same description +alongside the "Emu." + +Still, unless I searched I was sure not to find; so, again crawling +through the opening I had made, I once more began to feel my way about, +and to try every package I could reach. + +The cases I felt were all rough and strong. The packages were covered +with a stout material, showing the nature of the goods within. Again I +tried to move some of them so that I might make my way onwards, but I +found as before that they were all firmly jammed in their proper +positions. It was difficult to divine how the space I had got into had +been left vacant. + +I might have spent two or three hours in the search, for of course I was +obliged to move slowly and with the greatest caution to avoid knocking +my head against any object, or falling down again and injuring myself. +I no longer felt any pain from my sprained ankle. The enforced rest I +had given it had contributed to restore it to use. + +How little those on deck supposed that a human being was creeping about +so far down beneath their feet. + +Before I gave in I tried another case, which seemed more promising than +any of those I had hitherto discovered. I got out my knife. I carved +and cut, feeling each little chip as I got it off; the case was of soft +deal, so that I had no great difficulty in cutting it, but I did so +without much hope of reaching food after all, and began to feel that I +should have to fall back on raw rat for supper. That was if I could +manage to catch the said rat. As before, I was disappointed. I got +into the case, but could only feel a mass of hay serving to pack china +or crockeryware of some sort. I had had hopes of success, and I could +not help feeling much disappointed. + +The desire of sleep, which I had for some time thrown off, returned, and +I crept back to the spot which I had selected for my couch. I wrapt +myself up in the canvas, taking care to guard my feet, and putting one +hand over my nose, and the other under me, so that the rats should not +be able to nibble any of my extremities, which I thought it likely they +would try to do. I hoped, however, that if they made the attempt I +should be more successful in catching one. + +For some time hunger prevented me from going to sleep. Again I thought +over my past life--my childhood's days--the time I spent at school--my +various companions--my chums and enemies--the tricks I had played--the +canings and floggings I had received--for instruction at that period was +imparted with a much larger proportion of the _fortiter in re_ than of +the _suaviter in modo_. I used then to wish heartily to get away from +school, but now I would very gladly have found myself back there again, +even with the floggings in prospect, provided I could be sure of an +ample breakfast, even though that breakfast might have consisted of +larded bread and sugarless tea. Though I had often had quarrels with my +brothers and sisters, I would willingly have entered into a compact +never to quarrel again. I would gladly have endured one of the longest +lectures Aunt Deb had ever given me, repeated ten times over, always +provided I was sure of obtaining a lump of bread and cheese after it. I +would thankfully have listened to the driest of some of my father's dry +sermons, with the expectation of obtaining a cold dinner on my return +home from church. But I knew that regrets were unavailing, and that as +I had made my bed so I must lie in it. + +I thought and thought till my thoughts became confused. + +The sound of voices struck on my ear. People were talking in whispers +all round me, but I could not distinguish what they said. Then even the +consciousness of where I was faded from me, and I was fast asleep. Even +when I was sleeping I still suffered the painful sensations of hunger. +I was tantalised by seeing in my dreams tables spread out, sometimes for +breakfast, and at others for dinner or supper. My brothers and sisters +were seated round them, laughing and talking merrily, and eating the +good things with excellent appetite. Once Mr Butterfield brought me a +bowl of turtle-soup, and assuring me of its excellence, ladled it into +his mouth before my eyes, and then disappeared with a hop, skip, and a +jump. + +In the same way Aunt Deb appeared with a plate of crumpets, her +favourite dish, and swallowed them one after the other, making eyes at +me all the time they vanished down her throat. This done, she went off +waltzing round and round the room, till she popped up the chimney. I +cannot now remember one-tenth of the sensations which presented +themselves to my imagination, showing, as I opine, that the stomach is +in intimate connexion with the brain. Among others, by-the-bye, I +fancied I was wandering about the streets of Liverpool, looking into +cookshops and eating-houses, where people were engaged devouring food, +which they in the most provoking manner held up to me on the ends of +their forks, and instead of allowing me to take it, put it down their +own throats. + +Again all was a blank. Silence reigned around; when suddenly a faint +light streamed across the space before me, and I saw armies of rats +tripping from all directions and assembling not five feet from my nose. +Over the casks and bales and packages they streamed in countless +numbers, whisking their tails, leaping and tumbling over each other; +some making somersaults, others playing at leapfrog. Numbers climbed up +from beneath the kelson; some came from the fore part of the ship, +others from aft. "Why, she must be perfectly overrun with the brutes," +I thought. "I wonder how any human being can exist on board. It's +surprising that they should never molest me." They were merry fellows. +I could not help laughing at the curious antics they played. + +Presently I heard a voice shout "Silence!" A buck rat had seated +himself on the top of a plank, which I had not before observed. Much to +my surprise he held a note-book in his hand, and opening it began to +read. He was too keen-sighted, I suppose, to require spectacles, though +how he managed to see in that light I could not tell. + +"Silence!" he again cried; and he then shouted at the top of his voice, +which was somewhat squeaky for an orator, "Friends, Romans, +countrymen,--Lend me your ears." + +I thought this a very odd way for a rat to commence an oration. As he +spoke, all the rats, cocking up their ears, sat on their tails--some on +the tops of the casks, others round and below me. + +"Thank you for the attention you seem inclined to pay me, brother rats," +he continued. "I wish to impress on your minds the serious fact that +we, as a race, have been maligned, abused, hunted, and ill-treated in +all varieties of ways. We have had traps set for us, and although we +are not often caught in them, it serves to exhibit the malice of our +enemies. Adding insult to injury, they have, as I have only lately +discovered, designated us in one of their popular dictionaries as +troublesome vermin of the mouse kind. Why should they not have +described us as rodents of graceful form, endowed with wonderful +sagacity and activity to which the smaller animal called the mouse is +allied? These human beings have also the audacity to malign our +character, to insinuate that we are fickle and undependable, besides +being fierce and savage. Thus, when one of their own race changes +sides, they say that the wretched biped has `ratted,' Not content with +abusing us, they make savage war against our race by every cruel mode +they can devise. They chase us with cats and dogs. Not that we care +much for the cats, who seldom venture into our haunts; but those horrid, +keen-scented terriers, are, it must be confessed, justly to be dreaded. +Still more so are those cunning little ferrets which insinuate +themselves into our abodes. The hatred of our enemies is exhibited in +their use. Nowhere are we safe from them. They make their way through +the narrowest crevices, dive down to the lowest depths we can reach, +disturb our domestic happiness, watch for us on our hunting expeditions, +and rout us out of our securest strongholds. This fearful persecution +is originated, aided, and abetted by our malignant persecutors, who, +besides the traps I have already spoken of, even attempt our destruction +by mixing poison in the food they leave in our way. We have only the +melancholy satisfaction of creeping beneath the boardings of their +rooms, there to die, and to allow our decaying bodies to fill the air +with noxious odours. Friends, Romans, countrymen," he went on, +repeating his former curious style of address, "we have met to devise +means to assert our rights among created beings, and to revenge +ourselves for the injuries we have for so many centuries of the world's +history suffered. We are now decidedly in the majority on board this +ship. We hold possession of her chief strongholds. Her captain, +officers, and crew exist only on sufferance; so then, brother rats and +sister rats, young and old, as it is our glorious privilege to belong to +a free republic, express your opinions without fear. It is my business +to note and record them." + +Directly the speaker ceased, even for a moment, the rats began frisking +and whisking about, biting at one another's tails and leaping over one +another, till he again shouted "Silence!" + +"Has no one any opinion to offer?" he asked. + +On this a grave-looking rat from the top of a cask answered, "Yes, I +have an idea, which I'll propound as soon as those frolicsome young +fellows at the bottom of the hold will keep quiet." + +On this the president again cried out, "Be quiet, you young rascals, or +I'll singe your whiskers. Now, Brother Snout, let us hear what your +idea happens to be," he said, turning to the rat on the top of the cask. + +The last-mentioned rat accordingly spoke, curiously using the same +expressions as the former one had done. "Friends, Romans, countrymen: +we are resolved on revenge. Revenge is sweet. Is it not so?" + +To which all the rats, in chorus, shouted out "Yes, yes." + +"But the mode in which we shall execute our vengeance is the question. +Now I have an idea--a bright idea. I propose that we should sharpen our +teeth, and having sharpened them, that we should begin to gnaw a hole in +the bottom of this ship. We can make our way, as we know by experience, +through the stoutest cases. Why should we not do so through whole +planks? `Perseverance conquers all difficulties.' It will undoubtedly +take time, but if we all work together and with a will we may bore not +only one hole, but a thousand holes, when to a certainty the water will +rush in and carry the captain, officers, and crew, our cruel tyrants, to +the bottom, and our vengeance will be complete. So, brother rats, is +not mine a bright idea, a grand idea, a superb idea? Who will second +me?" + +There was silence. When a grey-headed rat from the further end of the +platform, lifting himself up, rose in his eagerness not only on his legs +but on his tail, and said-- + +"Brethren and sisters. Has it not occurred to you that when we have +succeeded--should we be so foolish as to make the attempt--in cutting +holes through the ship's bottom, we ourselves should be involved in the +same catastrophe as the captain, officers, and crew? When the water +rushes in, what will become of us? Why, we should be whirled round and +round, and to a certainty become the first victims, perhaps the only +ones, for there are boats on deck by which the captain, officers, and +crew may make their escape, if they don't happen to be loaded up with +all sorts of lumber so that they can't be cleared in time." + +"Ah, but I have a resource for that. Let us first nibble holes in the +boats; it will be good practice, and we should succeed in the course of +the night in effecting our purpose," exclaimed the previous speaker. + +"Brother Snout, with all due deference to your opinion, you are talking +nonsense," said the grey-headed orator. "To my certain knowledge there +are two dogs on board--one a Newfoundland, the other a terrier; I don't +much care for the big fellow, but the terrier would be at us, let the +night be ever so dark, and a good many of our race would lose the number +of their mess. Let me observe, in the politest way possible, that your +plan is not worth the snuff of a candle." + +The orator on the top of the cask was thus effectually shut up. + +"Has no one else an opinion to give?" asked the president. + +"I have," exclaimed a ferocious-looking rat with long whiskers, which he +twirled vigorously as he sat upright. "I propose that we marshal our +forces, one division to march aft to the captain and officers, and the +other to the part where the crew are berthed. That at a given signal we +set upon them and let the blood out of their jugulars. We shall thus +gain the mastery of the ship, and be able to enjoy unlimited freedom." + +"General Whiskerandos, your remarks savour very much of war, but pardon +me remarking, very little of wisdom," remarked the aged orator. "You +have omitted to mention several important matters. In the first place, +let me observe that the crew of a ship never sleep all at one time. +Supposing a complete victory were gained over those below, the rest +would discover the cause of their death, and would wage ruthless war +against us. And what about the terrier? He sleeps at the door of the +captain's cabin. He would not be idle, depend on that. He would be +delighted to encounter our leading column. It would be rare fun to him, +but a disastrous circumstance for us. Let me advise you, Brother +Whiskerandos, that your idea is a foolish one. Suppose just for one +moment that we should succeed, and that we should put to death every +human being on board, what would become of the ship? She would float +about unless dashed on the rocks by a hurricane till, her timbers and +planks rotting, the water would rush in and she would go to the bottom." + +"That suggestion seems to be disposed of. Is it not?" asked the +president. + +"I have a proposal to make," exclaimed an aldermanic old rat, sitting up +on the top of a chest. "I suggest a course of proceeding which cannot +fail of success, and will, at the same time, be pleasant and agreeable +to ourselves. We will sally forth and eat up all the provisions in the +ship, cut holes in the water-casks and let out all the water. We will +commence at the bottom, working our way upwards, so that we shall not +run the risk of having our proceedings discovered. What we can't eat we +will destroy, so that those wretched mortals triumphing in their +strength and intelligence will be deprived of the means of sustaining +life, and must succumb before long to inevitable death; and we whom they +have despised and ill-treated will gain possession of the ship and be +our own masters, and sail in whatever direction we may please. The +kingdom will be our own. We shall be lords of all we survey, and there +will be no one to interfere with our proceedings." + +"What about Nero and Pincher?" asked a small rat with a squeaky voice. +"What will become of them, Brother Doublechops?" + +"When provisions run short they will to a certainty be killed and eaten +by the bipeds," answered the stout orator. "I shall watch for the +result with intense interest, and have made up my mind to have a nibble +at their livers and other bits of their insides. It will afford me +intense satisfaction to eat a portion of those who have destroyed if not +devoured so many of our race." + +"Oh! Brother Doublechops, oh! Brother Doublechops you are talking +nonsense," said the aged orator, who was evidently one of the most +influential rats of the assembly. "If, as I before observed, we were to +kill the captain, officers, and crew, what's to become of the ship +without any one to navigate her? She can't steer a course for harbour, +and would remain tossed by the waves and blown about by the winds till +she met the fate I before described, and went down to the bottom, +carrying us with her." + +"Has no one a further proposal to make?" inquired the president. + +Nobody answered; even the squeaky voice of the little rat, who looked as +if he had no end of suggestions to offer, was silent. A murmur of +rattish voices filled the air. + +"Friends, Romans, citizens, again I ask you all to lend me your ears," +exclaimed the president, at which all the rats put on a look of profound +attention. "You have heard the proposals offered as well as the answers +made to them. To me, speaking with due deference to the opinion of +others, the proposals appear to be the most insane, foolish, and +impracticable that could have been devised by rattish brains. Here we +are, cut off from all connexion with the dry land and the whole race of +rats. It is very clear that we can't navigate this ship into harbour by +ourselves. If we sink her we ensure our own destruction. If we kill +the captain, officers, and crew by any of the means hinted at, we are +equally certain ultimately to suffer. Here we are, and here inexorable +fate dooms us to remain till we once more get alongside the shore and a +plank from the ship enables us during the dark hours of night to effect +our escape. Let us, therefore, like wise rats, in the meantime, be +content with our condition, and enjoy at our ease the provisions with +which the ship is stored." + +"Granted, Mr President, that your remarks are correct," exclaimed +Whiskerandos, who had before spoken, "I have still an idea which has +long been hatching in my brain. I suggest that we wait until the ship +reaches port and is moored securely alongside, when we will attack her +planks both tooth and nail, and by boring holes in her bottom let in the +water and make our escape." + +Loud cheers followed this suggestion. No one waited to hear what the +president said. It was sufficiently encouraging to suit the minds of +the most fiercely disposed, while the more timid were pleased with it as +it indefinitely put off the time of action. + +I had been an interested listener to all that was said, and was very +thankful that the rats had arrived at this conclusion. At first I was +afraid that they might decide on attempting to sink the ship, and though +I might have tried to prevent them, yet should they have attacked me +with overwhelming numbers I might have found it impossible to contend +with them. I cared little for their projects of sinking the ship in +harbour. I hoped before then to have made my escape. They had hitherto +curiously enough not discovered me, and I hoped that I should be able to +remain concealed, as I dreaded a conflict with the savage creatures now +surrounding me in countless numbers. I remained perfectly quiet, +scarcely daring even to breathe. Suddenly I was seized with a fit of +sneezing. + +At the first sternutation the rats jumped up and looked about them, +evidently considerably alarmed. Again I sneezed, when off they +scampered, disappearing like greased lightning, as our American cousins +say, through countless crevices and holes and other openings I had not +before perceived. + +The light which had during the time pervaded the hold, faded away, and I +was left in total darkness. It was sometime before I could persuade +myself that what I had seen and heard had been only conjured up by my +imagination, though I had no doubt that real rats had been running about +in the neighbourhood, and had given rise to my dream. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + + The hold of the "Emu"--Further attempts at escape--The storm ceases--A + rat hunt--Slippery customers--Oh, for a trap!--My ingenuity + exercised--Caught at last--My repugnance to rat's flesh--Hunger needs + no sauce--My subsequent impressions--Cannibal rats--My solitary life-- + The rats grow cautious--The crate--I make a welcome discovery--A fresh + expedition--As black as a nigger--Things might be worse. + +Day and night to me were the same. My dreams having been troubled-- +which was very natural considering the circumstances--I did not feel +inclined to go to sleep, so I once more got up to try if I could find +some food. + +I first took a draught of water. Indeed, had it not been for that, I +could not have existed so long. Carefully putting in the plug, for I +dreaded exhausting my store, I groped my way back to the opening I had +lately discovered. I knew my position by feeling for the holes I had +made in the cases. + +As no light reached me, I knew it was either night or that the hatch had +been put on. I was puzzled to decide which was the case. I listened +for the sound of human voices. None reached my ear. + +My hunger had become ravenous. Food I must have, or I should perish. I +felt conscious that I was much weaker. I again tried to make myself +heard, shouting and shrieking as loud as I could, but my voice was faint +though shrill, more like that of a puny infant than a stout boy. I was +becoming desperate. I first crept in one direction, then in another, +trying to force my way between the bales and other packages, but to no +avail. Everywhere I was stopped by some impediment I could not remove. + +The storm, I concluded, had ceased, as the ship was comparatively quiet, +so that I was less afraid than before of being jammed up between the +heavy packages and turned into a pancake. + +I felt about in every crevice for the possibility of finding something +to eat. I cared not what it was, provided I could get my teeth into it. +I remembered that rats often dragged away bits of food into their holes +to devour at leisure, and I would gladly have found such a store. The +idea that I might do so encouraged me to proceed. + +If I could get out of my confined space I knew that I should have a +better chance of falling in with food, but how to get out was the +question. + +I crept back for the handspike, and tried to move some of the bales, but +all my efforts were unavailing. I then, carrying the handspike with me, +went to the bulkhead at the other end of my prison, and endeavoured by +repeated blows to knock in a plank. They were all too stout to give way +to my apparently feeble efforts. + +I fancied that the blows must resound through the ship, and that the +crew would come below to ascertain what produced the noise, but I waited +and waited in vain. + +At last I went back to my couch, and sat down to consider what was to be +done. I knew that as I grew weaker both my strength and wits would +decrease, and that I should be less capable of exerting myself. + +After sitting quiet for some time, I heard the rats again running about. +Frequently they passed close to me, but when I darted out my hands they +slipped by them. Once I caught a fellow by the tail, but he wriggled it +out of my fingers, and another whose nose I must have touched gave me a +sharp nip and then bounded away. + +At last I thought I would form a trap with my knife. Near me was a +square case close to which I heard the rats frequently passing. I felt +and discovered that there was a small opening between it and the large +package. I had some string in my pocket, and my plan was to hang up my +knife by the string, the lower end of which I hung close to the hole, +while I passed the upper end over my finger. I thus hoped that when a +rat should be running in or out of the hole it might be stopped long +enough by the string to allow the knife to descend. + +My first attempt was not successful. Down fell the knife, but when I +felt about for the rat which I had expected to have been transfixed, it +had gone. I tried again, but once more the rat escaped me. + +I began to fear that the creatures would discover my device, and take +some other route when they wished to emerge from their hiding-places. +Still I knew that perseverance conquers all difficulties. I was +convinced that my plan might succeed. Why it had before failed I could +not tell. Perhaps I held the knife too high up, and the rat had got +away before it had time to descend. + +I now held the knife rather lower down. Several times I replaced the +knife, but always found it exactly before the spot. Again it fell, when +I heard a loud squeak, and sprang down on my hands and knees in a +moment, and caught the handle of the knife, which was moving rapidly +along the plank. The blade had entered the side of a fat rat. The +creature made an attempt to bite me, but I squeezed it by the neck. It +lay dead in my hands. + +At first even my hunger could not overcome my disgust at the thought of +eating the creature. I carried it by the tail to let the blood stream +out of the body, and went to the butt, where I took a draught of water, +hoping to put off the moment when I should find my teeth in its flesh. + +But hunger called loudly; I could resist no longer, and having cut off +its head, I skinned it as well as I could in the dark. Then stripping +the flesh from the bones, I put a morsel of it in my mouth. It tasted +infinitely better than I could have expected. There was no rankness, no +disagreeable flavour. I wondered how I could have had so much objection +to eating raw rat. I scraped the bones clean. + +As there were undoubtedly plenty more in the hold, though not so many as +I had seen in my dream, I hoped that I should have been able to supply +myself amply with game. + +I was now sorry that I had thrown away the head and the entrails, as +they might have served me for bait to catch more. I therefore hunted +about till I discovered the head, on the point, I suspect, of being +seized by another rat, for I heard the creature scamper off as I put my +hand upon my prize. The entrails must have been devoured, for I could +not find them. + +My success encouraged me to try and catch another rat in the same way as +before. I, however, somewhat changed my mode of proceeding. I fastened +the head to the end of the string, and hung up the knife directly over +it, by a small splinter which I stuck lightly into the crevice of the +case. My expectation was that, when the rat pulled at the head of its +slaughtered fellow, the knife would fall and transfix it. + +I had to wait for some time listening to the sound of the rats' +footsteps. At length down came the knife, but no squeak followed, and I +found it lying where it had fallen. I began to fear that the first rat +had been killed by chance, and that my clever device could not be +depended on. + +Though the keen edge of my appetite had worn off, I knew that I should +very soon be again hungry, and I therefore wanted, before I went to +sleep, to catch another rat. I was aware that I must be moderate in my +banquets, as I guessed that rat's flesh was not likely to prove very +wholesome; but I no longer felt, as I had previously done, that I should +be starved to death. + +I am afraid that I could boast of very few good qualities, but I +possessed at all events that of perseverance. Perhaps I had gained it +during my experience as a fisherman, when I used to sit for hours by the +side of a pond waiting for a bite, and seldom failed to get one at last. +I therefore again hung up my knife. I can't tell how often it fell, +but at last I caught one rat much as I had done the first, though at the +expense of a bite on the thumb. By this time I was again hungry, and +very soon had the rat's flesh between my teeth. + +To those who have not suffered as I had, my proceeding must appear very +disgusting, but I would only advise any fellow who thinks so to try what +he would do after going without food for three or four days. I +certainly, during that time, had had nothing but two buns and unlimited +draught of cold water. The cold water and the long spells of sleep I +had enjoyed. I believe in reality that I was much longer than four days +after I had finished the last bun, but I will not be positive, lest +people should doubt the fact. The greater part of the time, however, +was spent in sleep. My rat-dream, as I call it, might have occupied +several hours, for I have not put down half of what I heard said, nor +described the curious antics I saw, as I supposed, of the rats' play. I +have since recollected that the words with which the president began his +speech were those used by Mark Antony at the commencement of his oration +over the dead body of Caesar, which I learnt at school. + +After eating the second rat I felt greatly revived, and resolved to +continue my explorations, but a drowsiness came over me before I made my +way to the further end of the hold. I returned to my couch and lay down +to sleep. + +It would be a good opportunity of sounding the praises of sleep, and if +I were a poet I might indulge my fancy and produce something wonderfully +novel; but as I never wrote a line in my life worthy of being called +poetry, I will not inflict anything of this sort on my friends. + +I was becoming wonderfully accustomed to my solitary life. Having +rolled myself in the old sail, I closed my eyes with as much sense of +security as I should have done in my own bed at home. I had ceased to +think of my friends there, or of Aunt Deb and Mr Butterfield. I could +not go on for ever troubling myself with thoughts of the anxiety my +disappearance must have caused them. An intensely selfish feeling--for +such I knew that it was--possessed me. My only thought was how I could +get out of my prison, and if I could not succeed, how I might provide +myself with food. I had no longer any fear of the rats. I had become +their master. I looked upon them as the owner of an estate does on his +hares and rabbits. The hold was my preserve, and I considered that I +had a right to as many as I could catch. + +I must proceed faster in my narrative than I have hitherto been going, +and must omit some of my wakings and sleepings and hunts for rats and +searches for more palatable food. The rats, after I had killed four or +five, had become cautious. They are at all times cunning fellows, and +must have discovered my mode of trapping them. The ship all this time +was gliding on with tolerable smoothness, and on some occasions, by +putting my ear down to the planks, I could hear the rippling of the +water. At other times, I guessed by the dashing of the sea against the +sides, that there was a strong breeze. I knew also, by the steadiness +of the movement, that the ocean was tolerably calm. I should have liked +to have known where we had got to. I could only guess that we were +bound for South America, and that we were holding a southerly course. + +I had made several exploring expeditions in search of food, when I +discovered close to the bulkhead what seemed to me like a strong crate. +By some chance or other I had not before put my hands upon it. I now +moved them all over it, and at one place came to a space into which I +could thrust my fingers. The board seemed loose. I tugged and tugged +away till off it came with a crackling sound, and down I came. I picked +myself up, happily not the worse for my tumble, and eagerly inserted my +hand into the crate. There appeared to be several articles within, but +what they were I could not make out. I had to take off another board +before I could get hold of them. This I did, fixing my foot firmly so +as not to fall back again, and after exerting myself for some time, the +board gave way. + +The first thing I laid hold of was a small keg. It seemed too heavy to +contain biscuits, but I was nearly sure that there was something eatable +within. I tried to open it with my knife, but nearly broke the blade in +the attempt. That would have been an irreparable misfortune. My hands +next came in contact with a thick glass bottle with a large mouth to it. +I was too eager to ascertain the contents of the keg and bottle to +continue my search. I therefore carried them down to my sleeping-place, +where I had left the handspike, and there soon broke in the head of the +cask. It contained some small, round, hard and greasy fruit, I eagerly +tasted one. They were olives. I knew this because Mr Butterfield a +few days before gave me some at dessert. I then thought them very +bitter and nasty, but as I saw him eating them I nibbled at two or +three. In the end I liked them rather better than at first, or rather, +I didn't dislike them so much. + +Having eaten half-a-dozen, I was very glad that I had found them. They +were at all events a change from rat's flesh. I next took the bottle in +hand, and with my knife scraped away the sealing-wax with which it was +covered. Instead of trying to force out the cork I cut into it until I +had made a hole big enough to insert my fingers, when I pulled it out. +The bottle contained pickles. These, though they would not satisfy +hunger would render the food I was doomed to live upon more palatable +and wholesome. Having put them away in the most secure place I could +think of, I returned to the crate. + +By tearing off another plank I found that I could creep inside. It +contained all sorts of things, apparently thrown in before the vessel +began to be loaded to be out of the way, and afterwards forgotten. I +came across two or three old brooms or scrubbing-brushes, a kettle with +the spout broken, several large empty bottles, and other things I cannot +enumerate. At last, when I thought I had turned everything over, my +hand came against another cask, considerably larger than the first. I +dragged it out. It was not so heavy as I should have supposed it would +be from its size. It was too big to carry, so I rolled it along before +me. From the first I fancied it must contain biscuits, but I was almost +afraid to too soon congratulate myself on my good fortune. A few blows +with the handspike shattered the top, and eagerly plunging in my hand, +to my intense satisfaction I drew forth a captain's biscuit. I ate it +at once and thought it deliciously sweet, though it was in reality musty +and mouldy. I had now a store of food to last me for days, and even +weeks, should I not obtain my liberation, provided I used the strictest +economy. All I wanted was fresh air. To obtain that, supposing I could +not work my way out or make myself heard, was now my chief object. + +Before setting out on another expedition, I placed my provisions where I +hoped the rats would not be able to get at them, after carefully corking +down the bottles of pickles and the jar of olives, and closing the keg +of biscuits. I thought it very likely that the rats would try to make +their way through the latter, but I intended to examine it frequently to +ascertain whether they had commenced operations. I had been turning in +my mind a better means of catching the rats than the one I had before +adopted. I thought and thought over the matter, but could not arrive at +any conclusion. Being no longer pressed by hunger, I was less in a +hurry than I should have been had I only rats' flesh to depend on. I +pined for fresh air, but at the same time I was most inconvenienced for +want of light. I was, however, already able to find my way about in a +wonderful manner. + +I had pictured in my mind's eye all the objects around, and had the +whole of my prison mapped out clearly in my brain, as I supposed it to +exist. Perhaps it was not exactly according to reality. There were the +kelson and the stout ribs of the ship, the planking over them, the +water-butts on either side, the stout bulkheads. At one end my +bed-place; the opening which I had formed at the other end, the bales, +the packing-cases, the casks, and last of all the crate. Into this last +I intended soon again to return, in the faint hope that I might force my +way through it into some upper region. It was, I judged from the ease +with which I had torn off the planks, old and rotten, and I could not +therefore suppose that any heavy weight had been placed above it. I +should have observed that I had reason to congratulate myself the ship +was new and well caulked, and that not a leak existed throughout her +length, for had any bilge-water been in her the stench would have been +insufferable, and would soon either have deprived me of life or produced +a serious sickness. As it was, considering what ships' holds generally +are, the air was comparatively pure, and I did not suffer much from the +confinement. The fact I have mentioned would account for the number of +rats in the hold, for being sagacious animals they are said always to +desert a ship likely to go down. Probably, being inconvenienced by the +water in the regions to which they are quickly driven when discovered, +they take their departure on the earliest opportunity. I have known +ships to founder with rats on board, so that they cannot be said to be a +preventative to such a disaster. + +I now set out on another expedition. As I got through the hole in the +bulkhead a brighter light than I had before enjoyed came down into the +open space, not directly, however, but through the various crevices +among the numerous casks and cases piled up in the hold, so that I was +able to distinguish the objects around me more clearly than I had +hitherto done. I could not have read a book, but I could see my hands +as I held them up before me, and they were as black as those of a negro. +Probably my face was much in the same condition. I knew that my feet +and my clothes also were begrimed with dirt. Strange as it may seem, I +was so busy in taking a survey of the locality, that I forgot to shout +out, for as the light came down my voice would certainly have been +heard, as without doubt one of the hatches had been opened. My impulse +was to take the opportunity of working my way upwards. I saw the crate +close against the bulkhead and the place where I had torn off the plank. +I eagerly scrambled in that direction, but could see no way over it. I +must get inside, as I first intended. I thought then, if I could force +off the top, I might make my way through it to an upper stratum of the +cargo. I did as I proposed. In vain I tried with my back and hands to +force up the top. I had forgotten to bring the handspike. It occurred +to me that with that as a lever I should succeed. I returned for it. + +The atmosphere I fancied had already become fresher, or at all events +the foul air had escaped, and its place had been supplied by purer air +through unseen openings. The light, dim as it was, which my eyes had +enjoyed for a short period, made the darkness of the hold still darker. +My senses were for a few moments confused, and for some time I searched +in vain for the handspike. I was sure, however, that I remembered where +I had left it. At last my hand touched the instrument, and I dragged it +back to the scene of my intended operations. As I reached the spot, +what what was my dismay to find all in darkness. The hatch, had been +replaced, and I had lost the opportunity of making myself heard. Only +then did it occur to me that I ought, immediately on seeing the light, +to have shouted out. My wits, generally keen enough, were, I suspect, +becoming somewhat confused. + +I had so long been accustomed to do things with the greatest +deliberation, that I had lost the impulse to prompt action which was +otherwise natural to me. I now shouted, but it was too late, no one +heard me. The seamen had gone to their usual occupations at a distance +from the hatchway. For some minutes I sat down, vexed with my stupidity +and dilatoriness. + +On recovering myself I resolved never again to lose a similar +opportunity. I had for so long worked in the dark, that I was not to be +deterred from carrying out my intention. Armed with the handspike, I +entered the crate. I first felt in each corner, to try and find an +opening in which I could insert the end of my implement. + +Not one was to be found. I next drove it against the ends of the +planks; they were too firmly nailed down to yield. I next knocked away +in the centre, hoping that one of the planks might prove rotten, and +that I should be able to force it upwards. Again I was disappointed, +and at last, tired with the exertions I had made, I was obliged to +abandon the attempt; but I did not give it up altogether. I resolved, +as soon as I had regained my strength and stretched my limbs, which had +become cramped from being so long in a confined position, to set to work +once more. I had been employed, I fancy, three or four hours; it may +have been longer. At all events, I had become very hungry, and with a +store of food near at hand I could not resist the temptation of eating. +I accordingly retired to my berth and sat down. I had not contrived to +catch a rat, so I had to content myself with a musty biscuit and a dozen +olives for dinner, washed down by a copious draught of water. I was +thankful for the food, though it could not be called a luxurious +banquet. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + + Still in the hold--Conscience again troubles me--My new food and its + effect on my health--I picture to myself the crew on deck--Rather + warm--Another storm--My sufferings and despair--A cold bath--I lose my + stock of provisions--The rats desert me--The storm subsides--My fancy + gives itself rein. + +Days, possibly weeks, may have passed by; I had no means of calculating +the time. The ordinary sounds from the deck did not reach my ear, or I +might have heard the bells strike, or the voice of the boatswain +summoning the watch below on deck. I scarcely like to describe this +part of my adventures, for fear that they should not be believed. I +have since read of similar accounts of young stowaways being shut down +in the hold of ships, but whether they were true or not I cannot say. +Perhaps they were written with the purpose of deterring boys running off +to sea. If so, they had a good object in view, for from my own +experience I can say that a more mad or foolish act a silly youth cannot +commit. A sailor's life is not without its attractions; but to enjoy it +he must have a good conscience, and be able to feel that he went to sea +with his parents' or friends' consent; and then when disaster occurs, he +has not bitterly to repent having acted contrary to their wishes. For +my own part I tried to persuade myself that I was an unwilling stowaway, +that I had only gone on board to take a look into the hold; but +conscience whispered to me over and over again, "You know you thought of +hiding yourself, and thus getting away to sea in spite of your Aunt Deb, +and the kind old gentleman who was ready to do what he considered best +for your advancement in life." + +I tried to silence conscience by replying, "I didn't intend it, I should +never have actually concealed myself in the hold if I could have helped +it. I am simply an unfortunate individual, who is undergoing all this +suffering through no fault of his own. Though I had no wish to become a +merchant, I would, with all the contentment I could muster, have taken +my seat in Mr Butterfield's office, and done my duty to the best of my +ability." + +Though I said this to myself over and over again, I found it more +convenient to satisfy conscience and to think only of the present. I +had plenty to do, much of my time being spent in endeavouring to catch +rats. I seldom killed more than one in a day, though occasionally I was +more successful. I ate them without the slightest disgust, taking some +of the pickles at the same time with a piece of biscuit, my dessert +consisting of three or four olives. I was afraid of exhausting my +supply, or I could have swallowed many more. The rats' flesh was +tolerably tender. I suspect that I generally caught the young ones, for +at length I caught one which must have been the father, or grandfather +for that matter, of the tribe, as he was so tough that it was only with +considerable difficulty I could masticate him. This food, however +unattractive according to the usual ideas, must be wholesome, for I kept +my health in an extraordinary manner. I was much indebted for this, I +believe, to the olives, which prevented my being attacked by that +horrible disease, scurvy. I was not aware at the time of its existence, +but I have since witnessed its horrible ravages among crews +insufficiently supplied with antiscorbutics, or who have neglected the +ordinary precautions against it. + +I every day made excursions to try and effect my liberation. The crate +must have had something weighty on the top of it, I thought, or I should +have been able to force it open. It had hitherto resisted all my +efforts, though I frequently spent an hour within it. + +The ship all this time was gliding on smoothly, and I supposed was +making a prosperous passage. I occasionally pictured to myself what was +going on over my head, canvas spread below and aloft, the ship under her +courses, topsails, topgallant sails and royals with studdingsails rigged +out on either side. The sea glittering in the rays of the sun, the sky +bright, the captain and officers walking the deck or reading in their +cabins. The crew lolling about with folded arms, smoking their pipes or +spinning yarns. I forgot that some of them would be employed in +spinning very different sorts of yarns to what I fancied, and that chief +mates are not apt to allow man to spend their time with their arms +folded, doing nothing. On and on sailed the ship. The atmosphere was +becoming sensibly warmer. I supposed that we should soon get into a +tropical climate, and that then I might find it disagreeably hot even +down below. But I didn't allow myself to think of the future, as I was +beginning to abandon all hope of working my way out. + +My desire now was that the ship might reach a port in safety, and begin +to discharge her cargo; when I should have the chance of liberating +myself. I did not, however, abandon altogether my efforts, and the +exercise I thus took every day contributed to keep me in health. During +the time I was sitting down and not sleeping, I employed myself in +repeating all the English poetry and Latin speeches I had learnt, and +sometimes I even attempted to sing the sea songs of which I had been so +fond--"Cease, rude Boreas," "One night it blew a hurricane," "Come, all +ye jolly sailors bold," "Here a sheer hulk lies poor Tom Bowling," and +many others; but my voice was evidently not in singing trim, and I +failed to do what Orpheus might have accomplished, to charm the rats +from their hiding-places. + +The sea continued calm for some time; at all events I felt no movement +to indicate that it was otherwise; but whether the ship was moving fast +or slowly I could not tell. I expected that she would continue her +steady progress to the end of the voyage. I had gone to sleep, and I +now generally slept on for eight or ten hours at a stretch, so I could +not say whether it was night or day. All was the same to me. Suddenly +I was awakened by a fearful uproar, and I found myself jerked off my +sleeping-place on to the hard boards. From the noises I heard I fancied +the ship must be going to pieces, or that the masts were falling. She +heeled over so much on one side it seemed impossible that the +water-butts could keep their positions, and I thought every instant I +should be crushed to death by the one on the weather side falling upon +me. A fearful storm was raging. My ears were deafened by the dashing +of the fierce waves, and the howling and whistling of the wind, which +reached me even down where I was; and by the incessant creaking of the +bulkheads. Crash succeeded crash; the whole cargo seemed to be tossed +about, now to one side now to the other. I could feel the ship rise to +the summit of a sea, and then plunge down again to the depths below. I +had hitherto retained my composure, but I now almost gave way to +despair. It seemed that the ship, stout as she was, would not be able +to survive the fierce contest in which she was engaged with the raging +elements. Not for a moment was she quiet; now she appeared to be +rolling as if she would roll the masts out of her, had they not already +gone; now she surged forward and went with a plunge into the sea, which +made her quiver from stem to stern. I thought that ribs and planks +could not possibly hold together. I expected every moment to be my +last. It would have been bad enough to have had to endure this on deck, +surrounded by my fellow-creatures--down in the dark hold it was +terrible. + +I now wonder that my senses did not desert me, but matters had not yet +come to their worst. I dared not move, for fear of being dashed against +the casks. There I lay helpless and almost hopeless, while the violence +of the movements increased. I did not feel sick, as before. Terror +banished all other sensations. Suddenly I heard a loud crash close to +me, and I found myself nearly overwhelmed by a strong rush of water. +The instinct to live made me spring to my feet, for I should have been +drowned had I remained where I was. I fully believed that the side of +the ship had been forced in, and that before many seconds had passed I +and all on board would be carried down to the bottom of the sea. Still +I endeavoured to escape from the water, which in large masses came +rushing against me, though my efforts would have been utterly useless +had what I had supposed occurred. I made frantic efforts to escape out +of the way of the torrent, and endeavoured to reach the only opening I +was aware of by which I might escape if I could find egress to the upper +deck. In my hurry, not using the caution I had generally exercised, I +ran my head against a cask with so much force that I fell back senseless +on the kelson. There I lay unable to rise, and believing that the water +would soon cover me up and terminate my sufferings. + +I was not altogether senseless; I should have been saved much +wretchedness and suffering had I been so. I continued to feel the +violent motion of the ship; to hear the uproar, the crashing of the +cargo, the casks and chests being hurled against each other. I expected +that the bulkhead near me, which had hitherto served as my protection, +would give way, and that some of the huge cases would be hurled down +upon me; but I had no strength to shriek out, and lay silent and +motionless. Suddenly the rush of water ceased, and I heard only a +little washing about beneath me. This surprised me greatly. I began to +recollect that it must have been impossible that the side of the ship +should have been smashed in, or the water would have continued entering +with as much force as at first. This idea made me fancy that matters +might not be so bad as I had at first supposed. By slow degrees I +recovered my courage. "The ship is not going to sink, I may yet +survive," I thought, and I got up to try and ascertain the cause of the +rush of water. I was not long in doing this. In groping my way about I +came upon one of the huge butts, which, from the large fracture I felt +in its side, had evidently burst and let out the whole of its contents. + +It was fortunately not the water-cask from which I drew my supplies of +the necessary element, but I guessed that it would prove ultimately of +serious consequence to the crew, who would probably be depending on it +when their stock in the other part of the ship had been exhausted. +Still that at the time did not give me much concern. I was wet through, +bruised, and exceedingly uncomfortable. I feared, too, that as one butt +had given way, the others might before long follow its example, and that +I should then have no water on which to support my life. Having made +this discovery, I crept back to my sleeping-place. + +As I had no other means of drying my clothes, I took them off and wrung +them out, then wrapped myself in the sail, which being in a higher +position had only been slightly wetted by the splash of the water. +Unpleasant as my life was, this altogether was the most miserable period +of my existence in the hold of the "Emu." I thought that the storm +would never end. Hour after hour the ship went plunging and rolling on, +every timber shaking and quaking, my heart beating I must confess in +sympathy. Regrets were useless. My only consolation now was that +should the ship in the meantime not founder or be driven on the rocks, +this state of things must come to an end. + +I tried to forget where I was and what was happening and to bring my +senses into a state of stupor. I would willingly have gone to sleep, +but that seemed impossible. I was mistaken, however. After some time, +in spite of the violent movements and the terrific uproar, I began to +doze off, and an oblivion of all things, past and present, came over me. +It was sent in mercy, for I do not think I could otherwise have endured +my sufferings. When I awoke to the present matters had not improved, so +I endeavoured, and successfully, to go to sleep again. This occurred +several times. At last, in spite of my painful feelings, I found that I +had become very hungry, and to my surprise my clothes, which I had hung +up against the bulkhead on some nails stuck in the upper part, were very +nearly dry. I put them on, unwilling to be without garments should I be +discovered. I had no rats in store, so intended to make my meal off +biscuits and olives. I put my hand down to where I had stowed them, +when what was my dismay not to be able to find either the cask of +biscuits or the jars of olives and pickles. I felt about in all +directions, hoping that I had made a mistake as to their position. I +was at length convinced that they had gone. + +I then recollected that the chief volume of water out of the butt must +have washed them away. Still they could not be far off. I lay down on +the kelson and felt about with my hand on every side. My search for a +moment was in vain. At last I picked up an olive, and then another. My +fear was that the jar was broken. What if the pickles and biscuits had +shared the same fate? That this was the case was too probable, and if +so my stock of provisions, would be spoiled, if not lost altogether. + +After further search I came upon the jar broken in two. It was +especially strong, so that the bottle of pickles would have had no +chance of escaping. I had fortunately my handkerchief, and I managed to +pick up several olives, which I put into it. Creeping along I came at +last upon the pickle-bottle, and nearly cut my hand in feeling for it. +A few pickles were near it. I drew them out of the water which had +escaped from the butt. Their flavour I guessed would be gone and all +the vinegar which was so cooling and refreshing; but almost spoiled as +they were, I was glad to recover them. I found, however, scarcely a +fourth of the olives and pickles. The loss of the biscuits was the most +serious. They, if long in the water, would be mashed up into a pulp, +and perhaps dispersed throughout the bottom of the ship. The sooner I +could recover whatever remained the better. I ate three or four olives +and a piece of pickle to stay the gnawings of hunger, and went on with +my search. + +The ship, it must be remembered, was all this time rolling to and fro. +I searched and searched, my hopes of recovering the biscuits in a form +fit to be eaten growing fainter and fainter; still I knew that the keg, +either entire or broken, must be somewhere within my prison-house, for +so I must call it. I stopped at last to consider in what direction it +could have been thrown. Perhaps being lighter and of larger bulk than +the other things, it might have been jerked farther off, and rolling +away got jammed in the casks or cases. My search proved to me that it +could not be close beneath the kelson; I therefore felt backwards and +forwards everywhere I could get my hand. I tried to recollect whether I +had, when last taking a biscuit out, fixed on the head tightly or not. +Having smashed it in, in order to broach the cask, it was not very easy +to do so, and I had an unpleasant feeling that I had put on the top only +sufficient to prevent the rats jumping down into the inside. If so, the +chance of the biscuits having escaped was small indeed. + +At length I touched the cask, which had been thrown from one end of the +hold to the other. It was on its side. With trembling eagerness I put +in my hand. Alas! Only a few whole biscuits and a few broken ones +remained. These I transferred to my pocket-handkerchief with the olives +and pickles, for fear of losing them. The remainder must be somewhere +on the way. I tried back in a direct line, but could not find even a +mashed biscuit. I then recollected that the cask had probably been +jerked from side to side before it had found its last resting-place. It +was a wonder that any of its contents remained in it. + +Without loss of time, I enlarged the field of my search, and picked up +several large pulpy masses which had once been biscuit. They were too +precious to be thrown away. I put them into the bottom of the cask. I +got back also several bits, which, though wet, had not lost their +consistency. I was grateful for them; for though they would not keep, +they would assist me to prolong existence for some few days. I ate some +of the pulp, and a couple of olives to enable me to digest it. The +other pieces of biscuit and the olives and pickles had been, I suppose, +washed away out of my reach, for I felt about in every direction, but +could lay my hands on nothing more. It may be supposed that the +exertions I had made were not very fatiguing, but it must be remembered +that the ship was tossing about all this time, and that I had to hold on +with one hand while I felt with the other, to prevent myself from being +jerked about and battered and bruised. As it was, I slipped and tumbled +several times, and hurt myself not a little. I therefore crawled back +to my couch, and rolled myself up in the sail, to go to sleep. I had +not for some time been annoyed by the rats, who I suspect sat quaking +and trembling in their nests as much alarmed as I was, and possibly more +so, and I was amused at thinking that they must have heartily regretted +having come to sea, and wished themselves safe back on shore in the +houses or barns from which they had emigrated. I hoped, however, that +when the storm was over they would come forth again, and give me the +opportunity of catching them. I expected that it would quickly cease, +but in this I was disappointed. There came a lull, and the ship did not +toss about as much as before. I was contemplating getting up and making +an excursion among the cargo, supposing that I might do so without much +risk, when I was again thrown off my couch by a sudden lurch; and from +the sounds I heard, and the violent pitching and rolling, I had good +reason to suppose that the hurricane was once more raging with redoubled +force. With the greatest difficulty I crawled back to my couch, and +drawing the canvas round me, tried to retain my position. Every minute +I imagined that one or the other water-butts would give way, and that I +should be either crushed by its falling on me, or half-drowned by its +contents. Then I thought what would be my fate should the fearful +buffeting the ship was receiving cause her to start a plank. The water +would rush in, and before I could possibly make my escape to a higher +level I should be drowned, even should the ship herself keep above +water, and that I thought was not very likely. + +I had read enough about shipwrecks and disasters at sea to be aware that +such a circumstance sometimes occurs. The end of a plank called a butt +occasionally starts away from the timber to which it has been secured, +and the water pressing its way in, opens the plank more and more, till +the sea comes in like a mill-sluice; and unless the damage is at once +discovered, and a thrummed sail is got over the spot, there is little +chance of a ship escaping from foundering. When a butt starts from the +fore end, and she is going rapidly through the water, her destruction is +almost certain, as a plank is rapidly ripped off, and no means the crew +possess can prevent it. Though I had heard crashing noises which had +made me fear that the masts had been carried overboard, yet I judged +from the movement of the ship that they were standing. She was seldom +on an even keel, but when she heeled over it was always on one side. As +yet all the strain to which she had been subjected had produced no +leaks, as far as I could judge from the small quantity of water in the +hold, and that was chiefly what had come out of the butt. Had I not put +the remnants of the olives and biscuits in my pockets I should have +starved. When hunger pressed, I took a small portion, sufficient to +stop its gnawings. I suffered chiefly from thirst, as I was afraid of +getting up to go to the water-butt, lest I should be thrown over to the +opposite side after I had drawn out the spile, before I could catch any +water as it spouted out, and that much of it would be lost. I felt the +necessity of economising my store, for I so mainly depended on it for +existence, as it enabled me to subsist on a much smaller quantity of +food than I could have done without it. At length I could bear my +tortures no longer, but getting up, cautiously crawled towards the butt, +stopping to hold on directly I felt the ship beginning to give a lurch. + +I must again observe, that close down to the keel as I was, I felt this +much less severely than I should have done at a higher level. I went +on, until I believed that I was close to the butt, then waiting for +another lurch. Directly it had taken place, I drew myself carefully up, +and searched about for the spile. I found it, and drew it out, and let +the water spout out into my mouth. How I enjoyed the draught. It +restored my strength and sadly flagging spirits. I stopped to breathe, +and then again applied my mouth to the hole. I should have been wiser +had I refrained, for before I could drive in the spile I was hove right +away to the opposite side of the hold, almost into the opening of the +water-butt which had burst. I could hear the water rushing out, and it +was some time before I could recover myself sufficiently to crawl back +to try and stop it. I was almost wet through before I could accomplish +this, though I had to mourn the loss of no small quantity of the +precious fluid. My purpose accomplished, I made my way back to my +couch. Hours passed by. Sometimes I would fancy that the storm was +never to end. In my disordered imagination, I pictured to myself the +ship, officers, and crew under some dreadful doom, destined to be tossed +about on the wide Atlantic for months and years, then perhaps to be +dismasted and lie floating motionless in the middle of the Sargasso Sea, +of which I had read, where the weeds collect, driven by the current +thrown off by the gulf-stream, till they attain sufficient thickness for +aquatic birds to walk over them. + +I remembered the description that Mr Butterfield had given me of the +captain of the "Emu." I thought, perhaps, that he had committed some +dreadful crime, and was being thus punished for it. The only one of the +crew whom I remembered, Gregory Growles, was certainly a bad specimen of +humanity. Perhaps, though pretending to be honest traders, they were +pirates; and even when I had obtained my liberty they would not scruple +to make me walk the plank, should my presence be inconvenient. I +cannot, however, describe the hundred-and-one gloomy ideas which I +conjured up. How far they were from the truth time only was to show. +The ship continued her eccentric proceedings with more or less violence. +The tempest roared above my head. Crashing sounds still rose from the +cargo which had shifted, and which it appeared to me must ere long be +smashed to atoms. The worst of the matter was, that I had no one to +blame but myself. Had I been seized and shut up in the hold by a savage +captain, I should have felt myself like a martyr, and been able to lay +my sufferings on others. When I was able to reflect more calmly on my +situation, I remembered that the storm must inevitably some day or other +come to an end. I had read of storms lasting a week, or even a +fortnight, and sometimes longer, but if I could hold out to its +termination, as by means of the biscuits and olives I might do, I hoped +that I should at last effect my liberation. I must not, however, take +up more time by further describing the incidents of this memorable +portion of my existence. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + + Still in the hold--Dreamland again--Chicken-pie--Return of the rats--I + improve my plans for catching them--Two rats at one meal--My state of + mind--"Mercy! Mercy!"--While there's life there's hope--I recommence + my exertions to get out of the hold with some success--Purer air--My + weakness returns--I recover my strength--Still no outlet--I perform my + ablutions--My desire to live at all hazards returns--"Where ignorance + is bliss 'tis folly to be wise"--The yarn of Toney Lawson--The evil + effects of getting drunk--The "Viper"--Toney obliged to give in-- + Toney's thoughts of escape--The fate of the "Viper" determines the + question--Toney's wonderful escape. + +Perhaps one of the most painful circumstances connected with my +imprisonment was the impossibility of calculating how the time went by. + +I remember that I suddenly awoke after dreaming that I was at a jolly +picnic with old friends near Roger Riddle's cottage. That the cloth was +spread with pies and tarts, a cold sirloin of beef, a dish of fowls, and +a tempting ham, and that we were eating and drinking, and laughing and +singing, in the merriest way possible. I had just had the breast and +wing of a chicken and a slice of ham placed on my plate, and was running +over to get the mustard-pot, when to my surprise it became covered with +feathers, and off it flew. I was jumping up to catch hold of it, not +wishing thus to lose my dinner, but instead found myself in total +darkness, and gradually came to the disagreeable consciousness that I +was in the hold of the "Emu," and that I had only a few small biscuits +and three olives remaining of my stock of provisions, independent of the +pickles in the corner of my handkerchief. + +The ship, however, was perfectly quiet. The gale must have ceased some +time before, to allow the sea to go down. By putting my ears to the +planks I could catch the sound of a gentle ripple as she glided along, +but no other noise was to be heard. The bulkheads had ceased to creak, +the masts to complain, the cargo to crash, and all was perfectly quiet +overhead. + +My hunger showed me that I must have been a long time asleep, and I +could not resist the temptation of eating the remainder of my biscuits +and olives. I had thus only the pickles to exist on, unless I could +catch some rats with which to eat them. I took a draught of water, and +then sat down to consider the plans I had before thought of to trap my +game. + +One occurred to me as the most feasible. Though I could not see I could +feel, and my idea was to form a bag with a piece of the canvas, and give +it a small mouth so contrived that I could close it suddenly with a +string. Among the articles in my pocket was a stock of string of +various thicknesses; I found on measuring it that I had not only +sufficient to make the bag, but enough to gather in the mouth with an +additional piece to hold in my hand. My gimlet would serve as an awl or +sailmaker's needle, though not an efficient substitute. I had been so +long accustomed to the darkness that I fancied I could pass the string +through the holes I had made without difficulty. My hunger was an +incentive to perseverance. + +With my knife I first of all cut a piece off my canvas of sufficient +size for my purpose. I am sure that I could not have done it so well at +any time before, had I attempted to perform the operation in the dark. +I then turned in the edges, and passing the string through the holes I +had made, united the two sides. Sometimes I could not get the string +through without another boring, at others I succeeded at the first +attempt, tying the string at each stitch. It was a slow operation, but +the result was beyond my most sanguine expectations. + +I had a long, thickish piece of hard twine, which I devoted to the mouth +of the bag. I had to make the holes for these with great regularity, so +as not to leave an opening large enough for a rat to jump out at. I +worked on without stopping till my task was accomplished, as I was +anxious to ascertain whether it would answer the object I had in view. + +While I was working I heard the rats running about, and two or three +knocked their noses against my feet, showing that they had again come +out of their holes, and were either hunting for food or gambolling for +their pleasure. + +I had, however, retained a small piece of biscuit in my pocket, which, +although I longed to eat it up, I had sufficient resolution to devote as +a bait to the rats. + +Placing myself near the shattered butt, which seemed to be the spot most +numerously frequented by them, I put down the bag with my foot at one +end of it, holding the string in my hands, and leaving only a very small +opening, which I could close of a sudden. + +I waited eagerly. Rats ran about near my feet, leapt over the bag, and +skipped and frolicked, uttering squeaks of delight. Still none came +actually into the bag. At last one more curious than his fellows poked +his nose into the opening. I felt him running along inside, having +discovered a biscuit within. With a sudden jerk I quickly closed the +mouth of the bag. I felt about with my fingers, and soon came upon +Master Rat inside. As I didn't wish to give him the opportunity of +biting me, I grasped him tightly by the neck, and squeezed out his life. + +After drawing him out, I again put down the bag to tempt some more of +his kindred, while I held him up by the tail. In a few minutes I felt +others approaching, curious to explore the interior of the bag. I again +gave a sudden jerk, and found that I had caught no less than three, who, +as they felt themselves drawn up, began fighting and biting at each +other, and would, I believe, had I not speedily put them out of +existence, have been like the Kilkenny cats, and left only their tails +behind them. + +I had now ample food, though not of the character most people would have +desired, and had also a bag to keep it in. I soon disposed of the first +rat, with which I ate some small pieces of pickle as a relish, and I +must confess that I enjoyed my meal amazingly. To me it appeared of a +peculiarly delicate character. I could have eaten another rat with +perfect satisfaction, but I considered it prudent to wait, so as not to +give myself a surfeit. + +Before long, however, I was again hungry, and on this occasion I ate two +rats with some small pieces of pickle and drank a pint or more of water. + +I now felt sufficiently strong to recommence my attempt at escape. I +was prepared for difficulties of all sorts, as I knew that the cargo had +been much displaced during the storm. I have so often described my +journeys to and fro, that I am afraid of becoming wearisome, but I must +mention what now took place. + +As I made my way along I tumbled over several things which had not been +there before, and had evidently been thrown out of their places by a +violent jerk of the ship. At last I got to the bulkhead through which +with such infinite pains I had previously made my way. What was my +dismay to find it stopped! Human hands could certainly not have put the +obstacles there that I found. As I was feeling about I discovered a +huge case of some sort which had been thrown down from above, and +stopped up the way. It was not likely that my strength would be able to +remove it. + +After feeling about to ascertain if there was any opening at the side or +top through which I might squeeze myself, and finding none, I returned +for my handspike, thinking that I would at all events try to force the +case on one side or the other. It was so large, however, that when +making the attempt I could not move it in the slightest degree, and +after trying in all ways, I had to abandon the enterprise. + +I had been sensible of the greater closeness of the atmosphere, and I +had now no doubt that the case prevented the air which descended from +above from circulating through the hold as it before had done. The +temperature also, I had no doubt, was increasing as the ship got into +more southern latitudes, and I had some fears of being stewed alive. I +was already streaming with perspiration from my efforts. + +I was, indeed, in a weak state, which was but natural, so that I was +unable to undergo any exertion without feeling far more exhausted than I +had previously done. Sick and weary, I returned to my resting-place. I +was seriously afraid of falling really ill. If I did so, what hope +could I have of escaping? The olives and pickles and biscuits, which +had hitherto preserved me in health were exhausted. Rats' flesh might +serve to keep me alive for a few days, but alone would certainly be very +unwholesome. I was already beginning to feel a repugnance to eating it. +Perhaps this was in consequence of my having devoured two rats at one +meal. + +My chief refreshment was cold water, and that I found a great luxury. I +must have swallowed prodigious quantities of it, still the butt held +out; though, if my imprisonment lasted much longer, that also must come +to an end. I had never heard of hydropathy, but I was heartily willing +to sing its praises, and I have ever since been a resolute +water-drinker. + +I lay down to rest after my exertions, but my cogitations were not of an +agreeable character. I was in different moods. Sometimes I thought +that I would abandon all further attempts at escaping, and yield to my +fate; then I would shout out as loudly as my weak voice would allow: +"Help! Help! I am dying! Help! Help! Will any one come to take me +out of this place? Mercy! Mercy!" Finally a more courageous spirit +animated me. "I'll not yield while I have life!" I exclaimed. "I'll +cut my way with my knife through case after case, and draw out the +contents so that I may make a passage through them." + +I got up, feeling resolute and bold, taking my knife and my handspike +with me. I had no means of sharpening the blade of my knife except on a +hard piece of oak, and that was not very effectual. + +On reaching the place where the opening had been, I felt all over the +side of the chest. It didn't feel to be as even and regular as I had +expected to find it. I began at once to use my knife, so as to cut a +hole into the centre. As I pressed against it, the plank yielded +slightly. The operation must inevitably be a long one, so instead of +cutting on I took the handspike, and dealt several blows as hard as I +could strike. The first blow I struck produced a creaking sound. I +renewed my efforts. The plank began to give way. I struck again and +again. The side flew inwards. I then struck about so as to knock off +the splinters. I crept through the opening thus made, and from the +articles I then found I was convinced that it was the old crate through +which I had before made my way, and which had fallen down in front of +the opening. I was sure of this when I found that I could creep out +through the smaller fracture on the opposite side. + +Still I was not free. No light permeated between the bales and +packages. I felt about, but could not recognise any of the things with +which I was before acquainted. Many of the packages appeared so placed +that I might, without great care, bring them down on myself. Still, +being thus far free, I determined to persevere. I thought that if I +could once more get near the hatchway, I might be able to shout and make +myself heard. I tried in all directions to find an opening. At last I +thought that I discovered one at the spot from which the crate had +fallen. I clambered up one huge bale, then got on another, and I was +then on a higher level than I had been since I first fell into the hold. +I was rejoiced at the prospect of liberating myself, when a faintness +came over me, and I sank down on the top of the bale. + +As I thus lay I pictured to myself the crew above me going through their +usual avocations. I fancied that I could even hear their footsteps on +the deck, as they walked about or hauled at the ropes. I was sensible +of a gentle movement of the ship, which instead of tumbling furiously +about, was gliding on, rising and falling slowly to the sea. The air +was purer than that in the part from which I had made my way, and I +could breathe more freely. Had my strength been sufficient I should +have again shouted, as I felt sure I must have been heard, but when I +attempted to raise my voice it failed me altogether. I could scarcely +utter an articulate sound. I tried again and again, but in vain. I was +conscious that I was becoming weaker and weaker. + +One thing I was determined on, and that was not to return to the +dreadful hold. I looked back at it with horror, and I shuddered to +think of the amount of rats' flesh I had eaten. Yet in many respects I +was not better off than before. I had not found any food. My position +might be perilous in the extreme, for I could not tell what was around +me. I might, should a sudden breeze come on, be thrown back again to +the bottom of the hold. For some time I could not move, or exert my +mental or physical powers. I again thought that I was going to die; but +I was not really so weak as I supposed, for at length, a desire to live +returning, I raised myself and tried once more to work my outward way. +I could find no outlet, and as my voice had failed me, I was unable to +shout, but I could manage to move about. I was very thirsty, and +notwithstanding my previous resolution not to return to the lower part +of the hold, I thought the wisest thing I could do was to go down and +get a draught of water. I believed that I could easily find my way. I +let myself down off one bale and then another, till I came to the crate. +I crept through it, and curiously enough I felt as if I had returned +home. I walked up to the water-cask as if it had been an old friend, +with delight, and took a draught of water. It was cool and refreshing, +and revived me greatly. I felt hungry; I had hoped never again to eat +another rat, but the keenness of my appetite overcame my scruples, and I +took one out of the bag. I even thought of placing the bag ready to +catch some more. I, however, only ate one of the creatures, though not +without difficulty, in spite of my hunger. I then bathed my face and +washed my hands, to look a little more respectable should I ere long +make my appearance among the crew. For this purpose I withdrew the +spile, and allowed the fresh water to trickle first over my hands, and +then over my face. This still further refreshed me, and I wished that I +had performed a similar operation oftener. Had I not suspected that the +water at the bottom of the hold must have been by this time very foul, I +should have taken off my clothes and had a bath. + +I refrained, however, from doing this, and contented myself with the +pleasant sensation of feeling cleaner than I had been for a long time. +I suspect that had I had a looking-glass placed before me, I should not +have known myself. On feeling my arms and legs, they seemed like those +of a skeleton; my cheeks were hollow, and my hair long and tangled. The +rat which I had last eaten had dulled the sense of hunger. I felt a +peculiar sensation afterwards, which convinced me more than ever that I +could not long exist on rats' flesh. I fancy that I might have been +wrong. + +It was night when I made my last attempt to get upwards, so I thought +that I would take a sleep and renew my efforts in the daytime, when I +should have a better chance of attracting notice should I get near the +hatchway. I accordingly lay down to rest, hoping that it would be the +last time I should have to sleep in the hold. I took only short +snatches of sleep. + +When I awoke I lay for some time without moving, and could not help +thinking over and over again of the events which had occurred since I +left the quay at Liverpool. I knew that the end of my confinement must +be approaching in some form or other; I should either die, or be +restored to the open air. In spite of the wretched condition to which I +had been reduced, I had a strong wish to live. I especially wanted to +go back to assure Aunt Deb that I had not intentionally run away, and +also to relieve the minds of my father and mother, and brothers and +sisters, of the anxiety I believed they must have felt on my account. +Suddenly also I remembered with painful distinctness the remarks Mr +Butterfield had made respecting Captain Longfleet, the commander of the +"Emu," and his ruffianly crew. Certainly their appearance was not in +their favour; and old Growles, who had received me so surlily, was not a +good specimen of British seamen. What if the ship should prove to be a +pirate, instead of an honest trader? I had heard of the crews of +vessels, fitted out at Liverpool, assisting slavers on the coast of +Africa in carrying out their nefarious trade, some committing all sorts +of atrocities. + +Should the "Emu" prove to be one of these, even if I were not hove +overboard, I might be sold as a slave in the Spanish possessions, +perhaps to labour in the mines among the hapless Indians, who are thus +employed by their cruel taskmasters. "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis +folly to be wise," and I should have been much less anxious had I not +heard so much about such things. I remembered especially a yarn old +Riddle told me one day about a messmate of his, Toney Lawson. I may as +well try to give the yarn in his own words, though that may be a hard +matter, and I can scarcely hope to do full justice to his narrative. + +"Toney, d'ye see, was once on a time knocking about Plymouth, after he +had been paid off from the ship he last sailed in, when who should he +meet but Joe Gubbins, who had served with him for many years gone by. +Joe had always been a wild slip of a fellow when he was a youngster. + +"Said Joe to Toney, `What are you doing in these 'ere parts, old Ship?' + +"Toney told him how he had been paid off and had pretty well emptied his +pockets of shiners, and was thinking that before long he must join +another craft. + +"`That's just what I was a thinking of too, so just step in here, mate, +and we'll have a talk about the matter over a glass or two,' and he +pointed to the door of a public-house which stood temptingly open to +entice passers-by. + +"Toney was not one of those chaps to get drunk on every occasion, but he +had no objection to good liquor when it came in his way. So, intending +to pay for what he had, he went in with Joe. Joe boasted of a craft he +had served aboard--a privateer, he called her. She had taken no end of +prizes, and had made every one on board her as rich as Jews, only +somehow or other they didn't keep their money as well as Jews did, `and +that's the reason why my pockets ain't lined as well as they were a few +weeks ago,' observed Joe. Toney, who was a steady sort of a man, didn't +quite like the account Joe gave of the `Viper's' cruise Joe was talking +about. + +"`Why, to my mind, she's no better than a bloodthirsty pirate,' he said. + +"Joe laughed. `You're too particular, mate,' said he. `'Tain't no +worse than many another crew afloat.' + +"However, he didn't press the point any longer, but emptying his glass, +called upon Toney to drink up his, and ordered more and more liquor in, +when Toney said he would not take another drop. At last Toney didn't +know what happened except that he found himself slipping off from his +seat on to the sandy floor, and could not, for the life of him, get up +again. He thought it would be better to go to sleep where he was, so he +coiled himself away to have a snooze. When he woke he tried to +recollect what had happened. + +"He remembered that he had been sitting with Joe Gubbins, and that he +somehow or other got down on the floor, so he felt about, thinking he +was there still. But all was dark; and instead of a sandy floor and the +legs of the tables and chairs, his hand touched only some hard pitchy +planks. He stretched out his arm as high as he could, and found that +there was a deck close above him. He crawled along, and came right +against a bulkhead. He knew then that he must be on board a craft of +some sort. He was not a man to make a fuss about nothing; and as he was +still only half awake, he thought he might as well turn round and go to +sleep again. + +"When he roused up a second time, he felt the vessel moving to the heave +of the sea. He had been too long afloat not to know that she was making +good way through the water with a fresh breeze. As he was getting +somewhat hungry, he didn't want to be any longer down in the hold. He +thought it was time to sing out and let those on board know where he +was. Having a good pair of lungs of his own, he shouted pretty lustily, +but no one came near him, nor hailed him. + +"`This seems a curious job,' he said to himself; `have they taken me for +a bale of goods and hove me down here to stay till they discharge +cargo?' + +"Presently he heard the sound of a gun fired overhead; right aft, he +judged, for he knew well enough by the movements of the vessel which way +she was going. Then another, and another followed; then came a cheer, +though he heard it but faintly down where he was. The guns again went +off. He guessed that the craft he was on board of was being chased, and +that the cheer was given because the crew had knocked away some of the +enemy's spars. He could hear two or three shots strike the hull of the +vessel, so he knew that they were not having the game all to themselves. +Being fond of fighting, he wished that he was on deck to take his share +in it. There was no use wishing without trying to get out, but +whichever way he moved he found a strong bulkhead. + +"Though he kicked with all his might he could not start a plank. He +tried again and again, till every muscle in his body ached. At last he +had to give it up. His temper was not growing very sweet, as may be +supposed. He began to think whether it was Joe Gubbins that had brought +him aboard, for he didn't come of his own accord, of that he was +certain. He vowed that he would pay Joe off whenever he fell in with +him. At last the firing ceased. He felt, by the quiver running through +every plank and timber that the craft was carrying as much sail as she +could bear. There was no more cheering, and he could not tell whether +she had got away altogether, or was still trying to escape from a big +enemy. He tried to fancy why he was kept down there all this time. He +supposed that he had been forgotten by whoever brought him aboard. He +could not tell whether the vessel was a king's ship or a privateer, but +that she was not a merchantman he was pretty sure. Perhaps, if she was +a man-of-war, or a privateer, she was being chased by a Frenchman, but +if she was a pirate she was more likely to be running from an English +frigate than any other. Still it was not likely that a pirate would +venture into Plymouth Sound. + +"In either case Toney didn't relish the thoughts of being captured. In +one there would be a French prison in store for him, and in the other a +man-of-war captain would not believe that he had been brought aboard +against his will, and would declare that he had stowed himself away to +escape. At last he got so hungry that he began to fear he should be +starved to death. He tried another shout. His voice didn't reach those +on deck. He knew by this time that it must be night. Having nothing +better to do, he was going off to sleep when he heard a bolt withdrawn +from the outside, and a light streamed in to where he lay. + +"`Who are you?' he asked, springing up and knocking his head against the +deck above him with a force which sent him backwards. + +"`I'm coming to see how you're getting on, mate,' answered his visitor. + +"`Badly enough,' said Toney, `I'm as hungry as a shark, and don't like +being shut up down here. Who are you?' + +"`I've been sent down here to ask if you'll, like a wise man, join this +craft. She wants hands, and as you're well-known to be a good seaman, +you'll get a good berth aboard.' + +"`I never join a craft unless I know what sort of a captain and +messmates I'm a-going to have,' said Toney. + +"`There are times when a man mustn't be over particular,' said his +visitor. `You're a fool if you don't say yes, so just come on deck and +sign articles. You'll learn all about this craft afterwards.' + +"`No, no,' said Toney; `I never buy a pig in a poke. Tell me what? +Want to know, then I'll tell you whether I'll join or not.' + +"`You'll join, whether you like it or not,' said his visitor with a +growl. `You've chosen to come aboard, and we don't allow idlers.' + +"`I didn't choose to come aboard,' said Toney. `Somebody brought me +aboard when I was obfuscated, I suppose, and I'll have a reckoning with +that somebody before long.' + +"`If that's your notion you'll stay where you are,' said his visitor, +and he slammed the door and bolted it. + +"Toney was a determined fellow, but there was one thing he couldn't +stand, and that was hunger. He got worse and worse. He could not +sleep, and he could not shout out. By the time his visitor came again +he was as meek as a lamb. + +"`Are you going to join or are you not?' was the question. + +"`I give in,' said Toney. + +"`Come along then,' said his visitor. + +"Toney crawled out and up the ladder of the main hatchway. He found +that he was on board a brigantine, a rakish-looking craft, with several +officers standing aft by the captain, and a numerous crew, among whom he +saw Joe Gubbins. He couldn't help lifting his fist and shaking it at +Joe, who stood with a brazen face looking as if the threat could not be +intended for him. + +"`Are you hungry, my man?' asked an officer, whom he supposed to be the +captain. + +"`Can't say but what I am,' said Toney. + +"`Then there'll be plenty of grub for you when you've signed these +articles.' + +"`Should like to know what they are, sir,' said Toney. + +"`There's the book; you may read them,' said the captain. `Put your +name down at the bottom of the page.' + +"Now Toney was no great hand at reading or writing. He could just +manage to scrawl his name. He tried to make out what the articles were +about, but it was more than he could do. + +"`Come, my man, are you ready for your grub?' asked the captain. + +"Toney felt as if he should drop if he didn't get something to eat, and +just then a whiff from the galley came across his nose. He took the pen +and managed to write his name, in a fashion. + +"`That'll do, my man,' says the captain. `You're now one of the crew, +and under my orders. We've pretty strict discipline aboard here. +There's the yard-arm, and there's the sea alongside.' + +"Toney was now allowed to go forward and enjoy a good blow out, which he +much needed. He felt more like himself afterwards. He soon showed that +there was not a better seaman aboard. + +"Nothing particular occurred to show the character of the vessel. Joe +kept out of his way until he got into a better temper, and they became +very good friends again. They ran to the southward till they were in +the latitude of the Guinea Coast, when they fell in with a craft, into +which they discharged part of their cargo in exchange for some bags of +gold. They now carried on in a strange way, chasing several vessels, +capturing some and taking their cargoes out of them, in spite of what +their crews could say, afterwards putting them on board a Spanish or a +Portuguese craft and getting doubloons in exchange. Their guns and +their numerous crew made resistance impossible. They were wonderfully +successful in their proceedings, until one day they fell in with a +British frigate and had to up stick and run for it. The African coast +had become too hot for them, so they stood away for the Caribbean Sea +and Spanish Main. Here they carried on worse than before. The crews of +all vessels which resisted were made to walk the plank, and the vessels, +after everything had been taken out worth having, were sent to the +bottom. + +"Toney, being an honest man, could not stand this; but he knew that, +being tarred with the same brush, if taken he would share the fate of +the rest. He determined to cut and run on the first opportunity. A +strict watch was kept on him; and Joe, who knew his thoughts, hinted +that the yard-arm would be his fate if he made the attempt and failed. +Still he was resolved to try and get off, but the matter was settled for +him in a way he little expected. The brigantine, during a heavy gale +one night, was struck by lightning and blew up, Toney and two others +only finding themselves floating among the wreck. Joe Gubbins was one +of these. Toney managed to get hold of the mainmast and clambered into +the top, where he got his legs out of the water and was trying to help +Joe Gubbins, when Joe, with a shriek, disappeared. The other man shared +the same fate. Toney expected to die, but the next day he was picked up +by an English sloop-of-war; and as he took care not to give a very clear +account of the craft he had been aboard of, he was allowed to enter as +one of her crew. Here he met Roger Riddle, to whom he gave the account +of his adventure." + +I thought to myself perhaps the "Emu" is employed in the same sort of +trade as the "Viper," and if so, I shall be as badly off as Toney +Lawson. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + + The hold--My provisions become exhausted--A fresh attempt at escape-- + Pressed by hunger, I persevere--The spar-deck--Not out yet--A ray of + light--My prostrate condition--My mind gives way--A curious trio--The + main hatchway--Fresh difficulties arise--A last effort--I am rescued-- + Ghost of a ghost--I make a new friend and meet with an old one--The + crew of the ship--My new quarters--I receive a piece of advice from my + new friend--Mark's adventures, and how he came aboard the "Emu"--Poor + Jack Drage--Mark gets into trouble. + +The recollection of Toney Lawson's adventure didn't tend to make me feel +any more comfortable than before. I could scarcely hope to be as well +off as he was, or to have so fortunate an escape. My provisions being +exhausted, I was aware that I must soon get out of the hold or perish, +yet I didn't anticipate much satisfaction from obtaining my liberty. No +time was, however, to be lost, and I therefore nerved myself up for a +fresh struggle. Feeling that I had my knife about me, and having put on +my shoes, I prepared to make a desperate attempt to effect my escape. I +crawled on through the crate, and once more attempted to climb up over +the packages into the main hold. + +I tried to do this in several directions, but I found no opening so +promising as the one which I had before explored. My weakness prevented +me from making the exertions that were required to force my way between +the bales. I was in momentary fear of falling down a crevice, and being +jammed to death. My situation in some respects was infinitely worse +than that of Toney Lawson, who was bolted in, but then people knew where +he was. No one on deck was aware of my deplorable condition. Still I +crawled on, resolved to succeed. While feeling about, I discovered a +space between three or four bales. I crept in very much as a rat does +into his hole, only he knows where he is going. I could not tell +whether I should get through or have to force my way out again legs +first. Still the cravings of hunger induced me to venture. On I crept, +when on putting up my hand I found that there was nothing above me which +I could touch, so that I was able to stand upright, though there might +be some depth in front down which I might fall. + +I moved with the greatest caution. It turned out, however, that they +were only bales piled one upon another, and that I was standing in a +sort of well. Still there were stepping-places, and with the ropes +which bound the bales I was able to work my way upwards. Higher and +higher I got. I could now distinctly hear the footsteps of the men on +the deck, which I guessed, therefore, could be no great distance above +me. The ship must have been moving calmly along, and I was thus +preserved from being jerked off from the place to which I was clinging. +I still moved on till I reached a part of the hold filled chiefly, it +appeared to me, with large packing-cases and casks. I was almost on a +level floor. It might have been the spar-deck. Wearied with the +fatigue I had undergone, I sat down on a box to rest. I could now +distinctly hear not only the tread of the men's feet, but their voices. +They were the first human voices which had reached my ears for days, or +rather weeks. I tried to shout to attract their attention, but my voice +had completely failed me. Not a sound could I utter. I felt that I had +not strength to move an inch further. + +Twice I made the attempt, and had to sink back again on my seat. I was +gazing upward, the only direction from which help could come, when a ray +of light streamed right upon me. Forgetting my weakness, I started up. +It must come, I knew, from the partly open hatchway, or from a fracture +in the hatch itself. This I afterwards found to have been the case, the +fracture being covered up with a tarpaulin, which had at that instant +been removed. Again I endeavoured to shout out, but my voice was not +under the control of my will. No sounds issued from my mouth. I +stretched out my hands in an imploring attitude, fancying that I should +be seen. I attempted to make my way directly under the opening, but ere +I could reach it I sank down utterly exhausted. + +I had never before been so completely prostrated. I didn't lose my +senses, but all physical power had deserted me. I could scarcely move +my hands or feet; still I thought that the hatch must be again opened +before long, and that I could not fail to be discovered. I earnestly +prayed that help might be sent me. How it was to come I could not tell. +Notwithstanding what was before me, I still desired to be set free. +Although I was not sleeping, strange fancies filled my brain. I saw +people flit about in the darkness, suddenly coming into the light, and +then disappearing. Some were people I knew, and others were strangers. +Aunt Deb and Mr Butterfield came by, tripping it lightly, holding each +other's hands, he in a bob wig with a sword by his side, she in +high-heeled red shoes and a cap decked with flowers and ribbons. She +smiled and ogled, as if about to dance a minuet. I almost laughed as I +saw them, they appeared so vivid and real. Then Captain Longfleet came +upon the scene as I fancied him, dressed in a cocked-hat and feathers, a +long sword buckled to his side, high boots, a red coat, and a waistcoat +braided with gold. + +I fancy that I must have seen some picture of the sort of a pirate +captain to cause him thus to be presented to my imagination. He walked +about flourishing his sword till he met Aunt Deb, to whom, instead of +cutting her head off, as I thought he was about to do, he made a +profound bow, and then vanished. Many other figures quite as bizarre +and unnatural appeared before me. I mention these trivial circumstances +to show the state of my mind. I had been so long by myself that I must +be pardoned if I appear egotistical. Again all was quiet. I lay for +some time, if not unconscious, with very little power of thought. I was +afraid that another night would come on, and that I should have to +endure my sufferings for some hours longer, if death did not put an end +to them. I could still hear the tread of the men's feet, and even the +voices of the officers, shouting their orders. How I wished that I +could shout also, for then I knew I should be heard. I tried once more +to move, and managed to drag myself on till I got directly under the +hatchway. Although I could not shout, to my surprise I heard myself +groaning. + +There being light sufficient to enable me to observe objects, my eye +fell upon a loose piece of wood. I grasped it with all my remaining +strength, and began beating away on the top of a cask, which proved to +be empty from the sound which emanated from it. I beat on and on, but +no notice appeared to be taken of the noise I was making. I was too ill +and weak to reason on the subject, but I remembered hearing a loud voice +shouting out some orders. Presently there came a tramp of feet +overhead, backwards and forwards and from side to side they seemed to +run. The crew were evidently engaged in shortening or making sail, +which it was I was unable to tell. I had sense enough remaining to know +that whilst this was going forward on deck it was not likely that notice +would be taken of my feeble knocking, for feeble it was, though it +sounded loud to me. + +Presently I felt a greater movement than I had experienced for some +time, and the ship heeled over on one side. My fear was that the cases +on which I lay might be again shifted, and that I might be thrown down +to some lower depth of the hold, with bales and casks above me. Of +course I am describing what I fancied might happen, not what was likely +to occur. I now guessed that a number of the crew must have gone aloft +to shorten sail, and that even if they had heard the noise they would +not have had time to ascertain what had caused it. I now more than ever +feared that, before I could be liberated, I should become utterly +exhausted, and should fall into a swoon from which I might never +recover. + +I was too weak to pray, or any longer exert myself. Still my senses did +not altogether desert me. I lay on my back, looking up towards the +hatchway. The ship heeled over more and more. To me, who had been +accustomed to live so long down near the keel, it appeared at a +frightful angle, and I though, she would go over altogether. Again I +heard voices shouting out orders, and the crew, I supposed, went aloft +to take in more sail. I was afraid that another storm was coming on. +Fearful would be the consequences to me if such should be the case. +Presently I heard something dragged over the hatchway. The ray of light +which had hitherto tended to keep up my waning spirits was obscured. + +A tarpaulin had been placed over the hatchway. Perhaps the crew were +about to batten down the hatches. In vain I tried, while this was going +forward, to strike the cask. I had not sufficient strength to do it. A +fearful faintness was coming over me. Perhaps the movement of the ship +contributed to this. I think I must have fainted, for I cannot +recollect what happened. I had no strength to hold on or to grasp the +stick, and might have been thrown helplessly about like a shuttlecock +till life was extinct. + +I fancy that some time must have passed. When I recovered my senses, my +first impulse was to feel for the stick. It was close to me. I had +power to grasp it. The top of the chest on which I lay was perfectly +level, but I expected to find it heeling over as before. Instead of +that, no movement took place. The ship was apparently gliding forward +on an even keel. The storm had ceased, or probably the ship had only +been struck by a sudden squall, which had passed over. + +My first impulse was again to try and strike the cask and to shout out, +but I could only utter a few low groans. I managed, however, to give +some blows on the cask, which resounded through the hold. The noise was +loud enough, I fancy, to be heard on deck, or indeed in every part of +the ship. I beat on and on. Presently the tarpaulin was drawn off, and +I heard some feet moving directly above me. A voice said distinctly, +"Below! What's that?" + +Almost immediately the hatch was removed, and as I looked up a flood of +light burst down upon me. For some seconds I could see nothing. +Gradually I made out a number of human faces peering down through the +hatchway. + +"Why, what can that be?" exclaimed one of the men. + +"Ghost of a ghost," cried another. + +"It can't be a live thing," said a third. + +"Why, Jack, I do believe it's a boy," exclaimed a fourth; "we must get +him up whatever he is, but how could he have come there?" + +Presently a ladder was let down. None of the men seemed inclined to +descend, evidently having some doubts as to my character, till the last +speaker, calling the others cowards, came down. Instead of at first +reviving me, the effect of the fresh air was to make me faint away. +When I recovered I found myself lying on the deck, surrounded by a +number of strange faces. A seaman--the one who, I suppose, had brought +me up--was supporting me and applying a wet cloth to my head and +shoulders, while another, kneeling down, was examining my countenance. + +"Why, youngster, how did you come aboard here? Where have you been ever +since we sailed from the Mersey?" he asked. + +Too weak to answer, I could only stretch out my hand and then point to +my lips, to show that I wanted food and water. + +"If you've been down in the hold all these weeks, no wonder that you +want something to eat," he remarked. + +Still he didn't move, or propose to obtain any refreshment for me. As +my lack-lustre eyes looked up at him, I recognised Gregory Growles, the +old seaman to whom I had at first spoken with my cutter under my arm. +No wonder that he didn't recollect me in my present forlorn and +dirt-begrimed condition. At last the seaman against whom I leant told +one of his messmates to get me some water. With indifference, if not +unwillingness, the man did as requested, and going to the water-butt on +deck brought me a mugful, which I greedily drank. + +"By the feel of his ribs he wants something more substantial than +water," observed my friend. "We must get the poor young chap into a +berth, and feed him up, or he'll be slipping his cable. There doesn't +seem to be much life in him now." + +"That will be seen." + +"What business had he to stow himself away, and make us all fancy that a +ghost was haunting the ship?" cried Growles, in a surly way. "We shall +hear what the captain has to say to him. To my notion, as he's made his +bed, so he'll have to lie on it." + +"Come, come, mate, it would be hard lines for the poor young chap if he +were left to die, without any of us trying to bring him through. I, for +one, can't stand by doing nothing, so just one of you lend a hand here, +and we'll put him into my berth, and get the cook to make some broth for +him," said the kind-hearted seaman. + +While he was speaking, a person, who was evidently one of the officers, +came forward and expressed his surprise at seeing me, and inquired why +he hadn't been informed of my having been discovered? + +The men replied, that I had only just been found and brought on deck, +and that they thought I was dying. + +"It would have saved trouble to have hove him overboard before he came +to himself," said the mate, with a careless laugh. "The captain doesn't +allow of stowaways, and we don't want any aboard here." + +He said this, I suppose, to frighten me, indifferent to the +consequences. + +"He's very bad, sir," said my friend, touching his hat, "and, maybe, it +won't much matter what is done with him; but if you'll give me leave, +I'll take him below to my berth, after we've washed off the dirt that +sticks to him. He wants food more than anything else to bring him +round, and when he's himself we can make some use of him at all events. +We want a boy forward very badly, and he'll be worth his salt, I've a +notion." + +"You may do what you like with him, Tom Trivett," answered the officer, +"only don't let us be bothered with him. We've trouble enough with +young Riddle, the mutinous young rascal. He'll have to look out for +himself, if he don't mind." + +The officer was the third mate of the ship, who happened just then to +have charge of the deck. He made further inquiries about how I had been +found, and asked the men whether they had before known of my being on +board? + +Trivett replied that they were entirely ignorant as to how I had come +into the ship, but that hearing peculiar noises, they lifted the hatch, +and that he had gone down and discovered me. + +"We shall hear by-and-by what he has to say for himself. In the +meantime, Trivett, take care of him, and I'll let the captain know he's +been found. He's the ghost you fellows have been frightened about," +said the mate. + +"We were no more frightened than he was," I heard some of the men utter, +"but who could tell where all those strange noises we heard came from +when any of us went down into the hold. He's precious ready to call us +cowards, but he was more frightened than we were. Why, he would never +go down unless he had a couple of hands with him." While this was going +on, Tom Trivett continued swabbing my head and neck. When the mate +walked aft he called to the cook to bring him a bucket of warm water +from the caboose, as well as a lump of soap, a scrubbing-brush, and a +piece of canvas. + +The sun was shining brightly, and the air was warm, so that I did not +feel the exposure so much as it might have been felt. Tom forthwith set +about to scrape me clean, taking his own pocket-comb to disentangle my +matted hair after he had washed it. The operation, though somewhat +hazardous, greatly refreshed me. Before it was concluded, Julius +Caesar, the black cook, who had some tender spot in his heart, brought +out a basin of soup, from which Trivett fed me as tenderly as a nurse +would a young child. This still further revived me. + +"You shall have some more, boy, when I have done a-cleaning you," said +Tom. + +The rest of the crew sat round making remarks, but not even offering to +assist their shipmate, evidently perfectly indifferent as to what +happened to me, though perhaps curious to see whether I should revive +under the treatment to which I was being subjected. Judging by the +colour of the water after I had been washed in it, I must have been as +black as a coal. I rather think Julius Caesar must have fancied that I +was one of his own race, and must have been greatly astonished at seeing +a blackamoor washed white. When the operation was concluded, Growles +again came and had a look at me. + +"Why, I do believe it's none other than the young chap who came aboard +us at Liverpool," he exclaimed. "I thought as when I saw him so often +that he was up to something, but never fancied that he was going to stow +himself away, or I should have been on the watch for him. Well, he'll +have to pay pretty smartly for the trick he has played us." + +My friend Tom took no notice of this and similar remarks made by others +of the crew; but after having again fed me, he called to a stout-looking +lad who was coming forward from the companion-hatchway to assist in +carrying me to his berth under the topgallant forecastle. The lad, +without hesitation, did as he was directed, and took up my legs, while +Tom lifted me by the arms. As I was being carried along, my eyes turned +towards the lad who was stepping backwards, when I at once recognised +him as Mark Riddle, though he looked very different to the smart young +chap he was when I last saw him, and he evidently did not know me. + +"Can't you find a shirt and a pair of trousers for the poor fellow?" +cried Tom; "his own want washing terribly." + +Mark ran aft, and in a short time returned with the garments, in which +Tom clothed me. + +Notwithstanding the food which had been given me, I was still too weak +to speak. He and Tom lifted me into an upper bunk on the starboard +side. As he did so, I stretched out my hand and seized his, which I +pressed between my bony fingers. I could just say, "Thank you, Mark." +He looked at me very hard, but still did not seem to have a suspicion +who I was. This was not surprising, as he did not even know that I had +gone to Liverpool. I was so altered, that even my mother would scarcely +have recognised me. He, however, asked Tom Trivett who I was. Tom +replied that I was a young stowaway, but that he knew no more about me +than did the man in the moon. + +"Go and fetch the remainder of the broth," I heard Tom say. "A little +more will do him good, and then if he gets a sound sleep he'll come +round, I have a notion." + +"If he does, it will only be to lead a dog's life," murmured Mark, as he +left to get the broth. + +Tom stood by me arranging the blankets, and trying to make me +comfortable till Mark returned with some soup, with some biscuits and +rice floating in it. Though I could drink the liquid, it was with +difficulty that I could masticate the latter, but I managed to get down +a few pieces. + +"He has eaten enough now," said Tom; "but, I say, Mark," he whispered, +"you keep an eye on him whenever you can, so that none of the fellows +play him any tricks. They'd do so, though they knew he was dying, out +of devilry." + +"Aye, aye," answered Mark. "They shan't hurt the poor young chap if I +can help it, though I've enough to do to keep clear of them myself." + +"Well, we shall be three now, and shall be better able to stand up +against them," said Tom. + +I heard no more; for after taking the food a drowsiness crept over me, +and I fell into a sound sleep. When I awoke I was in the dark, and felt +very much more comfortable than I had for a long time. At first I +fancied that I was down in the hold, but the loud snoring and groaning +of the men in the neighbouring bunks made me remember what had happened. +I felt about, and was soon convinced that I was in Tom Trivett's bunk, +in a clean shirt and trousers, and a blanket over me. I heard the watch +below turn out, the others shortly afterwards came in, but no one took +any notice of me. + +When the latter were fast asleep I heard some one come into the berth +and stop near my bunk. + +"Who's that?" I asked. + +"Glad to see you can speak again, my lad," said the person whom by his +voice I knew to be Tom Trivett. "Do you feel better?" + +"Yes, thank you," I answered. "You've saved my life, and I'm very +grateful to you." + +"Don't talk o' that, lad," he said, "it's not much good I can do in the +world, but I couldn't bear to see you allowed to die from neglect, +though I'm afraid there are hard times coming for you. You're among as +rough a lot as ever sailed on the salt ocean, and that's saying a good +deal. I want to give you a piece of advice; I mayn't have another +chance of giving it. Don't be in a great hurry to get well, for though +the fellows, bad as they are, won't have the cruelty to ill-treat you +while you're sick, as soon as you come round they'll be down upon you, +and you'll find that they'll give you more kicks than ha'pence. +However, you must not mind them. Don't attempt to retaliate, for +they're too many for you. Above all things don't grow sulky as poor +Mark did, and has ever since well-nigh had his life knocked out of him. +Now I must go on deck as it's my watch, but remember what I have said." + +I again thanked Tom, and just as he was going I asked him if he could +get me any more food. + +"I'll try and get you something as soon as the cook turns out; but he's +asleep in his bunk, and at this hour it would be a difficult job to find +any. I'll tell Mark, however, to ask him when he wakes, though I'd +advise you to go off to sleep again." + +Saying this, Tom left the berth, and I once more closed my eyes. I was +awakened by the men turning out. + +The light streamed in at the door, showing me that it was morning. In +consequence of the advice I received from Tom, I kept quiet and +pretended to be asleep. Soon afterwards I saw Mark Riddle standing by +my side. + +"Tom told me you're hungry, boy," he said; "so I managed to get +something for you from the pantry. I hope it won't be discovered, or +the third mate will be giving me a rope's-ending." + +He had brought me a captain's biscuit and a slice of ham, with a tin mug +of water. + +"I'll bring you a cup of hot coffee," he said, handing me the food. + +Hungry as I was I could not help exclaiming, "What, don't you know me, +Mark?" + +He looked at me very hard, still not remembering me. + +"No, I don't think I ever saw you before," he answered; "but how do you +happen to know my name?" + +"I didn't think I was so changed," I said. "I'm Dick Cheveley." + +"Dick Cheveley!" he cried out, looking at me still harder; "Dick +Cheveley on board this ship! And yet it must be; and are you really +Dick Cheveley?" + +"I don't believe I'm anybody else, though I have sometimes fancied I +must be." + +"Yes, yes, I see you're Master Cheveley," cried Mark, "though I can't +say I feel much happier to see you for your own sake, though I'm right +glad for mine to have you with me," taking my hand and grasping it. +"Oh, Master Cheveley, what did bring you aboard?" + +I briefly told him while I was discussing the food he brought me. + +"It's a bad business for you, Master Dick," he said; "but the only thing +now to be done is to make the best of it. They're a precious bad lot, +and the captain and officers are no better. I've made up my mind to run +as soon as I can, and I'd advise you to do the same." + +"That I certainly will when I have somewhere to run to, but at present +it seems we should have to run overboard," I answered. + +"We must wait until we get into harbour. We shall have to touch at a +good many places, and if we keep our wits about us we shall manage it +one way or another." + +"We'll talk about that by-and-by, but tell me how you happened to be +here. I heard that you had been sent on board a man-of-war," I said. + +"So I was, and I wish I had remained aboard her, too; but as I had been +sent against my will, I cut and run on the first chance I got. She was +the `Beagle' sloop of war. We were ordered to cruise on the Irish +coast. We were not far off the town of Belfast, when a boat's crew to +which I belonged pulled ashore under charge of a mid-shipmite. While he +went into a house to deliver a message, I ran off as fast as my legs +could carry me. I at last reached a cottage in which there was a +whiteheaded old fellow, a girl, and two young men. I told them that I +had been pressed and ill-treated, and was trying to make my escape from +the cruelty of the English. The young men said at once that they would +protect me, and would answer that I should not be retaken. The old man +warned them that they were playing a dangerous game, and said that he +would have nothing to do with the business, advising them to take me +back to the boat. The girl, however, pleaded for me, and observed that +now I had run, my punishment would be ten times greater, and that it +would be cruel and inhospitable to refuse me shelter. She prevailed on +her old grandfather. That evening the young men took me down aboard a +little `hooker,' which they said was just going to sail for Liverpool, +and that if I liked I could go in her. Her cargo, they said, was timber +and fruit, but turned out to be faggots and potatoes. I knew that at +Liverpool there was no chance of being discovered, and I at once agreed. +We reached the Mersey in a couple of days. As ill-luck would have it, +I landed close to where the `Emu' was getting ready for sea. Knowing +that I could not venture to return home, I went on board and asked if a +boy was wanted. The first mate at once said yes, as one of the +apprentices had cut and run and could not be found. I thought I was in +good luck, but we hadn't been to sea many days before I found that I had +fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire. The other apprentice, poor +Jack Drage, told me that he had been kicked and cuffed from the first +moment that he had stepped on board, and that if he had had any friends +on shore, he'd have taken French leave as the other had done. Things +had grown worse instead of better, and he was already weary of his life. +I advised him not to give in; that in time things must mend; but he was +a poor-hearted fellow and only wrung his hands and cried, declaring that +he was utterly miserable. I did my best to keep up his spirits, but it +was all of no use. One night during a gale we had soon after sailing, +he disappeared. Whether he had thrown himself overboard into the sea, +or been knocked overboard no one could tell. Of course it was entered +in the log that he had been knocked overboard. In my opinion he +sacrificed his life rather than endure his miseries. I told the first +mate so, and he knocked me down. The next time he called me a sulky +rascal, but I answered that I was not going to do away with myself like +Jack Drage, and that I would make a complaint of him to the British +Consul whenever we touched at a port. On this he knocked me down again. +I know that I was taken with the sulks, and for days afterwards didn't +speak to him or any one else; but as I had no wish to be killed, I did +what I was ordered to do, and got on somewhat better. Ever since that +not a day passes that I don't get a kick or have a marline-spike hove at +my head by either the officers or men forward. They're all very much +alike for that matter, except Tom Trivett, and he's as good a fellow as +ever lived. He has a hard life of it, for the men are always playing +him tricks; and the officers spite him, and are constantly making him do +dirty jobs which no able seaman should be called on to perform. But, I +say, I mustn't stand talking here any longer, or I shall be suspected of +being your friend. Don't let any one find out that we know each other, +and we shall get on all the better. I'll tell Tom Trivett, and he'll +bring you the coffee if I can't manage it; meanwhile you stay quiet in +the bunk, even if you feel well enough to get up." + +"There is no chance of my being able to do that for some days," I +answered, "for I don't think I could stand if I were to try." + +Mark now left me, and I fell back nearly exhausted from having talked so +long to him. + +After some time Tom appeared with a basin of hot black coffee, with some +biscuit floating in it. + +"Can't I have a little milk?" I asked. + +"We've not any cows on board here," he answered with a laugh; "and there +are no dairies in the Atlantic, unless Daddy Neptune happens to keep +sea-cows." + +"You must have thought me very silly to ask for milk," I said, as I ate +up the sopped biscuit, and drank the hot coffee, which was well +sweetened with sugar. + +"It shows you are something of a greenhorn, lad," he answered, laughing, +"but no wonder your wits aren't of the brightest after having been shut +up in the dark so long; you shall have something else by-and-by. +Remember what I told you; don't be getting well too soon, that's all." + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + + My convalescence--Julius Caesar befriends me--We pass the Cape de + Verde Islands--Our hopes of a change of diet disappear--My turn at + last--A severe discipline--Captain Longfleet--"Please, sir, I couldn't + help it"--"There goes the baby and his nurse"--Caesar's sympathy--How + I owed my life to Tom Trivett--Bad food--"It makes me sick to cook + it"--The deputation to the captain--The discontent increases among the + crew--Crossing the line--"What ship is that?"--We receive a visit from + Daddy Neptune and his court--Rough play, and what it might have come + to. + +I intended to take the advice of my friend and not get well too soon, +but in reality there was no malingering in the case, for I remained too +low and weak to get out of my bed. + +Tom Trivett all the time, having given up his berth to me, slept in a +far more uncomfortable bunk right forward, but never uttered a word of +complaint, or tried to induce me to turn out. His was true Samaritan +charity, and I was grateful to him. He even, I knew, tried to influence +the rest of the crew for good, but did not succeed. They let him alone, +which was all he could expect of them. The third mate, who knew I was +there, never came near me to inquire how I was getting on. + +Mark paid me a visit whenever he could venture to do so, and brought me +my food when Tom was on duty. + +The only other man who was kind to me was Julius Caesar, the black cook, +and he frequently sent me wholesome messes which he had concocted for my +special benefit; but he had to charge Mark and Tom not to let the other +men see them, lest they should be gobbled up on their way. Mark told me +this, for Julius Caesar himself never came to have a look at me. + +"If I come, den dey say I friend of his--it worse for him." + +Both Mark and Caesar slept in the larboard berth, so that they had no +business in the one I occupied. + +I should explain that the space under the topgallant forecastle was +divided by a bulkhead running fore and aft into parts forming separate +cabins, one called the starboard, and the other the larboard berths, +with bunks built up on both sides, one above another, or rather, in two +stories, to explain myself better. + +In moderate weather they were tolerably comfortable, but with the sun +beating down on the deck they were fearfully hot. In a gale of wind, as +the seas dashed against the bows or she pitched into them, the noise and +movement were tremendous. However, to that I in time got accustomed. + +Sometimes the decks and upper works leaked, and the water coming in +wetted the clothes and bedding. However, in other respects they were +better than the forepeak in a flush-decked ship, which is generally +close and hot, full of horrible odours, and totally destitute of +ventilation, and often wet into the bargain, from unseen leaks which are +not of sufficient consequence to trouble the officers, as they do not +affect the safety of the ship. + +At length, one day Tom told me that we were within sight of the Cape de +Verde Islands, at which he believed the captain intended to call. He +was very glad, he said, of this, as he hoped to be able to get me a +supply of oranges and limes, which he thought would do me more good than +anything else. + +The very name of fruit made my mouth water, and I thought I would give a +great deal just to have one good suck at an orange. Great was my +disappointment, therefore, when shortly afterwards Mark came in, and +said that a strong north-easterly wind had sprung up, and that we were +standing away from the islands, but that the captain, he believed, +intended to put into Rio de Janeiro. + +"I must wait patiently till we get there," I said. "I hope it won't +take us long." + +"We have to pass through the horse latitudes, and to cross the line +first, and Rio is some way to the south of that, so I'm afraid you must +suck your fingers instead of oranges," he answered. + +I was now rapidly getting better, and I began to pine for fresh air and +exercise. + +"You'll be wiser to stay where you are, Master Dick," said Mark. "No +one believes that you're a gentleman's son, and if they did I'm very +sure it would make very little difference. I should, perhaps, benefit +by your getting about, as you would have all the dirty work to do which +now falls to my lot. It's only surprising that the captain has allowed +you to remain so long in the berth, for he knows that you're aboard, +though he takes no notice of you. Still I'd advise you, as long as you +can, to stay where you are." + +I had not long the opportunity. Two days afterwards the third mate came +into the berth with a short, knotted rope in his hand. + +"Come, youngster, you have been long enough malingering here," he +exclaimed; "I find the cook has been serving out no end of good grub to +you, and you've done nothing for it. We don't want idlers aboard the +`Emu;' show a leg there pretty smartly." + +I attempted to rise. Tom had washed and dried my clothes. I got hold +of my trousers, and slipt my legs into them. When I attempted to stand +upright, my knees gave way and down I sank. At the same moment the +mate's colt descended on my back. I was taken so completely by surprise +that I shrieked out with pain. I tried to lift myself up by the +supports of the bunk, and succeeded in getting on my feet. + +"I thought I'd cure you. Do you want another dose of this rope?" + +"Oh! No, sir! No, sir! Don't! I'll dress as fast as I can," I called +out. + +The moment I let go I felt that I must slip down again. Still the fear +of another lash made me exert myself in a way I could not otherwise have +done, and I tried very hard to put on my waistcoat and jacket, and to +tie my handkerchief, by sitting down on a lower bunk. + +"Now, come along!" said the mate; "the captain wants to speak to you." + +I attempted to walk, but as I tottered on my knees again failed me, and +I should have fallen had not the mate caught me by the shoulders and +dragged me along the deck. + +It was a severe discipline, but it was effective, for the air and the +necessity of moving quickly brought back strength to my limbs, and by +the time I reached the quarterdeck I was able to keep my feet, though I +should have fallen had not the mate still held me. + +We there found the captain pacing to and fro. On turning he stopped +when he saw me. + +"Is this the young stowaway, Mr Huggins?" he asked, eyeing me very +sternly. "What business had you to come aboard, boy, without leave?" + +"Please, sir, I couldn't help it," I said, and I told him that when +merely intending to look round the ship I had fallen into the hold. + +"A likely story, youngster, which I don't intend to believe. You came +on board to please yourself, and now you'll learn to please me, and do +the work you're set to do." + +"I'll do my best, sir," I answered, for I saw he was not a man to be +trifled with; "but I am not fit for much at present." + +"You contrived to live down in the hold in an extraordinary manner--how +did you manage it?" + +I told him in a few words. + +"Another likely story," he remarked. "In other words, you stole the +ship's provisions as long as you could get at them, or you had an +accomplice who kept you fed--he'll be made to smart for it." + +On hearing this, I began to tremble for the consequences to Mark. +Though the captain didn't mention his name, I guessed that he pointed at +him. I was much inclined to say who I was, and to speak of Mr +Butterfield, but shame prevented me, and the captain made no inquiries +on the subject. + +"Now go forward," he said; "look out sharp, get back your strength, and +make yourself useful." + +He turned on his heel, not deigning to hold any further conversation +with so insignificant a person as he considered me. + +The mate let me go. I tried to walk, but staggered like a drunken man, +and could only just manage to reach the side, and catch hold of a +belaying-pin. I remained there until the captain turned round, when, +afraid of his looks, I once more set off to make my way along the deck, +the mate taking no trouble to help me, while the crew jeered and laughed +at me; till Tom Trivett, who had been at work on the other side, +crossing over, took my arm and led me along to the forehatch, where he +bade me sit down. + +"There goes the baby and his nurse," said one of the men. + +"Tom will be getting him some pap presently," said another--at which +they laughed in chorus. + +The third mate, seeing Tom standing over me, ordered him back to his +work. Mark made an attempt to join me, but was sent to perform some +task or other, and I was left alone and forlorn to endure the gibes of +my hardhearted shipmates. + +Caesar, however, came out of his caboose, and whispered as he passed-- + +"Neber you mind, Dick, as long dey only use der tongue." + +He grinned and pointed with his finger, so that the rest fancied that he +was only mocking me as they were. + +Notwithstanding this, the fresh air and the necessity of exerting myself +did me good, and after I had taken some food that Caesar brought me when +the men went into their berth to dinner, I felt quite another creature. + +At nightfall I was allowed to slink into my bunk, of which Tom still +refused to deprive me. + +"I'm very well where I am. I'm accustomed to it, and you are not, +Dick," he said, when I begged him to let me change places. + +The next day I was still better, and after this I rapidly recovered my +strength, notwithstanding the cuffs and kicks and rope's-endings I +frequently received, and the hard work I had to perform. + +My clothes were soon again as dirty as they were when I came out of the +hold, and torn and tattered besides. + +"Never mind, Dick," said Tom; "I'll rig you out in a suit of mine, which +I'll cut down to suit you when we get into colder latitudes. It doesn't +much matter about having old clothes now the weather is so hot." + +Mark regretted that he could not help me, as he had only the clothes he +stood up in, which would have been almost as bad as my own had they not +been of stronger material, and thus held out better. + +Though the rest of the crew ill-treated Mark and me, and Tom also when +they had the chance, the captain and officers tyrannised over them in +the most brutal fashion. It was no unusual occurrence for the first +mate to heave a handspike at one of the men when he did not go about his +work in a way to please him, and both captain and mates swore at the men +on all occasions in the most fearful way. + +At first I was horrified, but in time I got as much accustomed to it as +they were, and was only thankful that the oaths were not accompanied by +a rope's-ending. + +All this time the discipline was really very slack, and the men behaved +to each other as they pleased, and never failed to neglect their duty +whenever the mates' eyes were off them. Still they resented, +notwithstanding, the treatment they received, growling fiercely, if not +loudly, when the quality of their provisions had begun to fall off. At +first the food had been pretty good, but it now became worse and worse, +and the men swore that they would stand it no longer. At last, when +some rancid pork had been served out with musty peas and weevilly +biscuits, the men went aft in a body, headed by the boatswain, Sass +Jowler, and Growles, who were deputed to be spokesmen, to the +quarterdeck, where the captain was walking. + +"I axes you, Captain Longfleet, whether you think this ere stuff is fit +food for British seamen?" said the boatswain, holding up a piece of the +pork at the end of a two-pronged fork. + +"It makes um sick to cook it," said Caesar, who was standing behind the +rest. + +"And I wants to know, in the name of the crew, whether this 'ere biscuit +as is all alive with maggots, is the stuff we poor fellows forward +should be made to put into our mouths?" cried Growles. + +"What's that you're talking about, you mutinous rascals?" cried the +captain; "stop a bit, and I'll answer you." + +Saying this, he sprang back into the cabin, and while the men stood +staring at the door without advancing, he reappeared with a pistol in +the one hand and a cutlass in the other. I observed that he had a +second pistol in his belt. + +"You know I never miss my aim, you scoundrels. The first man that +utters a word on the subject I'll shoot through the head. The food's +good enough for better men than you, so be off forward, and let this be +the last time I hear any complaint. If not, look out for squalls." + +The men stood irresolute, and no one liked to run the chance of having a +pistol-bullet sent through his head. + +"Are you going, you villains?" thundered the captain, pointing his +pistol at the boatswain. + +He used a good many other stronger expletives, which need not be +repeated. + +The boatswain was a bold fellow, but his courage gave way, and he +stepped back. The others, overawed by the determined manner of the +captain, imitated the example of their leader, knowing that the pistol +might be turned towards any one who stood his ground, and together they +retreated forward, tumbling over each other in their endeavour to put as +wide a distance as possible between themselves and their now furious +commander. + +For my part, I felt a greater amount of respect for him than I had ever +done before. His eye did not for a moment quail, his arm appeared as +firm as iron. Had he shown the slightest hesitation, the men, in the +temper they were in, would have been upon him, and he would have lost +his authority. + +Mark and I remained at one side of the deck, where we happened to be at +the time. Tom Trivett had not come aft, having refused to take any part +in the affair, whereby he gained still greater ill-will than before from +his shipmates. + +The discontent which had thus shown itself, though kept down for a time, +was by no means quelled. We had to eat the food, bad as it was, though +perhaps not altogether as bad as the samples exhibited to the captain. + +The third mate came forward much oftener than before, and tried hard to +win back the men into something like good-humour, but his efforts were +unavailing. + +"You see, Mr Simmons, as how we poor fellows have got to work hard, and +except we gets good grub we can't do it," I heard the boatswain remark +in an insinuating tone; "it's very hard lines for us to have to eat +rancid pork and weevilly bread, when we knows well enough that the +captain and mates has good grub in the cabin. Share and share alike, +and we sha'n't complain. But we must abide by it till the ship gets +into harbour, and then we suppose that the captain will be getting good +stores aboard and will serve out fresh meat and vegetables." + +"Oh! Of course he'll do that," said Mr Simmons, pleased, as he +thought, at having brought the men to reason. "You know Captain +Longfleet is a just man, though he's a determined one, and won't stand +nonsense. Everything will go well, I hope, by-and-by." + +I should have observed that our boatswain held a very different position +among the crew to that occupied by a warrant officer on board a +man-of-war. He was merely one of the men, and was so called from +certain duties he had to perform, and was a sort of link between the +officers and the crew. + +We were now in the tropics. When there was a breeze the heat was +supportable enough, but when it fell calm we could scarcely bear our +clothes on, and went about in shirts and trousers, with bare feet, and +were glad to have the opportunity of getting into the shade. The pitch +boiled up out of the seams, and old Growles declared that he could cook +a beefsteak on the capstan-head, if he only had a beefsteak to cook. + +The heat did not improve the temper of the men, and the ship became to +Mark and me a regular hell afloat. Matters were almost as bad with Tom +Trivett, but he could hold his own better than we could. + +One day Mark came to me. + +"I say, Dick," he exclaimed--a common fate had made us equal, and he had +long ago dropped the master--"I've been hearing that to-morrow we're to +cross the line. I wonder what sort of place we shall get into on +t'other side; as far as I can make out, it's a kind of bar, and those +who go over it for the first time have to pay toll to old Daddy Neptune, +who is coming aboard to collect his dues." + +I was surprised that Mark had never heard of the line, and so I tried to +explain to him what it was. As to Neptune coming on board, I knew that +that was all nonsense, and so I told him. + +During that evening and the next morning some of the men were busily +engaged in their berth, into which they allowed no one but themselves to +enter. + +Soon after noon the captain, having taken his observations, gave notice +that we were about to cross the line. Mark and I had been sent aft, +when we heard a voice hail as if from under the bows. + +"What ship is that?" + +"The `Emu,'" answered the captain, who with the officers was standing on +the poop. + +"Where did you come from, and for what port are you bound?" asked the +voice. + +"From Liverpool, and we're bound to Rio and round Cape Horn," answered +the captain. + +"All right, Captain Longfleet; with your leave my wife and I will pay +you a visit and bring some of our children and attendants, and if you +have any youngsters who have not crossed the line before, we shall have +a word to say to them." + +"You're welcome, Father Neptune, for I suppose no one else would be +desirous of giving me a call out in these seas." + +It was amusing to observe Mark's look of astonishment when immediately +afterwards a party of grotesque figures appeared clambering over the +bows. The first was an old fellow with a long white beard, a gold paper +crown on his head, and a sceptre in his hand, and dressed in a flowing +robe painted all over with curious devices. With him came a huge woman, +also wearing a crown and garments of many colours, a necklace of huge +beads and a couple of clasp-knives hanging down from either side of her +face to serve as ear-rings; another figure followed them equally +curiously dressed, with a basin under one arm, a pair of sailmaker's +shears hanging round his neck, and a piece of rusty hoop shaped like a +razor in his hand. A fourth person, tall and gaunt, was seen in a +cocked-hat, a thick cane in one hand, and a box of pills of large +proportions in the other. Following them came a party of monsters in +green dresses with long tails, and heads covered by oakum wigs. + +The captain, wishing to humour the men, shouted out-- + +"Glad to see your majesty on board my ship. You're welcome to come aft +and look out for any of those whose acquaintance you have not before +made." + +On this the whole gang came tramping aft. Mark and I saw that their +eyes were fixed upon us. We had no place to fly to but up the mizen +rigging. We made the attempt, but were quickly caught by some of the +monsters, who managed to climb up in spite of their tails. + +The barber had in the meantime placed a huge tub on the deck, and a +couple of small casks. On these we were compelled to sit down, when he +immediately with a paint-brush began to daub our faces over with the +contents of a bucket of grease. He then drew out his razor, and scraped +us in the most cruel fashion, taking off the skin at every stroke. + +The doctor in the meanwhile, with mock solemnity, felt our pulses, and +then observing that we were terribly sick, crammed one of the boluses +out of his box into our mouths, and forced it down with his tarry +finger. + +"A bath would do them good," he growled out. + +We were seized, and soused head over heels in a tub till we were +well-nigh drowned. In vain we struggled and shrieked. Every time we +opened our mouths the barber shoved his brush into them, and the +monsters then ducked our heads under water to wash them out, as they +said. + +More dead than alive we were at last allowed to go, but had scarcely +strength left to crawl away. + +Tom Trivett was next dragged aft, though he declared that he had often +crossed the line. Daddy Neptune refused, however, to believe him, +protesting that he had never seen his face in those parts before. +Though he fought bravely he was overpowered, and was even worse treated +than we had been, the monsters, aided by the doctor and barber and Mrs +Neptune, holding his arms and legs. + +The captain and officers all the time in no way interfered, but seemed +to enjoy the cruel sport. They wished, indeed, to allow the sailors to +take their full fling according to their barbarous fancies. + +Mark and I, seeing how our friend was treated, attempted to go to his +rescue, but we had better have remained quiet, both for his sake and our +own, for we were cuffed and kicked even worse than before, and with +difficulty again made our escape. + +A double allowance of grog was served out, which made the men even more +savage than before; and when they were tired of ill-treating us they +took to rough play among themselves. Daddy Neptune's crown was torn +off, his sceptre broken in two, his wife was despoiled of her finery; +the doctor's hat and spectacles shared the same fate; he was made to +swallow his own pills, and the barber had his brush nearly shoved down +his throat. + +They would have come to serious blows had not the captain ordered them +to knock off and return to their duty. The mates, with boats' +stretchers in their hands, had to rush in among them before they could +be induced to desist. Not until a breeze sprang up, and they were +ordered aloft to make sail, were they brought into anything like order. + +For days afterwards Mark and I limped about the deck, with aching heads +and sore faces, and Tom Trivett could with difficulty get through his +duty. + +This relaxation of discipline had no good effect on the men. They still +grumbled and growled as much as ever at every meal over the food served +out to them. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + + Land ho!--Cape Frio--The Sugar-loaf Mountain--The Castle of Santa + Cruz--The harbour of Rio de Janeiro--A taste of fruit--We receive some + passengers--A gale springs up--Man overboard--Poor Tom Trivett-- + Captain Longfleet's inhumanity--Mark and I are treated worse--I + overhear a conversation--A proposed mutiny--The plot--Differences will + arise--Who's to be captain?--I determine to reveal the plot--I consult + with Mark--Our determination--Southern latitudes--The Southern Cross-- + The Falkland Islands--Mark escapes, but I am retaken--Highland blood-- + Mark's probable fate--A battle with an albatross. + +"Land ho!" was shouted from the masthead. In a short time we came off +Cape Frio, a high, barren, almost insular, promontory, which runs into +the Atlantic to the eastward of Rio de Janeiro. We stood on, the land +appearing to be of a great height behind the beach, till we came in +sight of the Sugar-loaf Mountain; the light land wind preventing us from +entering the harbour, we had to stand off and on during the night. + +"Well, I've made up my mind to get a precious good tuck out," I heard +old Growles say to the boatswain; "I suppose the skipper will order a +good store of provisions aboard after the talk we had with him the other +day." + +"Not so sure of that, old ship," said the boatswain; "but if he doesn't, +he'd better look out for squalls, as he said to us." + +The other men were rejoicing in the expectation of a hearty meal and +wholesome food, and so indeed were Mark and I; for we were not better +off than the rest, except that Mark occasionally got some pickings at +the captain's table, and now and then, when he could manage it, brought +me some. + +Next morning a sea-breeze setting in, we stood towards the harbour, and +as the fog lifted, several small islands near its mouth came into sight, +and the Sugar-loaf Mountain loomed up high on the left, while on the +right we saw the battlements of the Castle of Santa Cruz, which stands +at the foot of the mountain. As we passed under the guns of the +fortress, we were hailed by a stentorian voice, which came out from +among the stone-built walls, but the speaker was not seen. + +"What ship is that? Where do you come from? How many days out?" + +The captain answered the questions through his speaking-trumpet as we +glided by. We at length came to an anchor about a mile from the city of +Rio de Janeiro, in one of the most beautiful and picturesque harbours in +the world. I can't stop to describe it, or the fine-looking city, or +the curiously-shaped boats filled with black, brown, and white people, +though the whites were decidedly in the minority; indeed some of them +could be only so called by courtesy. To our disappointment no one was +allowed to go on shore. The captain and second mate almost immediately +took a country boat and pulled for the landing-place. + +"I suppose they intend to send us off some grub," said old Growles, in a +voice loud enough for them to hear; but they took no notice, and pulled +on. We waited in anxious expectation for the arrival of the provisions, +but no boats appeared. It looked very much as if the captain had +forgotten our necessities. At last a small one came alongside with +fruit and vegetables, which those who had money eagerly purchased. I +had a few shillings remaining in my pocket, but Mark had nothing, and I +insisted on buying enough for him and myself. Mark declined taking them +from me, saying he could do very well without them; but I pressed him, +and we discussed a couple of dozen oranges between us. How delicious +they tasted! We both felt like different creatures. Those of the crew +who had money were put into much better humour, but the rest were more +sulky than ever. + +In the evening the boats brought off some fresh water, but no +provisions. When the captain came on board at night we learnt that he +had refused to purchase any, on account of their high price. Whether +this was the case or not I don't know, but it made the men very angry. +Next day he went on shore again, returning in the afternoon with four +gentlemen, whom we heard were going as passengers round to Columbia +River, in North America. + +We soon found, from hearing them speak, that they were Scotch, and of +this I had no doubt when I learned their names, which were McTavish, +McDonald, McKay, and Fraser. Their vessel had been wrecked off Cape +Frio, and notwithstanding the character borne by Captain Longfleet, they +were glad to have an opportunity of continuing their voyage in the +"Emu." Just before daybreak a small boat came alongside with fruit and +vegetables; but they were all for the cabin, and the crew were none the +better for them. + +Next morning we sailed at daybreak with a land wind, followed by three +or four other vessels, some bound round Cape Horn, others to cross the +Atlantic. They were still in sight when it came on to blow very hard. +In a short time a sea got up which made the ship tumble about in a way I +had not experienced since I had been down in the hold. The captain +stood on, wanting to keep ahead of the other vessels. The topmasts bent +like willow wands, and every moment looked as if they would go over the +sides. We carried on, however, until it was nearly dark, when he +ordered the hands aloft to reef sails. I had not as yet been ordered to +perform this duty, but Mark was as active as any one. He and Tom were +on the lee fore-topsail yard-arm. Two reefs had already been taken in +when the sail had to be closely reefed. It was now quite dark. The +operation was being performed, when there was a cry from forward of "A +man overboard!" To round the ship to might have been hazardous; but the +second mate, who was the best of the officers, at once shouted out for +volunteers to lower the boat. + +"Hold hard," says the captain; "I'll not have the hands thrown away for +a careless, useless lubber who can't hold fast." + +I had run aft when I heard some one say that the man who had gone was +Tom Trivett. Without waiting for orders I hove overboard an oar and a +hen-coop, with half-a-dozen cackling hens in it, which not having been +properly secured, had fetched away. In my excitement I was proceeding +to throw some spars and other articles into the sea, when the captain, +catching sight of me, ordered me to desist. + +"Let the fellow drown," he exclaimed; "it's his own fault, and it'll be +a lesson to the rest of you." + +Though the men had no love for Tom Trivett, bad as they were these +remarks greatly enraged them. + +"He cares no more for our lives than he does for that of a dog. It +would have been just the same if any of us had gone," exclaimed several +of them. + +The passengers were very indignant at the captain's barbarity. Two of +them had been ready to go in the boat, and they all declared that the +seaman might have been saved if proper efforts had immediately been +made. I heard the captain in a peremptory tone tell them to hold their +tongues, as they knew nothing about the matter. He was captain of the +ship, and would act as he thought fit, and not endanger her safety for +the sake of a single man who was not worth his salt. I deeply grieved +for Tom since I discovered that he had been my firm friend, and I truly +believed that I owed my life to him. Had it been daylight we might have +watched to see whether he had got hold of any of the things thrown +overboard, but almost immediately after he fell he was lost to view. +The gale lasted only a short time. We made sail again as soon as we +could, and quickly lost sight of the other vessels. + +Now that Tom Trivett had gone, my position became harder than ever, as I +had no friend to stand up for me. I had often been protected by him +when the others were inclined to bully me, and thus escaped many a cuff +and kick. Julius Caesar was the only person who befriended me, and he +didn't dare to do so openly. He often, indeed, appeared to be bullying +me worse than the rest. I had been ordered to assist in cleaning his +pots and pans, and sweeping out the caboose. Whenever the rigging had +to be blacked down I was sent to do it, and was called to perform all +the dirty jobs. The men, knowing I was a gentleman's son, took pleasure +in seeing me thus employed. Mark would willingly have helped me, but he +was always sent aft to some other work when seen near me. + +I would gladly have changed places with him, but he told me that he was +as badly off as I was forward, for he got as much kicked about by the +captain and officers as I was by the men. + +I had no one to talk to, for I could seldom get the opportunity of +saying much to him. I felt that I had not a friend aboard. The men, +when they had exhausted a few fresh provisions which they themselves had +purchased, again began to grumble at the bad quality of their food. +They took care, however, to say nothing when the third mate was forward, +but they went about their duty in a manner which it seemed surprising he +did not observe. + +One evening, being my watch below, still feeling the effect of the rough +handling I had endured, I had crept into my berth to be out of the way +of my persecutors. Mark, as usual, was attending to his duties in the +cabin. + +I had fallen asleep, when I was awakened by hearing some men speaking +close to me, though it was too dark to see who they were, and even if +they had looked into my berth they would not have discovered me; but I +recognised the voices of old Growles and the boatswain, and two other +men, who were the worst of the crew and the leading spirits for bad on +board. I was not much alarmed, though I scarcely dared to breathe for +fear of attracting their notice. I cannot repeat all they said, for +they frequently made allusions which they knew that each other +understood; but I heard enough to convince me that they were hatching a +plot to overpower the officers and passengers, and to take the vessel +into Buenos Aires, or some other place on the banks of the River Plate. +One of the men proposed killing them and throwing them overboard. Old +Growles suggested that they should be put into a boat and allowed to +shift for themselves, just as their officers were treated by the +mutineers of the "Bounty." The boatswain said that he thought the best +way of treating them would be to put them on shore on some desert island +far-away to the southward, seldom visited by ships, so that they could +not make their escape. + +"But they'll die of hunger, if you do that," remarked another man. + +"They'll die, at all events, so it matters little," answered the +boatswain. "Our business is to get rid of them, and either to go +cruising on our own account, or to sell the ship at a Spanish port to +the westward, and enjoy ourselves on what we get for her." + +"Dead men tell no tales," muttered the first speaker. + +"Heave them overboard at once, and we shall be done with them." + +"I'm not for that sort of thing," said old Growles. "I shouldn't like +to see their white faces as they dropped astern; they'd be haunting us, +depend on that." + +The boatswain and the others laughed. + +"Who's to take the ship round Cape Horn, if we do away with the +officers?" asked one of the men. + +"I know enough navigation for that," said the boatswain, "it won't be a +long job." + +"Then I suppose you intend to turn captain. Is that it?" said another +man. + +"We don't want no captain aboard." + +"If the ship was caught in a squall, you'd soon be calling out for some +one to command you. Call me what you will, there's no man, except +myself, knows how to navigate the ship when the officers are gone." + +"I sees what you are after, boatswain," said old Growles. "We should be +just getting rid of one captain, and having another like him in his +place. We must all be free and equal aboard, or it'll never do. I +propose that one is captain one day, and one another; and that you, if +you can, or any one else, shall navigate the ship. Otherwise one man's +as good as another, to my mind, and knows as well as you how to make or +shorten sail." + +"Well, I don't see how that can tell one way or the other," said the +boatswain, who evidently didn't like the turn the conversation was +taking. + +To me it seemed that the villains were ready for any mischief, but had +not wit enough to carry it out. I lay as quiet as a mouse, scarcely +venturing to breathe, for I knew that they would not scruple to put an +end to me should they discover me, and fancy that I was awake and had +overheard them. I determined, should I be found out, to pretend to be +fast asleep. They talked on for some time longer, till all hands were +summoned on deck to shorten sail. I was considering, as well as I +could, what I had better do. The captain and officers had ill-treated +me, but that was no reason I should allow them to be murdered, if I +could in any way warn them of the danger, while the guiltless passengers +must be saved at all costs. I thought that if I told Captain Longfleet, +he would treat my statement as a cock-and-bull story, and declare I had +been dreaming. Probably I should be sent off with a kick and a cuff, +and the crew would hear that I had informed against them. I thought, +however, that I would tell the second mate, who was better disposed, and +far more sensible than the rest of the officers. Then it occurred to me +that I had better consult Mark first, and hear what he thought. Perhaps +he would consider it wiser to speak to one of the passengers, three of +whom were determined-looking men. The fourth, Mr Alexander Fraser, was +much younger, and I liked his appearance. He had given me a kind nod +sometimes when I went aft. Their presence prevented the captain and +officers from ill-treating Mark and me as much as usual. We were +therefore inclined to regard them with a friendly spirit. I finally +came to the conclusion to tell Mr Fraser what I had heard, if I could +get the opportunity of speaking to him out of hearing of the rest of the +crew, though that might be difficult. I knew that, after all, I must be +guided by circumstances. The would-be mutineers talked on, and might +have talked on for a whole watch, had not all hands been summoned on +deck to shorten sail. I waited till they had gone up the rigging, and +then crept out. The ship had been struck by a squall. Sheets were +flying, blocks rattling, officers shouting, and a number of the men on +deck pulling and hauling, made a hubbub so that I escaped aft +unperceived, and was able to join Mark at one of the ropes it was his +duty to attend to. As there was no one near, I was able to tell him by +snatches what I had heard. + +"I'm not surprised," he answered. "The villains would murder their own +mothers or grandmothers if they could gain anything by it; but I only +doubt whether they will venture to attack the captain." + +"Still, we must let one of the officers know, or else their blood will +be upon our heads. I propose warning Mr Fraser, or one of the other +gentlemen," I observed. + +"That will do," said Mark. "Either you or I may find a chance to speak +to one of them; but there's no time to be lost, for we can't say at what +moment these ruffians may take it into their heads to carry out their +villainous designs. We must be careful, however, that they don't +suspect us of giving the information, or they might heave us overboard +some dark night without ceremony." + +Some time was occupied in taking in the canvas, but in the course of an +hour the squall passed off, and we had again to make sail. + +While this was being done, Mark and I had time to discuss the matter. + +That night, while it was my watch, I managed to get aft, where I found a +person walking the deck, occasionally stopping and gazing at the bright +stars overhead, the southern cross and others so different from those of +the northern hemisphere. I waited till he had gone right aft out of +earshot of the man at the wheel. I knew by his figure that it was Mr +Fraser, so I went boldly up to him. + +"I have got something to say to you," I whispered. "It's of great +consequence. I mustn't speak loud." + +I then briefly told him that I had heard the men propose to get rid of +the officers and passengers in some way or other. + +"I've already heard something of this from your young messmate, but I'm +very incredulous about it," he answered. + +"Pray don't be that, sir," I said. "Your life, and the lives of many +others besides, depends on your believing the truth of what I say and +taking measures to protect yourselves;" and I then told him more +circumstantially what I had heard. He now seemed to listen attentively, +and evidently considered that there was something in what I had said. + +"I'm very much obliged to you for the information you have given, and +I'll consult my friends on the subject," he answered. "The captain +seems to be a man who will know well how to deal with the villains, if +what you say is true. We'll tell him what has come to our ears." + +"Indeed what I say is true," I exclaimed with energy. "They may be upon +you at any moment, while you are unprepared." + +"Well, laddie, I'll lose no time," said Mr Fraser; and, afraid that if +we remained much longer we might be observed by some of the men, I crept +forward under the shadow of the bulwarks. + +I waited anxiously during the remainder of the watch to see what would +occur; but as the men turned in, I was thankful to find that they had no +intention of carrying out their project that night, and it was not +likely that they would do anything in the daytime, when their movements +would be observed by the officers. My only fear was that they might +have seen Mark and me talking to Mr Fraser, and might have their +suspicions aroused. If so, Mark and I would run, I knew, great risk of +being knocked on the head as soon as darkness again came on. I +therefore kept a sharp look out whilst I was on deck during the night, +though I had an uncomfortable feeling that I might possibly be smothered +in my sleep, or that Mark might be treated in the same way. Daylight, +however, returned without anything having occurred. + +On meeting Mark, I expressed my fears to him. + +"Do you know, Dick, I was thinking of the same thing, and I have made up +my mind to cut and run on the first opportunity, and I advise you to do +the same thing. Indeed, I should not be happy if I left you behind; in +truth, I would not run unless you promise to desert also." + +"That I will, with all my heart, though I don't think that Mr Fraser +and the other gentlemen are likely to allow themselves to be taken by +surprise, or to neglect putting the officers on their guard." + +"They can't protect us; and the men, if they find themselves even +suspected, will certainly think that we informed on them." + +Whenever we had the opportunity, Mark and I discussed our plans for +escaping. As far as we could judge, the officers and passengers were at +their ease, and didn't act as if they thought any mutiny would occur. +As the weather was now getting cold, the passengers had an excuse for +coming on deck in their cloaks; and one day, when Mr Fraser's blew +aside, I observed that he had a brace of pistols in his belt. They also +brought their rifles on deck, and amused themselves by firing at passing +birds, sometimes at porpoises, sharks, and other monsters of the deep +who showed their backs above water. I guessed at last, by the looks of +the men, that they saw that the passengers were on their guard. Even +the third mate didn't come forward as he had been accustomed to do; and +at night, what was very unusual, there were two officers on deck at a +time. We had now contrary winds and thick weather, which greatly +delayed us for several days. No observations were taken. + +One morning land was discovered on the weather bow, which, the captain +said, was the coast of South America, and he carefully kept along shore +in order to pass between the Falkland Islands and the main land; but at +noon, when a meridian observation had been obtained, he found that what +he had at first supposed to be the main land was in reality the Falkland +Islands. We had for many days been sailing entirely by dead reckoning, +while the current had set us out of our course. As we had not taken a +full supply of water on board at Rio, and, owing to the bursting of the +butt, which had frightened me so much, we had less on board than usual, +the captain steered for one of the islands, where he knew that it could +be obtained. + +We came to an anchor about half a mile from the shore just at sunset. +As it would take the crew the whole day to get water, which had to be +rolled down in small casks to the beach and brought on board, the +passengers expressed their intention of making a shooting excursion on +shore to kill some wild cattle--of which there are numbers in the +island--or any other animals or birds they might fall in with. As the +captain had no objection to having a supply of beef without cost to +himself, he agreed to let them have a boat the next morning to take them +on shore. They asked for one or two of the men to carry the meat. The +captain said that they could not be spared, but finally told them that +they could take Mark and me, as we were of little use on board. + +"Now," whispered Mark, "is our opportunity. If there are cattle, we +shall have some meat to live on; and I propose that we hide ourselves +away, so that when the gentlemen return on board we shall be missing." + +The captain, we were sure, would not take the trouble to look for us. I +agreed, provided that from the appearance of the island we should have +the chance of obtaining food and shelter; if not, we might die of +starvation, and it would be better to endure our miseries, and the +danger we ran of our lives, for a short time longer than to do that. + +"Well, as to that we must see about it," answered Mark. + +Soon after, our watch being over, we turned into our respective bunks. +I didn't feel altogether comfortable, not knowing what the men might do +to us. For some time I lay awake, for I wanted to be on the watch, lest +any trick should be attempted, but at length dropped off to sleep. As +we were in harbour, only an anchor watch was kept, and I was allowed to +have my night's rest out, from which I rose fresh and ready for anything +some time before daybreak. Mark, who had gone aft to call the +gentlemen, returned with an order for me to get ready to go in the boat. +Sufficient provisions for the party were put into the boat; and the +gentlemen, taking their rifles and pistols with them, and with their +swords at their sides, we shoved off, the boat being partly laden with +empty water-casks. As there was not room for Mark and me forward, we +sat aft with the gentlemen, when Mr Fraser talked in a friendly way to +Mark and me. I saw the men eyeing us savagely at this; and I thought to +myself at the moment, "Those villains suspect that we have had something +to do in putting the gentlemen on their guard." I answered Mr Fraser, +however, and he went on talking to me. We landed not far from where the +casks were to be filled with water. The gentlemen then, taking their +guns, divided the provisions between themselves and us, and we set off +towards the interior of the island, where we hoped to meet with the wild +cattle. There was nothing attractive in its appearance. Here and there +were low scrubby woods, and the country generally was covered with thick +patches of tussack grass, which, at a distance, gave it the appearance +of being green and fertile. Between the patches, the soil was dry and +sandy, so that it cost us much fatigue to make our way over it. + +We had seen plenty of wild cattle, but the gentlemen had not yet +succeeded in killing any. They winded us on all occasions on our +approach, and scampered off beyond the limit of rifle range. At last +the gentlemen agreed to separate by going in small parties, and thus +hoped to get nearer to the creatures. Mr Fraser invited Mark to go +with him, and Mr McTavish took me; the other two gentlemen went +together. Before starting they deposited their provisions inside of a +hollow in a high bank, which, from its position, was easily to be found, +and they agreed to return to dinner. If any one of the party killed an +animal, he was to summon the rest to carry the meat. The object of the +gentlemen was to kill as many animals as they could; for, as the weather +was cool, it was hoped that the meat would last until we were well round +Cape Horn. The island was of good size, but still there did not appear +to be much risk of our losing our way. Mr Fraser, who was the most +active of the party, said that he should go to the further end of the +island and work his way back; that he was determined to kill some birds, +if he couldn't knock over a cow. + +"Remember," whispered Mark to me, "that I shall slip away; and you do +the same, and come and join me." + +To this I agreed. Mr McTavish and I went away to the right. We had +been looking out for cattle for some time when we heard two shots, and +from the top of a hill we saw the two other gentlemen, standing by a +couple of cattle they had shot. + +"Come, Dick," said Mr McTavish; "though we cannot boast of killing a +beast ourselves, we must go and help them." + +I thought that this would be a good opportunity to escape, and while he +went down one side of the hill I proposed running down the other. I was +just going when he caught sight of me. + +"Hillo, youngster, where are you going to?" he cried out; and he came +after me evidently with no intention of letting me escape. On getting +up with me, he inquired, "What made you try to run off? Come, tell me +as we go along." He spoke very kindly. + +At last I confessed that I had determined to run away from the ship in +consequence of the ill-treatment I had received. + +"You would have been starved to death in the midst of plenty," he said +in a kind tone. "Had the island been fertile, and you could have +supported yourself, I, for one, would never have hindered you, for I +have observed the way the officers and men behave to you. But for the +future I think we can prevent that. I have a notion that we owe our +lives to you and your messmate, and we're grateful to you for it; so +come along, and don't again attempt to run away." + +He spoke so kindly that at last I promised to follow his advice, hoping +that Mr Fraser would also have prevented Mark from hiding himself, and +would induce him to come back likewise. The gentlemen fired several +shots to attract Mr Fraser's attention, but none were heard in return. +They, in the meantime, cut up the animals and loaded themselves with as +much as they could stagger under. The rest they covered up closely with +the hides so as to keep the flies off, proposing to send some of the men +for it. With our loads we returned to the place where we had left our +dinner. As we were all very hungry we didn't wait for Mr Fraser, but +set to at once, expecting that he and Mark would appear before we had +finished. We waited, however, for some time, the gentlemen lighting +their pipes to enjoy a smoke. + +"I'm afraid that young companion of yours has bolted, and that Fraser is +delayed by looking for him," observed Mr McTavish. "We can't delay +much longer if we're to save the flesh," said Mr McDonald. "Fraser +knows what he's about; he will easily make his way down to the beach by +the landing-place in the morning, and we must send a boat on shore for +him." As the day was advancing the others agreed to this proposal; and, +leaving the remainder of our provisions for Mr Fraser and Mark, we set +off. It was almost dark as we approached the harbour, and I began to +fear that the crew would have taken the opportunity of attacking the +officers--perhaps would have got the ship under weigh, and left us to +our fate. I didn't, however, mention my fears to any one. I was +greatly relieved when I made out through the gloom the ship at anchor, +and soon after, the boat close to the beach. + +Old Growles answered Mr McDonald's hail. I observed that my companions +had examined their pistols and reloaded their rifles, so that they would +be on their guard should any treachery be attempted. + +On arriving on board, the captain received the gentlemen in a somewhat +surly way, and inquired why Mr Fraser had not returned. + +Mr McDonald replied, that we had waited for him, and that he had not +appeared; but they expected that he would turn up on the beach on the +following morning; if not, they proposed going in search of him. + +"There won't be time for that," said Captain Longfleet. "We have got +all the water we require on board to-night. If passengers choose to go +on shore and not return at the time they are told to do, they must take +the consequences." + +Mr McDonald's Highland blood was up in a moment. "You have made a +great mistake if you suppose that we will allow our friend to be +deserted. We intend to go on shore to-morrow, and must beg to take two +or three of your men with us, to ascertain what has become of Fraser and +his young companion," he exclaimed. + +"We shall see who commands this ship," cried the captain, turning on his +heel and entering the cabin, outside of which this scene took place. + +This was nuts to the crew, who must have perceived that if there was +division aft they had a good chance of succeeding in their project. + +Next morning, at daybreak, the hands were turned up to get the ship +under weigh. Directly after, Mr McDonald and the other gentlemen came +on deck. "We protest against this proceeding, Captain Longfleet," he +exclaimed. + +"I told you that if Mr Fraser chooses to absent himself at the time I +was prepared to sail, he must take the consequences. It may delay us a +whole day if we send to search for him," answered the captain. + +"If it delays us a week we must look for him till he's found," exclaimed +Mr McDonald, drawing a pistol. "Get the ship under weigh at your +peril." + +Bold as Captain Longfleet was, he quailed under the eye of the +determined fur trader. + +"Hurrah! There's our friend," cried Mr McTavish. "We must send a boat +for him, and that will settle this dispute, I hope." + +"A boat shall not leave the ship," cried Captain Longfleet. "I can't +spare the men." + +"I say again, get the ship under weigh at your peril," said Mr +McDonald, stepping a pace towards the captain. + +None of the officers or crew attempted to interfere. Those of the +latter who were near only stood observing the scene and grinning their +satisfaction. + +"Are you going to send a boat?" again asked Mr McDonald. + +Just then another shot was fired. + +"I'll do as you wish," replied the captain; "but I tell you it's more +than your friend deserves." + +"I will go in her," said Mr McDonald. + +"No, you can't do that. I will send my own men; for what I know, you +may delay the boat," answered the captain. + +"It matters not, provided Fraser and the lad return," said Mr McTavish, +who was inclined to conciliatory measures. + +The captain now directed three of the hands to go in the smallest boat +which was large enough for the purpose, while the rest were ordered to +loose sails and heave up the anchor. While these precautions were going +forward I observed the gentlemen watching the boat through their +telescopes. She reached the shore, and after a short delay was seen +returning. + +I looked out anxiously for Mark, hoping that after the account I had +received of the island that Mr Fraser would have brought him back. +Great was my grief and disappointment when I did not see him in the +boat. Still I hoped that the passengers would induce the captain to +send a party on shore to look for him. I intended to ask Mr McTavish +to obtain leave for me to go, for I knew that if Mark heard my voice +shouting for him he would come out of his hiding-place. + +No sooner had Mr Fraser stepped on board than the boat was hoisted up. +On this I ran off to ask Mr McTavish to insist on the ship being +delayed to allow of a search for Mark. + +"We'll do what we can, my laddie," he answered; "though the captain +doesn't appear to be in the humour to grant any requests." + +As Mr Fraser greeted his friends, I heard him say that he had missed +Mark, and supposed, after searching for him for some time, that he had +joined one of our parties; and that at length he had made his way to the +beach, having satisfied his hunger with some of the provisions we had +left behind. It was night when he had come near the harbour; and as he +knew the boat would have returned, he formed himself a nest under a bank +with some tussack grass and slept soundly till daylight. + +When he found that Mark had not returned, he was as eager as Mr +McDonald to go in search of him, but all they could say would not move +Captain Longfleet. + +"He is one of my crew, and you have no business to interfere with him," +he answered. + +Mr McDonald replied, that he could not but say that this was the case, +but that the lad had accompanied them, and they felt themselves +answerable for his safe return. + +The captain, however, would not listen, but continued shouting out his +orders to the men, who obeyed them with more alacrity than usual. + +I could not help thinking that they rejoiced at having thus easily got +rid of Mark. For my own part I regretted not having run away also, and +shared his fate, whatever that might have been. Had the distance not +been so great, I should, even now, have jumped overboard and tried to +join him. But the attempt would have been equivalent to suicide, and I +dared not make it. + +Away stood the ship out of the harbour, leaving my old friend all alone +on the desert island. I pictured to myself his horror and +disappointment at not seeing me; the miseries and hardships he might +endure for want of food and companionship, and his too probable early +death. I went about my duty in a disconsolate mood. I had now no +friend to talk to. Not one of the men appeared to pity me. Even Julius +Caesar uttered no word of comfort. We soon lost sight of the Falkland +Islands and shaped a course to round Cape Horn. The ship was now +surrounded by albatrosses, penguins, and pintado birds. Several were +shot, and others taken with a hook and bait. An enormous albatross was +thus hauled in, and being brought on deck fought bravely for some time +before it could be killed. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + + South Sea whaler--I write a letter home, and how far it got on its way + there--The Earl of Lollipop--Mr McTavish saves me from a flogging--My + prospects somewhat improve--Another storm--We lose another man--A + struggle for life--Tierra del Fuego--Cape Horn--In the Pacific--The + coast of Patagonia, and how we nearly got wrecked--Juan Fernandez-- + Robinson Crusoe's Island--I again determine to run away, but am + prevented by an offer I receive--"Shark! Shark!"--A narrow escape-- + Valparaiso--Callao--Paita--The Sandwich Islands--The king and his + court--Royal guests--Some queer dishes--Pooah--Am again prevented from + deserting--Columbia River at last--A glimpse of freedom--A farewell + dinner--An untoward incident--Once more a prisoner--My captors' fears + my only safety--My friends give up the search--At sea again--My + release--"Dis curious ship." + +We had left the island for some days, when we fell in with a +homeward-bound South Sea whaler. As the ocean was calm, and the wind +light, her captain came on board and politely offered to convey any +message or letters home. "Now," I thought, "will be an excellent +opportunity of returning home. I'm sick of this life, and shall be glad +to go back to Mr Butterfield's office and the high stool, and listen to +Aunt Deb's lectures." How to accomplish my purpose was the difficulty. +I went up to the captain of the whaler. + +"I'm a gentleman's son," I said; "I came off to sea unintentionally, and +I want to go home again." + +He gave a loud "Whew!" as I said this. + +"I can't take you, my lad, without your captain's leave," he answered. +"If he gives it, I shall be happy to do so." + +Captain Longfleet just then came out of the cabin. + +"I don't know how he came on board, but here he is and here he'll +remain," he said, as the captain of the whaler spoke to him. "Go +forward," he said to me, "and think yourself fortunate to escape a +flogging for your impudence." + +However, I persevered, and turning to Mr McTavish, asked him kindly to +say a word for me. Captain Longfleet in reply told him that he had no +business to interfere. + +"I've lost one boy through you gentlemen, and I'm not going to lose +another," he answered. + +In vain Mr McDonald and the other gentlemen spoke to him; he replied in +his usual rough way. + +"I'm sorry, my lad, that I can't take you out of the ship without your +captain's permission," said the whaling captain; "but if you'll get a +letter scribbled off, I'll undertake to post it." + +I had neither paper, pens, nor ink, but Mr McTavish, hearing what was +said, instantly brought me some, and I ran off into the berth to write +it, hoping that I should be there undisturbed. I had great difficulty +in penning the letter; and while I was kneeling down at the chest, old +Growles came in and mocked at me, and another fellow asked me whether I +was sending a love-letter to my dearie, and a third gave me a knock on +the elbow, which spattered the ink over the paper and nearly upset the +ink-bottle. Still I wrote on. + +"Ship `Emu,' somewhere off Cape Horn. + +"My dear Father,--I didn't intend to run away, but tumbled down into the +hold and was carried off. When I came to myself I found that I was at +sea, and could not get out of my prison. I lived there for I don't know +how many days, till, when almost dead, I was released. I have been +treated worse than a dog ever since by the captain, officers, and men. +He's a terrible tyrant and brute, and if it had not been for Mark +Riddle--whom, wonderful to say, I found on board the ship--he and his +mates would have been knocked on the head and hove overboard. + +"I would much rather be seated on the high stool in Mr Butterfield's +office than where I am. I wanted to return home, but the captain +wouldn't let me. I intend, however, to run on the first opportunity, +and to get back if I can. I tried to get away in the Falkland Islands, +but was prevented. Mark succeeded, and was left behind. Whether he'll +manage to live there I don't know, but I hope he will, and get back to +Sandgate one of these days, I have no time to write more; so with love +to mother, and my brothers and sisters, and even to Aunt Deb-- + +"I remain your affectionate son-- + +"Richard Cheveley." + +"PS--Please tell old Riddle all about his son." + +I hurriedly folded this letter, and addressed it to the Reverend John +Cheveley, Sandgate, England; and having no wax, I sealed it with a piece +of pitch which I hooked out of a seam in the deck. I rushed out, +intending to give it into the hands of the captain of the whaler; but +what was my dismay to see his boat pulling away from the ship. I +shouted and waved my letter, thinking that he would return; but at that +moment the third mate snatched the letter out of my hand, and waved to +the men in the boat to pull on. I turned round, endeavouring to recover +the letter, but instead got a box on the ear. I made another snatch at +it. + +"What's this about, you young rascal?" shouted the captain; "give me the +letter, Simmons. You'll try next to take it out of my hands, I +suppose." + +In spite of all my efforts to regain it, the mate handed the letter to +the captain, who, looking at the superscription, at once tore it open. +He glanced at the commencement and end. + +"So you pretend to be a gentleman's son, you young scapegrace," he +exclaimed. "You'll not get me to believe such a tale. Why, bless my +heart, the last voyage I had a fellow who was always writing to the Earl +of Lollipop, and signing himself his son. The men called him My Lord. +He was made to black down the rigging, notwithstanding, and polish up +the pots and pans. He was found at last to be a chimney-sweeper's son." + +I was convinced that the captain said this to be heard by the +passengers, and to try and throw discredit on me, as they were already +inclined to treat me kindly, through seeing that I was at all events a +boy of education; and from the service I had already rendered them in +giving them warning of the crew's design. I was in hopes that the +captain would let me have my letter back, but to my dismay he again +looked at it and read it. I saw a thunder-cloud gathering on his brow; +his lips quivered with rage; I cannot repeat the terms he applied to me. + +"And so, you young anatomy, you dare to call me a tyrant and a brute," +he shouted out in a hoarse voice; "to write all sorts of lies of me to +your friends at home. You see that yard-arm. Many a fellow has been +run up for a less offence. Look out for yourself. If the crew don't +finish you off before the voyage is over, I'll make you wish you had +never set foot on the deck of the `Emu.'" + +"I wish I never had," I exclaimed. + +"What! You dare speak to me," roared the captain. "Here, Mr Simmons, +take this mutinous young rascal and give him three dozen. We'll +keel-haul him next, if that doesn't bring him into order." + +Here the passengers interfered. Mr McTavish declared that he would not +stand by and let me be unjustly punished. + +"If it were not for young Cheveley, where should we be by this time, +Captain Longfleet?" he asked. "You know as well as we do what was +intended. If your mate attempts to touch him, he must take the +consequences." + +The captain was silent for some minutes. Perhaps some sense of what was +right overcame his ill-feeling. + +"Let him go, Simmons," he said, turning to the mate. "It's lucky for +you, boy, that this letter was not sent," he said, looking at me. He +tore it up and threw the fragments overboard. "Remember that the next +time you write home, I intend to have a look at your letter. You may +let your friends know where you are, but you can't accuse me of carrying +you away from home." + +As the captain turned from me, I thought that the best thing I could do +was to go forward. I saw two of the men, who had been within earshot +while the captain was speaking, eyeing me with no friendly glances. I +looked as innocent as I could; but weary though I was, when it was my +watch below I was almost afraid lest I should never awake again in this +world. When I was forward the men treated me as badly as ever, but I +found the conduct of the captain and officers towards me greatly +improved, owing to the influence of the passengers. I had frequently to +go into the cabin to assist the steward, who, though he often gave me a +slight cuff, never did so in the presence of my friends. Knowing that I +had those on board interested in me, I bore my sufferings and annoyances +with more equanimity than before. I one day, unknown to Captain +Longfleet, had the opportunity of giving my father's address to Mr +McTavish. He promised to write home from the first place at which we +touched. It would be useless for me to attempt writing, as my letter +would, I knew, be seen and taken from me. This was some comfort. I can +but briefly relate the incidents of the voyage. + +While still to the southward of Cape Horn, the appearances of another +heavy storm came on. The lighter canvas was instantly handed. Almost +in an instant a heavy sea got up, into which the ship violently pitched +as she forced her way ahead. The flying jib having been carelessly +secured, the gaskets, or small ropes which bound it to the jibboom, gave +way. Two hands were immediately sent out to make it fast. While they +were thus employed, a tremendous sea struck the bows. One of the men, +old Growles, scrambled on to the bowsprit, to which he held on like grim +death, but before the other man could follow his example, the jibboom +was carried away and he with it. I saw the poor fellow struggling amid +the foaming seas. The captain did not on this occasion refuse to try to +save him. The ship was hove-to, and pieces of timber, an empty cask, +and a hen-coop, were hove overboard to give him the chance of escaping. +He failed to reach any of them. Mr McTavish and two of the men and I +were on the point of jumping into the jolly-boat to go to his rescue, +but the captain shouted out in no gentle terms, ordering us to desist, +and asked us if we wished to lose our lives also. This, if we had made +the attempt, we should certainly have done. The boat could not have +lived many moments in such a sea. For fully ten minutes the poor fellow +was observed buffeting with the waves, but he at length disappeared. +The ship was kept away, and we stood on our course. We soon afterwards +perceived the snow-capped mountains of Tierra del Fuego rearing their +majestic heads, and looking down on the raging waters below them. + +The weather soon after moderated, and as we sighted Cape Horn the +captain ordered the topgallant and royal masts to be got up, and the +lighter sails to be set. With a gentle breeze from the eastward we +rounded the dreaded Cape, and found ourselves in the Pacific. I heard +some of the men say that they had never passed Cape Horn in such fine +weather. Whales, and porpoises in countless numbers, were playing round +us, and if we had had harpoons and gear on board we might have captured +many of the former and filled up our ship with oil. We were not +destined, however, to enjoy the fine weather long. Another gale came on +and nearly drove us on the western coast of Patagonia, carrying away our +bulwarks, and doing much other damage. When within about five or six +miles of the coast the wind shifted, and we once more stood off the +land. We sighted the far-famed island of Juan Fernandez, the scene of +Robinson Crusoe's adventures, or rather those of the real Alexander +Selkirk. The ship was hove-to when we were about two miles off shore, +and the pinnace and jolly-boat were sent to obtain wood and water. The +passengers taking the opportunity of going also, I slipped into the boat +with Mr McTavish, without being perceived by the captain. The second +mate, who had charge of the boat, did not inquire whether I had leave. +I was not aware till the moment before that the boat was going. + +There was no time for consideration; but the hope seized me that I might +manage to make my escape and remain on the island. If Robinson Crusoe +lived there, so might I. A solitary life would be infinitely better, I +thought, than the existence I was doomed to live on board. I said +nothing to Mr McTavish, for fear he should try to prevent me. We found +when approaching the shore that a heavy sea was breaking over it, and +that it would be impossible to land. We soon, however, discovered that +we had entered the wrong bay, and pulling out again, we got into +another, where the landing was less difficult, though not free from +danger. While some of the party remained on the beach to fill the +water-casks and to draw a seine which had been brought to catch fish, I +accompanied Mr McTavish and the other gentlemen into the interior. The +island appeared to be one vast rock split into various portions. We +pushed on up a deep valley. At the bottom ran a stream of fine water, +from which the water-casks were filled. The valley, scarcely a hundred +yards wide at the entrance, gradually widened. We climbed up the wild +rocks, ascending higher and higher, startling a number of goats, which +scrambled off leaping from crag to crag; some of them fine-built old +fellows with long beards, who looked as if they must have been well +acquainted with Robinson Crusoe himself. We frequently had to turn +aside to avoid cascades, which came rushing down the mountain's side. +Sometimes we were involved in the thickest gloom, and then again we +emerged into bright sunlight as we gained a higher elevation. The +appearance of the country was picturesque in the extreme, though it +didn't tempt me to make it my residence for the remainder of my life; +and then again, I considered that there must be other parts of a more +gentle character where Robinson Crusoe must have resided. I had been +often looking about, considering how I might accomplish my object, when +Mr McTavish said, "I know what you are thinking about, Cheveley, but +for your own sake I do not intend you to succeed; and even if it were +otherwise, I am bound to see you safe on board the boat. So come along. +You mustn't play me any trick." + +"Well, I did think that I should like to stop here and live as Robinson +Crusoe did. Perhaps I might give an account of my adventures when I got +home," I answered. + +"The chances are that you would be starved, or break your neck, or die +of some disease, and never get home; so I intend to keep an eye on you, +my laddie," said my friend, in a good-natured tone. "Besides this, my +friends and I propose to induce Captain Longfleet to set you at liberty +when we reach the Columbia River, and you can either wait at the fort +till you can hear from your father, making yourself useful there as a +clerk, or you can turn fur-hunter, and lead a life which I believe would +be to your taste." + +"I'm very much obliged to you, sir," I said, "and accept your offer, and +will not attempt to run away." + +After a tiring excursion we got back to the boats just as they were +about to shove off. We after this touched at Massafuero, an island +mountain rising abruptly from the sea, surrounded by a narrow slip of +beach. Here we obtained a vast quantity of fish and a few goats. The +abundance of food contributed much to tranquillise the minds of the +crew, and also, I suspect, to prevent them from carrying their plans +into execution. One day when we were becalmed, several of the crew who +could swim jumped overboard to take a bathe, and as I was a good swimmer +I did the same, and got farther than the rest from the ship. While I +was sporting about, I heard the dreadful cry of "Shark, shark!" The +rest of the men quickly making for the side, clambered on board. I was +swimming towards the ship, when I saw a dark fin rising between her and +me. I knew what it indicated, for I had seen several sharks before. To +gain the ship without encountering the monster seemed impossible. I +therefore, instead of swimming on, stopped and trod water, beating the +surface with my hands, and shouting out. I saw some of the men leaning +over the sides with ropes. Presently there was a shout. One of the men +had lowered a rope with a bowling knot into the water, when the shark in +its course round the ship ran its head and upper fin between it. At +this moment it was secured to the cathead, and before the brute could +get free it was hoisted on deck. I now darted forward, and seizing a +rope which hung over the side hauled myself up. As I saw the monster +floundering on deck, I was thankful that he had not caught me in his +jaws. + +"You have had a narrow escape, my laddie," observed Mr McTavish. "It +will be a lesson to you not to swim about in these latitudes." + +Not many other incidents worth relating occurred for some time. + +We touched at Valparaiso, where we discharged some of our cargo, and +afterwards at Callao, where we got rid of a still larger quantity. We +also put into Paita farther north. As goods brought in English vessels +were subject to a very high duty, or were altogether prohibited, they +were smuggled on shore. Had I been so disposed I might on two or three +occasions have made good my escape, but I was relying on the promise of +Mr McTavish. From the coast of Peru we steered to the Sandwich +Islands, of which I should like to give a description. We there took on +board three of the natives, to supply the place of the men who had been +lost. The king and a brace of queens, besides several chiefs and a +number of white men, visited the ship. The king and his brown consorts +came in a large double canoe, formed by lashing two canoes together +separated by bars. Each canoe was paddled by twenty or thirty men. On +the bars was raised a kind of seat, on which the ladies reposed. + +Raised considerably higher than his consorts was a sort of throne placed +on the top of a large arm-chest full of muskets, and on this his +Sandwich Island Majesty was seated in regal state. In front of him +stood a dark-skinned native, carrying a handsome silver hanger in +imitation of the sword-bearers of European monarchs; behind the king sat +a boy holding a basin of dark-brown wood, in which his Majesty ever and +anon spat abundantly. Instead of a crown the king's head was covered by +an old beaver hat. His coat was of coarse woven cloth of ancient cut, +with large metal buttons. His waistcoat was of brown velvet, which had +once been black, while a pair of short, tight, and well-worn velveteen +pantaloons, worsted stockings, and thick-soled shoes covered his lower +extremities. His shirt and cravat had been once probably white, but had +attained the hue of his own swarthy skin. + +On coming on deck he shook hands with every one he met between the +gangway and cabin, assuring them of his affection. I had to attend at +the dinner, to which the royal party were invited. The ladies, however, +had to sit aside, the king taking his place at the table at the right +hand of the captain, while the minister, who carried his saliva bowl, +squatted behind him. He ate voraciously, and washed down the solids +with numerous glasses of Madeira. He drank the health of each person +present, finishing well-nigh three decanters of his favourite wine. As +soon as the king, the captain, passengers, and first mate had risen, the +ladies were allowed to approach their dinner, which had been cooked on +shore, and was now placed on the table. It consisted of a couple of +roast dogs, several dishes of small fish, and a white mixture called +pooah, of the consistency of flummery. + +The steward and I could scarcely keep our countenances as we saw them +dipping the two forefingers of the right hand into the pooah, and after +turning them round in the mixture until they were covered with three or +four coats, by a dexterous twist rapidly transfer the food to their open +mouths, when, with one smack of their lips, their fingers were cleared. + +Their dress consisted of a cloth worn over the shoulders--a long piece +of cloth wrapped in several folds--round the waist and reaching to their +knees. + +The king spent a part of the afternoon in going over the ship, and +measuring her from stem to stern, while the ladies played draughts and +beat their antagonists hollow. There were a number of English and other +white men settled on the island. Two acted as the king's chief +counsellors, and took an active part in all the affairs of the country, +many of them having become very rich. + +I may here remark, that the daughter and granddaughter of one of these +gentlemen afterwards became Queen of the Sandwich Islands. The country, +as far as I could see, appeared to be highly cultivated. The people in +their habits and customs presented a curious mixture of savagery and +civilisation. + +As I gazed on the shore on which I was not permitted to set foot, I +considered whether I could not manage to get away and offer my services +to the king, as I was better educated than most of those about him. I +thought that I should probably rise to the highest dignities of the +State; perhaps become his prime minister, his commander-in-chief, or +admiral of his fleet, but I found that I was too strictly watched by old +Growles and the boatswain to accomplish my object. Had Mark been with +me, I had little doubt but that we should have managed to escape. I at +last asked Mr McTavish if he would take me on shore. + +"No, no, my laddie, I know what is running in your mind," he said. "The +natives would be too ready to assist, and I might find it difficult to +prevent your being carried off and stowed away till the ship sails. You +may fancy that your life would be a very pleasant one, but I know what +it is to live among savages. You would, in course of time, have a brown +wife given to you, and, unwilling to leave her, you would become a +banished man from home and country. Follow the plan I at first +proposed. If you will remain with us you will in the course of a few +years make your fortune, and be able to return home and enjoy it." + +I felt that the advice given was sound, and I promised Mr McTavish not +to try and run away while we remained at the Sandwich Islands. He said +that the next day he would take me on shore if the captain would give me +leave. Shortly after, however, we went out of harbour. We had a quick +passage to the entrance of the Columbia River. A dangerous bar runs +across the mouth of it, so that the captain was unwilling to enter until +we had a fair wind and a favourable tide. Boats were sent ahead to +sound. While thus engaged a canoe, followed by a barge, were seen +coming off. The canoe, which was paddled by six naked savages, and +steered by an old Indian chief, was soon alongside, but as they could +not understand a word we said we could gain no information till the +barge arrived, when our passengers greeted a number of their friends who +had come off in her. The ship now entered the river, and came to an +anchor off a fort which had been erected by the fur-traders. I never +felt more happy in my life, believing that my sufferings were over, and +that I should regain my liberty. I hoped that Mr McTavish and his +friends would at once go on shore and take me with them; but as it was +late in the day, and they heard that the accommodation in the fort was +limited, they accepted the captain's pressing invitation to remain with +their friends on board till next morning. A more sumptuous repast than +I had yet seen was prepared. The captain produced his best wine in +abundance. The steward and I had to wait at table. The captain, when +giving me my orders, spoke in a far more conciliatory tone than he had +ever done before. "I suppose he wishes to make amends to me for his +past conduct, and to show my friends that he has no ill-will towards +me," I thought. The wine flowed freely, and hilarity and good-humour +prevailed for some time, till a remark was made by one of the officers +of the ship which offended a gentleman from the shore. His Highland +blood being up he hove a glass of wine in the face of the mate, telling +him that the bottle should follow if he didn't apologise. This the mate +did, in a somewhat humble fashion, at the request of the captain, and +order was restored. The wine continued to flow freely; songs were sung +and speeches made, and every one appeared to be talking at once at the +top of their voices. The captain at last ordered me to go on deck with +a message to the second mate, who was the officer of the watch, and to +come back and let him know how the ship was riding. He said this in a +loud voice so that every one might hear. + +I could not find the mate aft, so, supposing that he had gone forward to +examine the cable, I was making my way in that direction when suddenly I +found myself seized. A cloth was shoved into my mouth, and another +bound over my eyes, so that I was unable to see or cry out, and I was +carried down the main hatchway in the strong arms of a man whose voice I +had been unable to recognise, though I fancied that he was either +Growles or the boatswain. In vain I struggled to get free. On +reaching, as I supposed, the spar-deck, another man bound my arms and my +legs, and I was then carried still farther down into the hold, when I +was shoved into some place or other, a door was shut and locked on me, +and I found myself alone. I was very nearly suffocated with the cloth +in my mouth, but I managed after much exertion to work it out. Having +done this, I was inclined to shout; but I feared that if I did so old +Growles would return and put it back, and perhaps ill-treat me into the +bargain. I therefore thought it wiser to remain silent, and to try and +get the handkerchief off my eyes. I lay quiet for some time to recover +my breath. Though I could not move to feel about, I was convinced, by +the closeness of the atmosphere, that I was in a small place--probably +in a compartment of the boatswain's store-room. My next object was to +get the handkerchief off my eyes, to ascertain if any light penetrated +my place of confinement. It was a difficult matter to do this without +hurting myself, but I tried, by turning over and rubbing the knot at the +back of my head against the boards on which I lay, to work it upwards, +though at the expense of making a sore place, so tightly was it secured. +At last I succeeded in getting it off. All was dark, as I had +expected. The next task I undertook was to free my arms. This was a +far more difficult undertaking. I made up my mind to bite through the +ropes if I could get my teeth into them; but that, after many attempts, +I found to be impossible. I avoided, as much as I could, drawing them +tighter round my wrists. I endeavoured, by making one of my hands as +small as I could, to draw it out of the knot, but again and again I was +obliged to desist. Still I recollected how I had before escaped from +the hold, as well as from the mill, and I repeated to myself, "Fortune +favours the persevering." + +I had been on foot for a number of hours; and, wearied by the exertions +I had lately made, I at last began to feel very sleepy, and shortly +dropped off into an uncomfortable slumber. I was awakened by a gruff +voice, which I recognised as that of the boatswain. + +"Gregory, I do believe the young rascal is dead," he said. + +"It may save a world of trouble if he is," answered old Growles; "for +those passengers are making a precious fuss about him. If he was to get +ashore, he'd be telling tales. We can say he died in his sleep, and let +them have his body, which will show how it happened." + +"Not if he's black in the face. Here, hand the lantern, and let's have +a look." + +All this time I was afraid to open my eyes, or even to breathe; and I +thought that, if I could sham being dead, they would carry me on deck, +and I would then soon show them the contrary. I guessed that I must +have rolled over with my face away from the door, so that they couldn't +see it. Presently I felt a hand placed on my shoulder to draw me round. +I let them move me as they liked, and I knew, from the light which I +saw through my eyelids, that the rays of a lantern were cast on me. I +flattered myself that I was succeeding very well, till I heard the +boatswain remark-- + +"People don't die with their eyes shut." + +Then a hand was placed on my face, and old Growles observed-- + +"The young chap's as alive as I am; he's quite warm. Rouse up, Dick, +you rascal! But take care you don't sing out, or it'll be the worse for +you." + +Still I endeavoured to make them believe I was really dead. It was a +satisfaction to find that they were casting off the lashings from my +arms and legs; but when one of them lifted up my arm I let it fall down +again, like that of a dead person. This seemed to puzzle them, and old +Growles gave me a cruel pinch on the arm. Though I didn't cry out, I +had the greatest difficulty not to flinch. He then bent back one of my +fingers. It was a wonder he didn't break it. Not able to endure the +pain, I cried out. + +"I thought so," he said, with a low laugh. "You can't play your tricks +off on us, youngster," said the boatswain, "and you'll gain nothing by +it." + +I said nothing, but looked up at him as if I had just awakened out of a +sleep or a trance. + +"Now mind you," he continued, "if you shout out or make any noise, we'll +gag you and leave you to starve; but if you keep quiet you shall have +some food, and you won't be worse off than when you were shut up before +in the hold." + +"What are you going to do with me?" I asked. + +"That's not for you to know," answered the boatswain. "We're not going +to kill you, for fear you should haunt the ship, not for any love to +you. We could have made away with you long ago, if we had thought fit. +We're not going to let you go ashore, and let you give a bad name to the +ship and us. We know who 'peached to the captain, and you may think +yourself fortunate that you were not dropped overboard next night. Will +you promise to keep quiet?" + +I knew that I was in the hands of unscrupulous ruffians, whose fears +alone prevented them from doing away with me; so there was no use +holding out. I therefore said that I would make no noise if they would +unlash my arms and legs and bring me some food. I found that I was in +the place I had supposed--a big locker which had been cleaned out to +make room for me. It smelt horribly of tar and rancid grease, and coils +of small rope and balls of twine, mats, cans, pots, and brushes, up in +the corners, showed me what was usually stowed in it. + +"Shall we trust the young rascal?" asked the boatswain of his companion. + +"He daren't break his word," answered Growles; "he knows what he'll get +if he does." + +Thereupon they unlashed my arms and legs. I considered for a moment +whether I could spring past them and gain the deck. Perhaps they +thought I might make the attempt; and before I had time to do more than +think of it, they had shut the door and locked me in. I knew, from the +quietness of the ship, that she was still at anchor, and I hoped that my +friends might make inquiries about me that might lead to my discovery; +and this idea kept me up. As I lay perfectly still I could hear the +crew hoisting the remainder of the cargo out of the hold. The noise +they made would have drowned my voice, even had I ventured to cry out. +I guessed, also, that most of them knew of my imprisonment, and would +not assist me. My only solace was the thought that Mr McTavish, who +had been so friendly to me, would insist on searching the ship, and then +I thought it probable a story would be told of my having fallen +overboard. They would very likely say that I had got drunk with their +wine, and been seen rolling along the deck, or something of that sort. + +I did not, indeed, altogether despair of making my escape. As I lay in +the ill-odorous locker I thought and thought of all sorts of plans. In +spite of the smells I was getting hungry, and I wished that the +boatswain or Growles would return with the food they had promised. If +only one came I made up my mind to seize him by the throat, put my +fingers into his eyes, spring up past him, and try to gain the deck. It +would be hazardous in the extreme; for, if he caught me, he would not +let me go, and in the struggle I should certainly be overcome, when he +would not fail to punish me severely--perhaps to deprive me of life. +Still, anything was better than to have again to endure the sufferings I +had gone through in the hold. I nerved myself up for the undertaking I +proposed. All was again silent in the hold. The crew had, I concluded, +knocked off work; whether to go to dinner or for the day I could not +calculate. After some time I heard the sound as of some one moving near +me, the door opened, and the light of a lantern fell on my face. There +were two heads instead of one. It would be madness to attempt to spring +past them, so I lay quiet. + +"Here's the food I promised you," said the voice of old Growles. "Eat +it and be thankful; it's more than you deserve." + +It consisted of biscuit and meat, and a cooked root of some sort. He +placed also a can of water by my side. + +"Don't capsize it; for you'll get no more," he said, drawing my +attention to it. + +Wishing to soothe him and throw him off his guard, I answered and +thanked him. Before I could finish the sentence he had shut to the door +and left me to discuss my meal in the dark. I heard him and his +companion go away. The air which had come in had revived my appetite, +and I eagerly ate up the provisions and drank the water, supposing that +I should have more in due time. As soon as I had finished my meal I +tried to see if I could force open the door, but I could discover no +tool of any description. I made up my mind therefore to wait patiently +till the opportunity offered of getting out. Perhaps the next time old +Growles or the boatswain would come alone, or they might send some one +else; or, should my friends be searching the ship, I might make them +hear me. While these thoughts were passing through my mind I again fell +asleep. + +It might be found wearisome were I to describe my thoughts and +sensations, my hopes and fears, while I was awake, or to say how often I +slept. Day after day passed. Old Growles and the boatswain invariably +came together; they seemed to divine that should only one come I might +in my desperation attempt to pass him. + +As far as I could judge the crew were now taking cargo on board, as I +could hear the bales descending into the hold. They consisted, I +afterwards found, of skins and peltries. How much longer the ship would +remain in harbour I could not tell, nor could I conjecture when I was to +be set free. They would scarcely keep me a prisoner during the +remainder of the voyage, as, shut up, I could do nothing, but if I were +at liberty I could make myself useful. Drearily the time passed away. +Fear still prevented me from shouting out; for, from the position I was +in, I could certainly have made myself heard by the crew, although my +voice would not have reached to the cabin. From the remarks that I had +heard from the passengers, when we were approaching the Columbia River, +I guessed that, having loaded with furs, we should cross the Pacific to +China, where they would fetch a high price, and thence, as I knew +beforehand, with the produce of that country, we should proceed to +Australia, where we should load with wood for home. If I were kept a +prisoner for the whole period I should lose my health, if not my life. +How many days or nights I had been kept in confinement I could not +calculate, when I heard the sounds of heaving up the anchor; a trampling +of feet, as if sail was being made. Some time afterwards I was sensible +of a movement in the ship, and presently she plunged into a heavy sea, +and I could hear much rushing of water against her sides. Again she +made a more furious plunge, and I guessed that we were crossing the bar. +I knew that I was right, as shortly afterwards the ship glided on with +a comparatively slight movement. All hope of being rescued by my +friends was gone. I knew that we must have crossed the bar while it was +light, but I was allowed to remain in prison for another night. At last +the door was opened, and old Growles and the boatswain appeared. + +"You may go on deck now, youngster," said old Growles; "but remember, as +you value your life, that you don't tell the captain or any one else who +put you down here. You played the stowaway once, and you must say you +did so again, 'cos you didn't want to go ashore and live among the +injins. If he believes you or not, it doesn't much matter; only you +stick to it, and, mind yer, you'll come to a bad end if you don't." + +I made no answer, for although I wished to get out of the locker and +enjoy the fresh air once more, I could not make up my mind to tell a +falsehood, notwithstanding the threats of the old ruffian. Neither he +nor the boatswain seemed to expect an answer. Perhaps they thought it +mattered very little whether or not I promised to do as they ordered me, +not believing that I would keep my word if it suited my convenience to +break it; for, without saying another word, they bound my eyes, and one +of them dragged me along among bales and other articles of cargo, which +I could feel as I passed by. + +"Stay here," said the boatswain, "till it strikes four bells. You may +then find your way on deck as you best can, and spin any yarn you like +to account for yourself being there, only mind you don't 'peach on us, +or, as I said afore it'll be the worse for you." + +As he spoke he took the bandage off my eyes, and I heard the men +retiring. I was still in total darkness, but I had been so often +accustomed to find my way about under such circumstances that I was not +very anxious on that account. I thought it prudent, however, to remain +seated until I heard four bells strike, when on feeling about I was +almost convinced that I was on the spar-deck. I could distinguish the +tramp of feet overhead as if sail was being made, and shortly +afterwards, the hatchway being lifted up, daylight streamed down upon +me. Pining for fresh air, and desperately hungry, I lost no time in +making my way on deck. + +There stood the captain and two mates. The ship was under all sail, +gliding rapidly before a strong breeze over the ocean, while the blue +outline of the land could dimly be seen astern. I stood irresolute +whether to go at once up to the captain and get the worst over, or to +run forward and ask the cook to give me something to eat. I was about +to follow the latter course, when I heard the captain's voice shouting, +"Halloa, youngster, where on earth do you come from?" + +"That's more than I can exactly say, sir," I answered. + +"Why, we thought you had gone overboard and been drowned, or had slipped +ashore and been carried off by the Indians," he continued; "Mr McTavish +and the other gentlemen were making a great ado about you. You have +been playing your old trick again. For my part, I should have supposed +you would have been glad enough to get out of the ship, as I understood +they wished to take you with them." + +"Please sir, I hope you'll pardon me for what has happened," I said, an +idea at that moment striking me. "I want to become a sailor, and I'll +promise to try and do my duty, and learn to be one if you'll allow me." + +The captain, from what I said, at once took it for granted that I had +again acted the stowaway, and I flattered myself that I had not spoken +an untruth, while I had avoided saying anything which would offend him. +I observed that old Growles had come aft, and was then within earshot. +The captain seemed rather pleased than otherwise that I had not wished +to leave the ship. + +"Go forward," he said, "and let me see that you do your duty." + +He was evidently in better humour than usual, having got a rich freight +which he had not expected. Touching my cap, I hurried to the caboose. +Caesar rolled his eyes and opened his mouth with astonishment when he +saw me. + +"Where you been all dis time, Dick?" he asked. + +"That's more than I can tell you, Caesar. Do in mercy give me some +grub, for I'm well-nigh starved," I answered. + +He gave me part of a mess he had been cooking for himself. + +"Dis curious ship," he said, as he remarked the ravenous way in which I +devoured the food. "I no ask questions, you no tell lies, dat is it. +Oh you wise boy." + +I suspected from this that Caesar had observed the visits of old Growles +and the boatswain to the hold, and shrewdly guessed that I had been a +prisoner. I could not understand, however, how the captain didn't make +some fuss about it, unless he also was cognisant of the fact; but of +that I was left in uncertainty. I had expected from the way he had +first treated me that some change for the better would take place in my +condition, but in this I was mistaken. I was at the beck and call of +every one, having to do all the dirty work in the cabin, and being +knocked about and bullied by the men just as much as before. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + + My position does not improve--Another attempt at escape frustrated-- + Becalmed off Japan--Macao--A fresh cargo--Extension of the voyage--Not + dead yet--I gain some important information as to the future fate + awaiting me, and I determine to quit the ship--A carouse--My escape, + and how I accomplished it--Alone on the ocean--I sight land--The rock + and my landing-place--My search for food--I meet with an accident--I + lose my boat. + +I must pass rapidly over the voyage across the Pacific. Whatever better +feelings the captain had at one time displayed towards me completely +disappeared. I was treated by him and the officers and men as badly as +ever. My spirit was not broken, and perhaps I may at times have shown +too refractory a disposition to please them. I was compelled, however, +to submit to and obey their orders, annoying and vexatious as they often +were. I did not show my feelings so much by what I said as by my looks, +and I often stopped to consider whether or no I would do as I was told. + +We fell in with a few ships--most of them whalers--the captains of which +sometimes came on board, and I had hoped that I might be able to get off +in one of them. I fancied that it would be impossible to change for the +worse, but I in vain watched for an opportunity. + +One evening we were becalmed to the southward of Japan, not far off a +South Sea whaler. The commander, who was an old acquaintance of Captain +Longfleet, came aboard, and spent the evening with him in the cabin. I +waited eagerly till it had become dark. The lights of the other ship +could be seen in the distance, and I expected every instant that the +captain would come on deck ready to take his departure. The boat's crew +had come aboard, and were being entertained by our men. I thought if I +could manage to slip down I might stow myself away under the foremost +thwart, and should not be discovered till I had reached the other ship. +I would then tell my story to the commander, who if he would not have +compassion on me would probably not think it worth while to send me back +that night, and before the morning a breeze might spring up and the +ships be separated. + +I waited concealed under the long-boat stowed amidships till I fancied +that there was no one near the side where the whale-boat lay. I then +crept out and got into the main chains. I was just about to lower +myself down when a huge hand was placed on my shoulder, and I heard a +voice which I knew to be that of old Growles. + +"Come inboard, you young rascal!" he said; "you're not going to get off +as easily as you fancy. It's lucky for you that you didn't get into the +boat, for you would have been found to a certainty, and handed over to +our skipper, who would have knocked the life out of you." + +"What's all this about? How did you know I wanted to get into the +boat?" I asked, in a tone of assumed astonishment. + +"'Cos I've seen you watching ever since she came alongside," answered +Growles; "so take that--and that,"--and hauling me inboard, he bestowed +several blows with the end of a rope on my back. + +I ran forward to escape from him, and stowed myself away in my bunk, as +it was my watch below. + +We at last reached Macao, where our cargo of furs was discharged, and +for which I believe a very high price was obtained. I had no wish, from +what I had heard of the Chinese, to go and live among them, and I +therefore did not attempt to get on shore, although I had reason to +believe that I was all the time narrowly watched by old Growles and the +boatswain. + +Instead of the furs and skins we shipped a cargo of tea in chests, and +other Chinese produce. Part of this was to be landed at Sydney, New +South Wales, and the rest, if no market could be found there for it, was +to be carried on to America. This would greatly prolong the voyage, and +consequently my miseries. I had hitherto been supported by the +expectation of soon reaching home and being emancipated from my bondage. + +I had no dislike to the sea; and had I been well treated even in my +subordinate position I should have been contented to remain where I was, +and to try and learn as much as I could; but to be kicked and beaten and +knocked down every day of my life--to have the dirtiest of work and the +worst of food--to be sworn at and abused at all hours--made me well-nigh +weary of my life. + +I was one night standing just before the windlass, when I said something +which offended Sam Dixon, one of the men. In return he struck me a blow +on the head. I must have fallen immediately, and rolled down directly +under the windlass. Perhaps fancying that he had killed me, Dixon +walked away, without uttering anything to anybody as to what he had +done. + +I probably lay there for some time in a state of unconsciousness--how +long I could not tell. When I came to myself I heard some of my +shipmates talking near me. I was about to crawl out when my own name +caught my ears. + +"We have had enough of that youngster at present," said one; "he has +'peached once, and will ferret out what we're about, and 'peach again if +he has the chance. I only wish we had dropped him overboard with a shot +round his feet long ago." + +It was the boatswain who spoke. + +"I didn't think of the shot, as I suppose that would stop him from +coming up again, and haunting the ship," remarked old Growles; "that's +what I was afeered of." + +"Why, Gregory, you're always thinking of ghosts and spirits--they +wouldn't do harm to you or any of us," remarked another fellow who was +looked upon as the chief sceptic of the crew, though it is difficult to +say what they did or did not believe, for considering their lives it +might be supposed that they were all infidels together. + +They continued talking in low voices. Though I could not make out all +they said, I gathered enough to be convinced that they had some plot or +other which they intended soon to put into execution, and fearing lest I +should get an inkling of it and inform the captain, they intended to do +away with me. It was some satisfaction to discover that they had no +immediate intention of executing their plans. I might have time to warn +the officers or to make my escape. + +I for some time had had an idea in my head. We carried a small boat +astern, generally called a dinghy. She could hold two or three people, +and was useful for sending away to the shore, or for lowering at sea in +calm weather when anything had to be picked up. If I could lower her +into the water during the night when off the coast of some island, I +might manage to escape to the shore before I was discovered. + +What I had heard made me resolve not to delay a moment longer than could +be helped. That night nothing could be done, even should I find that +the blow had not incapacitated me from exertion. I dare not move from +my present uncomfortable position, for should I be discovered the men +would not scruple to do away with me. I was thankful that the men at +last got up and began to walk about the deck. I was fearful, however, +that they might come by the windlass, when I must have been discovered. + +At last I heard the second mate, who was the officer of the watch, give +the order to shorten sail, and they had to run to their stations; and as +they did so, I crawled out and succeeded in reaching my bunk, into which +I tumbled unperceived. I was far from comfortable, however, fearing +that that very night they might smother me--the mode I fancied they +would take to put me out of existence. + +I was not missed, I suppose, as no one called me, and when my watch on +deck came round I turned out with the rest. My head ached, and I had a +big lump on my forehead. In the morning, when the third mate saw me, he +asked how I got that. I replied that it was the way I had got many +another, that it was only what I expected, and had made up my mind to +bear it. + +"You're a rum chap, and a bold one--more than I'd do," answered the +mate, not troubling himself more about the matter. + +When I went aft to the cabin at breakfast, I heard one of the mates +observe that we should make the coast of Australia that day. Then I +thought to myself, "If I can get off I will." I had no intention of +going without provisions. I knew that a good store was kept in the +pantry, to which I had access. My intention was to tumble everything I +could find into a cloth, to tie it up, and to carry it off, if I could, +unperceived to the dinghy. + +How to lower that without being heard or seen by the watch on deck was +the difficulty. The falls were so fitted that a single person might +lower her, but then she would make a splash in the water. + +We made the land about four o'clock in the afternoon, but after standing +on for some time till it was nearly dark, the captain ordered the ship's +head to be put about, as he was not well acquainted with the coast, and +there were dangerous reefs which ran off for a considerable distance. + +Night came on, and a very dark night it was, but the darkness would +favour my design. Instead of being allowed to turn in when it was my +watch below, I was sent aft by the cook with a dish of devilled biscuits +to the cabin, where the captain and the first and second mates were +taking supper, while the third mate had the watch on deck. I intended +it to be the last time I would turn into my bunk. I had not been long +in the cabin before I observed that the captain and mates had been +drinking, and seemed disposed to continue their debauch. The devilled +biscuits which I had placed before them still farther incited their +thirst, and the captain ordered another bottle of rum. I noticed that +the steward, when I told him, got out two bottles, one of which he kept +in the pantry while he took the other into the cabin. + +"You'll do to attend on the officers, Dick," he said to me; "I'm going +to enjoy myself." + +I stood ready to obey any orders I should receive. The conversation I +heard was far from edifying, but I was too much engaged in thinking of +my own project to attend to it. + +As I was standing at the far end of the cabin I heard a crash. One of +the mates had knocked over a couple of tumblers, and I was sent into the +pantry to obtain others. I found the steward fast verging into a state +of unconsciousness. He had been pulling away at the rum-bottle at a +great rate, for fear he should not have time to finish it. + +As I got the tumblers I cast my eyes round the pantry to see what +articles of food I could most readily carry off. I saw the best part of +a cold ham, an ample supply of biscuits and some pots of Chinese +preserves, with several other things of less consequence. + +Returning to the cabin I placed the tumblers on the table, and retired +beyond the reach of the officers, having been taught by experience that +they might at any moment think fit to give me a box on the ear or to +knock me down. I watched them with intense interest, lest they should +knock off before they were completely drunk. The third mate came into +the cabin apparently to report something to the captain, but, seeing the +state his commander was in, uttering a loud whew! He turned on his +heel, and went out again, seeing the importance of keeping sober +himself. I confess that I wished he had sat down with the others, and +left the ship to take care of herself. + +Soon afterwards, as I knew I should not be missed, I stole out of the +cabin, and went into the pantry, where I quickly did up the provisions I +intended to take with me. There was a jar of water, evidently quite +full, which the steward kept ready for use. + +I now went on deck to ascertain what chance I had of carrying out my +design. I could discover no one excepting the man at the helm, and the +third mate had, I concluded, to take a look-out. I hurried back to get +the jar and provisions, and unperceived placed them in the dinghy. I +felt about in her, and found two oars and a boat-hook. + +The falls were, as I have said, so fitted that one person could lower +the boat, but to do so without capsizing her when the ship was moving +through the water was almost an impossible undertaking. + +The wind had previously been very light, and the vessel had scarcely any +steerage way on her. To my intense satisfaction I noticed that it was +now almost a stark calm. + +Now or never I must carry out my project. I thought not of the dangers +to be encountered; the chances of being chased and overtaken; the +savages on shore; the risk of starvation; the want of water; the current +that might sweep me along; or the chances of a storm arising before I +could gain the land. I had not a moment to lose. The mate remained +forward; the man at the helm stood motionless, and, I hoped, was asleep. +I slipped into the boat, and passing the slack of the falls under two +thwarts, gently lowered myself down. I had, the day before, unobserved, +thoroughly greased the blocks. + +My chief fear now was, that the splash the boat would make on reaching +the water would be heard. I therefore eased away with the greatest +care, and stood ready in a moment to cast off the aft-most fall. I +cleared it in the nick of time, and the boat was towed slowly ahead. I +quickly cleared the foremost fall, and was now adrift. I was conscious +that a light splash had been made, but I hoped that if the mate heard it +he would fancy that it was caused by some monster of the deep rising +above the surface. Without waiting to ascertain whether this was the +case or not, I seized the oars and pulled rapidly away from the stern of +the vessel, the light from the cabin window assisting me to keep the +course I desired to make towards the land. I congratulated myself at +having accomplished my object before it was too late, for I felt a +breeze fanning my ears as I pulled on. + +As I looked up at the tall masts, it seemed to me that the sails bulged +out, and that the ship was rapidly increasing her distance from me. I +was already a considerable way astern when I heard a loud hail. I +recognised the voice of the mate, who had probably just discovered that +the boat was gone. My fear was, that another would be lowered and sent +in chase of me. This made me pull all the harder. My only idea was, to +reach shore and escape from my persecutors. I dared not lose time by +stopping even for a moment to listen for the sounds of a boat being +lowered. I heard several other voices hail, but the ship stood on and +gradually faded away in the gloom of night. I knew that being low in +the water I could not be seen. + +Presently I saw the flash of a musket; then another and another; but no +shots came near me, and from this I was convinced that the third mate, +or some one else, was firing at random. Had the captain or the other +mates been in their right senses the ship would probably have been +hove-to and two boats, at least, have been sent in chase of me. The +third mate was, I suspect, afraid of heaving to on account of the reefs. +He kept the ship, therefore, before the wind. Whatever the cause, I +was thankful I was not pursued, and I trusted that the breeze would blow +stronger and carry the ship farther and farther away from me. + +Although, through there being no moon, the night was dark, and there was +a mist which hung over the waters, yet I could observe overhead several +stars, and as the lights from the cabin receded, I marked their +position, and was thus able, with tolerable confidence, to continue my +way towards the land. I fancied that I should be able to reach it early +in the morning or during the next day. I at length began to grow weary, +but as long as I could move my arms I determined to row on. The wind +being off the land, the sea was perfectly calm. Scarcely a ripple +disturbed the surface. I was too anxious to feel hunger or thirst. At +the same time, the joy at having escaped kept up my spirits. + +Under other circumstances I do not think I could have accomplished what +I did. I fancied that I was pulling at the rate of four miles an hour, +and that I was nearing the shore. At length, however, my fatigue +overcame me, and I felt that I could row no more. The moment I stopped +I felt very sleepy, but had sense sufficient to take in my oars and +place them by my side. I then lay down in the bottom of the boat, +intending to rest for a few minutes, after which, I expected again to be +able to pull on. + +As may be supposed, I was soon again fast asleep. My slumbers were +peaceful and pleasant, rendered so, I presume, by the consciousness that +I had escaped from the fate intended for me. I was awakened by a bright +light flashing in my eyes. Opening them, I sprang up and found that the +sun had just risen above the horizon. I looked eagerly around, dreading +lest I should see the ship near me, but to my infinite relief she was +not visible, nor was the land I had expected to see and so soon to +reach. My little boat was the only object on the waste of waters. + +The coast, I knew, was to the westward, and as the rising sun would +guide me, I took out my oars and began to row away in that direction. I +had not rowed long before I began to feel very hungry. I therefore +again laid in my oars and took a hearty meal off the provisions I had +brought, washing it down with an ample draught of water. Then I once +more turned to, but the heat soon became excessive, and I was streaming +at every pore. Still, as long as my strength lasted I determined not to +give in. I occasionally stopped to take a pull at my water-bottle. +With very little rest beside, I continued to paddle on till it was again +dark. This showed me what had not occurred to me before, that I might +have been rowing part of the time along the coast, instead of towards +it, and I supposed that the ship had been much farther off than I had +previously imagined. I had been in a dreamy state all day, and unable +to think much. This was produced by the heat which beat down on my +head. I felt somewhat revived as the sun set, but after a time +excessive drowsiness came over me, and once more taking in my oars, I +lay down to sleep. + +I must have slept the whole night, for when I again woke, it was already +dawn. I stood up and looked about me, when to my surprise I observed +some rocks between myself in the boat and the bright light which +heralded the rising sun. I must have been carried by a current inside +them. I was about to row away to the westward, when as the light +increased I saw what I at first thought was the mast of a small vessel +or boat near them. Seizing my oars, I eagerly pulled towards the +object. Again looking round I soon discovered it; it was not a mast, +but a pole stuck in the rock with a cask or basket fixed on the top of +it. + +This was a sign that some civilised inhabitants must be on the +neighbouring shore, and that they had placed that beacon to warn +mariners of the dangers of the rock. + +A number of sea-fowl circled over the rock, occasionally dipping their +wings in the clear water. + +As the sun rose, I made out the land running in a long line to a far +distance, as I concluded north and south. It was now time for +breakfast. + +I had no intention of landing on the rock, for this would only cause +delay. I took my ham out from the stern sheets, but as I did so, the +horrible odour which saluted my nostrils made me certain that it would +be impossible to eat it, and, except the dry biscuits, I had no other +food. I managed with the aid of some water to masticate a fair +quantity, but it might be a long time even now before I could gain the +shore, and even then I might be disappointed in obtaining food. It then +occurred to me that perhaps the sea-fowl made their nests on the rock, +and that I might get some of their eggs, which would give me an ample +supply of provisions for some time to come. + +As I had once upon a time lived upon raw rats, I was not very +particular; and even should I not obtain any eggs, I might find some +young birds, which, though perhaps fishy in taste, would enable me to +support existence. I therefore rowed towards the rock which I saw was +of considerable extent, although one part only on which the beacon was +placed rose a few feet above the surface. + +The clearness of the atmosphere had deceived me as to the distance. I +rowed on for some time before I reached it. Possibly also, there was a +current against me, although that such was the case did not occur to me +at the time. + +The sea-fowl shrieked loudly and wildly as I approached, as if to warn +me off from their domain. Some sat on the rock, others darted off and +circled round and round the boat, but I was not to be deterred from +landing by their threatening cries and movements. At last I got close +to the rock, and found an indentation or little bay, into which I ran my +boat. + +Though several birds appeared, I found that they were merely resting on +the rock, and that the water was too shallow to allow me to get close +enough to step on shore. + +In many places the seaweed grew so thickly, and was so slimy, that I was +afraid to venture on it, lest it offering a treacherous foothold I +should slip back into the water. At last I saw a point some distance +from the beacon where I thought I could land, and secure the boat's +painter round a rough part of the coral rock. I succeeded in stepping +on to it and making the rope fast; and confident that she would be +secure, made my way along the rock with the assistance of the boat-hook. +I found neither eggs nor young birds; indeed, on examining the rock, I +knew that it must be covered occasionally, if not at every tide, by the +water. Still I thought that I should find them at the higher part, near +the beacon. + +I accordingly scrambled on as well as I could, but here and there I came +to a lower part of the rock over which the water washed, and I saw that +to reach the beacon I must wade through it. I had to proceed very +cautiously, for it was full of hollows and slippery in the extreme, and +a fall might involve serious consequences. + +The shriek of the birds, though it sounded rather pleasant at a +distance, became almost deafening as I got nearer to them. + +After going some way, I had to stop and rest, supporting myself on the +boat-hook. I now saw, on looking round, that the sky which at sunrise +had been bright and clear, was becoming fast covered with clouds. The +wind, too, blew with much greater force than before. Still, as it came +off the land, I hoped that it might not cause such a sea as would +prevent me from continuing my voyage. I was too eager, also, to obtain +some eggs or young birds to allow the subject to trouble me. I +therefore continued scrambling along over the rocks, hoping to find what +I was in search of nearer the beacon. I was by this time nearly wet +through up to the middle, but that did not matter, as the hot sun soon +dried my clothes. Having got on some distance without an accident, I +perhaps became more careless; for when leaping from one rock to another, +my foot slipped and I came down with a force which I thought must have +broken my arm. I lay clutching the rock with the other hand, unable to +move from the pain, while my boat-hook slipped from my grasp, and +gliding into the water was borne away from the rock. I now saw that a +rapid current was passing the rock, the influence of which I must have +felt when approaching it in the boat. Without the boat-hook I should +find it still more difficult to get along; but I knew that I must not +stay where I was for ever, and as soon therefore as the pain allowed me, +I rose to my feet and endeavoured to continue my scramble over the +rocks. + +I forgot that my return journey would be quite as difficult if not more +so, as I should have no boat-hook, and at the same time should be +loaded, I hoped, with eggs and birds. I went on and on, of course +making very slow progress. At length I got close to the beacon, and +great was my disappointment to find neither eggs nor young birds. + +I searched round and round the rock in all directions, and I at last +came to the conclusion that if the birds lay their eggs there at all the +hatching season must have passed, and the young birds grown strong on +the wing, and have flown away. + +It was a great disappointment. As it was, I had had my difficult and +tiring scramble for nothing, and had bruised my arm, though happily I +had not broken it. I had also lost my boat-hook. I climbed to the +higher part of the rock, and had a look at the land, which I judged was +ten or twelve miles off at least. Still I hoped to accomplish that +distance long before dark, and to find a harbour, as I supposed there +was one, or it was not likely that the beacon could have been placed on +the rock. I therefore, without further delay, began my return journey. +As I went along, I found that some places where I had crossed had become +much deeper. At length it occurred to me that the tide was rising. I +had regained sight of my boat, which at a distance could not be +distinguished from the black rocks, when it suddenly appeared to me that +she was moving. I rushed on at the risk of breaking my legs. What was +my dismay at seeing that she was already at a considerable distance from +the rock where I had left her, and there seemed every probability that I +should lose her altogether. In my terror I shouted and shrieked to her +to stop. I was on the point of rushing into the water to try and +overtake her when I saw a black fin glide by, followed by another, and +the wicked eye of a shark glanced up at me, daring me to venture on the +undertaking. My despair overcoming me, I sank down on the rock. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + + My adventures on the rock--My search for food, and what I found--The + storm--Despite my perilous position, I marvel at the grandeur of the + scene--The storm subsides--My search for clams, and further + explorations on the rock--The darkest night must come to an end--A + welcome wetting--My only refuge--Return of stormy weather--Perilous + moments--I climb the beacon-post. + +I had gone through a few misadventures, but this was the most trying of +all. After lying on the rock for a few minutes or more, I recovered +sufficiently to recollect that the tide was rising, and that unless I +could select a higher spot I should be swept off, and become a prey to +the monsters I dreaded. I therefore got up, and trying to pull myself +together again, endeavoured to reach the beacon, which would at all +events afford me temporary shelter. When taking out the biscuits in the +morning I had shoved several into my pocket, which would enable me to +sustain existence until I could make signals to some passing boat or +vessel. Having lost my boat-hook I made slower progress than before, +and often with the greatest difficulty avoided falling. Two or three +times I had to wade up to my middle, and I dreaded lest one of the +sharks should have shoved his nose through the opening, and might snap +me up. Still I went on. My anxiety made me forget the pain in my arm. +Fortunately I was not indeed deprived of its use, and by degrees the +pain went off. + +I was so much engaged, that I did not for some time observe how +completely the weather had changed. The beacon on the rock was reached, +and I sat down below it to rest myself after my exertions. I now saw +that the sea, which had hitherto been so calm, had begun to heave. +Sudden gusts blew across it, covering its surface with wavelets, which +every moment increased in size. Dark clouds chased each other across +the sky, and gathered in thick masses overhead. To my dismay I saw that +a storm was rising. It rapidly came on, while the sea getting up with +the same speed, completely swept over the lower part of the rock along +which I had made my way. + +The lightning flashed, the thunder roared, and the seas began to beat +with violence against the rock. Some of them came sweeping up to where +I sat. I sprang to my feet, and stood gazing with awe and terror at the +strife of the elements which raged around me. What hope, I thought, +could I have of escaping. My boat gone; so far off from land that it +was impossible I could be observed, while I could see no boats or +vessels sailing over the whole expanse of ocean. Indeed had there been +any coming from the shore, they would have put back into harbour when +they saw the storm coming on. Still I was unharmed; I had biscuits +enough in my pockets to keep soul and body together for a day or two +longer, if I economised them as I intended to do. I might also find +some shellfish; they would serve me for food for a much longer time, I +therefore did not despair, but I was aware that at any moment the sea +might sweep up and carry me off. + +With more calmness than I had given myself credit for possessing, I +continued to survey the scene. I looked out again for my boat, thinking +it possible that the current might drive her back to the rock, but she +had been carried far beyond my ken. This made my heart sick. Knowing, +however, that my life depended very much on my keeping up my courage, I +endeavoured to muster all I possessed. I thought if I could climb up to +the top of the rock and make a signal, it might be observed, should any +boat when the storm was over come out from the shore, or should any +vessel be passing. I could see no other rocks to the eastward; I +supposed, therefore that this was the highest part of the reef, and that +vessels acquainted with the coast might pass by within sight of it. + +I spent several hours, I can scarcely describe how. When my hunger +became too ravenous to bear longer, I munched a small quantity of +biscuit. At length, as I watched the seas, I observed that they did not +approach so close to me, and I was convinced that the tide was again +going down. I calculated, indeed, from the time I had been on the rock, +that this must be the case, as it was already rising when I first +landed, and I now hoped that I should be able to obtain some shellfish +by going down to the lee-side, and cutting them off with my knife. + +The idea having once occurred to me, I lost no time in carrying it out. +I had to be excessively cautious, for by a false step I might have +slipped into the sea, and not have been able to regain my hold on the +rock. After searching about for some time, I caught sight of a few +clams, but they were not to be obtained without risk, as the sea surged +up and recovered them. I fixed my eye on one, then rushing down, I cut +it off and threw it up out of the reach of the water. I obtained two +more in the same way; and in attempting to secure a fourth, the waves +swept round the rock, almost covering me, and I had to cling on for my +life, losing my clam and very nearly my life. This taught me to be more +cautious than ever; but I managed notwithstanding to obtain three or +four more, and as I could see none others above water, I had to content +myself with those I had collected. Gathering those I had obtained +together, I returned to the higher part of the rock, close under the +beacon, where I was sheltered from the wind. I had no means of lighting +a fire. There was no fuel on the rock to make one, and so I was +compelled to eat the clams raw, with a little biscuit to make them more +palatable. The whole day had passed away, and another night was coming +on. I dreaded it, for I knew not what might happen during the hours of +darkness. + +The storm had in no way abated, and I feared that when the tide again +rose the sea might get still more over the rock. I had little idea, +however, how fiercely it was about to do so. I have often spoken of my +sleeping and waking, but thus our lives are spent. In spite of the +storm raging around me, the seas thundering on the rock, and the wind +whistling through the beacon, a drowsiness overpowered me, and I found +myself dropping off to sleep. I was still conscious in some degree how +I was situated. I felt all the time an overpowering sense of danger. +Sometimes I was in my little boat, gliding calmly over the ocean; now I +was suddenly chased by big waves, which threatened every instant to +engulf me. Then I found myself cast upon the rock, my boat floating +away, and tumbling and tossing till she disappeared. Now I was seated +all alone, gazing out over the ocean, which rose and fell, and tossed +before my eyes just as I had seen it in the daytime, only rising to a +far greater height, and descending in a more furious fashion. This sort +of confused dream continued while I was asleep. Now and then I awoke, +only to hear the noises I have before described. The rock itself seemed +quaking, as the seas with a thundering roar dashed against it. I could +hear, too, the screams of the sea-birds as they swept round and round, +disturbed from their usual resting-place, though many of them flew off, +I suppose, to the far-away shores, or to other rocks perhaps higher out +of the water. + +The night I had escaped from the "Emu" was very dark; but this was +unfortunately darker, except when a flash of lightning darted from the +sky and illumined the white foam which, lashed by the wind into spray, +flew in sheets over the rock. I was soon wet to the skin. I felt +chilly in the extreme. Even the most terrible night must come to an +end. + +Morning broke, but cheerless as could well be. The sky was of one +leaden hue, broken here and there by the clouds which hung lower down in +the strata. The waves, when not covered by foam, were of the same tint. +To sit where I was I found was impossible. I got up and walked about +and stretched my legs. To my dismay I found that the rocks, which at +the same hour the previous day were high out of the water, were now +almost covered by the furious seas which rolled over them. I trembled +to think what would be the case at high water. I should have liked to +have got some more clams for breakfast, but I could see none, even after +searching for them, and there was a great risk of being swept away, so I +contented myself with taking one of those I had saved from the previous +day, with a biscuit, for breakfast. I was already very thirsty, having +had nothing to drink since I had left the boat, and would have welcomed +a heavy shower from the dark clouds overhead. I continued to walk, or +rather to climb about the rock, as there was but a very small level +place on which I could walk. + +Then I sat down again, and with melancholy gaze watched the foaming +seas, which I began to dread, as I saw them more and more frequently +covering the rock, would prove my grave. At length I had to seek a +higher and more exposed level, and as water occasionally surged up to +the place where I had spent the night, and might at any moment sweep me +off, I tried to nerve myself up to my fate. + +With difficulty I could restrain myself from drinking the sea-water. I +was well aware of the danger of doing so, and resisted the temptation. +At last, as I was looking up, I felt a drop fall on my face. It was not +the spray of the sea. Another and another followed, and down came a +copious shower. I opened my mouth, at the same time holding out my cap +to the rain, hoping to get a little in it. I got but little, so I +placed it on the rock and spread it open. I then took off my jacket, +and held it out that it might be well wetted. + +I hoped also to find some hollow in the rock that might be rilled with +fresh water. The rain came down, as it does in the tropics, in a +perfect deluge. My jacket was wet through in a minute, and I was able +to wring out of it a sufficient amount of fresh water to quench my +burning thirst. After this I was able to eat some biscuits. It should +be remembered that the tide reaches its height nearly three-quarters of +an hour later every day. I watched with intense anxiety its rising this +afternoon. Now it entirely covered the rocks where I had landed, then +those over which I had made my way were concealed from view, and now it +reached the base of the beacon-rock itself, against which the seas began +to break with a fury surpassing that of the previous day. + +The spot on which I had been standing one minute was the next covered by +the seething waters, when I retired to a higher level. Again and again +a wave broke over the rock, and striking one of the almost perpendicular +sides flew high into the air above my head. Every moment my hope of +escape was becoming less and less. I cried to heaven for mercy. As I +saw death drawing near, the desire to live increased. It seemed so +terrible to have to die all alone away from friends and country. + +At last I was driven to the very foot of the beacon, and I clutched it +as if it alone could afford me protection. I knew that I could not for +a single moment stand upon the rock with the sea breaking over it, but +the beacon itself withstood the furious waves. I had not as yet thought +of climbing to it to see how it was fixed, but I now did so with intense +anxiety. I found that the staff was of hard oak, and that it had been +imbedded in a deep hole formed by art in the rock, and further secured +by iron bars driven into it, and fastened round by iron hoops. This +gave me some hopes that it would stand the fury of the seas should they +rise high enough to strike it. That they would do this seemed every +moment more probable. + +On every side around me they tossed and foamed and roared, as if eager +to seize me. I frantically clutched the pole, which, from its size, I +could with difficulty embrace. Even now, though my chance of escape +seemed small indeed, I did not abandon all hope. A small line hung down +through the bottom of the cask. I tried its strength. It would enable +me, I found, to mount upwards, but I was unwilling to make the attempt, +as I could not tell whether the cask was fixed securely enough to bear +my weight. There I stood, my arms round the pole, clutching the rope +with my hands, and awaiting my fate. That that ere long would come I +was fully convinced. + +Though sea after sea broke on the rock, none actually touched me, though +my feet occasionally were washed by the foam. To my surprise, and +contrary to all my expectations, though the seas raged round me as +fiercely as ever, the water sank, and as the sea rolled up it struck a +lower level of the rock, and I began to hope once more that I should +escape. Then I recollected that if the tides had not yet reached their +extreme height, or the spring tides had not come on, the next day might +prove fatal. Though the water had receded, I dare not leave the +beacon-post, and kept clinging to it as my only comfort and friend. At +length weary I sank down to rest, still grasping it in my arms. Thus +hours passed away, even now too painful to think of. I ate the +remainder of the biscuit, and then fell into a heavy slumber, which must +have lasted many hours. I awoke to find that it was night, and that the +tide was once more rising, as I knew by hearing the seas breaking on the +rocks close to me. Already I was covered by the spray, which flew in +showers over me. Had I slept on much longer I must have been swept +away, and awakened only to find myself in the cruel grasp of the +relentless waves. I might, however, now never see another sunrise. I +prayed as I had never prayed before, and resolved to struggle to the +last for life. + +Few have been placed in a more perilous position and escaped. I had the +stout beacon to cling to. It had probably stood many a storm, but would +it stand fast now? To that I held fast as before, but I feared that my +strength would fail me, and that I might be torn away from it. I looked +up at the cask above my head, wondering whether that would afford me an +asylum I was unwilling, however, to exhaust my strength by attempting to +climb the post. With increasing force the waves beat on the rock. +Again and again it trembled from their blows, though I fancied, and +almost expected, to find it washed away beneath my feet. I was wet +through, and blinded by the spray. As I cleared my eyes, I could +discern through the darkness the seas dancing up level with the rock on +which I stood. Some appeared, as they rolled on meeting with no +impediment, to be much higher. Then I saw one coming roaring and +hissing along towards me. It broke with fearful force, and rushed over +the rock higher than my knees. + +Had I not been firmly grasping the beacon-post, I should have been +carried off my legs and washed helplessly away. I shrieked with terror +as I saw another coming higher than the last. My cries were echoed by +those of the wild sea-birds passing above. The foaming sea broke, and +as I drew myself up the post, I found my legs floating behind me. A +moment later, and my doom would have been sealed. I got up higher and +higher. Now, as I looked down, I saw that I was surrounded by a +tumultuous ocean, without a particle of rock on which to place the soles +of my feet. I knew that all depended on my strength holding out. The +beacon might stand fast, but I might be torn away. Had it been daylight +I might better have endured the horrible position in which I was placed, +but at night to be thus all alone, with the hungry waves leaping up and +striving to snatch me from my holdfast, was truly dreadful. + +I wonder my senses did not give way. Sometimes I thought that it was +only a dream, but I then knew it to be a fearful reality. With arms and +legs clinging round the post, and my hands clutching the rope as I had +never clutched rope before, I hung on. I was almost afraid to climb +higher, lest my muscles failing me for a moment I should lose my grasp, +and yet the cask was only a few feet above me. Suddenly I recollected +that on board whalers casks are placed in the same manner as that was at +the masthead, in order that the officers, protected in some degree, may +in that position obtain a wide extended view in search of whales, and +that they enter by a trap-door in the bottom. Should this beacon +possess such a trap, I might get through it and obtain shelter and rest. +But again a doubt crossed my mind whether I could climb up even thus +far, without the risk of sliding down again into the sea. + +I looked down to see if the tide was once more receding, but the waves +seemed still to be rising higher and higher. Some of their foam even +sometimes now touched my feet as they swept over the rock. They might +even cover the beacon itself; and if so, no human power could save me. +After remaining quiet for some time, I felt as if I possessed sufficient +strength, and resolved to make the attempt. With legs and arms and +hands I worked my way up. I would have clung with my teeth to the rope +could I have seized it. I was within a foot of the bottom of the cask, +when I felt so exhausted that I thought I could get no higher. I looked +down on the raging sea and then up at the only place which could afford +me shelter. In the darkness I could not see whether or not there was a +trap, and if there were one perhaps I might not be able to force it +open, and, exhausted by the effort, might drop into the water. I +dreaded the risk, but it must be run. + +Nerving myself up to the undertaking, I slowly and carefully began to +work my way higher up. My head struck the cask. I put up my hand, the +bottom yielded, and now exerting all my remaining strength I seized the +edges and drew myself up, holding well on with my hands and feet until I +had got my head and shoulders into the interior. Throwing myself on my +chest, I felt round and discovered some beckets, evidently intended for +the purpose of enabling a person situated as I was to draw himself up. +I then, grasping the rope which hung from the top of the pole which +passed through the cask, dragged myself up and placed my feet at the +bottom. I pressed down the trap. I felt more secure than I had been +for many hours. Had I not still had a post to cling to after the strain +my muscles had so long endured, I could not have stood upright. + +Several cross-pieces secured the top of the cask to the post. I shoved +my head through them, and could now look down on the wild and raging +waters with which I was surrounded. Still I dare not quit my hold of +the post, fancying that if I pressed on one side of the cask or the +other, it might give way. Not that there was the slightest chance of +that in reality. I did not long contemplate the fearful scene, but +overcome by what I had gone through, I sank down to the bottom of the +cask, and, wet and cold as I was, fell into a troubled slumber. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + + In the beacon--The storm continues--The tide turns--I again seek for + food--I meet with another accident--Brighter weather--A sail in + sight--My hopes and fears--My signal--My rescue--A voice from the + deep--Three old friends meet again--On board the "Falcon"--The good + captain--Sydney harbour, and why I did not go ashore there--The + homeward voyage--Mark and I learn navigation--My reception at + Liverpool--Sad, sad news--My journey to Sandgate--I enter Mr + Butterfield's office, and have had no cause to regret doing so. + +I awoke to find the storm still raging around me; but as I opened my +eyes I was sensible that a faint light came in from the top of the cask. +I was cramped with the uncomfortable position in which I had been +sleeping. When I looked out over the edge of the cask, though the seas +were tossing as wildly as before, I perceived that the rock below me was +once more uncovered, owing, as I knew, to the tide having ebbed. At +first I thought of descending; then I recollected that the waters might +again rise to their former level, and I feared that I might not have +strength to regain my sheltering-place. I therefore remained where I +was. I shortly began to feel the pangs of hunger and thirst. I eagerly +felt in my pocket for some biscuit, forgetting that I had consumed the +last the night before. I found a few crumbs, and with difficulty got +them down, having no water to moisten my dry mouth. Still, the wet +state of my clothes prevented me from suffering so much from thirst as I +should otherwise have done. + +The storm, I knew, would not last for ever. Should it continue much +longer, however, I might succumb before I could possibly be relieved; +but having been hitherto so mercifully preserved, I did not despair. +Feeling weary of standing, I again crouched down at the bottom of the +cask. I had reason to bless the persons who had placed it there. As I +thus sat, half asleep and half awake, it seemed to me that the wind blew +with less violence than it had done before. I got up to ascertain if +this was the case. On looking round I felt confident that it was so. +It appeared to me, also, that the seas were tumbling about with less +violence than they had done on the previous day. If so, they might not +again cover the rock. I was well accustomed to notice the tides on our +own shore, and I remembered that, after the highest of the spring tides, +they were said by the fishermen to "take off"--that is, to rise to a +less elevation every subsequent day. Thus, even should the storm +continue, the rock might not again be covered. This idea brought +considerable relief to me. + +My hunger made me resolve to descend to search for clams. Perhaps I +should find a fish thrown on the rock. The thought of obtaining some +food made me get down at once. I opened the trap, and, grasping the +rope, slid down with perfect ease. Already the rocks over which I had +clambered from the boat were bare, for the tide had fallen rapidly. I +knew that it would fall in proportion as it had risen. I went as close +to the edge as I could venture without running the risk of being carried +off. The rocks, which were washed by the fierce seas, were slippery in +the extreme, and I feared that any clams clinging to them must have been +washed away. Still, hunger urged me on. I made my way along the top of +the coral reef. I observed several small pools ahead. There must be +creatures of some sort within, which would enable me to satisfy the +cravings of hunger. I had gone some little distance, when I slipped, +and came down on the rock. In my weak state I felt unable again to rise +for some minutes, though I was not seriously hurt. + +The clouds, some time before this, began to break, and suddenly the sun +shone forth, his warm rays cheering me up. As I cast my eyes round, +something glittered brightly just for a moment in one of the pools. +Rising with renewed strength, I scrambled, faster than I had moved +before, towards it, and great was my delight to see a good-sized fish +floundering in the pool. It attempted to escape me, but I pounced down +upon it as a sea-bird would have done, and, giving it a blow on the +head, quickly despatched it. I was too hungry to wait even to partially +prepare it by hanging it up in the sun, and, taking out my knife, +quickly cut some slices from the thickest part of the body. I did not +stop to consider whether it was wholesome, but ate it raw as it was. I +looked about in the hope of finding another, and was successful; it was +of the same species as the first. I could exist now without the clams; +and, therefore, thinking it prudent not to run any risk in trying to +obtain them, I returned to the beacon. + +By this time the wind had fallen to a moderate breeze, though the seas +still continued rolling on with foaming crests, but far less wildly than +before, and were evidently decreasing in height. The atmosphere having +cleared, I was able to distinguish the distant shore, which had the +appearance of a blue irregular line to the westward. Again and again I +turned my eyes seaward, in hopes of seeing a passing ship, which might +stand near enough to observe me. I was disappointed; not a sail came in +sight, and another night approached. The waters covered some of the +rocks, but only for a short time, when the tide again ran out. Still I +was unwilling to sleep upon the cold rock, and, taking my second fish, +having consumed the first to the bones, I climbed up again into the tub. +Having coiled myself away round the bottom, I was soon fast asleep. My +slumbers were peaceful and quiet. The gentle wind produced no sound +round the cask; the roar of the surf on the rocks had ceased. I slept +the whole night through, and not till the sun had risen out of the ocean +did I wake. I at once stood up and looked round me. A light breeze +from the northward sent the wavelets rippling against the rock. The sea +was otherwise perfectly calm, and glowed in the rays of the bright orb +of day. + +I looked landwards, in the expectation of seeing some vessels come out +of the harbour, which, I thought, could not be far off, but none +appeared. Then I gazed anxiously to the northward, and round the +horizon in all directions. Presently I saw a spot appear of snowy +whiteness, glittering in the rays of the sun. It rapidly increased in +size. "A sail! A sail!" I shouted, though there was no one to hear +me. I soon perceived that she was a large ship. First her topgallant +sails, then her topsails, rose out of the water. I was so intently +watching her that I forgot for a time to take my meal. As may be +supposed, I turned many a look towards the ship. She was standing +towards me, running before the wind along the coast. At last her +courses, and then her hull, appeared, and I fancied that I could almost +see the people moving on her deck. I was congratulating myself that I +should have a speedy deliverance, when the thought came to me that she +might be the "Emu." + +If I were discovered I should be worse treated than before. I had not +so often seen the ship on which I had spent so many dreary months, to be +certain about her appearance at a distance. I trembled lest I should be +right, though she had been steering in a different direction. As the +stranger approached, I became more and more convinced that she was not +the "Emu." Still I felt a feeling of uncertainty on the subject. +Should I make a signal, and try to attract the attention of those on +board? The beacon would certainly be observed; perhaps they were +looking out for it. Had I possessed a supply of water, I might have +hesitated longer; but my perilous position determined me at all risks to +make a signal. I watched till the ship came nearly abreast of the +beacon, when, stripping off my shirt, I climbed as high as I could, +until I reached the cask. I waved the shirt frantically. In my +eagerness I shouted also, though I might have known that my puny voice +could not be heard. For some time it appeared to me that I was waving +in vain; and then, what was my dismay to see the ship's head turned away +from the shore. I was deserted. + +Presently the sheets were let fly, the main-topsail was backed against +the mast. She hove-to. I almost fell from my post with joy as I saw a +boat lowered, which came rapidly pulling towards the rock. Putting on +my shirt--it was now perfectly dry--I descended from my perch to the +rock, and there stood eagerly watching the boat. Again a thought +occurred to me, that she might, after all, be the "Emu," and in another +few minutes I might be in the clutches of old Growles and the boatswain, +and my other persecutors. But as I strained my eyes to discern their +countenances. I became aware that none of the "Emu's" crew were there. +As far as I could make out, they were all perfect strangers. The boat +steered for the lee-side of the rock. I hurried down to meet them. + +"Why, my lad, who are you, and how came you here?" exclaimed one of the +strangers. "Has your ship gone to the bottom?" + +"That's more than I can say," I answered; "I came in a boat. The boat +floated away, and I have been left here." + +"What ship do you belong to?" asked the stranger. + +"The `Emu,'" I answered, thinking it was as well to acknowledge this +much. + +"The `Emu!'" he exclaimed. "Why, who are you? Let me let me look at +you. Don't you know me, Dick?" and he grasped my hand. I looked at him +hard. + +"Why, if I didn't think you were at the bottom of the sea, I should have +declared that you were Tom Trivett." + +"And so I am," he said, "though I'm not at the bottom of the sea, and +right glad I am to find you, Dick, out of that dreadful ship. Come +along, we mustn't stand talking here; we were sent to bring you off, +and, judging by your looks, the sooner you're on board the better." + +"Yes, indeed," I answered, "for I find it a hard matter to speak from +the dryness in my throat; I haven't tasted water for a couple of days, +and if you had not come I don't suppose I should have held out much +longer, with the hot sun shining down on my head." + +"Well, I am glad," cried Tom, as he, with the aid of another hand, who +was the third mate of the ship, helped me into the boat. She +immediately shoved off, and pulled towards the ship. + +"Who would have thought of finding you, Dick, all alone by yourself out +on yonder rock?" said Tom, who was pulling stroke oar. "However, +wonders never end. There's another old shipmate of yours on board, whom +you'll be glad to see, I have a notion; and not a little surprised +either, if you thought that he was left to perish on the Falkland +Islands." + +"What! Do you mean Mark Riddle?" I asked. + +"Yes, Mark himself," he said. "He didn't die, or he wouldn't be on +board the `Falcon.' We found him about ten days after. He had been +pretty well worn out, but still with life enough in him to crawl down to +the beach when we put in for water." + +"I am glad, I am glad!" I said, though I could say little more, and was +unable to ask Tom how he had escaped. + +The mate put questions to me which I was unable to answer; indeed I was +almost fainting before I was lifted up the side of the "Falcon." One of +the first persons I set eyes on was Mark Riddle. He was much grown and +bronzed. Had I not been aware that he was on board, I should not at +first have known him; nor did he guess who I was till Tom told him, when +he sprang to my side, and warmly grasped my hand. He forbore asking +questions, as he saw that I was not in a state to reply. The first +thing Tom did was to bring me a mug of water, which I eagerly drank. +After that the captain ordered that I should be carried to a spare berth +in the cabin. + +"We must have him there, that he may be properly looked after. He'll be +better off than in the forepeak," he said. + +From this I guessed that he was a kind-hearted man, very different to +Captain Longfleet. In a short time some broth and a fresh roll baked on +board were brought to me, and I was not so far gone that I was prevented +from thankfully swallowing the food. It revived me greatly, and when +Captain Mason looked in on me shortly afterwards, I was able to answer +all the questions he put to me. I confessed who I was, and how I had +come to sea. When he heard that I was the son of a clergyman, and +related to Mr Butterfield, he was even kinder than before; though he +did not, I suspect, quite believe my account. + +"Truth should be adhered to, my lad, under all circumstances," he +observed. "Are you quite sure that you did not run away?" + +"I thought of doing so, sir; but I was carried off exactly as I have +told you, and I was very sorry for it afterwards." + +"You have been severely punished for it, and I am afraid have caused +great anxiety and grief to your friends. You might have lost your life, +though you have been preserved in God's good providence, and when you +get home I hope you will make amends for your fault. It is all you can +do," he observed. + +The state of the ship contrasted greatly with that of the "Emu." After +a sound sleep, I was able the next day to get about, though I still +remained somewhat sick and weak. Tom told me that the "Falcon" was the +happiest ship he had ever been aboard. The crew were generally orderly +and well behaved. Mark corroborated what Tom said. + +As soon as I was strong enough, I begged that I might be allowed to do +duty on board, so that I might not pass my time idly. To this Captain +Mason willingly agreed. I was separated more than I liked from Mark, +but he told me that he was not jealous. + +"But I say, Dick," he said, "if you could teach me, when it's my watch +below, some of the navigation and other things you're learning, I should +be very much obliged." + +I willingly promised to do this; and, as he came down to the spar-deck, +we at once set to work, and every day I imparted to him the knowledge I +had obtained. One day the first mate, who was a very kind man, found us +thus engaged. He said nothing at the time, but afterwards asked me if +Riddle was very anxious to learn navigation. I told him that he was. +He reported this to the captain, who told Mark that he could come into +the cabin and study with the rest of us. + +Our studies were interrupted when the ship entered Sydney harbour. We +lay there for some days, discharging our cargo, and taking on board +bales of wool, which was now being produced in considerable quantities +in that magnificent country, though the shipments of a whole year were +not equal to what was afterwards exported in a month. + +As I knew that the "Emu" was bound for Sydney, I anxiously inquired +whether she was there. She had not come in; but, as I thought she might +possibly make her appearance, I was afraid to go on shore, lest I should +encounter Captain Longfleet or the mates or the men. I felt sure, +should they see me, that I should be captured, carried on board, and +punished tremendously for stealing the boat. On returning on board, +however, one day, Tom Trivett told me that he had heard a report that +the "Emu" had been lost in a gale which had occurred some time before, +as part of her stern had been picked up with her name upon it. This +account having been confirmed, left no doubt on my mind as to her having +been wrecked, and, as none of those on board ever appeared, that all had +perished. I had thus still greater reason than ever to be thankful that +I had made my escape from her when I did. But Captain Mason blamed me +for the way in which I had done so. + +"You've done many things that were wrong, my lad," he said, "there's no +doubt about that; but all I can urge you is to be heartily sorry for +them." + +I confess I found it very difficult to be sorry that I had run away with +the boat, since I had saved my life by so doing. Then I might +afterwards have lost it on the rock; and the matter has been a very +puzzling one to me ever since. + +We sailed with a fair wind, which carried us down the coast of +Australia. The wind then shifted to the eastward, and we passed through +Bass's Straits, between the mighty continent and Van Diemen's Land, as +it was at that time called, the captain intending to go home by the Cape +of Good Hope instead of across the Pacific and round Cape Horn, as ships +of the present day generally do. + +I have few incidents to describe during our homeward voyage. I was far +happier than I had been on board the "Emu." Somehow or other I had no +longer that affection for a sea life which I fancied I possessed. I +dreaded, however, the reception I should meet with, on my return home, +from Aunt Deb and Mr Butterfield, and from my father and brothers and +sisters. The only person who I knew would receive me affectionately was +my mother. I was very certain of it. I was half inclined, from fear of +the upbraiding that I should get from the rest of my family, to beg +Captain Mason to let me remain on board, and to make another voyage with +him, expecting that I should regain my love for the ocean. I at last +mentioned the subject. + +"I would willingly do so, my lad, if your father and friends think it +best you should become a sailor, but I cannot consent to act contrary to +their wishes. You must at once, on landing, present yourself to Mr +Butterfield; and as I am acquainted with him, I will accompany you and +state how I have had the satisfaction of rescuing you from the perilous +position in which you were placed." + +I thanked the captain very much for his offer, as I felt that I should +have much more confidence in his presence than if I had gone alone. +Still, as we ran up the Irish Channel and sighted the Welsh coast, I +felt very nervous, and could scarcely attend to my duties. At length we +entered the Mersey and dropped anchor off Liverpool. As soon as the +ship had been taken into dock, and the captain was at liberty, he sent +for me, and we walked together to Mr Butterfield's office, where we +were at once shown into his private room. The old gentleman did not +recognise me, I was so grown and altered. When Captain Mason said who I +was, he started, and, eyeing me keenly, at last took my hand. + +"I'm thankful to see you again, my boy," he said; "but you have caused +your aunt and me much anxiety, and trouble and sorrow to others of your +family; but I won't say just now what has happened. Your aunt will tell +you that, by-and-by. I am unwilling to grieve your heart on first +landing on your native shore." + +I did not then understand what he meant; but as his manner was kind, I +congratulated myself on escaping the upbraiding I expected from him, at +all events. Captain Mason having much business to get through, rose to +take his leave, when Mr Butterfield expressed his desire to repay him +for the trouble and expense he had been put to on my account. + +"Pray don't speak of it, my kind sir," answered the worthy captain; "I +am amply repaid by the satisfaction I feel at restoring the lad to his +friends;" and shaking me warmly by the hand, he left the office. + +As it was late in the day, Mr Butterfield having signed a few letters, +said he was ready to go home, and desired me to accompany him. As we +walked along together, he questioned me about my adventures, seeming +rather incredulous when I assured him that I had not intentionally run +away to sea. + +"Well, well, Dick, we'll let by-gones be by-gones. I shall be glad to +see you act rightly in future." + +I inquired if Aunt Deb was still with him. + +"She returned to your father soon after you disappeared, and has only +lately come back to pay me another visit," he answered. + +I confess I wished she had stayed at home. However, I had to face her, +though I felt very nervous about the interview. + +"I don't think she will recognise you, and I won't tell her who you +are," he said, as I entered the house. + +We went into the drawing-room, where we found Aunt Deb seated in a +high-backed chair. + +"Here's a young gentleman come from the sea. He's come to dine with +us," said Mr Butterfield. + +Aunt Deb rose from her seat, gave me a stiff bow, and sank down again on +her seat. "I have no affection for the sea, or generally for those +whose profession it is to sail upon it," she said, looking hard at me. +"There are exceptions to every rule, and I hope that this young +gentleman will show that he doesn't possess the objectionable manners +and customs of sailors." + +"I trust you will not be mistaken in the favourable opinion you form of +me, Madam," I said, as stiffly as I could. "But I venture to think that +you are prejudiced against seafaring men. Let me assure you, however, +that there are many estimable persons among them, though there are some +as bad as any to be found on shore. You once had a nephew who went away +to sea. I hope that you don't class him among the bad ones." + +"I class him among the very worst," she exclaimed. "He ran off without +leave, without wishing me, his kind aunt, farewell, or letting us know +where he had gone, or what had become of him. He made us all very +miserable, and broke his poor mother's heart." + +"My mother dead!" I exclaimed. "Oh, don't say that, don't say that! +And I killed her." + +"Who are you?" cried Aunt Deb, starting up and looking me in the face. + +"Yes; I do believe that you are that graceless young monkey, Dick!" + +"I am indeed your nephew, Dick. I am indeed heartily sorry for all I +have done, and shall never forgive myself if my conduct was the cause of +my mother's death. Did I not mistake what you said? Oh, Aunt Deb, do +tell me is she really dead?" and I grasped her hands and burst into +tears. + +She was moved as I spoke more than I could have expected; and instead of +further upbraiding me, tried to soothe the anguish I felt. I was indeed +severely punished for my thoughtless conduct, to say the best of it. + +Mr Butterfield spoke to me more kindly than I expected or deserved, and +when he again offered me a seat in his counting-house, and assured me +that he would endeavour to further my interests and raise me according +to my deserts, I thankfully accepted his proposal. + +Before, however, commencing my career as a merchant, he allowed me to go +home and see my father, who, I need not say, received me according to +the dictates of his affectionate heart, without uttering a word of +blame. My brothers and sisters were never tired of hearing of my +adventures while I remained with them. On my mother's grave I promised +to do my duty to the best of my power in the new situation of life I was +about to occupy. + +After my arrival at home I paid a visit to old Roger Riddle, and had the +satisfaction of telling him that Mark had become a steady fellow, and as +Captain Mason had promised to take him the next voyage in the "Falcon," +and to continue his instructions in navigation, he had every prospect of +becoming an officer. Tom Trivett entered the navy, and having lost a +leg, became an out-pensioner of Greenwich Hospital. He used frequently +to come and see me in after years, and nothing pleased him so much as to +talk over the adventures of our early days, and to spin long yarns to my +children about those he subsequently went through. After a week's stay +at Sandgate, I returned to Liverpool, where I at once set to work in Mr +Butterfield's office, and have every reason to be thankful that I was +enabled to take my place on one of the high stools which I had formerly +looked upon with such intense disgust. By diligence and perseverance, +and strict attention to my duties, I gained my principal's good opinion, +and ultimately, on his death, I became the head of the firm. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Cheveley, by W. H. G. 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