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diff --git a/21465.txt b/21465.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d9a1ba --- /dev/null +++ b/21465.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19077 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hurricane Hurry, 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: Hurricane Hurry + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Illustrator: Charles J. de Lacy + +Release Date: May 15, 2007 [EBook #21465] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HURRICANE HURRY *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Hurricane Hurry, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +This rather long book is definitely an historical novel. In the edition +used there are 470 pages, not above size for one of Kingston's books, +but the text on the pages is tall and wide, while the font is small. +All this builds up to 1.1 megabytes of text. In addition the inking was +not always good, though the type in the corners of the page was not +particularly damaged, as is common in Victorian printings. As a result +producing this e-text was rather difficult, and there may still remain +some errors, though not, we hope, many. + +The main action takes place in the years around 1780. + +There are some rather strange aspects to the narration. For example, the +hero's name is Hurry, except that on two occasions in Chapter 8 and one +in Chapter 9, his name is mysteriously change to Poynder. Also in +Chapter 9, the young Miss Carlyon is referred to as having gone to live +with her aunt, Mrs Tarleton, on the death of her father. Yet the +latter figures strongly in the later stages of the book, so we conclude +that Kingston wrote the book with parts being pulled in from previous +notes, but that he did not go back and re-read the book with a critical +eye. + +However, those are but passing observations which it is necessary to +make. The book is about the war between the British and the American +Royalists on the one hand, and the American rebels on the other. The +author is probably sympathetic to the rebels, but certainly to the cause +of Freedom, and he makes his hero, Hurry, sympathetic to their cause, +yet always observant of his duty as an officer of the King's Navy. +While there are the usual fights between ship and ship, or between ship +and weather, as always so beautifully expressed by Kingston's pen, we +find that by chapter 9 Hurry has fallen in love with an American young +lady, and the rest of the book contains episodes in which he is in +contact with her, though she is the daughter of a Colonel active on the +Rebel side. It won't spoil the story if we say that they marry in the +last paragraph, five lines from the end. + +Slightly annoying is the fact that we are made interested in the fate of +Harry Sumner, a very young midshipman, alone in the world, who is +wounded in a minor skirmish, and by Chapter 8 is met with in a +sick-berth, fully expecting to die. But does he die, or was that but a +childish fancy? We never find out. + +This book is probably one of the very best historical novels about the +American Rebellion, seen from the naval point of view, and as such is +well worth reading by both British and American subjects. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +HURRICANE HURRY, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +MY BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND EDUCATION.--MAKE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF TOM +ROCKETS.--SENT TO SEA ON BOARD THE FOLKSTONE CUTTER, ANNO 1764.-- +NUMEROUS VOYAGES.--MY FRIENDS AND I APPEAR ON THE QUARTER-DECK OF THE +TORBAY, 74.--JOIN THE FALCON.--MY ONLY DUEL.--ADVENTURES IN THE WEST +INDIES.--THE CARIB WAR.--BOAT CAPSIZED.--FATE OF HER CREW.--APPOINTED TO +THE WOLF. + +On the north-east side of the street, about midway between the fish and +flesh markets in the seaport town of Falmouth, and at about the silent +and solemn hour of thirty-six minutes past one by my father's watch, on +the morning of the 28th day of December, of the year of grace 1752, His +Gracious Majesty George the Second being King of Great Britain and +Ireland, (it is necessary in important matters to be particular). I was +introduced with the usual forms and ceremonies into the ancient family +of the Hurrys, as the undoubted child of my father Richard and my mother +Joan, the ninth, and as it subsequently proved, the last of their +promising offspring. On the 29th day of the January following, the +Reverend Edward Walmsley, rector of the parish, baptised me by the names +of Hurricane, with the addition of Tempest, which were selected by my +parents, after numberless consultations, in compliment to my maternal +grand-uncle, Sir Hurricane Tempest, Alderman of Bristol, though it did +not appear from his remark when informed of the occurrence that it was +likely to benefit in the remotest manner from the delicate attention +which had been paid him. + +My early days were not remarkable, I got through the complaints incident +to childhood in a manner satisfactory to my mother and the doctor, while +my elder brothers and sisters took very good care that I should not be +spoilt by over-indulgence. My brothers, as they advanced towards +manhood, were sent into various professions, and as none of them had +chosen the sea, it was decided, without my opinion being asked, that I +should be made an offering to Neptune. + +That I might be prepared for my future calling, I was sent to reside +with my brother-in-law Jack Hayfield, in the neighbourhood of Bideford, +North Devon, to allow me the vast benefit of attending the school of +worthy Jeremiah Sinclair, kept over the marketplace in that far-famed +maritime town. I still love the recollection of the old place, with its +steep streets, its broad quays, and its bridge of many arches; to my +mind a more picturesque bridge does not exist in all the world, nor, +when the tide is in, a prettier river. On the bosom of that river I +gained my first practical experience of affairs nautical, and many a +trip I made down to Appledore with my schoolfellow Ned Treggellis, in a +boat which, had not a special providence watched over us, would speedily +have consigned us to the muddy bottom of the stream. An oar served us +as a rudder, another as a mast, with a piece of sacking as a sail spread +on a condemned boat-hook, while one of us was constantly employed in +baling out the water which came in through leaks unnumbered--a state of +affairs we had learned to consider normal to our craft. + +From Sinclair's school, in order to receive the finishing-touches to my +education, I was removed to old Allen's well-known Mathematical Academy +in Cold Harbour. + +It is just possible that I might have reaped some amount of benefit from +the mental provender served out in those nurseries of genius, but +unfortunately for me Jack's appreciation of the advantages of knowledge +was such that he considered the time squandered devoted to its +acquisition. Frequently, therefore, when I was supposed by my good +sister Mary, his wife, to be on my way to school, I had been waylaid by +him, and was employed with another boy in setting springles, marking +woodcocks, or in some other equally intellectual pastime. Whatever I +may now think about the matter, I was then convinced that Brother Jack +was one of the kindest and best fellows in the world; and when I fell +asleep in my chair during the evening, my somnolency was attributed to +the assiduity with which I had applied to my studies during the day. I +have since then had not a little reason to regret honest Jack's +ignorance and my own folly in listening to his persuasions. + +My frequent companion on the occasions I have spoken of was Tommy +Rockets, the son of a poor widow who lived near Jack's house. He was +somewhat younger than myself and small for his age, but a sharp, +intelligent little fellow, though amusingly ignorant of affairs in +general. His chief employment was acting the part of a scarecrow by +frightening birds from the cornfields, and running on errands into +Bideford for any of the neighbours, by which means he enabled his mother +to eke out her scanty pittance. I used to share with him my school +pasty, and now and then I saved a piece of bread and cheese, or I would +bring him a cake or a roll from Bideford. He never failed to carry a +portion to his mother, sharp-set as he always was himself. The poor +fellow soon conceived a strong affection for me; and when I was going +off to sea he cried bitterly at the thoughts of parting from me. I also +had a regard for him, and, forgetting how small and young he was, I took +it into my head that I would carry him with me. We were sitting on a +grassy bank under a tree, with a series of undulating hills and the blue +ocean beyond, when I broached the subject. + +"Would'st like to come to sea with me, Tom?" said I broadly. + +"What, to them furrin parts across the water?" he asked, pointing +seaward with his chin. "No; I'd bee afeared, Master Hurricane, I would. +What makes you go now?" + +"To fight the Frenchmen, of course," I replied. "It's peace just now, +they say, though I thought we were always at war with the French; but it +won't last long, that's one comfort." + +"Well, now, I'd rather stay at home with mother than go and fight the +furriners--that I would," said Tommy, with much simplicity. + +"Oh, you've no spirit, boy!" I replied, with a look of contempt. +"Wouldn't you like, now, to be sailing round the world with Commodore +Byron, who'll fill his ships with rubies, and pearls, and gold, and +precious stones, and all sorts of things. Why, Tommy, you would come +back with more riches in your waistcoat-pocket than you ever thought to +possess in your life." + +Tommy's eyes sparkled as I spoke. "What, enough to make my mother a +lady!" he exclaimed. "Well, then, Master Hurricane, if so be you can +take me to them parts, when I'm big enough I'll go with ye." + +"Well, we'll see about it," said I, with a patronising air; "but it is +not all gold-picking, remember. There's plenty of fighting and +prize-taking besides. You've heard speak of Admiral Hawke?" + +"No," said Tommy, "I ne'er did." + +"I'd have given my right hand to have been with him when he beat the +French in Quiberon Bay. That was a glorious day for old England, let me +tell you." I was able to expatiate on the subject, as the last time I +was at home my father read me a full account of the battle which took +place in 1759, the year preceding the death of his Majesty George the +Second, and about five years before the time of which I am now speaking. +It was the most memorable action of my early days. The French fleet +was commanded by Monsieur de Conflans, whom a short time before a +violent gale had compelled to take shelter in Brest harbour, while the +English had anchored in Torbay. The two fleets were about equal. After +cruising for some time the enemy again took shelter in Quiberon Bay, on +the coast of Bretagne, in France, where they were pursued by the +English. A strong gale had sprung up and a heavy sea was running, but, +undaunted, the brave Hawke stood on. The Frenchmen hoped to lead his +fleet to destruction among the rocks and shoals of that dangerous coast. +Unwilling to fight, yet too late to escape, the French admiral, when he +saw the English approach, was compelled to make sail. Hawke pursued +them and ordered his pilots to lay him alongside the Soleil Royal, which +bore the flag of the French admiral. The Thesee, a seventy-four-gun +ship, ran between them, and a heavy sea entering her ports, she +foundered. The Superbe, another Frenchman, shared the same fate. +Several other French ships struck their colours; many were driven on +shore, among which was the flag-ship, which was set on fire and +destroyed. A great number of the French were killed, but the English +lost only one lieutenant and thirty-nine men killed, and about two +hundred wounded. But I must not stop to describe the gallant actions +which occurred during my boyhood. Lord Anson, one of the most +experienced of navigators, died two years only before I went to sea. +Captain Byron sailed that same memorable year, when my country first had +the benefit of my services, on his voyage of discovery into the pacific, +and returned in 1766. Captains Wallis and Carteret sailed on exploring +voyages at the same time. I happened to have heard of Mr Cook, but it +was not till many years after this that he became known to fame as one +of the most talented and scientific of English navigators; indeed, he +did not return from his great voyage till eleven years after this. He +lost his life in his last voyage in 1779. + +A number of gallant actions were fought at the end of the war, +sufficient to fire the ardour of any youth of spirit to whom they were +recounted. Captain Hood's capture of the Warwick, a sixty-gun ship, +which had been taken from the English, was one of the most celebrated. +At this time, however, she carried but thirty-six guns, with 300 men, +including a company of soldiers. Captain Hood attacked her in the +Minerva frigate of thirty-two guns and 220 men, and after an hour's +fight, with a heavy sea running, both ships having lost their masts, he +captured her and took her to Spithead. A still more remarkable action +was that of the Bellona and Brilliant, Captains Faulkner and Loggie, and +a French ship of the line and two heavy frigates, which resulted in the +capture of the first and the flight of the latter. There were also +numerous actions fought between packets and privateers, and other small +craft, with the enemy, which seldom failed to add to the honour and +glory of our country. Though ignorant of other lore, I greedily +devoured all the accounts I could find of these events, and having once +made up my mind that the sea was to be my profession, I resolved, when +opportunities should occur, to imitate them to the best of my power. + +But to return to my friend Tommy. Just before I sailed I went to pay +his mother a visit. I found the widow sitting, as was her wont, +knitting at her window, waiting for her son's return. I went not +empty-handed, for besides my pasty, which I had saved, I had bought a +loaf and a lump of cheese and a bundle of lollipops at Bideford. First +presenting her with these treasures and emptying my pockets of the very +small amount of cash they contained, I opened the business I had at +heart. Poor Mrs Rockets burst into tears when I asked her to let her +Tommy go to sea with me. + +"Oh, Master Hurricane!" said she, "I feel all your kindness to a poor +creature like me and my boy, and I would not deny you anything, but, oh, +sir, he is my only child, my only comfort in life, and I cannot part +with him!" + +All the arguments I could use and the brilliant hopes I held out were of +no avail for a long time, till at last, with a sad voice, she consented, +when he grew bigger, should he then show a strong wish to go to sea, to +allow him to accompany me. + +I met Tommy on my way home and told him that he must make haste and grow +big that he might go to sea and fill his pockets with pearls and +diamonds for his widowed mother. In many a dream which I had thus +conjured up, both by day and night, did the poor lad indulge as he was +scaring off the crows in the fields or lying on his humble pallet in his +thatched-roof hut near Bideford. + +It was at Whitsuntide of the year 1764, I then numbering eleven summers, +that I was placed on the books of the Folkstone cutter, commanded by a +particular friend of my father's, Lieutenant Clover; the amount of +learning I possessed on quitting school just enabling me to read a +chapter in the Bible to my old blind grandmother (on my mother's side), +who lived with us, and to tell my father how many times a coachwheel of +any diameter would turn round in going to Penryn. Having received my +father's and mother's blessing and a sea-chest, which contained a +somewhat scanty supply of clothes, a concise epitome of navigation, an +English dictionary, and my grandmother's Bible--the only gift of value +the kind old lady had it in her power to bestow--I was launched forth +into the wide world to take my chance with the bustling, hard-hearted +crowd which fills it. I was speedily removed from the cutter into his +Majesty's packet the Duncannon, Captain Charles Edwards, in which vessel +I crossed the Atlantic for the first time; and after visiting Madeira +and several of the West India Islands I returned to Falmouth on the eve +of Christmas, 1767. I next joined the Duke of York, Captain Dickenson, +in which vessel I made no less than sixteen voyages to Lisbon. As, +however, I had grown very weary of the packet service, I was not sorry +to be paid off and to return once more home, if not with a fuller purse, +at all events, a better sailor than when I left it. I was not long +allowed to enjoy the luxury of idleness before my father got me +appointed to the Torbay, seventy-four, commanded by Captain Walls, who +was considered one of the smartest officers in the service, and I was +taught to expect a very different sort of life to that which I had been +accustomed to in the slow-going packet service. There were several +youngsters from the neighbourhood of Falmouth, who had never before been +to sea, who were appointed to the same ship. One of them, my old +messmate poor Dick Martingall, used to speak of the unsophisticated joy +with which his old mother, in her happy simplicity, announced to him the +fact of his appointment. She came to his bedside long before the usual +hour of rising and awoke him. + +"Richard, my dear son, Richard!" she said; "get up, thou art made for +ever!" + +"What am I made, mother?" he asked with astonishment, rubbing his eyes, +which were still full of sleep. + +"Oh, my boy, my dear boy!" replied the good lady, her countenance +beaming with satisfaction, "thou art made a midshipman!" + +Alas! little did his poor old mother dream of the sea of troubles into +which her darling boy was about to be launched, what hardships and +difficulties he was doomed to encounter, "the snubs that patient raids +from their superiors take," or she would not have congratulated herself +on the event, or supposed that by his being made a midshipman he was +made for ever. Yet in his case it was so far true, poor fellow, that he +was never made anything else, as he was carried out of the world by +fever before he had gained a higher step in rank. + +The tailors in Falmouth and its neighbourhood who were employed in +fitting us out were delightfully innocent of all notion of what a +midshipman's uniform should really be, and each one seemed to fancy that +he was at liberty to give full scope to the exuberance of his taste. +Their models might have been taken from the days of Benbow, or rather, +perhaps, from the costumes of those groups who go about disguised at +Christmas-time enacting plays in the halls of the gentry and nobility, +and are called by us west-country folks "geese-dancers." As we met on +board the cutter which was to carry us to Plymouth we were not, I will +allow, altogether satisfied with our personal appearance, and still less +so when we stepped on the quarter-deck of the seventy-four, commanded by +one of the proudest, most punctilious men in the service, surrounded by +a body of well-dressed, dashing-looking officers. + +Tom Peard first advanced, as chief and oldest of our gang, with a +bob-wig on his head surmounted by a high hat bound by narrow gold lace, +white lapels to his coat, a white waistcoat, and light-blue +inexpressibles with midshipman's buttons. By his side hung a large +brass-mounted hanger, while his legs were encased in a huge pair of +waterproof boots. I followed next, habited in a coat all sides radius, +as old Allen would have said, the skirt actually sweeping the deck, and +so wide that it would button down to the very bottom. My white cuffs +reached half way up the arm to the elbow; my waistcoat, which was of the +same snowy hue, reached to my knees, but was fortunately concealed from +sight by the ample folds of my coat, as were also my smallclothes. I +had on white thread stockings, high shoes and buckles, and a plain +cocked hat--a prodigiously long silver-handled sword completing my +costume. + +Dick Martingall's and Tom Paynter's dresses wore not much less out of +order, giving them more the appearance of gentlemen of the highway than +of naval officers of respectability. One had a large brass-mounted +sword once belonging to his great-grandfather, a trooper in the army of +the Prince of Orange; the other, a green-handled hanger, which had done +service with Sir Cloudesley Shovel. + +Often have I seen a set of geese-dancers compelled to make a hurried +flight before the hot poker of some irate housekeeper disturbed in her +culinary operations, and much in the same way did we four aspirants for +naval honours beat a precipitate retreat from the deck of the Torbay as, +with a stamp of his foot, our future captain ordered us to be gone and +instantly to get cut down and reduced into ordinary proportions by the +Plymouth tailors. + +As may be supposed, the operation was almost beyond the skill of even +the most experienced master of the shears, and we were all of us +compelled, much to our dismay, to furnish ourselves for the most part +with new suits. On our return on board, however, we were complimented +on our appearance; and as our tailor agreed to receive payment from our +first instalment of prize-money, we were perfectly content with the +arrangement. + +After spending a few months in channel cruising--the Torbay being +ordered to lay as guard-ship at Plymouth--such a life not suiting my +fancy, I quitted her and joined his Majesty's sloop of war Falcon, +captain Cuthbert Baines, fitting out for the West India station. + +As in those days I kept no regular journal, I have only a few scattered +notes written in an old log-book to guide me in my account of the events +of that period of my career. A few are still vivid in my memory as when +they first occurred, but many have escaped me altogether, or appear like +the fleeting phantoms of a dream of which it is impossible to describe +the details. I must therefore be allowed to pass rapidly over that +early portion of my naval life and go on to the time when I had passed +my examination for a lieutenant's commission and trod the quarter-deck +as a master's mate. + +On the Falcon's leaving Portsmouth we touched at Falmouth or our way +down channel, when I had the opportunity of taking leave of my family-- +with some of them, alas! it was an eternal farewell. This is one of the +seaman's severest trials; he knows from sad experience that of the many +smiling faces he sees collected round the domestic hearth some will too +surely be missing on his return, wanderers, like himself, far, far away, +or gone to their final resting-place. + +We made a stay of a few days at Madeira, and without any occurrence +worthy of note reached English Harbour, Antigua, October 21st, 1771, +where we found lying several ships of war under the flag of Rear-Admiral +Mann. + +I have not hitherto mentioned the names of my messmates. Among others, +there were William Wilkins, John Motto, Israel Pellew [see note], and +Alexander Dick. We were a jovial set and generally pulled well +together; but on one occasion the apple of discord was thrown in among +us, and Alexander Dick, the surgeon's mate, and I fell to loggerheads in +consequence of some reflections I thoughtlessly cast on the land of his +nativity--to the effect, as far as my recollection serves me, that +nothing better was to be found there as food for the people than sheeps' +heads and boiled bagpipes; to which he retorted by asserting that we +west-country folks were little better than heathens and had no more +manners than blackamoors. As neither of us would retract what we had +said, it was decided that our dispute could alone be settled by mortal +combat. Pistols, we were aware, were the most gentlemanly weapons to be +employed on such occasions; but we found that it would be impossible to +obtain them in a hurry without to a certainty betraying our intentions. +It was therefore settled by our seconds and ourselves that we should +decide the knotty question with our hangers as soon as we could manage +to get on shore after reaching port. All four of us therefore, having +got leave the morning after our arrival, left the ship soon after +daybreak in a shore-boat and pulled off to a retired part of the +harbour. Here we landed, and telling our black boatmen to wait our +return, we walked away arm-in-arm to a spot where we thought no one +would observe us. Having thrown off our coats and tucked up our +shirt-sleeves, the word was given, and, drawing our hangers, we advanced +towards each other with furious passes, as if nothing but the death of +one of us could satisfy the rancour of our enmity, and yet at that very +moment I believe neither of us recollected the origin of our quarrel. +Dick first gave me a cut on the shoulder, which so excited my fury that +I was not long in returning the compliment by bestowing a slash across +his arm, which made him wince not a little, but before I could follow it +up he had recovered his guard. In a moment I was at him again, and as +we were neither of us great masters of the noble art of self-defence, we +kept hewing and slashing away at each other in a most unscientific +manner for several minutes, till we were both of us covered with gashes +from head to foot, and the blood was flowing copiously down into our +very shoes. At last, from very weariness and loss of blood, we dropped +the points of our swords as if by mutual consent. Our seconds now +stepped forward. + +"Hurry, my good fellow," said my second, "one thing I see clearly. This +matter cannot be settled satisfactorily with cold steel--it's too much +like the custom of piccarooners. We must wait till we can get hold of +pistols, and arrange the affair in a gentlemanly way. That's my +opinion, and I daresay you and Mr Dick will agree with me." In honest +truth, both my antagonist and I were in such a condition that we were +perfectly ready to agree to any arrangement which would prevent the +necessity of continuing the painful operation we had both been +inflicting on each other. All four of us therefore sat down on the +sands, and Dick, pulling out some lint and bandages from his pockets, +our seconds, under his directions, bound up our wounds. When this at +length was done we found it, however, impossible to get on our coats +again. We were therefore obliged to carry them over our shoulders as we +walked to the boats. When the Negro boatmen saw our pale faces and +halting gait, as with difficulty we stepped into the boat, they grinned +from ear to ear, full well guessing what had occurred, and doubtlessly +thinking, as will, I suspect, my readers, that we were very great fools +for our pains. Ay, truly we were far worse than fools, for in obedience +to the customs of sinful men we had been disobeying the laws of God, and +committing a very great crime as well as a very great folly, but we did +not think so then, nor did I till very many years afterwards. + +Our intentions had not been kept so secret but that they had become +known on board, and, our appearance on our return fully corroborating +the truth of the reports which had been going about, we were put under +arrest by Captain Baines, who then sent for us, to know the cause of our +quarrel. We explained it as well as we could; but, as may be supposed, +we neither of us had a very good case to make out. "Well, gentlemen," +said our commander, "this is a point I do not wish to decide myself, but +I shall leave it to the arbitration of the gun-room officers, and to +their decision you must bow." The next day, therefore, the gun-room +officers held a court, and, feeling very stiff and very sore, and +looking, I doubt not, very foolish--though we did our best to appear +like heroes--we stood before them. Having both of us pleaded our cause, +it was decided that we had no business to use the language we had +employed, and that we were both in the wrong. We were in consequence +ordered to shake hands, and be friends, or else to look out for squalls. +Had we possessed more sense, this we might have done before we had cut +each other half to pieces, not to speak of spoiling a shirt and a pair +of breeches apiece. Thus ended the first and only duel in which I was +ever engaged, and Dick and I from that time forward became very good +friends. + +About this time, some serious disputes having arisen with the Caribs of +Saint Vincent, who had become very troublesome to the settlers, the +British Government formed the design of removing them altogether from +the island and of placing them on some part of the mainland, where they +might enjoy their own manner of life without interfering with civilised +people. To effect this object an expedition was sent to the island +under the command of Major-General Dalrymple, consisting of two +regiments from America and various bodies of troops collected from the +other islands and from on board all his Majesty's ships of war on the +station. At this distance of time of course I cannot pretend to be able +to give any minute description of the details of the affair. I know +that there were some gentlemen who acted as commissioners who went on +shore to try and arrange matters with the Caribs; but the savages, after +agreeing to terms, not showing any intention to abide by them, the +troops were ordered to land. It was very easy to give the order, but +not so easy to execute it, for at the time there happened to be an +unusually heavy surf breaking on the shore. It would have been wiser in +my humble opinion to have waited till the surf had gone down, or to have +selected some other spot for disembarkation to that fixed on; but, +strange to say, the authorities did not happen to ask my opinion, +simply, I suppose, because I was a midshipman, and the landing +commenced. The boats, pulled by the seamen and crowded with soldiers, +made for the shore. Some reached it in safety by taking the proper +moment to dash through the surf, but others were not so fortunate. One +boat from our ship had put off; the men in high spirits at the thought +of a brush with the Niggers, as they called the unfortunate Caribs. I +was watching them from the deck as they approached the shore, when a +heavy roller went tumbling in after them. The men saw it coming and +pulled for their lives, but it was too quick for them, and catching the +boat turned her over as if she had been a mere cockleshell. In an +instant some thirty poor fellows were struggling in the surf. Many sunk +at once, others made way for the shore, but they had a remorseless enemy +on the watch for them, and several, with a shriek of agony which reached +almost to the ears of those on board the Falcon, were drawn under by +those monsters of the deep, the voracious sharks. Others, when nearly +touching the sand, were washed out again by the reflux of another roller +following up the first. It was doubly sad, because before it was +possible to send any help to them their fate was sealed. Several other +boats met with a like accident, and before the troops were all landed a +large number both of seamen and soldiers were lost. The survivors +formed on the beach and then advanced rapidly into the country, where +the Caribs were drawn up in strong force to receive them. + +The enemy, having the advantage of a knowledge of the country, chose +their own ground for encountering our troops, and, truth to say, +generally had the best of it. I do not wish to enlarge on the subject. +I know that we gained very little honour and glory, but, after losing a +considerable number of men, some from the bullets of the enemy and +others from sunstrokes, the troops were ordered to embark again. +Afterwards we heard that the Caribs were allowed to remain in possession +of their rights. I suspect, however, that they did not retain them for +any long period after this time. + +I remember nothing of any particular importance happening to me till +August, 1772, when we were lying in English Harbour, Antigua, in company +with his Majesty's ships Chatham, Sea-horse, and Active. I have good +reason to remember the harbour well. It is small, but very pretty. The +inner part is encircled by hills of various shapes and sizes, the outer +is formed by a rocky ridge, with a fort on it guarding the narrow +entrance. The capital, Saint Johns, is at the other side of the island, +so that we were not able to get there as often as we wished. With +little or no warning one of the most terrific hurricanes I ever +encountered came down upon us, and before we could get our topmasts +housed our masts went by the board, and at the same instant breaking +from our anchors we were all driven on shore together. It was a case in +which seamanship was of no avail, for before we could make any +preparations to avert the evil the catastrophe had occurred. The same +blast levelled with the ground all the stores and houses in the +dockyard, as also the Naval Hospital and all the dwelling-houses and +other buildings which it encountered in its course. Before we could +attempt to heave the ships off we were obliged to clear them of +everything, down to the very kelson, and even then we could not move +them till we applied the most powerful purchases which could be +invented. The Falcon had received so much injury that we were compelled +to heave her down to repair her before she was fit for sea. While this +operation was going forward I had the misfortune to break my right +knee-pan, and for very long it was doubtful whether I should ever again +have the free use of my leg. For sixteen weeks I remained in hospital, +but at length, to my great satisfaction, was pronounced fit for duty. + +I was now no longer a mere youngster, and had seen already a +considerable amount of service. Early in 1773 I was appointed +acting-lieutenant of the Falcon by Vice-Admiral Parry, who had +superseded Admiral Mann. I now assumed the lieutenant's uniform and +walked the deck with no little amount of pride, hoping to be confirmed +in my rank when at the expiration of her time on the station my ship +should return to England. The change from a midshipman's berth to the +gun-room was very considerable, and as I shone away in what the +Orlopians term white boot-tops, I was looked upon by them, with no +little amount of envy. I was doomed, however, in this respect to suffer +disappointment. In August, 1774, the Falcon returned home, the captain, +the lieutenant of marines, another midshipman, and myself, being the +only officers on board who had left England in her--the rest having died +or changed into other ships. I must mention the kindness I ever +received from Captain Baines while I remained with him. After I left +the Falcon I served in the Folkstone cutter stationed at Bideford, and +then joined the Wolf sloop of war, Captain Hayward. In the space of a +few months I attended the funerals of his wife, his child, and lastly of +himself. On quitting the Wolf I began what I may look upon as a new era +in my life, and it is therefore a fitting period to commence a fresh +chapter. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note. Afterwards Sir Israel Pellew, the brother of the famous Lord +Exmouth. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +COMMENCEMENT OF THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE.--APPOINTED TO THE +ORPHEUS FRIGATE.--CAUSES OF THE WAR.--SAIL IN COMPANY WITH THE CHATHAM +FOR HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA.--STORMY PASSAGE IN MID-WINTER.--LOSE SIGHT OF +CHATHAM.--LOSE MASTS.--THE CAPTAIN KEEPS AT IT.--RIG JURY-MASTS.--A +SUCCESSION OF GALES.--GET IN AT LAST.--OUR CAPTAIN GAINS GREAT CREDIT. + +I had enjoyed the _otium cum dignitate_ of a midshipman's life on shore +scarcely more than six weeks when, in September, 1775, the shrill +bugle-blast of war sounded the knell of the piping tunes of peace; and I +received the very satisfactory intelligence that I was rated as master's +mate on board the Orpheus frigate, of fifty-two guns, Captain Hudson, +then fitting for sea with all possible despatch at Plymouth, and +destined for the North American station. I had hoped to have been +confirmed in my rank as a lieutenant; but, disappointed in this, I was +too glad under present circumstances to get afloat on any terms. + +The peace which had now lasted for nearly ten years was thus abruptly +terminated by the outbreak into open rebellion of the North American +colonies, which led on to their Declaration of Independence. I was +never anything of a politician, and I must confess that at that period +of my existence I troubled myself very little about the rights of the +case, though even then I had a lurking idea that the colonists were not +quite the ragamuffins some people would have had us suppose. They had +no fancy, it appeared, to pay taxes without having a voice as to the +employment of their money or interest in the objects on which it was +expended. The British Government and the upper classes generally at +home had always treated the inhabitants of the colonies as if they +considered them an inferior race, and almost beyond the pale of +civilisation. This conduct had naturally caused much discontent and ill +feeling, and made the colonists more ready to resent and oppose any +attempt to curtail their rights and privileges. What was called the +Stamp Act met with the first organised opposition. The Government +offices were in many places pulled down, while the Governor of New York +and other promoters of the Act were burnt in effigy. Many influential +colonists then bound themselves to make use of no articles on which +duties had been levied; while the people of Boston, proceeding a step +farther, rather than pay the duty imposed by the British Government, +threw into the sea the cargoes of several ships sent there by the East +India Company laden with tea. This proceeding of the inhabitants of +Boston induced the British Government to send General Gage, with an +army, to take up his quarters there, with the intention of coercing +them. + +The belief that arbitrary Government was about to be established +throughout the colonies made the people in every direction rise in arms. +A rebel force, consisting of several thousand men, began to collect in +the neighbourhood of the above-mentioned city. Petition after petition +and remonstrance after remonstrance had been sent over to England in +vain. The great Lord Chatham and the famous Mr Edmund Burke had +pleaded the cause of the patriots with all the mighty eloquence they +possessed; but without altering the resolution of the King or the +Government. The celebrated Dr Franklin, already well known in England +and America as a philosopher as well as a statesman, had come over to +England to plead the cause of his countrymen, but had returned hopeless +of effecting his object. What treatment, after this, could the +colonists expect, if they yielded to the dictates of the mother-country? + +The crisis at length arrived. There was at Concord, near Boston, a +large magazine of military stores. General Gage sent a force to destroy +it. The patriots collected in considerable numbers to oppose the +British troops, and drove them back, with a heavy loss, into the city. +This engagement, though little more than a skirmish, was called the +Battle of Lexington. If its results were to be taken into +consideration, few battles have been of more importance. Brethren had +shed each other's blood. Both parties were exasperated beyond control. +The patriots felt their power; the royalists burned to wipe out the +disgrace their arms had received. General Gage now regularly fortified +Boston, which was in its turn besieged by the rebels. The whole +continent was up in arms. Another successful enterprise had been +undertaken by a leader of irregulars, who had seized the Ports of +Ticonderoga and Crown Point, which gave the patriots the command of Lake +George and the head of Lake Champlain, always recognised as the keys of +Canada. + +The patriots had by this time formed a regular Government. Each of the +colonies had sent delegates to a general assembly held at Philadelphia, +to which the name of the Congress was given. The Congress had +authorised the formation of an army and had appointed as +Commander-in-chief a gentleman of Virginia of good repute, Colonel +George Washington. He was well known as a bold leader in frontier +warfare against the Indians, and had also seen service against the +French; besides this, he was a man of the highest moral qualities, which +had gained him the respect of his fellow-colonists. + +The event which had induced the Government to despatch my ship and +others so hurriedly to the North American station was the battle of +Bunker's Hill, the news of which had just been received. The engagement +itself would not have been of much consequence had it not proved that +the rebels were resolved to fight it out to the last. The Americans, +besieging Boston, had fortified a height above the city called Bunker's +Hill. General Gage resolved to dislodge them and to endeavour to raise +the siege. Our troops, after much hard fighting and considerable loss, +claimed the victory, having driven the enemy from the heights; but the +Americans quickly rallied, and, many reinforcements coming up, the city +was more closely invested than ever. + +I frequently heard the subject of the rebellion discussed by my friends +during my stay at home, and I cannot say that generally their sympathies +were in favour of the colonists. A few took the view of the case +entertained by Lord Chatham, Mr Burke, and a small band of enlightened +men in advance of their age; but they mostly sided with the King and the +Tories, and considered that the presumption of the colonists must be put +down with a high hand. They little knew of what stuff the descendants +of the Pilgrim Fathers--the sturdy Puritans, the dashing Cavaliers, the +prim Quakers, and of many other classes whom persecution, poverty, or +their crimes, had driven from Europe--were made, as I had full many +opportunities afterwards of discovering. A just and judicious policy +which at once would have granted all the rights the colonists demanded +would have preserved the dignity of the mother-country and saved oceans +of bloodshed; but it was ordained otherwise. The falsehood of traitors +had taught our too credulous King to disbelieve in the loyalty as well +as the courage of his trans-Atlantic subjects; and his ministers, in +spite of all the warnings and the earnest entreaties of the colonists, +persisted in forcing on them their obnoxious measures. I must again +repeat, that at the time I allude to I did not see things in the serious +light in which I have described them. It would never do if midshipmen +were to turn politicians; still, I could not help hearing what others +said on the subject, and I had plenty of time to think of what I had +heard. The general cry was--"Crush the audacious rascals! Put down the +traitorous villains with a strong hand! What, venture to disobey the +authority of their lawful master and sovereign, King George? They will +soon learn reason at the point of the sword!" Such were the sentiments +shared by most on board, as well as throughout the army and fleet. + +Had it not been for this outbreak of war, I had proposed volunteering to +sail with Captain Cook, who had just then returned from his famous +voyage in the Resolution with Captain Furneaux, who commanded the +Adventure; and it was reported that he was about to start on another and +still more important expedition, which he actually did on the following +year. + +During my stay on shore I had gone over to see my sister Mary and my +brother-in-law, Jack Hayfield. Jack was the same good-natured, +thoughtless creature as before, and had done as little to better himself +as he had to improve me. I made inquiries for Tommy Rockets, whom I +found was still at home, so I set out to see him and his mother, not +forgetting what I knew would prove a welcome present to the poor woman. +I found her looking more careworn and poverty-stricken than ever. She +did not know me when I entered her cottage, for I was much grown and +thoroughly sun-burnt. + +"Well, dame," said I, "how goes the world with you?" She looked at me +hard, surprised that a stranger should make such an inquiry; then, +suddenly recognising me, she sprang up, and in her joy was about, I +believe, to kiss me as she would have done Tommy, when, recollecting +herself, she took my hand, which I put out, and pressed it warmly. +After I had told her somewhat of my adventures I asked her whether she +would allow Tommy to accompany me the next time I went to sea. The poor +woman turned pale at the question, but at last gasped out-- + +"If the lad wishes it, if it's for his good, I dare not say him nay-- +but, oh, Master Hurricane, you'll look after him--you'll befriend him-- +you'll protect him--he's my only child, and he's very simple and +ignorant of the world's ways." I promised her that I would do my best +for him, though I warned her he must trust to his own good conduct; and +soon after Tommy came in. I saw at a glance that he had the stuff in +him to make a sailor. He had grown into a stout, broad-shouldered lad, +though still rather short, with fists big enough to fell an ox, a round, +bullet head covered with curly hair, and a thoroughly honest, +good-natured countenance, not wanting in intelligence, though a snubby +nose, small eyes, and thickish lips formed his features. He had a +strong struggle in his bosom, I saw, before he could make up his mind to +tell his mother that he would accept my offer; but he could do little +for their mutual support while he remained on shore, and I left him +attempting to comfort her by telling her of the wealth with which he +would ere long return to her. + +As soon as I got my appointment I sent directions to Tom to join me at +Plymouth, with a small sum to fit him out, being very certain that he +would at once be taken on board. I had a wide round of farewell visits +to pay to numerous friends who had been kind to me during my stay on +shore. They all wished me plenty of prize-money and rapid promotion, +but I cannot say that I had much expectation of getting either. I was +much concerned at this time at observing the state of my father's +spirits. His worldly affairs were, I suspected, not flourishing, +though, as he did not speak to me about them, I could not venture to +make any inquiries of him on the subject. I could only cherish the hope +that if I did realise a sailor's dream and make any prize-money I might +be able to render him some assistance. My poor mother's health also was +failing, weakened, as it long ago had been, by cares and +responsibilities of her numerous family. With a heart therefore more +full of misgivings than usual, I bade them and those of my brothers and +sisters who remained at home farewell, and, with a chest rather more +amply supplied with necessaries than when I first went to sea, I set off +for my ship then lying at Hamoze, and joined her on the 15th of October, +1775. I was, as I fully expected, successful in getting Tommy Rockets +rated as a landsman on board, and though, poor fellow, he at first +looked very much like a fish out of water, and a very odd fish too, I +saw that it would not be long before he would be perfectly at home on +his new element. + +As soon as he had been entered and had become one of the ship's company, +I told him to go aloft, to give him some experience before we got to +sea. "What, to the top of them big sticks that grow out of the ship? +They be plaguey high, Master Hurricane!" said he, looking up doubtingly, +at the same time preparing to swarm up by the foremast itself. When he +found that he might go up by the shrouds he seemed to think it a very +easy matter, and before many days were over he could go aloft as quickly +as any lad in the ship. I got an old seaman, Nol Grampus, who had +sailed with me in two ships before, to look after him and to put him up +to his duty, which, to do him justice, he was very anxious to learn. A +little help of this sort to a lad when he first goes to sea is of great +service to him in many ways; it gives him encouragement, it saves him +from many a cuff and harsh word, and makes a seaman of him much sooner +than he would otherwise become. On the 16th of the month we went into +the Sound, where the remainder of the officers joined. By frequently +sending press-gangs on shore we got together our ship's company, but we +had yet to learn the stuff they were made of. I was truly glad to find +two or three old shipmates on board. One of them was Gerrard Delisle, +my greatest friend. We had gone afloat at the same time and were +exactly the same age and standing, though, I must confess, he was vastly +my superior in education and ability. He had all the gallantry and +impetuosity of an Irishman, with a warm heart full of generous feelings, +and at the same time the polish of a man of the world, not always to be +obtained in a cock-pit. Another friend of mine was Noel Kennedy, also a +master's mate. He was a Scotchman of good family, of which he was not a +little proud. His pride in this respect was an amiable failing, if +failing it was, for his great anxiety was to shed honour on his name. +Among my other messmates were John Harris Nicholas, Richard Ragget, John +Drew. A great pet of ours was little Harry Sumner--one of the smallest +midshipmen who ever came to sea. Left an orphan, without a connexion +bound to him by the ties of blood, the poor child had been sent afloat +by his guardians as the simplest mode they could devise of disposing of +him. The event was happy for him, for he soon found many more friends +on board than he ever would on shore, and in a short time there was not +a man of the ship's company who would not have risked his life to shield +him from injury. As I shall have to mention the officers and my other +messmates in the course of my narrative I need not here describe them. + +On the 30th, the moment we had cast off the lighters from alongside, we +sailed for North America in company with the Chatham, bearing the flag +of Rear-Admiral Shouldham, who was going out to take the chief command +on that station. The wind continuing fair and the weather fine, we, on +the following day, lost sight of the English shore, which many on board +were destined never to see again--none of us, until months and months +had passed by. + +Things had begun to shake a little into their places and the officers +and ship's company to know something of each other by the time that we +had got about three hundred leagues to the westward of Scilly. Instead, +however, of keeping to the southward, where we might have found a +continuance of fine weather, our captain, in his anxiety quickly to +reach the scene of action, notwithstanding the advanced season of the +year, ordered a northerly course to be steered. The consequence was +that we had soon work to try the mettle of all hands. By noon on the +6th of November we fell in with a gale of wind which would as +effectually have blown up the Houses of Parliament as would Guido Faulks +and his barrels of gunpowder, if it could have got under them. Sail was +shortened and all was made snug aloft in time, hat below many an article +took a voyage which terminated in total shipwreck to itself or +neighbours. + +"Here comes a combing sea in a vengeance!" exclaimed Delisle, seizing +hold of little Harry to save him from being by chance washed away. We +were standing aft on the quarter-deck. On came the watery mountain with +its curling crest of snowy foam, and, striking the ship with terrific +force and with a noise like thunder, broke over the starboard chesstree, +deluging the decks forward and carrying away a fine cutter off the +larboard skidds, with some of the rails and carlings of the head. + +"Where are we going to, Mr Delisle?" exclaimed little Harry, as he +clung to his arm with a look of very natural terror in his countenance. + +"To Halifax, in Nova Scotia, I hope," answered Gerrard, laughing. +"Where else should you think?" + +"I thought we might be going to the bottom," answered the poor boy with +perfect simplicity; "but I'm not afraid, you know." + +"No reason why you should be, Harry," answered Delisle. "The old barkie +will have to swim through many a worse sea than this, let me tell you-- +so remember, my boy, you are never in future to begin to be afraid till +you see the rest of us turn pale." + +Little Harry promised obedience, and he had before long ample +opportunities of proving his nerves. The seamen, as they hurried about +the decks, shook the water in showers, like Newfoundland dogs from their +shaggy coats; and in a short time we had things put as much to rights as +circumstances would allow. + +The gale continued all night, but ceased on the following evening +without having committed further damage, and from that time till the +morning of the tenth we had tolerably fine weather. It then fell a +stark calm, but there was an ominous cold-grey silky look in the sky +which I did not like. The captain was constantly on deck, anxiously +scanning the horizon, and Jonathan Flood, our old master, kept his +weather-eye open, as if apprehensive of evil. + +"Vary fine weather this, Mr Hurry," said Andrew Macallan, our surgeon's +mate, who had come to sea for the first time. "Just a wee bit more wind +to waft us on our way to the scene of action, and we may well be +content." + +"Wait a bit, doctor, and we shall have wind enough and to spare," +replied I. + +It was not long before my words were verified--though just after that +the appearance of coming bad weather wore off, and even the captain and +master seemed to think that a moderate breeze was all we had to look +for. We were lying with our topsails on the caps and courses hauled up, +when, without a moment's warning, a gust of wind with the force of a +hurricane laid the ship on her beam-ends. + +"Up with the helm!" shouted the captain, who had that instant come on +deck. "Brace round the foreyards--trice up--brail up the after sails!" + +The helm was put up, but before the canvas could be handed, with claps +like thunder, the main-topmast-staysail and jib were blown from the +bolt-ropes, the topsails and courses were flying in shreds from the +yards, the topsail sheets, clew-lines and bunt-lines were carried away, +as were also the main-clew garnets, bunt-lines and leech-lines, while a +more tremendous sea than I had ever before beheld got up as if by magic. + +The ship, however, happily answered her helm and flew before the gale, +which at the same time kept freshening and shifting round to every point +of the compass. + +All we could now do was to scud, and that every instant, as the wind and +sea increased, became more and more dangerous. To bring her to under +present circumstances was impossible--indeed, deprived of all means of +handing the sails, we were helpless; and by this time every one of them +was flying aloft in tattered streamers, adding not a little to the +impetuous rate at which the gale drove us onward. + +The seas, each apparently overtopping the other, kept following up +astern, and before long one broke aboard us, deluging the decks and +sweeping everything before it. + +"Hold on! hold on for your lives, my men!" shouted the captain as he saw +it coming. + +Few needed the warning. When for a short time all was again clear we +looked round anxiously to ascertain that none of our shipmates had been +carried overboard. By next to a miracle all were safe. The carpenter +and his crew were called aft to secure the stern ports and to barricade +the poop with all the planks and shores they could employ, but to little +purpose. The huge dark-green seas, like vast mountains upheaved from +their base by some Titan's power, came following up after us, roaring +and hissing and curling over as if in eager haste to overwhelm us, their +crests one mass of boiling foam. As I stood aft I could not help +admiring the bold sweep of the curve they made from our rudder-post +upwards, as high it seemed as our mizen-top, the whole a bank of solid +water, with weight and force enough in it to send to the bottom the +stoutest line-of-battle-ship in the Navy. The taste we got occasionally +of their crests, as they now and then caught us up, was quite enough to +make me pray that we might not have the full flavour of their whole +body. + +No one on board had thought all this time of the Chatham, and when at +length we did look out for her she was nowhere to be seen. It was +probable that she was in as bad a plight as ourselves, so that neither +of us could have rendered the other assistance. Hour after hour passed +without any improvement in the weather. Every instant we expected +something worse to befall us. To remain below was out of the question, +as at any moment we might be wanted. To keep the deck was scarcely +possible, without the risk of being frozen to death or carried +overboard. Matters were bad enough in the daytime, but when darkness +came on and we went plunging away amid showers of snow and sleet and +bitter frost, with the cold north-west wind howling after us, I thought +of what the friends of some of our delicately-nurtured young gentlemen +would say if they could see us, and, for my own part, often wished +myself by the quiet fireside of the humblest cottage in old England. We +did our best to look after little Harry Sumner, and got him stowed away +carefully in his hammock, where we told him to lie still till he was +wanted. There was no object in allowing him to remain on deck, where he +could not be of use and was very likely to get injured. + +"I'll do as you tell me, Mr Hurry," said he. "But I'm not afraid of +the sea or the wind--if it were not for the bitter, bitter cold I would +rather be on deck, I would indeed." + +"You're a brave little fellow, Harry, but we must take care of you for +some nobler work, and then I've no doubt you'll give a good account of +yourself," said I. "So now go to sleep and try and get warm." + +Of my own immediate follower and protege, Tom Rockets, I have said +nothing since we came to sea. By the courage and activity he displayed +on the present occasion he showed that he was made of the right stuff to +form a first-rate seaman, and I had no reason to be ashamed of him. + +The whole of that long, weary night did we run on, the gale rather +increasing than falling, and when daylight broke over the waste of +tumultuous waters the prospect seemed as unpromising as ever. Nothing +could be done to get in any of our tattered canvas. The ship remained +tight, and that was our chief comfort. At length, on the evening of the +11th, the wind began to drop a little. Everyone was on deck ready to +take advantage of any opportunity which might occur for getting the ship +into a better condition. Suddenly the wind shifted round to the +north-east and dropped considerably. The hands were called aft. A +fore-staysail was set on the mizen-mast--the helm was put down and the +ship brought-to under it. The most necessary part of the rigging being +also replaced, the ship's company was divided into four watches, and all +but the watch on deck were sent below to sleep. Never did weary seamen +turn in with a greater good-will, or more require rest. + +All hands had ample occupation the next day in unbending the remnants of +our tattered canvas from the yards and in replacing it with a new suit +of sails fore and aft, in reeving new running rigging, and in repairing +the stern frame. All this was done with a tolerably fresh breeze +blowing and a pretty heavy sea running, though moderate in comparison to +what we had had and to what we were to encounter. This sort of weather +continued till the 15th, during which interval we contrived to get +things a little to rights. Gale number three now sprung up, and during +the whole of it we lay under a balanced mizen. We did not escape, +however, without damage, losing the bumkins and the remaining part of +the carlings and rails of the head, and a part of the starboard +quarter-gallery. The wind lulled again in the evening and continued +moderate till the 19th, when it breezed up once more for the fourth +time, and by the 21st we were in the centre of a perfect hurricane. +Still nothing would induce our captain to run back or to endeavour to +make his way across the Atlantic in a more southerly latitude. He had +made up his mind that this northerly route was the right one to take, +and he was not a man to be diverted from his purpose. The gale had been +blowing for some hours, when at about one o'clock in the morning watch, +the night being dark as Erebus, the ship pitching heavily into the seas +and straining terrifically, Delisle and I were on deck together, +endeavouring to pierce with our eyes the thick obscurity into which we +were driving. It was much of a time for moralising, considering the +showers of snow which ever and anon beat into our faces, the sheets of +spray which came aboard and froze as it fell over us, and the biting +wind which blew down our throats. + +"No unapt picture this, of the life of many of us, Hurry," said my +companion. "Here have we been knocking about for some weeks very much +the worse for wear--no nearer our voyage's end, and utterly unable to +say whither we are driving. I doubt much that we have seen the worst +yet." Scarcely had he spoken when a gust stronger than ever struck the +ship. We felt her quiver and shake all over, and at the same instant +there was a terrific crash forward. I hurried to see what had occurred. +The foremast had been carried away about twenty feet above the +forecastle, and lay over the lee fore-chains. The captain was on deck +in a moment, and all hands were called to clear the wreck. In doing +this the main-topmast-stay was cut, and thereby the main-topmast was +carried away, severely wounding in its fall nine men. The poor fellows +were borne below and placed under the surgeon's care. The morning came +and showed us our sad condition; but the gale had not yet sufficiently +shorn us of our pride or tried to the full our captain's perseverance, +for soon after daybreak another gust struck us. I looked up to see what +was next to happen. Before me stood our stout mainmast. Then, as if +wrenched by a giant's grasp, the shrouds and stays were torn away, and +with a loud crash down it came by the board, crushing the booms, +gallows, bits, gangway-rails, and the fore part of the quarter-deck, and +staving in the long-boat and a large cutter so as to destroy them +completely. The daylight enabled those on deck to stand from under in +time to escape injury; but it was a work of time, danger, and difficulty +to clear the ship of the wreck, for while we were engaged in it the sea +was constantly breaking over us fore and aft, threatening every instant +to engulph the ship. At the same time we were in momentary expectation +of seeing the mizen-mast share the fate of the other masts. At length, +having cleared the wreck, we hoisted a fore-topgallant-sail to the stump +of the foremast, which we stayed up as well as we could, and were +thereby able to keep the ship once more before the wind, though even +then the heavy seas which followed us threatened every moment to break +aboard. We were truly in a forlorn condition--with our fore and +mainmasts gone, two suits of sails carried away with the exception of +the sails on the mizen-mast, the remainder required for jury-sails +whenever the weather would allow us to erect jury-masts--with numbers of +the crew falling sick from exposure and excessive fatigue, and with a +ship strained and battered in every direction. At length, the wind +getting round to the westward, with unequivocal reluctance Captain +Hudson resolved to bear up, to the very great satisfaction of everybody +else on board. We were then four hundred and sixty leagues from the +Lizard. For several days more the gale continued, and we were all in +expectation of shortly reaching England and getting a thorough refit, +when the weather suddenly became more moderate than heretofore. The +opportunity was immediately taken of erecting jury-masts, and all hands +were employed on this important work. To do this we had to use all the +studden-sail-booms and spare spars on board. When completed and set up, +they were pronounced to be equal if not superior to any ever before +under similar circumstances fitted at sea. The captain looked at them +with no little satisfaction, and complimenting the ship's company on +what had been done, called the officers aft, and informed them that he +was resolved to attempt once more to reach the coast of America. Had +there been a war with France, we should have been eager to get to our +station, but as we expected to have little enough to do in putting down +the American rebellion, I cannot say that our captain's announcement was +received with any great satisfaction. For several days we made +tolerably fair progress, but on the 2nd of December a gale of wind +sprang up, and carried away our jury-main-topmast and top-yard, and +split the sail from clew to earing. During the whole of this month the +weather continued as boisterous as at the commencement. Disaster +followed disaster in quick succession. Among others, we lost four +top-masts, six topsail-yards, one mainsail and one foresail, two +topsails and one fore-topsail, besides which the cover of the arm-chest +fell out of the mizen-top, and, striking the gunner, knocked out four of +his teeth, broke his shoulder in two places, and cut his right eye in +the most shocking manner. He was carried below in great agony, and his +life was despaired of. I need not mention any more of the accidents we +encountered. It may be supposed that by this time we were in a +tolerably forlorn condition, with nearly every yard of our spare canvas +expended, and with scarcely a spar remaining to replace our jury-masts, +should they be carried away. Unpleasant, however, as was our position, +I must say that we respected our captain for his perseverance, though it +had become the pretty generally received opinion on board, both fore and +aft, that we were destined never to reach our station. All sorts of +stories were going the round of the decks. An old woman near Plymouth, +Mother Adder-fang she was called, had been heard to declare, two nights +before the ship went out of harbour, that not a stick of the Orpheus +would ever boil a kettle on English ground. Another was said to have +cursed the ship and all on board. Then we had a fine variety of Flying +Dutchman's tales, till the men began to look upon the captain as a sort +of Vanderdecken himself, and to fancy, I verily believe, that we were +destined ourselves to box about till the day of judgment. Now of course +a man of calm sense should be uninfluenced by these sort of tales--we +should be well assured that God only knows the future, and that words of +anger, uttered by a wicked, ignorant old woman, cannot possibly alter +His determination; still, when a man is worn out with fatigue, hardship +and hunger, when the gale howls fiercely, and the raging seas appear +every instant ready to engulph the ship, he cannot help thinking of the +words he has heard and the stories which have been told him, and looking +forward with sad forebodings to the future. + +In spite, however, of the raging storm, the battered condition of the +ship, and the predictions of disaster, we jolly Orlopians resolved not +to be baffled in keeping our Christmas dinner in the accustomed manner +as far as circumstances would allow. Our means for so doing were +certainly not very extensive, either with regard to our condiments or +the utensils for serving them in. The greater part of our crockery had +been broken in the previous gales, and all our luxuries had long been +consumed. We managed, however, to exhibit a dish of boiled beef at one +end of the table, and one of boiled pork at the other, and a tureen of +peas-soup and a peas-pudding; while our second course was a plum-pudding +of huge dimensions, and solid as a round-shot--the whole washed down +with a bowl of punch. Our seats were secured to the deck, and the +dishes were lashed to the table, while it required no small amount of +ingenuity and rapidity to convey each mouthful from our plates to our +mouths. Never did the good ship tumble and roll about more violently +than she did on that 25th of December, while we young gentlemen were +drinking "sweet-hearts and wives," and other appropriate toasts. Let my +readers picture us to themselves, if they can, as we sat, each member of +the mess holding on like grim death to either a dish, or bowl, or can, +or mug, endeavouring, often in vain, to keep the contents from spilling, +and then to carry a portion of them to his mouth, our voices now +clattering away together, now one of us breaking forth into a song, and +joined in chorus by the rest, the ship rolling and pitching, the +bulkheads creaking and groaning, and the wind howling overhead. The +contrast between the picture we presented and the dining-room of a +comfortable, well-lighted country-house in England on the same day was +not small. + +Our condition was not improved when at length the year 1776 commenced. +We had expended all our sails with the exception of those actually bent +to the yards; of spars we had scarcely one remaining. In consequence +also of the great expenditure of provisions and stores, the ship had +become so light that she rolled excessively and with so quick and rapid +a motion that some of the guns in the galley, drawing their ring-bolts +from the side, broke loose, and before they could be secured committed +much damage. Added to all this it was announced that our supply of +water was very short, and we were put on an allowance of a pint for each +person. On these occasions the captain and the smallest boy share +alike. If any of us breakfasted or dined in the gun-room or cabin, we +carried with us our allowance of water to help make the tea. We were +still fully four hundred leagues from the coast, and to all appearances +as little likely to make it as we had been a month back. The officers +were unanimous in their opinion that we should bear up for the West +Indies, but Captain Hudson still resolved to persevere and to endeavour +to gain our intended port. Though I, like the rest, was heartily sick +of the life we had been enduring, and longed as much as anybody to get +into port, I could not help admiring the perseverance and determination +of our captain. Grave and anxious as he could not help appearing at +times, he did his utmost generally to assume a cheerful countenance, and +by words of encouragement to keep up the spirits of the men. As, +however, one after the other the people fell sick, and disaster upon +disaster overtook us, I more than once, when I went into the cabin, +found him sitting pale and silent at the table, with his head resting on +his hand, evidently meditating on the responsibilities of his position. + +Meantime the men forward were grumbling and evincing no slight mutinous +disposition. "Here, old ship, do ye see, have we been boxing about for +the best parts of two months, and for what we knows to the contrary, +farther off from our port than ever we were," I heard one of the +quartermasters, Jos Lizard, observing to a messmate, another old salt of +the same kidney. Old Jos, as he was called, was somewhat of a sea +lawyer in his way, though not the less superstitious on that account. + +"Well, what's to be done, mate?" asked his chum, Ben Goff. + +"Done!" exclaimed old Jos; "why, I axes, are we to go knocking our heads +against Providence, so to speak, till we've no water and no grub, and +then to rot away, as I've heard of a ship's company doing, and one left +to tell about it!" + +"No, old salt, I wouldn't for one wish to do that same; but how's it to +be helped?" asked Goff. + +"Helped!" said Lizard, with a look of scorn, "helped! why, let's go aft +to the captain, and tell him our mind. Either we bears up for a port, +or let the ship sink at once; it's only what we must come to at last. +We'll get the rum casks on deck, and have a regular jollification of it +first. Then no matter what turns up, we sha'n't know much about it." + +I well knew the horrible folly seamen are capable of, so I thought it +best to put a stopper at once on the precious notion old Jos had got +into his head. I therefore presented myself suddenly before the two +men. "You're a couple of donkeys, to talk such nonsense as you've just +been doing!" I exclaimed, in a contemptuous tone. "Do you think two +ignorant old fellows like you know better than the captain what ought to +be done? Let me hear no more about it. I am not going to report what I +overheard, and if you catch any of the other men talking the game sort +of stuff, just let them know what fools they are." I felt that it would +not do to reason with the men, but that I should have a better chance of +putting them off this notion by making them feel ashamed of themselves, +and this I think I succeeded in doing. I cannot say, however, that I +felt very sanguine as to the termination of the voyage. + +What the temper of the crew might at length have led to, I don't know, +but at last we got a slant of fair wind and moderate weather, and it was +announced that we were within twelve leagues of Cape Sambro, near the +entrance of the harbour of Halifax. As may be supposed, there was great +rejoicing on board; all our troubles and misfortunes were forgotten, and +we fully expected to be in harbour the next day. That night Delisle and +I were on deck together. Kennedy also was there, and little Harry +Sumner. Mr Gaston, the third lieutenant, had charge of the watch. We +were congratulating ourselves on the turn which fortune had made in our +favour, when Delisle called my attention to a thick gloom which was +gathering over the land. We pointed it out to Mr Gaston, and asked him +what it signified. + +"That we are going to have another gale, which may drive us farther to +the southward than we have hitherto been," he replied. + +Scarcely had he spoken than the first indications of the coming wind +reached us--a rising sea and a driving shower of sleet--the helm was put +up, and the ship kept before the wind, and then down came the gale upon +us, and once more we were driving before it, surrounded by dense sheets +of snow, which prevented us from seeing a yard beyond our bowsprit end. +Away we went during the whole of the next day and night and the +following day, driving madly before the gale. If the ship's company had +before this been full of forebodings of coming ill, it is not surprising +that they should now have entirely abandoned all hope of ever again +seeing land. On the 25th of January we were eighty leagues from the +Cape, and more distressed than ever for masts, spars, sails, provisions, +and water. So short, indeed, was our store of the latter necessary that +we were now put on an allowance of half a pint a day; so severe also was +the frost that we were compelled to throw hot water on the sails when +they were furled before we could set them. The men more rapidly than +before fell sick day after day, and completely lost their spirits, and +it became the fashion when the watch turned out for them to inquire what +fresh accident had occurred. + +At length one night, as I lay sleeping in my hammock, I was awoke by a +terrific noise. I found that the ship was on her beam-ends. There was +a rushing of water, a crashing of timbers, a splitting of sails, the +howling of wind, the cries and shrieks and stamping of men. I felt +certain that the fatal and long-expected stroke had been given, and that +I and all on board were about to be hurried into eternity. I have been +since in many a hard-fought battle, I have seen death in every form, but +I never felt its horrors so vividly as I did on that night. I remained +in my hammock without attempting to dress, for I thought that I might as +well drown as I was, and I had not the remotest expectation of being +saved. Still the water did not reach me, and at length I heard +Kennedy's voice rousing up the idlers to go on deck, and help take the +canvas off the ship. + +"We've been in very great danger, and for some minutes I thought it was +all over with us," he observed: "we've brought her to, however, and she +may ride out this gale as she has done many others." + +"I hope so," said I, springing up and putting on my clothes, while +Kennedy hurried on deck. I found that the chief noise had been caused +by a number of shot boxes breaking loose from the mainmast, and as the +ship heeled over, they came rushing under my hammock and crushing +everything before them. I had no little difficulty in getting them +secured. This appeared to be the last piece of malice those winter +gales had to play us. The next day the weather moderated, and we were +able to lay a course for Halifax. We could scarcely believe our senses +as we found ourselves entering that magnificent harbour, after our +protracted and disastrous voyage. We had been out ninety seven days, +ten weeks of which time we had been under jury-masts. Our only +squaresail was a spritsail at the main-yard to serve as a mainsail. The +whole ship was covered with ice, and a most complete wreck she looked in +every respect. We had the second lieutenant, gunner, and seventy-three +men sick, twenty of whom were suffering from frost-bites. No wonder +that such was our condition when we had encountered no less than +forty-five heavy gales of wind, and it spoke well for the soundness of +the hull of our ship that she had held together so perfectly. Our +captain, officers, and ship's company received the thanks of the +commander-in-chief for their perseverance and resolution, and certainly +no one deserved more credit than did our captain, for the determined way +in which he held on and succeeded in bringing his ship into harbour. + +The next Sunday we all repaired to church, to return public thanks to +Almighty God for preserving us from the perils and hardships of the sea, +to which we had been so long exposed. It was a solemn and touching +occasion. Two and two, the captain at our head, and the officers +following with the ship's company, we all marched up together to the +church. Thoughtless and careless about our spiritual being as we +generally were, I believe very few among us did not feel our hearts +swell with gratitude to the Great Being who had so mercifully watched +over and preserved us from the dangers to which we had been exposed, +when the minister gave forth the words of that beautiful hymn of +thanksgiving,--"The sea roared, and the stormy wind lifted up the waves +thereof. We were carried up as it were to heaven, and then down again +to the deep; our soul melted within us because of trouble. Then cried +we unto Thee, O Lord, and Thou didst deliver us out of our distress. +Blessed be Thy name, who didst not despise the prayer of Thy servants, +but didst hear our cry, and hast saved us. Thou didst send forth Thy +commandment, and the windy storm ceased, and was turned into a calm." +The minister also gave us a sermon appropriate to the occasion, and most +deeply attentive to it were the greater part of the ship's company. +There is as much religious feeling about seamen as in any class of men, +though they are in general grossly ignorant of the doctrine of the +Gospel. This is owing entirely to the wicked neglect of those of the +upper classes who ought to have seen that they were properly instructed. +I have, however, only to remark that it is the duty of the rising +generation, not to sit idly down, and with upturned eyes to abuse their +ancestors, but to arouse themselves, and by every means in their power +to remedy the neglect of which they were guilty. The people seemed very +soon to forget the hardships they had endured, and I fear likewise that +the recollection of the mercies vouchsafed to us speedily passed from +our memories. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +HALIFAX HARBOUR.--LIFE IN THE BACKWOODS.--DANGEROUS EXPEDITION THROUGH +THE ICE.--LORD SHOULDHAM'S FLEET WITH LORD HOWE'S ARMY ARRIVES.--SAIL +FOR NANTUCKET ROADS.--BOSTON CANNONADED.--WATERING-PARTY ON SHORE.-- +CAPTURE WHALING SLOOP RANGER.--CRUISE IN HER WITH GRAMPUS AND TOM +ROCKETS.--HER SKIPPER'S TRICK DEFEATED.--REACH HALIFAX.--ORDERED ON +BOARD CHATHAM.--SAIL FOR NEW YORK.--GENERAL WASHINGTON HOLDS POSSESSION +OF THE CITY. + +The harbour of Halifax is a very fine one. A thousand ships may anchor +there in safety. It is our chief naval station in North America. The +town, which is a handsome one, stands on a peninsula, and rises +gradually from the water's edge, where there are numerous wharves, +alongside which ships can lie to discharge their cargoes. We found in +the harbour the Cerberus frigate, Captain Symonds, (see Note 1), hove +down alongside the wharf, as also the Savage sloop of war, wearing +Commodore Arbuthnot's broad pennant. + +The inhabitants cordially welcomed our arrival, as they were in hourly +expectation of an attack from a body of rebels who were said to be +marching on the town, while the organised force existing for its defence +was very small. At length an express arrived from the interior, stating +that the enemy were at the distance of about twenty miles, at a small +village of which they had taken possession. We were instantly ordered +under arms to protect the dockyard, and fully expected to have warm +work. The people who formed the rebel bands had been instigated to +revolt by the revolutionists of the southern colonies, who had formed a +plan at this time to invade Canada, which happily proved abortive. They +themselves, as far as I could learn, had no real cause of complaint. + +After we had waited for some time in expectation of an attack, notice +was brought us that the rebels had plundered and burned the village +where they had quartered themselves, and then retired. We were +therefore able to employ all hands in refitting the ship, a work to us +of the greatest importance. The cold, however, was so great that we +suffered no little inconvenience from exposure to it. All the meat, I +remember, which came on board, was frozen so hard that we were +invariably obliged to cut it up into pieces with a cross-saw, to serve +it out to the messes. Quantities of fish also of a peculiarly fine +flavour were to be picked up daily, frozen to death, on the surface of +the ice, thrown up by the united action of the tide and sea. As there +were no masts and spars in the dockyard, we found that we should be +obliged to send a party into the woods, fully ten miles from the town, +to cut down trees suitable for the purpose. I was ordered to accompany +the party appointed for this object. My friend Delisle was with me, and +Tom Rockets went as my servant. + +Having provided ourselves with blankets, provisions, cooking utensils, +and other means of making ourselves comfortable, away we trudged over +the snow, following our guide, John Nobs by name, who was to show us +where we might find the sort of timber we required. It was the first +time I had ever been in an American forest. The deep silence which +reigned around, and the perfect solitude were very impressive. The tall +leafless trees, springing up out of the sheet of snow which covered the +whole face of nature, were the only objects to be seen. + +We were merry enough as we tramped away in the keen, pure air over the +crisp snow. As some thirty pair of feet, stepping out together, went +crunch--crunch--crunch--the noise was so loud, that we were obliged to +raise our voices to make ourselves heard. Delisle and I marched +directly after our leader old Nobs, our men following, laughing, +talking, and singing, as the mood seized them. + +At length, having gone some way through the forest, Nobs began to look +about him attentively. He was not a man of many words. + +"That's 'um," said he, pointing with his chin to some tall, straight +fir-trees, up to which he had led us. We saw also that a considerable +number of the same description grew in the neighbourhood. + +"I suppose, then, we may call a halt?" said I. + +Nobs nodded. We had been told that he would show us how to build some +huts for sheltering our party. + +"Some on you with axes come along," said he, turning to the men, and +away he trudged till we reached a clump of graceful, white-stemmed +birch-trees. Scoring down the stems, he quickly ripped off huge sheets +of bark, some five and six feet long, and two and three broad. The men +followed his example, and we soon had as much as the whole party could +carry. + +"Stay, that won't do alone," observed Nobs; and he commenced cutting +some thin poles, seven or eight feet long, from saplings growing in the +neighbourhood. With these we returned to the spot we had fixed on for +an encampment. Scarcely uttering a word, having got some men to assist +him, he erected a framework of a cone-shape, with about eight of the +poles, fastening the upper ends together with a piece of rope. He then +covered the framework with sheets of bark, leaving a doorway and a small +space open at the top. + +"There you have an Indian wigwam," said he. + +From the pattern he had thus formed, the men very soon erected wigwams +enough to shelter the whole party. He then collected some dried wood, +of which there was an abundance about, and lighted a fire in the middle +of his hut. The hole left at the top of it allowed the smoke to escape. +The snow, which had first been cleared away in the interior, was +piled-up round the hut outside, and the ground was then beaten hard. He +showed us how to make our couches of dried leaves; and at night, wrapped +in our blankets lying round the fire, we found that we could sleep most +luxuriously. + +Having thus speedily made all these necessary arrangements, we set to +work to select the trees fit for our purpose. As soon as we had fixed +on them, Nobs threw off all his outer clothing, and with his gleaming +axe began chopping away like a true backwoodsman at one of the largest +of the trees. The carpenter's crew followed his example. The air was +so calm that while the men were actively employed they felt not the +slightest sensation of cold. The moment they ceased, however we made +them put on their clothing. + +Nobs was thoroughly versed in all the customs of backwoodsmen, so he was +able to show us how to make ourselves comfortable, and I learned many +lessons from him which I, on many subsequent occasions, found very +useful. Among other things he showed us how to roast our meat by +spitting bits of it on a long thin stick, which rested on two forked +sticks stuck in the ground. Indeed, we enjoyed ourselves far more than +we expected. + +Tom Rockets and another lad slept in our wigwam, to assist in keeping up +the fire. I lay awake for a short time, when my ears were saluted with +the sound of a long, low howl. I presently heard Tom stir himself. + +"Oh, Jim, sure them be the ghostesses we heard tell of," said he. "I +hope they won't be coming this way now." + +"I hopes not," replied his companion. "Them be dreadful things I do +think, by the noise they makes." + +Just then there was a louder howl than before. + +"Oh, they be coming!" cried Tom. "I'll rouse up Mr Hurry. Maybe he'll +know how to tackle 'em." + +Highly diverted with the opinion my followers had formed of my prowess +against not only mortal but spiritual enemies, I lay still, wishing to +hear what he would next say. The hideous howl approached still nearer. + +"I can't stand it!" he exclaimed. "Muster Hurry! Muster Hurry! there +be ghostesses, or devils, or some such things abroad, a-playing of their +pranks, and they be coming to eat us up, Muster Hurry, I be sure!" + +I burst into a fit of laughter, so loud that it woke Delisle. It was +responded to, it seemed, by so unearthly a cry from the depths of the +forest, that even he for a moment was startled. Then there was the +report of firearms, and looking out of our wigwam, I saw old Nobs +standing in front of his, with a musket in his hand. + +"I've druve the varmints away," he said, in his usual laconic style. +"You may turn in, mister." + +I took his advice, for it was very cold outside. + +"The wolves will not probably disturb us again," said I, as I lay down. + +"Wolves! be them wolves?" I heard Tom remark; but as I soon fell +asleep, I do not know what more he said. + +Towards the morning I was again awoke by loud shouts, and growls, and +cries, and the sound of a tremendous tussle. + +"I've caught ye, my bo!" I heard Tom exclaim. "If ye be a ghost or a +devil, ye shall just show yourself to Muster Hurry, before I let ye go." + +Starting up, I found the two lads struggling with some beast or other at +the entrance to the wigwam. I soon discovered that they had got hold of +a black bear, who had doubtless been attracted to our wigwam by a pot of +sugar which had been left at the entrance, into which he was putting his +paw when Rockets discovered him. The noise brought a number of the +other men from the huts. They thought we were attacked by Indians or +the rebels, I believe. The poor beast made a good fight of it; but +before I could come to his rescue, he had been somewhat severely +handled. We, however, easily secured him, and kept him prisoner till we +settled what should be done with him. He was, we learned from old Nobs, +of a species not at all ferocious, and very easily tamed. We therefore +determined, instead of killing him in order to turn him into ham, to +carry him on board as a pet. He very soon became reconciled to his lot, +and at once ate willingly from our hands any mess we offered, +particularly if sweetened with sugar. Rockets considered him as his own +prize, and took him under his especial care. The men gave him the name +of Sugar-lips, and as Tom stood his sponsor he was known on board as +Tommy Sugar-lips. + +However, I must not spend more time on my shore adventures, as I have +matter of so much greater interest to describe. In about five days we +had cut down and trimmed a sufficient number of trees for our purpose. +The greatest labour was to drag them over the snow to the harbour; but +at length that was accomplished, and we returned once more on board. + +Shortly after this the frost set in harder than ever, but in consequence +of the rapidity of the tides the ice, though fully four feet thick, did +not form a consistent body in the harbour. In some places it was hard, +but the chief quantity round the ship was like a mass of wet snow, too +soft and too rotten to walk on, and yet too thick to allow a boat of any +size to be impelled through it. Thus all communication with the town +was suddenly cut off. At this time we had a gang of men on the opposite +shore, fitting the rigging at a spot where they could procure no +provisions. They were getting very hard up for food, when Captain +Hudson sent for me. + +"Mr Hurry," said he, "I wish to send some provisions to the people on +shore. It will be a service of difficulty, and perhaps danger, but I +can entrust it confidently to you; you must take a couple of hands and a +light boat, and you may be able to force her either over or through the +ice." + +"Ay, ay, sir," I answered; "I'll do it if it is to be done." And away I +went to make my preparations without loss of time. I always felt an +inclination to volunteer for any work to be done, and never thought of +throwing difficulties in the way of the performance of any thing that +was proposed. I chose Nol Grampus, the old quarter-master, and Tom +Rockets as my companions in the enterprise. The dinghy, a small boat we +carried astern, was the best suited to my purpose. Having laden her +with provisions, we shoved off from the ship among the floating ice. +Our progress was very slow, sometimes we worked our way among the sheet +ice, then we came to a hard slab on to which we jumped and hauled the +boat over it. "Take care, sir," said Grampus, as we were crossing a +slab, "this is treacherous stuff we are on." Just as he spoke I felt my +feet sinking into the slush, and had I not had firm hold of the gunwale, +I might have gone through altogether. As I sprang into the boat I could +not help shuddering at the thought of sinking into the cold deadly mass +which surrounded us without the possibility of making an effort for +life; too dense to enable one to swim, and yet too liquid to bear the +weight of a person, it was as sure to destroy one as the treacherous +quicksand or the furious maelstrom. Near us was another boat with an +old man and a boy, likewise endeavouring to cross the harbour. We saw +that they were exerting all their energies, but were not making better +progress than we were. After some time the tide made down stronger, and +on taking our bearings I found that the ice was setting us fast down the +harbour and out to sea. My men needed no encouragement to exert +themselves to the utmost, for the peril we were in was very apparent. +Captain Hudson observed it also, and made the signal for us to return to +the ship, but it was even more difficult to go back than to go forward. +In attempting to obey the order I found that we were carried more into +the strength of the current. I therefore kept on towards the wharf, +where some hundreds of people were collected, rather anxious spectators +of our adventure. Captain Symonds, of the Cerberus, and the +master-attendant of the dockyard were looking on, and they also hailed +to me to return to the ship. Sometimes we appeared to be making no +progress whatever, and I felt the probability of our being carried out +to sea--then again we advanced, though slowly, towards the shore. The +old man and his boy were less able to contend with the difficulties +which surrounded them. The old man had hurt himself, I fancy, and by +degrees relaxed in his efforts--the poor little fellow was still putting +forth all his strength to urge their boat forward, but it was too +evidently likely to prove unavailing. + +At last they slowly drifted past us, and though at so short a distance +that I could clearly see the expression of their countenances we could +render them no possible assistance. I shall not quickly forget the poor +old man's look of despair and grief--more perhaps for the coming fate of +his boy than for himself. The poor lad had not yet given up all hopes +of escape. Now he would sit down and wring his hands, and then he would +start up, and, seizing an oar, try once more to shove the boat ahead. +We had little time, however, for contemplating their fate, for there was +still a great probability that we might have to share it. We were yet +drifting seaward, and for hours together our utmost exertions only +enabled us to hold our own. I can easily fancy the interest we excited +on shore, yet nothing could be thought of to help us. We could hear the +cry of horror and commiseration which rose from the crowd as the boat +with our companions in misfortune drifted past the spot whence there was +any hope of escape, and the old man and lad sat down and gave themselves +up to despair. The intense cold would, I guessed, soon deprive them of +all sensation and further power of exertion. Night was coming on, and +we lost sight of them in the gloom. We had now been six hours in our +perilous position, without time even to take a particle of nourishment. +We were making for the Cerberus as the nearest point where we could +receive assistance. + +"We shall reach her, sir!" exclaimed Grampus at length, with a cheerful +tone. "See, they are ready to heave us a line if we could but get a few +fathoms nearer." Encouraged by this, we exerted ourselves still more +than ever, and at length a man from the jibboom end of the Cerberus hove +a lead which happily reached our boat. We seized it eagerly, and making +the line fast, we were hauled alongside the wharf. As soon as we landed +and had received the congratulations of the spectators of our adventure, +we were carried off, half-starved and frozen, by the master-attendant, +Mr Prowse, to his house; where we were most hospitably entertained. I +found in him an old shipmate, as he had been master of the Torbay when I +belonged to her. I spent upwards of two days at his house, and received +the greatest of kindness from him. While on shore I met another old +friend, Captain Lee, of the Harriet Packet, with whom I almost lived +during his stay at Halifax. As may be supposed, I found his comfortable +cabin a far more agreeable place of abode than a midshipman's berth with +the rough and scanty fare with which we were provided. I was anxious to +ascertain the fate of the old man and his son whom we had seen carried +out to sea by the ice. Sad to relate, they had been picked up two days +afterwards at the mouth of the harbour, frozen to death. They must have +died, I suspect, soon after we lost sight of them, for the cold was so +intense that it could not long have been resisted. We had, indeed, +cause to be thankful to providence that their fate was not ours. It is +but one of the many instances in which I have been mercifully preserved, +while those by my side have been cut off. For what end has this been +done? I wish that I could say that I have properly employed the longer +term of life thus vouchsafed to me. There had been at Halifax all the +winter a very limited supply of provisions. At length a fleet appeared +off the harbour's mouth, which proved to be that under the command of +Admiral Lord Shouldham, with the army of General Howe on board, (see +Note 2), who had been compelled by the American revolutionists, under +General Washington, to evacuate Boston, after having been besieged in it +for fully ten months. It will be remembered that we parted from the +Chatham, Admiral Shouldham's flag-ship, in a gale in the early part of +our voyage. She went through as much bad weather, and experienced +almost as many disasters as we had suffered, though at length she +reached Boston, where Lord Shouldham succeeded Admiral Graves as +Commander-in-Chief. Our disasters throughout the whole of that sad +contest with the American States arose from the foolish contempt with +which the British generals and their officers treated the provincial +troops. While General Howe was waiting for reinforcements from England, +General Washington was collecting an army and disciplining his troops. +Before, therefore, the expected reinforcements could arrive, General +Howe, to his great surprise, found himself outnumbered, and the city +commanded from some hills which overlook it, called Dorchester Heights. +He found that he must either dislodge the enemy from these heights or +evacuate Boston. A heavy gale of wind prevented the adoption of the +former alternative till the rebels were too strongly entrenched to allow +the attempt to be made with any prospect of success. A hurried retreat +was therefore resolved on, and not only the troops, but those of the +inhabitants who had sided with the British, were compelled to embark on +board the men-of-war and transports, vast quantities of military stores +and property of all sorts being either destroyed or left behind, to fall +into the hands of the enemy. This fleet had arrived ill provided with +provisions to feed so many mouths, and from there being, as I have said, +but a scanty supply of food in Halifax already, it was considered +necessary to put the army and navy on half allowance--an arrangement to +which, though very disagreeable, we were compelled to submit with the +best grace we could muster. From the time of our arrival till the 4th +of May we were busily occupied in fitting the ship for sea, and not an +hour was lost after that was accomplished, in getting under weigh, when +we stood to the southward. We were not sorry to have the chance of +seeing some active service. On the 8th we spoke HMS Merlin, with two +transports bound for Halifax, on the 12th the Milford and Lively, on a +cruise. On the same day we anchored in Nantucket Roads, Boston, where +we found lying the Renown, wearing the broad pennant of Commodore Banks, +which we saluted with thirteen guns. A constant cannonade was kept up +on the squadron by the rebels who now held Boston and the surrounding +heights, but without doing us much mischief. We returned the fire +occasionally with probably about the same result. After their late +successes the American patriots had become very bold, and no longer held +the British in any respect. Some parts of the coast of the harbour were +left unprotected by the enemy. One night I was sent on shore in command +of a watering-party, with strict orders to keep a watchful guard against +surprise. To do this I considered it necessary to take possession of a +house near the spot where we were filling the casks. As the house was +deserted I carried off a table and six chairs which I found in it, with +which to furnish the midshipman's berth--ours having been knocked to +pieces on the voyage to Halifax. + +By the rules of war I had a right to take the property, I believe, but +it seems hard that the owners, who were probably not belligerents, +should be deprived of it. On the following day, the 15th, we sailed on +a cruise in search of any of the enemy's merchantmen or privateers, of +which they had begun to fit out a good many. The crews ran a great risk +of being treated as pirates, but as the rebels had already threatened to +retaliate, should the usual customs of regular warfare be departed from, +it was judged prudent to behave towards those who fell into our hands as +if they were regular prisoners of war. + +We had begun to grumble much at our ill-luck in not falling in with +prize. "Ye'll na take anything which will put siller into any of our +pockets this cruise, ma laddies," said Andrew Macallan, the Scotch +surgeon's mate, who was much addicted to the prophesying of ill-luck. + +We Orlopians were collected in the midshipman's berth towards the +termination of a not over-luxurious dinner. "I should think not," +responded Kennedy. "What can we expect to get out of these beggarly +provincials? It's not likely they'll have any craft afloat which will +be worth capture." + +"How do you know that?" exclaimed Frank Mercer, one of our mates, with a +deep crimson flush on his brow. "Now, from what I have heard, I believe +the patriots have a number of fine merchantmen sailing out of their +ports, and have already fitted out several privateers." + +"From which of your friends on shore did you hear that?" asked Kennedy, +with a look of contempt. + +"From common report," replied Mercer. He was known to have several +relations and friends in America who had sided with the rebels, and +though this made him look on them with a favourable eye, he had too +loyal a spirit to allow him to contemplate for a moment the desertion of +his colours. Still his heart often yearned towards those engaged in +what then appeared so unequal a struggle on shore, and he could scarcely +help expressing satisfaction at any success they met with. Poor Mercer +had to endure a great deal of irony and abuse on the subject, but while +he defended the rebels, and asserted their right to take up arms in the +defence of their liberties, he acknowledged that his own duty was to +remain loyal to his sovereign. The dispute was waxing warm, when little +Harry Sumner, who had been on deck, came below, and announced that there +was a suspicious sail away to the north-east, and that we were in chase +of her. I was on deck in a minute, and found everything being set alow +and aloft in chase of the stranger. After watching her for some time +from aloft, where I had gone with my spy-glass, I saw that we were +gaining on her rapidly, though she had also made all sail. This +convinced us that she was a craft belonging to the enemy. She was +sloop-rigged, but seemed to be a vessel of some size. After a chase of +four hours we got her within range of our guns, when a shot from one of +our bow-chasers, falling close alongside, convinced her that she had no +chance of escape, and that her wisest policy was to heave-to without +more ado. This she at once did, and I was sent on board to take +possession. She proved to be the Ranger, from Nantucket harbour, bound +on a whaling voyage, her crew consisting of a master, mate, boy, and ten +men. Her master, Mr Jotham Scuttle, was very indignant at being +captured, and good reason he had to be so, for half the vessel was his +own, and thus in a moment he was deprived of all his worldly wealth. He +was as unlike a seaman in appearance as could well be imagined; with his +broad-brimmed hat, knee-breeches, buckles to his high shoes, and long +waistcoat, but he was not the less active for all that. Leaving +Grampus, who had accompanied me, with two hands in charge of the sloop, +I returned with the prisoners to the frigate. The mate and men were +instantly pressed, without the question being asked whether they would +wish to join, and Captain Hudson ordered me to go back to the sloop, +giving me leave to carry Tom Rockets, in addition to the men already on +board, and to make the best of my way to Halifax. "Stay," said he, +"take the master and boy with you, Mr Hurry; we shall not know what to +do with them on board--and see that he plays you no trick." I laughed +at the idea of having anything to dread from the demure Mr Scuttle, +and, putting up a few necessaries, I tumbled into the boat which was to +take me on board my new command. I thought I caught a twinkle in friend +Jotham's eyes when he found that he was to be sent back to his own +vessel--but this was probably fancy. He sat looking very sad and +downcast as we pulled on board the sloop. The crew of the boat which +had brought me gave me three cheers, and Delisle, who had come in her, +wished me a prosperous voyage to Halifax, from which I was about two +hundred leagues distant. The frigate then hauled her wind, and I made +sail to the northward. Of course I felt very grand in my new command, +like Sancho Panza in his island, though it was not to last very long at +the utmost; and it was not impossible that I might be summarily +dispossessed of it at any moment; however, I did not trouble myself +about such thoughts just then. Having taken possession of the master's +cabin, and allowed him to occupy his mate's, I called my ship's company +together, and, having divided them into two watches, told them I +expected they would do their duty and behave themselves. Nol Grampus +had charge of one watch with one of the seamen and Mr Scuttle under +him, and I took the other with the other seaman, Tom Rockets and the +boy. Tom had not got over his innocent country look, though he was +sharp enough in reality, and did his duty as a seaman very fairly. Old +Grampus, who had taken a fancy to him, was always teaching him something +or other likely to prove useful. "Now, Tom, you may be no wiser nor a +young gull as has never learned to fly," I heard the old man say; "but +listen, my boy, if you follows my advice you'll soon be able to spread +your wings and skim over the water just for all the world like one on +them big albatrosses one meets with off the Cape of Good Hope, you've +heard speak of." Tom had not heard of such a place, so Grampus told him +all about it, and a great deal more besides. In that way my young +follower picked up his sea lore. The contrast between the two was +perfect. Tom's young, smooth, innocent face, and round boyish figure, +and the thorough old sea-dog look of Grampus, with his grizzly bushy +hair and whiskers, his long cue, his deeply-furrowed, or I may say +rather bumped and knobbed and bronzed countenance, and his spare, sinewy +form, having not a particle of flesh with which he could dispense. + +As Mr Jotham Scuttle's eye fell on Tom he took him at once for a simple +lad, who could readily believe anything he had to say, and he formed his +plans accordingly. I got on very well with my scanty crew, for as there +were winches and tackles of all sorts on board, I managed to work the +vessel easily enough. We had an abundance of provisions, so that, +contrasted especially with the fare to which I had for many months past +been accustomed, we lived luxuriously. + +The second day I invited Mr Scuttle to dine with me. The commencement +of the entertainment was not very lively, for though he did not play a +bad knife and fork, he uttered no sound except an occasional deep sigh +from beneath the very lowest button of his waistcoat. At last, after +leaning his head on his hand for some time, he looked up. + +"It is very hard to be borne, mister," he exclaimed with vehemence. +"Here was I, with a fine craft I could almost call my own, and with +every chance of providing for my family, and now I'm worse than a +beggar--a prisoner, and forced to go I don't know where." + +"You shouldn't have broken the blockade, and your friends shouldn't have +rebelled and broken the laws," said I. + +"Laws!" he exclaimed with disdain, "they were bad laws, and it went +against the grain of every honest man to observe them." + +"I don't know anything about that," I replied; "in my profession all we +have to do is to obey without asking questions, and I just fancy that +your people will very soon have to do the same, whether they like it or +not." + +"Will they, forsooth?" he exclaimed, striking his fist on the table. +"The time has passed for that. I'll tell you what, sir, they'll fight +it out till every drop of honest blood is spilt in the country. It was +the supercilious, boasting airs of your lords and aristocrats who came +out among the military looking down upon all the first gentlemen in the +land as provincials and colonists, as they called them in contempt, +which was the real cause of the revolt. They made enemies wherever they +went, with their follies and pride and haughty words. They and their +government at home seemed to forget that we were Britons like +themselves, with British hearts, ay, and with truer loyalty than they +had for the king and the old country. What would you say, sir, if you +were insulted as we have been?" + +"I certainly do not like being bullied by anyone," said I. + +"No more do we colonists, sir," answered the poor skipper. "My father, +sir, came over from the old country; misfortunes compelled him to quit +it, but he loved it as much as ever, and brought up me, his son, to love +it also; and so I should to this day, had I, and those who had made +America their own, been fairly treated--not looked upon as children to +be played with, or slaves to be bullied and despised. Now, sir," he +continued, standing up and placing one hand on the table, while he +extended the other, "I tell you that there are not bitterer enemies to +the old country than your government have made me and many like me." + +"I am very sorry for you," I said, seeing the justice of his remarks, +"but you see I cannot help it, so just sit down and mix yourself another +tumbler of grog; we can but make the best of circumstances." + +"I don't want your pity, or that of any of the enemies of America," he +answered proudly. Then he seemed to soften, and he continued in a more +subdued tone, "But you, young gentleman, seem inclined to treat me as a +man should a man, and not as some of your officers have treated us +provincials, so I am thankful, and if the day should come when I can +return your kindness I shall be glad to do so." + +"I only hope that I may not be in your place as a prisoner," said I. + +"To be honest with you," he replied, "if I only had the chance of taking +the sloop from you, I should be right not to let it pass by, though I +have no great hope that it will be offered me." + +"No, I should think not," I answered, laughing. I have often since +thought of the foolish, domineering way in which England and Englishmen +treat their brethren who turn colonists, and shall not be surprised if +she loses one colony after another as she was now doing her American +settlements. The skipper was soon pacified, and we became very good +friends. We were still talking away over our glass of grog, when Nol +Grampus put his head in at the cabin-door. + +"I don't quite like the look of the weather, Mr Hurry," said he. "I +think it's going to breeze up a bit, and the sooner we shorten sail the +better." + +I jumped up and went on deck, when I saw that he was right. We +accordingly at once made all snug. Thick clouds were banking up from +the westward and southward, which soon rushing on like a vast army +sweeping over a devoted country, deluged us with rain, bringing a heavy +breeze, which kicked up no small amount of sea. The wind keeping to the +southward of west we could lay our course, so on we went pitching and +tumbling before it in no very pleasant manner for several days. + +Fortunately the Ranger was well found in every respect, and, proving a +very good sea-boat, showed that the men of Nantucket knew what was the +best economy in the end. She was newly painted, and had sixteen ports, +so that at a distance she had a somewhat formidable appearance; but as +they had no guns to them, though she could grin, she could not even +bark, much less bite. If, therefore, we fell in with an enemy I saw +that, should we not be able to escape by flight, we should in all +probability be captured. I had observed that my friend the skipper had +been in better spirits than at first. He spoke frankly to me, as he did +to the crew, and seemed to be on good terms with everybody. He was +evidently a clever man--full of resources of all sorts--above his +station I should say. He had been brought up as a farmer, and had never +been afloat till within the last six or seven years. He was now no +contemptible sailor. His next move would probably be to some totally +different sphere, where he would take a step higher in the social scale. +Such is the career of many a New Englander. + +I had turned into my berth, after keeping the morning watch some days +after this, when, as I awoke, I saw Tom Rockets moving about in the +cabin. + +"What do you want, Tom?" I asked. + +"Hist, sir," he whispered, "I've just a word to speak to you." + +"Out with it then, my man," I said. + +"It's just about that strange skipper, sir." + +"Well, go on." + +"He's been talking to me, and asking if I wouldn't like to go and settle +in a land of liberty, and make my fortune, and no longer be subject to +be starved and flogged and ill-treated on board of a man-of-war?" + +"And what did you say, Tom?" I asked. + +"I told him just simply like that I belonged to you, that I would follow +wheresoever you went, and that if you thought fit to go and settle in +his country, I'd have no objection to go too." + +"That was right, Tom. If he speaks to you again, give him the same sort +of answer. Don't let him suppose you are offended. Has he spoken with +either of the other men?" + +"With all except Grampus; but I don't think he has made much way with +them. The old man, I fancy, sir, guesses what he's after, and has his +eye on him," answered Tom. + +"All right, then, my lad. Keep your eyes about you, and let me know any +thing you observe, but don't allow the skipper to find out that we +suspect him." + +Tom promised to follow my directions, and I sent him on deck while I +turned out and dressed. I treated Mr Scuttle just as if he were not +plotting against me, for forewarned, I felt myself fore-armed, and had +no fear that he could do me any harm. + +That day the wind fell considerably and we again had fair weather. The +next morning, while I was at breakfast, old Nol hailed down the +sky-light-- + +"Would you just come on deck for a moment, sir?" said he. + +"What is it?" I asked. + +"There's a sail away to the south-west, and I don't quite like the looks +of her," answered the old man. + +I jumped on deck in a moment. I was not long in making out a brig under +all sail holding the same course we were on. As I took the glass from +my eye I found Scuttle standing by my side. + +"What do you think of her?" I asked. + +"Maybe she's a whaler, or maybe a sealer, or a merchantman from one of +the provincial ports, or maybe a transport with British red-coats +aboard; but, Mr Hurry, it requires a man with a longer sight than I've +got to tell just now what she is," said the skipper, in the long +drawling tone of a New Englander. + +I thought that there was something ironical in his tone as he spoke, and +that he more than probably knew perfectly well all about the stranger. + +"Whatever she may be," I answered, "I'll show her my heels. Make all +sail, Grampus." + +"Ay, ay, sir," he replied; and in a short time, the skipper pulling and +hauling with as good a will as the rest, we had every stitch of canvas +packed on the sloop which she could carry. I fancied, however, that the +skipper gave a knowing look at me as he went forward, as much as to say, +"You may make all the sail you like, but it won't do." At all events, I +soon found that the Ranger, though a very good sea boat, was a tub in +regard to sailing, under-rigged especially, as she was, for greater +convenience in handling. + +The stranger was walking up to us fast. As the morning sun fell on her +sails they appeared to me very white, and to have a wide spread, and I +began to hope that she might prove an English man-of-war brig. Another +two hours, however, banished any such hopes, and I was convinced, on +looking at Jotham Scuttle's countenance, that she was likely to prove +his friend, but my enemy. + +"What do you think of her now, Mr Scuttle?" I asked. + +"She's a brig," he answered innocently. + +"Anyone can see that with half an eye," said I; "but what is she? Where +does she hail from?" + +"Well, then, maybe she hails from a provincial port," he answered +slowly. "I should not be very much surprised, too, if she carries +guns." + +"A rebel privateer or pirate, in fact," said I. + +"An American privateer, if you please, sir, I have no doubt she is," he +replied; "in two or three hours, I guess, you will find it safer to call +her so, at all events." + +"Well, well, we will see about that," I remarked, laughing at his +coolness, though I began to entertain no slight apprehension that I was +about to lose my prize and to become a prisoner into the bargain. + +"They've got their new-fangled flag a-flying from their peak, sir," said +Grampus, stepping up. + +On looking through my glass I made out the star-and-stripe covered +ensign, just then begun to be carried by provincial vessels, flying out +proudly from her gaff end; while several ports at her side left me no +longer in doubt that she was an enemy most devoutly to be wished away. +Do everything I could, however, to increase the speed of the Ranger, she +rapidly came up with us. Still it was not in my nature to give in while +a chance remained of escape. Some man-of-war might heave in sight, or +some other craft the privateer might think more worthy of chasing; or we +might keep ahead till darkness came to my help. The chances were, +however, very small in my favour, and Mr Scuttle could not help showing +his satisfaction at the prospect of the probable change in our fortunes. +I went aloft and swept the horizon with my glass in every direction, +but not a sail appeared in sight. The breeze held steady, and indeed +seemed rather inclined to increase than fall. My heart sank lower than +it had ever done before. In another hour my people and I would be +prisoners, and Mr Jotham Scuttle would be offering me his +commiseration. He was speaking to my two men; doubtless telling them +they had nothing to fear. I felt a very strong inclination at the +moment to pitch him overboard; I wanted some one on whom to vent my +vexation. Poor man! however, there was in reality much to admire in +him. In another half hour the game would be up. Suddenly a bright idea +occurred to me. I had often seen a poor silly creature followed by a +troop of urchins hallooing at his heels and mocking him with their +thoughtless jests, when he would turn round with clenched fists and +grinning lips, and they would take to an ignominious flight. I would +try the effect of a similar trick. Descending on deck, I ordered +Grampus to get lines fastened to all the ports, so that they might be +lifted at once. As soon as the arrangement was made I put the sloop +about, and at the same moment, suddenly lifting all our ports--of which, +as I have said, we had eight on a side--under all sail, I stood boldly +down towards the enemy. Still she stood on, and my heart began to quake +for the success of my manoeuvre. + +"It can't be helped, sir, I fear," said Grampus. "We are in for it." + +"No, no," I exclaimed, with a shout of joy. "It's all right. Hurrah, +my lads!" The brig had taken in her studden-sails and was standing away +from us, close-hauled on a wind. I was so eagerly watching her that I +did not see what had become of friend Scuttle. I was aroused by a cry +from Tom Rockets. + +"Just you come down, master!" he exclaimed. + +I looked up and caught sight of the skipper and his boy going aloft with +knives in their hands. Their intention was obvious. It was to cut the +halliards, and by letting the sails come down by the run, call the +attention of the brig to our true condition, and thus bring her back to +our capture. Tom had got hold of the boy's leg, and I thought would +have jerked him overboard. Grampus in a moment was after the master, +and before he had reached the cross-trees had hold of him, and, +wrenching the knife from his hand, had hove it overboard. Whatever were +the thoughts and intentions of my two other men, they did not show any +inclination to side with the skipper. He began to show fight and to +kick and struggle not a little, but Grampus had held on with his teeth +in too many a gale while close-reefing top-sails, not to be able to gain +the mastery. With threats and very significant signs that he would +heave him overboard, he at length forced him down on deck. + +"Now," said I, "Mr Scuttle, I should be justified in pistolling you on +the spot for the pretty trick you purposed playing me. But I will not +injure you. You gave me warning, I remember, what you would do, so, as +I believe you to be a man of honour, pass me your word that you will +attempt no further treachery and I will not injure you. Otherwise, for +my own safety, I must clap you in limbo, and shoot you the moment I find +you again at any such game." + +"It's very, very hard," he answered, folding his arms on his bosom and +looking wistfully at the brig, which still held her course away from us, +"to have thought that I should get back my vessel and see my family +again in a few days perhaps, and now to have all my hopes rudely swept +away from me! It's hard--very, very hard!" + +I really pitied the poor man and would on no account have injured him, +could I have avoided it. + +"Well, Mr Hurry, luck's against me," he said at length. "In all things +regarding the navigation of the vessel, I'll obey you faithfully till we +reach Halifax. Then you have nothing more to fear from me." + +I was sure that I could trust him. "Then," said I, "go about your duty, +and I will take no notice of what has passed." + +Grampus, Tom, and I cheered lustily as we saw the brig continuing to +stand away from us, and the men joined us, though I suspect the fellows +did not care much about the matter. It was getting towards evening. I +longed for darkness, for I never felt so anxious in my life. I was +afraid every moment that the people of the brig might gain courage and +turn round upon us. If so, we should be worse off than ever, as we +should not have a chance of escaping. Friend Scuttle eyed the brig as +anxiously as I did, though with very different wishes. Still we held +on, looking, I doubt not, very fierce, and the privateer's men must have +been no less anxious to get away from us than we were from them. At +length evening approached, and never did I see the sun set with so much +satisfaction. Gradually the shades of night crept over the ocean, and I +drew a long breath as the brig was lost to our sight in the thickening +gloom. As soon as I was certain that we could not possibly be seen, I +ordered the sloop to be kept away, and once more made all sail to the +northward, altering my course a few points from that I had been steering +when first seen by the brig, lest she should by any chance be looking +after us in the morning. Probably the privateer's men were +congratulating themselves at thus easily escaping from us. As I gave +vent to my feelings in a hearty cheer the poor skipper exhibited his in +a deep groan, and then, having assisted in making sail, turned in to try +and forget his sorrows in sleep. The weather continued fine till the +7th of the month, when I made the land about five leagues to the +westward of Halifax harbour. Soon after this the wind fell and we had a +stark calm. By Mr Scuttle's advice I fitted a couple of fishing-lines, +and in the course of an hour, with those two lines alone, caught one +hundred and twenty-four very fine cod. They proved a welcome addition +to our usual salt-meat fare. Those we could not eat fresh we split open +and dried in the sun, and they thus served us for food for several days. + +"What do you think of the weather now, Grampus?" said I, after we had +been fishing for some time. + +"I don't like its looks at all, sir," he replied. "This is a ticklish +coast at all times, and one never knows what's coming." + +"If you had asked me, I could have told you that we are going to have +wind, and fully enough of it," observed Mr Scuttle. + +He had got into a mighty free-and-easy style of talking of late. He was +perfectly right, though in addition to the wind, which sprung up +immediately afterwards, we got a thick fog, which totally obscured the +land. I steered a course, however, which I hoped would carry us to the +harbour's mouth. We ran on for some time and then hove-to, that we +might sound. We had still plenty of water, so I stood on again. At +last the fog lifted a little, when to my very great disgust I found that +we had run three leagues past the mouth of the harbour. We endeavoured +to tack back, but before morning a heavy gale of wind sprung up directly +off shore. It was impossible to beat up against it, so I stood to the +eastward all that day and night, under a try-sail and storm-jib. During +this time the gale showed no signs of abating. It was a good trial to +our tempers, at all events. Grampus vowed that there was some old witch +in Halifax who must have taken a spite to us and was resolved to keep us +out of the harbour as long as she could. He was devising all sorts of +plans for exorcising her, but none seemed likely to prove satisfactory. +In the morning, the weather moderating a little, I stood to the westward +under close-reefed mainsail and double-reefed foresail, and by the +evening reached at length the mouth of the harbour. "There's many a +slip between the cup and the lip." We were congratulating ourselves on +getting all snug at night, when once more the wind breezed up with a +thickish fog, and as we were then in only forty fathoms of water I was +obliged again to run to sea. The bad weather kept me, as well as all +the people, on deck, for not knowing what might occur no one could +venture to go below. Some time before daylight I once more hauled my +wind and beat up towards the land. By the evening of the 10th we were +again in with Jabucta Head. We then got soundings on a reef of rocks in +eight fathoms water, but so worn out was I and everybody on board that I +ordered the anchor to be let go, that we might turn in and get some +rest. I fully expected to lose my anchor and cable, but when I came to +weigh at daylight the next morning I was fortunate enough to save them +both. I now fully expected to get safe into harbour, but as I was +standing up Major's Reach I saw a Falmouth packet coming down. The +temptation of speaking her and sending a message home was too great to +be resisted, so I stood over towards her. As the sloop was going about +she missed stays near a dangerous reef, and to prevent her driving on +the rocks it was necessary to be quick in wearing. In doing this the +boom came over with the whole main-sheet eased off, and carried it away +in six different places. This accident compelled me to run from the +narrow channel and lost me the opportunity of speaking the packet. Once +more making sail, and the wind favouring me, I got as high as George's +Island, when a sudden squall split my mainsail. This compelled me to +bring up. Manning a boat, I pulled up to Halifax to look out for the +prize agent, into whose hands I was to deliver the sloop. + +I parted on the best of terms with Mr Jotham Scuttle. He hoped to find +some friends in Halifax who would advance him money to enable him to buy +back the Ranger. + +"If ever you come to Nantucket," said he, "ask for me, and if I'm on +shore there's no one will give you a more hearty welcome." + +I promised that I would not forget his kind invitation, and, after a +hearty shaking of hands, I saw no more of him. + +I found the whole town in a state of great commotion, as the immense +fleet there collected, of men-of-war and transports, with a large army +on board, were on the point of sailing, it was said, on an expedition +which would effectually crush the rebels and bring the American +provinces once more into complete subjection. That I might not be left +behind I immediately reported myself to my Lord Shouldham. His lordship +ordered me at once to come on board the Chatham, with my people. I very +speedily returned to the Ranger and again got back to the Chatham. I +was, however, rather ashamed of my outfit, as it was not very +appropriate to the atmosphere of a flag-ship, consisting, as it did, of +one old uniform suit, four shirts, and a very few etceteras. + +The fleet, I found, was bound for the projected attack on New York. It +consisted of his Majesty's ships Chatham, Rear-Admiral Shouldham, of the +White--she had on board General Lord Percy, General Pigot, and other +officers of rank--the Centurion, the Greyhound, which had on board +General Sir William Howe, the Commander-in-Chief, and brother to Admiral +Lord Howe, the Rose, Senegal, and Merlin, sloops of war, and nearly two +hundred sail of transports. + +Two hours after I got on board the whole fleet of men-of-war and +transports made sail for their destination. It was understood that we +were to be joined at New York by Admiral Lord Howe, who was on his way +out from England. He was to take command of the fleet, while his +brother, the general, had command of the army. The two together were to +act as commissioners to treat with the rebels, and, by showing them the +overpowering force marshalled against them, to endeavour to bring them +to terms. Although the rebels had been for so long able successfully to +set the king's forces at defiance, there were a considerable number of +people throughout the country who still remained loyal to their +sovereign, known generally under the designation of Tories, and it was +supposed that they would materially aid both in putting down the +rebellion and in winning back the inhabitants to their allegiance. The +rebel army, under the immediate command of General Washington, held New +York and Long Island opposite to it, as well as the adjacent country. I +believe I knew the particulars I speak of at the time: if not I learnt +them soon afterwards. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note 1. Father of the late Admiral Sir William Symonds, and of the late +Admiral Thomas Symonds. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note 2. General Howe was the brother of Admiral Lord Howe. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +THE FLEET AT SEA.--TROOPS LANDED.--ALL HOPE OF PEACE ABANDONED.--SPIES +EXECUTED.--BOATS SENT TO WATCH FIRE-SHIPS.--REJOIN ORPHEUS.--LAND +MASTERS OF MERCHANTMEN.--FALL IN WITH REBEL REGIMENT.--ATTACK FORT ON +SULLIVAN'S ISLAND.--HEAVY LOSS.--WITNESS ATTACK ON BROOKLYN.--DREADFUL +SLAUGHTER.--RUN PAST BATTERIES IN EAST RIVER.--TRYING TIME.--DEATH OF AN +OLD FRIEND.--SHIPS CANNONADED. + +Far as the eye could reach the white sails of the men-of-war and +transports dotted the blue waters of the Atlantic, as with a light +though favourable breeze the fleet steered a course for New York. We +might have been excused, as we scanned with pride the vast armament--the +ships, their crews, and the troops in prime order and amply supplied +with all the munitions of war, under the command of the most experienced +leaders England could send forth--if we believed firmly that victory was +destined to sit proudly on our standards. Here and there a man-of-war +might be seen in the far distance, like a sheep-dog on the heels of the +flock, firing a gun now, on this side now on that, to hint to any +laggers along the transports to make more sail, but generally the fleet +kept well together. On the 13th the Greyhound, with General Howe on +board, parted company, to hasten on, it was supposed, to make +arrangements with Governor Tryon and other royalists in the +neighbourhood of New York about the landing the troops, and did not +return to the fleet. It was not till the 2nd, after a prosperous +voyage, that we reached Sandy Hook, at the mouth of Baritan Day, to the +southward of the narrow entrance of New York harbour, where we found at +anchor his Majesty's ship Phoenix and several sail of merchantmen. At +noon on the 4th the signal was given for the whole fleet to weigh. It +was a beautiful sight. The sky was blue, the sun bright, and the water +calm and clear. To the southward, across the yellow glittering shore of +Sandy Hook, arose the bold highlands of Neversink; on the larboard bow +was Staten Island, with green fields, feathery woods, and sloping hills, +sprinkled with numerous country houses and villas, built mostly by the +old Dutch settlers, peeping from among the trees. Ahead were the +Narrows--such is the appropriate name given to the channel leading to +New York--while more to the right stretched away, till lost in distance +to the north-east, the low sandy coast of Long Island, with a fringe of +dark forest appearing on the summit of its centre ridge like the +bristles on the back of a wild boar. The Chatham was the first ship to +make sail, and the master received orders to steer through the rest of +the fleet. It was truly a fine sight, as the admiral and the generals, +with their brilliant staffs in rich uniforms, and the officers of the +ships stood crowding on the decks, with bands playing joyous and +inspiriting tunes while we sailed onward, the crews and troops on board +that numerous squadron cheering lustily, their hearts beating with +martial ardour under the belief that we were advancing to the immediate +attack and certain conquest of New York. All necessary preparations +were made on our passage up for landing, but as we approached the +entrance of the harbour some change seemed to be contemplated in the +arrangements, and at sunset, instead of entering the Narrows, the signal +was made for the fleet to anchor in Gravesend Day at the south-west end +of Long Island. I was anxious to fall in with the Orpheus, once more to +get on board her, for with my scanty stock of clothing I was far from +comfortable in the flag-ship. She was, however, away on a cruise and +might not possibly return for some time. However, I thereby saw and +heard more of the general proceedings than I should otherwise have done. +We learned soon afterwards that on this very day, the 4th of July, +1776, thirteen British colonies in America had declared themselves free +and independent States, abjuring all allegiance to the British Crown, +and renouncing all political connexion with the mother country. This +declaration was issued by the celebrated Congress, organised by Dr +Franklin and other provincial leaders, consisting of representatives +from the above-mentioned States who assembled at Philadelphia. The +resolution was passed on the 2nd, but it was not till the day I speak +of, the 4th, that the document entitled the Declaration of Independence +was adopted by the Congress and published to the people. It was the +fatal blow which severed for ever that vast territory from Great +Britain. The reasons for our anchoring and the troops not being landed +were known only to the commanders-in-chief. + +At daylight on the 5th the signal was made for the whole fleet to weigh. +At this time, it must be understood, the rebels held the shore of Long +Island on our starboard hand in considerable force, and there were +bodies of them on Staten Island on the larboard hand, which forms the +southern side of the harbour. It was a fine sight to see the fleet, the +Phoenix, Rose, and Senegal leading, standing for the channel of the +Narrows; but our hopes of entering into action were again disappointed +in consequence of the wind falling away and compelling us to anchor. At +four o'clock in the afternoon, however, once more the signal was made to +weigh, the flat-bottomed boats destined to land the troops were manned, +and in the same order as before we proceeded onwards. The moment we +entered the Narrows the rebels opened fire on us from field-pieces and +small arms, but without doing us much injury, but very few men on board +any of the ships being killed. By seven o'clock we had dropped anchor +close in with the north shore of Staten Island, and were actively +engaged in landing the troops. So rapid and unexpected had been our +movements at the last that a body of the enemy, to the number of nearly +three hundred men, were unable to escape and were taken prisoners by the +first division of Grenadiers who landed. The army at once encamped, and +it was difficult to say what great movement would next take place. We +found ourselves, however, at once engaged in active warfare on a small +scale, for the enemy were by no means idle and the troops had frequent +skirmishes with them. The navy also had work enough to do, and of a +very harassing nature. Frequently I had to spend the whole of the night +in a guard-boat keeping watch on the movements of the enemy, especially +looking out for the approach of fire-ships, which, it was reported, they +were about to send down in the hopes of destroying the fleet. In the +day-time we were employed in carrying about troops and throwing them on +shore in different directions, to harass and distract the enemy, so that +they might be less prepared when the real attack upon them was made. On +the 12th of July the signal was made for the Phoenix, Rose, and Tryall +to get under weigh, and the wind being favourable, they stood up boldly +towards the mouth of the Hudson. It was an exploit of no slight danger +and difficulty, and was watched by all on board the fleet with +breathless interest. As they got within reach the batteries of Red +Hook, Powles Hook, and the garrison of New York opened an incessant and +heavy fire on them, which was warmly returned by the ships. General +Washington and his army must have looked with no little vexation, if not +dismay, on the success of the attempt, as it exposed the shores of the +Hudson at unexpected points to our attacks, and Captain Wallace of the +Rose was well known for the annoyance he had been causing the +inhabitants of the New England coast since the commencement of the +outbreak. + +On the day of this occurrence a salute from each of the ships-of-war +gave notice that Lord Viscount Howe had arrived. He superseded Lord +Shouldham as commander-in-chief. He had come out from England expecting +to join his brother, the general, at Halifax, but finding that he had +sailed from thence had followed him here. At first it was supposed that +warlike operations would be pushed on with vigour, but soon it was +reported that conciliatory measures were to be the order of the day, and +the general and admiral lost no time in communicating with General +Washington, Dr Franklin, and other leaders of the rebels, in the hopes +of bringing them to terms. + +Officers were sent with flags of truce, who were met by the Americans +each time in a barge half-way between Governor's Island and Staten +Island. Governor's Island is a small island in the centre of the +channel between Brooklyn and New York. They were conducted with every +mark of courtesy to the American generals, but the rebels had already +committed themselves too far to allow them to accept of any terms the +British Commissioners had it in their power to offer. The Declaration +of Independence had for ever, indeed, cut the last link which bound the +colonies to England, and though henceforward they might be reconciled, +it was clear that it must be in the character of separate States. It +was reported on board that the admiral had addressed a letter to General +Washington as simply to George Washington, Esquire, and that the +American commander-in-chief refused to receive it, on the ground that he +was at the head of a regularly constituted army and could only receive +communications under his proper title of general. Those who knew +General Washington, as I afterwards had the means of doing, were aware +that this was not owing to pride or ostentation, but from the importance +in the critical position in which he was placed of keeping up his +character and of asserting the legality of the cause in which he was +engaged. Whatever might have been then said of that truly great man, +ample justice will be done him in after ages, I am sure, among all ranks +and classes of opinion. However, as I do not profess to write a history +of the events of the war or of the public characters engaged in it, I +will return to my own private journal. + +The Americans had for some time past, as I have mentioned, been +preparing fire-ships. This we knew from our spies. We had a number of +them on shore, or rather, there were a number of royalists who, having +no wish to join the rebellion, were ready by every means in their power +to aid in putting it down. A considerable number of these had been +removed by the rebel authorities, both from Long Island and the adjacent +districts, into the interior. Many were imprisoned, and some few who +had been discovered communicating with our party were executed as spies. +Even among the very men who were about Washington himself some were +found not true to him, and it was reported that plots had been laid, if +not against his life, at all events against his liberty, so that it +would not have surprised us had he been brought on board a prisoner. +But to return to the subject of the fire-ships. On the night of the +10th of August I had been put in charge of one of the squadron of boats +always held in readiness to repel any attack from those dangerous +engines of warfare. It had just gone four-bells in the first watch, the +night was cloudy though it was calm and sultry, when the Eagle, Captain +Duncan, made the signal that the enemy's fire-ships were approaching. +The officer in command of our boat squadron repeated the signal. "Give +way, my lads, give way?" he shouted, and away we all pulled up the +harbour. It was necessary to be silent and cautious in the extreme, +however, as soon as we had quitted the fleet. We made the best of our +way, for time might be of importance. The night was very dark, the +water was smooth and the foam which bubbled up at our bows of the boats +and fell in showers from the blades of our oars sparkled brilliantly, as +if composed of grains of burnished gold. + +Ahead of us lay the devoted city against which our arms were soon to be +turned, and from whose neighbourhood we expected every instant to see +the fire-ships issue forth. At length the order was passed from boat to +boat that we should lay on our oars to await the expected event. Hour +after hour, however, went by. Now there was an alarm that some dark +bodies were seen moving down towards us, but no vessels made their +appearance, and at last the near approach of dawn warned us that it was +time to pull back to our ships to escape an attack by the enemy. We of +course kept a look-out astern, to be certain that the fire-ships were +not following us, and then lay on our oars again in the neighbourhood of +the fleet. Either the alarm was a false one or the rebels, aware of our +preparations, saw that it would be useless to send out the fire-ships. + +This was the last night I was thus engaged, for on the 13th of August, +to my very great satisfaction, my eyes fell on the Orpheus standing up +the harbour and taking up her berth among the fleet. I did not, +however, get my discharge from the Chatham till the following day, when, +accompanied by old Grampus, Tom Rockets, and my two other men, I lost no +time in pulling on board, after an absence of ten weeks. I was warmly +greeted by my messmates, and we each had our adventures to recount. She +had taken seven prizes, most of which she brought in with her. Poor +Lee, the surgeon's second mate, was, they told me, at the point of +death. His constitution was unfit to cope with the hard life to which +he was exposed in the navy. He died soon afterwards, and on the morning +of the 16th we carried him on shore on Staten Island, where he rests in +an unknown grave in the land of the stranger. + +The same day we sailed and steered a course for Cape May, with, the +intention of proceeding up the Delaware river to Philadelphia. My +account of the way in which I had frightened off the privateer highly +delighted my shipmates, and Captain Hudson was pleased to approve of my +conduct. We had on board forty masters of merchantmen which had been +captured by the different ships-of-war. They were mostly very decent +men, some of them not unlike my friend Mr Scuttle. We treated them +with every kindness and attention in our power. On the 24th we arrived +off Cape Henlopen, opposite Cape May, at the entrance of Delaware Bay. +Here we hove-to, and Captain Hudson ordered me to go on shore with a +flag of truce, to land the masters of the merchantmen. + +As we neared the shore I observed a body of men drawn up as if prepared +to receive me. They were military, but had it not been for fear of +hurting the feelings of the people who were with me, I could have thrown +myself back in the stern sheets and enjoyed a hearty fit of laughter. +Not two were armed or dressed alike. Some had high-boots, others shoes, +many had on moccasins, and not a few jack-boots; several had their legs +encased in hay-bands; hats of all shapes and sizes graced their heads. +Cocked hats and round hats and caps, and Spanish hats, and helmets even +were not uncommon. Some wore breeches of truly Dutch build, others of +as scanty dimensions as could cover them--some had trousers, and others +scarcely any covering to that portion of their persons. Their coats +were of every colour, shape, and size. Green and blue and brown and +grey; some were of red, though not a little soiled, being evidently of +ancient date, while there were long coats and great coats and short +coats and spencers and cloaks; indeed, every species of covering +invented to hide the nakedness of the human body. While the men +themselves were tall and short and thin and stout and straight and +crooked. No one had been refused admission into the corps. Their arms +were as various in construction as their costumes. There were muskets +and rifles and pikes and matchlocks, and pistols which had been used at +Culloden, and some even, I fancy, in the civil war of the Commonwealth, +while a few even had contented themselves with pitchforks, scythes, and +reaping-hooks. The officers were as independent as to uniformity as the +men, and not less picturesque, though more comfortably dressed. Each +man had exercised his own taste in his endeavour to give himself a +military appearance, though I must say they had most lamentably failed +in the result. I honestly confess, as I was speaking to them, that I +was forcibly reminded of the appearance my old shipmates and I cut when +we first presented ourselves on board the Torbay at the commencement of +my naval career. + +My orders were to land the prisoners and to return to the ship as soon +as possible. I had therefore time only to exchange a few words with the +officers, who were inclined to be very civil, and when the masters of +the vessels told them how they had been treated on board the Orpheus +they were still more disposed to be friendly. At that time the bitter +feeling against Great Britain, which it must be owned she brought on +herself by her injustice and dictatorial conduct, had not then been so +universally stirred up. + +"Now, my lads," shouted the commander of the party as I was stepping +into my boat, "that young officer is a good fellow so let us give him +three cheers." + +"Hip, hip, hip, hurrah!" broke from the throats of all the regiment in +good hearty style. + +I turned round as I was shoving off and bowed and waved my hat, and I +parted on the most amiable terms from those heroes, so like the ragged +regiment headed by the redoubtable Sir John Falstaff. + +We had great fun on board as I described them--Frank Mercer alone looked +grave. + +"Does it not strike you," said he, "that the very fact of the want of +uniformity in their outward man shows the unanimity of sentiment which +pervades them and makes them flock round the standard of liberty to +defend their rights as freemen, regardless of outward appearance? Those +poor fellows, though doubtless very inferior to regular troops, would +not shed their blood less willingly or behave less bravely in the face +of an enemy." + +"Oh, you are a rebel, Mercer, you are a rebel!" we all shouted; "don't +talk treason here." + +"I only talk truth," answered Mercer gravely. + +Since then I have been much inclined to agree with him. + +We had a speedy voyage back, without taking a prize, and reached New +York harbour on the 27th of August. A considerable number of +ships-of-war and transports had arrived during our absence, having on +board large reinforcements. Among them were a large body of Hessian +troops, who had been hired from the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel and the +Duke of Brunswick, especially to put down the American rebellion. They +were well disciplined, but fierce, ruthless troops, who murdered and +plundered without hesitation whenever they had the opportunity, and were +naturally dreaded and hated by the enemy. Besides the troops which had +come from Europe, a large body of men had arrived from the South, under +the command of Sir Henry Clinton, who, in conjunction with Sir Peter +Parker, had retired from an unsuccessful attempt to capture Charleston, +in South Carolina, which, after the evacuation of Boston, it was +considered important to occupy. I afterwards served under Sir Peter +Parker and heard all the particulars, some of which I now introduce to +make my brief account of the contest more complete. + +At the entrance of Charleston harbour, on the right hand, is Sullivan's +Island, about six miles below the city. To the east of Sullivan's +Island is Long Island, from which it is separated by a creek called the +Breach. On the south-west point of Sullivan's Island was a strong fort, +though composed only of earth and palmetto wood. As palmetto wood is +soft and does not splinter, it was especially suited for the purpose. +The squadron, under Sir Peter Parker, consisted of the Bristol, +Experiment, Active, Solebay, Actaeon, Syren, and other smaller craft. +While Sir Henry Clinton landed his troops on Long Island Sir Peter +undertook to attack the fort, which was commanded by Colonel Moultrie. +General Lee, however, with a large force, had by rapid marches advanced +to the protection of the city. The Thunder-bomb began the action, +during which the Sphinx, Syren, and Actaeon ran foul of each other and +got on shore. The two first hauled off, but the Actaeon remained, and +was ultimately abandoned and burned. The fire was most tremendous and +deadly on both sides, but the British suffered the most; indeed, seldom +have ships been exposed to a more terrific battering, or stood it with +greater heroism and perseverance. On board that small squadron there +were no less than sixty-four men killed and one hundred and forty-three +wounded. At one time on the deck of the Bristol Sir Peter himself, +amidst the deadly shower, alone stood unhurt. Captain Morris, of the +Actaeon, was killed, as was Lord Campbell, late governor of the +province, serving as a volunteer on board. Captain Scott, of the +Experiment, lost his arm. The Bristol was completely unrigged; her guns +were dismounted and her top-masts shot away. In vain Sir Peter looked +for the assistance he expected from Sir Henry. Each time the troops +attempted to cross from Long Island they were foiled by the bold front +presented by a body of Americans with artillery. At length, the carnage +growing more appalling than ever, and their hope of success diminishing, +Sir Peter ordered them to make their way out of action. This event took +place on the 28th of June. Other unsuccessful attempts were made to +capture the fort, and in a few days the troops were re-embarked and the +squadron came northward. I did not hear that the Phoenix, Rose, and +Tryall did much execution up the Hudson. They had some encounters with +the enemy's row-boats and exchanged shots occasionally with the troops +on shore; while they had constantly to be on the watch at night to +prevent the attack of fire-ships; but their chief object was evidently +to survey the river, to enable the fleet to proceed upwards if +necessary. As the river is very broad, in many places expanding into +almost lakes, they were able to anchor at all times out of gun shot +distance. Having accomplished their object, they left the river on the +18th, exchanging a brisk fire with the forts in their passage. + +I must now give a sketch of one of the most sanguinary encounters it has +ever been my lot to witness, and which, had we arrived a day later, I +should have missed seeing. + +People in England were apt to fancy that the rebels were officered by a +set of planters or merchants, and to treat them accordingly with +superciliousness and contempt, instead of which, besides General +Washington, there were many who had been engaged from their youth upward +in border warfare, not only with Indians, but with the disciplined +troops of France. Many had aided in the conquest of Canada, while +others had served in the armies of England and other European powers, +and had experience equal to those to whom they were opposed, wanting +only titular or official rank; while all were better acquainted with the +country and were animated with the warmest patriotism and belief in the +justice of their cause. Their great deficiency was in the discipline of +their men, who, though not wanting in bravery, had but little discretion +and no experience in general, while the subaltern officers were +destitute also of the same necessary qualities. Some of their +regiments, however, had been brought into very fair discipline, and were +well officered. The great fault of the British, I must remark, as I +shall have frequently to do, was over-confidence and a contempt of the +foe with whom they were contending. On the present occasion, however, +no imputation of that sort could be cast on the British commanders. The +main body of the Americans were entrenched in a strong position at +Brooklyn, at the end of Long Island, directly opposite New York, from +which it is divided by a strait about three quarters of a mile in width, +called East River. Directly down the centre of the island is a ridge of +rocky hills, covered with wood. Across these hills were three roads +leading from the side of the island, opposite Staten Island, where our +troops would naturally land. These three passes were held by different +bodies of American troops. The whole American force was under the +command of General Putnam, though it was said Washington himself +frequently crossed from New York to aid in the defence of the position. +Previous to the 27th a large portion of our army, including two brigades +of Hessians, had crossed over from Staten Island, and, landing between +Gravesend and Flatland, some of them encamped in that neighbourhood, +while the Hessians pushed on to a place called Flatbush. On the evening +of the 26th the whole army advanced, Sir Henry Clinton leading the light +infantry, Lord Percy following with the grenadiers, flying artillery, +and light dragoons, while Lord Cornwallis, accompanied by Lord Howe, +brought up the rear-guard with the heavy ordnance. About two hours +before daybreak they arrived at the neighbourhood of the hills, when +they discovered that the pass to the east, called the Bedford Pass, was +unoccupied. He at once led his division through it, and thus turned the +left of the American position. In the meantime General Grant had +advanced with another division from Gravesend past Gowanus Cowe, on the +road by the Narrows towards the right of the American position. As soon +as it was daylight he formed his troops directly opposite the enemy, +where he waited to hear that Sir Henry had commenced the attack. +General De Heister, who commanded the Hessians, had kept up a hot fire +with his artillery on a redoubt in front of the lines from his camp at +Flatbush, which he ultimately stormed, while Lord Cornwallis, advancing +on the centre, was bravely opposed by Lord Stirling who had taken up +arms on the side of the Americans. One of our ships was all the time +discharging a heavy cannonade on the battery at Red Hook, near which we +also were brought up to join in the action had it been necessary, and +whence from the maintop, where I with others had gone, I had a tolerably +perfect view of many of the proceedings. Hemmed in on all sides, as I +have described, and pressed on by overwhelming numbers of disciplined +troops, the Americans, after a desperate and brave resistance, at length +gave way, and then commenced a most indiscriminate and dreadful +slaughter. They were cut down and trampled on by the cavalry, bayoneted +by the savage Hessians, and torn in pieces by the artillery. Some +rallied for a time and defended themselves with their rifles, behind +rocks and trees, and at length, by a desperate effort, cut their way +through their foes to the lines. Lord Stirling, who had fought bravely +throughout the day, surrendered himself as a prisoner to General De +Heister, two hundred and fifty of the brave fellows he had led lying +dead around him. General Sullivan and several other officers were +taken, endeavouring to cover the retreat of their troops. The enemy in +all lost in killed alone full fifteen hundred men besides others who +were smothered in the mud as they were endeavouring to escape from the +Hessian bayonets. These, with wounded and prisoners, made up their loss +to nearly three thousand men out of scarcely more than five thousand +engaged. + +It is a dreadful sight to witness slaughter such as this was, when one's +blood is cold and one sits a mere spectator of the fight. I felt all +the time more inclined to side with the poor Americans as they were +flying from our victorious troops than to wish for the success of the +latter. I heard a deep groan near me as I was seated in the maintop. I +looked round. It was Frank Mercer. He was as pale as death. I thought +he would have fallen on deck. At times he would shade his eyes with his +hand, and then again he would gaze earnestly at the dreadful sight as if +unable to resist its horrid fascination. Of course I have not described +half the events of the day. + +The Americans retreated within their lines and the British troops +advanced close up to them. It was supposed that General Howe would give +the order to storm the works. Had he done so at once they would +certainly have been taken, and though with some considerable loss of +life, it might have prevented much subsequent greater loss. However, it +appeared that he had resolved to attack the lines by regular approaches. +General Washington, seeing the inevitable result, made a masterly +retreat with the whole garrison across the sound to New York during the +night, favoured by calm weather and a thick fog. Notice was brought in +the morning to General Howe of what had occurred, and when one of his +aides-de-camp, who was sent to ascertain the fact, climbed over the +crest of the works he found them of a truth deserted. The next day no +less than thirteen hundred Americans were buried in one large pit, while +many more had been lost in the creek and swamp near the lines. + +It was the general opinion, both in the camp and fleet, that had the +army at once been pushed forward, a speedy and happy conclusion would +have been brought to the war. There were all sorts of reports current. +Among them it was said that the city was about to be abandoned and burnt +to the ground, to prevent our troops occupying it for the winter. This +proceeding, however, the inhabitants strongly opposed, as all their +property would thereby have been destroyed. I must not delay the +progress of my narrative to mention the various reports of all sorts +which were flying about. + +On the 30th we again put to sea, Captain Hudson having under his command +the Niger and Greyhound frigates. We cruised off Sandy Hook without +meeting with any occurrence worth noting till the 3rd of September, when +we returned to Sandy Hook. Here we received orders once more to proceed +to sea, to look out for a fleet of transports, with a division of +Hessians on board, daily expected from Europe, under convoy of the +Repulse. We fortunately fell in with them on the following morning, and +returned in their company to Gravesend Day. + +On the 8th we moved up to Staten Island, and we began to hope that we at +length might be engaged in some more active service than we had hitherto +seen. + +"Have you heard the news?" exclaimed Delisle two days afterwards, as I +came on deck for the first time that morning. + +I inquired what it was. + +"We are to move up at once opposite New York and to prepare the ship for +running past the batteries up the East River." + +"Hurra! the hotter the better; anything better than stagnation!" I +exclaimed. + +"Mercer, have you made your will?" asked Kennedy, as the two met each +other near us. + +"Yes, Kennedy, I have," answered Mercer gravely. "It may not be to-day +or to-morrow that it will come into force, but it may before long, and I +wish that those I may not help living may benefit by my death." + +Kennedy had nothing to reply to this; Mercer's solemn manner silenced +him. + +"What does Mercer mean? Does he think he is going to be killed?" asked +little Harry Sumner, who was standing by. + +"It may be the lot of anyone of us, my boy," said I. "Though I hope the +enemy's shot won't find you out at all events." + +"I hope not indeed," replied Harry. "I should like to go home and +describe all the places I have seen and the things we have done." + +As I looked at our young pet I felt how hard a thing it was that so +small a lad should be exposed to all the vicissitudes of warfare. + +Macallan had overheard us. "It's my opinion that Mercer has seen his +wraith," he remarked sententiously. "There's a grave, dour look about +his pale countenance which a man who is long for this world never +wears." + +We all agreed that there was too much truth about the doctor's +observation, though we trusted he might be mistaken. I have heard many +conversations of this sort, and many of my shipmates and others whom I +have known have had presentiments of their approaching death. Some have +been killed on the occasion they expected, while others who appeared +equally certain of being summoned away have come out of action without +scratch. Others, again, whom I have seen laughing and jesting as if +they had a long lease of life before them, have, within a few hours +perhaps, been stretched lifeless on the deck. I have come to the +conclusion, therefore, that no one can tell when his last moment is to +come, and that consequently it behoves us all to be prepared at all +times for that unavoidable occurrence. + +Among the ships lying near us was the Roebuck, of 44 guns, commanded by +Captain Andrew Snape Hamond, (note 1), a very active and intelligent +officer. I knew several of her officers. Among them was an old friend +of mine, Hitchcock, belonging to Falmouth. I dined with him a day or +two after this, and in return invited him to dine with me on board the +Orpheus. + +"I'll come," said he; "depend upon me, I'll not let the rebels stop me." + +"I shall keep you to your promise," I replied, as I was shoving off. + +We had prepared the ship for action for some days by clearing away all +bulkheads fore and aft, and sending everything not absolutely required +below. Still several days passed by and nothing was done. It was +understood that Lord Howe and Dr Franklin were negotiating at this +time, as the result proved, without any effect. Lord Howe to the last +was anxious to prevent more bloodshed, and hoped to bring the colonists +to terms, but as they now considered themselves an independent people, +and he had the authority to treat with them in that capacity, he was +powerless. + +At length, on the 21st of September, towards three o'clock in the +afternoon, the admiral made the signal for us to weigh. Each man with +alacrity hurried to his quarters. Never was sail more speedily got on +the ship. The Phoenix, Roebuck, Carrisfort, and Rose were seen +spreading their canvas at the same time to a very light air which blew +from the westward. I must try and describe the scene of our operations. +Before us lay a long, narrow strip of land called Manhattan Island, +about thirteen miles long and from half a mile to two wide, on the south +end of which stands the City of New York, while on the north end are +some hills called the Harlem Heights. It is divided from the mainland +on the north by a creek called the Harlem River, over which there is a +bridge called King's Bridge. The west of Manhattan Island is washed by +the River Hudson, which separates it from the New Jersey shore, while +part of the Sound, which is called the East River, runs round it on the +south and east, dividing it from Long Island, till it is joined by the +Harlem River on the north. The Harlem River forms a direct +communication between the Hudson and East River. That part of it +nearest the Hudson was called by the Dutch Spuyten Duyvel Creek, while +the east end, where it joins East River, has the still less pleasant +sounding name of Hell Gate. Near it was a strong battery. Nearly in +the centre of East River, opposite the south point of New York, is +Governor's Island, which was strongly fortified. There were batteries +along the whole line of the shore on Manhattan Island. Slowly and +solemnly our squadron approached the shore. Perfect silence reigned +throughout the ship. For some time not a shot was fired. Captain +Hudson had been keeping a sharp look-out on the enemy's batteries as we +approached. + +"Pass the word along the decks that every man and officer is to lie down +at his quarters!" he exclaimed. + +The judicious order was at once obeyed. The same precaution was not +used by the other ships. At half-past three, when we were within +pistol-shot of the city, the enemy opened their fire. We were so close +and moved so slowly that scarcely a shot missed us, literally riddling +the ship, as if we had been a butt put up to be fired at. + +"How do you like this?" I asked of young Sumner, who was near me. + +"Not at all just now," he answered. "I only wish that the captain would +let us get up and fire back on the enemy. I thought that was always +done when people fight." + +"Sometimes one has to be battered at as well as to batter, as in the +present instance," I answered. "But depend on it, we shall be allowed +to take our revenge before long." + +"Oh, I wish those dreadful cannon-balls would not come so close to one," +sung out poor Harry, half playfully, half in earnest, as a round shot +came crashing through the bulwark close to where we lay, throwing the +splinters about us, ploughing up the deck, and passing out at a port on +the other side. + +"I thought you were not going to be frightened, Harry, my boy," said I. + +"Nor should I, I tell you, if I could but be firing in return," he +answered. "Besides, it is the first time I was ever in action, and I +have heard that the bravest men are apt to bob their heads on such +occasions. Perhaps when I get accustomed to it I shall care as little +as anyone for it." + +"I have no doubt you will, Harry," I replied; and most truly the noble +little fellow did not disappoint my expectations. With proud defiance +the squadron continued its onward course, still desisting from firing, +as if invulnerable to the showers of round shot and bullets which came +whistling about them. The enemy were in general firing too high to do +much injury except to our rigging; the splinters which flew from our +topmasts and yards and came showering down every now and then on deck, +and the strange festoons our rigging began to form, the ends of ropes +hanging here and there, and the numerous holes exhibited in our sails +showed the effect their unremitting fire had caused. Sometimes the wind +was so light that we had little more than steerage way, when instantly +guns were brought round to attack us. Still we had not performed half +our distance. I must own that never, when in chase of an enemy, or when +attacked by gun-boats, or when finding my ship set on shore by a strong +current, have I more earnestly prayed than now for a breeze to carry us +onward. Nothing so much damps the ardour of men as having to sit quiet +and be fired at without having the power of returning the compliment. +Few can stand it except Turks and Englishmen; Turks because they fancy +it is their fate, Englishmen because they know it is their duty. As the +shot came crashing among us and the blocks and splinters from the spars +and other parts of the rigging came tumbling down on our heads, a growl +might every now and then be heard from some of the seamen very like that +given by a savage dog chained up as a stranger approaches his kennel and +he finds after repeated trials that he has come to the length of his +tether. I really felt it a relief when I had to move about the decks on +any duty, as was the case occasionally when a slight shift of wind or an +alteration in our course made it necessary to trim sails, though I was +thus exposed to a much greater risk of losing the number of my mess. +Not a man could show his head above the hammock nettings but he was sure +to become the mark of a hundred riflemen who were poking out their +weapons from the windows of the houses which looked so peaceably at us. +As I went about the decks I amused myself by remarking the different +expressions worn by the countenances of the men. With respect to the +greater number it was that of calm indifference, as if not aware that +they were running any unusual risk of their lives. Some seemed to see +the danger, but to brave it; many were laughing and joking among +themselves, while a few, and only a few, were evidently in no small +terror of being hit. I passed near Tom Rockets. His countenance told +me that I need have no fear of his doing me discredit. Old Grampus was +near him, looking as calm as if he was sitting down to his dinner. + +"I have been telling the youngster, sir," said he, "that one of the +first things a seaman has to learn is how to bear the hardships it may +please Providence to send him, whether he has to be shot at, as he has +now, or to suffer famine on a raft or desert island, or to have the sea +breaking over him on a wreck or on the cold, slippery rocks. Maybe +he'll have to try them all before he settles down with a wooden leg, +ashore in his own cottage, or bears up for Greenwich, as I hopes to do +one day." + +Tom listened to this very gravely, but I suspect old Nol had been +amusing himself somewhat at his expense. Hour after hour passed by, and +the ship proudly held on her course round Manhattan Island till we +reached the eastern side beyond the city, where, at a spot called Kip's +Bay, about two miles from it, the squadron at length, at about seven +o'clock, dropped anchor in front of a long line of entrenchments which +the enemy had thrown up. + +Captain Hudson, having to communicate with Captain Hamond, sent me on +board the Roebuck. Having delivered my message, I inquired for my +friend Hitchcock. + +"He is here," said Collins, a midshipman I had addressed, lifting up an +ensign which was spread near the mainmast. + +There lay the poor fellow who was to have dined with me that day, so +lately full of life and spirits, now stiff and stark. A rifle-bullet +had passed through his heart. Several other men had been killed and +wounded on board. Such is one of the chances of war. I returned sadly +on board my own ship. In those days such an occurrence had but a very +transitory effect. + +As soon as the enemy found that we were to be stationary for a while, +some guns were brought up, which began playing on us, and kept up a no +very musical serenade during the night. The shots struck the ships +occasionally; but the guns were very badly served, and did little or no +execution. Their music did not prevent me sleeping soundly, and +preparing to take my share in the hot work in which we were about to +gage. + +The next day we received orders to attack the batteries at Hell Gate. +Lord Howe could not have been informed of the true nature of the place, +or he would not have issued the order. The pilots, however, positively +refused to take up the ships, asserting, and not without good grounds, +that they would inevitably be lost. At all events, I believe that by +their determination we escaped a severe chastisement from the enemy. We +therefore, with the exception of a little cannonading, spent another +quiet night with whole skins in Kip's Bay. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note 1. Afterwards Sir Andrew Hamond, Bart, and father of the late +Admiral Sir Graham Hamond, Admiral of the Fleet, and grandfather of the +present Captain Sir Andrew Hamond, Bart.--Editor. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +A BRIGHT MORNING AND A DARK DAY.--ATTACK ON NEW YORK.--MERCER SHOWS HIS +SYMPATHY WITH THE AMERICANS.--THE BATTLE RAGES.--FIELD OF BATTLE.-- +ASSIST A WOUNDED AMERICAN.--FIRED AT BY OUR FRIENDS.--ANOTHER TRIP ON +SHORE.--FALL INTO THE HANDS OF HESSIAN TROOPS.--RESCUED BY GENERAL +PIGOT.--SENT WITH DESPATCHES TO LORD HOWE.--MY BOAT'S CREW MUTINY.--NEW +YORK ON FIRE.--TREATMENT OF SUPPOSED INCENDIARIES.--REMARKS ON THE +WAR.--THE CONDEMNED SPY.--MERCER PLEADS FOR HIM IN VAIN.--HIS EXECUTION. + +By early dawn on the morning of the 23rd of September, 1776, every one +was astir. The sultry atmosphere alone, even under ordinary +circumstances, would have made us glad to leave our berths. It had +become known that a combined attack by the land and sea forces was to be +made on the enemy. The mighty sun rose over Long Island in a blaze of +glory, and shot upward into a cloudless sky as the anchor was lifted. +Fold after fold of our white canvas was let fall, and the other ships of +the squadron following our example, we once more moved onward along the +shore of Manhattan Island. + +The scene was one of great beauty. The rays of the bright luminary fell +on the wood-crowned heights of Harlem on one side, and of Morrissania on +the other side of the creek, throwing the promontories into bold relief, +and the bays and inlets, with which the coast is indented, into deeper +shade, while rich fields, and meadows and orchards, as they basked in +the soft morning light, gave the whole landscape an appearance of +calmness and peace, soon to be broken by the rude realities of fierce, +unrelenting warfare. + +As soon as we weighed anchor the troops of the enemy, who had been +watching us under arms since dawn, began to march along the shore close +to us, regardless of the danger they ran of destruction, for had we +opened our broadsides, we might have played sad havoc among them. They +were not quite so fantastically dressed as my friends at Cape Henlopen, +but still there was a very great variety of costume, and a lamentable +want of discipline among them. If the front rank did not advance fast +enough, the rear would give them a shove or a kick to urge them on, all +the time making significant and not very complimentary signs to us to +come on shore and fight them, while they tried to express their supreme +contempt for us by every means in their power, shouting out taunting +words, and abusing us in no measured terms. + +Our men had two days before stood the battering we got with comparative +calmness, but the taunts and signs of the foe now enraged them beyond +all endurance. + +"Wait a bit, my lads, and then won't we give it you!" sung out Dick +Trunnion, a sturdy topman, and many similar expressions were uttered by +others. + +"Oh, Muster Hurry, don't yer think the captain would let us go ashore, +and give them chaps the drubbing they deserves?" asked Tom Rockets as I +passed, doubling his fists while he spoke. "I'd like to give them a +hiding." + +"Never mind them, lads," said old Grampus, turning his back to the +shore, and looking over his shoulder at the foe with a glance of supreme +contempt. "They knows no better; and fancies because we don't hit we +can't. Poor fellows! I pities them, that I do. They bees little +better than savinges, only they wants the paint and feathers." + +I felt very much as Nol said he did; but I suspect that his anger was +rather more excited than he chose to confess. The truth was that these +were mostly raw militia regiments, who had seen little or nothing of +warfare, and from the previous occurrences of the war had been taught to +look with contempt on British prowess. The regulars in most instances +behaved admirably, and nothing could surpass the bravery of the officers +of all ranks. This their greatest enemies could not deny; but the +militia were of a very different stamp, and the men, unable to depend on +each other or their officers, on several occasions fairly turned tail +and ran away. I fancy that most of our opponents on the present +occasion were of that class. We stood on till we reached a spot about +fifty yards from the enemy's entrenchments, a little below Blackwell's +Island, where the squadron dropped their anchors, and calmly furled +sails. There we lay for some time without exchanging a shot, expecting, +however, that some hot work was about to be commenced. The glasses of +the officers were in the meantime constantly turned towards the small +islets in the direction of Long Island. At length Captain Hudson +uttered an exclamation of satisfaction. + +"They come! they come!" he cried out, and as he spoke a flotilla of +boats were seen emerging from among the tree-covered shores of Bushwick +Creek. They formed the first division of flat-bottomed boats, having on +board a force of 4500 men, under the immediate command of General Howe. +Slowly and steadily they advanced, like some huge black monsters +covering the blue surface of the tranquil and hitherto peaceful Sound. +The drum now beat to quarters. + +"Now my boys, if so be you want to punish them poor savinges as has been +beguiling you, your time's soon coming," growled out old Nol, as the +crew were hurrying with alacrity to their guns. + +The only person whose countenance showed no satisfaction was Mercer. +Pale as death, he stood at his post over his division of guns; but I saw +that he would rather have died a hundred deaths than engage in the work +he felt it was his duty to perform. From my heart I pitied him. There +was but little time, however, for thinking of that or any other matter. +On came the flotilla of boats. Not a shot had as yet disturbed the calm +tranquillity of the scene. A thin, gauze-like mist was spread over the +distant portions of the landscape. The hot sun struck down on our +heads; the blue expanse of water glittered in his bright rays, and the +sea-fowl skimmed over it, dipping their wings ever and anon, as if to +refresh them in the liquid element. Everything still wore an aspect of +perfect peace. The boats at last got within fifty yards of the ships. +A signal flew out from the mast-head of the Phoenix--the knell of many a +human being. It was the signal to engage. + +"Fire away, my lads," was shouted along the decks. It was not necessary +to repeat the order. Never did a crew work their guns with more +alacrity. The shot rushed like a storm of gigantic hailstones among the +ill-fated Americans, tearing up their entrenchments and scattering the +earth and palisades far and wide. In a very short time the +fortifications in which they had trusted were blown to atoms; still we +fired on as fast as our guns could be loaded and run out. The enemy +answered us from various points; but with little effect. In a few short +moments, how changed was the scene from what it had lately been! Now +from point to point, and through every sheltered nook and bay resounded +the roar of cannon, the rattle of musketry, the shouts of the +combatants, the shrieks and groans and agonising cries of the wounded, +while above all hung a dark, funereal pall of smoke, ascending from the +scene of strife, shutting it out as it were from the bright blue +glorious firmament above, and, if it could be, from the all-searching +eye of the Creator of men who were thus disfiguring His image by their +furious passions, and dishonouring Him by the infraction of all the +precepts of that mild, that beneficent religion, which He in His +unsearchable love sent His only Son to teach them to obey. + +But where am I driving to? I did not think thus at the time. No; my +blood was up; my evil passions were aroused; and I was as eager as +anyone to shed blood, and utterly careless of all the consequences to +myself and others. Never have I witnessed a more tremendous fire than +was kept up by our ships for fifty-nine minutes, during which time in +the Orpheus alone we expended 5366 pounds of powder. I kept no note of +the number of shot we fired away. The very first broadside made a +considerable breach in the enemy's works. At the end of the time I have +mentioned the boats advanced, and the signal was made to cease firing. +As they touched the beach the men sprang on shore, and, forming rapidly, +gallantly rushed towards the entrenchments with fixed bayonets and loud +cheers. The enemy scarcely waited to deliver their fire, but, throwing +down their arms, fled on all sides in the utmost terror and confusion, +earnestly petitioning for quarter. The red-coats leaped through the +breaches made by our guns, and over the embankments, and were speedily +in possession of the enemy's works. As the smoke cleared away, the +ground far and near appeared covered with the bodies of the slain and +wounded, some with arms, others with legs, shot away, while parties of +fugitives were seen flying in every direction, pursued by our men, +especially by the Hessians, who seemed little disposed to give the +quarter which was asked. + +I was not only a spectator but a participator in what I have been +describing. As soon as the ships ceased firing, our boats, of which I +commanded one, were ordered to aid in towing the flat-bottomed boats on +shore. As soon as the troops had landed, leaving Grampus in charge of +my boat, I, with another midshipman and Tom Rockets and two other men, +followed them into the entrenchments, and found myself shortly in the +rear of a body of Hessians as they charged over the ground. A poor +American was flying for his life, shrieking out for mercy. One of those +savage mercenaries either did not or would not understand him, and +before I could interpose had with a sweep of his sword severed his head +from his body, then, in savage triumph worthy of a Red Indian, sticking +it on a pole, carried it through the entrenchments, shouting out as if +he had performed some noble act of heroism. + +Meantime several of the ship's boats were ordered to pull along-shore to +annoy the enemy in their flight and to prevent them from rallying. My +friend Hargrave and I, midshipmanlike and thoughtless of danger, set off +in the direction the enemy had taken along the shore, picking up a +number of articles which in their terror they had dropped or thrown +away, such as rifles, pistols, swords, spy-glasses, and even watches, +plate, and camp utensils of various sorts, which we knew would be most +acceptable to our mess. We passed many of the slain, knocked over in +their flight. As we ran thoughtlessly on, very little moved by these +sights, to which even the youngsters were becoming familiar, I heard a +deep groan. Looking round, I saw behind a bush a militiaman stretched +on the ground with a bad wound in his side. + +"Oh, kill me! kill me! put me out of my misery!" he exclaimed as soon as +he saw me. + +"No, I will not do that," said I; "but I will try if I can relieve you." + +I had a flask of some rum and water in my pocket; I gave him some of it +to drink. There was, fortunately, a stream near; I got some fresh water +in a hat and washed his wound, and then bound it up with a piece of +shirt which I took from a dead man near. The poor fellow seemed much +revived and very grateful. + +"There," said I, "you will be able to get off and join your people at +nightfall. It's not my business to take you prisoner." + +"Thank you, stranger, thank you," said he; "Amos Spinks will not forget +your mercy and kindness." + +I could not stay with him longer, but, leaving him a piece of biscuit +and a hat full of water, I ran on to join my companions, who, not seeing +me, had gone forward. The American had no idea I was an officer, for I +had on a white linen jacket which I wore at my quarters, and it was +consequently thickly begrimed with powder and dirt. I caught sight of +my party ahead, and ran on as fast as my legs could carry me, with the +load of spoils I had collected, to overtake them. As I neared them, and +was shouting to them to stop, I caught sight of one of our boats, with +Mr Heron, our second lieutenant, in her, pulling along-shore after me. +I saw that he was somewhat excited, and seemed urging on the men to pull +with greater speed. Just as I got up to my party, to our no small +astonishment, not to say dismay, he turned the bow of the boat towards +us, and bang he let fly a shower of grape from a gun placed there right +in among us, following up the unwelcome salute with a volley of small +arms. We shouted at the top of our voices, and made signs that we were +friends; but what with the smoke and his blindness, for he was +near-sighted, and the noise of the firing and the shouts of his men, he +neither made out who we were nor heard us, but continued peppering away +as before. + +"Run, my lads, run," I sung out; "there's no disgrace running from +friends, but very unpleasant to be shot by them." + +My party required no second order, but away we all scampered as fast as +we could go, scattering from each other to distract our friends in their +very unfriendly employment. + +"Oh, Mr Hurry, I bees hit, I bees hit?" sung out Tom Rockets. + +I expected to see him fall, but the shot only made him scamper on the +faster. Our flight, of course, made Mr Heron fire at us more +zealously, and we had to throw away all the things we had collected to +escape with greater speed from his heroic fury. We took a course +inland, and then turned back towards the place where we had landed. +Happily we soon got among trees and rocks and broken walls, which much +sheltered us, and Tom was the only man wounded. As soon as we got clear +of the shot from the boat, I called a halt to examine his hurt. It was +merely a slight flesh wound from a bullet in the leg, and a handkerchief +bound round it enabled him to walk on. It was now time to return on +board, so we made the best of our way to the boat, not without some +considerable risk of being shot by our own sentries. On my stepping on +deck I found several officers round the captain. Mr Heron was among +them. + +"The rascally rebels can't stand us for a moment, sir," he was saying. +"A whole gang of them hove in sight as I was pulling along-shore--a +hundred at least--and stood hallooing to me and daring me to come after +them. I let fly among them, sent them scampering away like a flock of +sheep, knocking over a good dozen or more, I should think. It was rare +fun, sir." + +"Very good fun for you, Mr Heron," said I, turning round; "but I beg to +assure you, sir, that there were not a dozen of us altogether." + +"You! what do you mean?" he asked, with a look of surprise. + +"Why, that I was one of the body of supposed rebels, and though we +shouted to you and begged you not to fire, you banged at us so furiously +that we had to throw away a whole heap of things we had collected, and +to run for our lives." + +Captain Hudson and the other officers laughed not a little at this +exploit of Mr Heron's, for he was notorious for his boasting. He bore +me a grudge about it ever after. + +"Well, Mr Hurry," said the captain good-naturedly, "you shall go on +shore in the afternoon with Mr Heron, and try to recover some of your +treasures." + +Away we went in the afternoon accordingly in high glee, Mr Heron +expecting to pick up all sorts of things, and I hoping to recover those +I had lost. We soon reached the field on which Mr Heron boasted to +have gained his hard-won victory; but the swords and all the things of +value were gone, picked up by the plundering-parties who invariably +issue forth over the scene where the strife has been hottest, as birds +of prey gather on the carcase just fallen in the desert. I looked about +for the poor fellow I had assisted in the morning. He was gone. He +had, I concluded, either been taken prisoner, or had managed to crawl +off and rejoin his friends. We went on much farther than we had been in +the morning, picking up some drums and a few similar bulky articles, +which others had not thought worth collecting. We picked up in all nine +drums, one of the largest of which I sent to my friend, Jack Bluet, who +lived in a small house at Falmouth. It might have served him for a +drawing-room table. I hope he has got it still. A little way beyond +where I found the wounded man I came on the body of an officer. He lay +on his back, shot through the heart, his hand grasping a very handsome +fusee, and with a look of defiance still on his countenance. I suspect +he had been bush-fighting in Indian fashion, in hopes of checking the +advance of his enemies, in spite of the flight of his companions in +arms. He was a fine young man, and from his style of dress and general +appearance was evidently of respectable family. I stooped down, and, +undoing the grasp with which the dead man's fingers held the fusee, took +possession of it and ran after my companions. Still, as I hurried on, +the look worn by the features of the dead officer haunted me. I felt as +if I had been depriving him of his property. I thought of his mother +and sisters, or perhaps a young wife, who were doomed never to see him +again, or of friends who might be expecting to meet him that very day, +and for a moment all the dreadful results of warfare presented +themselves before me more vividly than they had ever before done. The +laughter and jokes of my companions, however, very quickly drove all +such thoughts from my mind. We had been joined by an acquaintance of +mine, Simeon, a midshipman of the Phoenix, who had with him the gunner +and seven men. By some means or other I had been separated from Mr +Heron and my boat's crew--indeed, my lieutenant had no particular fancy +for my society, so I joined company with Simeon, and together we rambled +into the woods. We had not gone far when we caught sight of a fellow +skulking among the trees. When he saw that he was observed he took to +his heels, and this of course made us give chase. The woods rang with +our shouts and cries, and we were not long before we came up with the +man, who proved to be a rebel militiaman. He sang out most lustily for +mercy, thinking that we were going to kill him, but we soon quieted his +fears on that score by assuring him that he was not worth powder and +shot. He seemed to be very grateful, and informed us that there had +been a smart skirmish in the wood between his party and a body of +Hessians, the latter of whom he believed were still in the neighbourhood +of the wood. Of the truth of part of his story the dead bodies +scattered here and there about were too true witnesses. Simeon and I, +on this, called a halt and consulted together with the gunner whether we +should go back or seek further adventures ahead. + +"We have taken one prisoner, perhaps we may make some more and gain some +little credit when we present ourselves with them in camp, so I vote +that we go on," said I; and my proposal was agreed to. + +As we supposed that we might be in the face of an enemy we kept closer +together than before, and moved on more cautiously. After advancing +some way we heard voices in an orchard on the skirts of the wood, and, +supposing the sounds to proceed from a party of the rebels, we presented +our muskets and advanced towards the gate of the orchard, fully +expecting to make more prisoners. Just, however, as we began to move on +up started before us a body of two or three hundred Hessians, with +glittering brass helmets on their heads, who, with fixed bayonets and +loud cries, charged furiously at us. Had we attempted to move they +would have shot us, so we stood our ground and sung out most lustily +that we were friends. They did not understand us, and, charging on, +would, I fully, expected, have bayoneted us on the spot. "Friends-- +friends! English--British officers!" I sung out at the top of my +voice. + +"Rebels, rebels!" was the only answer we got; and in another moment we +were knocked over with the butt-ends of their muskets. We picked +ourselves up as well as we could, and I pointed to my own and Simeon's +white cuffs and lapels, and told them that we belonged to the British +fleet, but to no purpose; and what was my dismay when they showed us at +a little distance an unfortunate rebel officer who lay on the ground +with his leg shot off, and who was dressed in the same uniform which we +wore. He told them as well as he could that he knew nothing of us, but +they would not believe him, and, having talked together in their hideous +lingo, once more knocked us over and began belabouring us with their +muskets. I never met such savages, and I am not surprised that they +were hated by the poor colonists. I am sure we bore them no love, +especially just then. We sung out lustily for mercy, for to our horror +we saw that they were about to finish us off by plunging their bayonets +into us, when our cries brought up an officer on horseback, in whom, to +my great satisfaction, I recognised General Pigot, the commander of the +division to which they belonged. He knew me on board the Chatham, and +was thus able to assure the Hessians who I was. They made all sorts of +apologies, which afforded us a very small amount of satisfaction. + +Thanking General Pigot for his timely rescue, we set off to return to +our ships, heartily sick of our day's adventures--hungry and battered, +indeed, very much in need both of cook and doctor. + +The next day we weighed and, parting from the Phoenix and the other +ships with which we had been in company, ran up between Blackwell's +Island and the main. As we were running at the rate of some four or +five knots an hour a shock was felt which made the ship shiver +throughout her whole frame. The pilot turned pale, as if he expected to +be shot on the spot. He had put us on a rock. Captain Hudson, cool as +usual, issued his orders as if nothing particular was the matter, and we +quickly swung off again and proceeded on our way till we brought up +snugly in Turtle Cove. While the ship lay there I was sent, on the +25th, with dispatches to Lord Howe, then residing on Staten Island. My +boat's crew on this occasion consisted either of pressed men or of +fellows whom I knew to be among the greatest blackguards in the ship. +On the way down they showed signs of an unruly disposition by pulling +slowly and not putting out their strength when I ordered them. Their +conduct, however, did not trouble me, and I forgot all about it as I +walked up to present my dispatches to his lordship. I have always +entertained the greatest respect for Lord Howe. He was a good seaman-- +of bravery undoubted--cool and thoughtful in danger--generous and kind, +and considerate for those under his command and careful for their +interests. He was much abused by the royalists in America, as well as +by many in the army and fleet, as also at home, because he did not seem +anxious to push matters to extremes at once with the rebels and allow +fire and sword to be carried throughout their territories. But he +looked upon them as fellow-beings and fellow-subjects, and though +misguided, he considered that they had too much reason for their +rebellion to be treated with the severity others proposed. I have heard +that after an action he would go below and visit each wounded man as he +lay in his hammock, and stop and talk to him, and would send wine and +poultry from his own stock to those whom the surgeon thought required +it. Such are the deeds by which an officer can easily win the hearts of +seamen. I had not to wait long before I was told to walk into his room, +and I found myself in the presence of a dark and somewhat hard-featured +man--with a figure, however, tall, well-proportioned, and dignified. +Had I not known him by repute I should have been somewhat awe-struck, +but as he spoke his countenance brightened up, and his kind look +dissipated all feeling of fear. + +"Sit down, youngster," said he, "and let me hear your account of the +action of the 23rd. As your ship was at hand I conclude you saw it." + +I gave him the best description in my power of what I had seen, taking +care to make no reflections on the events of the day. He seemed much +interested, and hastily writing a letter, as soon as it was copied, told +me to return with it to Captain Hudson. + +When I got back to my boat I had no little difficulty in collecting my +men, and soon after I shoved off I found that they were one and all +drunk. As long as they pulled on I said nothing, but in a short time +they began to grumble at having come away without more liquor. + +"What's the odds?" said one. "The shortest way is to go back and get +it." + +"My idea, Sam!" cried another. "If we once get aboard our chance is +over." + +"About, shipmates," exclaimed a third. "Never mind the youngster." + +"But you will have to mind me, my lads!" I exclaimed, springing up with +my hanger in my hand. "You've made a mistake if you fancy that I allow +tricks to be played with me." + +For a short time they were silent, and, hoping that I had cowed them by +my promptitude, I again sat down in the stern-sheets. I kept my weapon +in my right hand, however, for I was aware how completely I was in their +power if they chose to proceed to extremities. I had come away without +pistols, so that I had only my hanger to depend on, and they might, if +they had acted together, have wrenched it from my grasp and, +overpowering me, have hove me overboard. They would then have escaped +without much difficulty to one of the nearest American posts and joined +the rebels. While I was thinking over this very pleasant subject, and +contemplating myself swimming for my life up East River, they again +began to grumble. + +"I'll not pull another stroke!" cried one fellow with an oath. + +"Nor I! Nor I!" exclaimed others. + +Two, I remarked, did not speak; and addressing myself to them, I asked +if they would join in so rascally and uncalled-for a mutiny. + +It was now getting very dark, and I could scarcely see the features of +the men, so as to be prepared for what they were about to do. The boat +lay motionless on the water. If I hesitated I was lost. + +"Take to your oars and give way, or I will cut you to pieces, you +scoundrels!" I shouted, springing up and making a cut with my hanger at +the hands of one of the most mutinous. "If you won't use your bands, +I'll chop them off. Pull, I say!" + +I should have been as good as my word had not the fellow taken to his +oar, while my blade struck the gunwale of the boat, by which the point +was broken. The mutineers now rose in a body and seemed about to make a +rush on me. On this, I began slashing away to keep them at bay, cutting +them over the hands and arms pretty severely. + +The two men, one of whom pulled the stroke-oar and the one next him, now +sang out that they would obey my orders. + +"Then we'll heave you all overboard together!" cried the most drunken of +the mutineers. + +"Will you, my man?" I exclaimed, making a cut at him with my hanger. +"Then take that first!" + +He stumbled and fell with his face aft, thereby saving his life, though +I again broke the blade of my hanger almost up to the hilt. The other +men, fancying he was killed, hung back, while I dragged his senseless +body into the stern-sheets and stowed him away, for he was stunned with +the effect of his fall and his drunkenness. The men forward sat sulkily +down, perhaps they would not have remained quiet had they known I had +broken my hanger. They refused however to pull, and one after the other +dropped off into a drunken sleep. The two more steady ones did their +best to pull on, and the tide fortunately favoured us, or I do not know +where we should have got to. I have seldom been placed in a much more +fearful position. Any moment the mutineers might wake up and, +remembering the consequences their conduct was sure to bring on them, +might again attempt to overpower me and carry off the boat to the enemy. +I was weary and hungry, and in the darkness of night all sorts of +dreadful thoughts occurred to me as I slowly floated over those perilous +waters. I felt a strong inclination at times to run into New York to +try and get aid; but I thought if I did the men would certainly escape +and hide themselves before I could find any of the military authorities +to afford me assistance. New York by this time was entirely in the +hands of the British. On the day we landed at Kip's Bay General Howe +pushed forward part of his troops to encompass the city on the land +side, when General Putnam, the American commander who held it, was +compelled to make a precipitate retreat, being very nearly cut off +before he joined Washington at King's Bridge. Had not, indeed, the +British delayed their advance to refresh themselves, they would in all +probability have captured the whole division of the rebel army. A large +number of the inhabitants remained in New York, those only who had taken +a prominent part in the rebellion thinking it necessary to leave it. It +was very doubtful, however, had I gone on shore, whether I should have +fallen among friends or foes. I resolved, therefore, to make, the best +of my way to the ship. I watched the lights glimmering in the houses, +one after the other being put out as I pulled slowly by, and I could +hear the constant call of the sentries as the officers went their +rounds, while any moment I felt that my mutinous crew might come to +their senses and make an end of me. I amused myself, however, by +whistling and singing snatches of songs to make them suppose that I was +perfectly indifferent to their threats, and at length, by half-past one +in the morning, to my great relief I got alongside the ship. The +mutineers only at that moment roused up, and very much astonished they +were to find themselves clapped into irons as soon as they got on board. +The next morning they each received nine dozen, with the exception of +the two who had at once returned to their duty. I took care to get them +ultimately rewarded. + +The most disagreeable duty we had to perform while we lay in Turtle Bay +was to row guard at night abreast of Hell Gate, the name, as I have +before mentioned, given to the entrance of Harlem River. With the +ebb-tide a terrific current sets out through the narrow channel, forming +a whirlpool, on which is bestowed the pleasant-sounding title of the +Devil's Pot. On one side is his gridiron, and on the other his +frying-pan, while another batch of rocks goes by the name of his "hen +and chickens." Now, although I cannot take upon myself to affirm that +even on the darkest and most stormy night I ever beheld his Satanic +majesty engaged in the exercise of his well-known culinary talents in +frying soles or any other fish or fowl, or quadruped, or biped, yet I +had the greatest dread of getting within the power of his voracious +cauldron. I therefore always kept at a respectful distance from it. I +advise all those who may have to visit the spot to follow my example. +I, however, often heard afterwards some very strange tales narrated by +the seamen who had been in the boats when thus employed and implicitly +believed by their auditors. In truth, although the master spirit of +evil may have no direct influence in the matter, a very large number of +vessels and boats have been lost on the surrounding rocks. + +The constant hard service in which we had been engaged since we left +England had placed a large number of our men on the sick-list. During +our stay in Turtle Bay we landed them at Blackwell's Island, where they +considerably recovered their strength. From the same place we +abundantly supplied the ship with fresh meat and vegetables, luxuries to +which we had long been strangers. On the 29th of September I had the +middle watch. It had just gone six-bells, when, as I was casting my +eyes towards the city, I saw a bright light suddenly dart up towards the +sky. It was rapidly succeeded by other flashes till the whole firmament +seemed to glow with a bright, ruddy light. "The city is on fire--the +city is on fire!" was the general cry on board. There was a strong +wind, and as the fire must have already made much progress, we had great +fear that the whole city would be burned down. It was proposed at once +to make a party to go and see what was the matter, and, a messmate +taking my watch, I got leave to join it. Away we pulled as fast as we +could, and after we had reached the shore we had no difficulty in +finding our way to the scene of destruction. Everybody in the place had +turned out of bed. Some were rushing about in despair at the loss of +all their worldly property, not knowing where to go to find shelter-- +others were searching for friends or relatives, in doubt whether or no +they had fallen victims to the flames--others were endeavouring to stay +the progress of the fire. The most active in this work were the British +troops. They had formed a close circle round the burning part of the +city and were engaged in blowing-up and pulling down houses, deluging +others with water, and cutting off the communication in every direction. + +We were attracted by a dense crowd and loud cries in one direction. We +ran to the spot, where we found a number of soldiers who appeared to be +in a highly exasperated state. They had among them a dozen or more men +whom they were dragging forward towards the flames. "Burn them in their +own bonfire!" they were shouting out; "Burn them in their own bonfire-- +they were going to burn us out of our quarters!" We asked a civilian +who stood at a house-door looking on what had occurred. + +"Why, the soldiers think they have got hold of the men who set the city +on fire, and they are going to pay them off. Maybe they are the men who +did it, or maybe they are rogues and vagabonds who were prowling about +for plunder--so it matters little, I guess," was the answer we received. + +We left our philosophical friend smoking his pipe; he was evidently one +of those who care little what becomes of the world provided they are +comfortable. We followed the soldiers till we came to some scaffolding +erected for building a house, several ropes were hanging about it. The +humour seized the soldiers to hang up some of their prisoners, and in a +trice four of the unhappy wretches were run up by the heels, while their +heads hung downwards. In that position the infuriated soldiers dashed +at them with the butt-ends of their muskets, and very soon put them out +of their misery. Their companions in misfortune, if not in guilt, +meantime were shrieking out for mercy and protesting their innocence, +but in vain. The soldiers laughed and jeered at them, and hurrying them +on up to a burning house, forced them into the flames at the points of +their bayonets. As they rushed shrieking out covered with fire, they +were driven back again till the devouring element grasped them at length +in its deadly embrace. Then, with loud shouts of demoniacal +satisfaction, the enraged soldiers rushed away to look for fresh +victims. Miserable was the fate while they were in that humour, of +those who fell into their hands. I never saw so dreadful a spectacle +before, and hope never to see such a one again. + +A short time afterwards General Howe had to send a flag of truce to +General Washington respecting an exchange of prisoners, when he was said +to have most solemnly denied having had anything to do with the burning +of the city. The flames were happily stopped after about a fourth part +of it had been burned to the ground. On the night of the 30th the +rebels made an attack on Montizieur's Island, but were repulsed with the +loss of a major and several men who were taken prisoners. + +On the 2nd of October Delisle and I, with Harry Sumner, having got leave +to go on shore, agreed to walk out to visit the lines at King's Bridge, +where our army was intrenched in sight of that of the Americans. Just +as we were setting off Mercer said he would come also. The day was +lovely. The air was so bright and pure and exhilarating that it was a +pleasure alone to breathe it--one of those days of autumn met with in +the northern part of America which go by the name of the Indian summer. +A thin gauze-like mist filled the atmosphere, giving a warm, almost +tropical, look to the landscape; the water looked bluer, the fields +greener, the sands yellower, and the rocks browner than I had ever seen +them; while the tints of autumn, just showing themselves on the more +exposed sides of the trees, gave the woods wonderfully rich and varied +hues. We took a path through orchards and woods and across fields, +meadows, and gardens, which bore evident and sad traces of the advance +of hostile armies. Fences and embankments were levelled, cottages +burnt, fruit-trees and fruit-bushes cut down or uprooted, gardens +trampled over and destroyed, here and there a few fragrant flowers +rearing their heads like guardian angels among the surrounding scene of +havoc, alone showing that the spot might once have been some peaceful +man's earthly paradise. + +We at length reached the British lines. They extended in one continuous +encampment from Horen's Hook on the Harlem River for about two miles +directly across the island of Manhattan to the Hudson, both flanks being +guarded by the men-of-war. Commanding the sea, as we did, it was +impossible to hold a stronger position. On the other side of an open +plain, well posted on a succession of rocky heights, appeared the rebel +forces, the advanced sentries of the two armies being within hail of +each other. On our left the enemy occupied a strong fortress called +Fort Washington, which overlooked the Hudson, and two miles north of it +was King's Bridge, the only passage to the mainland across the inlet of +the Hudson I have before mentioned, which joins it to the Harlem River, +called by the Dutch Spyt den Duivel Creek, and which still retains its +unpleasant-sounding name. + +The object of our party seemed to be to get possession of Fort +Washington, and so cut off the retreat of the enemy. It was said that +General Howe ought to have sent a strong force up the Hudson and +attacked Washington in the rear, while the rest of the army pressed him +in front; but he did not make the attempt till it was too late, and a +large portion of the American troops had crossed King's Bridge and taken +up a strong position among the hills in the interior. There was a good +deal of severe fighting after this, and Fort Washington, which had been +gallantly defended by a brave American officer, Colonel Magan, was +captured by us, with its garrison of upwards of two thousand men. + +We spent some time in the camp talking to various acquaintances among +the soldier officers whom we met, and as we wandered on we came to a +spot where a drum-head court-martial was sitting. They were trying a +man who had been accused of being a spy, captured endeavouring to make +his way out of the camp at night. He had just been pronounced guilty. +He stood with his arms bound and soldiers holding him on either side. +He was a fine tall young man with an intelligent countenance, and though +dressed in the hunter's garb of a backwoodsman, torn and travel-stained, +and covered with dirt, while his appearance was as rough as he could +make it, I thought as I looked at him that he was above the rank he had +assumed. A few short moments only were allowed him from the time of his +condemnation till his execution. His guilt was clear; he did not even +attempt to defend himself. The president had just finished addressing +him as we came up. + +"If it is a crime to love one's country better than anything else on +earth, to exert every faculty of mind and body, to sacrifice one's time +and property, to risk liberty and life to serve her, then I am guilty-- +to love liberty and freedom of conscience, to hate tyranny and +oppression, then I am indeed a criminal," he answered in an unshaken +voice. "You call me a spy and load me with opprobrium. It was +necessary to gain information as to the movements of your mercenary +army: twice have I obtained that information and carried it to our noble +general. My only regret is that I have not succeeded a third time in so +doing; but understand that though I have thus laboured to injure you +secretly, I have ever fought openly against you on the field of battle, +and on that account I might plead to die a soldier's death, and not to +be treated as a dog and hung. Yet it matters little. According to your +laws my sentence is just. I seek not to appeal from it, and I die with +the joyous certainty that the righteous cause for which I suffer will +triumph at last, and that your proud legions will retire from this +country defeated and disgraced." + +"Silence, young man?" exclaimed the president; "you departed from your +allegiance to your lawful sovereign; you acknowledge that you have taken +up arms against his troops, and you are now found acting the despicable +part of a spy. Your false reasoning cannot induce me to alter the +sentence pronounced against you. You have but a few minutes in which to +take your farewell of life." + +No sooner did Mercer catch sight of the prisoner than he turned very +pale, and as he laid his hand on my shoulder I felt that it trembled +violently. + +"What is the matter, Mercer?" I asked. + +"That noble fellow who stands there is my schoolfellow, my old familiar +friend!" he cried, scarcely aware of what he said; then, unable to +restrain himself, he rushed forward and seized the prisoner's hand. +"Sydney Markham!" he exclaimed, with deep earnestness, looking up into +the face of the condemned man, who gazed at him with an expression of +recognition and affection; "say that you are not guilty; that you have +not been acting the part of a spy. You were ever the soul of honour; I +will answer for you; they will not destroy you. If they give you time +you can easily disprove the foul accusation brought against you. Say +so, Sydney, speak! Tell them that you are not guilty. I will fly to +the general--I will go on my knees before him, I will entreat for your +life; I will offer mine instead of yours." + +The unhappy young man shook his head, and with a faint smile answered, +"Mercer, I cannot disprove the accusation brought against me. We may +differ in our views, yet, believe me, I do not feel that I have swerved +from the path of honour, and therefore, noble and high-minded as you +ever were, I am still worthy to be called your friend. But we are +wasting precious time; the minutes of my life are numbered, and I must +prepare for death." + +"Oh, no, no, no! I must strive to save you; I cannot bear to see you +thus snatched away from life." Then he turned abruptly to the president +of the court. "This man cannot be as guilty as you suppose, sir," he +exclaimed, with a look of agony; "he would never have sought to injure +the King's forces unfairly; let him live till I have seen Sir William +Howe; he may order a reprieve till he has inquired more into the +particulars of the case." + +"You ask an impossibility, sir," answered the officer, who was of the +Martinet school, as stern and unbending as one of his men's muskets; "he +has been found guilty, and I have no power to reprieve him. We must put +a stop to this system of sending spies into our camp. The higher his +position and education the more deserving he is of punishment. Sergeant +of the guard, carry out the sentence pronounced on the prisoner." + +"You see it is useless, my friend," said the young man. "Come and +assist me to meet death like a man." + +"Oh, my friend, say rather like a Christian," cried Mercer, again taking +his hand; and together they walked to a tree where a sergeant and some +soldiers were arranging a block and rope. Mercer was allowed to +continue by the side of his friend, and together they knelt down on the +grass and prayed for mercy and forgiveness to Him who is the fountain of +all mercy and swift to forgive. The chaplain of one of the regiments +had been sent for. He came at length, and the prisoner accepted his +ministrations alone, but soon again asked Mercer to join him. + +In a short time, terribly short it appeared to me, the officer in charge +of the party looked at his watch. The prisoner saw the movement; he +started to his feet. "I am ready," he exclaimed, with a firm voice; "I +willingly give my life for my country's freedom, well assured that ere +long America will be free to advance onward in the fulfilment of the +mighty destiny in store for her, and those who now seek to oppress her +will have departed with defeat and disgrace from her shores." + +Mercer entreated him, when he ceased speaking, to calm himself; he did +so with wonderful self-command. Another quarter of an hour was allowed +him, and at the end of it a signal was given, the rope was thrown over +his neck, and he was run up to a high branch of the tree under which he +had been standing. There was a loud cry, but it was uttered by Mercer; +Delisle and I rushed forward--our messmate had fainted. We got him into +a neighbouring hut, where an officer gave us every assistance in his +power. Meantime the body of the spy had been removed. As soon as +Mercer had recovered we led him as quickly at possible out of the camp +in the direction of our ship, and got him without delay on board. He +made no allusion on the way to what had occurred; nor did he indeed ever +speak of it to me. I expected to find the next day that he was taken +ill, but he still went about his duty as usual, though his nervous +system had received a shock from which it was evident he would take long +to recover. This was the last adventure I have noted during our stay at +New York. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +ONCE MORE AT SEA.--DRIVE A SCHOONER ON SHORE.--BLOWS UP.--MERCER'S +DEATH.--CAPTURE A SLOOP.--SENT AWAY IN HER.--A GALE.--ENGAGEMENT WITH +PRIVATEER.--BEAT HER OFF.--SENT TO NEW YORK AS COMMODORE OF PRIZES.-- +JOVIAL LIFE ON SHORE.--ILL CONDUCTED EXPEDITIONS. + +We were once more at sea, and truly glad were all hands on board to find +themselves in deep water again. The shore of Long Island, faint and +low, was just discernible astern, while Sandy Hook and the highlands of +Neversink arose in the distance over our starboard quarter. As I looked +on the far-off shore I could not help thinking of the scenes of strife +and destruction which, in all probability, were going on there, and +feeling heartily glad that we were away from them for a time. We had +quitted Turtle Bay on the 3rd and dropped down to Staten Island. On our +passage down we ran on board a transport and carried away our larboard +fore-chains, cathead, and small bower-anchor stock, not to speak of +having so severely damaged the transport that she nearly sank. On the +12th of the month, having repaired damages, we put to sea with his. +Majesty's ship Daphne in company. We were on our way to the mouth of +the Delaware with the intention of capturing, burning, sinking, or +otherwise destroying all vessels of every description belonging to the +colonists which we could fall in with, an odd method, it would seem, of +bringing them to reason and making them loyal subjects of his Majesty, +though our proceedings did not strike me in that light just then. For a +couple of days we had a fair wind, which carried us nearly up to our +cruising ground. On the 14th Captain Hudson made a signal to the Daphne +to go in chase of a sail seen to the southward, and shortly afterwards +another sail was seen standing towards us from the westward. We soon +made her out to be a man-of-war, and on exchanging signals she proved to +be the Kingfisher sloop-of-war. Within an hour after she joined us. As +we continued our course to the southward the look-out at the mast-head +hailed the deck. "A sail in the south-east," said he. + +"What is she like?" asked Captain Hudson. + +"A suspicious-looking craft--a schooner, sir; a merchantman of some +sort," was the answer. + +This announcement put us all on the alert, and as soon as every stitch +of sail we could carry had been clapped on the ship several officers +were seen going aloft with their spy-glasses slung by rope-yarns over +their shoulders to have a look at the chase. I was among the number, so +was Mercer. We soon afterwards made the land, which as we drew near we +recognised as Cape May. We were rapidly over-hauling the chase, which +was steering directly for the coast, and it was a question whether we +should come up with her before she ran on shore or got under shelter +among any rocks which might be there. There is nothing so exciting in a +sea life as a chase; the discussion as to what the stranger may prove, +friend or foe, with or without a cargo, armed, and likely to show fight, +or helpless, worth having or valueless; and, more than all, whether or +not one is likely to overtake her. There is only one thing beats it, +and that is to be chased, and I cannot say that the sensations are so +agreeable. We were most of us in high spirits at the thoughts of making +a capture; the first, we hoped, of a number of prizes we should take +during our cruise. The only person who did not take an interest in the +affair was Mercer. He was grave and careworn as before; indeed, it +struck me that his melancholy had increased lately. He was sitting +close to me at the fore-top mast-head. + +"Hurrah! we are overhauling her; we shall soon be up with her!" I +exclaimed. + +"Hurry," said he, turning round suddenly, "I cannot bear this life. I +wish to do my duty, to remain faithful to my allegiance, and yet, I care +not who knows it, all my sympathies are with those England has made her +foes. I have but one resource; I must quit the service. I would that I +could reach some desert isle where I could hide my head far from the +haunts of men. I would even welcome death as an alternative. +Hurricane, do you know I have of late felt as if my days were already +numbered, and that my stay on earth will be very short. Once the +thought would have made me unhappy; now I contemplate it with +satisfaction, even at moments as a welcome boon." + +I did my utmost to turn my friend's mind from the gloomy contemplations +which occupied it. I had conceived of late much greater regard for him +than I had when we first met; there was much that was generous and +romantic in his character which attracted me, besides which his courage +and coolness in danger had often excited my admiration. I had been, as +I have said, using all the arguments I could think of to turn his +thoughts into another channel, when he replied-- + +"I know that I am wrong to give way to these feelings. My religion +teaches me to trust in God's good providence and to believe that all He +orders is for the best. I spoke as I did from weakness and want of +faith; still I tell you that I am certain before long I shall meet my +death. I am endeavouring to prepare for that awful moment; but it is at +times, notwithstanding what I have just said, very, very hard to +contemplate." + +After speaking much in the same strain as before, I told him that I had +known so many people oppressed with the same feeling that he suffered +from, of approaching death, who had lived very many years afterwards, +that I put not the slightest faith in such prognostications. "At the +same time," I continued, "many a man who expects to lose his life when +going into battle does so; but then he would have been killed whether he +expected it or not; so, my dear Mercer, I hope you will live to see +peace restored, and to enjoy many happy days at home." + +Mercer shook his head, then took a long, eager look at the shore towards +which we were approaching. + +The Kingfisher had been somewhat more to the south than we were when we +sighted the chase. At first she had evidently hoped to double Cape May +and to run up the Delaware, but, that hope being cut off, her only mode +of escape was to make directly for the land; and it now became evident +to Mercer and me, as we sat on our lofty perch, that it was the +intention of her crew to run her on shore. Our conversation was brought +to a conclusion by our being obliged to descend to attend to our duties +on deck. + +The poor little schooner had but a small prospect of escape with two big +ships in chase, but the man who commanded her was a gallant fellow, and +it was evident would persevere while a chance of escape remained. + +"Fire the foremost gun, Mr Willis, and bring that fellow to," said +Captain Hudson as we got her within range. + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered the first lieutenant, going forward to see the +order executed. + +Still the chase seemed to have no notion of giving in. Shot after shot +was fired, none striking her, and soon the Kingfisher joined in the +practice, with like effect. + +"I believe the fellow will manage to run his craft on shore before he +strikes," observed the captain. "He has very likely a valuable cargo on +board." + +"Powder or arms for the rebels probably, sir," said Mr Heron. "We +shall have to cut him out." + +"I expect so, and intend to give you charge of the expedition," replied +Captain Hudson. "I hope that you will give as good an account of the +foe as you did at Kip's Bay, Mr Heron." + +The second lieutenant made a face as if he did not like the subject. + +We were now rapidly overhauling the chase. We had been standing in on a +line a little to the north of her, to prevent her hauling across our +bows and beating up to windward along-shore in shallow water, which it +was just possible she might attempt to do. Thus every chance of escape +on that side was cut off from her. At length one of our shots struck +her and carried away her main-topmast. Our crew gave a loud hurrah. It +was replied to by her people in bravado. Several successive shots did +further damage, yet still she would not give in. Her crew might have +hoped to draw us on shore, but Captain Hudson was too wary to be thus +taken in. + +"Shorten sail, Mr Willis," he shouted, "and make the signal to the +`Kingfisher' to do the same." + +Just as our canvas was reduced and the heads of the ships turned off +shore, gracefully bowing to the sea which rolled in, there was a shout +from those who were on the look-out on the chase. She had run on shore. +As she struck the rocks both her masts went by the board. Captain +Hudson on this ordered three boats from us to be manned and two from the +Kingfisher, to go in and try to get her off, if not to destroy her, for +which purpose we took the usual combustibles. Mr Heron went in one, +and had charge of the expedition. Mercer went in another, and I had +command of a third. The Kingfisher, at the same time, stood in as close +as she could, and then furling sails was warped in with springs on her +cables, to cover us in case we should be molested. The schooner had run +in within a reef which protected her somewhat from the sea. As we drew +near, I saw that her crew were still on board. My boat had taken the +lead of the others. + +"Give way, my lads, give way!" I shouted; "we shall have time to catch +the fellows before they set their craft on fire." I was not aware at +the time that they were not likely to do that same thing. The sea was +breaking over her forward, but without much violence. She lay at about +seventy to a hundred yards from the shore. I steered for her quarter, +and as I and my men sprung on board, her crew tumbled over the bows into +their boat, and made good way towards the beach. So precipitate had +been their retreat that they left behind them two poor fellows who had +been wounded by our shot. As our boats came round the stern of the +schooner, and saw the rebels escaping, the two belonging to the +sloop-of-war pulled away in chase, while Mr Heron and Mercer jumped on +board. The Kingfisher's boats would have captured the rebels, but, just +as they were about doing so, up started three or four hundred militiamen +from behind some sand hills, while other bodies were seen rushing down +from all directions towards us. They immediately opened so heavy a fire +on the two boats that they were compelled to desist from the pursuit, +and wisely beat a retreat to the schooner. The sloop-of-war on this +fired on the people on shore. There were probably by this time a +thousand or more possessed of every possible description of fire-arm. +The Kingfisher dispersed those who had first shown themselves in an +exposed situation, and knocked several of them over, but the rest kept +up so very heavy a fire on us that we were glad to dive down below to +get out of it. We at once found that it would be impossible to to get +the schooner off, and we then set to work to examine her cargo. I had +gone into the cabin, where I found the ship's manifest. I took it up to +read it, as I concluded it would give me the information we required. I +saw that some dry goods had been shipped, and some saltpetre, and I had +just read "_Three hundred and sixty barrels of gunpowder_"--an article +very much in request among the rebels--when there was a cry raised of +"Fire, fire, fire!" Mr Heron had made the same discovery by seeing +some suspicious black grains falling out of a cask, and he had just +before beat a retreat. + +"To the boats, to the boats, for your lives, my men!" I shouted, +springing on deck, followed by my men. We tumbled into our boats with +no little speed, and seized our oars, to place as much distance as we +could between ourselves and the threatened danger. As I was leaving the +vessel, I saw Mercer, with some of his people, apparently endeavouring +to lift the two poor wounded Americans into his boat. It was but a +glance, for the hurry and confusion of that awful moment prevented me +seeing more. + +"Give way, give way for your lives!" I shouted. No sooner did our +heads appear above the schooner's bulwarks than the rebels redoubled +their fire on us, but we cared not for them. We scarcely had got clear +from the side of the ill-fated vessel, when a terrific, thundering, +roaring noise assailed our ears; a vivid flash blinded us; a scorching +heat almost consumed us; and as we bent our heads in mute dismay, nearer +despair, after a few moments of awful silence, down came crashing about +us burning fragments of timbers and planks and spars and sails, and, +horror of horrors! pieces of what an instant before had been human +forms, breathing with life and strength. The oars were knocked from the +men's hands--dashed to atoms. Several of the men were struck down, +shrieking with agony from the dreadful wounds the heavy pieces of +burning wood and the hot iron inflicted; the very air was darkened for +some moments,--and it seemed that the horrible shower would never cease. +Even the enemy were awe-struck at the catastrophe, and ceased firing, +as did the sloop-of-war. Our boats' crews took the opportunity to get +out the spare oars, and to pull out to sea. As they did so they rose up +and gave the enemy three cheers, which, as may be supposed, drew down on +them hot fire in return. An important service had been accomplished in +the destruction of the powder, but I was in no mood for cheering. Five +boats had gone in, four only were coming out. The fifth floated, +shattered and blackened, over the scene of destruction, but no one was +in her. She was the boat commanded by Mercer. He and all his crew had +been; swept to destruction. His anticipations of coming evil had indeed +been speedily verified. Two short hours ago he and I were sitting side +by side away from the crowded deck, talking of matters of deep +importance, to fathom which I felt was far beyond my comprehension. +Now, though scarce a remnant of his blackened form could be discovered, +he, I trusted, was on his way to those realms inhabited by beings of +bright intelligence, to whom all such mysteries are clear as noon-day. +He died in full assurance of salvation through a merciful Saviour; his +last act one of charity, of the noblest self-devotion. + +"Which, then, is the happiest?" + +"Not I, not I." + +I bent my head and thought of what I was, of what I might become, unless +protected by the loving mercy of a higher power than that of man's +feeble will. + +The next day we parted company from the Kingfisher, and went in quest of +the Daphne, which joined us that evening, having missed the vessel of +which she had gone in chase. + +On the 20th we captured a small schooner from Philadelphia, bound to the +West Indies, with flour and Indian corn, and, having taken out the crew: +and the flour, we set her on fire, to the no small grief of her master +and owner, who stood looking at her as we left her blazing away and +lighting up the darkness of a November night. On the 24th a suspicious +sail hove in sight, which we made out to be an English brig, though she +showed no colours; but, as she did her best to get away from us, we made +chase after her. A shot brought her to, when we found that she was +bound from the coast of Guinea, had a thousand pounds' worth of ivory on +board, and had been taken by the Congress and Chance privateers Her +captors looked very blue, but had to submit to their fate. Captain +Hudson ordered Kennedy, with four hands, to take charge of her, and to +carry her into New York. + +"We shall meet there I hope soon, Hurry," said he, as he was shoving off +to take possession of his new command. "If we can but contrive to spend +some little time there, we'll manage to amuse ourselves now that the +place is free from those dunder-headed rebels." + +"I hope so too. It will not be my fault if I do not follow you soon," I +replied, "only, I say, Kennedy, take care that the brig is not +recaptured by any of those same dunder-headed rebels." + +"No fear, no fear; I'll keep too bright a look-out for that," he +answered, laughing. + +He had a fair wind and every prospect of a quick run, so that I hoped to +find him at New York when I got the chance of going there. + +On the 30th we again parted from the Daphne, and soon after gave chase +to a sleep, which, after firing a few shots, we brought to. I was at +once sent on board to take possession. I found her armed with eight +carriage four-pounders, fourteen swivels and four cohorns, and laden +with rum, porter, flour and bread, and I dare say she would have proved +as ugly a customer to any small craft she might have fallen in with as +she would have been a welcome guest at the port to which she was bound. +Grampus and Tom Rockets had accompanied me as part of my boat's crew. +Scarcely had I got on board when another sail was seen from the +mast-head of the Orpheus, so Captain Hudson ordered me to keep them and +another man, and to send the prisoners on board with the rest of the +crew, which done, I was to cruise about in the neighbourhood to wait his +return. A midshipman's personal comfort is not much considered on such +occasions, so that I was unable to get any clothes or even a change of +linen before my ship was standing away with all sail set in chase of the +stranger last seen. My prize, I found, was called the Colonel Parry. + +"What do you think of our craft?" said I to Grampus, who had been +running his eye over her, inside and out. + +"Why, Mr Hurry, she's seen no little service in her time, I'm thinking; +and if so be there comes a gale of wind, she'll require delicate +handling, or she'll be apt to go t'other way to what the schooner we +last took did. Now, to my mind, sir, the weather doesn't look at all +pleasant like, and I shouldn't be surprised but what we get a pretty +heavy gale of wind before nightfall." + +"I think so too," said I. "There's one comfort, if we do not fan in +with the `Orpheus' again for a month to come, we've provisions enough on +board--we shall not starve." + +Old Nol's prognostications were fulfilled even sooner than we expected; +a black, heavy bank of clouds came rolling up towards us; and as the +frigate's top-gallant sails, shining with peculiar whiteness against the +dark mass, sank beneath the horizon, we were pitching our bows into a +heavy sea under a close-reefed mainsail and foresail. We had made +ourselves as snug as we could, but not a moment too soon. Had there +been a trysail on board I should have set it. Even with the sail she +had on her the vessel strained very much, and sometimes I thought she +would make a perfect dip of it and go down head foremost. However, I +had done all I could do, and must await the result. + +"What's the matter now?" said I to Grampus, who had gone below for a +short time. + +"Why, sir, the old tub is taking in water rather faster than we are +likely to pump it out." + +"We must try, however," I answered. "Man the pumps, and let's do our +best." + +So to work we set. The weather was cool, and we were wet with the sea +and spray, but the exercise kept us from feeling cold. We soon found +that we made no sensible impression on the water in the hold, but yet it +was something to keep the vessel afloat. While so employed, a loud bang +saluted our ears; a heavier blast than usual had split both the mainsail +and foresail. The sails soon shivered to tatters. I could find none +with which to replace them, and there we lay, almost water-logged, at +the mercy of the winds and waves. A long November night, too, was +coming on, and I felt the very great probability that we might never be +blessed by the sight of another dawn. Grampus took it very coolly; he +had been in many similar situations; but Tom Rockets was far from happy. + +"Oh, Mr Hurry," said he, as the gale rose higher and the seas tossed us +helplessly about, ever and anon deluging our decks, "what is to become +of us, sir? What will poor mother do when she hears that you and I are +gone to the bottom in this outlandish country, where they seem to have +nothing to do but to fight and shoot and knock each other on the head?" + +Poor Tom's notion of the country was very naturally formed from his own +experience. + +"I hope, Tom, things are not so bad as you fancy," said I. "We must +pray to God, and trust in His mercy to save us. He has power to hold us +up if He thinks fit; and I have no doubt, too, that your mother and mine +are praying for us, and I feel sure that He will listen to their +prayers, if He does not to those of such careless, thoughtless fellows +as we are." + +"That's truth, Mr Hurry," put in old Grampus; "there's nothing like +having a good mother to pray for one, depend on't. While my old mother +lived, I always felt as how there was one who loved me, who was asking +more for me than I dared ask for myself; and now she's gone aloft, I +don't think she has forgotten her son, though I doubt if she would know +his figure-head if she was to see him." + +"I cannot say exactly that. Grampus," said I, "though it looks to me +like true philosophy; but one thing I do know--and that the Bible tells +us plainly--that, if we will but trust and believe on Him, we have an +Advocate with the Father, ever pleading for us, bad as we may have +been--He who came into the world to save us, our Lord and Saviour Jesus +Christ. He knows how to plead for us better than any earthly parent, +either alive or in heaven, for He so loved us that He took our nature +upon Him, and He knows all things, and knows our weaknesses and +temptations, and want of opportunities of gaining knowledge." + +"That's true again, sir," observed Grampus; "that's what I calls right +earnest religion--you'll pardon me for saying it, but to my mind the +parsons couldn't give us better." + +I told Grampus I was glad of his good opinion, and we talked on for some +time much in the same strain. I had gained more religious knowledge +lately from poor Mercer, who, during the last weeks we had been +together, had been very assiduous in impressing his own convictions on +me. There are occasions like this which bring people of different ranks +together, and which draw out the real feelings and thoughts of the +heart, when all know that any moment may be their last; a slight +increase of the gale, one heavier sea than usual, the starting of a +plank may send them all to the bottom. The pride of the proudest is +humbled, the fiercest man is made meek. Those who live on shore at +ease, and are seldom or never exposed to danger or are in hazard of +their lives, can scarcely understand these things; priding themselves on +their education, rank or fortune, they look down on all beneath them as +unworthy of their thoughts or care, and I verily believe that some of +them fancy that a different Creator made them--that they were sent into +the world for different objects, and that they will go to different +heaven when they die--that is to say, if they ever think of dying, or +ever trouble their heads about an hereafter. I have often wished to get +those young gentlemen in just such a position as I was that night, and +they could not fail to learn a lesson which they would remember to the +end of their days. + +In the morning watch the gale began to abate. + +"Come," said I, "let's turn to and see if we cannot lessen the water in +the hold." + +"Ay, ay, sir," replied Grampus. "We've a chance now, I think." + +We therefore all set to work with a will--there is nothing like trying +what can be done, however desperate affairs may seem--and before +daylight we most certainly were gaining on the leaks. We now found a +second jib in the sail-room, which we set as a trysail, though I had not +much expectation of it standing, and by its means we hove the vessel to. +This at once relieved her greatly, but, as day broke, the weather +looked so unpromising that I had great fears we might very soon be in a +worse position than before. Our comfort was, that we had now done all +that men could do, so we went to breakfast with clear consciences on +some of the good things left us by the former owners. We lighted a fire +in the cabin, dried our clothes, warmed our bodies, and otherwise made +ourselves as comfortable as circumstances would admit. On deck the +aspect of affairs was not so cheering. Nothing was to be seen but dark +green seas crested with foam around us, and black lowering clouds +overhead, while a cold whistling wind did its best to blow our teeth +down our throats. The wind, as I expected, soon breezed up again, and +continued blowing heavily the whole day. The water, however, did not +further gain on us, so I had hopes that we might still weather it out. +Night came back on us without our having seen a sail or experienced any +change for the better, and the morning came, and the next day passed +away exactly as had the first. We had bread enough to eat, and flour to +make dumplings, but we had no suet to put with them, so that they came +out of the pot as hard as round shots; and we had rum and porter in a +superabundance to drink; it was important, however, to use it sparingly, +especially the former; but we had very few other things which could be +called luxuries; no bedding, no change of clothes, and but a scanty +supply of fuel. I had to lie wrapped up in an old cloak and a piece of +carpet while Tom Rockets washed out my shirt and stockings. Day after +day passed away and there we lay, pitching our bows under, hove-to at +the most boisterous season of the year off that inhospitable coast, +earnestly wishing for the return of the Orpheus, with the prospect, in +the meantime, of being recaptured by an enemy's privateer, and the +certainty of being taken should we make for any port but New York, +which, as the wind then held, was a matter of impossibility. We did +not, however, pipe our eyes about the matter but, following old Nol's +advice, made the best of it. + +"Any sail in sight, Grampus?" I used to ask as I turned out in the +morning. + +"No, sir, only clouds and water; but better them than an enemy, you +know, sir," was his general reply. + +Now and then a sail would appear in the horizon, but either we were not +seen or they were peaceable merchantmen, anxious to make the best of +their way to their destined port. At last one morning, after I had been +keeping the middle watch, old Grampus' voice roused me out of a sound +sleep. + +"Come on deck, Mr Hurry, sir, if you please! I don't like the looks of +her at all." + +In a moment my head was up the companion-hatch. The weather was worse +than ever. A thick driving mist formed a dense veil on every side, but +I could just discern through it the sails of a large schooner standing +directly for us from the eastward. + +"She is American, I suspect, Grampus," said I. + +"No doubt about it, sir," he answered. "Our cruise is up, I'm afraid, +and we may make ready for a spell on shore, and nothing to do." + +"We might beat her off, though," I observed. "There is nothing like +putting a bold face on the matter, and it would never do to yield +without striking a blow." + +"Ay, sir, with all my heart," said he cheerfully; "the guns are all +loaded, and I made Tom and Bill get up some powder and shot in case they +were wanted, before I called you, sir. You'll excuse me, sir, I thought +there was no harm." + +"All right, Grampus," I answered, laughing at his having calculated on +what I should certainly propose doing. Bill Nettle was a good man and +true, so that I knew I could thoroughly depend on all my small crew, +and, having made every preparation, we waited till the schooner got +within range of our guns. We had not long to wait. The gale bore her +quickly towards us, and I almost thought she intended to run us down. +Were she to overpower us there was too much sea to allow her to send a +boat on board to take possession. She got within range, still she did +not fire. + +"She is unarmed, I suspect," said I. + +"No, no, sir," replied Grampus. "She is armed, depend on that. She is +up to some trick or other." + +On she came, passing close to us. The American flag was flying from the +peak. I could not make out the mystery. In another moment, however, it +was explained. For an instant the fog lifted, and showed us a large +ship under a press of sail, standing directly after her. We cheered at +the sight, for we had no difficulty in recognising the Orpheus, and at +the same moment we ran out and let fly every gun we could bring to bear +at the rigging of the stranger. One shot, directed by chance, certainly +not by skill, struck her main-topmast, and down it came tumbling on +deck. We hastened to reload our guns as fast as we could. She gave us +a broadside from her guns in return, but the shot were thrown away. She +stood on, however, but we had not a little diminished her chance of +escape. The Orpheus was soon up to us, passing within hail. + +"Well done, Mr Hurry, well done!" shouted Captain Hudson. "We will +send you help as soon as we can." + +His commendation was no little satisfaction to me. It was a fine sight +to see the noble ship sweeping by, her white canvas looking whiter amid +the dark clouds and the sheets of foam which surrounded her, as, pressed +by the gale, she heeled over, till her lee guns dipped in the water as +she plunged on through the heaving seas which she majestically cast +aside in her course. I longed to be on board her, though I should have +speedily changed from a commander into a midshipman. Away she went, her +vast form growing each instant more indistinct, like one of the genii +one reads about in tales of romance, till she disappeared altogether in +the thick driving mist, and once more we were left alone, so that her +very appearance seemed almost like a dream, and I began at last to +question whether I really had seen her. We watched anxiously for her, +trying to pierce through the gloomy atmosphere, but no sign of her could +we discern, and night once again closed round us in our solitude. The +weather did not improve, so we spent another day at pile driving, +neither a pleasant nor a profitable occupation. The second morning +after the event I have described was as dark and lowering as before, +but, as I went on deck after breakfast, Grampus cheered me by saying +that he thought it was going to mend a bit. We were looking to the +south-east, when simultaneously all hands uttered a loud cheer. The +clouds seemed to burst asunder, the mist lifted, the bright sun shone +forth, and, surrounded by his glorious rays, beneath a canopy of blue +sky, our noble ship appeared, standing towards us, with the schooner and +a sloop in her wake. There was, however, still too much sea on for her +to send a boat without some risk; indeed, before she could well have +done so, another sail hove in sight, and she was away in chase. + +On the 14th of the month we spoke his Majesty's ship Mermaid, with a +convoy from England to New York. On the 15th the Orpheus took a +schooner from Martinique, with a cargo of claret, so that with another +sloop she had taken she had now five prizes. It was not, however, till +the 26th of the month that a boat boarded me from the ship, with written +directions from Captain Hudson to take under my command all the prizes, +and to proceed with them to New York. I, in return, sent for my bedding +and chest, and a few other things from the purser, which I required, and +as soon as I had got them I hoisted the signal to my squadron to make +sail for the port of our destination. A midshipman had been put in +charge of each of the prizes, and as soon as we had lost sight of the +ship we ran close to each other to discuss the plans of amusement which +each of us were already enjoying by anticipation. Delisle commanded one +of the schooners, Ragget another, Nicholas had one sloop, and Drew the +last capture. We were, as may be supposed, a very merry set. It did +not occur to us that our enemy's cruisers might pop down on us before we +got into port, as does a cat among a party of mice at play. We were +almost as helpless as mice in the paws of a cat, for so few men were +sent away in each prize that we had scarcely strength to work them, much +less to fight or make sail on an emergency. In this instance fortune +favoured us. We made Sandy Hook on the 28th, and before evening were +all safely moored alongside the wharf, among twenty-nine other vessels +of various rigs captured by the Orpheus. + +As several other ships of war had sent in prizes, we altogether formed a +very jovial set of midshipmen. There were seven of us from the Orpheus +alone, and, as I was senior officer, they were generally my guests. I +had really a very elegant cabin, nicely fitted up with every +convenience, and a comfortable stove, besides which I collected from the +various prizes an ample stock of good things to supply the wants of the +inner man. Never indeed had I enjoyed more perfect luxury, or greater +rest and relaxation, without one anxious care, one unhappy moment to +extract the sweets from my existence, free from all the rubs and kicks +and snubs midshipmen seem the natural heirs to, so I smiled at fortune +and defied its frowns. + +I was for a short time, however, made to quake, for after the Orpheus +had, during December, sent in several prizes, she arrived herself with +two others, and some of my messmates had to return on board. But +Captain Hudson, whose good opinion I had won, gave me directions, to my +infinite contentment, to remain in charge of the prizes. I had also a +sufficient number of companions to bear me company. Numberless were the +pranks we Orlopians played. Some might now make me blush, though, +generally, if not wise they were harmless. I remember that we did our +skipper and the captain of the Daphne out of three cases of claret which +they had marked for their own use. It happened that, as we were +preparing to keep Christmas Day, some one bethought him of the three +cases. They were sent for. One of them was broached at dinner-time, +and found so excellent that we drank up the whole; but, as we were doing +so, our consciences were alarmed, and we ordered the bottles and corks +to be kept. The next day we employed ourselves in refilling them from +the casks, and in carefully corking and sealing them. Some time +afterwards I was dining with our captain, when one of the cases was +produced. The opinion of the guests was asked. Some thought it +excellent. Delisle, who was there, looked at me, but we kept our +countenances. Our first lieutenant, who was considered a judge, +pronounced it good, but he found very little difference between it and +the wine in cask. + +Among other things we came on some casks of limes--excellent things, be +it known, in the composition of punch. The said fruit we accordingly +ate up or used for that purpose, and filling the casks with wet hay, +some rotten limes, and the stuff they were packed in, returned them to +the hold. On examination, the casks of limes were found to have been +entirely spoilt. Such tricks are, however, I must own, not only +unworthy of imitation, but scarcely fit to be recorded. + +I must now give a glance at the position of the belligerent armies at +this period. Washington, having crossed the Hudson into the Jerseys, +had been compelled by the desertion of a considerable number of his +troops, who had enlisted only for short periods, to retreat across the +Delaware, while some of the most fertile tracts of the country fell into +the hands of the Royalists. General Lee, an officer of considerable +talent and daring, was surprised and captured by a body of British +cavalry; while the other rebel generals found themselves, with +diminished and disheartened forces, separated from each other, and +without resources or means of recruiting; indeed, the revolutionary +cause appeared to have arrived at its lowest ebb, and great hopes were +entertained that a speedy conclusion would be made to the sanguinary +contest. Perhaps the Americans were not so badly off as we supposed. +That they were not asleep was proved by their gallant and well-conducted +surprise and capture of Colonel Rahl and a thousand Hessian troops at +Trenton on Christmas Day, an enterprise which inspirited the Americans, +and was a severe loss to the Royalists. The Hessian commander was +mortally wounded, and died the next day; and most of his men, being +marched into the interior, settled in the country. Soon after this +occurrence Washington was appointed military dictator, and through his +consummate conduct the prospects of the rebels began to revive. + +Of course the progress of the war was the constant subject of +conversation while I was at New York, and I consequently heard a good +deal about it. Before I end this chapter, I think it may prove +interesting if I give a slight sketch of the warlike proceedings which +had occurred up to this period on the Canadian frontier, as well as some +of the proceedings of General Washington and his army. + +Lakes Champlain and George, approaching as they do the upper waters of +the Hudson, have always been considered the key to the northern +provinces from Canada. Their possession has therefore been looked on as +of the first importance; and Ticonderoga, the chief fort at the head of +Lake Champlain, has been the scene of many bloody encounters. I heard a +good deal about the matter afterwards from Edward Fleetwood Pelew, whose +brother Israel was long a messmate of mine, and who was himself engaged +in the affair I have to relate. General Gates commanded the American +forces in the north, and he had strongly fortified Ticonderoga. Our +army in Canada was at that time under the command of Sir Guy Carleton, a +very brave and dashing officer. The success which Sir William Howe had +met with on the seaboard inspired him with an ardent desire to signalise +himself in the north; and he hoped to be able to expel the rebels from +their posts on the lakes, and, by a triumphant march down the banks of +the Hudson, to form a junction with the main body of the British army at +New York. To effect this object he fitted out a fleet of small craft of +every description on which he could lay his hands on Lake Champlain. It +was placed under the command of Captain Pringle. The Americans got +notice of what was going forward, and got a fleet together under the +orders of General Arnold. Our fleet were ready by the first week in +October, and made sail up the lake in search of the enemy. They cruised +for some time, and were almost in despair of falling in with the +American squadron, believing that it must have run for shelter to the +extreme southern point of the lake, when, as with a fair wind they had +already passed Valcour Island, they caught sight of the enemy drawn up +across the channel between that island and the main. Our flotilla +instantly hauled their wind, and stood in to attack the enemy. The +Americans, to do them justice, behaved gallantly, and no man could have +fought his vessels better than did Arnold; but our force was +overpowering, and they got dreadfully cut up. Some Indians were landed +on the island, who, getting on their flanks, galled them terribly with +their rifles. Still they fought on till darkness came to their aid. +Our larger vessels could not get into the channel, or they would have +been completely cut up. At night the British squadron had to haul off; +and, when morning dawned, it was found that Arnold, and such of his +vessels as still kept afloat, had made his escape up the lake. Several +of them were, however, overtaken and captured, while others were sunk or +run on shore and burnt. Arnold with the remnant took shelter under +Ticonderoga. This success was not followed up by Sir Guy, as he found +that Ticonderoga was so strongly garrisoned that he could not hope to +take it without considerable loss both of men and time, and he would +afterwards have had to advance through a difficult country in the middle +of winter with a vigilant enemy ever on the watch to harass him. He +therefore returned with his army to Montreal. + +General Washington, meantime, after he had retreated from New York with +his shattered forces, endeavoured to hold the country to the westward on +both sides of the Hudson. The greater part of his army occupied a rocky +and mountainous district known by the name of the Highlands. There he +carried on a sort of Fabian warfare, ever avoiding a regular engagement, +always on the defensive, and retreating when pursued. So ill-formed and +ill-disciplined were the American forces at this time that he had no +other resource than to act as he did. His army was still further +weakened by the loss of Fort Washington with a garrison of nearly three +thousand men, which was gallantly taken, after a desperate defence, by +Lords Percy and Cornwallis, and a body of Hessians under Colonel Rahl, +of whom I have before spoken. + +Altogether, it seems surprising that our generals should not have been +able at this juncture to crush Washington, and put an end to the +rebellion. A higher Power than either of the belligerents ruled +otherwise. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +MY COMMAND ENDS.--AT SEA ON BOARD THE ORPHEUS.--ON A LEE-SHORE.-- +SAVED.--SENT UP PROVIDENCE RIVER.--THREATENED BY FIRE-SHIPS.--EMPLOYMENT +OF SPIES.--THE OLD SPY AND HIS NEPHEW.--ATTACKED BY FIRE-SHIPS.-- +EXECUTION OF THE SPIES.--SAIL ON A CRUISE WITH OTHER FRIGATES.--PRIZES +TAKEN.--A PRIVATEER ESCAPES US IN A GALE.--CHASE VESSELS ON SHORE.-- +EXPOSED TO HEAVY FIRE.--NARROW ESCAPE.--MY YOUNG MESSMATE WOUNDED. + +"Well, skipper, I'm afraid our cruise is at an end," said Delisle, +coming into my cabin one morning as I sat discussing such a breakfast as +rarely fell in those days to the share of a midshipman before my warm +stove. + +"Oh, bird of ill omen, why croak you forth such dire intelligence?" I +asked, as he threw off his snow-covered coat, and prepared to join me in +my meal with a look which made me fear there were not many more such in +store for us. + +"Because, by the pricking of my thumbs, something evil this way comes, +in the shape of the `Orpheus,' of which I caught a glimpse as I came +along, standing into the harbour," he replied, knocking the top off an +egg. + +We had been reading Shakespeare, and various other literary productions, +and had become somewhat poetical in our style of conversation. My +messmate's information was but too true--that very afternoon we received +orders to deliver up our prizes to the agents, and to rejoin our ship. +With what sorrow of heart did I bid farewell to my neat cabin, my airy +sleeping-place, my comfortable sofa, my warm stove, and all the other +luxuries with which I had been surrounded; and with what thorough +disgust and discontent did I take possession, after my long absence, of +my berth on board the old Orpheus! Really, I had no right to complain, +and I was truly glad to see many of my shipmates again. + +The heavy islands of ice, which came floating down with each ebb, +threatening to crush in the bows of the ship, compelled us to move down +close to the fish-market, where we were sheltered from them. + +On the 20th, having received on board a number of rebel prisoners, whom +we were to take round to Rhode Island, we sailed in company with HMS +Solebay, Daphne, and Harriet packet, but parted with them off Sandy +Hook. Our passengers were in a very sad state of destitution and +sickness. Fever soon broke out among them, and it spread rapidly among +our crew. + +We quickly were doomed also to experience another of the numerous ills +which seamen are heirs to. This was a gale of wind which sprung up +about midnight from the south-east, catching us most completely on a +lee-shore. We had made but little offing, and every minute the wind +increased, and we, I saw, were drifting closer and closer onto the coast +of Long Island. Captain Hudson, Mr Willis, and Mr Flood, the master, +were in earnest consultation. + +"What will you give for our chance of saving the ship?" said Delisle to +me as we stood holding on to the weather bulwarks, while the spray in +dense masses was breaking over us--the ship heeling over till her +lee-guns were buried in water with the heavy press of canvas it was +necessary to carry to give us a hope of beating off. + +"A midshipman's half-pay for a week and a day, unless the wind shifts or +moderates," I answered. "I believe the old barkie was never in greater +peril. If we save the people's lives we shall be fortunate." + +"So the captain seems to think. I never saw him more anxious," replied +Delisle. "My idea is that we shall have to cut away the masts and +anchor. My only consolation is that if we escape with our lives, it is +the only part of the coast where we should not to a certainty be made +prisoners of war." + +I agreed with Delisle. To anchor would be our only resource, but one on +which I feared we could place very little reliance. The anchors might +hold; but with the whole roll of the Atlantic tumbling in on us, and the +terrific gale there was already blowing, and every instant increasing, I +felt that there was small chance of their so doing. Dark and darker +grew the night, higher and higher rose the sea, and fiercer and more +furious blew the wind. Still the stout ship struggled bravely on; her +lee-side pressed deep into the water, while torrents of foam broke over +her weather-bow and deluged us fore and aft. It seemed doubtful indeed +whether the masts would long stand the tremendous strain put upon them. +High above the roaring of the tempest was occasionally heard the ominous +voice of the man in the chains as he sung out the depth of water in +which we floated, showing that we were slowly though surely shallowing +it. + +That dark and terrific night will not easily pass from my memory. +Captain Hudson had ordered the cables to be ranged in readiness to +anchor. The carpenter and his crew were sent for, and ordered to +prepare for the last desperate expedient of cutting away the masts. +Every now and then, as a bright flash of lightning darted from the sky, +they might be seen with their gleaming axes uplifted, ready at a moment +to execute the fatal order. Everybody was on deck, for our danger was +apparent to all. + +"What shall we have to do?" asked little Harry Sumner, as he stood +shivering with the cold by my side. + +"Obey orders and trust in Providence, my boy," said I. "If the anchors +don't hold and the ship goes to pieces, we may have to swim for it, and +then, Harry, keep an eye on me, and if I can lend you a helping hand, I +will. I must not promise too much, for I may not be able to help +myself." + +"Thank you, Hurry, thank you. Oh, I am sure you will do all you can for +me," said the boy gratefully. + +The coolest man on board was the captain. He stood on the weather-side +of the quarter-deck, one hand holding on by a stanchion, the other +grasping his speaking-trumpet, his hair streaming from beneath his hat, +and his coat-tails fluttering in the gale. I love to picture our brave +commander as he appeared at that moment, when he knew the lives of +hundreds depended on his calmness and decision. + +"By the deep nine," was heard from the man in the chains. Scarcely had +the words been uttered, when down came the tempest on us with redoubled +fury, and the wind and sea roared so loudly that it would scarcely have +been possible to have heard his voice again. Suddenly there was a lull. + +"By the mark eight," was now heard with startling distinctness. A flash +of lightning revealed the captain as he raised his speaking-trumpet to +his mouth. We knew what was coming. At that very moment the sails gave +a loud flap against the masts, the ship plunged violently, but rose on +an even keel. The captain took the trumpet from his mouth. Suddenly +the gale backed out of its former quarter, and shifted to the +north-west. There was a shout of satisfaction; some few, perhaps, +breathed a prayer of thankfulness for our preservation as we ran off +from the dangerous coast. + +On the 23rd we reached Rhode Island. The fever had spread so rapidly +among our men that in a few days we sent no less than ninety of them to +the hospital on shore, while we kept an equal number of sick on board. +On the 27th the commodore sent us a hundred men from other ships, and +ordered us to cruise for a month in Buzzard's Bay, between New Bedford +Harbour and Martha's Vineyard. The latter quaint-named place is one of +the many islands off that coast inside Nantucket Island. The extreme +severity of the weather made our cruise thoroughly disagreeable, and +much prevented the people from recovering their health; indeed, it +considerably increased the number of our sick. In truth, it was very +tantalising and provoking to be kept for nearly a week knocking about +for no purpose scarcely ten leagues from our port without being allowed +to enter it. At last the captain could stand it no longer, so we put +back on the 3rd of March, and were forthwith sent up Providence River as +an advanced ship. Here we had frequent skirmishes with the enemy, who +took a sly pop at us whenever they could, but without doing us much +damage. On the 10th of March we received orders to proceed to sea +immediately. We sailed accordingly that night, and the next morning +captured a sloop from Charleston, bound to Boston with dye and indigo. +That night we anchored under Block Island, and for some days cruised +about in the hopes of picking up some prizes, I conclude. I fancy that +the commodore had received notice that some vessels with valuable +cargoes might be expected in the neighbourhood about that time. We +anchored in Martha's Vineyard on the 16th, where some of our youngsters +expected to find grapes growing, and were much disappointed on +discovering that none were to be found there, especially in March, and +two days after we once more returned to Rhode Island without having made +another capture. We were quickly sent off again, and, having bagged a +prize, returned on the 3rd of April, when we were ordered up the river +to relieve the Cerberus as the advance-ship off Providence, our station +being between the Island of Prudence and the mainland. A glance at the +map will show the number of islands in that fine estuary, which +terminates in Providence Bay. On one of them, called the Island of +Hope, near which the ship was generally at anchor, to vary the monotony +of a sea life we employed ourselves in the cultivation of gardens. Our +horticultural knowledge was not very extensive, but we managed during +our stay to raise various crops of quick-growing esculents, and on our +departure we disposed of our property to our respective brother-officers +belonging to the ship which relieved us. Our life was, however, far +from one of Arcadian simplicity, for we were constantly aroused by war's +rude alarms, and had every night to row guard in three flat-bottomed +boats ahead of the ship, to prevent a surprise. The enemy were ever on +the alert, endeavouring to find some means of destroying us. This was +but natural, as we were completely putting a stop to their commerce, on +which their existence mainly depended. We had, however, a number of +spies employed, who brought us information of all the plots formed +against us. Some brought us information, influenced by a spirit of +loyalty to the king, and a belief that they were serving a good cause; +but others were mercenary wretches, who were willing to be employed by +those who paid them the highest. The reports of these latter, though it +was necessary to employ them, were always received with great caution by +our captain. He could scarcely conceal the disgust he felt for them. +One morning, about ten days after our arrival, as we were washing decks +at sunrise, while I happened to be looking over the ship's side, I +observed a small boat standing towards us from Prudence Island. As she +drew near, I saw that there were two men in the boat. They were dressed +as ordinary seamen. One was a young man of nineteen or twenty; the +other was much older, with his hair already turning grey--a stout, +strong-featured, healthy-looking man. The younger man was rather tall, +and had a pleasant, honest face. When the sentry hailed them, they +asked leave to come on board to see the captain. Captain Hudson was +already up. I went to inform him of their arrival, and by his desire +conducted them to him. Their manner was frank and open, and they seemed +to have made a favourable impression on the captain. When they left the +cabin he ordered them to be carefully provided and looked after. I +afterwards had much conversation with them. The elder had been a +soldier in his youth, and served the king in many parts of the world. +They were both imbued with an almost romantic feeling of loyalty. "King +George was always a good and kind master to me, and I'm not going to +desert him when he most wants me because his ministers choose to do what +some of the people of this country don't like," said the elder man. "I +got a wound in his service in my thigh here, so I can't march and carry +a musket as I did once, or I would have gone down and joined the +royalists at New York, but there are other ways of serving his Majesty, +though they are somewhat risky, I own; but what of that? every man +should be ready to die in a good cause. It's very bad, though, all this +fighting and bloodshed among folks of the same race and kindred, and +now, if they'd followed my advice, I don't think it would ever have come +about. As I used to say to my nephew, Amos Weeks here, `Amos,' said I, +`wait a bit and don't be in a hurry. Write and petition against the +taxes as much as you like. Taxes must be laid on, and somebody must pay +them, and if we don't like them we must petition, as I say; but anything +beyond that will be rank treason and rebellion, and that's wicked and +abominable. Suppose this country was to become free and independent as +they talk of, what would the people do? Either they must make General +Washington a king, or they will soon quarrel among themselves and cut +their own throats.'" The old soldier spoke so earnestly, and there +seemed to be so much good sense in what he said, that I put it down. He +certainly proved himself a very good advocate of the king's cause. From +him we learned that the enemy were about to make a grand attack on us +with their fire-ships, and in the hurry and confusion which would +necessarily ensue they hoped to enable three of their frigates, which +had long been waiting an opportunity, to run past us and to get to sea. +That night we were doubly on our guard, though we could scarcely +increase the precautions we had already taken. It was very dark, with a +strongish breeze blowing down the river. There had been almost a gale +in the day, with a heavy rain, which would have afforded the enemy a +greater chance of success had we not been on the watch for them. Mr +Gaston, our third lieutenant, Delisle, and I had charge of the three +boats. Our ears were more likely to serve us than our eyes, considering +the thick darkness with which we were surrounded. My boat was the +headmost--that is, farther up the river than the rest. Grampus was with +me. "Hist, sir, didn't you hear the chirp of a block?" said he in a +whisper. "The lubbers should have taken care to use more grease if they +wanted to surprise us." I fancied I had heard the same sound. We +listened breathlessly while the crew lay on their oars. It came from up +the river, directly ahead of us. "Ah! there it is again," said I. For +some time we waited without moving, all hands peering into the darkness. +At length I thought I discerned one spot darker than the surrounding +atmosphere. I gazed at it earnestly. Gradually the spot increased in +density till it resolved itself into the hull of a vessel, with canvas +set, standing directly down towards us. There could be no doubt that +her intention must be to run aboard the Orpheus, and that she must be a +fire-ship. "Give way, my lads," I whispered, steering directly for her +bows. The instant we reached them we threw on board the grapnels we had +prepared for that purpose, and began to tow her away across the stream. +As we did so a fire of musketry was opened on us from her deck, which +wounded one of our men. We had no time to reply to it, nor was it +repeated, the crew of the fire-ship having taken to their boat. The +sound and flash of the fire-arms brought the other boats to our +assistance, and they began to pepper away at the retreating boat as she +was disappearing in the gloom. In less than a minute she was no longer +to be seen. For another instant there was a perfect silence, then +suddenly a bright light shot up from the hold of the fire-ship, flames +burst forth from her ports and from every quarter, and climbed up her +rigging, while fire-balls and all sorts of missiles of destruction +leaped forth in every direction, a bright glare extending far and wide +over the broad stream showing us our own ship on one side, with her +spars and rigging in bold relief, traced against the dark sky; and on +the other, towards Providence, it shone on the white sails of three or +four large ships and several smaller ones, which we concluded were +fire-ships. We fully expected an abundance of hot work. +Notwithstanding the great risk we ran of destruction, we towed lustily +away till we had got the fire-ship well out into the stream, so that +there was no longer any risk of her drifting down on the Orpheus; while +fortunately, as we had a long painter, we escaped without injury. We +knew that before she reached the other ships she would have burnt out, +so we cast off and prepared to grapple with any more of the same ugly +customers which might be sent against us. The Orpheus had, in the mean +t ime, sent all her boats to our assistance, and together we waited in +expectation of the attack; but hour after hour passed away, and when the +morning dawned our mysterious and phantom-like enemies had, like the +ghosts of romance, disappeared from the landscape. The adventure of the +night would have seemed like a dream, had it not been for our wounded +comrade and the charred bits of wood which lay scattered about the boat. +This night's work I describe as a specimen of what frequently occurred +during our stay in the river. The following night I was sent on shore +to land our two spies, that they might learn what were the next +movements proposed by the enemy. + +"Good-bye, Mr Meeks, good-bye," said I, as I landed the old soldier; +"it is hazardous work you are on, so be cautious." + +"I know that, sir," said he, "I know that; but the man who would serve +his country must be ready to risk life and property, and all he holds +dear." + +I have sometimes, long, long since then, thought, if people were but as +ready to devote themselves to the service of their Creator as they are +body, mind, soul, and strength, for the purpose of carrying out some +worldly objects, how much better would it be for their spiritual good, +for their eternal welfare! + +For several nights after this the enemy were very quiet; no attempt was +made with their fire-ships, nor were we aware that their boats ever came +near us. We therefore began to suspect that they meditated an attack of +greater magnitude than heretofore. We therefore looked somewhat +anxiously for the information which we hoped our spies would be able to +supply. Nothing was done, however, till the evening of the 20th, when +Captain Hudson sent for me. "Mr Hurry," said he, "Lieutenant Douglas +of the `Chatham' has received orders to go on shore at midnight to bring +off our spies, the two Meekses. You are to accompany him. It is a +delicate service, and I must caution you to be careful that none of your +men do anything to give the alarm. I send you on the expedition as I +know that I can trust to your discretion." + +I thanked him for the good opinion he was so often pleased to express of +me, and went below to prepare for what was before me. I took Grampus +and Tom with me, and a picked boat's crew, and at the hour arranged +shoved off from the ship's side. Mr Douglas had come on board in the +afternoon. He had to communicate with a person on shore, while I had to +look-out for the spies. It was a darkish night, but there was very +little wind, so that it was necessary to muffle our oars in order that +our approach might not be perceived. As we pulled over the still +waters, in which here and there the reflection of a star might be seen, +as it peeped out between the clouds, we could just distinguish the +fringe-like tops of the trees which surrounded the sheltered nook +towards which we were steering. All was still as death as we approached +the shore. We ran into the nook and landed. Two men were left in +charge of the boat, and while Mr Douglas proceeded to the place where +he was to meet the person he had appointed to see, I led the men through +the wood to a spot where two roads met, and where the Meekses had +arranged to be in waiting. I whistled twice very low as agreed on, but +no one answered. Telling Grampus to wait, I walked along the road in +the hopes of meeting our friends; but seeing no one, I returned to await +their coming. It occurred to me, that as strangers might be passing it +would be unwise to expose my men to view; so I posted them behind a +thicket, and sat down where I was myself concealed, and could at the +same time command a view along the roads as far as the light would +allow. I had remained there fully half an hour, when I heard footsteps +approaching at a rapid rate. The person stopped where the road branched +off, as if in uncertainty which to take. I was about to rush forward +with my men to seize him, when I recognised Mr Douglas. "We shall have +to retreat to the boats, I fear," said he; "some one has given +information that we are here, and the neighbourhood is alarmed; but we +must wait till the last moment for the poor fellows we were sent to +bring off." + +Ten minutes, or rather more, elapsed when we heard footsteps advancing +along one of the roads. They came at a leisurely pace, as if the people +were in no hurry. I gave the signal. It was answered by the persons +approaching. "All's right," I observed to Mr Douglas; but almost as I +spoke, the dark figures of a body of men could be distinguished in the +gloom, turning a corner of the other road. Seeing this, Mr Douglas had +no resource but to give the order to our party to retreat, for it was +very evident that the enemy far outnumbered us. As we did so, I called +to the spies to hasten forward, for I knew that we could no longer +remain concealed. Hearing my voice, the two men ran on; but at the same +time our foes advanced at a double quick step along the road. I saw +that not a moment was to be lost if we would save the lives of old Meeks +and his nephew; so, calling on Grampus and Tom, I made a dash forward in +the hopes of checking the enemy till we could meet them. Unfortunately +the rebels were too quick in their movements for us, and before we could +reach the fork of the road they had already gained the same place, and +effectually prevented us from saving our friends whom we had too much +reason to apprehend had fallen into their hands, unless they had been +able to save themselves by flying in an opposite direction. From what I +had seen of the old soldier, I feared he was not likely to run even on +an occasion like the present. Mr Douglas now hailed me to return, and +of course I did so as fast as I could, as I should inevitably have been +made a prisoner. As it was we had enough to do to keep our enemies at +bay, and had not the darkness prevented them from learning the smallness +of our numbers, they might easily have surrounded us. Though they +pressed us hard we kept as close together as the nature of the ground +would allow, and every now and then, led on by Mr Douglas, we uttered +loud cries and shouts, as if we were going to make a rush on them. The +stems of the trees also assisted to protect us from the fire which they +opened on us, so that not a man was hit. We were not sorry, however, to +reach our boats, when we jumped in with no little haste, for the +Americans were close upon us. They were almost seizing the bows of the +boat before we had time to get out the oars and shove into the stream. +One, indeed, had seized the painter, but Tom Rockets dealt him such a +blow with his cutlass that he was glad to let go. The enemy now rushed +down in numbers to the shore, and began firing away at us as fast as +they could load. Fortunately in the darkness our boat offered no very +certain mark; but the shot came flying about us, spluttering into the +water like a shower of hail. Now and then, _thud_--that peculiar +sound--gave notice that a bullet had struck the boat, but not a man was +hit. As soon as we had got a little way off, we pulled up the stream, +and then steered for the ship so as to mislead the enemy as to the +course we had taken. Long after they must have lost sight of us the +flash of their muskets showed that they were still peppering away in the +direction in which they supposed we had gone. + +We reached the ship without further adventure. Captain Hudson was very +sorry to find that we had come off without the spies; but he at once saw +that this was owing to no fault of ours. + +The next morning, as the first lieutenant, as usual, was sweeping the +shore with his glass, an exclamation of horror he uttered made me point +mine in the same direction. There, directly abreast of the ship, hung +suspended on the branches of a tree scathed by lightning two human +forms--one was stout and short, the other tall and slight. There was +too much reason to believe that they were the bodies of our unfortunate +spies. No one was near them. Solitary they swung on the river shore, a +warning to others who might be inclined to follow their example--a sad +result of the ruthless necessity of war. They probably had been seized +and executed directly after they were captured. We could not blame the +Americans. Our generals had frequently been compelled to do the same +with their spies whom they had taken, but even this did not put a stop +to the system. The sad spectacle I have described saluted our eyes +whenever we turned towards the shore; and I, for one, was very sorry for +the fate of Meeks and his nephew; but I must confess that we were +becoming so accustomed to the sights and horrors of warfare that such +sensations lasted but a short time. + +I forgot to mention that one of the pieces of information Meeks brought +us was that our messmate Kennedy, who had charge of one of the prizes +taken off Cape May, had been taken by the rebels, and was now a prisoner +of war in their hands. It was with no slight satisfaction that we saw +the Greyhound come up to relieve us on the 30th of May, when we made +over to our brother-officers belonging to her the full right to all the +productions of the gardens we had so assiduously cultivated on the +Island of Hope. On the 1st of June we ran down the river and anchored +off Newport, and on the 3rd sailed on a cruise towards the Bay of Fundy, +in company with the Amazon and Juno frigates. The officers and ships' +companies of the three ships had previously agreed to share the +prize-money which might be made on the cruise. + +I should be almost afraid of wearying my readers, were I to give a +minute account of all the captures we effected and the adventures we met +with, but still I do not like altogether to pass them by. Our main +object, however, was to intercept the American Commodore Manley, but as +he had a force much superior to ours, it was absolutely necessary for us +to keep together, or we might have found ourselves very much the worse +for the encounter. Had it not been for this, we should have taken many +more prizes than we did; indeed, we were compelled to allow numbers of +considerable value to pass by without going in chase. On the 26th we +took a sloop from Philadelphia bound for Boston with rice. On the 26th +we re-took a brig from Oporto, bound to London, which had been captured +by a rebel privateer off Scilly. We sent her to New York, but we never +heard anything more of her, so that she must either have foundered or +have been taken by the enemy. In the latter case the prize-master and +crew must have joined them. On the 11th we took a vessel laden with +lumber, which we burnt, and on the 14th a sloop with wood, which we gave +up to the owners, as they were royalists; and on the 16th we took a brig +with fish and lumber from Boston to the West Indies. At length, on the +23rd at daybreak, a flush-deck ship was seen becalmed within two miles +of us. We made out that she was pierced for twenty guns, and from her +appearance we had no doubt that she was a rebel privateer. The boats +were ordered out immediately, but before they were in the water a breeze +sprang up, and setting every stitch of canvas she could carry, away she +went before the wind. We at the same time made sail in chase with our +consorts, which were a little astern of us, and of course we had every +hopes of making an important capture. By this time the rebel government +had given letters of marque, not only to Americans, but to the +inhabitants of various other countries, who, under their flag, had +become very troublesome to our trade, and it had become necessary to +endeavour to put a stop to the system. + +The privateer soon showed us that she had a remarkably fast pair of +heels, and it became doubtful, after a couple of hours' chase, whether +we had gained much, if anything on her. Sometimes the wind increased, +and then our greater size and wider spread of canvas gave us the +advantage, so that our hopes of capturing her rose and fell somewhat as +did the breeze. + +We had the whole of the day before us, and a day it was of no little +excitement. We kept the lead, our consorts following, one on either +quarter, to be ready to cut her off, should the breeze shift, and place +her to windward. Hour after hour passed, and still we were no nearer to +her. + +"What chance have we of getting hold of her?" said I to Grampus, who was +standing with me forward, keeping a look-out on her. + +"Why, sir, do ye see a stern chase is a long chase, as every one knows, +but a flaw of wind or a bit of a calm, or somewhat of that sort, may +throw her into our power, so that from all I've seen, and you know +that's not a little, Mr Hurry, I says never give up a-following an +enemy as long as you can keep eyes on her. When once you loses sight of +her, why, then its all guess-work, and a chance that you ever claps eyes +on her again." + +I ever after remembered Grampus's observations both when chasing and +being chased, and frequently experienced their practical wisdom. +Everything was done to increase the speed of the ships, the sails were +drenched with water, so that not a whistle full could escape through +them, and the hammocks were slung, and shot placed in them, but all was +apparently at first to little purpose. + +"The rogues are laughing at us," said Delisle, as he and I paced the +deck together, "I wish we could get a calm, and have a chance of +boarding them with the boats. They would give us some warm work though, +I suspect." + +"I should hope so," said I. "I have always preferred the excitement of +downright fighting to the sort of work we have lately had off +Providence." + +"I should think so, indeed!" said he. "I have often thought that if I +were made a prisoner, I should die of ennui. How people can exist shut +up within the walls of a dungeon has always puzzled me." + +We afterwards had good reason to remember this conversation, and he, +poor fellow, sadly to his cost. While we had been speaking, dark clouds +had been gathering in the north-west. They now began to form a thick +and heavy bank, which rose gradually higher and higher in the sky. +There was little doubt that they indicated the approach of a strong +wind, but whether or not it would aid us in capturing the chase was a +question. + +"We shall have something to try our sticks soon, Mr Willis," said the +captain to the first lieutenant; "but we must carry on as long as they +will stand, rather than let that fellow escape. So fast a craft as he +is will commit no little damage to our trade, if allowed to continue at +large." + +"No fear, sir. It is not likely that a rascally rebel will be able +ultimately to escape from three of his Majesty's ships," answered Mr +Willis, who held the Americans in supreme contempt. + +"I do not know that," observed the captain, who had a very different +feeling for the foe. "They have shown in many ways that they are not to +be despised, and several of their vessels have contrived to give us the +go-by." + +"Ay, yes, to be sure; but then they were probably not worth catching," +said Mr Willis, not liking to acknowledge that the enemy had anything +to boast of. According to him, every battle they had fought had been +lost by them, and the time of their entire destruction was fast +approaching. The squall which had for some time been brewing in the +westward, now made its advent known by curling up the waves, topping +them with foam and swelling out our sails to the utmost from the +bolt-ropes. The chase kicked up her heels a little as it caught her up, +and then went staggering away before it faster than ever. After her, +however, flew our two consorts and, ourselves, and still we felt sure +that we should capture her. The sea rose higher and the wind increased, +which was all in our favour, and after some time, there could be no +doubt that we were gaining on her, but night was now approaching, and +the darkness would give her a far better chance than before of escaping. + +"Do you think, Mr Willis, we should have a chance of winging her, if we +were to send a shot after her?" said the captain to the first +lieutenant, as they stood together, watching the chase attentively. + +"Certainly I think so!" replied Mr Willis; "at all events, I'll try, +and I won't fail to do my best." + +One of the bow-chasers was forthwith run out and pointed by Mr Willis +himself. For a minute or more he looked along the gun at the chase. At +last he fired. The white splinters were seen to fly from her quarter. +The result of his first attempt encouraged him to make a second. The +gun was again loaded, but when he fired no apparent effect followed. A +third time he fired, but if the shot struck, no damage was to be +perceived. It was now rapidly growing dark, and Mr Willis was becoming +impatient, for uncomfortable doubts began to rise in his mind as to the +possibility of the cruiser of the much-despised enemy escaping after all +from us. Grampus was standing near him. "Here, my man," said he, "you +have the credit of being one of best shots in the ship--try what you can +do in clipping one of that fellow's wings." + +The old seaman looked gratified at the compliment, and prepared himself +to obey. First, however, he cast a hurried glance to windward not +altogether devoid of anxiety. I looked in the same direction. There, +gathering thickly and close overhead, was the black mass of clouds which +had long been driving towards us, the seas looking white and more broken +in the increasing gloom. I thought he was about to speak, but turning +to the gun he stooped down, before it and applied the match. Scarcely +had he fired when its report was echoed by a discharge from the +artillery of the clouds, the wind roared in the rigging, the studding +sails, which had not been taken in, were blown away like light fleeces +from a sheep's back and carried far-off before the gale. The +fore-topgallant sail and fore-topsail sheets were carried away; the ship +flew up into the wind, taking the wheel out of the hands of the men, +while she almost broached to, creating a scene of confusion which did +not often occur on board; over she heeled to the blast; sheets were let +fly; the spray in showers broke over her; the voices of Captain Hudson +and Mr Willis were heard above the uproar caused by the dashing of the +sea, the rattling of blocks, and the howling and whistling of the wind, +with the other accompaniments of a sudden squall. When order was +somewhat restored, sail decreased, and the ship put on her former +course, we once more looked out for the chase. Not a trace of her was +to be seen. The dim outline of our two consorts could be perceived on +either quarter. They apparently had been thrown into as much confusion +as we had from the squall, but were once more with diminished canvas +standing in the same direction as before. + +"Oh, we shall soon be up with her again," said Mr Willis, who had gone +forward to look-out himself for the chase. "She doubtless lost some of +her spars, if not her masts altogether, in the squall." + +"Not so sure of that," I heard old Grampus mutter as he passed me. "I +saw her all a-taunto, running away from us in fine style when we were +first caught. She's given us the go-by, or I'm no seaman." + +All night we ran on, looking out for the chase, and when daylight broke +and a hundred eager eyes were glancing round the horizon she was nowhere +to be seen. To pursue her farther would have been vain, besides leading +us too far from our cruising-ground and risking the main object we had +in view. + +Returning to our station on the 28th we took two vessels laden with +wood, which we gave up as before. On the 4th of July we saw a brig in a +calm, about four miles from us. The signal was made for all the boats +of the squadron, manned and armed, to be ready to attack her. +Lieutenant Moss, of the Juno, had the command of the expedition. Making +sure of an easy victory, away we pulled towards the stranger over the +smooth shining ocean. + +The brig we saw, as we drew near, was heavily armed; her colours were +flying, and she seemed prepared not to strike without a blow. As soon +as we drew within range of her guns she opened her fire on us. This, of +course, only expedited our movements, and we dashed on towards her as +fast as the oars could send the boats through the water. The brig's +crew founded their hopes of escape probably on the chance of a breeze +springing up, of which there were already some signs, while our aim was +to get on board before the wind filled her sails. The rebels fought +with desperation, and never relaxed their fire till we were alongside. +Two or three of our men had been struck. One lost the side of his face +by a round-shot which shaved him more cleanly than he would have wished, +and spoilt his beauty for life. With loud shouts and cries our men +leaped on board, and in two minutes the brig was ours. She mounted ten +carriage guns and twelve swivels, was laden with rum and sugar, and was +bound for Boston. + +On the 5th we ran a brig on shore after a chase of some hours. From her +size and pertinacity in endeavouring to escape, we from the first +suspected that her cargo was of value. No sooner had she struck than +the squadron hove-to and the boats were ordered to pull in to re-take +her. I on this occasion remained on board. We were expecting to see +the boats haul off the vessel, when, just as they drew near, a large +body of troops were perceived hurrying down to the shore. The soldiers +at once began firing away at the advancing boats, but notwithstanding +they pulled alongside, drove the crew below, and took possession. We +saw them make a gallant effort to tow off the vessel, but in three or +four minutes, so heavy became the fire, they were compelled to +relinquish the attempt. When they reached the ship we found that three +men had been wounded, but happily none were killed. + +"A tremendous loss we have had!" exclaimed Mr Heron, who commanded the +expedition, with a look of disgust. "She is worth twenty thousand +pounds at least, if not much more. It is not every day the rebels have +a vessel like her to give us." + +"We must keep a sharp look-out after her, and if she gets off, try to +get hold of her another day," said Mr Willis. + +In the evening we were directed to stand close in shore to cannonade and +endeavour to destroy her, but scarcely had we opened our fire when a +gale of wind sprung up, and we were compelled for our own safety to run +to sea. We, however, did not yet give up all hopes of capturing her. A +few days afterwards, indeed, she fell into our hands, but we were not a +little disappointed to find that the rebels had in the meantime removed +the greater portion of her cargo. + +Nothing for some days occurred to break the monotony of our existence +except innumerable unsuccessful chases which sorely tried our first +lieutenant's temper, and the capture of a prodigious quantity of fish. +So abundant was the supply that it was the business of the mate of the +dog-watch to see that what were not eaten were thrown overboard every +night, to prevent the people from keeping them too long. At length I +was engaged in an expedition with more serious results than had for some +time occurred. + +On the 14th we rounded the end of that narrow neck of land known by the +name of Cape Cod, and which, circling round like an arm with its elbow +bent, forms a wide and extensive bay. We stood along the eastern shore, +eagerly looking into every nook and inlet in which a craft could take +shelter. As we got abreast of Cape Cod Harbour we saw three vessels at +anchor there--a brig, a schooner, and a sloop. Mr Willis reported them +to the captain. + +"We'll stand in and overhaul them, then," was the reply, and the ship's +course was altered accordingly. + +No sooner were we perceived by the three vessels than they slipped their +cables and made sail in the hopes of escaping. They steered across to +the western shore, either on the chance of finding shelter in some +creek, or being able to beat out of the bay, and thus get to windward of +us. + +"We shall bag the fellows this time at all events," said Mr Heron, +rubbing his hands as we were fast over-hauling the chases. + +They did not, however, give in, trusting to a flaw of wind or something +else turning up in their favour. The Amazon and Juno, however, by +standing more to the northward soon cut off all chance of escape. They +were running for the harbour of Truro, but before they could get there +we drove them all three on shore at some distance from each other. A +loud shout from our crews proclaimed the result of the chase. The +boatswain's shrill whistle sounding along the decks was followed by the +order for all the boats to be manned and armed and sent in to get off +the vessels. I had charge of a cutter with Grampus and Tom, and little +Harry Sumner accompanied me. Our first aim was the brig. We pulled +towards her in good order as fast as we well could. It was not till we +were close alongside that the enemy showed themselves to defend her. We +took no notice of them, though they opened a warmish fire of musketry on +us, but, boarding together, got out hawsers, and while some of the boats +went ahead to tow her out the crews of the others remained on the deck +and kept the enemy at bay. Thus in a few minutes we got her +triumphantly afloat, and while she was being towed out from the shore I +was sent in my boat to set fire to the sloop which lay nearly a mile +from the other vessels. I thought that as the attention of the enemy +was engaged with the brig the work would be easy, and pulled boldly +towards her. We had got within musket range when up started three +fellows from behind the bulwarks and let fly at us. Their aim was good, +for each of their shots struck the boat, though happily no one was hit. +This salute, however, did not stop our progress. + +"Give way, my lads, give way!" I shouted. "We will soon punish them +for their audacity." + +They fired several times after this, but without doing us any damage. I +was surprised at their boldness in still remaining on board, but on our +firing the swivel we had in our bows, accompanied by a round of +musketry, they quickly jumped out of sight. As, however, we were close +alongside, and just about to hook on to her chains, the mystery was +solved by the unwelcome apparition of two or three hundred men, with +levelled fire-arms, who appeared mounting a line of sand-banks close to +the water, and behind which they had till now remained concealed. The +first discharge with which they saluted us knocked over two of my men, +and the next wounded two more. In addition to the musketry two pieces +of cannon were brought to bear on us, which, unfortunately for us, were +very well served. Seeing this, and believing that I and all my people +must be killed if we attempted to escape, I turned the boat's head round +and sang out for quarter, and all the disagreeables of a long +imprisonment rose up before me. So exasperated, however, were the +people on shore that they paid no attention to my request. Sumner had a +white handkerchief, and, tying it to a stretcher, waved it above our +heads. It was, however, all in vain. The enemy seemed resolved on our +destruction. + +"Harry, my boy," said I, "there is no help for it. If I am hit, do your +best to carry the boat out. Now give way, my lads! If we can but hold +on a little we shall soon be clear." + +Even the wounded men pulled away with all their might except one who was +too much hurt to handle an oar. I took his place and put Harry at the +helm. The shot fell thick as hail around us, the enemy shouting and +shrieking at us like demons. Still we held on. Now another of my men +was hit. Suddenly I saw little Harry turn pale. He sat upright as +before, but his compressed lips and an uneasy look about the eyes made +me fear he was hit. + +"Are you hurt, Sumner?" I asked. + +"I think so," he answered; "but never mind, it is nothing, I am sure." + +I was sure that he was hurt, however, very much, and this made me feel +more savage against our enemies than anything that had occurred for a +long time, but there was no time to stop and examine his wound. I had +scarcely a man now left unhurt--most of them seriously so. Two poor +fellows let the oars drop from their hands, and sank down in the bottom +of the boat. Tom was one of them. Grampus, indeed, was the only man +unhurt. He seemed to bear a charmed life, for he had run in his time +more risks than any of us without receiving a wound. I was in despair, +for I every instant expected to feel a bullet enter my body, and that +after all we should fall into the hands of the enemy. The boat, too, +was almost knocked to pieces, and it seemed a wonder that she could +still swim. The wind, fortunately, was blowing strong off the land. + +"We must try and get the foresail hoisted, Grampus," said I. "If we +can, we may do yet." + +"Ay, ay, sir," he answered, stepping forward over the prostrate bodies +of our shipmates to execute the order. + +Assisted by two of the men the least hurt, we got the mast stepped. + +"Now up with the sail, my men!" I sang out. + +At length it was hoisted, though the moment the enemy saw what we were +about they seemed to redouble their efforts to destroy us. I breathed +more freely as I got the sheet aft, and saw the canvas swelling with the +breeze; but even then I knew that a shot might carry away our mast or +halliards, or, indeed, send us all to the bottom. Just as I had got all +to rights, and was ready to take the helm, poor little Harry, overcome +with pain and the loss of blood, sank down by my side. I placed him +carefully in the stern-sheets, and Tom Rockets, though badly wounded +himself, crawled aft and endeavoured to examine his wound and to staunch +the blood which flowed copiously from his side. The bullets began now +to fall less thickly about us than before--a sign that we were +increasing our distance from the shore. Had the enemy possessed a boat +they might have taken us without difficulty, but, fortunately, they had +none. Indeed, I have no doubt that their aim was to destroy us +completely, as a punishment on us for our attempt to burn their vessel. +In spite of the shots which still fell around us, we kept steadily on +our course, while occasionally I turned an uneasy glance over my +shoulder to see how far we had got from the enemy. At length scarcely a +shot reached us; a gentle thud every now and then showing us that those +which did so had almost lost their power. I was able now to pay more +attention to my young companion. I asked him how he did. + +"I am afraid that I am more hurt than I at first fancied," he replied. +"If I die, you will write to my mother, and tell her all about me, will +you, Hurry?" + +"Oh, don't talk of dying, my good boy," I answered, though I felt a +choking sensation in my throat as I spoke. "We shall soon be on board, +and then you will be properly cared for, and will feel more easy." + +"Oh, I do not complain," said he, "still, I have an idea that I am +mortally wounded. Perhaps it is only fancy, you know, and I am not +afraid." + +"That's right, be a brave boy, and keep up your spirits. You've many +more years to live, and will be an admiral one of these days, I hope," +said I, though my hopes were far less sanguine than my words. "See, +scarcely any of the shots reach us; we shall soon be out of the enemy's +fire." + +He looked up in my face and smiled. One of the wounded men groaned. +Harry heard the poor fellow. A look of intense pain passed over his +countenance. + +"Oh, I wish that we could get to the doctor! Let him look to that poor +man before me; I am sure he wants him most. Who is it?" + +I told him, "Tom Ogle." + +"Ah, Tom Ogle," said he. "Don't give way, my man. We were doing our +duty, and there's One aloft who'll not forget us if we trust in Him." + +"Bless you for those words, Mr Sumner," Tom Ogle gasped out between the +paroxysms of his pain; "they do a poor fellow's heart good." + +All this time we were running off the land, with a strong fair breeze, +every moment the enemy's shot falling farther and farther astern. My +great fear now was that some of my men would bleed to death before they +could receive surgical help. However, they had bound up each other's +wounds in the best way they could. From the enemy we at all events were +safe. I did my utmost to keep up the spirits of my men. I was thereby +performing, I knew, half the doctor's work. I had been eagerly looking +out in the offing for our squadron. To my intense satisfaction I now +made out a sail standing towards us from the northward. I pointed her +out to Grampus. + +"She's the `Orpheus,' sir. I knows the look of them taw'sels too well +to be deceived," he answered, after watching her for a few moments. + +"You're right, Grampus. It's her without doubt," said I. "Hurrah, my +lads! We'll soon be snug on board the old barkie." + +We neared the ship rapidly. Many eager faces were looking out at us as +we got alongside. Poor little Harry Sumner first claimed my attention. +I stooped down to lift him up, that he might be handed on deck. His +cheeks were blanched, his eyes were closed. + +"Oh, dear, oh dear! is the child dead?" exclaimed old Grampus, as he +took him from me. + +"I fear so," I answered with a sad heart. "Let the doctor look to him +at once." + +One after the other the wounded men were handed up. + +"This is sad work, Mr Hurry," said Captain Hudson, as I went to report +myself on the quarter-deck. I told him how it happened. + +"We must send in again, though, and punish the rascals," said he. + +Notice was forthwith given that another attempt was to be made to get +off the brig. Plenty of volunteers came forward; indeed, they are never +wanting when any hazardous work is in hand. The way we had been treated +had excited great indignation against the enemy among our people. Job +Samson, our old boatswain, volunteered to head the expedition. He had +an idea that what others failed to do he could always find out some mode +of accomplishing, and, to do him justice, he was ever ready to attempt +to carry out his plans in spite of every risk, though he did not +invariably succeed. He soon had his expedition ready. We heartily +wished him success as he pulled in towards the shore. The Amazon had in +the meantime come up, and as she was in-shore of us and drew less water, +she was ordered to stand in and cover the attack. We eagerly, with our +glasses, watched the proceedings. We could see the enemy, in great +numbers, mustering on shore. Probably they did not expect that the +Amazon's guns were going to take part in the fray. She stood in as +close as she could venture, and then opened her fire: but the enemy, +nothing daunted, returned it manfully from an earth battery, which had +been thrown up near the brig. In the meantime, in the face of this +fire, old Samson advanced boldly to the attack; but round-shot and +musket-balls are stubborn things to contend against, and the boatswain +seeing, however easy it might be theoretically to capture the brig, that +practically, if he attempted it, he should lose the boat with himself +and every man in her, very wisely resolved to return on board, and wait +for another opportunity of signalising himself. We afterwards found +that, in this instance, the grapes really were sour, as the sloop and +schooner had taken in the most valuable part of the brig's cargo, and +that she had remaining on board only ninety tons of salt. We made +several attempts during the afternoon to cut out these vessels, but so +well guarded were they from the shore by riflemen and flying artillery, +that after all our exertions we were compelled to abandon the attempt. +Happily, however, no one was hit except those who had been wounded in my +boat. In the evening, before turning in, I went round to see how the +poor fellows were getting on. They all received me cheerfully. + +"We're better off, sir, than if we had been boxed up in a Yankee prison, +even though as how we've got some eyelet holes through us, d'ye see?" +said Bob Nodder, who was the most severely wounded of any of the party. +He observed that I was grieved to see the sufferings they were enduring. + +"It could not be helped, Mr Hurry. You did your best for us, and if +you had not kept cool, sir, we might every one of us have been riddled +with rifle-bullets." + +I felt still greater pain when I went to the side of little Harry +Sumner's cot. He was in the officers' sick-bay, and the doctor had done +his best to make him comfortable. He was slumbering, so I did not +speak. I stood for some minutes watching his youthful countenance. It +was almost feminine in its beauty--so clear, so fair, so free from the +effects of the evil passions which distort and disfigure so often the +features of those of older years. His long light-brown hair had fallen +off his clear broad forehead, and his lips were parted, and moved +slightly, as if he were speaking to himself. A sickly gleam of light +from the ship's lanthorn, which hung from a beam above, fell on his +countenance, and gave it a hue so pallid that I thought the shades of +death were fast gathering over him. My heart sank within me. Were his +anticipations, then, of evil so soon to be realised? Of evil? Would +it, indeed, be an evil to him, poor child, to be removed from all the +temptations to vice, from the scenes of violence and wrong with which he +was surrounded? I felt it would not, and still I could not bear the +thought of losing him; and there was another, far, far away, who would +mourn him still more--his mother. Who would have the courage to tell +her that she would see her boy no more? I trusted that I might not have +the painful task to perform. I prayed earnestly, for his widowed +mother's sake, that he might recover; that he might go through his fiery +trials in the world unscathed; that he might withstand the world, the +flesh, and the devil, and, through the merits of our Master, attain +eternal happiness in the end. The surgeon entered the sick-bay. I +signed to him that the boy was sleeping. + +"What do you think of his case, doctor?" said I with an anxious face. +"Will he recover?" + +"If fever does not set in he'll do," answered the medico. "McCallum +will keep a constant watch on him during the night. He'll call me if +any change takes place. Ye need not fash yourself, Hurry; the boy is in +no danger, I tell you." + +These words consoled me. Still I was not perfectly satisfied. The +heart of a sailor, far removed as he is from the social influences of +the shore, looks out for something on which to set its more tender +affections. + +I felt for that lone boy as if he had been a young brother or sister. +My feelings were, I dare say, shared by many of my messmates. We most +of us, if not cast originally in the same mould, had by circumstances +become shaped very much alike as to the inner man; the same prejudices, +the same affections, the same passions, the same ideas of honour, and I +will say the same tender feelings and generous impulses, were shared by +most of us alike. But I was speaking of Harry Sumner. Several times +during my watch below I turned out to see how he was getting on. +McCallum reported favourably of him; so, tolerably contented, I went +back to my hammock and slept soundly. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +ORPHEUS IN CAPE COD HARBOUR.--SENT ON SHORE WITH FLAG OF TRUCE.--POLITE +RECEPTION.--CAMP ATTACKED.--A MAGISTRATE OFFERS HIMSELF AS A HOSTAGE.-- +OUR CAPTAIN'S MAGNANIMITY.--MY DYING MESSMATE.--AT SEA.--THIRTY REBEL +VESSELS CAPTURED.--DOUBT WHETHER THIS WILL INDUCE THE COLONISTS TO +RETURN TO THEIR ALLEGIANCE. + +Varied are the changes of a seaman's life--I found them so, at all +events. An episode in my history was about to occur, of which I little +dreamed. + +After the brush I have described with the enemy's batteries, the +squadron came to all anchor. On the evening, however, of the 15th of +June, the Orpheus was ordered to get under weigh, and proceed to Cape +Cod harbour. + +When the sun arose in the morning, the inhabitants of the town, to their +no small dismay, found us anchored within gun-shot of their houses. I +was just dressed when Captain Hudson sent for me. + +"Mr Hurry," said he, "you are to go on shore with a flag of truce. +Inquire for the mayor or chief magistrate, or authorities of some sort. +Tell them that we are in want of water and refreshments of various +sorts, that we are perfectly ready to pay for everything we have, and +then politely inform them that we are resolved, at all events, to have +what we require; and that if they decline supplying us, or in any way +molest us, we will knock their town about their ears and take what we +want by force." + +I signified that I clearly understood my orders, and, quaffing a cup of +a villainous compound called tea, and putting a piece of biscuit into my +pocket, I tumbled hurriedly into my boat and shoved off. It took me +about twenty minutes to reach the landing-place before the town, whence +the boat had been observed approaching, and the very people I was in +search of were ready to receive me. The principal magistrate was a very +dignified old gentleman, with silver buckles on his shoes, velvet +small-clothes, a three-cornered hat on his head, and a silver-mounted +sword by his side. I did not expect to encounter such a personage in so +out-of-the-way and rough-and-ready sort of a place. + +"May I ask, sir, to what cause we are indebted for the honour of a visit +from the King of England's ships?" said he, bowing low. + +I thought that there was more of mock humility than of respect in his +manner, though. I delivered the message the captain had given me. + +"Certainly, sir, certainly," replied my friend, smiling: "the arguments +you use are incontrovertible under our present circumstances. I doubt +not that they will make all the inhabitants of this place true and +faithful servants of King George." + +I was rather amused than offended with his manner, and was pleased that +I had to deal with a gentleman instead of a lout. + +"Do not let us weigh the force of the arguments, sir," I replied. "I +shall be perfectly satisfied if I have your word that you will not allow +any attempt to be made to molest our watering party, and will collect +for us any provisions we require." + +I gave him a list the purser had supplied me with. + +"All your demands shall be complied with. You have my word for it, +sir," said he, bowing as before. + +This matter being settled, I pulled back to the ship. The watering +place was some little way from the town. The signal was made for the +boats to take the watering party on shore. It was considered necessary +at the same time, as a precautionary measure, to send a strong body of +men on shore to protect the others, and, accordingly, a hundred marines +and two hundred seamen from the three ships were told off for that +purpose. We certainly had rather a warlike than a peaceable aspect as +the squadron of boats made for the shore. + +We were met, as we landed, by our friend the mayor with a flag of truce. +He came to inquire why we approached in so warlike a guise. Mr +Willis, who commanded the party, replied that, while we did not wish to +injure others, we always liked to be in a position to take care of +ourselves. Satisfied with this answer the mayor took his departure. A +wood was before us. A succession of sandy hummocks were between it and +the shore. Among them we made our bivouac. The spring from which we +were to fill our casks was on the borders of the wood. + +According to rule, as we were in an enemy's country, we placed the usual +lines of sentries, while the seamen, as rapidly as they could, filled +the casks and rolled them down to the boats. At night we were compelled +to knock off work, so we lighted our camp-fires and made ourselves as +comfortable as circumstances would allow. Delisle, Drew, Nicholas and +some midshipmen of the other ships were seated with me on the ground, in +the neighbourhood of a fire, more that we might have its light than its +warmth, and superintend the cooking of some steaks which we had resolved +to have for supper. Tom Rockets was acting under our orders, and +boiling the kettle to brew some punch. We were a very jolly party. +Several of us had not met since we used to assemble on board my prize at +New York in the winter, and we had had a good deal of knocking about +since then. Many a tale was told, and many a jovial song and not a few +sentimental ditties were sung, echoed by the seamen who sat grouped +about. Thus hour after hour passed by, and we felt no inclination to +lie down. I dare say we looked very picturesque as the light of the +fires fell on us: the seamen scattered about in every easy attitude; the +piled arms of the marines; the men themselves so different to the +sailors; the bayonets of the sentries in the distance; the yellow +sand-hills; the sea, calm and solemn, flashing every now and then with +phosphorescent light; and then overhead the dark mysterious vault of +heaven, studded with stars innumerable, all speaking of the might, the +majesty, the power unbounded of the Creator. One by one my messmates +dropped off to sleep. I lay on my back for some time contemplating the +magnificent spectacle. I had often gazed on the stars before. I had +taken the altitudes of many; I had measured the distance of one from the +other; I had steered my course by them over the ocean; but then I had +looked on them only as useful appendages to our globe. Now, as I gazed, +they seemed to float--beauteous globes in the pure ether, altogether +independent of the puny world we call our own. How far more pure and +brilliant did they appear than in the misty clime of old England! I +began to envy the Americans the advantage they possess over us. + +My meditations were rudely and suddenly interrupted by the sharp rattle +of musketry, and a quick succession of reports in return. Every man in +an instant was on his feet. All flew to their arms and hurried to the +front. The rattle of musketry increased, and the bullets came flying +about our ears, while our advanced sentries retreated rapidly in on the +main body--I might have said they ran as fast as their heels could carry +them--shouting out that the enemy in strong force were pressing hard +upon us. Mr Willis formed the marines in the centre, with the +blue-jackets as flanking parties in readiness to receive the enemy. We +had not long to wait before their dark forms in dense masses could be +seen climbing over the sand-hills, threatening not only our front, but +both our flanks. + +"We are outmatched: I suspect we have been outwitted by the rascals," +said Delisle, who stood near me; "I'll never trust these rebels again." + +"I cannot make it out," I answered; "I thought we could have placed +perfect confidence in the word of that old gentleman I met in the +morning." + +We had, however, no time to discuss the matter; for every moment the +fire grew heavier, and we saw that we were far outnumbered by the enemy. +Now, under other circumstances, this might have been a matter of little +moment, for, had we advanced, we might have gained an easy victory; but +we at present had nothing to gain by fighting, and should we have found +ourselves caught in a trap, and been compelled to lay down our arms, we +knew that our loss would be very seriously felt by the remainder of our +ships' companies. We therefore, by as heavy fire as we could maintain, +kept the enemy at bay, and retreated in good order to our boats, vowing +vengeance against them for the treachery of which we supposed they had +been guilty. Strange as it may seem, very few of our men were hurt, and +none were killed. The rebels, as is generally the case with unpractised +troops, had fired high, so that most of their shot had gone over our +heads. We embarked with all our casks, and quickly got on board our +ships, expecting next morning to have the satisfaction of battering away +at the town till not a brick should stand to afford shelter to the +treacherous inhabitants. + +My first inquiry on getting on board was for Harry Sumner. He had been +going on well, but had frequently asked to see me. Thinking he might be +awake, I went to the side of his cot. He, however, was sleeping. He +looked very pale and thin. A few hours of suffering had altered him +much. I was going away when I heard him whisper my own name. "See, +mother dear, be kind to him; and you, Julia, will love him, for he was +kind to brother Harry. You'll not turn him away when I am gone--gone on +a long, long voyage, you know. You'll love him for my sake, both of +you. He'll talk to you sometimes about Harry. There, there, mother +dear, don't weep; we'll meet again, you know;--yes, yes, after my long +voyage. Don't cry, Julia dear, don't now--don't?" + +Thus he went on. I felt ready to cry myself, I know. I had not heard +him speak of his little sister--I could easily guess the reason--he +would run the risk of having her name profaned by careless lips. At +length he was silent. I slipped away. Poor little fellow! in spite of +what the doctor said, I guessed that he at all events thought himself +dying. I trusted that he might be mistaken. With a heavy heart, +though, I left him and turned into my hammock, where in a very few +minutes I was sound asleep. + +The word had already been passed along the decks to prepare for action, +and we fully expected that in a few minutes the fun would begin, when a +boat was seen coming off from the shore with a flag of truce. It seemed +a matter of doubt whether it should be received after the way we had +been treated by the rebels; but Captain Hudson resolved that he would +hear what they had to say for themselves before he proceeded to +extremities. The old gentleman with whom I had spoken the day before, +and several substantial-looking personages were in the boat. They +evidently felt themselves in no trifling difficulty, and saw that it +would require the management of the most important people in the place +to save the town. Captain Hudson at first, wishing to give them a +fright, refused to listen to any of their explanations. + +"A truce had been agreed on, and while we were acting with perfect good +faith and peaceableness, your people most unjustifiably attempted to +destroy us. I give you half an hour to remove the women and children, +and then expect the consequences of your treachery," said he, drawing +his sword-belt tighter round his waist, and turning on his heel with a +look of scorn. + +"Hear me, sir," said the old gentleman, stepping forward. "We had, on +my honour, nothing whatever to do with the outrage of which you +complain. The people who attacked you were those whose vessels you have +so wantonly destroyed. They came to revenge themselves. When they +found that we had pledged ourselves to preserve the peace they returned +quietly homewards. If you wish to complete the watering of your ships +we will in no way molest you, and we will supply you with all the +provisions you require." + +"So you said before," replied Captain Hudson. "How can I depend on the +fulfilment of your agreement?" + +"I for one, and I dare say others will be ready to remain in your hands +as hostages till our agreement is fulfilled," answered the old +gentleman. + +Captain Hudson, who was generous as he was brave, would not listen to +this proposal; but, stretching out his hand, he answered frankly, "No, +no, sir; I will not put you or your friends to this inc +nvenience. I fully trust to your word. Go on shore, and keep your +combatively-inclined countrymen from attacking us, unless they want to +have your town burnt, and by the evening we shall probably have relieved +you of our company." + +I never saw people's faces brighten up more rapidly than did those of +our rebel visitors when they heard these words. It was like the +clearing away of a thunder-cloud from the sky in summer. They were +ready to promise all sorts of things, and to supply us with all we +desired; and, to do them justice, they amply fulfilled their word. We +completed our water, got an abundant supply of fresh provisions, and +sailed again that evening on our cruise. + +On the 21st of July we took a schooner from Bilboa to Boston with +cordage and canvas, and on the 22nd re-took a brig from Quebec to London +in ballast; on which day the Amazon parted company and sailed with the +prizes for New York. + +On the 24th we took a schooner from Boston to the West Indies with fish +and lumber; on the 25th a brig from Martinique with rum and molasses; on +the 26th a schooner from Boston to the West Indies with lumber, and on +the same day chased a large ship close into Boston light-house; but she +effected her escape into the harbour. + +On the 31st the Amazon rejoined us, and informed us that she had on her +passage recaptured a large ship from Jamaica to London with rum and +sugar, which had been made prize of by the rebels, and that she had sent +her into Halifax. + +On the 1st of August, at sunrise, a schooner was reported in sight. We +accordingly made sail in chase; but she seemed in no ways inclined to be +captured, and, setting every stitch of canvas she could carry, she began +to walk through the water at a great rate. We soon saw that we should +have to put our best leg foremost to come up with her. This to the +utmost of our power we did. + +I have already described many chases, so I will not enter into +particulars. Hour after hour passed, and we seemed to be no nearer to +her; still we had not lost ground, and, from her pertinacity in +endeavouring to get away from us, we of course fancied that she was the +more worth having. The longest day must have an end, and so had this. +At its termination, when night was coming on, we were very little nearer +the chase than at daybreak. Still we hoped that a shift of wind might +enable us to get up with her, or that a calm might come on and allow us +to reach her with our boats. But neither one thing nor the other +occurred. Night came down upon us, and not the sharpest pair of eyes on +board could pierce through the dark mantle which shrouded her. Some +thought they saw her stealing off in one direction; others declared they +saw her steering an opposite course. The result was that when morning +broke, our expected prize had escaped us, and we were compelled to stand +back and rejoin our consorts, like a dog with his tail between his legs. +We had hopes, however, of being able in some degree to indemnify +ourselves for our loss, when, on the 2nd of August, about two hours +before daylight, the shadowy outline of a ship was seen dead to leeward +between us and the land, the wind being somewhere from the south-west. +Now she was there, ghostlike and indistinct, a spirit gliding over the +face of the waters; now as I looked she had disappeared and I could +scarcely believe that I had seen her. + +"Can you make her out?" said I to Grampus, who was a quarter-master in +my watch. The old man hollowed his hands round his eyes and took a long +steady gaze into the darkness ahead. + +"I did see her just a few minutes afor' you spoke to me, sir, but smash +my timbers if I sees her now!" he exclaimed, suiting the action to the +word. "Where is she gone to?" + +"She has altered her course or a bank of mist is floating by between +us," I suggested. + +"That's it, sir," said he; "I wouldn't be surprised but what she'd heave +in sight again afor' long, except she's one of those craft one hears +talk of, aboard of whom there's no living man with flesh and blood to +work them. If so be she is, I'd rather not fall in with her." + +I laughed. "No fear of that," said I; "she has been reported to the +captain, and we shall be making all sail in chase presently. We shall +then soon find out what she's made of." + +"Much as we did the schooner two days ago," muttered Grampus, as I left +him. "I don't know what's come over the ship that she don't walk along +faster." + +The stranger had been reported to the captain, who very soon came on +deck, when all sail was packed on the ship in chase. The stranger, for +some time, did not appear to be aware of our vicinity; indeed, we could +frequently scarcely make her out through the darkness. At length, +however, she discovered that an ugly customer was near her, and lost no +time in setting every stitch of canvas she could carry, and running +directly off before the wind. By this time we had got near enough to +see that she was a ship, and of considerable size. + +"That craft carries a good many hands, I suspect, by the smart way in +which she made sail," I heard Mr Willis observe to the captain. "I +should not be surprised if she proves a privateer, or so-called ship of +war belonging to the rebel government. To my mind, we shall do well to +treat all the rascals we find on board such craft as pirates, and trice +them up to their own yard-arms." + +"You forget, Mr Willis, that two can play at that game," answered the +captain. "The rebels have pretty well shown that they are in earnest, +and have established a right to respect at all events. I don't think +hanging them will bring them to reason. Let us treat them as open and +gallant enemies, and if we cannot make them fellow-subjects, at all +events we may induce them to become some day our friends again. I +confess to you I am sick of this sort of warfare. We must do our duty, +and take, sink, and destroy all the craft belonging to the misguided +people we find afloat, but there is neither honour nor glory to be +obtained by the work, and as for the profit, I would rather be without +it. Bah! I'm sick of such fratricidal work." + +"I can't say that I see things quite in the light that you do, sir," +said the first lieutenant. "The British Government make laws, and it is +the duty of British people to obey them; and if they don't, it's our +business just now to force them to it." + +"Your logic is unanswerable, Willis," replied Captain Hudson, turning +away with a sigh. "There can be no doubt what our duty is, however +painful it may prove." + +I believe that many officers thought and felt like my gallant and +kind-hearted captain, and yet not a more loyal man, or a more faithful +subject of his sovereign, ever stepped the deck of a ship of war. + +As the first gleam of day appeared from beneath a dark canopy of clouds, +and shone across the leaden water, its light fell on the royals and +topgallant sails of a large ship, with studden sails alow and aloft, +running before the wind directly for the American coast. Smoothly as +she glided on, and rapidly as she ran through the water, in all the +pride of symmetrical beauty, she was in a very critical position. As I +looked at her I bethought me she presented no inapt simile to a careless +youth rushing over the sea of life regardless of all the dangers which +surround him, and with the pit of destruction yawning before him. Haul +her wind and fight us she dared not, for we should have blown her +speedily out of the water; no friendly port that she could possibly make +was under her lee. The only hope, therefore, her crew could have had of +escaping was to run the ship on shore and to abandon her. This it was +our object to prevent them doing. The usual devices for increasing our +speed were resorted to. Every spar that could carry a sail was rigged, +while the canvas almost swept the water on either side of us, but all to +little purpose, it seemed. If we increased our speed, so did the chase, +and not an inch was gained. As the day grew on, the breeze freshened, +and at noon some on board asserted that we had begun to overhaul her. +We were all of us on deck as often as we could, for she afforded far +more subject of interest than the ordinary lumber-laden merchant craft +it was our usual lot to chase. The clouds which had obscured the sky at +sunrise rolled gradually away; the sun shone down on the blue ocean with +undimmed splendour, glittering on the long lines of foam which the two +ships formed as they clove their way through it. + +I was, among others, watching the chase when McCallum came up to me. + +"Sumner wants to see you, Hurry," said he; "I think a little talk with +you will do him good. He is very low, left so many hours by himself, +and he does not sleep much." + +Our young messmate had been progressing favourably, according to the +doctor's report, since he was wounded, but he was nervous and fanciful, +poor little fellow! and wanted more tender nursing than the rough, +albeit kind-hearted, treatment he could obtain on board. Captain Hudson +would gladly have landed him, could he have found any friends on shore +willing to take charge of him; but as this was impossible, all +circumstances would allow was done to make him comfortable. I sat +myself down on a stool by the side of his cot, and told him all that was +going forward on deck. + +"I wish that I could be about and doing my duty again," said he; "I'm +weary of being boxed up here below." + +"I should be glad if you could get sent home, and have your mother and +sister to nurse you till you are strong and well." + +"Who told you that I had a sister?" he asked quickly. + +"You did, surely, Harry," I answered; "how else should I have known it?" + +"Oh, I never spoke about her, I'm sure!" said he earnestly. "She is +such a little angel, Hurry, that I could not bear to have her name +uttered by any of our fellows in the way they speak of each other's +sisters and female friends." + +"Trust me, indeed, I will never mention her," I answered, appreciating +his delicacy, though I felt a strong desire to see the little girl he +praised so highly. I did not reflect that her portrait was painted by a +loving brother. I got him to talk more about her, and when his heart +was opened he seemed never tired of the theme. He told me how she was +two or three years older than himself; how she had watched over him and +instructed him in all that was good, and how bitterly she grieved at his +going away to sea, and much did he blame himself for having often +appeared ungrateful for her love and affection. Often in a night-watch +did my thoughts recur to Julia Sumner. It was a midshipman's fancy, and +perhaps a folly, but it was very excusable, I cannot help thinking even +at the present time. + +Our conversation was interrupted by the report of one of our +bow-chasers: I sprang on deck. We had got the chase within range of our +guns, and we were not likely to let them remain inactive. Still she +stood on; not a trace nor a sheet did she slack; and as our gunnery was +not first-rate it must be owned, we could not as yet hope to do her much +damage. + +"We have gained on her considerably since you went below," said Delisle, +whose glass was fixed on the chase, watching the effect of our shot. +"In another hour, if the wind holds, we shall get her well under our +guns, and then she'll have very little more to say for herself." + +"Land ahead!" shouted the look-out from aloft. I with others went to +the mast-head to ascertain its distance. We judged it to be the land +about Cape Cod, some fifteen miles or so away. It would take us a +couple of hours to get up with it. Evening, however, was now coming on, +and it would be dark before we could hope to reach it. We watched the +chase more anxiously than ever; the prospect of bringing her to before +she should reach the shore was every instant growing less. Those who +manned her were no cowards. As we were watching her, her stern-ports +opened, and a couple of shots came hissing by us. It was a desperate +chance. Her object was to cripple us, and if she could do so, perhaps +she hoped to haul her wind, and, favoured by the darkness, to creep away +from between us and the shore. We fired our bow-chasers as often as we +could in return, and more than one shot told with damaging effect. +Still every injury was repaired as soon as received. The land, seen +under the glow of the setting sun, was growing more and more distinct, +and by the time the shades of evening came over us we were near enough +to distinguish it and the chase, now in dangerous proximity to its +sands. + +The chase had now lasted fifteen hours--another hour would decide the +point. It soon passed. It was a moment of intense interest. Every man +was at his station. Hands were in the chains with the lead. We were +nearer the coast than under other circumstances we would willingly have +been. The chase stood on with everything set. One felt it a grievous +pity that so beautiful a fabric should be doomed to destruction. Her +striking would give us time to haul off. On she glided, her symmetry +unimpaired. In another moment her tall masts rocked to and fro; a loud +crashing and tearing, even at that distance, reached our ears. + +"Down with the helm!" shouted Captain Hudson. "Haul aft the starboard +sheets! Flatten in the starboard braces! Give her the starboard +broadside!" + +These and other orders to bring the ship on a wind followed in quick +succession amid the roar of our guns, which sent the shot crashing into +the unfortunate chase. As soon as the ship was put about she stood back +on the other tack, pouring in a second and still more destructive +broadside. Again the ship was put about; once more the starboard +broadside was loaded, and as we came abreast of the stranded chase, +fired into her with deadly effect. + +"Boats away!" was now the order. The men, with cutlasses by their sides +and pistols in their belts, sprang into them. Mr Willis led the +expedition: not a moment was to be lost. The stranger must be boarded +before the crew could recover from the effects of our broadsides, or +people would come off from the shore to defend her. She had fallen +almost broadside on to the beach, and on the other side the sea was +washing over her. We pulled round, and boarded under her counter, +cutlass in hand. A slight resistance only was made by her captain and +officers and some of the crew. A few were cut down, and the rest +retreated forward, and escaped on shore by a warp, which had previously +been carried there, no one attempting to stop them. As with lanterns in +our hands, we wandered over the ship, everywhere signs were visible of +the cruel effect of our broadsides. In the cabin lay an officer and two +men. We thought they were wounded. We threw the light on their +countenances; they had been dragged there by their shipmates to be out +of the way, probably, and had died as they lay. Poor fellows! they had +fought their last fight--they were dead. Not a thing was found on +board. A glance showed Mr Willis that it would be impossible to get +the ship off, so he ordered us to set fire to her in every direction. +Having done so, and left the dead bodies to be consumed in a not ignoble +funeral pile, we hurried to the boats. We had been taught by a former +catastrophe not to delay too long. As we pulled away, the flames, +climbing up the masts and spars; to which the canvas still hung, formed +a magnificent pyramid of fire, which grew and grew in height till it +seemed to reach the very skies. It was a fine spectacle, but a finer +was to come. She was still burning when we got back to our ship, and +the boats were hoisted in. I watched the conflagration from the deck. +The fire threw a ruddy glare over the sand-hills and the dark woods +beyond, and by its light we could see people watching, undoubtedly with +bitter hearts, the destruction of their property. Without a moment's +warning, while the conflagration was at its height, the whole mass of +flame seemed to be lifted together like a huge fire-work--then it spread +far and wide, forming a fiery canopy of mushroom shape, and breaking +into a thousand fragments, came hissing down into the surrounding ocean, +while a few burning embers alone remained to mark the spot where the +tall ship had lately been--a pretty night's work for the officers and +crew of his Majesty's ship Orpheus. I don't know that the thought of +what we had been about disturbed the rest of any of those who enjoyed +the luxury of turning into their hammocks. The next morning a boat with +a flag of truce was sent on shore to learn particulars of the vessel we +had destroyed. A number of persons were collected in the neighbourhood +of the wreck, and, as may be supposed, they did not look very +affectionately at us; but flags of truce were always respected, in spite +of the animosity which was daily increasing between the belligerents, +and an officer stepped forward to know what we wanted. + +We told him our errand. "Tell your captain," said he, "that he has done +good service to his government, and saved the capture of many a rich +merchantman, if I mistake not. The ship you have destroyed was the +`Wilks' privateer, mounting twenty guns--six-pounders--commanded by as +brave a man as ever stepped, Captain John Williams, and bound into the +English channel on a six-months' cruise. If it is any satisfaction to +you, you may say that she was only off the stocks five weeks. There's +the captain; he'll never break biscuit more, nor will several of our +people who were drowned coming on shore. There's all that remains of +poor Captain Williams." + +He spoke with bitterness, and, lifting a flag, exposed the form of a man +in an officer's uniform. He had been wounded, it appeared, by one of +our broadsides, and carried on shore by his crew. I was not sorry, +having received the information we were ordered to obtain, to get away +from the scene of the catastrophe. This was our finishing stroke in the +Bay of Fundy. During our cruise there it appeared by the log-book that +we had seen ninety rebel vessels of various descriptions, of which we +had either taken or destroyed thirty-three sail--a highly satisfactory +amount of mischief to have committed in so short a time--but it had no +effect in making the Americans loyal, or increasing their love for their +British brethren. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +RECOMMENDED TO SIR PETER PARKER.--JOIN CHATHAM WITH GRAMPUS AND TOM +ROCKETS--MY MESSMATE O'DRISCOLL.--APPOINTED TO COMMAND PIGOT TENDER.-- +CRUISE WITH O'DRISCOLL.--CHASE AND CAPTURE A SCHOONER.--FIND TWO LADIES +ON BOARD.--NEW STYLE OF EXISTENCE.--DISCOVER SKIPPER'S PLOT TO RE-TAKE +HIS VESSEL.--MADELINE CARLYON AND MRS. TARLETON.--CAUGHT IN A HEAVY +GALE. + +One forenoon a midshipman from HMS Chatham came on board, with a letter +from the admiral, Sir Peter Parker, to Captain Hudson. The Chatham was +at that time Sir Peter's flag-ship. The midshipman was of course asked +below and pressed to stop for dinner. In a remarkably short space of +time he made himself at home with all hands. He had a very red head of +hair, very red eyes, and very red face indeed. I have never met a +redder person, but he was far from ugly, and his countenance was brimful +of good-nature and humour. He and I quickly became friends. He caught +my name. + +"Faith, that's not a bad name you've got of your own," said he. "Mine +is Patrick O'Driscoll. If it happens not to be particularly well known +to fame just yet, I purpose to make it as notorious as it was in the +good old days in my native land." + +While O'Driscoll was entertaining us with some racy anecdotes I was sent +for by Captain Hudson into his cabin. + +"Take a seat, Mr Hurry," said he, in his usual kind way. "I have an +offer to make which I hope will prove satisfactory to you. Sir Peter +Parker has applied to me for some mates and midshipmen, and I have +especially named you, as I am sure you will do credit to my +recommendation. He has asked also for some of my people, and as you +seem to have attached to you old Nol Grampus and Tom Rockets, they may, +if they wish it, accompany you, for I like to see an officer with +followers. It speaks well for both parties. I have not yet determined +who else I shall send. I have recommended you because I have no doubt +that you will get a step by the change." + +I warmly thanked my captain for the kind interest he had shown in my +welfare. And here let me pay a just tribute to the character of my old +commander. A more kind-hearted gentleman, or a braver or better officer +never walked the deck of a man-of-war. I was sorry to leave my +messmates of the Orpheus; but for the reason Captain Hudson gave me, the +opportunity of serving under so distinguished an officer as Sir Peter +Parker was not to be lost. I will pass over all my leave-takings. +Midshipmen are not much addicted to the sentimentals. Let me be +supposed alongside the Chatham, accompanied by Nol Grampus, Tom Rockets, +and the chest which contained all my worldly possessions. Those +possessions were, by-the-bye, considerably decreased in quantity and +value since I left my paternal mansion two years before. + +On stepping on board I was met by my red-haired friend. + +"Ah! Hurry, my boy, it's myself then is glad to see you!" he exclaimed, +squeezing my fingers and wringing my hand with a vehemence almost +sufficient to dislocate my wrist. + +"Happy to meet you," I answered, not letting him discover that he had +hurt me. + +This demonstrative mode of greeting was a trick of his, I found, to try, +as he said, what people were made of. Sometimes, however, he caught a +Tartar to his cost. The Chatham's midshipmen were a more rollicking set +than my late shipmates. However, I knew comparatively but little of +them, for, as it turned out, during the greater part of the time I +belonged to the ship I was away on detached duty. Scarcely had I joined +her, when I was sent on shore in command of a party of men to clear a +transport lying in Rhode Island. While I was engaged in this far from +pleasant duty I had to put up at the Cat and Fiddle Tavern, kept by a +certain Mrs Grimalkin. To cover her sympathy with the rebels she used +to exhibit on all public occasions an exuberance of loyalty which I +thought rather suspicious. By watching her narrowly I was not long in +discovering that she kept up a constant communication with the enemy, +and gave them notice of all our proceedings. However, once knowing +this, I was on my guard, and used to amuse myself by telling her all +sorts of wonderful tales of what we had done, and what it was proposed +to do to bring the country to subjection. I hope that I was the means +also of sending some of the American cruisers to look after merchantmen +which had gone in totally different directions, and of making others +keep clear of fleets which had no existence. + +Mrs Grimalkin was a Dutch woman by extraction, and retained the +appearance and many of the habits of her ancestors. Numberless were the +petticoats she wore, and unceasing were the ablutions which her +clean-tiled floors received. She was in the main not a bad old soul, +and I dare say she considered herself perfectly justified, in +consideration of the cause I served, in charging me a preposterous +amount for my board and lodging while I resided under her roof. + +Having cleared the transport, I returned on board. A few days +afterwards Sir Peter sent for me, and expressing his satisfactions with +what he had observed of my conduct, appointed me to the command of the +Pigot tender, the officer who had hitherto had charge of her being on +the sick list. A midshipman's berth is a very jolly place, but still +there is nothing like being captain of one's own ship, so thanking the +admiral for the good opinion he had formed of me, with a light heart I +hurried below to prepare for my change of quarters. I had not been thus +engaged many minutes, when I was joined by O'Driscoll, with a broad grin +on his countenance. + +"Well, brother skipper," said he, "how do you feel with your new +dignity?" + +"What do you mean?" I asked. + +"Why, faith, that I've got command of the `Lady Parker,' a very tidy +craft, and that we are to cruise in company. Arrah, now--won't we have +a jovial time of it, my jewel!" + +"I hope so," said I; "if we don't happen to meet with poor Luscombe's +ill-luck. There are two sides to every question, remember." + +"Arrah, now. Never look at the reverse of a pleasing picture, Hurry," +he replied. "Because Luscombe met with ill-luck, we have a better +chance of good luck, do ye see. So now let's get aboard our respective +ships. I feel wonderfully grown since I received my appointment." + +Luscombe, one of our master's mates, had, while in charge of a schooner, +fitted out as a tender, been a short time before captured by the enemy, +after losing all his men, while he himself had been severely wounded. + +Our orders were to make the best of our way to Long Island Sound, where +we were to deliver some despatches to HMS Syren, and then, after +cruising a week off Gay Head, to return to Rhode Island. Both our +vessels were ready for sea, so, having obtained leave to take Grampus +and Tom Rockets with me, we pulled on board, and got under weigh. A +fine breeze carried us to sea, and did not desert us till we made the +shores of Long Island. We ran into the Sound and delivered our +despatches on board the Syren. The spot wore a very different aspect to +that which it had borne when I was last there. Now the whole country +was in possession of the royal troops, who were under the full belief +that it was henceforward to remain their own. The reports were that the +whole of the American forces were completely disorganised and +disheartened, and that they would never again be able to make head +against the royalists. The truth was what was supposed, but they had a +man at their head who was a host in himself, and by his courage, his +wisdom, and energy, he made amends for all deficiencies. George +Washington was truly the man who established the American Republic. For +that great work he was especially appointed by Heaven. Unhappily, the +people of whom he made a nation have too often since forgotten his +precepts and example. The farther they have departed from it the less +dignified and respected they have been. But I am anticipating events. + +O'Driscoll and I would have been right glad of an excuse to remain at +New York, but we had not even sprung a spar, and our craft were as tight +as bottles, and our crews did not want a single dose of physic among +them, so we were obliged to put to sea again that evening. We however +contrived to pick up a round of beef, two legs of mutton, and a turkey, +with a sack of potatoes, and some other vegetables, out of a bumboat +which had come down to supply the Syren, and which we waylaid before she +reached that ship. I must not forget also some soft tack, three dozen +of bottled ale, and a cheese, which set us up in the comestible way for +some time. Just as we got to sea the wind veered round to the east and +south-east, and with a favourable breeze, under easy sail, we stood to +the northward. The next day O'Driscoll came aboard to dine with me. I +had the turkey. The bird had made so many objections to remaining in +the coop into which I put him, that I was obliged to kill him. He was +consequently rather tough, but midshipmen's teeth don't stand at +trifles, and we made considerable progress in devouring him. + +"This is very jolly, Captain Hurry," said O'Driscoll, pouring out for +himself a glass of foaming ale. "Here's to you, man, and I don't care +how long we're on our cruise." + +"It will soon come to an end if this wind lasts," I remarked. + +"Not a bit of it, if we're inclined to make it longer," he replied. +"Suppose now, a craft was to make her appearance in the south-east, we +should have to make sail after her, and it might be many a day before we +got back to port, do ye see. Do you twig, my boy, eh?" + +"Oh, yes, O'Driscoll. I understand you perfectly," said I. "But that +sort of conduct does not exactly come up to my notion of our duty to the +service. We might get a long cruise, certainly, but I don't think we +should enjoy it, and we might just possibly fall into the hands of an +enemy, and end it in a prison on shore." + +"Ha! ha! ha! that would be an unpleasant termination to our independent +commands," he replied, laughing. "Well, I suppose to do our duty is the +best policy. I shouldn't like the catastrophe you picture so vividly." + +One thing I must say in O'Driscoll's favour, though his fertile brain +conceived all sorts of mischief, he was very ready to abandon any of his +proposals when he found that others objected to them. Though hot enough +at times, and ready enough to fight anybody and everybody who came in +his way, his anger was as quickly appeased. Thus also he was easily +persuaded by me to adhere to the letter of his instructions, and, in +perfect good-humour with all the world, he accompanied me on deck to +smoke our cigars. It was one of those lovely days, which occur +frequently in autumn in that part of the world, called by the Americans +the Indian summer. A thin, gauze-like mist hung over the face of the +deep--scarcely dense enough, however, to mitigate the heat of the sun's +rays, which, darting forth from the pure, blue sky, sparkled brightly on +the crisply curling wavelets, stirred up by a light southerly breeze. +Everything gave promise of a continuance of fine weather, and so, like +two pachas, we sat on the deck, calmly contemplating with philosophic +indifference all sublunary affairs. Not another sail was to be seen +within the circle of our horizon besides our two small craft, so that as +we had nothing else with which to compare ourselves, we were content to +believe that we were two very important personages indeed. We had our +coffee brought to us in due form. It was not a common beverage among +midshipmen, certainly in those days, but Tom had learned to make it well +of a Spanish seaman on board the Orpheus. We finished our repast with +more than one glass of grog apiece, but not sufficient, I am happy to +say, to risk the equilibrium of either our minds or bodies. While we +were discussing the seaman's favourite beverage, O'Driscoll indulged me, +and by necessity my ship's company, with some of his choicest songs, +trolled forth in a full, clear voice, and the liquor loosening the +muscles of his tongue, every word came forth with the richest brogue of +his native land. At first the people listened attentively as they sat +forward. Then they by degrees crept up nearer and nearer, till at +length Pat Doolan, a compatriot of the minstrel, seemingly unable any +longer to contain himself, burst forth into the full chorus of one of +the songs. To stop him would have been impossible. The poor fellow +flung his whole soul into the melody. What a flood of recollections--of +long pent-up feelings--it brought back! Sooner than hold silence he +would have jumped overboard, I believe. The example was infectious. +One by one the rest of the crew took up the strain. Not one but had the +spirit of melody within him; and there we were, officers and crew, all +singing away together like mad people, or as if our lives depended on +the noise we made. + +At sun-down we hove-to, and O'Driscoll returned on board his own vessel, +insisting on my returning his visit the next day. The weather proving +calm, I was enabled to fulfil my engagement, and a merry time we had of +it. So pleasant did I find this sort of life, that I began to persuade +myself that there would be no outrageous impropriety in acceding to +O'Driscoll's proposal to lengthen our voyage. Two days thus passed +pleasantly away, during which we made but little progress in our voyage. +We might possibly by carrying a greater press of sail have made more, +but we were, as I have observed, in no hurry to bring it to an end. + +On the morning of the 14th, as I lay fast asleep in my cot, it having +been my middle watch, I felt my shoulder shaken, while a rough voice +exclaimed-- + +"There's a sail in sight, Mr Hurry, sir, on the lee-bow. She's the cut +of an American merchantman." + +Looking up, I saw the weather-beaten countenance of Nol Grampus bending +over me. + +"Keep her away, and make all sail in chase," I answered, springing up; +"I'll be on deck in a trice." + +I was not many seconds behind old Nol. The Lady Parker was on our +weather-quarter. Her people had not been so quick-sighted as we were, +but when they saw us making sail, they did the same. Away we both went +in hot pursuit of the stranger, which proved to be a schooner. When she +made us out she apparently took fright, and likewise set every stitch of +canvas she could carry to escape. + +There is nothing so exciting as a chase, whether on shore or afloat. +Next to it is a race. Here we had both combined, for we wanted to catch +the enemy and to beat the Lady Parker. The breeze freshened, but the +Pigot looked up to her canvas famously; and sweeter to our ears than any +music just then was the loud gush of the yielding waters as they were +parted by the sharp bows of my little craft. + +"You are a darling now!" cried old Nol, as he looked up at the canvas, +ever and anon, to see that each sail drew its best. "Just show us what +your heels can do this time, at all events." The schooner seemed to +understand him, and went faster and faster. We were somewhat distancing +the Lady Parker, and coming up with the chase. + +"If the breeze holds, sir, we shall be within gun-shot in half an hour, +and then there'll be but little chance for that small hooker there," +observed Grampus, chuckling. She was a bigger vessel than the Pigot, +by-the-bye. + +"It's just possible that one of the enemy's cruisers may heave in sight, +and spoil our sport before then," said I; "such a thing has occurred +before now, and there are plenty of them in these seas." + +"The more call for speed, then, sir," replied Nol. "Hurrah--blow your +best, good breeze, and don't stint us." + +In even less time than Grampus had predicted, we got the schooner within +range of our guns. I half expected to see her haul her wind and show +fight. We began to blaze away with our bow-chasers, but she stood +steadily on, taking not the slightest notice of us. Rockets and I had +both tried our hands at a shot, but without effect, so I sent him to the +helm, and called Grampus forward, to see what he could do. More than +once he looked along the gun without firing. "Here goes," he at length +exclaimed, applying the match. I watched eagerly. Away flew the shot-- +it struck. I could see the splinters fly, and down came by the run the +main-topmast of the chase. All hands gave a grand hurrah. Still the +chase stood on. In a short time, however, we saw that there was some +confusion on board. The ensign was hauled down--then run up, and then +hauled down again. + +Just as we fancied that she was going to heave-to, up went the ensign +once more, and the hands were seen going aloft, to clear away the wreck +of the top-mast. + +"What can the fellow be about?" said I; "he cannot hope to escape us." + +"Perhaps, sir, he sees a big friend ahead, whom he thinks will come to +his assistance," observed Grampus. + +"We must give him another dose, then, to stop him before his friend +appears. Fire low this time!" I exclaimed, for my blood was up at the +thoughts of his escaping us. We yawed a little so as to bring all our +starboard guns to bear. The shot took effect, and there appeared more +confusion than before on deck. "Let them have it again," I sung out; +"this time they must give in!" The guns were loaded, and our people +were about to fire, when, as I was looking through my telescope, I saw +two figures rush on deck, and which instantly made me arrest the order +to fire. They were women. By their gestures they were evidently +endeavouring to persuade the crew to continue their endeavours to escape +or to yield at once. Which it was I could not determine, but while they +remained on deck I could not bring myself again to fire on the vessel. +I hoped that we should be able to capture her without doing her further +injury. On we stood, therefore, as before. The ladies remained on +deck. I kept my eye on them, intending to fire at the schooner's +rigging the moment they went below. I told Grampus my reason for not +firing. "That's right, sir," he answered warmly; "no man who's fit to +be a man ever hurts a woman if he can help it, whether old or young, or +whatever her nation--or black or white. And they, d'ye see, bless their +hearts, repays us; for no matter where it is, if a man is sick or +wounded, or in distress, they are always ready to help him and nurse him +and pity him--bless them, says I. I don't know what we should do +without them." + +The two ladies kept their posts, walking the deck, and every now and +then stopping and eyeing us--taking our distance, I thought. We were +rapidly decreasing it, however, and to me it appeared that the chase had +very little chance of escaping. I must own that I was now doubly +anxious to come up with her. All sorts of romantic ideas came crowding +into my imagination, and I quite forgot that, after all, the petticoats +might belong to the skipper's double-fisted wife and rosy-cheeked, +loud-voiced daughter. Still, whatever they were, I would not for worlds +have run the risk of hurting them. + +As time sped away the more eager did I become to solve the problem. +When my eye began to ache with watching the chase, Nol took the glass. +I had had my breakfast brought on deck. I ate my dinner there also. I +was just washing down the cold salt junk and biscuit with a glass of rum +and water, when Grampus exclaimed-- + +"The petticoats has wapperated, sir--that they has." + +I jumped up, overturning my glass of swizzle, and putting the helm to +starboard, sung-- + +"Fire away, but high, my lads--take care, now." + +Grampus had handed me the glass and hurried to a gun. Never was there a +better marksman. His eye coolly glanced along the iron tube. He fired. +The schooner's fore-yard was shot away in the slings, and directly +afterwards her fore-top-mast went tumbling over her bows. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Nol, "we've got her now, my lads." + +I watched through my glass. The females did not return on deck. I only +hoped that they were not frightened at the mischief we had committed. +The chase was now a complete wreck aloft. Still her ensign was kept +flying at her peak. Just, however, as I was about to yaw once more, it +was hauled down, and she was luffed up into the wind. We were very soon +up with her. Heaving-to just to windward of her, I ordered a boat to be +lowered, and, with Tom Rockets and two other hands, pulled aboard. I +directed Grampus to keep a very sharp watch on the movements of the +schooner, should I go below, for the rebels were up to so many tricks +that it was necessary to be prepared for them. + +As I stepped on the deck of the prize, I was met by a man whom I took to +be the master. He was a tall, lank man, and one of the most +melancholy-looking beings I ever beheld. I looked round for the +females. + +"If they belong to our thread-paper friend here, the chances are that +their attractions are but small," I thought to myself. Still I was very +curious to see them. + +"Well, Mr Officer," said the master, without giving me time to speak, +"if it's any satisfaction to you, you'll understand that you've ruined a +hard-working man with a large family by this capture, and frightened +nearly to death two females aboard here." + +He spoke in a slow, drawling tone, but there was something in it which +made me fully believe him. + +"It cannot be helped. I do but my duty," I answered. + +"Your duty, sir! Is it the duty of a man, a gentleman, to attack the +weak and the oppressed?" said a deep voice close to my ear. + +The melancholy skipper had not spoken, the tones were too feminine for +him. I turned, and saw standing near me a lady who had evidently just +ascended from the cabin. I started. She was something so unlike what I +had expected to see. Her figure, though slight, was tall and +commanding, and a black dress set off the brilliant whiteness of her +complexion. Her dark eyes flashed with fire as she spoke. Her features +also, I saw, were very handsome. I have not often been abashed, such a +feeling does not usually run in the blood of the Hurrys, but I was on +this occasion completely taken aback. I felt that I should have liked +to have jumped into my boat and pulled back to my own craft without +saying a word. However, I mustered courage to speak. + +"Pardon me, madam," I stuttered out, "I obey the commands of my lawful +sovereign, though those commands are, I own, often painful." + +"The excuse all mercenaries make," said the lady, with bitter scorn in +her voice. "And now, sir, that we are your captives, may I ask what you +purpose doing with us?" + +This question was rather a poser. I could not let the prize go free, +and yet I had no wish to detain any women as prisoners. + +"I cannot answer the question at once, madam," I replied; "but I will do +my best to land you as soon as possible at the nearest point I am able +to reach, to wherever you may wish to go." + +I thought this would satisfy the lady, but not a bit of it. + +"Oh, then, we are to be compelled to leave the vessel in which we have +taken a passage and to be delayed on an errand of importance because +George of Brunswick chooses to try and force unjust laws down the +throats of a free people!" + +"The fortune of war, madam," I replied, my choler rising somewhat at her +remarks; still I did not forget she was a lady, and that I was an +officer and a gentleman. + +"Such as brigands might be ashamed of," she replied. "Then, sir, we are +to consider ourselves as your prisoners?" + +"Not a moment longer than I can help it, I assure you, madam," I +answered, rather inclined to be amused than angry, and hoping to pique +her by my replies. "You are free to go in any direction you please +directly you have an opportunity." + +"You speak mockingly, sir," she said, apparently determined not to be on +good terms with me. + +I was anxious to bring the conversation to a conclusion without being +rude to her; she was very evidently a lady, and probably accustomed to +be treated with attention. My curiosity also was excited to know who +her companion could be. We had seen two females on board, and she had +used the word "we" several times as if her companion was her equal; +whether older or younger was the question. She herself had the +appearance and air of a matron who, though past the bloom of youth, +still retained much of her beauty. Bowing to her again, I turned to the +melancholy-faced master and inquired the particulars of his cargo, where +he was from, and where bound to. He was from Boston, with a cargo of +notions bound for Philadelphia. + +"Well, then, captain, I'll step below, just to have a look at your +papers," said I, trying to appear as unconcerned as possible. "Then +we'll get the wreck of your masts cleared away and take you in tow. You +and your mate with two hands will go on board my vessel, the rest will +remain here to help work this craft." + +He saw that my orders were not to be disputed, though he prepared to +obey them with no very good grace. I had no fear of any trick being +played me, for the Lady Parker was fast coming up to the scene of +action, or I should not have trusted either the lank master or the +lovely dame. I hailed Grampus to send another boat aboard, and while +she was coming I dived below, disregarding the black looks both of the +master and the lady. I certainly was not prepared for the vision of +loveliness which broke on my sight when I opened the door of the cabin. +I somehow or other had taken it into my head that the lady on deck was +the youngest of the two persons we had seen, and I expected accordingly +to find a stout, elderly dame acting as her chaperone or attendant. +Instead, however, there, half-reclining on a sofa, and reading, or +pretending to read, was a young and lovely girl. The lady on deck +possessed somewhat of a stern beauty; hers was of the most perfect +feminine softness. She was fair, with light-brown hair, and a rich +colour on her cheeks, and eyes so full and lustrous that they pierced +through and through me at once. I was very glad she did not ask me to +do anything I ought not to have done, for as Adam was easily tempted by +Eve, I fear me much that I should not have had the resolution to refuse +any request she might have made. I stood for a minute at the door, +looking, I daresay, very stupid, and silent as a post. At last I +blundered out-- + +"I beg pardon, miss; I came to see the ship's papers; I hope that I +don't inconvenience you." + +"Oh, no, sir, as the ship is, I conclude, in your power, and the +passengers are your prisoners, we can only be grateful for any courtesy +you show us," she answered; and oh! what a sweet, soft, musical voice +she spoke in! + +I was quickly followed below by the master, who proceeded to hand me out +his papers from a well-battered tin case. + +"You are, I conclude, Mr Saul Cobb, master of the `Crab' schooner--not +much like a crab though, by the way she went through the water," said I, +running my eyes over the papers. "All well and good, Mr Cobb. We will +take the `Crab' in tow as far as Rhode Island, where Sir Peter Parker, +the English admiral, will decide what is to be done with her. Your +passengers, I have no doubt, will be landed at Newport, and a safe +conduct will be granted them in whatever direction they may wish to +proceed." + +I looked up as I spoke, and bowed to the young lady. I found her eyes +fixed on me, though she very quickly withdrew them, and I could not help +fancying, vain puppy that I was! that a slight blush tinged her cheeks. + +"I trust, madam," said I, "that we shall be able to make arrangements +satisfactory under the painful circumstances of the case to you and the +lady who is with you." + +"She is my aunt," she answered quickly. "But I fear that it will be +difficult to make amends to her for the inconvenience to which she must +be put and the bitter disappointment she feels. She was called to the +bedside of a brother she believes to be dying from his wounds, and there +being no one else whose assistance she could claim, I accompanied her. +We hoped to have landed to-morrow. Could you not still manage to put us +on shore?" + +She looked up with such a beautiful, earnest expression that I instantly +began to consider whether I could not by some possibility do as she +requested. As the result of my reflections I replied-- + +"I am sorry to say I cannot do so. I dare not so far depart from my +very clear line of duty; still, any accommodation I can afford you and +your aunt will, I am sure, be sanctioned by the admiral." + +"You are very kind indeed, sir," said the young lady. "I would not ask +any officer to neglect his duty to the king he serves; I should despise +him if he did." + +She had risen from her seat, and stood resting her left hand on the +table, while her right was slightly raised to give expression to her +sentiments. + +"Ho, ho!" I thought, "your politics do not agree, then, with those of +your aunt." + +I looked up into her face. I could not help it. How beautiful and +animated she looked! Her figure was not tall, though exquisitely +proportioned and rounded as if she enjoyed excellent health, and had +been subject to very few of the cares and disappointments of life. In a +word, I thought her a perfect heroine, and so she was. I could not help +congratulating myself at the idea of having her society on board the +tender for at least the next two days, and perhaps longer, and I must +own that I was in no hurry to finish looking over the papers of the +Crab, though for the life of me I could not have told a word of their +contents. + +"Well, mister, are you satisfied now?" + +The harsh, grating sounds of Captain Cobb's voice, for he it was who +spoke, recalled me to myself. + +"Yes, yes," I answered. "Turn your hands up and get a hawser secured on +board with plenty of scope." + +I then once more addressed the young lady-- + +"I must beg you and your aunt to come on board my schooner. This vessel +is not in a safe condition for you to remain in her. I will, believe +me, endeavour to do everything to secure your comfort and to mitigate +the annoyance you must of course feel. I will go on deck and endeavour +to persuade your aunt to do what is necessary." + +"I wish you would," she answered. "I am afraid that you will have no +little difficulty, though." + +I left the young lady preparing in a very methodical way to pack up her +things to remove on board the tender, while I, with no little +trepidation, went on deck to address the aunt. The Lady Parker was fast +coming up, and I wanted to make all arrangements before O'Driscoll's +appearance. + +The lady, as I expected, at first refused positively to leave the vessel +she was on board of unless by force. I assured her that she would +remain at very great risk to her own life and that of her niece, should +bad weather come on, and I assured her that I would spare no pains to +secure her comfort, and I pledged my honour that she would be as safe +under my protection as she had been under that of Captain Cobb. +"Besides, Captain Cobb himself will be on board my vessel, madam." + +"In that case, sir, I will act according to your commands," said the +lady, with one of her bitter smiles. + +As they had no attendant, she and her niece were some time in putting up +their things, and though I offered my services they were stiffly +declined by the elder lady. However, under the counteracting influences +of her sweet niece I felt that I could bear a large amount of sourness +from her. + +At last I got them safely into the boat and on board the tender, +together with Mr Cobb and his mate and two of his men. The rest I +judged that I could safely leave where they were to help work the prize. +I sent Grampus on board her to take charge, and we had the hawser +secured when O'Driscoll came up. I had no particular wish just then for +his company, though I could not for the world have shown any jealousy of +him, so I signalised him that all was right and that I was going to make +sail for Rhode Island. He, however, had seen the ladies on my deck, and +he would have been unlike any Irishman I ever met had he not desired to +know more about them. He accordingly signalised me in return not to +make sail till he had held some private communication with me, and very +quickly he was on board. After he had made a most profound bow to the +two ladies and looked a thousand unutterable things, he seized me by the +arm and led me forward. + +"Oh, you lucky dog, Poynder," said he, "to have fallen in with such a +prize--that magnificent creature and that pretty little girl. Faith! I +must accompany you back to the admiral, just to see that you don't get +into any mischief. I should like to bask myself every morning in their +smiles, even though it may be at a somewhat long distance." + +I of course told him that he must do as he thought fit, but I wasn't +sorry when he tumbled into the boat to return to his own craft, and +allowed me to prepare for the ladies' comfort on board mine. I of +course gave them up the entire cabin, and fitted up a sofa with sides +for one of the ladies. What with canvas, and flags, and some planks, I +very soon had some fair accommodation for them. My own cot I had slung +in another part of the vessel. The younger lady, when she returned on +deck, after inspecting the arrangements I had made, thanked me with a +look which made ample amends for all the trouble I had taken. The elder +one did not deign to take any notice of the matter. I had been anxious +to know their names. I had seen that of Tarleton on one of the trunks, +so I addressed the elder lady as Mrs Tarleton, which she seemed to +acknowledge as her proper appellation, so I took the chance of being +right, and called the other Miss Tarleton; but she with a smile +observed-- + +"No; that is not my name. I am called Madeline Carlyon. That lady is +the wife of my mother's brother. She, as you see, is very strongly +opposed to the Royalist party. She has reason, for she has suffered +much from them. I am very much attached to her, for she is an +excellent, noble-minded person, though she has, as you see, her +peculiarities." + +"And are you, Miss Carlyon, equally opposed to the Royalists?" I asked. + +I felt that I was venturing on dangerous ground. + +"Some of my family are Royalists, though some of them are in opposition, +and are what you, I fear, would call rebels. I do not like the word." + +"Nor do I," I answered warmly. "Though I am a naval officer, and +fighting is my vocation, I wish that this dispute were settled. I would +rather have any other enemies than those we are now fighting with." + +"I am glad to hear you utter that sentiment, sir," said Mrs Tarleton, +who had overheard the last part of our conversation, as she continued +her never-ceasing walk on deck. "Cherish it, for it may produce +wholesome fruit in time to come." + +The wind held fair, and with the prize in tow, and the Lady Parker, +which could easily keep up with us in company, we steered a direct +course for the then small town of Newport, off which I hoped to find the +admiral. After the conversation I have described above, the ice in Mrs +Tarleton's manner gradually thawed. She began to regard me with some +degree of interest, and to look on me simply as a misguided young man +whom she might hope to win over to the cause to which she herself was so +warmly attached. I certainly did my best to obtain her good opinion, as +well as that of her niece, and I felt that at all events I was winning +that of the latter. + +Delightful and strange were the sensations I experienced as I leaned +over the bulwarks by the side of that lovely girl, while we watched the +blue sparkling wavelets, and I told her of the wonders of the deep, and +now and then threw in a description of some of the adventures I had gone +through. It was, I repeat, fortunate for me that she was at heart a +loyalist, or she would inevitably just then have converted me to +whatever opinions she held. We watched the glorious sun descend into +his ocean bed in a golden radiance which suffused the whole western sky; +and then the pale moon arose, and we stayed to gaze on its silvery beams +as they played over the calm waters of the ocean, just crisped into +wavelets by the light easterly breeze which blew us on our way. It was +very delightful. We were both of us very young, and very +unsophisticated. I had scarcely ever spoken to a young lady. The last +I had seen, and the impression she had made was not deep, was Miss +Deborah Doulass, the fair daughter of a retired linen-draper at +Falmouth. The Poynders are in no way a phlegmatic race. The young lady +was not backward in appreciating my sentiments, and we might very +probably have stood gazing at the ocean till the moon had gone to bed +also, when Miss Carlyon was summoned somewhat hastily by her aunt. She +put out her hand, and as I pressed it I felt as if an electric shock had +run through me. The elder lady drew her shawl round her, and, bowing +stiffly, they retired one after the other down the companion-ladder. + +I walked the deck for some time, all sorts of new sensations jumping +away round my heart and in my head, and then I turned into the temporary +berth I had had rigged for myself in the hold, ordering Tom Rockets to +keep a sharp look-out, and to call me the moment he suspected even that +anything, however trifling, was going wrong. Close to my berth, and +divided only by a thin bulk-head, was the place where the prisoners were +sleeping. They were all snoring away when I turned in, but after a time +I heard one of them give some grunts. + +"Peter," said a voice. "Peter, are you awake, man?" + +I knew by the grating harsh tones that it was that of the lank skipper. + +"Yes, captain; I'm awake. What's your will?" was the answer. + +"I'll tell you what I've been thinking of," said the captain in a very +low voice, evidently getting near the person he was addressing. "It +wouldn't be a hard matter to take this craft, and make off with her. +She is short-handed. We have four stout fellows, and the woman I make +sure would help us. I'd undertake, while he is caterwauling away with +the young gal, to knock that young sprig of an officer overboard. Then +we'd cast off the hawser, and let the `Crab' go adrift. They needn't +know it was done on purpose; and while the other king's ship was looking +after her to pick her up, we'd have a fine start. At all events, this +craft has the best pair of heels, and she would never come up with us +again. What do you say, Peter, to this?" + +"I'm your man, captain," answered the mate chuckling. "There's four to +seven, and that's no great odds if we choose our time. We can count, I +guess, on the woman if you put her up to the trick. It may be a job to +do that, though." + +"No fear on that score," observed Captain Cobb. "By the look of the sky +when the sun went down, there'll be a breeze before to-morrow night. +Just do you talk to Ahab and Silas, and I'll see about the rest." + +The voices of the speakers sank so low after this that I could not catch +another word. + +"Thank you, gentlemen," said I to myself. "I've had that trick +attempted to be played on me before now; but I didn't think that you, my +melancholy-looking friend, were up to it. However--forewarned, +fore-armed--I'll be ready for you. I suspect that Mrs Tarleton will +not be a little enraged when she hears the part she is to play in the +drama. She'll wither up the poor skipper into a mummy when she sees +him." + +I could scarcely refrain from laughing aloud at the idea. I waited till +the two conspirators ceased speaking, and as I believed had gone again +to sleep; and then I noiselessly left my berth and went on deck. I had +my own pistols ready, and I sent Rockets to arm himself and the rest of +the people. + +In the morning, when the lank skipper and his people came on deck, they +looked somewhat dismayed at the appearance we presented. I, however, +said nothing, and treated him as if I was totally ignorant of his kind +intentions towards me. I was, however, preparing to speak to him, in +the presence of Mrs Tarleton, hoping to enjoy her indignation and his +dismay; but the sight of Miss Carlyon put everything I was going to say +out of my head, as I sprang to the companion-hatch to hand her on deck. +How bright and beaming was the smile which irradiated her countenance! +While she was near, I scarcely had it in my heart even to frighten the +poor skipper, and certainly not to hurt him, even had he attempted to +carry out his kind intentions towards me. She looked about her, +enjoying the sight of the blue sparkling sea and the fresh breeze. + +"It is very beautiful," said she at length. + +"Very!" said I, but if she had asked me to say what I thought so +beautiful it would have made her blush. She did not remark a bank of +black clouds away to the eastward. I did, and was sorry to see them, +for I thought how much discomfort a gale would cause her. The lank +skipper saw them also, and probably hoped for an opportunity to carry +his pleasant little plot into execution. I determined at once to spoil +it. I had somewhat prepared Miss Carlyon, by telling her that I knew of +the existence of a plan to take the vessel from me, but made very light +of it that I might not frighten her. Calling Captain Cobb aft, while +Mrs Tarleton was on deck, I looked him full in the face, and recounted +the whole particulars of the plan he had concocted. + +"And do you know, madam, our worthy friend not only expects you to +approve of his project, but to help him carry it into execution, whether +by the aid of the bowl or dagger I do not know; perhaps he expects you +to help in smothering us with pillows while we are fast asleep." + +Never was a man more completely taken aback than was Mr Saul Cobb on +that occasion, nor was his confusion lessened by the address of the +lady. + +"You wretched, miserable being! do you fancy that because I am a patriot +I would consort with murderers, whose sole idea is how they may make +money without a thought how they may best serve their country?" + +Her attitude, expression, and manner, more than her words, expressed the +vehemence of her feelings; and the skipper, without attempting to excuse +himself, turned round and, bolting forward, dived down below to hide his +head in darkness. I told Rockets to keep an eye on him, for I thought +he might do some mischief. + +"You, sir, will, I am sure, acquit me of approving even in the remotest +way of such a scheme," said the lady. + +I assured her that I did, and I felt that I had, from the way I had +taken the matter, gained a yet further step in her good graces. I then +sent Rockets to tell the skipper that, should he attempt to make any +such demonstration as he had proposed, I should forthwith be compelled +to blow out his brains; but that, if he behaved well, I would pass the +matter over. I felt very sure that he would give me no further trouble. + +Scarcely had I thus settled this affair than down came the gale on us +with a fury unexpected. I shortened sail, lengthened our hawser to the +utmost, and then went to try and make the ladies comfortable in the +cabin. Still, notwithstanding all my responsibilities and troubles, I +had never before felt so happy and proud in my life. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +GALE CONTINUES.--MY LADY PASSENGERS.--MY LOYALTY PUT TO THE TEST.--REACH +RHODE ISLAND.--ORDERED TO ESCORT LADIES TO THEIR DESTINATION.--CHASED BY +A STRANGER.--FEARFUL DANGERS.--RUN THROUGH A NARROW PASSAGE.--ANCHOR. + +The little schooner kept plunging away through the heavy seas caused by +the gale, with her prize dragging astern. Grampus had got some sail on +her to help her along, but still she not only made us labour much, but +exposed us to considerable risk. This, under ordinary circumstances, I +should not have minded, and of course, except in the case of the last +necessity, I would not have thought of casting her adrift to look after +herself. Night came on, and still there was no chance of the gale going +down. I was much relieved by O'Driscoll ranging up alongside and +hailing me, promising to stay by the prize should I be compelled to cast +her off. Still, as I had taken her, I naturally wanted to have the +satisfaction of bringing her in. As the darkness increased, the gale +blew heavier and the sea ran higher. Still, fortunately, we were able +to keep our course. Hour after hour passed away, the little vessel +plunging bows under, and dragging away lustily at her heavy prize. I +felt that she was straining very much, and on sending below I found that +she was making more water than she ought to have done. Still I held on +with the Crab, hoping that the gale would break. At last it seemed to +have moderated a little, so I left the deck in charge of Rockets, and +descended into the cabin to offer what comfort I could to its fair +occupants. I asked leave to enter. Mrs Tarleton's voice assured me +that I was welcome. I found both ladies sitting on a sofa which I had +lashed close to the table. A swing lamp hung from above. They had +books before them, and were attempting to read. I doubt if they had +made much progress. I told them that I thought the gale was breaking, +and that we might have fair weather again before the morning. + +"I trust so, indeed," said Miss Carlyon. "It appeared to me that we +have been in very great danger; even now the vessel seems dreadfully +agitated, though my aunt assures me that such storms are constantly met +with at sea." + +"She is right, I assure you," said I. "There is no danger that may +alarm you." + +Just as I spoke there was a loud report. Both ladies shrieked. + +"Oh, what is that?" exclaimed the younger. "What can have happened, Mr +Poynder?" + +"Parted the hawser, which was towing the prize," I answered hurriedly. +"Let me entreat you: do not be alarmed, whatever happens. We shall have +probably to lie by her all night. With daylight we may make her fast +again." + +Saying this I rushed on deck. I could just see the Crab astern of us. +The mainsail being handed, we hove the vessel to, under her +fore-staysail. She felt far more easy than she had done, going free, +and with the prize in tow. Still I never spent a more anxious night. I +did not either forget friend Cobb's kind intentions by me, and I hinted +to him that I remembered them. At length daylight came, and a dark +cloudy sky hung over a dull leaden sea. I looked anxiously around for +the prize. She had drifted away some three miles to leeward of us. I +would rather not have been nearer the coast than we were. Still I bore +down to her. O'Driscoll was nowhere to be seen. A cheery reply from +old Grampus assured me that all was right. He, moreover, volunteered to +send a hawser aboard of us. I accordingly hove-to again on his +weather-bow. A boat was lowered from the Crab, manned by the prisoners, +and in a short time, though not without risk to the boat's crew, we had +the prize once more in tow. + +"I'll not forget you for this, my lads," I sang out. + +Captain Cobb looked daggers at his people, but I took care that he +should hold no communication with them. + +My fair passengers, I found, had not suffered during the night. As the +schooner, when hove-to, rode easily, they fancied that the weather had +improved, and were perfectly satisfied. When we once more made sail, +although there really was less wind and sea, they fancied that the +weather had become worse, and I had some difficulty in assuring them to +the contrary. The subject which caused me the most anxiety was the +quantity of water the vessel was making. It became, therefore, +necessary to man the pumps, and I was not sorry to have a good excuse +for setting Captain Cobb and his people to labour at them. The master, +especially, did not like it, and showed signs of disobedience. + +"Come, come, my friend," said I; "I have been somewhat lenient with you. +I might have kept you in irons, had I not run you up to the yard-arm, +in return for the trick you wished to play with me." + +"Well, now, mister, how did you find all that out?" quoth my friend, +looking me coolly in the face. + +"Never mind," I answered, tickled by his impudence. "Man the pumps." +And I made him work away, as he deserved, as long as he could stand. I +kept a look-out for the Lady Parker, and felt not a little anxious as to +what had become of her. I should have liked to have passed much more of +my time than I did in the cabin, but I was afraid of intruding on my +passengers. I believe they fully appreciated my delicacy. Several +times during the day Miss Carlyon ventured on deck, and seemed to enjoy +gazing on the stormy, foam-crested seas. I stood by her side and +supported her as the little vessel plunged into the troughs, and rose +again buoyantly to their summits. + +"This is very fine," she exclaimed enthusiastically. "I do think the +life of a sailor must be very delightful, Mr Hurry. Had I my choice, I +would select it above all others." + +"You may be a sailor's wife, though you cannot be a sailor," came to the +tip of my tongue, but I did not utter the words; instead of them I said, +looking at her beautiful countenance, and admiring its animation, "I +love it dearly, and would not change it for any other, Miss Carlyon, +though it has its shadows as well as its sunshine." + +"Ah, yes, but I always look at the _sunny_ side of every picture," she +remarked, smiling sweetly. + +"You cannot help that. The light you see shed over everything is but +the reflection from yourself!" I blushed as I felt an expression so +different from my usual matter-of-fact style drawn from my lips. + +Miss Carlyon looked up with a bright glance, (not smiling exactly), as +much as to say, "What is that about?" She was not, I thought, +displeased, but I did not venture anything of the sort again. I found +myself led by degrees to tell her all about myself, and my early life, +and my adventures, and then I described the sea under its various +aspects, and I went on to talk about ships of different classes, and how +to rig them, and the names of the ropes and sails and spars. She told +me, in return, a good deal about herself and her family, and her likes +and dislikes and occupations. Her father had property, I found, between +the Chesapeake and Potomac rivers in Virginia, where she had generally +resided. Since his death she had remained chiefly with her aunt, Mrs +Tarleton, though she hoped to return in a short time, if the state of +the country would allow it, to Virginia. + +"If you knew what a beautiful country it is, you would love it as I do, +Mr Hurry!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm. "When this dreadful war is +over, and the people have attained their rights, and returned to their +allegiance, you must come and see us. I am sure that my family will one +and all, whatever their politics, rejoice in the opportunity of thanking +you for your kindness and courtesy to my aunt and me on the present +occasion." + +I of course said how delighted I should be, and fifty other very pretty +things besides. All I can say is that I had never spent so enjoyable a +time before at sea. Her aunt very seldom came on deck, so that Madeline +and I were left very much to ourselves. I believe that Mrs Tarleton +purposely did not interfere, hoping by means of her niece to gain me +over to the cause to which she was so enthusiastically attached. From +what I knew of her, I am certain that if such was the case, she fully +believed that she was employing a lawful means for a good end. The more +I saw, however, of Mrs Tarleton, the more I learned to admire her +high-minded, noble, self-sacrificing disposition. The love of freedom +was with her a passion, and she held in utter scorn all who submitted +to, what she considered, tyranny. She was indeed a person of the old +heroic stamp, ready to dare and to do all things in a righteous cause. +The gale moderated sooner than I had expected, the sea went down, and we +had moderate and pleasant weather. It was therefore with anything but +satisfaction that I made out Sir Peter Parker's flag flying aboard the +Chatham, off Rhode Island, which our squadron had been busily employed +in blockading. I brought up with my prize close to him, and assuring my +passengers that I would endeavour to carry out the plans they had +suggested would be most for their convenience, I pulled on board to +report myself. The admiral smiled when I told him all that had +occurred. + +"So these very charming ladies would like to continue their voyage, and +you pledged your word that I would not detain them?" said he in a kind +way. "Well, you were safe there; we do not war against women, and we +must not be behindhand in courtesy after the treatment which some of our +English ladies have received at the hands of the rebels. They are +anxious to proceed to the neighbourhood of Philadelphia. You shall go +there in the `Pigot,' and you will have no objection to keep them as +your passengers. Probably the city itself is by this time occupied by +the British forces; but I will give you a letter to General Howe, and +will beg him to afford them a pass through the country occupied by our +troops, and to allow you to escort them till they are placed in safety +among their own people. No; do not thank me. I am glad to afford you +what I have no doubt you will find an interesting occupation, but I also +have great satisfaction in finding an opportunity of treating the ladies +of the opposite party in the way I feel they should be treated." + +Never had I heard more satisfactory words. I could scarcely refrain +from rubbing my hands with delight. + +"Then am I to sail at once, sir?" I asked. + +"Certainly, let there be no delay. You can supply yourself with +provisions and water from the ship, and send the master and crew of the +prize aboard here. I'll have them put on shore. From what you say you +will be glad to be rid of them." + +Promising Sir Peter to carry out his instructions to the best of my +power, after seeing the purser about the provisions, and getting as many +extra luxuries as I could out of him, I jumped into my boat and returned +on board the tender. On my way I caught sight of two vessels standing +in towards the roads. I made out one of them to be the Lady Parker, and +the other looked very like a prize she had made. So it proved. Before +I sailed, O'Driscoll came on board me, and explained how he had missed +me. He was as much pleased to see me safe as I was that no harm had +befallen him. In the squall during which the Crab had broken adrift he +had been hove on his beam-ends, and on getting to rights he could +nowhere see me. After some time he caught sight of a craft, which he +took for me, and made sail after her. When morning broke she proved to +be a stranger and on over-hauling her he found that she was a rebel +merchantman, so he took her and brought her into Newport. He declared +that he was very jealous when he heard of what he called my good +fortune. + +"Will you change places now?" said he coolly. "You shall have the `Lady +Parker' and all the prizes you are certain to take in her, and let me +run down in charge of the `Pigot' and the ladies." + +"You are joking now," said I. "But stay a moment and you shall pay your +respects to my passengers. They made many inquiries about you when they +found that your craft was missing." + +The ladies were most grateful to Sir Peter when they heard of his +courtesy, and begged O'Driscoll to bear their thanks to him. My friend +remained till the stores came on board, and when he took his departure +he vowed that he had irretrievably lost his heart to the beautiful +widow. I at the same time made sail and stood to the southward. For +the first day we had a fair breeze and fine weather, and I was in hopes, +for the sake of my passengers, that we should make a good run of it to +the Delaware. I need not describe the various incidents which occurred, +interesting as they were to me, and important in their results. I +entirely won my way to the good opinion of Mrs Tarleton, and I could +not help being conscious that her niece no longer regarded me as a +common stranger. Still, how could I venture ever to indulge any hopes +of making her mine? I depended entirely on my profession for my +support, and that profession compelled me to appear as an enemy of her +relations and friends. Before I was aware of the tendency of her +reasonings, I found that she had taught me to look on the fratricidal +war we were waging in a very different light to that in which I had at +first regarded it. She, however, I must insist, in no way weakened my +patriotism. I loved old England as much as ever, but she taught me to +feel the warmest sympathy for her countrymen and mine truly, who were +fighting in the noble cause of liberty. I describe my feelings as they +then existed. I leave to others to judge whether they were right or +wrong. A fierce war began to rage within me between principle and +feeling, interest and duty, and all the tender sentiments of my nature. +A less high-minded person would have thrown all her weight into the +scale, and might have made me false to the sovereign in whose service I +was engaged; but then I flattered myself that a girl of her exalted +principles would not have so speedily won my affections. [See Note 1.] +Now the murder is out; in plain English, I was head over ears in love, +and it was a toss up whether I should, for the sake of Madeline Carlyon, +desert my colours, go over and join the Americans, and get a captain's +commission, or remain true to my king and run the chance of losing her. +It puts me into a fever even now, to think of all the feelings which +came bubbling up in my bosom, and all the ideas which came rushing into +my brain, and the pulling and hauling and tugging at my heart. Never +had I been so racked and tormented, tossed to and fro, kicked here and +there, up and down. At length my good angel came to my assistance. "Do +your duty like a man," he whispered. "Don't think of consequences, what +you would like or what you wouldn't like. Find out what is right, and +do that." + +I had turned in, and, with a mind much calmed, fell asleep. + +"There is a strange sail on our weather-quarter, sir," said Tom Rockets, +rousing me up. "Grampus don't like her looks." + +Nor did I, when a moment afterwards I stood on deck and made her out +through the pale light of a grey cold November morning. "Make all +sail!" I sung out. "If she is an enemy, the sooner we are out of the +way the better." It was blowing fresh, but I cracked on the little +schooner as much as she could carry, and away we went staggering under +it with the wind on our larboard quarter. The stranger, apparently, had +not made us out, and I was in hopes that we might escape observation. +The increased motion, I suppose, awoke the ladies, and to my surprise +before long they came on deck. + +"What is the matter, Mr Hurry?" asked Mrs Tarleton. "It appeared in +the cabin as if there was a fearful gale blowing." + +"You see that the weather is not so very bad," I answered evasively, +"and I am naturally anxious on your account to reach port." + +I never could act the hypocrite, and the lady was not satisfied. As her +quick-sighted eye ranged round the horizon she caught sight of the +stranger. + +"What is that vessel out there?" she asked. + +"That I cannot exactly say, madam," I answered. "She may be a friend or +she may be a foe. Under present circumstances I think it best to avoid +her." + +"If she is an American vessel her captain would never think of detaining +you; and if she is English, you at all events need not fear her," she +replied quickly. + +"I would rather not run the risk of detention," said I. "It is +possible, should she be an American vessel, that her people may not +believe our story." + +"Well, sir, I have no doubt that you act for the best," answered the +lady, evidently not satisfied as she saw the vessel tearing furiously +through the water. + +Her niece had said nothing, but seemed rather to enjoy the rapid motion +and the fresh air. + +While they were still on deck, the stranger caught sight of us and bore +up in chase. Mrs Tarleton soon discovered what had occurred, and was +constantly watching the stranger. + +I kept away a little, and, trusting to the Pigot's superior sailing +qualities, I had little fear of continuing ahead of her during the day, +and of escaping her observation in the night. The state of the weather, +however, gave me most concern. I saw Grampus looking up anxiously at +our spars, and ever and anon at the heavy seas which came up hissing and +foaming astern. One of our best hands was at the helm, but he came aft +and stood by him. I caught his eye as he was glancing over his +shoulder. + +"Beg pardon, sir; the more haste the worst speed, Mr Hurry, you know," +said he in a low voice, thinking the ladies would not hear him. + +Thick heavy clouds were rushing up, one past the other, rapidly astern +of us. I saw that the time had indeed come to shorten sail if I would +not run the risk of losing my masts, or, perhaps, of broaching-to and +capsizing. I entreated my passengers in a few hurried words to go below +to be out of the way of danger. Mrs Tarleton seemed inclined to stay. +I was obliged to be somewhat peremptory, and I did not lose her good +opinion by being so. + +"Indeed, madam, there is considerable danger for you on deck. I cannot +allow you to run it. You must go." + +She gave me a look of surprise, and, without another word, allowed me to +conduct her and her niece to the companion. + +In the meantime the crew had come aft to take in the mainsail and +gaff-topsail. I next had the fore-topgallant-sail and foresail off her. +This was done only just in time, before the squall came down on us and +I had to lower away and close-reef the foresail. The wind had at the +same time caught the ship. I took her to be a flush-decked vessel, a +corvette probably. She had been looking at us and not thinking of +herself probably, for I soon discovered that several of her sails had +been blown away, and I suspected that she had received further damage. +We at all events benefited by her misfortune, and kept well ahead of +her. Still she continued the chase. I felt the truth of the saying +that it is much pleasanter chasing than being chased. All day long we +ran on, plunging into the seas, and wet from the foam which blew off +them over our counter. More than once I thought we should have been +pooped. The vessel also began again to leak. Night came on; the leak +increased. We lost sight of our pursuer, but our condition became very +trying. I endeavoured to make the best of matters, but my anxiety +increased. We were off the northern coast of New Jersey. The wind was +veering round more to the eastward, and we were getting a rock-bound +shore under our lee. There were harbours I might run into, but the +thick weather had prevented me from taking any observations, and though +by my log I could tell pretty well how far we had run, yet I could not +be certain, and, unless from dire necessity, I was unwilling to attempt +to make any port short of the Delaware. At times the wind hauled a +little more round to the northward, and as it did so my hopes +proportionally rose of being able to keep off shore. + +Only for a moment did I at times leave the deck to speak a word of +comfort to my passengers. Mrs Tarleton was, I saw, fully aware of our +danger. I think her niece suspected it, but if she did she completely +concealed all signs of fear. On one occasion, when I entered the cabin, +they rose from their knees. Together they had been offering up prayers +to Him who alone can quell the tempest, for our safety. Their last +words reached my ears. I stood at the door and humbly joined in their +petition. I quickly had to return on deck. I had been obliged, when +the wind shifted, to get some after-sail on the vessel. She heeled over +fearfully, yet I knew must be making great lee-way. I could not venture +to take any canvas off her. + +"What do you think of it, Grampus?" said I, after some time. + +"Why, sir, I don't like it," was his unsatisfactory reply. + +I did not again ask him his opinion. The sea kept flying over us, the +night grew darker and darker, and the gale blew stronger and stronger. +The leak was increasing. Two hands were kept constantly at the pumps. +I wished for Mr Saul Cobb and his companions. Nothing could be well +worse. Still I never for a moment lost courage. I felt sure that the +prayers of those below would not be uttered in vain. The hours wore +away. I kept a bright look-out on the starboard bow to discover +breakers, should they be near, while my ears were constantly awake to +detect their terror-inspiring sound. How I longed for daylight! I +dared not lay-to: I dared not shorten sail. I could only stand on with +any prospect of safety. The gale increased: the sea was constantly +making a clean breach over the deck. All hands had to hold on fast, or +we should have been washed overboard. At the same time the water was +gaining terribly on us. A new danger threatened the schooner; she might +founder before we could gain a harbour, even if she escaped shipwreck. +A considerable part of the New Jersey shore consists of long, low, sandy +beaches, which in thick weather can scarcely be seen till a vessel is +nearly on them. I judged by my calculations that we were by this time +close in with Squan Beach, or Island Beach or Long Beach. My chart told +me that there was a passage between the two latter, and several inlets +to the south of the last, up which I could run and be safe; but to find +them in the dark was impossible. + +"Grampus! listen! what is that sound?" said I. + +"Breakers, sir!" he answered in a slow way; "there's no doubt about it. +But we shall have daylight soon. Ah, look-out, there sir, there it is!" + +I looked seaward, and a pale streak was just appearing in the eastern +sky. It grew wider and wider, and at length darkness gave way to the +rays of the yet hidden sun. The prospect revealed to us was not +cheering. The sea broke as heavily as ever, and not a mile to leeward +of us a terrific surf rolled over a long white sandy beach. As I +watched the foaming broken mass of waters as they rolled furiously up to +it, I felt convinced that, should the schooner once get within their +power, not a human being on board would escape. Not a break was to be +seen. The wind was dead on-shore, blowing with a determined heavy +pressure; and the little vessel, though she made fair headway, was +surely drifting nearer and nearer to destruction. Oh, what agony of +mind I suffered! I cared not for myself, but I thought of that fair +girl and her lovely relative doomed to so hard a fate. I called Grampus +to me and asked him if he could advise anything. He shook his head-- + +"You've done all that a man can do, Mr Hurry," was his answer. + +"Then I must prepare those two poor ladies for their inevitable fate," I +thought to myself. + +Before going into their cabin, I took another look at the chart which I +kept outside it. At the south end of Long Beach was a passage, I found, +leading into Little Egg Harbour. + +Grampus hailed me. My heart bounded into my mouth again. + +"There is an opening, sir. I make it out clearly. Keep her close and +by, my lad!" he sang out to the man at the helm. "If we just clear the +point we shall do it." + +I held my breath. The schooner dashed on, half buried by the seas. She +was almost among the breakers--then broad on our bow appeared an +opening--heavy rollers went foaming over it. + +"Up with the helm! In with the main-staysail! Square away the +fore-yard! Hold on for your lives!" + +I rapidly uttered these orders, one after the other. Away before the +gale we flew, the sea breaking high on either hand of us. One roller +after the other came hurrying on, but we rose to their summits, and then +with one more frantic plunge we sank down into smooth water, and in +another moment, rounding the vessel to, I let go the anchor and we rode +safely under the lee of the sand-bank. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note 1. I had at first thought, from what Miss Carlyon said, that she +was herself warmly attached to Royalist principles; and so in truth she +was, but love of country and love of freedom, with a clear sense of +justice, had overpowered them, and although she did not possess the +enthusiasm of her aunt, she was still a strong advocate of the popular +cause. Had she indeed the bias I originally supposed, her aunt would +have thrown all her influence to prevent me from making any further +advance than I had already done, and I am certain that the young lady +would not have acted in opposition to the wishes and advice of her +family. Very unromantic principles these, but the young lady in +question was totally unlike any heroine of any novel I ever read. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +RUN UP LITTLE EGG RIVER.--MEET THE MILITIA LIEUTENANT WHOSE LIFE I +SAVED.--"ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER."--SET OUT FOR WASHINGTON'S +CAMP.--FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE HESSIANS.--THE LADIES IN DANGER.-- +DEVASTATING MARCH OF MERCENARIES.--ESCAPE.--HOUSE IN WHICH WE ARE LODGED +ATTACKED.--PLACE THE LADIES FOR SAFETY IN A ROOT HOUSE. + +We were saved. The gale blew as hard as ever outside; the sea broke +furiously on the sandy shore, the foam reaching across the bank even to +where we lay, while the wind whistled through the rigging with a shrill +and mournful sound. No sooner did I see that the anchor held than as I +was hurrying below to quell the alarm of my passengers, I met them +coming on deck, unable to comprehend the cause of the sudden change from +the wildest tossing to the perfect calm in which we lay. They looked +about them with an expression of astonishment on their features, +evidently puzzled to know how we could have got where we were; then they +clasped their hands and raised their voices together in prayer and +heartfelt gratitude for their safety. The sudden and simultaneous +movement touched my heart, and while I admired their simple piety it +made me sensible of the hardness of my own heart in religious matters. + +"Where are we, Mr Hurry?" asked Mrs Tarleton. "We owe much, I feel +sure, under God's providence, to your excellent seamanship." + +I thanked her for her good opinion of me, and told her that we were, I +believed, at the mouth of Little Egg Harbour, on the coast of New +Jersey, and that I hoped to run up the river and to land her at some +spot at which conveyances might be obtained, as I would not risk her +safety by continuing the voyage. Her niece looked far more than her +aunt expressed, so I was perfectly satisfied, though she said but +little. They knew that I should be in no hurry to part from them; +indeed, I had received orders from Sir Peter not to do so till I had +conducted them to their friends or seen them in a place of safety. + +While I was still talking to the ladies. Grampus called me aside and +hurriedly told me that, if the hands were not sent to the pumps, in a +very short time the schooner would go down. I accordingly set all hands +to work, and when they had lessened the water in the hold I once more +made sail, and, with the lead going on either side, I stood through a +passage to the southward, and then to the west again up Little Egg +River. I hoisted a flag of truce as I stood on. After some time I came +in sight of a gentleman's house--a long low building with a verandah +round it--the usual style of building in that part of the country. Near +the house was a village. I dropped my anchor and lowered a boat to go +on shore. + +"We will accompany you, Mr Hurry," said Mrs Tarleton, who at that +moment with her niece followed me on deck after I had announced my +intention. "Should the country be in possession of the troops of George +of Brunswick, you are safe; but if in that of our patriot troops, you +may be liable to molestation." + +To this proposal I could raise no objection, so, ordering Grampus to +keep the people at the pumps to prevent the vessel from sinking, I +handed the ladies into the boat, and steered for a rough little wooden +stage near the large house I had observed on shore. I had a white flag +at the end of a boat-hook in the bows of the boat, that I might be +prepared for friends or foes. Not a person was to be seen moving. I +ran the boat alongside the stage, and with my passengers stepped on +shore, leaving Rockets with the flag and two other hands in the boat. +There was, for a short distance, a piece of uncultivated open ground, +and then a wood of somewhat scrubby trees through which a path led. We +had walked along it but a short distance, when, turning an angle, we +were confronted by a body of militia, mustering some dozen or twenty +men. + +"Halt!" cried the sergeant at the head of the party. "Strangers! who +are you?" + +I tried to explain. + +"That's all very well, and may or may not be true, mister," answered the +sergeant, who certainly was not one of nature's gentlemen. "I ain't +bound to believe your gammon, I guess; you may be spies, so come along +with us and we'll see about it." + +Here Mrs Tarleton stepped forward. + +"We are American ladies," said she. "We owe much to this officer, and +trust that our countrymen will afford us the aid we require." + +The fellow still doubted, and was evidently inclined to use us roughly, +when we saw a fresh body of men coming along the road, headed by an +officer. He at once advanced to inquire into the matter. At first he +also seemed not at all ready to believe us. + +"So many spies are dodging about in various disguises that you may be of +that character for what I know to the contrary," he remarked, eyeing us +hard. + +Mrs Tarleton was inclined to be very indignant. As I looked at the man +there was something in the tone of his voice and his countenance I +thought I recognised. + +"Is your name Spinks?" I asked. + +"I guess you're right," he answered. + +"And you were wounded before New York, and an English officer gave you a +sup of spirits and some fresh water, and washed your wounds, and--" + +"He did, he did; and you're the man who did it!" he exclaimed, springing +forward and grasping my hand warmly. "I thought I knew your voice--you +saved my life, that you did. I said Amos Spinks would be grateful, and +so he will. I'm a lieutenant now; I was then only a private." + +This was, indeed, a fortunate encounter. Full credit was now given to +our statements. The house to which we were proceeding was, we found, +the property of a gentleman of some consideration, who, although a +patriot, had from ill-health remained at home. Lieutenant Spinks and +his men escorted us to it. The ladies were cordially welcomed, and I +was treated with the greatest civility and attention. Our host, John +Plowden, was a perfect gentleman of the old school, who received us with +many a bow, in bag-wig and sword, knee-breeches and buckles, flowered +waistcoat and three-cornered hat. Dinner was instantly prepared, and +beds were offered, but Mrs Tarleton wished to proceed on her journey +that very afternoon. At first Mr Plowden would on no account consent +to this arrangement, but, Mrs Tarleton having explained to him her +earnest desire to see her brother, or to gain tidings of him, he +willingly promised to do his utmost to enable her to proceed. + +"I fear much, however, madam, that you will be exposed to insult from +the troops of the enemy who still occupy part of the Jerseys, though I +feel sure that the inhabitants, whatever side of the question they take, +would in no way annoy you." + +Mrs Tarleton looked at me as this was said. We were sitting at dinner, +a midday meal, with several members of Mr Plowden's family round the +table. My instructions from Sir Peter were to see the ladies in safety +with Washington's army. I turned to Mr Plowden-- + +"If, sir, you can guarantee the safety of my vessel during my absence, +and secure me free egress from this harbour on my return, I will proceed +with Mrs Tarleton and Miss Carlyon, and I trust shall have the means of +securing them from any inconvenience of the nature to which you allude." + +Mr Plowden thought a little. + +"I can be answerable for the safety of your vessel, and that no one will +prevent her leaving the harbour when you return," he answered. "But +remember, sir, I cannot prevent your people quitting her if they wish to +do so." + +"I will trust to your honour, then, sir," said I. "My men are staunch, +and I have no fear of their deserting her. I am ready to set out +whenever the ladies desire it." + +"And I have determined to accompany you," exclaimed Lieutenant Spinks, +grasping my hand again. "One good turn deserves another. This is the +gentleman who preserved my life, and I want to show that I am grateful. +He will be safe enough from molestation on his way to General +Washington's camp, but he may find some difficulty when returning." + +Of course I told Mr Spinks that I should be very glad of his society, +though I wondered how he could be certain of obtaining leave of absence +from his regiment. I soon learned, however, that both officers and men +took the liberty of giving themselves leave, with very little ceremony, +from many of the militia regiments, into which but a very slack style of +discipline had as yet been introduced. + +While the ladies were resting, and preparing for their journey, I +returned on board the tender, and, leaving Grampus in charge, received +from all hands an assurance that they would obey his orders and remain +faithful to their colours. + +"Never fear us, Mr Hurry," said Grampus; "we hopes you will see them +beautiful ladies safe with their friends, and will soon come back to +us." + +I told him I hoped to return in a few days, and as I went over the side +all hands gave three cheers as an earnest of their sincerity. + +The arrangements for the journey were soon made, and by two o'clock our +party was ready to commence the journey. At the door stood a coach +covered with gilding, but very much the worse for wear. Four horses +were attached to it, but their sorry appearance showed that they would +not be able to drag it except at a slow pace, and for a short distance. +On the coach-box sat a white-headed negro. He had once been a strong +stout man, but age had shrunk up his flesh and muscles, and his +countenance now seemed composed alone of black bumps and wrinkles and +protuberances, with two white orbs set in the midst of them. His lank +body and limbs were covered with a livery of blue and silver, but, like +the coach, sadly faded and worn. Two horses, of somewhat better +appearance, were held near at hand by some negro boys, and a little +farther off two black mounted servants held the reins of a couple of +well-conditioned palfreys with side-saddles on their backs. Mr Plowden +led the ladies to the door. + +"I have done all I could, madam, for your convenience," said he, bowing +low and pointing to the equipage. "This war has left me in a very +different state to what I have been accustomed, or I would have enabled +you to journey in a style more befitting your position in life. The +carriage will convey you as far as those sorry steeds are able, and then +I fear that the bad nature of the roads will require you to continue +your journey on horseback." + +Suitable replies were made, affectionate expressions were exchanged +between Mrs and the Misses Plowden and their guests, and the latter +took their seats in the old family coach. Spinks and I mounted the +horses, the black servants and the baggage-horses followed, and with +many bows and waves of the hands the cavalcade moved forward. The +carriage rolled creakingly on, pitching and tumbling and bumping over +the stones and into the ruts in the road. Frequently I moved up to the +window to exchange words with its occupants. They both expressed their +anxiety for the time when they might dismiss the vehicle and mount on +horseback. At first the country was very uninteresting, but by degrees +it improved, and rich undulating ground and hills and fertile valleys, +here and there dotted with cottages and flocks and herds, were seen on +every side. As we proceeded, men in half-military uniform, working in +the fields, would look up and inquire whence we came and where we were +going, but they were easily satisfied with the civil answers we gave +them. + +It was late in the day before we drove into the courtyard of a house +very similar in character to that we had lately left. We were not +expected, but a note from Mr Plowden explained matters, and we were +cordially received by the ladies of the family. The master was with the +army, so were his sons. One had already fallen in the unfortunate +strife. I at first was received with some stiffness. I could not +expect it to be otherwise; but that soon wore off, and I felt myself as +one of the family. I must not delay in describing each event of our +journey. + +A truly Indian summer morning ushered in the next day. In high spirits +Miss Carlyon mounted her horse, as did her aunt, and with kind +well-wishes from our late hosts we trotted out of the courtyard. They +felt great relief from the noise and jolting of the old coach. The old +black coachman gazed after us with a look of reproach, as if he thought +we had no business to be merry after we had deserted him. That day's +ride was to me one of the most perfect enjoyment. Scarcely for a moment +did I leave Madeline's side, and every instant knit my heart closer and +closer to her. I forgot all that the future might bring forth, all the +difficulties to be encountered; the months, perhaps years, of +separation, before I could hope by any possibility to call her mine, and +revelled only in the present. I could not tell what she might think or +feel. I dared not ask, lest the delightful enchantment by which I was +surrounded might be rudely broken. She eagerly listened to all I said, +smiled and blushed and--but I won't go on. I knew that I loved her, and +I thought she loved me. Spinks was an excellent companion on such an +occasion; silent and phlegmatic, he occasionally only would ride up to +offer a few remarks to Mrs Tarleton, and then would drop astern and +seem lost in his own reflections. As the day advanced, signs of war's +malign effects began to appear. Poor fellows, with bandaged heads and +arms in slings, were met limping and crawling along. Hedges and walls, +overturned cottages, and whole hamlets burned to the ground. The tide +of war had during the summer swept over this part of the Jerseys. The +mischief we saw was, however, chiefly effected by foraging parties from +the British forces, especially by the Hessians, so dreaded and hated by +the colonists. + +"Two causes have alienated all true hearts from the British crown in +this country," observed Mrs Tarleton. "The supercilious manner of the +civil and especially of the military officers sent from England towards +the colonists, and the attempt to coerce them with foreign mercenaries. +We could have borne unjust laws and taxes, because they could be +repealed; but the pride of all the gentlemen of the land has been +aroused not to be quelled, except by entire separation from those who +could thus insult them." + +We were within a few miles of that magnificent stream, the Delaware +River, when we gained sufficiently exact information to enable us to +guide our future course. The British fleet, under Lord Howe, had +complete command of the lower part of the river. The city of +Philadelphia, lately the seat of Government, had fallen into the hands +of the army under General Howe, after the battle of Brandywine, when +Washington had been compelled to retreat. General Howe, it appeared, +had neglected to take advantage of his success, and the patriot forces, +emboldened by, his inaction, were about to attack him again, when a +terrific storm of rain prevented the engagement. After this the British +troops, having advanced to Germaintown, were vigorously attacked by the +whole patriot army, and victory seemed inclined to their standard when, +the Americans becoming separated by a thick fog, a panic seized them, +and they made a precipitate retreat. General Washington's army, we +heard, was now at a place called White Marsh, about fourteen miles from +Philadelphia. Thither Mrs Tarleton resolved immediately to proceed, in +the hopes of meeting her brother, who, though wounded, was still, she +heard, with his regiment. + +As both shores of the Delaware were now in possession of the British, +there was much chance of our falling in with some of their troops. +Strange as it may appear, I felt very anxious to avoid them. I could +not bear the idea of exposing my charges to the scrutiny and the +inquiries to which they would be subject, though my presence would, I +trusted, prevent their being exposed to any personal annoyance. We +accordingly turned our horses' heads to the north, intending to cross +the river at a spot a considerable distance above Philadelphia. We had +travelled some miles without meeting anyone from whom we could make +inquiries. I began to be somewhat anxious, fearing that the peasantry +might have concealed themselves in consequence of the approach of an +enemy, and I was on the point of begging Lieutenant Spinks to ride +forward and make inquiries, when a cloud of dust rose up from a valley +before us, and the dull heavy tramp of a body of men was heard ascending +the winding road up the hill. I instantly reined up and drew my +companions on one side, where they were concealed by a small clump of +trees, while I advanced with Spinks a little way in front, each of us +waving a white handkerchief, to show that we were there with no hostile +intent. + +"They are the enemy!" cried Spinks. "Oh, the villains! May they all +be--" + +"Which enemy?" I asked, forgetting for a moment that he was an +American. + +"The scoundrel Hessians," he answered with an oath. "They are the last +people I would wish to have met." + +I agreed with him, but there was no time to be lost, as we could +distinguish the advanced guard with their glittering arms and dark +uniforms coming over the brow of the hill. No sooner were we perceived +than several men advanced at double quick step and surrounded us. We +could not make ourselves understood, so, holding Sir Peter Parker's +letter in my hand, and pointing to my uniform, I signified that I wished +to be conducted to their colonel. By this time a halt was called. A +light company was sent out as skirmishers into the wood through which we +had passed, and the officer I asked for rode up in front. He looked at +my naval jacket, and then at the militiaman's uniform, and evidently +regarded us with no little suspicion. I found, however, that he could +speak English, and I endeavoured rapidly to explain matters. + +"A very odd story this you tell me," he answered. "How can you expect +me to believe you?" + +I handed him Sir Peter's letter. + +"I do not know his handwriting. This may be a forgery," said he. The +colonel was a weather-beaten, stern, wary old man. I have seldom met a +person less likely to be moved by any of the gentler sympathies of our +nature. + +"I'll tell you what it is, colonel. I was left for dead, near New York, +by some of your people, and this sea-officer here came up and saved my +life, and that's the reason I came along with him," exclaimed Spinks, +who was excessively indignant at our statement being doubted. + +The mention of New York reminded me of the narrow escape I had had of my +life on the day to which Spinks alluded, and I thought I recognised in +the man before me the officer in charge of the party of Hessians who so +nearly finished Simeon and me when General Pigot came up to our rescue. +I asked the colonel if he recollected the circumstance. He smiled +grimly. + +"I think I recollect the circumstance," said he; "but what has that to +do with the matter?" + +"Simply that you thought I was a rebel then, and you found that you were +mistaken, and in the same way that you will find you are mistaken now if +you molest me." + +Scarcely had I ceased speaking when a shriek resounded through the wood. +I knew too well whence it proceeded. I wheeled round my horse, and, +putting my spurs into his side, was in a moment at the spot where I had +left the two ladies and their attendants. I found them surrounded by +Hessian soldiers, some of whom were attempting to catch hold of their +horses' heads and to drag them from their saddles. I drew a sword from +the scabbard of the first man I reached, and before he could look round +I had dashed in among the miscreants, cutting at them right and left. I +felt maddened with rage, and thought not of the consequences. Madeline +saw me coming, and held out her hands to implore my aid. I reached her +just as a soldier had succeeded in catching the bridle of her horse and +had almost dragged her to the ground. With a blow of my sword I sent +the fellow reeling backwards, and placed her in her saddle. Mrs +Tarleton had managed hitherto to elude the soldiers; but in another +instant they would have closed in on her, when Spinks, followed by the +Hessian colonel, galloped up. + +The appearance of the latter prevented the soldiers from attacking her. +He ordered them back into their ranks. I pointed to the pale and +terrified ladies, and asked him if this was the way Germans behaved +towards helpless women. He looked ashamed and attempted to apologise. +I saw my advantage and pushed it to the utmost. + +"They are anxious to visit a wounded, perhaps a dying, relation, and you +threaten to delay them," said I. + +"We cannot allow people to wander about, and perhaps give notice of our +expedition," replied the colonel. + +"As to that, colonel, depend on it, every step you take is well known to +General Washington, and if he does not attack you it is because he does +not think it worth while," put in Spinks, in his amusingly independent +manner. + +The Hessian officer looked as if he would like to eat him. + +"Well, sir," said I, "you have every proof I can give you of the +correctness of my statement. You see what Sir Peter Parker says. Will +you allow my party to proceed?" + +The colonel must have seen that we could in reality not do him the +slightest injury by any information we could give as to his movements, +so after some more conversation he ordered his detachment to advance, +while he remained with us. It was with much satisfaction that I saw +them march by, casting no very friendly looks at us. + +"Now proceed as fast as you can," said the grim old officer. "My men +are rather unmanageable at times. They might have attempted to revenge +themselves for the way you treated their comrades, though on my word you +were perfectly right." + +We thanked the gruff old man for his courtesy. I suspect that he had a +softer heart than he would have wished to appear under his rough +exterior, and, taking his hint, moved on as rapidly as our horses would +carry us to the northward. + +I will not repeat the indignant expressions uttered by Mrs Tarleton at +the conduct of the Hessians. I could only blush for my country, and +bitterly regret that such men were employed in that fratricidal warfare. +Madeline expressed her thanks to me, rather by her looks than her +words. She said little, afraid of wounding my feelings, but I suspect +that the behaviour of the Hessians made her abandon any sympathy for the +Tories which she might have entertained. Every now and then we looked +round to see that none of the Hessians were following us. Their march +could be traced by the fields trampled down--cottages unroofed or +burnt--stacks of corn scattered about, and walls and hedges overturned. +It showed the utterly unprotected condition of New Jersey at the time-- +that no opposition was offered them in their progress. For my part I +felt that the patriot cause was hopeless, and it was with a secret +feeling of gratification that I pictured to myself the service I might +render to my friends when the royal cause should finally triumph, and +all ranks be compelled to submit. I did not venture to ask Mrs +Tarleton what opinion she had formed from the aspect of affairs, but she +apparently divined my thoughts. + +"It is very sad to behold all this," she remarked, pointing to the +devastated country. "But, Mr Hurry, do not be mistaken. Those who +come to conquer us little know the amount of endurance possessed by the +Anglo-Saxon race, if they fancy that we are about to succumb because +they have laid waste our fields, cut down our fruit-trees, and burned +our villages, or because our undisciplined troops have in some instances +been compelled to retreat before them. I tell you, Mr Hurry, we shall +be victorious in the end." + +Soon after this we came to a spot where three roads branched off before +us. We hesitated which to take, and not a person was to be seen to +inquire our way. That to the right led, it appeared to me, in the +direction we wished to proceed. We took it, and shortly began to ascend +a steep hill among trees, now richly tinted with the varied hues of +autumn, though many of the leaves had already fallen, and thickly +strewed the ground. Never had my eye rested on such gorgeous colouring +as that wooded height presented. Madeline and I could not refrain from +reining up our horses, and turning round to enjoy the superb view which +lay spread out before us over the country across which we had lately +passed. At our feet was a broad valley, with a succession of undulating +hills beyond, and fields and orchards and cottages sprinkled about. +There were to be seen groves of the delicate straw-tinted beech, and the +ruddy maple, with its shades of brightest yellow and green, and oak +forests of a dark copper hue, as if changed into metal by an enchanter's +wand, and in the hollows, dark patches of the sombre cypress of North +America, which delights to grow in the stagnant marsh; nor was the +graceful birch with its white stem, or the willow, wanting to add +variety to the woodland scene. To our right the majestic stream of the +broad Delaware wound round from the north-west towards the city of +Philadelphia, now the head-quarters of General Howe's victorious army. +While we were looking across the valley at the wood into which the +Hessian troops had passed, we saw several men appear at the outskirts. +After looking about them, it seemed to us, they descended rapidly the +hill. Others followed, and it appeared as if the main body were making +a retrograde movement, and perhaps might march along the very road we +were taking. At all events I was anxious not to expose my charges to +any fresh insults, and therefore once more put the party in movement. +Spinks volunteered to ride back to ascertain in what direction the +Hessians were about to march. He promised not to expose himself +unnecessarily, and to overtake us speedily, so I saw no objection to his +proposal. + +We rode on as fast as the horses could go, without risk of falling over +the very rough and ill-formed road. It was late in the day, and still +Spinks had not overtaken us. I began to feel anxious about him, for I +knew that, should he fall into the hands of the Hessians, he would have +very little mercy to expect from them. After what had occurred they +would probably look upon him as a spy, and hang him without ceremony. I +thought of sending back one of the servants who had charge of the +baggage-horses, to try and learn something about him, but Caractacus, +the negro in question, positively refused to go. + +"If Massa Spinks dead, Cractus no make him live again," he argued. "If +he live, he come back of his self." + +There was no controverting this opinion, so we continued our journey. +We at last came to a cottage, in which was an old woman almost deaf and +blind. After much interrogation, I found that her two sons had gone to +the wars with General Washington, and that a daughter-in-law who lived +with her was away to get some provisions, and, what was of importance to +us, that we were on the road we had wished to take. We had still a +league to go before reaching the house at which Mrs Tarleton wished to +rest before crossing the river. Spinks knew of it, so we hoped that he +would rejoin us there. There was something very genuine about that poor +fellow. I had done him a service, and he wished to do me one, so I +could not help taking a liking to him. Both Mrs Tarleton and her niece +had become somewhat anxious about our friend. The shades of evening +grew rapidly denser, for the twilight in that latitude is short, and +still he did not appear. We could not, however, stop for him, and it +became at last so dark that we could scarcely find the entrance to the +house at which we were to stop. It seemed a long, low building, +surrounded by a courtyard and walls, with several out-houses and gardens +and orchards outside. I made out an entrenchment in front, with a +wooden bridge over a moat, and then a stone wall with some massive +gates. After ringing for some time they were opened, and several armed +men appeared on either side. As we rode on to the hall door there +appeared a blaze of light inside, and a tall, dignified old gentleman +came down the steps to assist the ladies to dismount. + +"I am glad to welcome you and your niece to my house under any +circumstances, Mrs Tarleton," said he, as he led them up the steps. +"But you find us somewhat in marshal array just now, and I am afraid may +be put to some inconvenience. The enemy's troops have crossed the +river, and it has been considered necessary to fortify this post." + +"I can never complain of any inconvenience in our noble cause," said +Mrs Tarleton. + +I knew well that not only would she cheerfully bear any inconvenience, +but would glory in any suffering or hardship she might be called on to +endure on account of it. + +The public rooms, as we passed along, were, I perceived, filled with a +number of persons, some in military uniforms, and others in the dresses +of civilians. I was formally introduced, and though at first I was +received with some restraint, in a little time the manner of the host +and his numerous guests became as cordial as if I was an old friend, +instead of belonging to the party of their enemies. There were no +ladies or any females left of the family. They had all been sent off to +another house some way into the interior, to which it was believed the +enemy were not likely to penetrate. + +From what I could learn, it was not at all improbable that the house, +which commanded a reach of the river, might be attacked before long, and +I was therefore very anxious to get my friends across it, and once more +on their journey towards head-quarters. Mrs Tarleton, however, seemed +to think that she might wait safely till the next morning, and, as no +news of the British troops had been brought in, I hoped that the delay +would not bring them into any danger. Supper was over, and the officers +of the little garrison not on guard had retired to their rooms. I had +one allotted to me, looking out on the river, which shone with a silvery +hue from the light of an almost full moon, while the swill of the +stream, as it rushed by, had a pleasing and soothing effect. I could +hear, ever and anon, the distant bark of a dog, the tramp and challenge +of the sentries, and the voices of some of the men of a militia regiment +quartered in the out-houses and in some hastily-constructed huts within +the courtyard. + +My mind was occupied with too many thoughts to allow me to sleep. After +several attempts I gave it up. My companions in the room were much in +the same condition, and as they rose and resumed their outer clothing, I +did the same. They proposed making the round of the works, and I asked +leave to accompany them. Scarcely had we reached the front door when +voices were heard, and the clatter of a horse's hoofs in the courtyard. + +"A scout has come in, and will bring us news of the enemy," observed one +of the officers. "Let us hear what he has to report." + +In another second the light of the lamp in the hall fell on the +countenance of the newcomer, and I recognised my friend Lieutenant +Spinks. His dress was bespattered with mud from head to foot; his horse +shook in every limb as he dismounted; his head was bare, his countenance +was pale as death, and through a rent in his coat I saw the blood oozing +slowly out. + +"They are coming!" he exclaimed. "The rascally Hessians! I have been +watching them all the evening to ascertain which way they were taking. +I got too close at last, and was discovered by one of their pickets, +just as they were getting under arms. They are going to make a +night-attack on this place. Of that I am certain." + +The senior officer in the house, Colonel Barlow, now came down, and +Spinks made him a full report of his adventures. He had run a great +risk of being taken, and I was truly glad that he had escaped. There +seemed to be no doubt that the Hessian troops were advancing to attack +the house. The officers assembled were unanimous in the opinion that +they could defend it. Every one was instantly on foot. Loop-holes had +been cut in all the walls. They were at once occupied by men. Some +light field-pieces defended the front of the house--the weakest point; +some men were stationed on the roof; the bridge over the moat was drawn +in, and, indeed, every preparation was made to stand a siege. + +In the midst of the preparations Mrs Tarleton appeared in the hall +among the officers collected there. Her countenance was as calm, and +her voice, when she spoke, as firm as if nothing unusual was occurring. + +"You will be able to hold this fort against those wretched mercenaries, +I hope, Colonel Barlow?" + +The colonel replied that he had no doubt about it. + +"Then we will remain and see the result," she answered. "I cannot bear +the thought of running away when so many of my countrymen are exposed to +danger." + +"While such are the sentiments of our women, our cause is sure to +triumph, madam," said the colonel. "Still it is my duty to try and +persuade you not to expose yourself and niece. The fortune of war is +always uncertain. Independent of the risk you run from the shot of the +enemy, we may be overcome, and then your fate would be a sad one. It +will be wise in you if you will consent to leave us at once. A boat is +being made ready to ferry you across the river, and on the other side +the country is occupied by patriot troops." + +Still Mrs Tarleton would not consent to go. She knew that her presence +would encourage the garrison to resist to the utmost. I would very much +rather for her sake, and especially for that of her niece, that she had +gone at once to a place of safety. As, however, I must, at all events, +be a non-combatant, I felt that I could remain by their side and aid +their escape. The better to be able to do this, I set off at once to +examine the situation of the place, and to see that the boat was in +perfect readiness to cross the river. Caractacus and his companion, I +found, were both accustomed to pull an oar. There was a horse-boat also +at hand, and as there would probably be time before the attack +commenced, I got Colonel Barlow to allow the horses and baggage to be +conveyed across at once, and left at a farm-house of which he told me, +at a short distance from the banks. I directed Caractacus and Sambo, as +soon as they had performed this duty, to return at once, so as to be +ready for any emergency. + +"Is, massa, we come back and fight de Hessians; oh, ki, berry likely," +exclaimed the negro, giving a poke with his elbow at his sable +companion's ribs. + +The other grinned, as if he considered the bare possibility of his doing +such a thing a very good joke. I saw that I could not very well depend +on them. + +"No, I don't want you to fight, only to help the ladies escape; you +understand me? I promise you a dollar each if I find you at the boat +when I come down." + +The negroes understood this sort of reasoning better than any argument I +had used, and promised obedience. Had Mrs Tarleton, however, known +beforehand of the arrangements I had made, I believe she would have +countermanded them, so confident was she on all occasions of the success +of her party. When any defeat had occurred, she evidently looked on it +as an exception to the general rule, or rather as a means to the +victorious termination of the strife. + +By the time I had made all the arrangements I had described it was past +midnight. Some of the gentlemen retired again to their beds, but I with +others sat up. My position was rather a curious one. Here was I, a +guest in an enemy's camp, with the prospect of an engagement, and unable +to side with either party. Certainly, however, I could not have been +treated more kindly or courteously than I was by the Americans on that +occasion. A party of a dozen or more of us were sitting smoking and +chatting in the large plank-lined dining-hall, by the light of a huge +fire, when a sergeant of militia entered with the announcement that +several scouts had come in, reporting that the enemy were advancing, and +were not more than a couple of miles off. In less than an hour, then, +we might expect an attack. I have never felt more anxious than I did on +that occasion. Immediately all within the house were on the alert; the +walls were manned; the wooden bridge hauled up, the guns loaded and run +out, and every preparation was made to repel the assault. Being myself +very doubtful of the result, I looked about for a place where the ladies +might remain in comparative safety. The most secure spot was a root +house, where stores of vegetables are kept during the winter. There, at +least, no shot could reach my friends, and as it was on the side nearest +the river, they might more easily escape thence to the boat. Having +found a piece of matting, I carried it, with some chairs and cloaks, to +the place, and then returned to beg Mrs Tarleton to take shelter there. +She laughed at my proposal. + +"What! do you think that the women of America are accustomed to skulk +from their enemies when their presence may avail to encourage their +friends, and they may be of use to the wounded?" she answered, looking +at the same time towards Madeline, in the expectation that she would +utter her sentiments. + +"Perhaps, dear aunt, we might be of more use out of the way of danger, +in some place where, should any of our friends be wounded, they might be +brought to us," remarked her niece, "especially as Mr Hurry has so +considerately prepared a refuge for us." + +Still nothing Madeline or I could say could move Mrs Tarleton from her +purpose. At length Colonel Barlow came to our aid, and so strongly +urged the point that she appeared inclined to give in. We were standing +at the moment in the centre of the dining-hall. Our conversation was +interrupted by the loud report of musketry--the pattering of the bullets +against the roof and sides of the house--the louder roar of the +field-pieces--the cries and shouts of the men within the building, and +of their unseen assailants. The colonel and his officers hurried off +instantly to the defences. Madeline trembled; even Mrs Tarleton turned +pale. Several shots found their way into the room where we were. The +shouts of the assailants grew louder; the bullets fell thicker and +thicker. A bright glare burst forth. One of the out-houses had caught +fire. Two wounded men were brought in and placed on the ground. Mrs +Tarleton and her niece knelt down by their sides. I assisted. +Madeline, I observed, had ceased to tremble while employed in her work +of mercy. One poor fellow soon ceased to breathe; he had been shot +through the lungs. The other groaned heavily; the haemorrhage was +internal. I soon saw that their efforts to aid him were of little +avail. He quickly joined his companion in another world. For a minute +or more there was a cessation of the attack: then it began again with +greater fury than before, and the bullets came pattering against the +walls like hail, many finding their way into the room. I seized Mrs +Tarleton's hand, exclaiming-- + +"Come, madam! no woman should remain thus unnecessarily exposed." + +Madeline took her other hand, and together we led her through the garden +to the place I had prepared for their reception. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +THE AMERICANS OVERPOWERED.--SPINKS ASSISTS US TO ESCAPE.--CROSS RIVER.-- +REACH WASHINGTON'S CAMP.--INTERVIEW WITH THE GREAT CHIEF.--MRS. TARLETON +FINDS HER BROTHER, COLONEL HALLET, WOUNDED.--MY STAY IN THE CAMP.--AN +AFFAIR OF OUTPOSTS.--FAREWELL TO MADELINE.--QUIT THE CAMP, ACCOMPANIED +BY SPINKS.--AFTER MANY ADVENTURES REJOIN THE TENDER. + +Madeline and I endeavoured to hurry along Mrs Tarleton, but she +appeared totally insensible to the dangerous position in which she and +her niece were placed. Several bullets came whizzing by us, but she +kept her head as erect as would the oldest veteran. I had almost to +drag her on, and I was very thankful when at length we reached the door +of the building unscathed. I had told Lieutenant Spinks where to find +us, should he wish to communicate with the ladies. + +In spite of his wound, he had joined in the defence of the place. Not +so Caractacus and Sambo. When we entered, I saw two bundles among the +piled-up turnips and potatoes. I gave a kick at them, and out tumbled +our two sable attendants. + +"Oh, ki, massa, is dat you?" exclaimed the first, springing to his feet. +"Come along--dis no good place for any wise man. We get across de +river, and away from dese Hesse devils." + +"All in good time," I answered. "Do you take care of the ladies while I +go and learn the state of affairs." + +It was now the part of Mrs Tarleton and Madeline to press me to stay, +and not to expose myself to danger. I promised to obey in the latter +point, but urged the necessity of ascertaining how matters were +progressing, that I might judge whether we might safely remain where we +were, or whether it would be better at once to cross the river. +Unwillingly they let me go. I managed to climb up to the top of a wall. +A glance showed me that a considerable body of men were engaged in the +attack, and that they were well provided with field-pieces, which were +already making some impression on the walls. Two of the out-houses were +in flames; the roof of the main building had caught fire, and men were +engaged in extinguishing it, while the number of the killed and wounded +was very considerable. I felt convinced that, heroically as the +garrison were defending themselves, they could not long hold out. With +this conviction I returned to my friends, and urged Mrs Tarleton to +allow me to conduct her at once to the boat. While she was still +hesitating, Lieutenant Spinks rushed into the vault, blood streaming +from his arm. "All is lost!" he exclaimed. "Fly, ladies, fly, or those +villainous Hessians will be up to us before you can escape. The colonel +is making a stout resistance, and may keep them back for some time, but +he ordered me to come on and hasten your flight." + +After hearing this, I was determined that there should be no further +delay; so, sending the negroes on to the boat, we took the ladies' arms +and followed as rapidly as they could walk. Not for a moment would I +allow them to stop and look back. + +The boat was in readiness: we stepped in. I urged Spinks to come also, +as with his wound he could be of no further use. I had, however, almost +to force him on board. Without a moment's delay we shoved off. I put +Spinks at the helm, and took an oar. The blacks seized the other two, +and there was no necessity to tell them to pull away lustily. We were +only just in time. The shouts and shrieks and cries increased. Thick +flew the bullets--many passing over our heads. The flames grew +brighter; the main building was on fire, and burned furiously. By its +bright glare we could distinguish the dark figures of the combatants-- +the assailants climbing over the walls on either hand, and the defenders +of the place in detached parties, still desperately endeavouring to +oppose them. Suddenly trumpets sounded, voices were heard calling +loudly, and there was a cessation of firing. We pulled on, however, +across the river, for I thought very likely that, if we were discovered +by the victors, we should be fired at, and compelled to return. The +ruddy glare was reflected on the broad stream, and the banks were +lighted up by the flames of the burning house, so that we had no +difficulty in finding our way across to the right landing-place. + +The farmer in whose charge the horses had been left, brought them out as +soon as we appeared. "I would ask you to stay," he said, "but I know +not how soon the enemy may come upon us. You must take a stirrup-cup, +though; it will do the hearts of the poor ladies good. They want +something to keep up their spirits, I'm sure." I forget the mixture +that was produced. I know that it was very good, though the ladies +would not be prevailed on to do more than taste it. Lieutenant Spinks +would allow us to make only a very short delay to get his wound washed +and bound up, declaring all the time that it was of very little +consequence. "I'm well accustomed to shot-holes by this time, I guess, +so never fear," said he. I must say this for him, that he was decidedly +a very plucky fellow, and was, I suspect, a fair sample of the men who +won independence for America. The good-natured farmer then ordered a +lad on horseback to show us the way, and uttered many hearty good wishes +for our safety. "None of the enemy are to the north of us, so I think +you may reach the camp without difficulty," he remarked. He asked no +questions about me. I suspect that Caractacus and Sambo had fully +enlightened him. + +We pushed on for the remainder of the night, and did not even draw rein +till morning dawned. It was wonderful how well the ladies endured the +fatigue they were undergoing; not a complaint escaped either of them; +indeed, Mrs Tarleton seemed rather to glory in the hardships she was +undergoing. + +Instead of striking at once into the country, we kept to the north, so +as to make a circuit towards the spot where it was understood General +Washington was then encamped. I tried to persuade Spinks to stop and +rest, but on he would go, as long as his horse would carry him. Our +steeds, however, at last began to knock up, and we were glad to discover +a farm-house among the trees a couple of hundred yards from the road. +The inmates received us cordially. Breakfast was instantly placed +before us, and a room prepared where the ladies might lie down and seek +that rest they so much required. The farmer put Spinks into an +arm-chair, and scarcely had he finished his breakfast than he leant back +and fell fast asleep. I felt much inclined to follow his example, but +our host would not let me. He wanted to hear all about us, and, to do +him justice, he was ready to impart an abundance of information in +return. Unaccustomed to the sight of uniforms, it never occurred to him +that I was a British officer, and from the far-from-pleasant way he +spoke of my countrymen, I felt no inclination to enlighten him. What +surprised me most was to hear of the disorganised state of Washington's +army--the want of food and clothing from which it was suffering, and the +utter insufficiency of all the commissariat arrangements. The wonder +was how, in such a condition, the American forces could withstand +General Howe's well-supplied, and well-disciplined troops. + +"I'll tell you what it is," observed the farmer; "one has a just cause, +and the other hasn't--that's the difference." + +I did not tell him that there were two sides to that opinion, and that +some people might consider the royal cause the just one. + +A three hours' rest refreshed all our party as well as our horses, and +we were once more in the saddle. No further incident of importance +occurred till in the afternoon we came suddenly on an outlying picket of +the patriot forces. + +The main body of Washington's army was at this time encamped at a place +called White Marsh, about fourteen miles to the north of Philadelphia. +We had approached it from the north-east. The officer in command of the +picket came forward, and Mrs Tarleton explained who she was, and her +object in visiting the camp. + +"Can you give me any information respecting my brother, Colonel Hallet?" +she asked with an anxious voice. + +"Colonel Hallet is alive, madam, but he requires more rest than he +obtains," answered the officer with a grave look. "I see him often, but +I cannot report favourably of him." + +I saw that more was implied than was said. While this conversation was +going on, I brought my horse close up to that of Miss Carlyon. I could +not but realise to myself that the moment of our parting had arrived. +The thought sent a pang, such as I had never before felt, through my +heart. Madeline herself looked grave and sad. Was it the account of +her uncle's state of health which made her so or was it--vain puppy that +I felt myself--because we were about to part--perhaps for ever. + +How distant the prospect appeared, with the numberless vicissitudes of a +sailor's life intervening, when we might hope to meet again! Could we +venture to indulge that hope? Should we ever meet? Should I not rather +be prepared to part for ever? I would not allow myself to be overcome +by a thought so full of agony. + +"Miss Carlyon!" I gasped out, and I drew my breath, while I felt as if +I could not utter another word. + +"Hurricane Hurry!" said a low voice within me, "what are you about? Act +like a man!" However, I did not feel a bit the wiser. "Miss Carlyon," +I began again, "I have almost completed the duty I was sent on. You and +your aunt will soon be within the lines of General Washington's camp." + +She looked very grave, and I thought pained. I continued: "I must now +return with all speed to my ship, though--though--" I could not for the +life of me find words to express what I wanted to say. + +"Mr Hurry must be aware how deep an obligation he has conferred upon my +aunt, and we should have been glad if we could have avoided making his +duty irksome," said Miss Carlyon in a low, deep voice, while the colour +came into her cheeks for an instant and then fled, leaving her paler +than before. + +I was certain her voice trembled as she uttered the last words. + +"Irksome!" I exclaimed. "Oh, Miss Carlyon, how could you for a moment +think so? It has been the most delightful duty I ever performed. Duty +did I call it? It has been unspeakable joy and happiness to me, almost +from the time you came on board my vessel, to feel that I was of service +to you; that you were under my care and protection. Day after day that +feeling increased, till it has grown into a part of my being. It would +be my delight to feel that I could spend my life in the same way. Why +should I conceal it? You may not care for me--you will return to your +own people, and perhaps scarcely ever cast a thought on the rough sailor +who is tossing about on the wild ocean; but he never, never can forget +the days of intense happiness he has passed in your society, in watching +your every look, in serving you with a true and faithful love--in--" + +The temper of the Hurrys was breaking forth with a vengeance. + +"Oh no, no; do not say those words!" she exclaimed; "I do--I do regard +you with--with--deeper feeling than I ought. Can you ask me to say +more? But oh, Mr Hurry, this dreadful war!" + +"Madeline, the war will end; the time will come when you may be mine!" +I exclaimed vehemently. "Will you--will you then consent?" + +"Mr Hurry, I will," she answered calmly. "If you come and claim me, +you will find me true. Some women never love more than once. Yet I +will not bind you. You have your profession to occupy you. Your family +may disdain a rebel's child with her property confiscated. You may +wander to all parts of the world: you will see numberless women--many +very far superior to me--you may--" + +I interrupted her with a vehement exclamation of denial as to the +possibility of anything she suggested occurring. I need not repeat all +I said--all the vows I uttered. I did not believe that mortal power +could make me break them. + +We had remained somewhat behind the rest of the party while Mrs +Tarleton was speaking to the officer of the picket, and Lieutenant +Spinks was gaining information as to the road we were to take to reach +head-quarters. It was now time to move on. Anxious as I was not to +part from Madeline till the last moment, I felt that, as an officer of +the Royalist party, I ought to offer to remain in the outskirts of the +camp; but to my great satisfaction Mrs Tarleton at once overruled my +objections. + +"Our friends will wish to thank you for the great service you have +rendered us, and you will require a few hours' rest at least before you +commence your return journey," she observed. + +Madeline's look I thought said, "Do not go yet;" so I agreed to the +proposal. The marks of recent strife were sadly evident along the road +over which we passed, in the blackened remains of houses, woods cut +down, and fences destroyed. + +We passed through several other pickets till we finally came to where a +considerable body of troops were encamped within intrenchments, and with +some rugged hills in front. Among the troops was a corps of fine, tall, +active-looking young men, whose uniforms and accoutrements were in the +most perfect order. Accustomed as I had been to see the ill-clothed, +various-sized, undisciplined militia, I was particularly struck by their +appearance. + +"Those are General Washington's guards," observed Mrs Tarleton. "He +has much need of such men; for, though prizing the lives of those under +him, he is sadly careless of his own. He himself is, I do not doubt, +not far-off." + +We had not ridden a hundred yards when we saw before us a group of +mounted officers in handsome uniforms, with plumes nodding and arms +glittering. I had somehow or other pictured to myself the rebel +generals as a dingy-looking set, like the Covenanters of old, or +Cromwell's Invincibles, and I could scarcely persuade myself that those +I saw were officers of the enemy's army. Among them rode one whom the +eye would not fail to single out from the rest--tall, handsome, and +graceful--the noble expression of his countenance showed that he had the +right to command. I was struck, too, with the way in which he managed +his horse, and sat on his saddle. He was an enemy and a rebel; but for +the life of me I could not help pulling off my hat and bowing low, when, +as he saw Mrs Tarleton, he rode forward to greet her. I guessed he +could be no other than the renowned chief General Washington. Among the +officers were Generals Sullivan, Wayne, and Woodford; Lord Stirling, a +gallant Scotchman, who in spite of his rank had joined the patriots; the +noble Frenchman, the Marquis Lafayette, and his veteran German friend +the Baron De Kalb; as also Generals Irvine, Reed, and other native +officers. Their appearance was very military, but I had no eye for +anyone but the commander-in-chief. He bowed to Madeline, and took Mrs +Tarleton's hand in a most kind and courteous manner, while his voice as +he spoke was gentle and melodious. + +"I gladly welcome you to our camp, madam, deeply as I mourn the cause +which has brought you here. Your gallant brother is still with us. One +of my aides-de-camp will conduct you to his quarters. You will, I fear, +find Colonel Hallet much changed. He should long ago have retired from +active duty, but his patriotism overcame all suggestions of prudence. I +would that all who advocate the independence of our country were like +him!" + +Mrs Tarleton made a brief answer. She was anxious to hurry to her +brother. A short conversation, however, first ensued between her and +the general, which I did not overhear; then, calling me up, she +introduced me formally and explained who I was. General Washington +received me in the frankest manner. + +"I am happy to welcome one who has been of so much service to those I +highly esteem, and Mr Hurry may be assured that he will find none but +friends as long as he thinks fit to remain in this camp." + +I made a suitable reply, regretting that duty must summon me so speedily +away. + +"Perhaps you will have reason to alter your intention," said Mrs +Tarleton with marked emphasis. "I will make you known to Lord Stirling +and other friends; they may have more success than I have had in proving +to you which is the right side of the question." + +Madeline looked at me, and I thought she seemed to say, "Oh, I wish they +may succeed!" + +General Washington simply remarked, "At all events, Mr Hurry is welcome +here as long as he stays with us. I hope to have the pleasure of his +company at dinner to-day." + +Several of the other officers came forward and spoke to me very kindly, +and by the general's directions a junior aide-de-camp attached himself +to me, while another accompanied Mrs Tarleton and her niece to Colonel +Hallet's quarters. + +As they rode away I could do no more than take a hurried and formal +farewell of them both--I dared scarcely hope that I should be able to +see them again. Lieutenant Spinks had several friends in the camp, with +one of whom he intended to take up his quarters. He promised to call +for me if I persisted in my resolution to commence our return journey on +the following day. I found Captain Douglas, the officer in whose charge +I was placed, a very pleasing, gentlemanly man. To avoid giving any +cause of suspicion, I refrained from moving about without first asking +him if I could walk in that direction, and I thus soon gained his good +opinion, as he fully appreciated the motive of my conduct. + +As the dinner-hour approached he took me to his tent, where I might get +rid of the dust of my journey. It was pitched close to a farm-house +occupied by the general. A barn attached to the farm-house, and hastily +fitted up, served as a dining-hall and council-chamber. Here a number +of officers, mostly generals and colonels, were assembled. I, a +midshipman, felt very small among them; and certainly the attention +which was paid me by so many great people was well calculated to turn my +head. However, I was wide awake enough to know that all is not gold +that glitters. From what I had previously heard, and from what I saw +when passing through the camp, I could not help discovering that the +American forces were in many respects in a very bad condition, ill-fed +and worse clothed. Whole corps were in a very ragged state, and some +were almost shoeless, and entirely stockingless. This in the summer was +bad enough, but with winter coming on, it was enough to disorganise the +whole army. + +The feast to which I had been invited was, considering the state of +affairs I have described, a very grand one. Everyone was in good +spirits, and laughed and talked with the greatest freedom. I could +scarcely believe that these were the men who had lately been engaged in +a deadly strife, and might any moment be called out to give battle to a +well-disciplined and fierce enemy. The provisions were somewhat coarse, +and probably not cooked by the most experienced of artists; but I had +been accustomed to meet with much worse at sea, so that I did not think +much about the matter. Toasts were drunk, healths were pledged, and I +was frequently invited to take wine by the officers present, although +some looked at me, I thought with eyes rather askance, as if they did +not quite approve of an officer of the opposite cause being at large in +the camp. + +The party, however, did not sit long after dinner, and when it broke up, +Douglas took me with him to his tent. "Come, we will have a cup of +coffee together before you turn in," said he, as we sat down; "I have a +French servant who understands cooking it better than any man I ever +met. You shall have at the same time a pipe of the true Virginia weed. +No one produces better than does our general on his estate; and this he +gave to me as being some of the very best he ever saw." + +I found my friend's encomiums were fully justified by the excellence of +the tobacco; nor was his coffee to be despised. Several officers looked +in occasionally, and we had a very pleasant evening. They were, +however, at last hurriedly summoned off, and I threw myself down on the +camp bedstead my host had prepared for my use. + +Weary as I was I could not sleep. Something I was certain was going +forward. More than once my ear caught the not very distant rattle of +musketry and the roar of cannon, and I could not help fearing that the +camp itself might be the object of attack, and that Mrs Tarleton and +Madeline might be involved in the confusion which must ensue, and +perhaps exposed to greater danger than any they had yet escaped. I +considered how I could find means of being of service to them. +Unhappily I did not know my way to Colonel Hallet's quarters, and should +the necessity I apprehended arrive, I was not likely to find anybody to +guide me to them. + +Douglas had gone out; I felt that I ought not to leave the tent till his +return as I might very naturally, by wandering about, have thereby +exposed myself to the suspicion of some sinister motive; so I lay still, +eagerly listening that I might make a guess at the way things were going +by the sounds which reached my ears. Now and then there was a roll of a +drum--now a bugle sounded--then the distant report of a field-piece, and +next, a whole volley of musketry. I sat up with my arm resting on my +pillow, ready to spring to my feet at a moment's notice. I felt very +sad. I could not bear the thought of not seeing Madeline again; and +even should I see her, I knew that I must be prepared to part from her +for an indefinite period--for many long years perhaps. How changed +might she and I be by that time! + +"It will not do to indulge in these thoughts," I exclaimed, passing the +palm of my hand to my brow; "they will unman me, or make me turn +traitor. Traitor! ay, that's the word. I must throw no false gloss +over it. Deserter--a wretch, false to his flag! No, no; she herself +would despise me. These men now in arms around me have never sworn +allegiance to their sovereign; they have been forced into rebellion by +ill-treatment and injustice, by numberless insults. I should have no +such excuse. If I unite myself to them it will be for my own +gratification alone. No, no, I'll not do it." + +I must confess that many such discussions as this I had in my own mind +at this period, but I resisted the tempter in whatever form he came. +The firing ceased; still I listened, expecting it to recommence. At +length Douglas returned:-- + +"An affair of outpost!" he remarked carelessly. "You were disturbed by +the firing. Howe's army is somewhat near at hand. He wishes to draw us +into the lower ground, but General Washington knows the strength of our +position, and the advantage it gives us, too well to be tempted out of +it. The enemy has retired; you may rest in quiet for the remainder of +the night." + +By daylight all the camp was astir. Lieutenant Spinks soon made his +appearance. He looked pale, but said that his wound did not hurt him, +and that he should be able to accompany me if I was ready to commence +our return journey. I had no excuse to offer to myself for delay, but +every reason for getting back to my vessel. I however frankly told +Captain Douglas that I wished to bid farewell to the ladies I had +escorted to the camp. I have an idea that he suspected how matters +stood. + +"We will ride to Colonel Hallet's quarters directly after breakfast," he +answered promptly. "By that time they may be ready to receive you." + +Spinks promised in the interval to get the horses and servants prepared +for the journey. + +A frugal and somewhat hurried meal over, I set out with Captain Douglas. +A ride of upwards of a mile over exceedingly rugged ground brought us +to a hamlet of log huts. I remarked on the way the inaccessible nature +of the ground, and saw the wisdom of Washington in holding it. I made +no remark in reference to this, but we talked freely on various topics +not immediately connected with the war. My heart beat quick as my +companion pointed out a long low hut, and remarked-- + +"There lies poor Hallet, and I fear that he will never leave the place +alive." + +The walls of the building consisted of long rough trunks of trees piled +one on the other, the ends fitting at the angles together, and a scoop +made in the lower log to admit the convex part of the upper one. Not +that I remarked this at the time; all my thoughts were occupied with +what was to occur. Douglas went to the door. It was opened by a +soldier. After a minute's delay he beckoned to me to follow him. In a +small roughly-boarded room sat Mrs Tarleton and her niece. They rose, +and the former took me cordially by the hand-- + +"Again I must thank you for enabling me to reach my poor brother in time +to find him alive," she said in a mournful voice. + +I of course expressed my satisfaction of being of use, and looked to see +what Madeline would say. I had taken her hand. She forgot to withdraw +it. + +"Indeed, indeed we are grateful," she uttered in a low voice. + +She could not trust herself to say more. I would have given much to +have been alone with her, but I saw no chance of this. Perhaps it was +better as it was. What she herself wished I could not tell. Mrs +Tarleton showed no intention of leaving the room. I longed to say a +great deal, but I felt tongue-tied. Captain Douglas had but little time +to spare. He looked at his watch. I saw that I could no longer delay. +I bade farewell to Mrs Tarleton. Madeline came to the door of the hut. +I took her hand--it trembled in mine:-- + +"Oh! Mr Hurry," she said in a low, faltering voice, "I will never, +never forget you." + +Douglas had thrown himself on his horse. I leaped on mine and had to +follow him at a gallop. Madeline was still standing at the door of the +hut when a rocky height hid it from my view. Spinks was in readiness +for a start with Caractacus and Sambo. We soon left the camp of the +American army far behind, and pushed on for the Delaware. We crossed it +some way up, for the British forces were now in possession of both banks +for a considerable distance above Philadelphia. That city remained +entirely in their hands. An attack had, however, I found from Spinks, +been planned by the American generals to re-take it, but had been +abandoned by Washington on account of the great loss of life it would +have entailed. + +In spite, however, of the general want of success of the patriots in the +south, their spirits were raised, and their determination increased, to +hold out by news of the surrender of General Burgoyne and his entire +army to General Gates at Saratoga, as well as of the evacuation of +Ticonderoga, and several forts on the Hudson, and the abandonment of a +marauding expedition up that river from New York. We succeeded in +crossing the Delaware without impediment; but we had no little +difficulty, at times, to avoid falling in with the troops of the +contending parties. Once or twice we had to gallop very hard to get out +of their way. As Spinks observed, "It would be very disagreeable to be +hung up as spies before we had time to explain who we were." In spite +of his weakness, he, poor fellow, bore up manfully, and I was truly +sorry to part from him. At length we came in sight of Little Egg River, +and, to my very great satisfaction, I caught a glimpse of the tender, +directly opposite Mr Plowden's house. I rode up to the door to restore +him his horses, and to return him my thanks for their loan. He most +kindly pressed me to remain a day with him, but I was anxious to be on +board my vessel and once more at sea. Three cheers greeted me as I got +alongside. Not a man had deserted, and Grampus gave me a favourable +account of the behaviour of all hands. The tide and wind were fair for +us. The anchor was hove up and sail was made. It was fortunate that I +had not delayed. Scarcely were we under weigh when, through my glass, I +saw a considerable body of troops with some light artillery march down +to the beach. I doubted much whether Mr Plowden could have protected +me. One or two shots came flying after us to make us heave-to, but the +wind freshened. The little vessel glided swiftly on, till once more she +bounded freely over the blue ocean. As I inhaled the fresh sea air I +felt happier than I had done for many a day. I trimmed sails and stood +away to the northward to rejoin the admiral off Newport. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +RHODE ISLAND.--SENT TO ASSIST SYREN AND TRANSPORT.--FRIGATE BLOWS UP.-- +TAKE A PRIZE.--GRAMPUS IN CHARGE.--TENDER ON HER BEAM ENDS.--JOIN SIR +PETER PARKER ON BOARD BRISTOL.--MY OLD MESSMATES.--APPOINTED AS +LIEUTENANT TO THE CHAMELEON AND THEN TO THE CAMEL.--SAIL FOR GULF OF +FLORIDA.--FEVER.--WAR WITH FRANCE.--ONCE MORE AT JAMAICA. + +I gave the land a wide berth, thereby getting fine weather, and with a +fair breeze had a quick run for Rhode Island. I brought up close to the +flag-ship, and hurried on board to make a report of such of my +proceedings as I thought it incumbent on me to inform the admiral about. +He was pleased to approve of all I had done, but when I mentioned the +ladies, he looked hard at me as if he had read my secret. + +"You'll not wish to be idle, I know. Give your vessel a refit, and I +shall have work for you before long," said he with, I thought, a +significant look. + +I accordingly ran into harbour, hove the tender down, and in three days +was ready for sea, when I received orders to accompany his Majesty's +ships Flora, Lark and Lady Parker tender to the assistance of the Syren +frigate, which with a transport had run on shore at Point Judith, the +people being made prisoners by the rebels. + +At ten o'clock at night we, with the two frigates, dropped anchor about +two miles off shore, having the wrecked ships just inside of us. We +were not long allowed to remain in quietness before we were discovered +by the enemy, who commenced a hot fire on us from three +eighteen-pounders. As it was important not to allow the enemy to +increase their force, four of our boats were instantly manned ready to +proceed to the attack. The first lieutenant of the Chatham was sent in +command of them, and each officer was furnished with a supply of +combustibles, with directions to heave them on board the ships, so as to +blow them up without delay. The first lieutenant of the Flora had +charge of the second boat, the second of the Lark the third, and I +commanded the fourth. We were all ready by eleven o'clock, when we +pulled away towards the Syren. There was no use to attempt concealment, +for we were conscious that our motions were narrowly watched; and this +was proved when we approached the shore, for we were welcomed with a +very warm salute of big guns and small-arms, the musket-balls and +round-shot rattling round us in a far from pleasant manner. To add to +the difficulties to be encountered, a heavy sea was running, which +washed up alongside the stranded frigate, and created a considerable +risk of causing the boats to be stove in. + +"Pull away, my hearties, pull away!" sang out our gallant commanding +officer. "We'll make a short business of the work in hand when we once +get alongside." + +He was as good as his word. In spite of the iron and leaden shower +which rattled around us, we dashed on. The masts had gone by the board, +but had been secured, and by this means a stage had been formed leading +from the ship to the shore. Along this stage the enemy, till we drew +near, were busily engaged in carrying off the stores and provisions out +of the ship. When they saw us coming they gave up the work and poured +instead a number of armed men on board. The bowmen stood ready, +boat-hooks in hand, to hook on as the sea sent us surging alongside. +When our boats rose to the top of the waves we tumbled in on deck +through the ports, with our cutlasses in our teeth and all sorts of +combustibles under our arms. The enemy did not like our looks, and as +retreat was open to them they could not resist the temptation of taking +advantage of it; so when we appeared through some of the headmost ports, +they retired over the stern. To set fire to our grenades and other +fiery engines of destruction, and to heave them down below and to +scatter them fore and aft, was the work of little more than a minute. +The enemy scarcely understood what we were about, or they would have +tried to interrupt our proceedings. The effect of our combustibles was +very rapid. A number of inflammable things were scattered about; they +at once caught fire, and thick wreaths of smoke, followed by fierce +flames, darted upwards on every side. + +"To the boats! to the boats!" sang out our commander. + +It was time indeed to be into them, for the fiery element was already +surrounding many of the guns, which, being shotted, were going off as +the touch-holes became heated. Almost enveloped in wreaths of smoke and +fiercely crackling flames, we rushed to the ports, aware that any moment +the ship might blow up and carry us high into the air. Explosion after +explosion followed each other in rapid succession, giving us warning of +what might occur. Our gallant leader got dreadfully burned. I saw him +just as he was about to fall, I feared, into the flames. I grasped his +arm, and together we leaped into the first boat we saw alongside. + +"All hands quit the ship!" he shouted, before he would allow the boat to +shove off. + +No one, we were assured, was left behind. It was time to be free of +her. Glad enough we were to pull away, and we soon had the satisfaction +of seeing the other three boats free of the ship and pulling out to sea. +Several of the crew of the boat had once belonged to the Syren. + +"There goes the old girl. She deserved a better fate," they exclaimed, +as they watched the conflagration. "She keeps up her spirits to the +last, though," they added, as her guns were discharged one after the +other in rapid succession--some of them doing, I suspect, some damage on +shore, towards which their muzzles were pointed. We were saved the +trouble of destroying the transport, for by some means or other she had +caught fire, and before the enemy could get on board to put it out or to +save any of her stores, she had burnt to the water's edge. The enemy +kept popping away at us while we pulled off from the shore, for the +light of the burning frigate falling on the boats' sides made us +tolerably conspicuous targets. However, we kept the ship as much as +possible between us and the rebels, and as they were likewise not +particularly good shots, we escaped with a very trifling amount of +damage. Indeed, I should, before I had had experience in the matter, +have believed it scarcely possible that so much powder and shot could +have been expended with so small a result. One man got a flesh-wound in +the right arm, and another had his head grazed, while the boats were +struck not more than half-a-dozen times in all. Suddenly the firing +ceased. There was a perfect silence. Then the flames from the frigate +seemed to burn brighter than ever, and it appeared as if the whole +blazing mass was lifted bodily up into the air like a huge sky-rocket. +Fragments of masts and spars and planks darted above the rest, and then, +scattering around, very quickly again came hissing down into the water. +A deep groan escaped the bosoms of many of our men. There was no +cheering--no sound of exultation. An old friend had been destroyed; +they mourned for her, though they themselves had assisted in her +destruction. War, and what war produces, is at the best very horrid +work. I cannot, even now, think over all the havoc and destruction we, +as was our duty, were the means of producing, without feelings of regret +and shame. + +It was nearly midnight when I got back to my craft. The signal was soon +afterwards made to weigh anchor, when we made sail towards the mouth of +the harbour. There had been a stiffish breeze all the time we had been +engaged in the destruction of the Syren, but it had not come on to blow +very hard, and the night was extremely dark. The schooner's head was +off shore, and, overcome with fatigue, I had just thrown myself on a +locker, with my clothes on, to snatch a few moments' sleep, when Tom +Rockets roused me up with the information that a strange sail was +crossing our bows. I instantly sprang on deck, and, catching sight of +the stranger, put up the helm in chase. Away we flew through the +hissing, heaving seas after her, shrouded in a mass of foam. I asked +Grampus what he thought her. + +"A schooner, sir. When I first saw her there was no doubt of it," was +his answer. "An enemy's coaster." + +Just as he spoke, a gleam of light breaking through the clouds showed us +the chase right ahead. She had now very little chance of escaping from +us. We were coming up with her hand-over-hand. As we drew near I fired +one of our bow-chasers. Still she held on, so I fired another, and this +time with some effect, for she at once put down her helm and hauled her +foresail to windward. The tender had a jolly-boat belonging to her. I +jumped into it with Tom Rockets and another hand, and soon stood in +safety on the deck of the prize. She had, I saw, a number of hands on +board, and I felt somewhat surprised that they did not bundle me and my +two hands into the boat, and tell us to go back whence we had come. She +was, however, only a quiet honest trader, so her master affirmed, from +Bedford, bound to Connecticut with fish and oil. On counting her +people, I found that she mustered sixteen in all--stout, fierce-looking +fellows. Some two or three of them said they were landsmen, and one +hailed as a Quaker and a non-combatant, but I did not like the looks of +any of them. I sent Rockets to the helm, and told him to keep the prize +under the lee of the tender. I found that the schooner had a large boat +on board. I accordingly ordered the crew to lower her into the water. + +"Now, my lads," said I, "tumble into her yourselves, and make the best +of your way to the shore. It is a dark night, and not very pleasant +weather, I own, but it is either that or a prison, you know." + +Before I had done speaking the rebels had begun to launch the boat, too +glad of the opportunity of getting on shore to consider the danger they +must run in reaching it. The Quaker, however, did not appear at all to +relish the trip, and protested vehemently against being thus +unceremoniously sent adrift. He protested that he was as quiet as a +lamb, and, that he would obey my orders as strictly as if he had taken +the oath of allegiance to King George. I told him that might be, but +that "necessity has no law greater than itself." Then he assured me +that he was a non-combatant; that to fight was against his principles, +and that he would not dream of lifting a finger against any man. + +"I dare say not, friend," I answered, "but you wouldn't mind boring a +hole in a ship's bottom and letting her go down, or setting fire to her, +and letting her blow up with all hands on board, provided you could make +your escape unhurt, eh?" + +I saw that I had by chance hit the right nail on the head, and that he +had, some time or other, done the very thing I suggested. He said +nothing further. Still he evidently did not like being turned adrift in +the boat. I, however, was inexorable. The enemy had so frequently +retaken vessels which had been captured from them, that I was, I own, +afraid to trust any of the prisoners I had just made. I accordingly +bundled the Quaker in with the rest. I must own that I acted a harsh +part. It turned out a terrible night. It was blowing very fresh, and +there was a heavy sea running, while it was more than usually dark. I +scarcely reflected at the time on the dreadful risk to which I was +exposing the poor fellows. In vain I afterwards endeavoured to discover +what became of them. They might have reached the shore in safety, or +been picked up by some friendly vessel; but they might have been run +down, or their boat might have been swamped, and they all might have +perished miserably. I pray they might have escaped. If not, their +deaths were at my door. + +As soon as the prisoners had shoved off, I sent the boat back to the +tender, and Grampus and two men returned in her. + +"Grampus," said I, "I put you in charge of this craft. I hope that it +is not the last of which you will get command." + +He pulled the front lock of his hair when I made him this speech, and +looked round with a glance which showed that he did not over highly +appreciate the honour. + +"I'll try to get her into harbour, sir, at all events," he answered, as +I stepped into the boat, and not without difficulty returned to the +tender, when, with my prize, I again made sail for Rhode Island. An +hour afterwards I captured a whale-boat, from Connecticut to Bedford, +with four hogs-heads of salt. As I could spare no people to man her, +after making the prisoners come on board, I took her in tow. I was in +hopes of carrying her into harbour, but it soon came on to blow harder +than ever, and before long I had the dissatisfaction to find that I had +towed the prize under water, and, to avoid any mishap to ourselves, I +had quickly to cut her adrift. When the morning broke, so heavy a gale +was blowing that, being unable to reach Rhode Island, I bore away for +the Seaconnet Passage, making a signal to my prize to do the same. We +reached it not without difficulty. I was well content to drop my anchor +not far from his Majesty's ship Kingfisher, which I found lying there. +Grampus came in soon after, and brought up near me. I asked him if he +was sure that his ground tackle was good. He answered, "Pretty well," +but he wished that it were better. An officer from the Kingfisher soon +after came on board, and advised us to look to our cables, for it was +coming on to blow harder than ever. The caution was not needed. I had +done all I could to secure the tender, and she seemed well able to ride +out the gale. The prize, however, I saw was labouring heavily. I +watched her anxiously, both on my own account and that of Grampus and +the men with him. + +At noon, just as I was leaving the deck, I heard an exclamation from +Rockets, which made me pop my head pretty rapidly up the +companion-hatch, and, looking to leeward, I saw my prize, amid a mass of +foam, driving away at headlong speed towards the enemy's shore. To help +her was impossible. I was more sorry at the thought of losing Grampus +than of anything else. Even should he and his companions escape with +their lives, they would, at all events, be made prisoners by the enemy, +and I might chance never to meet my old follower again. First one cable +parted, then another. Grampus made sail as quickly as he could, but he +could only show a very small amount of canvas with the gale there was +then blowing. I watched the schooner anxiously through my glass. Tom +Rockets stood by my side, as eager about her as I was. On she drove. +She appeared to be almost among the breakers. + +"She's lost, sir, she's lost!" exclaimed Tom. + +"No, no," said I, taking another glance. "Grampus is handling her like +a good seaman, as he is. She keeps her luff, and is shooting out again +into clear water. Hurrah! Well done, Grampus! She stands up to her +canvas bravely. She is making for Fogland Ferry. If she carries +nothing away she will reach it too." + +Such were the exclamations to which I gave utterance as I watched the +progress of the prize. More than once she appeared to be nearing the +land, and I thought that I could make out people following her course, +ready to take possession of her should she drift on shore. Then, again, +she stood off clear of danger, and at length disappeared in the +distance. By daylight next morning, the weather having moderated, I +once more made sail in quest of my prize, and as I drew near the wharf +at Fogland Ferry, to my great satisfaction, I found her safely moored +alongside of it. We remained here some days, till at last, the weather +becoming finer, on the 27th of November I sailed with my prize for +Newport. I was very anxious to carry her there in safety. I had gained +her not without danger and difficulty, and she afforded a substantial +evidence that I had not been idle during my cruise. Scarcely was I +clear of the land when I made out a large whale-boat, which I chased for +three hours and ultimately took. She had on board a cargo of beef, +pork, cheese, and tallow. However, it came on to blow harder than ever, +so, much against my will, I had to heave a cold shot into her, which +sent her to the bottom, and once more I was compelled to run for the +Seaconnet Passage. + +Next day, that is, on the 28th, I once more put to sea, but in a short +time it came on to blow harder than ever. Still, in my anxiety to reach +my destination, I did not like to put back, and kept hammering away in +the hopes of making good my passage. Feeling that I must take ten +minutes of sleep, I went below, but scarcely had I thrown myself on a +locker when I was hove off it. I sprang on deck, and found that a +squall had thrown the vessel on her beam-ends. I sang out an order to +cut away topsail halyards, sheets, main and fore ties, peak halyards. +It was done, not without difficulty. Still she would not right. I put +the helm up. She answered it, and away we floundered, almost +water-logged, to our former place of anchorage in the Seaconnet Passage. + +On the 29th, getting all things to rights again, I once more sailed; and +this time, in spite of the gale, and not without difficulty, I reached +Newport with my prize. I got some credit for my proceedings, and I felt +that I was amply rewarded by the way the admiral spoke to me. + +"I have my eye on you, Mr Hurry, and it is, I feel, my duty to mark out +merit for reward," he observed, with a pleasant smile, one day when he +had invited me to dine with him. + +I got three or four days' rest, and, on the 3rd, sailed once more on a +cruise. + +I had not been out many days when a tremendous gale sprang up which +compelled me to lay-to. During this time the little vessel shipped +several heavy seas, which I more than once thought would send her to the +bottom. At last one heavier than its predecessors came rolling and +roaring towards us. + +"Hold on, my lads!" I sang out. + +There was nothing else to be done. It struck the vessel. + +"She is sinking! she is sinking!" cried out several of the people, as +the sea washed over us. + +She rose again; but our enemy had left us in a pretty state of wreck and +confusion. The caboose was gone, and so was everything on deck not +thoroughly secured. The water, too, in torrents was rushing down below. +Still our masts stood, and not a rope was carried away. I immediately +ordered the pumps to be rigged, and had to keep all hands spell and +spell at work at them. The gale, which had been blowing from the +north-east, now shifted to the north-west as hard as ever. I had no +choice but to remain hove-to, and to work away at the pumps to keep the +vessel afloat. Our caboose being gone, and as we had no stove below, we +were unable to light a fire to cook anything. We were all, therefore, +compelled to live on raw meat. The crew didn't seem to think this +anything of a hardship; indeed, seamen, when not hard pressed, will +often, to save themselves the trouble of cooking, or because they prefer +it, eat it in that state. + +I have had many a hard time at sea, but that was as hard as any as long +as it lasted. As soon as I could venture to make sail, I shaped a +course for Rhode Island, and, getting a better land-fall than I +expected, I reached it on the 12th of December. When I went to report +myself to Sir Peter, he received me very kindly. + +"You have had a pretty rough time of it, Mr Hurry," he remarked. + +"Yes, sir," I replied, and I told him how the tender had been knocked +about, and what a hard time we all had had of it; but I made no +complaint, and finished by saying that I was ready to go again to sea in +her as soon as she had undergone the necessary repairs. + +"No, no, my lad," he answered. "I like your spirit; but she and you +have had enough of it just now. You shall lay her up for the winter, +and probably before the spring we may have other work carved out for +you." + +I was very glad to hear this, and very speedily got the tender +dismantled and laid up. The admiral, of course, knew more than I did as +to what was going forward, and I guessed that none of us should have +long to remain idle. + +On the 20th of December, 1778, the Bristol, Raisonable, Nonsuch, +Somerset, and a fleet of transports arrived from the Delaware River; and +on the 27th Sir Peter Parker shifted his flag to the Bristol, taking +with him the officers of the Chatham and a hundred seamen. Sir Peter +Parker was now only waiting the arrival of Lord Howe, to proceed to the +West Indies to take the command there. I looked forward to the time +with great satisfaction, for I had no doubt that the admiral would give +me every opportunity in his power of winning the step I so much coveted. + +Two or three days after I joined, Delisle and another old shipmate, +O'Brien, made their appearance on board the Bristol, to which I found +that they had been appointed. It was a pleasure to us all; for latterly +I had been so constantly on detached duty that we had seen but little of +each other. We were, I may truly say, like brothers, regarding each +other with the most sincere and truest affection. I doubt if any +friendship is greater than that of people thus situated. We anticipated +all sorts of fun in the West Indies; for those were the palmy days of +the islands, when the planters, or rather their managers and the +merchants residing there, lived like princes, and treated all visitors +with unbounded hospitality. It was in too many instances with them a +short life and a merry one. Delisle had been there for a short time, +and so had several of our other shipmates, and the accounts they gave +were quite sufficient to make us long to go there. + +On the 4th of January Lord Howe arrived at Rhode Island, and on the 15th +we sailed thence for our destination. One thing only made me regret +leaving the American shores; the certainty that I should have no further +chance of again meeting Madeline Carlyon till the war was ended, and I +might obtain leave to go on shore to visit her no longer as the +professed enemy of her countrymen, but, as I trusted, an accepted suitor +and a friend of America and the Americans. Though I may not be +constantly mentioning her, it must not be supposed that she was ever out +of my thoughts. All my hopes and wishes for the future were wrapped up +in her; and often and often I had to struggle hard against the wish of +quitting the service, and of seeking her out without delay. Of course I +very quickly saw the folly, not to say hopelessness, of such a +proceeding. I had nothing but my profession to depend on; and if I were +to desert that profession, how was I to support a wife and as to joining +the ranks of the enemy and fighting against my countrymen, that, even in +my maddest moods, never entered my imagination. However, I will not now +dwell further on the matter. + +The first island we made was Antigua, where we arrived, without meeting +with any adventure worthy of note, on the 5th of February. We found +there HMS Aurora, with Vice-Admiral Young's flag on board. We sailed +again the next day with two transports under our convoy, and arrived at +Port Royal in Jamaica on the 15th. Here Sir Peter Parker superseded +Vice-Admiral Gayton as Commander-in-Chief. On the 18th we went +alongside the wharf at Kingston, and hove down to repair and clean the +ship's bottom. We had now many opportunities of seeing this, one of the +most beautiful and picturesque of the West India islands, as well as of +engaging in the gaieties of the place. With regard to the scenery, +others have often described it far better than I can pretend to do, +while the thought of Madeline kept me from entering into the somewhat +extravagant gaieties which were of daily occurrence. The repairs of the +ship took us till the 20th of March, when we hauled out into the +harbour. + +A short time after this, two ships came into port direct from England, +the Ostrich and Active. Each of them had left a lieutenant behind them; +and Sir Peter appointed two of ours to fill up the vacancies, and in +their steads my friends Delisle and O'Brien obtained their commissions. +I was beginning to feel somewhat jealous of them, when the Chameleon +came in. Several of her officers had been disabled, having been blown +up in a prize she had taken, and were now gone to the hospital. Among +them was Lieutenant David Mackey, in whose room the admiral gave me an +acting order. + +I was sorry to part with my old shipmates, still it was with great +satisfaction that I found myself raised to the rank I had longed to +obtain, as I had no doubt that I should soon be confirmed in it. My +duty in the ship was, however, both disagreeable and severe. In those +days, when the schoolmaster had made but little progress, in the Navy +especially, and not much on shore, it was difficult to obtain good and +steady warrant officers, and I was especially troubled with a drunken +boatswain, gunner, and carpenter. Drunk or sober, they were constantly +insubordinate, setting a bad example to the crew, and quarrelling with +each other. I determined, however, to master them, and compel them to +do their duty, or get them dismissed from the service. As I was the +only officer in the ship directly over them, my task was not an easy +one. + +Having run the ship over to water at Rockfort, I found, on my return to +Port Royal, that the admiral shifted his flag from the Bristol to the +Chameleon. He had just been promoted from Rear of the Blue to Rear of +the Red. + +My troubles and annoyances with my subordinates continued to increase. +Scarcely a day passed but what they were guilty of some neglect of duty, +which more than once placed the ship in a dangerous position. I was +continually afraid that the gunner, by some carelessness in the +magazine, would blow her and all on board up into the air. I have no +doubt that most of the catastrophes of that nature, which have from time +to time occurred, have been caused by the conduct of which he was +guilty. Fortunately for me, I was thoroughly supported in my duty by +Captain Douglas of the Chameleon, who was in every respect the officer +and the gentleman, and I am much indebted to him for many kind and +favourable remarks he made respecting me to the admiral. When a man is +endeavouring to do his duty, it is pleasant to be spoken of as an +active, zealous, intelligent officer, as I know he did of me. The +misconduct of the gunner grew more and more unbearable, and at length I +was compelled to bring him, as also the boatswain and carpenter, to a +court-martial. The result was that the former was broke, and rendered +incapable of again serving his Majesty; while the other two, who did not +deserve a less punishment, were severely reprimanded. They would have +been broke likewise but for the difficulty which then existed of finding +intelligent and educated men to fill the posts they occupied. + +The Camel, Captain Bligh, having come into harbour with one of her +lieutenants sick, I was appointed to her as acting-lieutenant, her +captain having done me the favour of applying for me to the admiral. We +left the harbour on the 10th of June, and anchored next day in +Bluefield's Bay, where we found lying HMS Hind, Southampton, and Stork, +with a hundred sail of merchantmen. + +On the 25th we proceeded with them to the Gulf of Florida. The weather +was intensely hot, the sun struck down with unmitigated fury on our +heads, and in a few days seven cases of fever appeared on board. +Scarcely was a man taken ill than he became delirious, and in a few +hours he was dead. Thus in six days we lost twenty seamen and seven +marines, together with Lieutenant Thomas Philipsmith of the marines, and +Mr John Eaglestone, master's mate. It was a sad and weary time we had +of it. Captain Bligh kept up his spirits in a wonderful way. I messed +with him all the time I was on board, and he always spoke frankly and +openly to me; indeed, I should be most ungrateful did I not acknowledge +the kindness with which he treated me on all occasions. + +"I hope we may do better when we get clear of the land," he remarked. +"This climate tries the poor fellows sadly." + +It did indeed. On the 28th the master, purser and surgeon were taken +ill, and a few days afterwards I was myself struck down, as were the +gunner, surgeon's mate, and fully sixty more men. Thus, we had not +enough men to work the ship; and for some time Captain Bligh and one of +the only officers capable of doing duty had to take charge of the ship +watch and watch. The weather also was constantly squally, with thunder, +lightning, and heavy rain, and this kept us in the gulf till the 20th of +July. + +On the 28th, in latitude 32 degrees 30 minutes North and 74 degrees 19 +minutes West, we parted company with the fleet, which was bound for +England, while we made sail back to Jamaica. + +I pass over this period of my adventurous existence more rapidly than I +have described the former part of my sea-life, because it is full of +painful recollections. I had often and often seen men struck down in +battle, without allowing my feelings in any way to be agitated; but it +went to my heart to see my brave shipmates carried off one after the +other with fever, without being in any way able to relieve their +sufferings, or to devise means to save them from death. That fever, +"yellow jack" as we used to call it, is truly one of the most dreadful +scourges of the West Indies. There is no avoiding him. All ranks are +equally sufferers, for he picks off rich and poor alike, the strong and +weak, the brave man and the coward. Still, I believe that the best way +to prevent his attacks from proving fatal is to live moderately but +well--not to be afraid, and to avoid exposure to rain and fogs. It is +wiser to soak the clothes in salt water than to allow them to be wet +with fresh and to dry on the back. However, it is very certain that, if +a man does not play tricks with his constitution when he is young, as do +so many young fellows in every variety of way when he is exposed to +similar baneful influences, he will better be able to withstand them. + +On the 17th of August we made the Island of Hispaniola. Two days after +that, as I was walking the deck as officer of the watch, the look-out at +the mast-head hailed to say that a sail was in sight. We were then off +Cape Francois. + +"Where away?" I asked. + +"Right ahead to the westward!" was the answer. + +"What does she look like?" inquired the captain, just then coming on +deck. + +"An English frigate, sir!" replied the look-out. + +She might be, or she might be an enemy's cruiser, for I was aware that +they had already some large ships fitted out. We were, as far as I knew +to the contrary, still at peace with France and Spain. Weak as I was +from the fever, (though I had got over it far more rapidly than I could +have expected), I was so anxious to ascertain, as soon as possible, the +character of the ship in sight, that I went aloft myself to watch her +with my glass. As we drew near each other, Captain Bligh ordered the +drum to beat to quarters, and the ship to be got ready for action. The +nearer we got, the more convinced was I that the look-out was right, and +that the stranger was an English frigate. In a short time she hoisted +English colours, and soon afterwards made the private signal, by which +we knew that she was his Majesty's frigate Minerva. On getting within +hail we hove-to and exchanged civilities, which, as they cost nothing, +are very current coin. We found that she had been out on a cruise for +some time, but, like us, had not made any captures. Her captain was +deploring his ill-luck. + +"Better than being taken oneself," remarked Captain Bligh. + +"No fear of that," was the answer; "I shall take very good care that no +one--Frenchman, Spaniard or rebel--captures me. As for the two first, I +don't suppose they will ever go to war again with us." + +"Don't be too sure of that," said Captain Bligh. "A pleasant cruise to +you, however, and a more fortunate one than we have had. We are bound +back to Jamaica. I hope we shall make a quick passage there." + +Such, as far as I can recollect them, were the parting words of the two +captains. Scarcely had we lost sight of the Minerva than we fell in +with a fleet of merchantmen from Saint Domingo. We agreed that, if +there was but a war, what rich prizes they would prove, and we should, +without difficulty, have been able to take the greater number of them. +They sailed on their way, and we continued on our course for Jamaica. +We reached Port Royal without any further adventure on the 28th of +August. Scarcely had we dropped anchor than a boat from his Majesty's +ship Niger boarded us. + +"Grand news--glorious news!" cried a midshipman who came in her. We all +asked him what he meant. "Why, there's war with France, and a rattling +war it will be, too, from all accounts. All the ships here are getting +ready for sea, and we shall pick up no end of prizes." + +Captain Bligh stamped with his foot and turned round when he heard this. +And well he might, when he recollected the rich prizes we had let slip +through our fingers. A vessel came in directly after us, which brought +the unwelcome intelligence that the Minerva had been taken by the French +frigate Concord only nine hours after we had spoken her. Had we, +therefore, only come up a little later, the tables might have been +reversed, and we might have brought in the Concord as our prize. The +Minerva was, as may be supposed, taken by surprise, her captain not +believing that a war had broken out with France, or I am very sure that +she would not have so easily become the prize of the enemy. + +The circumstances I have mentioned were of course vexatious, but such is +the fortune of war, and I believe the knowledge that we had now a +foreign nation to contend with, instead of those whom we could not but +look upon as countrymen, afforded unmitigated satisfaction throughout +every ship in the British Navy. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +IN COMMAND OF DOLPHIN.--SENT TO WARN SHIPS.--CHASED.--CAPTURED BY +CHERMENTE.--CARRIED TO SAINT DOMINGO.--FIND OLD FRIENDS IN MISFORTUNE.-- +ON OUR PAROLE.--TOM REMAINS WITH ME. + +Pretty well worn out with fatigue, which the duties of the ship +entailed, as soon as we had made all snug I turned into my berth, hoping +to get some sleep. Scarcely, however, had I closed my eyes and +forgotten for the moment all sublunary matters, than I felt some one +tugging at my shoulder, and on looking up I saw a midshipman standing at +my bedside. + +"Sir," said he, "the admiral wishes to see you up at the Penn +immediately." + +"I wish he didn't, though," I thought to myself. "Couldn't he let a +poor careworn wretch have a few hours' quiet sleep after knocking about +for so many weeks at sea, and having been in the clutches of Yellow +Jack?" I didn't say this, though. + +"Very well," I answered, jumping up and putting on my coat with a yawn +which nearly gave me the lock-jaw. "I'll be up there forthwith." + +The Penn, it must be understood, is the name given to the residence +usually occupied by the head commander-in-chief on the station. It is +beautifully situated on an elevated spot above the city of Kingston, +overlooking the noble harbour of Port Royal. + +Ordering a boat to be manned, I pulled on shore, and climbed up to the +Penn. + +"I'm glad to see you back, Hurry," said Sir Peter kindly. "I know your +zeal for the service, and I have more work for you. You know of the war +with France. I must send you off at once to sea in quest of the +cruising ships to give them notice of the event, and to direct them +forthwith to return into port. In the first place you will look out for +the `Druid' at the east end of the island, and give her notice of the +war, and then you will proceed to the Saint Domingo coast, where you +will find, probably, the greater number of merchantmen. How soon can +you be ready?" + +Of course I replied, "At once," wondering what craft I was to go in. + +"Very well," said Sir Peter; "I expected as much of you. You will take +command of the `Dolphin' schooner. She is now in the harbour. I am not +quite certain in what condition you will find her. However, there is no +other disposable craft. Fit her for sea as fast as possible. Take +three or four hands with you; I cannot spare you more. Let your two +followers you spoke to me about, be of the number. Here is an order by +which you can obtain all the aid you require from the dockyard people +and others. Good-bye; I hope to see you back shortly." + +With these words I parted from the admiral. It was now three o'clock in +the morning. Hurrying on board the flag-ship, I got hold of Grampus and +Rockets with their bags, and accompanied by them and a couple of more +hands and a boy, I called for my own traps and bedding on board the +Camel, and then went alongside the Dolphin tender. She looked certainly +in a very hopeless condition. She had her lower-masts standing, but was +entirely unrigged, without stores or sails, or even ballast on board, +while her bottom was covered with grass a foot at least in length. +Still I knew that not a moment was to be lost; the service I was +required to perform was of the greatest importance, and I was not to be +deterred by difficulties. I unmoored her immediately, got her alongside +the dockyard wharf, and began taking some ballast which I found there on +board before anyone was up. Then I sent Grampus to rouse up the +authorities, whose aid I required. Fortunately the sudden outbreak of +war kept people on the alert, so that I had less difficulty in getting +assistance than would have otherwise been the case. + +Soon after daybreak the deck of the Dolphin presented a scene of +ant-like industry. Gangs of negroes were hurrying backwards and +forwards with coils of rope and spars and sails; others were rolling +down kegs of water, and others casks of beef and pork and biscuit, and +packages of other comestibles, while the riggers were at work getting +the rigging over the mast-heads, setting it up, bending on sails, and my +own people were below, stowing away the various articles as they came on +board. I made a list of essentials, and took good care to see that they +came on board and were stowed where they were to be found, or very +likely I should have gone to sea without them. I saw to everything +myself, or sent Grampus to ascertain that people were losing no time in +executing my orders. I left nothing to chance. I met with no little +grumbling from some of the slow-going officials. + +"What a hurry you are in, sir!" said one or two of them, who dared not, +however, openly disobey my authority. + +"Yes, my friend," I answered, laughing, "that's natural to me; and just +now I am in as great a hurry as I ever was in my life; so be smart, if +you please, and keep your people moving." + +That is the way I managed. I did not swear or abuse them, but if I +found anyone slow I pulled out the admiral's order and said that the +work must be done faster. + +"Impossible, sir!" answered another official to one of my demands; "it +cannot be done. In two or three days we may get the matter settled for +you." + +"Impossible! In two or three days do you say?" I exclaimed, looking +fixedly at him. "In two or three hours you mean. Impossible,--I don't +understand that word, nor does Sir Peter, depend on that. If the things +are not on board in three hours I shall report you. I don't want to be +severe, my friend, but I am in earnest." + +The gentleman understood me, and within the time specified the stores +were on board. + +In spite of all I could do, however, I could only get a mainsail, +foresail, fore-staysail, and jib. I had no topsails and no square sail. +Thus, should I be chased by an enemy, I should be, I felt, like a bird +with clipped wings, I should have very little chance of escaping. I got +some of the weeds scraped off the vessel's bottom, but still there were +more than enough remaining. Such good speed did I make, that before +three o'clock in the afternoon of that very day I was ready for sea, or, +rather, I was in such a condition that I could put to sea, though the +urgent necessity of the case alone warranted me in so doing. + +"Well, sir," observed Grampus, with the familiarity of an old shipmate, +"if we comes to meet with Harry Cane in our cruise, it's like enough +that we shall be nowhere." + +Just before we got under weigh, Captain Lambert, of his Majesty's ship +Niger, came on board. He shrugged his shoulders when he saw the +condition I was in. + +"The admiral ordered me to get to sea as fast as I could," I remarked; +"I'm doing my best to obey him." + +"That you are, Mr Hurry," he answered. "You've done very well--very +well indeed, I say. I wish you to keep a look-out for me off Saint +Domingo, and bring me any information you may have picked up. I am +under orders to sail to-morrow morning to cruise off that island with my +own ship, and with the `Bristol' and `Lowestoffe,' and I shall have my +tender with me. You will know the squadron by one of the three ships +having a poop, and from our being accompanied by a schooner. Now good +luck to you. I will not detain you." + +"Thank you, sir," said I; "depend on it I will not disappoint you." + +With a light breeze we stood out of the magnificent harbour of Port +Royal, leaving a fleet of merchantmen, which the news of the war with +France prevented from putting to sea. I certainly was not given to be +much influenced by outward circumstances, but I did not feel at all in +my usual spirits, and could not help fancying that some calamity was +going to occur to me. These sensations and ideas probably arose both +from my being overworked and from the unsatisfactory way in which my +vessel was fitted out; added to this, I knew that the seas would be +swarming with the enemy's privateers, both Americans and French, and +that I could neither fight nor run away. I considered over the latter +circumstance, and bethought me that, if I fell in with any enemy, I +would, at all events, endeavour to escape by stratagem. My men would, I +knew, support me. Nol Grampus and Rockets I was sure I could trust, and +the others I had chosen because they were sharp clever fellows, and up +to anything. + +It was not till the 3rd of September that I weathered the east end of +the island of Jamaica. I cruised off Morant Point for some time, +keeping a very bright look-out for the Druid. She was nowhere to be +seen. Sir Peter had directed me not to lose much time in looking for +her. She might have chased an enemy for leagues away and not be back to +her cruising ground for days. Perhaps she might have taken some prizes +and returned to Port Royal. As I began to lose all hope of seeing her +before nightfall, the wind came fair for me to proceed through the +windward passage. I accordingly put up my helm, made all the sail I +could, and stood for the island of Heneago. + +On the evening of the 6th I made Cape Tiberoon, on the west end of the +island of Saint Domingo, without having fallen in with any vessels, and +about eight o'clock the same evening I passed the Navasa, and carried a +fine breeze till the following morning, when I brought Donna Maria to +bear east at the distance of two or three leagues. I had not liked the +look of the weather for some hours. + +"What do you think of it?" said I to Grampus, as I saw the clouds +gathering thickly around us from all directions, while the sea assumed a +peculiarly dark, leaden, ominous colour. + +"Why, sir, Mr Hurry, do you see, to my mind, the wider berth we give +the land the better," he replied, giving his usual hitch to his +trowsers. "There's what they calls in these parts a whirlwind or old +Harry Cane coming on, or my name is not Nol Grampus." + +I was too much afraid that Nol was right, and accordingly stood off the +land under all sail, keeping a look-out, however, on the signs of the +weather, so as to take in our canvas in time before the gale came on. I +had not, notwithstanding this, made good much more than a league when it +fell a dead calm. The sails flapped idly against the masts, and the +little vessel rolled from side to side, moved by the long, slow, heaving +undulations which rolled in from the offing. + +"I'm not quite certain that you are right, Grampus, as to the coming +whirlwind, but we will shorten sail, at all events," I observed. + +"Beg pardon, Mr Hurry, sir; but just do you follow an old seaman's +advice, and take all the canvas off her," he answered with earnestness. +"It's doing her no good just now, and we haven't another suit of sails +if we lose them. When the wind does come, it is on one before a man has +time to turn round and save the teeth being whisked out of his mouth. +Come, my lads, be smart, and hand the canvas," he added, calling to +Rockets and the other men. + +I was soon very glad that I was not above taking an old seaman's advice. +Scarcely ten minutes had passed, during which time the calm had been +more profound than ever, when, as suddenly as Grampus had foretold, the +whole ocean around us seemed covered with a sheet of seething foam, and +the whirlwind, in all the majesty of its strength, struck the vessel, +pressing her down till her bulwarks touched the water, and I thought she +would have gone over altogether. I sprang to the helm and put it up, +while Grampus hoisted the fore-staysail just a foot or so above the +deck. Even then the canvas was nearly blown out of the bolt-ropes; so +far she felt its power, however, and, her head spinning round as if she +had been a straw, away we drove before the hurricane. Where were we +driving to was the question. I anxiously consulted the chart. We were +in that deep bay in the island of Saint Domingo, with Cape Donna Maria +to the southward, and Cape Saint Nicholas to the north, and I saw that a +slight variation in the course of the gale might hurl us on the coast, +where the chance of our escaping with our lives would be small indeed. +Happily the wind at present came out of the bay, or I believe my +ill-found little schooner would have gone to the bottom, as did many a +noble ship about that time. The sea, even as it was, soon became lashed +into furious billows, which broke around us in masses of foam, which +went flying away over the troubled surface of the ocean, covering us as +would a heavy fall of snow. Grampus and I stood at the helm, keeping +the little vessel as well as we could directly before the gale, but we +tumbled about terrifically, and more than once I caught him casting +anxious glances over his shoulder astern, as if he expected some of the +seas, which came roaring up after us, to break over our decks. + +"What do you think of it, Grampus?" said I. + +"Why, Mr Hurry, sir, I don't like the look of things," he answered. +"If one of them seas was to fall aboard of us, it would wash every soul +of us off the deck, and maybe send the craft in a moment to the bottom. +Still, I don't see as how there is anything we can do more than we are +doing. If the schooner was to spring a leak just now, and that's not +unlikely, we should be still worse off, so we may be content with things +as they are." + +I admired Nol's philosophy, though I kept an anxious look-out on the +larboard bow, dreading every instant to catch a sight of the shore, past +which I knew we should have a narrow shave, even should we be fortunate +enough to escape being driven against it. The coolest man on board was +Tom Rockets. He kept walking the deck with his hands in his pockets, +ready enough, I saw, for action, but certainly not as if a fierce +hurricane was raging around him. Now and then he had to pull out his +hands to lay hold of the bulwarks as the craft gave a lively roll, or +plunged down into the trough of a sea; but as soon as she grew +comparatively steady, he began walking away as before. + +On we drove. The dreaded coast did not appear. Still I could scarcely +hope that we had passed it. The wind began to shift about at last. +Grampus said that it was the termination of the hurricane. Still it +might play us a scurvy trick before it was over, and drive us on some +inhospitable shore. I began now to look for further signs of the ending +of the storm. It got round to the northward, and on we drove till we +caught sight of the coast. It was a most unwelcome sight, though, for +should the little craft once get within the power of the breakers, which +were dashing furiously against it, I could not hope that a single man on +board would escape with his life. Even Tom Rockets began to think that +the state of things was not so pleasant as it might be. I saw that he +had taken his hands out of his pockets, and was holding on with the rest +of the people. Away we drove--the threatening shore every minute +growing more and more distinct. + +"What prospect is there, think you, Grampus, of the hurricane coming to +an end?" said I. For from want of anything else to be done I was +obliged to keep my tongue going. + +"I thought as how it was going to break but just now, Mr Hurry," he +answered, casting his eye all round the horizon. "It seems, +howsomedever, to have breezed up again, and if it don't shift before +long, there's little chance of the schooner's living, or any of us +either for that matter, many hours more." + +"We must meet our fate, then, like men, and Christians too, I hope," I +answered, looking at him. "We have done all that men can do, I +believe." + +"Yes, sir, that we have," he replied. "We can do no more, and it isn't +the first time Nol Grampus has had to look Death in the face, so I hopes +that I shall not shrink from him. Come he will, I know, some day, +sooner or later; and it matters little, as far as I can see, if he comes +to-day or to-morrow." + +"Not if we put our trust in One who is able and willing to save our +souls alive," I observed. "That makes all the difference whether death +should be feared or welcomed. It is not what we suffer in this world +that we should dread, but what we may deserve to suffer in the next; in +the same way it is not what we enjoy here, but what we may be able to +enjoy through all eternity, that we should long for." + +"Very true, sir--very true, Mr Hurry," replied Grampus; "but the worst +is, that we don't think of these things till just at such moments as the +present, when the flood has done, and the tide of life is fast ebbing +away." + +Thus we talked on for some time. I felt really with my old friend Nol, +that though there we all stood in health and strength, we might soon be +removed to behold the glories of the eternal world. + +Suddenly Nol looked up. Holding his hand to the wind, and casting his +eye on the compass-- + +"I thought so, sir," he exclaimed. "There's a shift of wind. It has +backed round again into the eastward." + +Such was providentially the case. I took the bearings of the land. We +might now hope to drive on clear of it. The sea was, however, getting +higher and higher, but the Dolphin proved to be as tight as a cork and +as buoyant, and I began to get rid of all my dread of her foundering, +provided her masts and rigging did not give way. + +Considering the manner in which she was fitted out, however, I did not +feel quite easy on that score. Still nothing more could be done, so we +had, as best we could, to wait events. At length there was a lull. I +expected that it would breeze up again. + +"The gale has worn itself out, to my mind, Mr Hurry," observed Grampus, +after a careful survey of the sky and sea. + +"I am sure I hope so," I answered; "I was getting somewhat tired of it, +and so I suspect was the schooner. Sound the well, and see what water +she has made." + +He sounded the well, and reported three feet. + +"I thought so. Rig the pumps, and let us try and get her clear while we +can." + +All hands pumped away with a will, and soon got her free of water, when +the sea went, as it soon did, gradually down. It showed me that the +leak had been caused by the way the little vessel had strained herself, +and that probably, had she been exposed much longer to the fury of the +hurricane, she would have foundered. By night the gale had sufficiently +abated to enable me to set a reefed foresail, and once more to haul up +on my course. I made but little progress during the night and following +day. I was standing along the coast, towards the evening of the next +day, with the wind from the northward, when I discovered in-shore of me +what I took to be the masts of a vessel just appearing out of the water. +I conjectured that she had been sunk in the hurricane of the previous +day, and on the possibility that some of the crew might still be +clinging to her rigging, although I was on a lee-shore, I resolved to +bear down on her. I pointed her out to Grampus, and asked his opinion. + +"No doubt about it, sir," he answered. "There may be some danger to us, +I'll allow, especially if it was to breeze up again, but where's the man +worthy of the name who refuses to run some danger for the sake of +helping his fellow-men in distress? To my mind, sir, let us do what's +right, and never mind the consequences." + +I've often since thought of the excellence of some of old Grampus' +remarks. + +"Up with the helm, then! Ease away the main and head sheets!" I sang +out. "We'll run down and have a look at the wreck." + +I kept my glass anxiously turned towards the object I had discovered, in +the hopes of seeing some people clinging on to the rigging. As we drew +near, I found that only a single mast appeared above water, as well as +her bowsprit, and that she had all her canvas set. Not a human being +could be seen in any part of the rigging. I got close up to her. She +was a sloop of about seventy tons. She had evidently been caught +totally unprepared by the hurricane, and every soul on board had been +hurried into eternity. Finding that there would be no use in waiting +longer near the spot, for there was not the slightest probability that +anyone was floating on any part of the wreck in the neighbourhood, I +again hauled my wind, and stood to the northward. At ten o'clock at +night a fresh gale sprang up, which compelled me once more to bring-to +under a reefed foresail. I am thus particular in narrating details of +events which led to a most disastrous result. Truly we cannot tell what +a day may bring forth. I had fallen in with no merchantmen, which would +have been a most suspicious circumstance, had I not supposed that they +might have been lost in the hurricane, or run into port for shelter, +otherwise I should have supposed that they had fallen into the power of +the cruisers of the enemy. On the 8th I passed Cape Nichola Mole, and +on the 9th made the island of Heneago, bearing nor'-nor'-east, four +leagues. At eight o'clock in the evening I tacked, and stood off-shore, +with a fine breeze, with the intention of passing in the morning between +Heneago and the little Corcases, for the purpose of speaking his +Majesty's frigate Aeolus, stationed in that passage, and bearing her the +information that the war had broken out. At five o'clock of the morning +of the 10th, the wind shifting round to the eastward, I tacked, and +stood to the northward, through the Corcases. At daybreak Tom Rockets +was sent aloft to keep a look-out for any sail which might be in sight. +Soon afterwards he hailed the deck to say that he made out two sail on +the lee bow, just appearing above the horizon. I went aloft with my +glass and soon discovered four altogether, one much smaller than the +others. She was a schooner, the other three were ships. I had little +doubt that it was a squadron, composed of the Bristol, Lowestoffe, and +Niger, with her tender, which were to sail the day after me, and which I +expected to fall in with in this neighbourhood. They were still too +far-off to make out exactly what they were. I came down, however, with +my mind perfectly at ease, and went to breakfast. Grampus, who had +charge of the deck while I was below, watched them narrowly, and did not +differ with me as to their character. I therefore stood towards them, +as I was anxious to communicate with them without delay. My orders +directed me to speak all cruisers, and besides, as it may be supposed, I +was eager to get the duty I had been sent on accomplished, and to return +again to Port Royal. + +When I came on deck again, I found that we had drawn considerably nearer +the strangers. I scrutinised them again and again. One of them had a +high poop, and I remembered Captain Lambert's remark to me the day I +sailed, that this was one of the marks by which I should know his +squadron. I thus stood on boldly towards them. As we drew nearer, I +saw Grampus eyeing them narrowly. The expression of his countenance +showed me that he had considerable doubt on his mind as to their true +character. We had now got within three miles of them. + +"What do you think of them, Grampus?" said I, as I took the glass which +I had just before handed to him. + +"I don't like their looks, sir," he answered. "That headmost frigate is +English--so I take it from the look of her hull and the cut of her +canvas--but the others I can't make out by no manner of means. I don't +think the `Bristol' or the `Lowestoffe' are among them." + +I had come to the same conclusion that Grampus had; but I wished to +confirm my own opinion by his. We stood on for five minutes longer. My +suspicions of the character of the strangers increased. + +"We are running into the lion's jaws, I suspect!" I exclaimed; whereat +Grampus and Rockets opened their eyes to know what I meant. "Hoist our +colours, and let us learn what they are without further delay." + +Scarcely had we run our ensign up to the peak than up went the French +flag at that of the headmost frigate which at the same time fired a +warning gun at us. + +"Up with the helm! Ease off the main-sheets! Keep her away!" I +exclaimed. + +The orders were quickly obeyed, and away we flew with a strong breeze +directly before the wind. I had two very good reasons for endeavouring +to escape by keeping before the wind. In the first place, a +fore-and-aft vessel has generally a great advantage over a square-rigged +ship on that point of sailing, and I might otherwise have drawn the +enemy's squadron towards the station of the Aeolus. As she was so much +inferior in strength to it, she would easily have fallen into their +power, especially as, not being aware that war had broken out, she would +have been taken by surprise. + +As soon as I put up my helm and kept away, the headmost of the strangers +crowded all sail in chase, making signals to the rest of the squadron to +follow her--undoubtedly not to allow me any prospect of escaping. She +fired two or three shot, but she was still too far-off to hit me. All +the other vessels hoisted French colours, and any lingering hope I might +have retained, that after all I might have been mistaken, and that the +strangers were English, now vanished. Still my principle has always +been never to give in while life remains, and so I resolved to hold on +till I got completely under the enemy's guns, and then, when I found +that there was a strong probability of my being sunk, to haul down my +colours, but not till then. I had heard of a small vessel escaping even +from under the very guns of a big enemy, and I intended not to throw +such a chance away. I called my crew aft. + +"My men," said I, "I won't ask you to stick to me to the last, because I +know you will. Those ships astern are enemies: we'll do our best to +escape from them, and if we are taken and the chance is given us, we'll +endeavour to heave our captors into the water, and to re-take the +schooner, won't we?" + +"Yes, sir, that we will," answered Grampus. "I speak for the rest, +because I know their minds, and you are just the man to do the thing if +it is to be done." + +I told the people that I was gratified at the good opinion they had +formed of me, and sent them back to their stations. I did not like the +look of things. The chances of escaping were very small, and the +prospects of a French prison in the climate of the West Indies was +anything but pleasant. + +The breeze freshened, and we went tearing away through the smooth blue +sea, sending up the white sparkling foam on either side of our bows, and +leaving a long line of white astern; but I now sadly felt the want of a +square-sail and topsails. Had I possessed them to set, I fancied that I +could easily have kept ahead of my pursuers. My glass was seldom off +them, while I also kept it sweeping round ahead in the hopes, though +they were not very sanguine, of discovering the British squadron, for +which I had at first mistaken the enemy. On we flew, but the sharp line +of the horizon on every side was unbroken by the slightest dot or line +which might indicate an approaching sail. I watched the enemy. It was +soon too evident that they were coming up with us at a speed which sadly +lessened our prospects of escape. Still we kept beyond the range of +their guns. Unless, however, fortune changed in our favour, this could +not long be the case. Gradually I saw the chance of getting away +diminishing, and the conviction forced itself on me that we should all +be soon prisoners of war. I called Grampus to me; he was of the same +opinion. + +"Well, then," said I with a sigh, "our first duty is to destroy all the +letters and despatches with which I have been entrusted. Bring them up +at once." + +Grampus dived below, and returned with the despatches delivered to me by +Sir Peter Parker, as well as with some thirty or forty letters from the +merchants of Jamaica, addressed to the masters of their privateers +cruising off the island, with none of which I had hitherto fallen in. I +tied the whole of the documents up in a piece of canvas, with a shot in +it ready to heave overboard when the last ray of hope had disappeared. +I stamped with rage as I saw my enemies overtaking me; I could not help +it. My men, too, eyed them as if they felt that if they had been on +board a ship in any way able to cope with such opponents, they would +speedily have given a good account of them. I scarcely knew what to +wish for. A tornado was the only thing just then likely to serve me. +It might have sent the schooner to the bottom, but if she weathered it, +I hoped that I had a chance of escaping from the big ships, which were +very likely to be widely scattered before it. + +The sky, however, gave no indication of any change of the sort. Grampus +and Tom I saw pulling very long faces at each other, as much as to say, +"It's all up with us." They were too right. On came the headmost ship +with the Dolphin hand over hand, the flag of France flaunting proudly at +her peak. A shot from one of her bow guns was a significant notice to +me to heave-to. I did so with a very bad grace, and as I put down my +helm, I could not help wishing that France and all Frenchmen were swept +away into the ocean. + +"They always have been, and always will be, an unmitigated nuisance to +old England!" I exclaimed, as I took a turn on the deck, while my +little craft lay bobbing away slowly at our big opponent, which, having +also hove-to, was lowering a boat to board us. Then I took up the +bundle of letters and hove them overboard, when down they sank, probably +to find a tomb in the stomach of some hungry shark. + +"At all events, Messieurs Crapauds, you will not be much the wiser for +what is in them," I exclaimed with a feeling of no little bitterness. + +If I did not feel inclined exactly to cut my own throat, I certainly had +a very strong wish to knock the fellows on the head whom I saw pulling +towards me. It did not take me many minutes to pack up my own wardrobe. +My people, as is usual, put on all the clothes they possessed, one over +the other, and then we all stood ready to receive our most unwelcome +visitors. + +Their boat was soon alongside, and a well-dressed, gentlemanly-looking +officer jumped on board, and announced to me in English that I was a +prize to the French frigate Chermente of thirty-two guns, Captain +McNamara, an Irishman in the French service. + +"It is the fortune of war," he observed. "You did your best to escape +us when you found out that we were not your friends. You and your +people will come on board my ship; the schooner may be useful to us." + +I could only bow to this polite speech, and say that I was ready to +attend him on board his ship. The French seamen, however, did not seem +inclined to treat us with much ceremony, and several who came on board +rummaged about in every direction to pick up whatever they could find. + +With a heavy heart I left the Dolphin, and was soon transferred to the +deck of the French frigate. The squadron to which I had become a prize +consisted of the Dedaigneuse and Chermente, both of thirty-two guns, the +Active of twenty-eight, and the Providence privateer, which with the +Active they had taken the day before. I cannot say much for the +discipline of the French frigate; for it appeared to me that the crew +were very much inclined to be insubordinate, in consequence of which the +officers had to exercise a considerable amount of severity in keeping +them under necessary discipline. + +It was a bitter pill I was compelled to swallow. For ten long years I +had been serving my country incessantly as midshipman and master's mate, +and now at the very moment when I felt sure that I was about to emerge +from the subordinate rank of a petty officer, and to obtain my +commission as a lieutenant, no longer to be subject to the midnight +calls of quartermasters and the unnumbered snubs which patient +midshipmen from their superiors take, I found all my hopes of my +promotion dashed to the ground, and myself an unhappy prisoner of war. + +I had, however, plenty of companions to share my misfortune; on board +the two French frigates were most of the officers and crew of the +Active, as well as of the privateer. Scarcely had I stepped on board +than who should I see walking the deck in melancholy mood but my old +friend and messmate Delisle, and by his side was Paddy O'Driscoll. How +changed had soon become the light-hearted, jovial midshipman! The +feeling of captivity was weighing heavily on his spirits. Indeed, what +is there more galling to an officer than to see the ship to which he +lately belonged in the hands of his enemies, and himself compelled to +submit to any commands they may choose to issue? They both, as they +turned in their walk, started at seeing me; for of course they did not +know that I was on board the vessel just captured. They came forward +and shook hands warmly. + +"I cannot welcome you on board this craft, my dear Hurry," said Delisle, +"though under other circumstances I should have been truly glad to fall +in with you." + +"Bad luck to the day when we fell into the power of the Frenchmen!" +exclaimed O'Driscoll. "And to think that an Irishman, or the son of an +Irishman maybe, should be their captain makes matters worse. I'm +ashamed of my countryman, that I am, except that to be sure he has +behaved like a gentleman to us since we came on board, and so have all +his officers." + +"What more could we expect?" said I. "He did but his duty in capturing +us: perhaps before long the tables may be turned, you know. There's a +larger squadron of our ships not far-off, and I don't give up all hopes +that these ships may fall in with them." + +My two friends pricked up their ears at what I told them, though I +myself was very far from sanguine about the two squadrons meeting. +Should they meet I had no doubt which would prove victorious. We of +course did not express our hopes to our captors, but we kept a constant +look-out for the British squadron. Not a sail, however, appeared, our +hopes of obtaining our freedom grew less and less, and on the 11th of +the month sunk to zero when we entered the harbour of Cape Francois. We +found there the French frigate Concorde and the late British frigate +Minerva which she had captured. There were also several sail of French +Saint Domingo ships. In my hurry and annoyance on quitting the Dolphin +I discovered that I had left behind me my chest of clothes. They were +not of any great value, though, as I much wanted them, they were so to +me. I therefore requested Captain McNamara to send for them. He at +once politely complied with my wish, but the midshipman he sent soon +returned with the unpleasant information that the chest was in the +cabin, but was empty. It appeared that after the Chermente's boat had +left the Dolphin, the people of the Dedaigneuse had boarded her, and +plundered her of everything of value. When Captain McNamara heard of +this, he instantly sent on board that ship, and endeavoured to recover +my property; but all his trouble was in vain. The French seamen were +far too knowing to give up anything they had once got possession of, and +after a good deal of trouble I was finally compelled to be content with +my loss, as I saw that there was no probability of recovering my +property. + +On the 14th my brother-officers lately belonging to the Active and I +were politely informed that we were to be conducted on shore to give our +parole that we would not attempt to make our escape. After a short +consultation, we all agreed that, although to get away from the lion's +jaws into which we had fallen was not altogether impossible, it was very +unlikely that we should succeed, and that by not giving our parole we +should be subject to a vast deal of annoyance, it was wiser at once to +give it, and to wait patiently till we were exchanged. Constant +confinement in a prison in the West Indies, or on board a guard-ship in +harbour, it was suggested was very likely to release us; but it would be +into another world, to which we had just then no inclination to go if we +could help it. We were received on shore by a guard of ill-favoured +blacks--"regular blackguards," as O'Driscoll observed--between whom we +were conducted to the residence of his Excellency Governor D'Argu. We +were kept waiting for some time in a balcony which ran round the house, +subject to the inspection and remarks of a number of black and brown +urchins, who made us feel some of the bitters of captivity by jeering +and pointing at us, while we had not even the power to drive them away. +At length an officer came into the balcony and asked us into a large +room, furnished only with mats, a few chairs, and some marble tables, on +which stood some red earthenware jars, full of water, and some decanters +of claret, looking very cool and pleasant. The great man was seated at +a table at one end of the room. He received us, I thought, at first +very grumpily. He did not understand English, but I recognised the +polite officer who had boarded the Dolphin when I was captured, and who +appeared to be there in the capacity of an interpreter. The governor +enquired our respective ranks. I fully expected to be classed among the +midshipmen, and to receive my pay and treatment accordingly; but I +fortunately had in my pocket the appointment given me by Sir Peter +Parker as acting-lieutenant of the Camel. I bethought me of exhibiting +it, and, much to my satisfaction, it was acknowledged, and I was told +that I should be treated in all respects as a lieutenant, especially as +I had been in command of a vessel when captured. I was surprised indeed +to find a considerable sense of justice in all the proceedings of our +captors at this time. Perhaps the bitter feeling they afterwards +entertained for the English, when they had sustained numberless defeats, +had not then sprung up. My friend, the second captain of the Chermente, +having explained to us the alternative to which we should be subject if +we refused to pledge our words of honour, told us that we should be at +liberty to go on shore whenever we liked, and to walk about within a +distance of a mile from the shore. Some of us complained of the +narrowness of the circle to which we were confined. The governor looked +quietly up, and remarked that we might consider ourselves fortunate that +it was no narrower. The observation was interpreted for our benefit, +and no further remark was made on the subject. We all went through the +ceremony required of us, and then, without loss of time, were once more +marched down to the boats and conveyed on board the Chermente, where all +the rest of the prisoners were collected. Most of the men were sent +away in a cartel. Nol Grampus parted from me with great reluctance, but +when Tom Rockets was told he must go, he turned round towards me and +exclaimed-- + +"Mr Hurry, sir, do you want to part with me? I've sailed with you +since I was a boy, and, come foul weather or fair, if I have my will +I'll follow you still. Just tell these mounseers that you want a +servant to tend on you, and that you can't do without me, and then maybe +they'll let me stay." + +I tried to persuade Tom that it would be better for him to go away, but +all I could say would not turn him from his purpose, and so I made his +wishes known to the governor. To my surprise, he was allowed to remain +in the capacity of my servant, on my pledging my word that he would not +attempt to escape. I afterwards found that a considerable number of +seamen were detained by the French, to be exchanged afterwards when more +Frenchmen were taken prisoners. On the outbreak of the war on this +station, at all events, the French had, I believe, the advantage in that +respect. Afterwards, however, it was all the other way, and we English +had more prisoners than we could well look after. + +We spent a week on board the Chermente while, I suppose, our captors +were considering what was to be done with us. Now I must say that, +though I have no love for the French, or French manners or customs or +ideas, still I should be very ungrateful if I did not acknowledge the +kindness and attention we all received from Captain McNamara and his +officers. O'Driscoll said it all arose from his father being an +Irishman. However, as his officers were not Irishmen, I am inclined to +believe that a portion of the nation are capable of great courtesy and +kindness, and I am not at all disposed to utter a sweeping condemnation +against them, like an old master in the service whom I once knew. My +worthy messmate was taken prisoner and kept in France some eight or ten +years or more. When at last he was released, and an officer was wanted +for some special purpose who spoke French well, he was applied to, it +being supposed that by that time he would have acquired a perfect +knowledge of the language. "What!" he exclaimed, with an indignant +expression, "do you suppose that I would so far forget what was due to +my nation and my profession as to go and learn the humbugging ugly +language of the enemies of my country? No, indeed, I did my best not to +learn a word, and I am proud to say that I know as little of French now +as when I was first taken prisoner." Though I may have laughed at my +worthy friend's want of worldly wisdom, I could never help admiring his +sturdy, uncompromising patriotism. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +ORDERED TO PROCEED TO OU TROU.--ESCAPE FROM OUR BLACK GUARDS.--KIND +RECEPTION AT A COUNTRY-HOUSE.--OUR GUARDS RE-APPEAR. MEET DELISLE.-- +AGAIN WELL ENTERTAINED BY A PLANTER.--ADVENTURES ON THE ROAD.--REACH OU +TROU.--PUT UP IN A STABLE.--BAD TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR. + +Hitherto we had been treated with kindness and attention by the officers +of the French frigate, but a change in our lot was about to occur. On +the 20th September we were suddenly ordered to go on shore, and when +there we found that we were to prepare for an immediate start to a place +called Ou Trou, thirty miles away in the interior. Having been marched +up to the governor's house, we were told to be ready to commence our +journey by three o'clock, and were then allowed to go about our +business. We accordingly, feeling the necessity of fortifying the inner +man, went to the first inn of which the place could boast, called the +Dutch Hotel, and ordered the best dinner it could turn out. "Plenty of +wine!" was the general cry, at which Mynheer von Tromp grinned +furiously. We were just the customers he liked, and promised to fulfil +our wishes to the utmost of his power. In the meantime we strolled +about the town. There was very little to attract us in it, and our +footsteps took us involuntarily to a spot whence we could obtain a good +view of the ocean, which we feared that we were destined for so long a +time not again to see. Alas! how many of us were destined never again +to behold that ocean we loved so well! As Delisle and I sat together +and looked out on the bright blue expanse spread before us, and dotted +here and there with white sails glancing in the sunbeams, and observed +the unfrequented shore and the fishermen's boats drawn up on the beach, +we agreed how easy it would have been, had we not given our parole, to +have made our escape, and as to danger, we settled that we would have +run it willingly for the sake of escaping from our confinement. We +would have put off in one of the canoes and pulled away right out to sea +till we were picked up by an English cruiser or merchantman. While we +were sitting admiring the scene several negroes passed us, great, big, +burly fellows, laughing and singing at the top of their voices. Each +couple of them carried a burden resting on two poles. We soon suspected +their errand. On reaching the beach, close to the water, they threw +down their burdens and began digging away with short spades they carried +at their waists. They did not cease laughing and shouting, and had soon +dug a shallow hole big enough to contain a dozen people. The burdens +which they had borne to the spot were quickly tumbled in. Before the +operations were concluded other big, half-naked negroes arrived with +more corpses, which were treated in the same unceremonious manner, and +then all were speedily covered up, and the black monsters went stamping +and dancing, singing all the while, carelessly over the huge grave. + +"Who can they be?" I asked of Delisle; "I mean the poor fellows who lie +buried down there at our feet." + +My messmate spoke French, so he called one of the negroes as they passed +and made the inquiry of him. The black fellow grinned horribly. + +"English seamen. Taken prisoners lately. They have the fever among +them. Yellow Jack. They are dying like rotten sheep. No matter. They +are all heretics, so we bury them here. They are not fit for +consecrated ground. Bah!" was the answer, delivered with a broad grin, +as if the speaker had uttered a good joke. + +Delisle turned away and came back to me. + +"Let us return to the inn," said I. "It must be dinner-time; I cannot +enjoy this spot any longer." + +All our party quickly assembled at the hotel, and we soon forgot the +unpleasant scene we had witnessed. Mynheer had not forgotten our order +to have an abundance of liquor ready, though I cannot say much for the +delicacy of the viands he placed before us. I know that the bottles +circulated round the table very rapidly, and that the wine was +pronounced very good. It possessed, I remember, the quality of being +very strong, so that we soon forgot, thanks to its fumes, all the +misfortunes which had been oppressing our spirits, and soon hilarity and +fun reigned among us. While we held up our sparkling glasses, and the +joke and laugh went round, no one would have supposed that we were a +party of forlorn prisoners about to be marched off to a solitary abode +in the midst of a half-barbarous island. Toasts and sentiments were +uttered, and even songs were sung, and, for my own part, I know that I +entirely forgot where I was or what I was about to do. While our revels +were at their height a black officer made his appearance at the door. + +"Messieurs, it is time to begin your journey. Your mules are at the +door. You must mount at once and proceed." + +The order was more easily given than obeyed. With regard to the matter +of mounting and sticking on, that, in whatever condition a seaman is, he +can generally accomplish; but the guiding a horse, mule, or donkey is a +very different affair, and beyond often the power of a sober sailor, +much more of a drunken one. + +"Oh, bad luck to the blackguards! we are not going to have our +conviviality cut short by them or any like them!" exclaimed O'Driscoll, +filling up his glass with Burgundy as some of the party were about to +rise from their chairs. + +"Let's sit down and be merry yet awhile longer--we shall not get such +liquor as this at the town where we are to take up our abode." He +little knew what a true word he was speaking when he said that. His +example was infectious, and, captain and all, we sat down and filled up +our glasses. A toast was proposed, succeeded by a tremendous rapping on +the table. Before it had ceased the door was swung open and a nigger +officer marched into the room in a furious rage. + +"For what you disobey orders?" he exclaimed, in very tolerable +nigger-English; "you come out at once and mount, or I get the whip in +among you and make you fly!" + +"Ho, ho, Quasho, you've got an English tongue in your head! where did +you pick that up, you rascal--you run-away slave from Jamacy, I guess-- +eh, eh?" cried O'Driscoll, turning round and looking at the fellow with +an expression of supreme contempt. + +I fully expected to see the anger of the negro become ungovernable; +instead of that, however, he prepared to back out of the room, and as +far as a negro can turn pale, he did so, and seemed at once to lose all +power of speech. + +"You've hit the right nail on the head, O'Driscoll," observed Delisle; +"however, there is no use in exciting the anger of the people, we may +suffer for it in the end." + +Others were of the latter opinion; and at last we all rose, and paying +the landlord's somewhat extortionate demand with the best grace we +could, considering the hole it made in our pocket, went out to inspect +our beasts. They were tolerably strong animals, and two or three looked +as if they had some go in them, at all events. + +"I say, Hurry, just keep an eye on those two beasts," said O'Driscoll, +pointing at two of the best mules. "No one else seems to know one brute +from another." + +Such was the case, for all hands, except Delisle, were more than three +sheets in the wind. Poor Robson, one of the lieutenants, was one of the +worst. Two negroes mounted on mules appeared to serve as our escort or +guard. They were armed with long, formidable-looking pistols stuck in +their belts, with hangers by their sides. Had we wished to get away, or +had we known of any place to which we could fly, we should have used +wondrous little ceremony in disposing of them. + +"Mount, gen'men, mount!" exclaimed the black officer. + +"More easily said than done, old codger," hiccoughed Robson, essaying to +get across the back of a restive mule. "I should like to see your +nigger grand excellency with three bottles of Burgundy under your belt +attempting to do that same. However, to men of courage nothing is +impossible--so here goes. Heave ahead, my hearties!" Making a spring, +he threw himself on to the top of the saddle, but with an impetus so +great that he toppled over completely and came down on his nose on the +opposite side. + +One of our black escort, seeing the catastrophe, hurried up to help the +fallen officer. Robson seeing him coming, and not comprehending his +intentions, tackled him at once as if he had been an enemy, and the +moment he came within reach began pommelling him away most vehemently. +This naturally excited Sambo's anger, and forgetting his habitual dread +of white men, he paid him back much in the same coin. The spectators +meantime shouted with laughter, urging on the combatants. Drunk as he +was, Robson soon, I saw, got much the best of it, and was punishing the +nigger most severely. The latter did not like this treatment, and was, +I suspected, growing vicious. Now one rolled in the dust, now the +other, but Sambo was generally the sufferer. Fearing that he might make +use of a long knife I saw stuck in his belt, I made signs to Tom +Rockets, who not having had the means of procuring Burgundy, was happily +sober, to go in and put an end to the combat. + +Poor Tom had better not have interfered, for Sambo, mistaking him for +his first antagonist, began pommelling away most furiously at his head, +while Robson, not comprehending the cause of his interference, attacked +him on the other side. + +"Who are you, you son of a sea-cook, who ventures to interfere in the +quarrels of two gentlemen, I should like to know?" he hiccoughed out; +"let me tell you, I don't allow such proceedings!" + +"My eyes, two gentlemen!" exclaimed Tom, fairly nonplussed; "you is an +officer, sir, but a rum sort of gentleman is t'other, I should think." + +Tom bore his hammering for some time, when, getting a fair lick at +Sambo, he sent him spinning away ten yards off with a blow of his +ox-like fist. Sambo looked very much astonished, scarcely comprehending +at first whence the blow had come, but it had the effect of teaching +him, I suspect, for the future, to respect the arm of a British tar, and +of putting an end to the combat, which, I fain must own, did not redound +much to the credit of my brother-officer. + +"Come, sir," quoth honest Tom, seizing him by the leg, "just let me +hoist you aboard this here animal, you'll be more comfortable-like than +kicking away here on the ground." + +Robson made no objection, but looked up with a smiling aspect in Tom's +face. + +"Yeo-ho! heave-ho!" sang out my follower, and the lieutenant was quickly +seated on the back of the quadruped, though, I suspect, he sat there +with no great amount of comfort, for he held on tightly by the pommel +with both hands, as if he expected soon to be tossed off again. Perhaps +he had in his recollection the occurrence of some such accident in +former times. + +After this there was a general cry of "Heave ahead, my hearties, heave +ahead!" And we all mounted as best we could. Our two black guards got +on their steeds in no very good-humour with affairs in general, and us +in particular, though their mules were the greatest sufferers. + +How the authorities could suppose that two niggers, albeit armed with +the longest hangers, and the biggest pistols ever used, could keep in +order a party of half-drunken British officers rendered reckless by +vexation, I do not know. It made us fancy that they had very few men to +spare for any service but that of actual warfare. + +They had our word that we would not run away, but certainly we had given +no pledges that we would not indulge ourselves in any frolic which might +be suggested to our fertile imaginations. + +The word at last was given, and off set our cavalcade from the town of +Cape Francois, the negroes shouting and the mules kicking and snorting +and making all sorts of wonderful noises. We did not leave the place +with any especial regret, but we should have done so had we known where +we were going. Robson, whose head was pretty strong, soon recovered his +equilibrium, and he, Delisle, O'Driscoll, and I rode together. I am no +great hand at describing scenery. I remember it was wild in the +extreme--blue ranges of hills and deep valleys, and plains partly +cultivated, but mostly left in a state of nature overgrown with giant +ceybas, between which were seen in rich profusion every species of +parasitical plant twining and twisting and hanging in drooping wreaths, +which monkeys converted into swings, while humming-birds at the pendant +ends built their tiny nests. Then there were mango thickets, which as +we journeyed among them, with their dense foliage, shut out the view on +every side, and tall palm-trees towering up proudly here and there in +the plain. There were rice and sugar plantations also, and their houses +of one storey and red-tiled roofs and broad verandahs, and gangs of +negroes as they trudged, laughing and shouting, to their work at the +baking-house or mills for crushing the canes, and in the wide savannahs +there were cattle grazing and herds of long-eared, fine mules, which put +our sorry steeds to shame. + +"I say, this is terribly slow work," quoth O'Driscoll, ranging up +alongside me; "what do you say to giving our nigger friends the go-by? +We can't come to much harm. We've got the bearings of Ou Trou, I +fancy--indeed, I don't think that there is any other town in that +direction. At all events, we may meet with some adventure, and it will +be pleasanter than jogging along at this rate." + +The proposal was one which jumped amazingly with the fancy of all the +party. We had not long to wait before we had an opportunity of putting +our scheme into execution. We four were ahead of the rest of the party. +Suddenly we came upon a spot where four roads branched off in different +directions. + +"Away we go, my boys," shouted O'Driscoll, and to the astonishment of +our guard we struck our spurs into the sides of our mules, and off we +galloped, each by a separate road, or rather track, for road, properly +so-called, there was none. We had agreed to reunite after riding on for +twenty minutes or so, but we forgot that such a determination might not +be so easily accomplished as designed. Our black guard pulled up, +shouting lustily, and tugging at and scratching his woolly locks, +uncertain in which direction to pursue us. In vain he shouted, and +shrieked, and swore. The extraordinary mixture of nigger and French +oaths in which he gave vent to his fury had no effect on us. He might +as well have tried to stop a fly-away eagle with them. We turned round +and shook our hands and laughed at him. After going on for a little +time I discovered that he did not pursue me, so when my mule began to +show signs of fatigue I pulled up and rode on leisurely. Not long +after. I heard a tramping behind me, and expected to find that it was +the negro, but on looking back I made out O'Driscoll in chase of me. I +having accordingly hove-to, he came up to me, laughing heartily. + +"Well, faith, we have clean done the niggers!" he exclaimed. "We may +now ride on leisurely and see what fortune has in store for us. I +intend to throw care to the dogs and to forget that I am a prisoner of +war. What's the use of moaning and groaning, and sighing and dying? +But oh, Molly Malone! Molly Malone, what will ye do when ye hear that +your own faithful Patrick may chance to be kept so many long years away +from you? Ay, there's the rub, Hurry. Now you, you happy fellow, don't +care for anybody. It's all the same to you where you may be, but should +Molly, now, think I was never coming back and go and marry some one +else, it would be a bitter pill to swallow." + +Paddy went on conjuring up all sorts of melancholy pictures in which +Miss Molly Malone played a conspicuous part, till his feelings fairly +got the better of him and he began to blubber outright. This was too +much. I doubt not the Burgundy helped the tears to flow. My own +feelings and thoughts I kept to myself and did my best to comfort him, +and in another three minutes he was roaring at the top of his voice with +laughter. + +"Hillo, what's that ahead? A stately mansion, as I am a gentleman!" he +exclaimed, as a red-tiled building of a single storey appeared before +us. "We'll go and request the hospitality of the noble owner. I have +no doubt that he will be enchanted to afford it when he discovers that +we are officers and gentlemen." + +We turned aside through a gateway which led to the mansion. It was a +large, low edifice surrounded by a broad verandah, a flight of stone +steps leading to the principal entrance. As we rode up a thin old +gentleman, with a powdered wig, long-tailed coat, silk breeches and +diamond buckles, appeared at the top of the steps and summoned a troop +of negroes, who rushed forward to assist us to dismount and to hold our +mules. + +"This is treating us with proper respect," observed O'Driscoll, assuming +an air of as much dignity as he could command, and, mounting the steps, +he commenced an address, which the old gentleman, in spite of his +politeness, showed that he could not possibly comprehend. I could +command a few sentences in French by this time, so I tried to explain +that we were travelling towards Ou Trou, and that we were uncertain of +our way. He said something about commissionaires. I suspect he took us +for Americans. However, he politely invited us into a large airy room +covered with mats, and made us sit down on a cool cane-bottomed sofa and +had sweetmeats and cakes and delicious cool wine and water brought in, +and then he produced a bundle of unexceptionable cigars, and we were +speedily made very happy and comfortable. We smoked and laughed and +talked away, but I doubt that our host understood anything we said. +This was all very pleasant, and we enjoyed it amazingly. At length the +ladies of our host's family arrived. They had been driving round the +estate--it was a large sugar one--in a volante, jogging and jolting, I +doubt not, for the roads, if so they might be called, were execrable--a +fine thing for the bile, as O'Driscoll observed. + +The ladies looked as if their drive had agreed with them, for they were +full of life and animation and courtesy and kindness. A French creole +is really a very handsome creature--I mean those of the softer sex. The +men are generally dried-parchment, shrivelled-up-looking little +monstrosities. I cannot account for the difference. We made out that +there was _madame la mere_ and three daughters, and a brace of cousins. +They must have had a couple of volantes or more, for the mother would +have amply filled the half of one at least, and two of the daughters +would have required a capacious vehicle to convey them, independent of +hoops, with which they had not encumbered themselves. + +They speedily threw themselves into chairs and sofas, and coffee was +brought to them, and then cigars, which they lighted, without ceremony, +from small lumps of hot charcoal handed to them by a little black +slave-girl. + +In a short time some young men came in. They appeared to be brothers +and cousins of the young ladies, or perhaps there was a lover or so +among them. One went to a spinet which stood at the end of the room, +and another brought in a violin and began to strike up a dancing air. +Then, to show that we were civilised beings, O'Driscoll and I rose to +our feet, and each offering a hand to a young lady, we commenced a +minuet to the air which was being played. We flattered ourselves that +we performed our parts to admiration, though our knowledge had been +picked up during a few evenings spent on shore at New York during our +last stay there. To the minuet succeeded a regular country-dance. Here +O'Driscoll felt that he could show off in right good style, and +accordingly frisked and frolicked and jumped about in the most vehement +way imaginable. He soon danced himself into the good graces of all the +lady part of the community, who seemed to admire his red hair and ruddy +cheeks, which formed so great a contrast to their own complexions. I +heard them remarking that he was a _joli garcon_ and a _bon garcon_, and +the more impudent he looked, and the more he frolicked, the more they +admired him. I came in for some share of their commendations, I flatter +myself, though not perhaps to so large a one as he did, but whether or +not from the same cause I will not pretend to say. Evening was drawing +on and our contentment and hilarity were at their height--as to being +prisoners, we forgot all about that--when who should pop his head in at +the door but the ugly black rascal who had acted as our guard, the +fellow with the long pistols and hanger. We endeavoured to ignore his +acquaintance and laughed heartily in his face, when he said that he had +come to carry us off. + +"Pooh, pooh!" exclaimed O'Driscoll, going up to him, and, shaking him by +the shoulders, turned him about to shove him out of the room; but an +harangue he uttered appeared to have a considerable effect on our host. +What he said I do not know. Our host's manner at once changed towards +us. + +"It appears, gentlemen," said he, coming up to us, "that you are setting +at defiance the authorities of the island. I cannot sanction such a +proceeding. I took you for very different people to what I now find +that you are. I regret it, but I must give you back into custody." + +Such was the import of the old gentleman's address as far as we could +comprehend it. It made us look very blue and feel very foolish. The +worst of it was, that even our fair friends began to turn up their noses +at us. Suddenly O'Driscoll slapped his leg with vehemence. + +"I'll bet a thousand dollars that black scoundrel has been telling a +parcel of lies about us, which has so suddenly made our friend, Monsieur +Shagreen here, so suddenly change his opinion of us. I'll ask him, and +assure him that the blackamoor is not to be trusted." + +On this O'Driscoll held forth to the old gentleman, who, however, as he +could not make head nor tail of what was said to him, was not much +edified. Had we been able indeed to speak French fluently, I have no +doubt that we should have got the better of the nigger. As it was he +got the better of us, and finally got us again under his guardianship. +The only consolation was that we obtained the sympathy of the ladies, +who, when they really understood our painful position, at once exhibited +a delicacy and kindness which we had not expected when we were first +introduced to them. They quickly disappeared, and came back with a +variety of articles which they thought might conduce to our comfort. +Blessings on the sex, whether black, brown or white, wherever they are +found! The negro fumed and foamed and talked very big, I doubt not, +though what he said we could not clearly comprehend. He seemed also +disposed to prevent us from receiving the gifts which the ladies +offered. This made them, we saw, very indignant; but they quickly +managed to get round him, and, either by threats or bribes, induced him +to promise that he would treat us with kindness. They stowed all their +gifts, which consisted chiefly of eatables, into some grass bags, which +were slung across our mules' backs in front of us. The negro showed by +his impatient gestures that he wanted to be off, so, bidding our kind +hostesses farewell and expressing our gratitude as best we could, we +descended the steps to mount our beasts. Our host's leave-taking was +far more formal than his reception of us. He was evidently a +kind-hearted, generous man, but could not shut out of his sight certain +visions of offended dignitaries angry at the entertainment he had +afforded to the enemies of La Belle France. + +We were sorry that we could not more clearly explain to him our sense of +his hospitality. He waved his hand as we mounted, but declined to take +ours, and showed to the bystanders by every means in his power that he +was heartily glad to be rid of us. + +"Never mind, we'll not be offended," said O'Driscoll, as we rode on. +"He is a fine old gentleman, and I dare say, if it were not for his fear +of the powers that be, he would have been as polite as ever to us." + +We had gone on some miles when the clattering of an animal's hoofs +attracted our attention, and to our satisfaction we saw Delisle coming +along a track to our right. He had lost his way and met with all sorts +of adventures; but, as he spoke French well, he easily got out of them. +He also had been entertained very kindly by a creole family, who took +him for a French officer, but threatened if any heretical Englishman +came into their power they would do for him. At that time the Roman +Catholic inhabitants of the French colonies were bigoted in the +extreme--though surpassed probably by the Spaniards and Portuguese, who +even then would have thought they were doing God service to burn a +heretic. + +It was now growing dark, or rather the sun was on the verge of the +horizon, and we knew that in another ten minutes day would have changed +into night, so rapid is the transition in those latitudes from light to +darkness. We began to wonder what had become of Robson. Half-seas-over +as he had been, as we grew more sober and capable of reflection we began +to fear that he had met with some accident. Still, as we should not +find him by stopping still, and our guard would not let us go out of our +road again--at least, the instant we gave signs of such an intention he +began tapping away at his hanger or presenting one of his long pistols +as a signal to us to keep in our straight course--on we jogged, +therefore, as fast as our mules could trot, for we had yet a long +distance to accomplish before we could reach Ou Trou, and were anxious +to be there. Fortunately, before long the moon rose. Oh! what a +magnificent pure orb she looked floating in the clear ether--a pure, +chaste globe, one could see its roundness--not like the patch of red +putty she generally seems in northern climes stuck on to a black board. +The dark outlines of the hills and tall trees stood clearly defined +against the bright sky, and in the damper and more sheltered spots +fire-flies were darting about and filling the air with their brilliant +flashes, while the shrill cries of frogs and night-birds and whirr of +beetles resounded on every side. We were riding on, listening to these +varied sounds of animated nature, when we saw some dark objects, which +appeared like human beings, lying on the grass by the road-side. + +"What can they be?" exclaimed Delisle. "Dead men, I fear." + +We rode on--O'Driscoll was ahead. He dismounted. + +"Very noisy dead men, for they snore most confoundedly loud," he cried +out. "As I am a gentleman, here's Robson, and he has chosen the fat +stomach of a greasy nigger for his pillow! I hope he enjoys the +odoriferous, sudoriferous resting-place. His dreams must be curious, +one would think. What is to be done with him, I wonder?" + +By this time we had all assembled round our fallen shipmate. We in vain +tried to rouse him. A few inarticulate grunts were the only answers he +could give to our often-repeated remonstrances. The negro was much in +the same condition; but it was evident that he had had sense enough +before falling into repose to allow the ruling passion to have sway, and +he had contrived to pick our friend's pocket of his purse and watch, +which he held firmly in his grasp. The negro guard, when he came up, +wanted to prevent our recovering Robson's property, and pretended that +it belonged to his compatriot and that we had no right to it. + +We guessed, as was the case, that Robson had been hospitably entertained +at some farm, when, having taken on board a further supply of liquor, he +had been completely overcome, and that the negro had been sent to guide +him on his way. Probably our shipmate had been treating him in return, +and, when pulling out his purse to pay the reckoning, had excited his +cupidity. Happily for Robson his guide was too far gone by this time to +run off with his booty, and so both had come to the ground together, the +robber and the robbed levelled by that arch destroyer of the human +intellect--strong drink. Oh, when I now come to think of it, how +disgusting was the scene!--though I did not trouble my head much about +the matter myself in those days. Robson was a gentleman, and had +refined ideas and pleasant, agreeable manners, and yet, when once wine +thus got the better of him, he would thus sadly demean himself. After +some pulling and hauling we got him up, and having caught his mule, +which was quietly grazing near, wiser than his rider, we put the biped +on his back. Delisle went ahead and O'Driscoll and I propped him up on +either side--the negro we hauled up on a hank and left to recover and +make the best of his way home. We had difficult work to keep Robson +steady, for the bumping of the mule brought him sufficiently round to +make him fancy that he could take care of himself, and he every now and +then made an attempt to do something which he was utterly unable to +accomplish. Certainly one of the most trying things to the patience is +to conduct a drunken man along a straight road. Our guard also was +continually urging us to go faster, which we were utterly unable to do. +Fortunately, before long we came in sight of a house belonging +apparently to a large coffee estate, and standing near the road. Bright +lights were gleaming from within, and the sounds of music and revelry +came forth through the open windows. It was a sight tempting indeed to +poor forlorn creatures like ourselves, who had little chance of seeing +such again for many a long day. + +"What say you?" cried O'Driscoll. "Perhaps we may kill two birds with +one stone. We may get these merry people to take care of Robson and at +the same time to entertain us, if Sambo there don't interfere. We'll +try at all events. Delisle, my boy, come along and interpret for us, +will you?" + +Delisle, who on most occasions was one of the most quiet and best +behaved men in existence, albeit a perfect fire-eater on occasion, +entered at once into the fun of the thing and followed his countryman +under the balcony, when the latter began to cry out-- + +"Oh messieurs! oh mesdames! ici, ici! un pauvre garcon se va mourire!" + +Several ladies came into the balcony and looked over, curious to +ascertain what was the matter. When they saw us bearing Robson in our +arms, some of them cried out that a stranger had come with a dead man. +Others said that he was only sick; and then some gentlemen came and +looked out, all dressed in knee-breeches, long silk waistcoats and +coats, and with swords by their sides--a very respectable-looking +assemblage. They all talked away and consulted for some time, and the +upshot of the matter was that several of them came down, and calling us +round to the front door, assisted us to carry Robson up the steps and +into a quiet room, away from the scene of revelry. There we put him to +bed, one of the gentlemen recommending a tumbler of _eau-sucre_ as the +best medicine we could give him. He took a huge draught of it. + +"Superb nectar! finest grog I've tasted for a long time?" he exclaimed. +"Give me more of it." + +We gave him another huge jorum. He sucked it down with great +satisfaction, and it undoubtedly cooled the fever which was raging in +his inside. Our French friends, we flattered ourselves, did not find +out his real condition; and when we had made him comfortable they +invited us all to the room in which they were holding their revels. +Sambo, our guard, for some reasons best known to himself, made no +objections to the proceeding. Perhaps he judged that it was the best +way of disposing of us. Perhaps he had some acquaintance--I won't say +of the fair sex--among the sable inmates of the mansion, with whom he +had no objection to pass a short time while we were amusing ourselves in +the society of the masters and mistresses. + +We danced, and ate sweetmeats, and drank coffee and claret-and-water and +smoked cigars and cigarettes to our hearts' content, and laughed and +talked to the nut-brown maids who composed the female portion of the +party, for there was not a white face among them. We were quite +disappointed when our black guard put his head into the room and sang +out-- + +"Allons, messieurs, allons?" + +"I should like to _allons_ you and your ugly mug?" exclaimed O'Driscoll, +eyeing the negro with no friendly look. But there was no help for it. +The black fellow was our master; we had passed our word of honour not to +attempt to escape, and to behave ourselves orderly, and we felt that we +had already verged on the bounds of propriety in what we had done. Our +polite hosts promised to take very good care of Robson and to forward +him on with an escort the next day, should he have recovered his +strength. + +Once more, therefore, we were in the saddle and proceeded through +forests and among mountains and by plantations, guided by the light of +the moon, till, very sore and very tired, we arrived, past midnight, at +a place which our guard informed us was Ou Trou. We said that we wished +to lodge at the best inn, on which he chuckled audibly, and told us that +we had better take up our abode for the night in a shed hard by among +some piles of Indian-corn straw. We agreed that we had often been +compelled to sleep on far more uncomfortable couches, and that the next +morning we would set out to explore the town and choose lodgings. With +this comfortable reflection, after our guard had disappeared into a +neighbouring shed with our weary beasts, we, not less weary, I suspect, +fell asleep. + +We were awakened at an early hour the next morning by the sound of +English voices, and, getting up from our straw couches, we found several +of the officers lately belonging to the Minerva, who also had been sent +to this place, and, hearing of our arrival, had come to look for us. +They gave us an account of the way in which their ship had been taken. +We were not aware that they had been captured, and together we bemoaned +our hard fate in thus being made prisoners at the commencement of a war +which probably would be a long one. Having stretched ourselves, we +looked out at the door of our shed. The prospect was very rural and +very tropical, but, as just then we wanted some of the civilised +comforts of life, a few substantial houses would have been more +gratifying to our sight. However, at that moment a voice was heard +indulging in a half-French, half-negro song, and a jolly fat blackamoor +appeared, with a white apron on, a bowl under one arm and a towel over +the other. + +"Ah, there comes our perruquier. He's a capital fellow. You'll want +his aid, some of you. Venez ici, Antoine!" sang out one of our friends. + +Antoine, nothing loth, turned aside to us, for every new chin added to +his wealth; and he very soon had us shaven and shorn as clean as the +friar the old nursery song tells about, and all the time he was talking +and laughing and singing in the most cheery way imaginable. Our friends +then brought us some milk and bread for breakfast, and, hungry as we +were, we were right glad to partake of it. This done, we sallied forth +to inspect the town, as we had hitherto persisted in calling it. What +was our disappointment and disgust to find that it was not superior to a +village of very poor pretensions, and that there was scarcely a house +fit, in any way, for us to occupy. There were, however, three shops, +great rivals, each trying to ascertain what atrociously bad articles +they could pass off on their customers, and how high the price they +might venture to demand. Thoroughly disappointed, we returned to our +shed to rest during the heat of the day. In the afternoon we again +sallied out, and succeeded in securing a tumble-down looking house, with +three rooms in it and several out-houses adjoining. + +This miserable place, then, was to be our abode for weeks and months, +perhaps for years! We were all of us but scantily supplied with +clothes; we had but few books, and but a scarcity of writing materials, +and no fowling-pieces, so that we could not even look forward to the +prospect of obtaining some sport to enable us to pass the time, and to +assist in furnishing our ill-supplied table. Altogether, our prospect +was gloomy and disheartening in the extreme, nor could any of us +discover a ray of light in the distance to cheer our spirits. Happily, +sailors are not apt to moan and groan except when they are more +comfortable than they have ever been before in their lives on shore, +surrounded by their families and all the luxuries of civilisation; and +then if they want their promotion, or can manage to dig up a grievance, +they grumble with a vengeance. However, when real difficulties and +dangers and troubles come, no men look up to them better; and so we +resolved to be as happy as we could, but I must say that I never in my +life had as much difficulty in making the best of it as I had on this +disastrous occasion. Bitter, bitter indeed is the lot of a prisoner of +war! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +OUR QUARTERS AT OU TROU.--MY ASTHMATIC COMPANION.--ILLNESS AND DEATH OF +CAPTAIN WILLIAMS.--THE MELANCHOLY BURIAL-GROUND.--TRY TO KILL TIME, BUT +IT KILLS MOST OF MY COMPANIONS.--STARTLING NEWS.--LIFE IN THE VILLAGE.-- +OUR CONDITION BECOMES WORSE.--DEATH OF MORE OF MY COMPANIONS.--ORDERS +FOR OUR RELEASE ARRIVE. + +Our mansion at Ou Trou consisted of three rooms, for which the +liberal-minded copper-coloured owner insisted on our paying nineteen +dollars a month. This was to serve as the habitation of twenty officers +ranking as lieutenants. The midshipmen had another house appropriated +to them of much the same character. Ours had out-houses connected with +it, rather more extensive than the building itself, and as it was +impossible for us all to stowaway in the house, especially in such a +climate as that of Saint Domingo, we came to the resolution of drawing +lots to determine who should occupy the outer buildings. An inspection +of a comfortable barn in England will give no idea of these unattractive +edifices. To increase their undesirableness as abodes for men, most of +them were already occupied by mules or horses or cows or donkeys. When +we gave signs of our intention to dispossess them, the owner asserted +that we had no power to do so; they were the first tenants, and had the +right of occupation in their favour. + +"Now, gentlemen, are you all ready?" exclaimed the senior officer +present; "we must settle this important matter. Four persons in each +room is as many as they can possibly contain, the remainder must abide +by the lot which falls to them. Two in the stable where the old horse +now lives, two in the cow-shed, two in the tumble-down barn, and two in +the large stable, where the mules and donkeys have till lately held +their revels." + +This last edifice was in tolerable repair, and, provided its four-legged +inhabitants were turned out, we considered would make a very tolerable +abode. One after the other of us drew lots. Lieutenant Manby of the +Minerva found himself the occupier of the shed with the old horse, and I +was beginning to hope that I might obtain a berth in the house, when, lo +and behold! I found that I was destined to share my abode with him. He +was, as everybody who knew him would agree, a first-rate excellent +fellow, so with regard to my human companion I had reason to consider +myself fortunate; but the old horse, with the thermometer often at a +hundred, was a considerable drawback to any comfort we might hope to +find in our abode. Our landlord probably suspected that we should turn +him out, so the very first night that we retired to our new abode the +fellow made his appearance and told us to remove him at our peril. + +"But the horse may eat us!" urged Manby. + +"More likely that you will eat the horse," answered the Frenchman, who +was a bit of a naturalist. "He is graminivorous; you are carnivorous. +He can't eat you, but you can him." + +"He may bite, though!" I suggested. + +"No, he has no teeth; he is too old for that," replied the Frenchman, +laughing. + +"Ah! but his odour; that isn't pleasant to delicate olfactories," I +observed humbly. + +"Oh, that's nothing when you are accustomed to it," replied the tyrant, +grinning from ear to ear. "You are too particular. Just let him take +his side of the building, and do you take the other, and you will be +completely at your ease." + +As it was useless arguing with so pertinacious a disputant we were +compelled humbly to submit. The horse had one stall--we took possession +of the other. To make ourselves as comfortable as circumstances would +allow, we collected all the hay and straw and reeds, so as to form a +thick layer of dry materials between our bodies and the damp ground--for +damp it was, in spite of the heat of the climate. It was too late in +the day for us to attempt more, and, weary in mind and body, we climbed +up into our nests, and were soon asleep. I was awoke by the wheezing +and coughing of the asthmatic old horse, and, looking up, I saw what +appeared to me an extraordinary phenomenon. Suddenly the air around us +was filled with bright sparkles of light. Now they flashed on one side, +now on the other; now the whole space above our heads was illuminated; +then all was darkness; then the lights--thousands of them there appeared +to be--burst forth once again, more brilliantly than ever. I could not +help rousing up Manby, to ask him what he thought about the matter. + +"The matter, Hurry!" he answered, yawning; "why, that our stable stands +in a particularly damp situation, and that the place is full of +fire-flies. You'll hear frogs croaking before long, and see great big +water-snakes crawling about, and reptiles of all sorts. The snakes, +they tell me, are harmless; but it is not pleasant to awake and find one +encircling one's neck. However, we shall soon get accustomed to them, +so people say, and that's a comfort. I don't know whether it is +pleasanter to be asleep or awake. Just now, when you roused me up, I +was dreaming that I was a horse, and that ugly copper-skinned landlord +of ours was trying to put a saddle on my back to take a long ride, but I +would not let him, and so he was thrashing me unmercifully. I dare say +he would treat his beast much in the same way if left to himself." + +"Do not let us be talking of our dreams. Our waking thoughts are +sufficiently unpleasant," I observed. + +After a time we managed to go to sleep again, but for some weeks +scarcely a night passed without our being disturbed by unusual noises or +by the visits of snakes or reptiles of some sort. Once we were invaded +by a whole army of land-crabs, which were passing across the island, and +it was some time before we could persuade them to turn aside from our +door. Many paid the penalty of their temerity with their lives, and +were cooked next morning for breakfast. By-the-bye, in the cooking +department we were at first sadly deficient, but from the instruction we +received from some of our French masters, we soon became great adepts in +the art, and were independent of any help. One reason why we did not +succeed at first was the scanty supply of food with which we were +furnished. The Frenchmen, however, showed us where we might go out into +the woods near the village, and gather vegetables and roots and nuts of +all sorts for ourselves. After that we were never in want of the bare +necessaries of life. We received an allowance from the French +Government for our subsistence. The lieutenants received three +shillings a day; the purser, master and surgeons only two; and the +midshipmen but one shilling; on which, poor fellows, it was scarcely +possible for them to exist. The captains were allowed more, I believe, +and had a house found them some little way from Ou Trou, where they were +able to live in somewhat less discomfort than we did. They used, +however, their best exertions to lessen the inconveniences we were +doomed to suffer; but the authorities paid but little attention to their +representations. The residence hired by the midshipmen was even smaller +and in a more dilapidated condition than ours, and from the smallness of +their allowance, considering that their appetites were fully as good as +ours, they were truly very badly off, poor fellows. We of the +lieutenant's rank accordingly consulted together, and agreed to have our +mess in common for them and for ourselves. The midshipmen gratefully +accepted our offer, and each of us threw his pay into a common stock and +appointed two caterers to make the necessary arrangements and to +contract with one of the copper-coloured French shopkeepers to supply us +with breakfast and dinner and to do our washing. These arrangements +being made, we flattered ourselves that all would go on swimmingly. +Certainly our provisions were better and more abundant than we had +expected; but we fancied that we had fallen in with a liberal-minded +man, who was anxious to treat us well. We had a dreary time of it, +however. Day after day passed away much in the same way. We had no +shooting or fishing--no musical instruments--so that we had not even +music to relieve the monotony of our existence. We had but few books +also; some of us read them; but, generally speaking, under the relaxing +influence of the climate, we felt very little inclined for any literary +pursuit. A few games were invented which served to kill time, but +killing time is not a pleasant or inspiriting occupation, especially +when a man reflects that time is sure to kill him in the end. We walked +about the neighbourhood of our dreary abode as far as we were allowed to +go, but we soon got weary of the negro huts, and the palm-trees and the +rice fields and the coffee plantations, and the cocoa-nuts and plantains +and bananas, and the monkeys and opossums and racoons, and parrots and +humming-birds. I dare say, if we had not been prisoners and compelled, +as it were, to see the wonderful productions of animal and vegetable +life, we should have been highly interested in them--at least, we ought +to have been. One or two of our surgeons, who had a little turn for +natural history, contrived to pass their time by collecting specimens, +and examining into the nature and habits of the animals which abounded +in the country; but naval officers, especially in those days, did not +trouble their heads much about such matters, and were somewhat inclined +to look down upon those who did. We talked of our prospects--they were +gloomy enough; we tried sometimes to sing, but for that we had not much +spirits; and so the days passed away. It would have been surprising, +even in a healthy climate, if disease had not attacked us under similar +circumstances. For some time it stood aloof, but it came at last, and +made ample amends for its delay by its violence. We had been about a +month at Ou Trou, when one day we were all seated at dinner in a sort of +courtyard, which being in shade served us as our mess-room and +drawing-room, unless the weather was bad, when we had to retire into our +hot, stifling little house. We were all in tolerably fair spirits that +day. O'Driscoll had been telling some of his good stories, more than +one song had been sung, and jokes were flying about, far more than was +usually the case. There were a few absentees in consequence of +sickness, and we heard also that Captain Williams, lately commanding the +Active, was ill. Poor man! he severely felt the loss of his ship, +though, having been compelled to yield to a vastly superior force, no +blame was attached to him. His spirits, it was said, had never risen +again since he was taken prisoner, and he was thus but ill able to +combat with the baneful effects of the climate and the irksomeness of +imprisonment. Just then, however, few of our party were thinking about +anything but the present moment and the unusually good dinner we had +been enjoying, when who should make his appearance near the head of the +table but Monsieur Roquion our purveyor, with a smiling countenance and +a long bill in his hand. + +Our caterers inquired why he had come. + +"For to present my litte _compte_ to you, gentilmen," he answered, for +he indulged occasionally in a few words of English, especially when he +wanted to say anything very disagreeable. + +One of the caterers took the bill, and we saw them both looking over it +together, and pulling wonderfully long faces. + +"What is the matter?" asked Delisle. "Anything wrong with the account? +Let us know the worst. It cannot be very bad, I hope." + +"Only our excellent friend here has brought us in a charge of a hundred +dollars more than we expected to have to pay, or than we ought to pay," +was the answer. + +"Never mind; we'll contest it, and the fellow will have to go without +the money, I hope." + +Monsieur Roquion understood the remark, for he grinned widely from ear +to ear. + +"Go and get us a proper account, Master Yellow-face," said our chief +caterer. "This little bill of yours is too much by half." + +I don't know if the worthy understood what was said, but he refused to +take back the account, and, after grinning at us a little longer, took +his departure. + +We finished our dinner without much concern about Monsieur Roquion and +his bill; but we had unfortunately come to the end of our stock of wine +and tea, and a few other luxuries, and where to obtain them except from +Monsieur Roquion was a puzzle. The next morning we determined to try, +so we went to his shop to order what we wanted; but he instantly met us +with a hint that "_Le petit compte_ must first be settled." + +We appealed to the commandant--a personage of whom I have not hitherto +spoken, because I had nothing to say in his favour, but very much to the +contrary. He replied that the demand was a just one. We suspected that +he was to come in for his share of the spoil. We at length got angry, +and said that we were cheated and would not pay. Thereat he grinned +broadly, and informed us that it was his duty to see justice done to +Monsieur Roquion, and that he should stop a portion of our allowances +till the debt was paid. We protested loudly against this decision; but +he only grinned the more, and with a bland smile informed us that might +made right, and that we might take what course we liked. + +We could do nothing but submit; and the next pay-day we found that he +had determined to stop half our allowance. So we found ourselves +reduced to eighteen-pence a day, while the poor midshipmen had only +sixpence--a sum on which they could barely exist. We did our best to +help them out of our own pittance; but to all of us it was like falling +from affluence to penury. Misfortunes, it is said, never come alone. +Certainly at that time we experienced plenty of them. We were all +sitting together discussing what was best under our circumstances to be +done, when Delisle, who had gone to see Captain Williams, came back with +the report that he was much worse, and wished to see his son, who was a +midshipman, and had been living with the others. Delisle went for the +boy; and as he passed by, on his return, I saw that he looked especially +sad. That evening notice was brought us that Captain Williams was dead, +and his poor young midshipman son was left an orphan; and a prisoner in +that far-off pestiferous land. Delisle brought the boy back with him, +and with all the kindness of his heart endeavoured to console him. + +In that climate decomposition follows death so rapidly that, almost +before the human form is cold, it is necessary to commit it to the +grave. We agreed, therefore, that early next morning we would all go +and pay the last respects to the late unfortunate captain of the Active. +Accordingly, snatching a hasty breakfast of dry bread and milk--for +that was all the food the present low state of our finances would allow +us to indulge in--we sallied forth, taking poor little Williams with us, +whom we intended should act as chief mourner. When we arrived at the +house, and went into the room where Delisle had last seen the body, it +was no longer there. We searched about, but nowhere could we see it. +In another room we found Captain Stott, late of the Minerva. His +health, like that of his brother captain, had given way, and he looked +very ill and wretched. + +We told him that we had come to assist in burying poor Captain Williams. + +"You have come, then, too late, gentlemen," he answered with a deep +sigh. "Two ill-conditioned negroes came this morning with a guard of +three or four soldiers, and informed me that they had come to remove the +body. I protested vehemently, and, had I possessed force, would have +prevented them, but it was in vain. The wretches, with taunts and +sneers at our being heretics and unworthy of Christian burial, carried +away the body of my friend and brother-officer, and, I conclude, have +thrown him into the ground in some out-of-the-way place." + +Captain Stott was too ill, or he would have followed the barbarians in +spite of the soldiers. Two or three other people tried to do so, but +were driven back with angry threats, and at last gave up the attempt. +We were very indignant when we heard this, and resolved at once to go +and try and find out where the wretches had buried the captain. We +ascertained the direction they had taken and pursued them. We should +soon have been at fault in that trackless part of the country, but we +fell in with a little negro boy to whom I had been kind on more than one +occasion, and he told us that he had followed the men at a distance, and +undertook to show us the spot where our countryman had been buried. It +was not far-off, and when we reached it our indignation became greater +than ever. The authorities had evidently studied how they could most +insult and annoy us. + +In a piece of waste ground where offal and rubbish was cast, and where +the bodies of the few malefactors who were ever brought to justice, as +well as those of dogs and other animals, were deposited, they had +ordered our poor friend to be interred. He had been placed there, +fastened up in a piece of canvas, without a coffin and without ceremony +of any sort. We stood with mournful countenances and with hearts full +of bitterness and indignation over the foul spot, discussing among +ourselves whether we ought not to dig up the body and carry it to the +churchyard of Ou Trou, there to bury it among others who at all events +had called themselves Christians. Our intentions must have been +suspected, for in a few minutes a guard of soldiers made their +appearance, and, threatening us with their pikes or halberds, made us +desist. We then determined to go at once to the commandant. He +received us with a look of haughty contempt. He remarked that our +countryman was a heretic--that the priests considered that he had died +out of the pale of their true Church like a dog, and that like a dog he +must be buried. + +"Does the holy religion of Christ teach you thus to treat your enemies?" +exclaimed Delisle, indignantly. "We are Christians, as you call +yourselves, and have, as such, a right to Christian burial." + +"I know nothing about that matter," answered the commandant. "The +priests say that you are not, that you are cut off from the only true +Church, and are thus condemned to everlasting punishment. This being +the case--and I am bound to believe it--what matters it where your +bodies are placed?" + +Such was the tenor of the reply we received from an officer holding a +commission under the government of a nation which prided itself on being +the most enlightened and civilised in the world. + +Though in France the outward signs of religion were still adhered to, +the _savants_ and _literati_ were already paving the way by their false +philosophy for that terrific outbreak of popular fury which deluged +their country in blood, and well-nigh rooted out all that was noble and +good and worthy in the land. At this time in Saint Domingo, and +probably in the other French dependencies, there was an ostentatious +show of religion which was sadly belied by the manners and customs of +the people. At all events, a person bearing his Britannic Majesty's +commission was entitled, as a prisoner of war according to the law of +nations, to all the respect due to his rank as an officer and a +gentleman. + +We returned to our home, wondering who next among us would be carried +off to be put into that revolting receptacle of the dead. We had now +seriously to turn it in our minds how we should be able to exist. A +bright idea struck me--I would become a gardener. There was a +considerable portion of ground attached to our mansion. I had had some +little experience before in my life; others also knew something about +the art, and so we hoped that our united stock of knowledge would +produce us a good supply of vegetables. We had unfortunately but little +money to purchase tools, or seeds or plants, but we did not disdain to +turn beggars. We borrowed what tools we could, and manufactured spades +and hoes and rakes out of wood. They were not very neat, but they +answered our purpose. Seeds cost but very little; many were given us, +others we bought. The poor unsophisticated, ignorant blacks were very +kind-hearted, and gave us all they could spare. Thus our garden became +our greatest source of amusement, and at the same time a most profitable +employment. + +Often for days together we had no other food but that which our garden +produced. We had yam, cassava, choco, ochro, tomatoes, Indian kale, +Lima beans, potatoes, peas, beans, calalue, beet-root, artichokes, +cucumbers, carrots, parsnips, radishes, celery and salads of all sorts; +nor must I forget the magnificent cabbage-trees some two hundred feet +high--not that we planted them, by-the-bye--or the fruits, the +cocoa-nut, plantain, banana, the alligator pear, the cashew, papaw, +custard apples, and others too numerous to mention; the recollection of +which even now makes my mouth water, as it did sometimes then, when we +saw but could not obtain them. If it had not been for our garden I +believe that we should one and all of us have succumbed to that fell +climate. In vain we endeavoured to learn how the war was going on. No +news was ever allowed to reach us but what was of the most disheartening +nature, and Monsieur Roquion always contrived to bring it with a grin on +his countenance which we knew meant mischief, though we could not make +up our minds to believe him or not. One day he came in with a smile on +his countenance, and shrugging his shoulders-- + +"Very sorry for you, as we do not here benefit by your loss," he +remarked, endeavouring to put on a look of perfect sincerity. "You +have, undoubtedly, heard the sad news. Your brave Admiral Keppel has +been defeated in the channel. Most of his ships have been sunk or +taken, and he himself has been captured and is a prisoner in France." + +Days and days passed away and we heard no more, and though we used every +exertion to discover the truth, no one we met could contradict it. Next +we heard that the successful French fleet had pursued Admiral Byron on +his voyage to America, had brought him to action and completely +dispersed and destroyed his fleet. We daily talked the matter over +among ourselves. We could scarcely believe that the sun of England had +set so low, and yet what right had we to doubt the truth of what we +heard? We had ourselves been captured by the enemy, and might not +others have been equally unfortunate? + +Then we heard that the French had blocked up Lord Howe in New York, and +that the American patriots had triumphed over the British army and were +everywhere successful. How earnestly we longed for letters which might +inform us of the truth! but our cunning captors took care that we should +not get them. Perhaps they themselves believed the reports they spread +among us. One thing we knew, that in spite of all their reverses, the +English were not likely to give in without a desperate and prolonged +struggle, and that, therefore, our captivity might be continued to an +indefinite period. I therefore considered if I could not make myself +more comfortable than I had hitherto been. I called Tom Rockets to my +councils. He, faithful fellow, had been constantly in attendance on me. + +"To my mind, sir, the best thing to do would be to keep chickens," he +observed with a look of simple earnestness. "My old mother used to keep +them, and I helped her to feed them, and I know all their ways; and if +we could get a few we could keep them in this here stable of yours, sir, +and they would well-nigh feed themselves." + +I thought Tom's proposal so good a one that I forthwith put his plan +into execution. I had made several friends among the negroes by +stopping and talking to them and exchanging a joke occasionally. Not +that what I said was always very comprehensible to them, nor were their +replies to me, but they understood my signs as I did theirs, so that we +got on very well. + +"Now, Tom," said I, "we will go out and buy these same chickens. You +know a laying hen from an old cock, I suppose?" + +"Lord love ye, yes, sir," was Tom's answer, with a grin. "And if so be +ye wants any of the rhino, I've saved three dollars, which will go far +to buy them; and you know, Mr Hurry, sir, it will be an honour and +pleasure to me if you will take them. I've no use for them, and may be, +if they stop burning in my pocket, I shall only drink them up some day." + +I thought this too probable, but still I was unwilling to take the +honest, generous-hearted fellow's money. I had myself scraped together +a couple of dollars, with which I expected to be able to purchase a cock +and five or six fowls, and I thought that would be enough. Tom and I +accordingly set out on our expedition, with our dollars in our pockets. +Before long we reached the hut of an old negro and his wife, where I had +seen some good-looking fowls. Looking about, however, we saw none of +them. As we were going away old Quasho made his appearance, followed by +Quashie, his better half. In vain, however, did we tell them we wanted +some fowls; I had forgotten the French word, and they did not understand +us. + +"I think as how I can make them know what we wants, sir," said Tom and +he began crowing away at the top of his voice; then he cackled most +lustily and began running about as a hen does before she begins to lay +an egg, and finally, having provided himself with a round stone, he +produced it as if he had just deposited it in a nest. Then he pulled +out one of his dollars and held it up before them. Quasho and Quashie +clapped their hands with delight at the significance of the action, and +away they scuttled into the woods, soon returning with a couple of hens. + +"Bons, bons!" cried Tom, taking them, but not giving up the coin. Again +he crowed and again he cackled, and gave the old couple a shove to +signify that they were to go off and bring more fowls. It did not suit +them, it appeared, to comprehend what he wanted, but Tom was not to be +done, so at last Quasho exclaimed-- + +"Jiggigery, niggery, hop," or some words which so sounded, and away +scuttled the old lady, bringing back a couple more hens. + +Tom, having secured them by the legs under his arm, allowing them to +peck away at his back, attempted the same manoeuvre, but the old people +put on such a look of dull stolidity that I was certain they would give +no more fowls for the dollar. I told him, therefore, to give up the +dollar, and we continued on our way to another hut, where, for another +dollar, we got the same number of fowls. Three dollars were thus +expended, and, with our newly-acquired farm produce, we returned in +triumph to my stable. + +Manby was highly amused at the notion of my turning egg and chicken +merchant, which I told him it was my intention to do. In that country +food of all sorts for my fowls was easily procured, so I had no +difficulty in collecting an ample supply. This became one of my chief +occupations. Tom Rockets and I used to go out into the woods with bags, +and come back loaded with nuts and seeds and roots for my pets. The +consequence of their being thus amply supplied with provisions was that +they quickly took to laying eggs, and thus in a short time I had four or +five eggs every morning. Some of these Tom and I ate, and others we +sold or exchanged for meat. They, with the produce of our kitchen +garden, enabled us to be pretty well independent of the provisions +furnished us by the authorities. Thus, what I at first thought a +misfortune turned out to be a real benefit, because the necessity of +procuring food made me exert myself, and afforded me an occupation of +interest. I gave them all names, and I knew each of them, and they soon +learned to know me and to come at my call. Whichever I summoned came +flapping up to me, cackling or crowing as the case might be, whether +cock or hen. I was rather proud of the nickname which my messmates gave +me of "the farmer." Often, when they were almost starving after our +mess was broken up, I was able to supply myself and Tom with a +comfortable breakfast and dinner. Never, indeed, were dollars better +expended. I have already mentioned the various reports of disasters to +the British arms, both by sea and land, which reached us from time to +time. Soon after I got my fowls we were told, as an undoubted fact, +that Jersey and Guernsey had been taken by surprise, and that every man, +woman, and child in them had been destroyed on account of their loyalty +to England; but the most terrific and heart-rending news came at last. +It was that England herself had been invaded; that the enemy, having +gained a secure footing in the country, had won three or four pitched +battles, and had finally taken London, after a terrific resistance, when +half the population were slain. Probably, under other circumstances, we +should not have believed this last report unless it had been fully +authenticated, though, unguarded as the shores of England at that time +were, we knew that it was possible; but, dispirited and ill as many of +us were, we were fully prepared to give credence to any story even of a +less probable character. For two or three weeks we were left in the +most dreadful state of doubt and uncertainty as to whether England still +existed or not as an independent nation. Some of us fully believed that +liberty no longer was to be found except in the highlands of Scotland +and among the mountains of Wales. + +The first gleam which banished these dreadful surmises was the +announcement which reached us on the 5th of November, that Captain +Philips, of the 60th Regiment, and Mr Rankin, a passenger in the +Minerva, were forthwith to be set at liberty. They received permission +to go at once to Jamaica under a flag of truce. + +We could scarcely believe this information when we heard it, and it was +only when we saw them setting off with joyful countenances, bidding us +all farewell, that we were convinced of its truth. It also assured us +that the various accounts we had from time to time heard of the +disasters which had befallen the power of Great Britain were very +contrary to what was the case. The invasion of England had long been a +favourite scheme of the French, and I thought then, as I have since, +that some ambitious general or sovereign will find it one of the very +best cards he can possibly play to make the attempt for the purpose of +gaining supreme power in the country, or of securing the position he may +before have obtained. + +Death was now busy among us. On the 20th of November Captain Stott's +steward died--a faithful fellow, who had willingly followed his master +into captivity. Near the village was a wide savannah--an extensive +open, level space, destitute of trees, and overgrown in most parts with +a rank vegetation, and dotted with pools of water, among which snakes +and venomous reptiles of all sorts delighted to roam. Here the poor man +was carried by a couple of blacks and cast into a hole they dug for the +purpose. + +Very soon after this event, which I find recorded in my journal, I most +unexpectedly received a box containing linen and clothes, sent me by a +friend at Jamaica. In the pockets of some of the clothes I discovered a +packet of letters. Two of them were from home. What a thousand +thoughts and feelings and regrets did their contents conjure up! Many, +many months had passed away since I had heard from any of my relations +and friends in Old England, and I had begun almost to fancy that I was +forgotten, and should never receive any more letters. I read these over +and over again, and then I went in search of Delisle, that I might have +the pleasure of reading them to him. He and I were like brothers, and +like a brother he entered into all my feelings, and was almost as much +interested in the contents of my letters as I was myself. One of them +was from my sister Lucy--a sweet, good, pretty girl. I described her to +him, and, poor fellow, from my portrait, (I am sure it was not +overdrawn, though), he fell in love with her. He was ever afterwards +talking of her, and constantly asking to see her letters, and I agreed +to introduce him when we got home, whenever that might be, and he +promised, if she would have him, to marry her. So it was settled +between us. No one will find fault with him or me for what we did. + +I must not forget another important letter from the friend who sent the +box. In it he told me that the admiral had most kindly kept a vacancy +open for me as a lieutenant on board the Ostrich, but at last, when he +could not arrange my exchange, he had been reluctantly compelled to fill +it up. This, of course, added to my annoyance at having been made +prisoner. The parcel of clothes was very valuable, for I found that +they would fetch a high price in the place, and as in that warm climate +a very small supply was sufficient, I resolved on selling the greater +portion of them. This I forthwith did, at a price which enabled me to +pay all my debts at the hucksters' shops, and gave me a good sum +besides. I thought that it would have been inexhaustible, and +accordingly feasted sumptuously for several weeks, and entertained my +friends freely in my stable, or rather in front of it, where, under the +shade of a grove of cocoa-nut trees, I used to spread my board. + +On the 2nd of December, Mr Camel, who had been purser of the Active, +and the son of Captain Williams, were sent to Jamaica on their parole in +a cartel, but no one else of our party was allowed to leave the place. +Reports had just been going about to the effect that we were all to be +forthwith exchanged, and therefore, when we found that they were false, +an overpowering despondency sprung up among us. To increase the misery +of our condition, a report reached the commandant, invented by some +malicious person, or perhaps by the authorities themselves, to increase +the harsh treatment to which we were subjected, to the effect that we +had formed a plot to set fire to the village, and that, taking advantage +of the confusion thus created, we intended endeavouring to make our way +to the sea, and then to seize some small vessel and escape in her to +Jamaica. It was not likely that a number of officers who had given +their parole to remain quiet would be guilty of an act so dishonourable +as to endeavour to escape. It was, however, believed, and we were in +consequence even more severely treated than before. I say believed, but +I should be more correct if I said that the authorities pretended to +believe it. We had now a guard constantly set over us, and whenever we +went out we were narrowly watched. The food with which we were +furnished was worse than ever, and when we complained of the purveyors +or hucksters the commandant replied that he could not interfere, and +that we must take what was offered us, and be thankful that it was no +worse. Often many of our poor fellows had not the bare necessaries of +life, and it was only by great exertion that I was able to procure them, +as I have described, for myself and a few of my more intimate friends. +I had not supposed that so degenerate a race of Frenchmen existed, for +when they saw us all rapidly sickening and advancing towards the grave, +instead of relaxing their system of tyranny, they only increased their +ill-treatment, and made us believe that they really wished to put us to +death by inches. + +On the 4th, poor young Bruce, a midshipman of the Minerva, died, and was +buried in the savannah among many of our countrymen who had already +fallen victims to disease. Captain Stott, we heard, was sinking fast, +and on the 15th he too succumbed to sickness and, I truly believe, a +broken heart. Some of his friends attended him to the last, and a large +body of us went up to keep guard, to prevent his body being carried +away, as had been the case with Captain Williams. + +As soon as he was dead, we lieutenants carried him to our own house and +in the morning we sent a deputation to the commandant, saying, that as +Captain Stott was one of the oldest officers in his Majesty's service, +we considered that he ought to be buried with as much form and ceremony +as circumstances would allow in the public cemetery of the place. Our +request was, however, peremptorily refused. We all of us, accordingly, +assembled in our uniforms, and bore the body of the old captain to the +savannah, where, at a lonely spot, we dug a grave with such implements +as we possessed, and, prayers being said, deposited him in it near his +midshipman and steward. + +There they rest, in that scarcely known locality, free from that trouble +and care which has followed many of those who attended them to their +graves. Some of those were, however, soon to be laid to rest alongside +them. Perhaps it was through some feeling of humanity that, a few days +afterwards, the son and nephew of Captain Stott--two little fellows +scarcely more than ten years old--were allowed to go to Jamaica under +charge of Mr Varmes, purser of the Minerva. Bartholomew, one of the +lieutenants of the same ship, was very ill of the fever. He had +scarcely been able to creep to the burial of his late commander, but +still he had some hopes of recovery. Our medical man had very little +experience of the nature of the fell disease which was attacking us, so +that those taken ill had but a small chance of getting well. + +I was sitting one day by the side of poor Bartholomew, endeavouring to +afford him what consolation I could. Alas! with regard to his worldly +prospects there was little I could offer. I tried to point to higher +things--to the world to come. Unfortunately men do not think enough of +that till they are on its very threshold. He was expressing a hope that +he should get better, and I entertained the same; suddenly the door of +the room was thrown open, and Adams, another of the Minerva's +lieutenants, rushed into the room with an animated countenance-- + +"Cheer up, Bartie, old fellow!" he exclaimed. "An order has just +arrived for our release. I have seen it, and we are to set off at once +for Jamaica." + +"Hurrah!" exclaimed the other lieutenant, lifting himself up in his bed. +"Then I shall not have to leave my bones in this horrid hole. Hurrah! +On, my fine fellows, on!" + +He waved his hand above his head as if he had his sword in it, and was +leading a party of boarders. I heard a rattling sound. I looked at his +countenance. An awful change had come over it. Before I could even +support him he fell back in his bed and was dead. Adams and I stood for +a moment like persons petrified, so sudden and shocking was the event. +We bore him at sunset to our field of the dead in the savannah, and +there the hands of his friends and brother-officers laid him beside the +grave of his late captain. Adams, however, got away and reached Jamaica +in safety. Thus ended, in gloom and almost hopeless despondency, that, +to us prisoners, ever memorable year of 1778. For what we could tell to +the contrary then, we might have to remain till peace was restored, or +till England succumbed to the enemies gathering round her. + +Proud of our country as we were, and confident of the bravery of her +sons, what had we to hope for? Although at sea the ancient supremacy of +our flag had been ably upheld, on shore, either from want of good +generals or from our pernicious military system--perhaps from both +causes combined--no brilliancy had been shed on the British arms; +indeed, we only heard of defeats, ill-conducted expeditions, and +disasters of all sorts, which often made our hearts sink to the very +depths of despondency. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +ATTACKED WITH FEVER.--MAMMY GOBO, MY BLACK NURSE.--RECOVERY.--DEATH OF +DELISLE.--SAIL FOR JAMAICA.--PROMOTED.--JOIN THE PORCUPINE.--CHASE.--A +MISHAP.--BECALMED.--PROVISIONS RUN SHORT.--SUFFERINGS.--A FRESH BREEZE +BRINGS US RELIEF.--JAMAICA AGAIN. + +I had long held out against the attacks of that arch enemy, the yellow +fever, to which so many of my companions in misfortune had succumbed. +Several vacancies having occurred in the house, Manby had gone there and +left me to the society of Tom Rockets and my cocks and hens. I, +however, had got so accustomed to the place that I had no wish to go +elsewhere. Impunity had made me fancy that I was proof against the +fever. It found me out, however. In an instant I was struck down. I +entreated that I might be left where I was. Tom made me up as +comfortable a bed as he could, and covered me with a boat-cloak and a +blanket. Strange as it may seem, in that climate I felt excessively +cold, and thought that nothing would warm me. Hour after hour I lay +shivering as if nothing could ever make me warm again, and expecting all +the time that I was about to die, and thinking that those I loved most +on earth would perhaps never gain tidings of my fate. Then I felt so +hot that I had a longing to jump into the nearest stream to cool my +fevered blood. Poor Tom sat by my side, often wringing his hands in +despair, not knowing how to treat me, and yet anxious to do all in his +power to be of assistance. At length one day he jumped up as if a +bright thought had just struck him, and out he ran, leaving me alone. I +scarcely expected that I should be alive when he came back, so weak and +wretched did I feel. An hour or more passed when he reappeared, +accompanied by an old black woman with whom I had occasionally exchanged +a joke in passing, and I believe bestowed on her some trifle or other,-- +Mammy Gobo I used to call her,--little thinking the service she would be +to me. She felt me all over and looked at my tongue, and then off she +trotted. She soon, however, came back with some pots and herbs and some +bricks. She first made Tom dig a hole, in which she lighted a fire and +at it heated some bricks. These she applied at once to my feet, and, +putting on her pots, formed some decoctions with the herbs, which she +made me swallow in large quantities. Had she not providentially come, I +believe that I should have died that very night. As it was, I was +evidently a subject requiring all her care and skill. She seemed +anxious to bestow both on me. All night long she sat up by my side, and +all day she watched over me. It appeared to me that she never slept. +If I opened my eyes they were certain to fall on her jolly ugly visage, +with her large eyes turned full upon me, seemingly to inquire what I +wanted. When at last she began to go away occasionally for half an hour +at a time to collect more herbs, or for some other purpose, Rockets was +always ready to take her place, and attended me with all the affection +of a true and warm friend. Strong as my constitution was, I am very +sure that had I not been watched over by Mammy Gobo and Tom I should not +have recovered--that is to say, I felt then, and I feel more strongly +now, that they were the instruments, under a merciful Providence, by +which I was preserved so long from destruction while hanging between +life and death, and ultimately of my recovery, though it was long before +that took place. Probably in consequence of his constant attendance on +me, before I had begun to recover, Tom himself was attacked with the +fever, and there he lay in the stall next to me, moaning and groaning, +and occasionally raging with delirium. I ought to have mentioned that +some time before this our old horse had been removed to a place of +superior accommodation--I suspect to our tumble-down, rickety stable; +but, as we wanted his room more than his company, we did not complain of +this. Mammy Gobo was no respecter of persons, and I was glad to find +that she attended on Tom with as much care as she had done on me. The +poor fellow was very grateful. + +"Ah, sir," he said, "though that 'ere nigger woman has got a black skin, +to my mind she has as good and red a heart in her body as any +white-faced person. It's just the painting of the outside which ain't +altogether according to our notions; but after all, sir, beauty is, as +you know, sir, only skin deep." + +I fully agreed with him on this point, and at that moment poor Mammy +Gobo was more welcome to our sight than the most beautiful creature in +existence. What cooling drinks she concocted out of herbs and simples, +and what delicious messes out of various sorts of vegetables and fruits +and roots, the productions of that fruitful climate! However, Mammy +Gobo could not always attend on us, for she had several other patients +and had to look after her own affairs at home. During her absence our +poor chickens fared but ill, for we could not go out to collect food for +them, and the supply we had before stored up was soon expended. They, +in consequence, had to go forth to forage for themselves. At first they +came back regularly enough, but then we remarked that one was missing; +then next day another did not make its appearance, and so on the third +day two were missing. In a few days half our stock were lost. We told +Mammy Gobo of what had occurred, and she said she would try and find out +who had robbed us. When, however, she was present, all the chickens +came back. We certainly did not suspect her of being the thief, but we +felt sure that the real thieves watched her movements and ran off with +our fowls when she was out of the way. We were compelled also to kill +several of our stock of chickens for food, Mammy Gobo having especially +prescribed chicken-broth when we became somewhat convalescent. They +were now reduced to a very small number. One by one they also +disappeared till none remained, and then we were indeed in a very +miserable and forlorn condition. We were still too ill, however, to +think much of the future, but we found it impossible to supply even our +present wants; and had not the kind-hearted black woman catered for us, +assuring the hucksters that I was certain to recover and pay them, I +believe that we should have starved. + +At last I was able to get about a little, though the fever was still on +me, and I managed to crawl to the house to see some of my +brother-officers. The greater number of them were sick, or had been ill +and nearer death's door. I inquired for my old shipmate and friend, +Delisle. "He is ill in that room," was the reply. I went forthwith to +him. A few short weeks of sickness had made a great change in his +countenance. He took my hand when I approached the wretched pallet on +which he was stretched. + +"I am glad to see you recovering, my dear Hurry," he said in a low, +feeble voice. "It is all up with me, though. I shall never be a +post-captain--never command a ship--my last battle is fought. I must +yield to God's will. It seems hard, though. You know all about my +friends. If you ever reach home, go and tell them about me. I can't +talk more. I am weak--very weak--couldn't hail the maintop if I was to +try. Oh, it's hard, very hard, to be thus cut off by the arm of this +vile climate--very, very." + +He was silent. I tried to console him, to raise his spirits, for I was +certain they had a good deal to do in enabling a person to recover. In +vain were all my efforts. He sank slowly, and before morning one who +had long been my friend and the companion of my Orlopian days on board +the Orpheus, and lately my messmate also in the Bristol, was no more. +The blow prostrated me in body and spirits, and I felt inclined to give +in, and lay my head down beside his. Soon after daylight we sallied +forth with the body of our brother-officer, and took our way towards the +dreary savannah. We were followed by some of our guards and other +individuals, anxious, we concluded, to watch our proceedings. Our party +was but small, for alas! the greater number of the lieutenants were +unable from sickness to attend the funeral. We were a melancholy +party--pale, haggard, and squalid. We placed the body on the grass. +What a fine, handsome young fellow he looked! We began to dig his +grave. Without consideration, we began to dig it east and west. When +we had proceeded some way in our work, our French masters interfered and +said that we ought to dig it north and south, that only Christian men, +good Catholics, should be buried east and west, that they might be ready +to rise when summoned by the sound of the last trump. We resolved, +however, not to give in to so absurd a demand, and continued our +labours. Again the Frenchmen interfered. On a further consultation one +of our party recollected that graves were usually placed east and west +in England, and so we told our tyrants that we were only following one +of our own national customs, and to it we intended to adhere. From our +not recollecting the custom, all our other countrymen had been buried +north and south. After some further dispute about the matter we were +allowed to proceed, and thus poor Delisle rests in the position which is +considered most orthodox, though I cannot say that I should be inclined +to attach much importance to the matter. Sad and sick, I went back to +our stable. The exertion I had gone through almost finished me. The +other lieutenants wanted me to go to their house, but I had no spirits +for society. I preferred my own wretched abode and the companionship of +Tom Rockets and the old black woman. Never did one brother mourn for +another more sincerely than I did for Gerard Delisle. Thus the days and +weeks and months drew slowly along till April arrived. That month was +passed much as the others till on the 28th, a day not likely to be +forgotten by me. Several of my friends had come in to see me, and they +were all sitting about in the stable. We were bemoaning, as we often +did, our hard fate. + +"As for me," I exclaimed, "I fully expect to lay my bones in that dark, +dreary savannah! What hope have I of ever getting away?" + +Suddenly a voice was heard outside the door shouting lustily. We +thought it was one of our friends running about in the delirium of +fever, when in rushed Lieutenant Moriarty with an open letter in his +hand of a very official appearance. + +"It was directed to me, so I broke the seal. You and Manby and I are +free. Hurrah, boys, hurrah!" he exclaimed. "Hurrah, hurrah!" + +I thought at first that he was mad, and could not believe him till he +let me inspect the letter. It was from General D'Argue, informing us +that, in consequence of a request from Sir Peter Parker, we had leave to +embark on board a cartel for Jamaica. I turned the document over and +over again in my hand. There could be no doubt about its genuineness. +Ill and weak as we all were, for we still had the fever on us, we +resolved to set off the moment we were able. After the first ebullition +of our feelings was over, we recollected what must be the sensation of +the friends we were leaving behind, and Moriarty did his best to soothe +them by assuring them how rejoiced we should be if they were able to go +likewise. Some of them, I thought, looked compassionately on me, for I +was at that time confined to my bed, such as it was, and, as I thought, +utterly unable to walk. The news of my liberty, however, worked more +wonders towards my cure than all the physic the first of doctors could +have given me, or the decoctions of good Mammy Gobo. The next day, +however, when it was known that I had got my liberty, the hucksters, +shoemakers, and washerwomen poured in their bills on me, which, though +not of any great amount, I found totally beyond my means to pay. I +promised them that I would transmit the amounts the instant I got back +to Jamaica; but they said that would not do, and that if I could not pay +them they must appeal to the authorities, and that I must be detained. +I was in despair. I was eager to be gone. I felt that I should not +live if I remained. In my dilemma Lieutenant Lawford, who had a letter +of credit on a merchant at Cape Francois, came forward in the most +liberal and generous way, and supplied me with fifty dollars, which was +all I required to satisfy the demands of my creditors. My mind being +thus relieved, I felt myself strong enough to get up and assist in +making the preparations for our journey. We engaged a carriage to +convey us to the coast, for none of us were in a fit state to ride on +horseback. I will not dwell on the sad countenances and the depressed +spirits of our brother-officers whom we left behind. + +On the morning of the 30th of April, with a buoyancy of spirits to which +I had long been a stranger, I with my companions got into the rickety +vehicle which was to convey us the first part of our journey, Tom +Rockets being perched on a seat behind. We arrived at about eight +o'clock at the village of Lemonade--an attractive name on a hot day--and +near there found a boat in readiness to carry us to Cape Francois. How +delicious the sea-breeze smelt!--how refreshing to our parched skins and +stagnant blood! It appeared to me to drive away at once all the remains +of the fever. I felt like a new being, strong and hearty, in a moment. +I found, however, when I attempted to exert my strength, that I had very +little of that left. Once more we found ourselves in the +far-from-delectable town of Cape Francois. As the cartel was not ready, +we had to take up our abode at a tavern, where we were joined by two +other naval officers who had been imprisoned in another part of the +island. We had some difficulty in amusing ourselves during our stay, +but every day we were picking up health and strength, and at length, on +the 8th, we all five embarked, with two masters of merchantmen who had +lost their vessels, and thirty seamen, on board the cartel, and +commenced our voyage to Jamaica. On the 10th we put into Saint +Germains, another part of Saint Domingo, where we received some more +released prisoners, and on the following day we bid what I hoped would +prove an eternal adieu to the most inhospitable of islands. With the +exception of the houses we had stopped at on our way to Ou Trou, we had +not been received into the abodes of any of the white inhabitants of the +country. Some of the coloured people would willingly have treated us +kindly, but they were kept in awe by the authorities, and thus the only +real kindness we received was from the poor unsophisticated blacks. For +my own part, I have felt ever since deeply grateful to Mammy Gobo and +her ebony-skinned countrymen and countrywomen, and have been most +anxious to do them all the good in my power. With regard to the French +residents, all I can say is that I recognised among them none of the +supposed characteristics of the French nation. Instead of proving +hospitable and polite, I should say that I never saw a greater set of +bears in my life. + +Our voyage was short and merry, though one of the subjects which +afforded us most amusement was our own forlorn, half-starved, almost +naked condition. We were all much alike, so we could afford to laugh at +each other. The weather held fine and our voyage was speedy, and on the +ever-to-be-remembered 13th of May we sighted the entrance of Port Royal +harbour, where we dropped anchor in the afternoon. I found that I had +been absent exactly nine months and three days. In spite of my +tatter-demalion appearance and my consciousness that I was much like the +wretched apothecary who supplied the love-lorn Romeo with the fatal +potion, as soon as I got on shore I hastened up to pay my respects to +Sir Peter Parker. He received me, as I knew he would, with the greatest +kindness, and when I apologised for my ragged appearance he laughed and +assured me that he would much rather see an officer in a threadbare +uniform, worn out in active service, than in one shining and bright in +consequence of want of use. + +"You'll stay to dinner with me, Mr Hurry," said the admiral. "We must +try to put some more flesh on those bones of yours." + +I looked at my tattered garments. + +"Oh, never mind those; they are honourable, like a flag well riddled," +he observed. "I want you, besides, to tell me all that happened to you +during your captivity." + +Dinner was soon afterwards announced, and during it I gave the admiral +an account of the chief events which had happened while I was at Ou +Trou. He was very indignant when he heard of the way we had been +treated, and especially of the mode in which Captains Williams and Stott +had been buried. I made him laugh at some of our contrivances, and +particularly at my having turned hen keeper. I described also to him +our residence in the stable with the old horse. I declared that I had +tried to teach the horse my language, and, not succeeding, had +endeavoured to learn his, and that I was in a fair way of succeeding +when he was removed from our habitation. This really was the case; I +had made great friends with the old animal, and I was beginning to know +exactly the meaning of all the noises he made. The admiral was highly +amused with all I told him. He put me, in return, in high spirits by +informing me that, on hearing I was captured, he had directed that I +should be rated as a mate of the Bristol, and kept on her books, and +that, in consequence, I was entitled to a share of prize-money, which, +as she had been very successful, would be of some amount. Several +officers, post-captains and others, were present, as were three or four +civilians, planters and merchants. The latter invited me to their +houses, and one of them, Mr Martin, insisted that I should drive back +with him, and make his house my home till I got a ship. + +"That he has got already," said the admiral, presenting me with a paper, +which I found was my commission as lieutenant, and that I was appointed +to the Porcupine sloop-of-war of fourteen guns, commanded by Captain +John Packenham. I could not find words to express my thanks to the +admiral, but he said, "Pooh, pooh; we want active, intelligent, gallant +young men not afraid of a gale of wind, or of an enemy ashore or +afloat," he answered. "You have fairly won your promotion, and I +congratulate you on obtaining it." + +With these kind words I parted from the admiral, and took my seat in my +new friend's carriage. + +"We have time to see old Stukely this evening, and ascertain the amount +you have got to your credit. It won't make you sleep the worse," said +he, as we drove along. + +"Forty or fifty pounds, probably," I remarked. "It would make me feel +as rich as a king." + +"We will see, we will see," he replied. + +To the agent's we went. He was a friend of Mr Martin's, so without +more ado he turned to his books. + +"Hurry? Hurry of the Bristol?" he muttered. "A trifle, I know." + +I bethought me, "It won't be ten pounds after all, perhaps." + +"Oh, yes, here I have it. Three hundred pounds, Mr Hurry! You can +draw it whenever you like: our friend here will assure me of your +identity." + +I couldn't help throwing up my cap for joy. + +"Well, I am rich," I exclaimed; "like that old fellow Croesus I once +read of at school. Thank you, sir--thank you. Hurrah, hurrah!" I +burst out into a loud fit of laughter. + +At first Mr Martin smiled at my joy, but he soon began to look grave, +as did the agent, for they perceived that I was over-excited--that, in +truth, the admiral's good wine and my unexpected good fortune, acting on +a frame shattered by sickness, had upset me, and they seemed to think +that there was every probability of a return of my fever. + +"I am very glad to hear that you have got this little sum. It will help +to supply you with an outfit," observed Mr Martin, wishing to calm me +down a little. + +"Enough for an outfit!--enough to fit out a prince or found a kingdom," +I exclaimed vehemently. "Ha, ha, ha!" + +"Well, never mind that just now," said my kind friend; "just get into my +barouche, and come along to my house in the meantime. To-morrow we will +talk about these matters." + +I made no resistance, and, getting into his carriage, we soon reached +his cool and comfortable mansion in the neighbourhood of Kingston. I +was immediately put to bed, and off I went into a sleep so sound that an +earthquake or an hurricane would scarcely have awoke me. + +It was late in the day when I at length opened my eyes, feeling quite a +new being. A thorough sound sleep, with my mind at ease as to my +prospects, was all I required to restore me to health. This I had not +got since I left Ou Trou. As soon as I had dressed and breakfasted I +set off for Port Royal harbour, and joined my ship, as happy a fellow, I +may truly say, as ever crossed salt water. I was most kindly received +by my new shipmates, who seemed to vie with each other in trying to make +amends to me for the sufferings I had undergone. I had very little time +to be idle, or to amuse myself on shore. That I suspect was the better +for me. The ship was all ready for sea, and on the 18th of the month, +just four days after I got back to Jamaica, we sailed on a cruise, in +company with his Majesty's frigate Hinchinbrook, commanded by Captain +Parker, the admiral's son, off Cape Saint Antonio. I found that the +Camel, which had been sent to accompany a fleet through the gulf, had on +her return, when off Cape Saint Antonio, seen a considerable number of +Saint Domingo ships. One she had taken which was very valuable, but, +being a slow sailer, the others had escaped her. Her captain informed +Sir Peter that he was certain if a couple of ships would sail +immediately the fortunes of all on board would be made. In consequence +of this the admiral despatched the Hinchinbrook and my ship the +Porcupine, directing us not to wait to fill up with provisions or water, +but to proceed at once to the locality where these rich prizes were to +be found. + +On the 25th we arrived off our station. The next day a stranger was +reported in sight--a schooner. We made all sail in chase. How +delightful it was to feel myself once more on board ship, bowling away +with a fine breeze through the free sparkling waters, with England's +time-honoured flag above my head. I could scarcely refrain from +shouting with pleasure, and I do not think that anybody would have been +much astonished had I done so, for I should have replied, "Let me tell +you, old fellows, if any of you had been shut up in a dull village in an +abominable climate, half-starved, ill-treated and insulted, hearing +constantly that old England was conquered, that her fleets were +destroyed, and her people led into captivity, with your companions and +friends dying about you, and, when dead, buried like dogs, you would +shout when you found yourselves at liberty, and able once more to do +battle with the enemies of your country." + +Whether the schooner was American or French we could not at first +determine, but that she was an enemy there could be no doubt. The +prospect of prize-money is always pleasant, though when obtained, in too +many cases, it is spent in folly and extravagance. All hands were in +high spirits; a good beginning to a successful cruise we thought it +would prove. Cape Antonio bore at the time south-east. We had almost +got the chase within range of our guns, when a grating sound was heard, +and a shock was felt which sent most of the ship's company toppling down +on their noses; the water surged up alongside, and we found that we were +on shore. Here might be a speedy conclusion to all our hopes of +prize-money--not that we cared for the paltry sum the vessel in sight +might have given us, but for what we might obtain by our cruise +altogether. Not a moment was lost in clewing-up everything, lowering +boats, and in laying out anchors; but, notwithstanding, we stuck hard +and fast. British seamen, however, do not give way to despair in a +hurry. Fresh anchors and warps were laid out. We sounded round the +ship to see where most water was to be found. Then we worked away with +our purchases. We had no wish to start our water or to heave our guns +and provisions overboard till the last extremity. Fortunately the wind +fell. We hove away with a will. "Hurrah, hurrah?" was the cry fore and +aft; "she moves, she moves!" Our success encouraged us. The +Hinchinbrook, before we got on shore, was out of sight; so was the chase +by this time. At length our efforts were rewarded with success, and +once more we had deep water under our keel. What was satisfactory, +also, we had suffered little or no damage. + +For the next fortnight we were employed chiefly in chasing and speaking +a vast number of Spanish merchantmen bound to the Havannah, and as we +little suspected all the time that war had been declared between England +and Spain, we allowed them to proceed. This was provoking enough, for, +they would have proved very rich prizes. We spoke also his Majesty's +ships Winchelsea, Camel, Lynne, and Druid, with a convoy from England +for Jamaica, and on the 15th of June, the period of our cruise being up, +and our provisions, moreover, growing short, we left our station and +made sail for Port Royal. + +On the 1st of July, judging by our reckoning that we were within a few +leagues of Jamaica, our surprise was very considerable when we struck +soundings on the Misteriosa bank, about a hundred leagues to the +westward of where we supposed ourselves to be. Captain Packenham sent +forthwith for the purser, and in consequence of the report he gave we +were immediately put on half allowance, having, even at that rate, +provisions to last us only for fourteen days. There we were, dead to +leeward, while light winds and frequent calms occasioned our progress to +be very slow. We kept at it, however, making every inch of ground we +could. Still by the 12th, being at a considerable distance from land, +we were of necessity put on yet further reduced allowance of a biscuit a +day, an ounce of pork and half a pint of water. I, who just then +required sustenance more than most of my companions, felt the want of +substantial food very much. The Hinchinbrook, with which we were still +in company, was also short of provisions, and could ill spare any to +supply our wants. We now both of us felt the inconvenience of having +sailed in so great a hurry. It had been calculated that we should take +a week to get to our station; that we should cruise there a couple of +weeks, and take a week to return. Things were now growing extremely +serious, though the men bore their want of food very well, but we could +not help seeing clearly that the time might shortly come when we should +really have nothing whatever on board. On the 15th, believing that we +could not possibly reach a port, we stood to the northward and kept in +the latitude of Jamaica, hoping thus to fall in with a fleet of +merchantmen under convoy of some ships of war, which we knew were to +sail from Jamaica about that time. We had look-outs stationed at each +mast-head, eagerly on the watch for any strange sail, friend or foe, +from which we might have obtained relief. We should certainly have +attacked any foe, even twice our force, for the sake of obtaining food +from them. I believe that, so desperately we should have fought, we +should have conquered. Men are like wild beasts when hungry. There is +nothing they will not dare and do. Still we were doomed to +disappointment. On the 30th of July, all our bread and water being +expended, we were reduced to an allowance of one ounce of pork for each +man daily. It did just to keep body and soul together. We were +compelled to send each day on board the Hinchinbrook for a small cask of +water, which was all they could spare us. Even of this small allowance +we felt that we might any day be deprived, should we, as was very +probable, be separated from our consort by a gale of wind. On the 2nd +of August the faces of the purser and his clerks were longer than usual. +The ounce of pork was diminished to half an ounce, and then some of the +messmen found that they were getting only a quarter of an ounce, I +guessed, by the countenances of the men as they went forward, but they +said nothing. They very well knew that the present state of things +could not be helped. Very soon the purser came aft to the captain who +was on the quarter-deck-- + +"Sir, I have to report that there is not a pint of water or an ounce of +bread or biscuit, or anything eatable on board," was his very +unsatisfactory announcement. + +The captain stood as cool and unmoved as if he was hearing an account of +any ordinary occurrence. + +"You have some tallow candles and oil, and some raisins, and a few other +little things of that sort?" he remarked. + +The purser said there was a small supply on board. + +"Very well, they will serve to keep all hands alive for a day or two, +and by that time we may hope to fall in with assistance," he answered. + +He then called us all round him, and officially announced what the +purser had told him. + +"I'll let the people know the state of things," he added, and directed +that they should be summoned aft. + +Their pale, thin faces, and the slow way in which many of them walked, +showed that the want of sufficient food was already telling on their +strength. + +"My lads," said Captain Packenham, "we put to sea in a hurry, and we +expected to be back before our provisions were expended, but we are +mistaken. We are short of food, but many ships have been in a worse +case. We have done our best to get back to Jamaica, and as we cannot +get there, I hope we may fall in with some vessels or other from which +we may get a supply of provisions, either friends to give them to us, or +enemies from which we may take them, and, hungry as we are, I would not +fear to lay you alongside an enemy's ship, for I am very certain you +would take care to provide yourselves with a good supper at the end of +the fight." + +The crew warmly cheered this speech, though the voices of many of the +poor fellows sounded hollow and faint. They knew, however, that, badly +off as they might be, not an officer would touch a mouthful of food +while they were without it. How eagerly we all looked out for a sail +which might bring us relief! There was no necessity to hail the +mast-heads to ascertain that the men stationed there were doing their +duty. I certainly did not wish myself back at Ou Trou, but I never +suffered such pangs of hunger there as I was now doing. We had two or +three prophets of disaster on board, and they were continually citing +instances where the whole crew of a ship had died from starvation, or +perhaps where only one or two had survived to tell the tale of their +misfortunes. Water was our greatest want. The wind was light, almost a +calm, and the sun shone forth on the calm shining sea with intense fury, +the very pitch in the teams of our decks bubbled up, and if we had a +beef steak we might have cooked it on the capstan-head. We put on our +sword-belts, and drew them tighter and tighter round our waists. The +men used their handkerchiefs for the same object. But all would not do. +Tight as we drew them we could not stop the gnawing pangs which +attacked us. Those on watch had, of course, to keep the deck. The rest +of the officers lay down in their cabins, but I could not remain in +mine. I was soon again out of it, and climbing up aloft eagerly to scan +the horizon, in the hopes of finding a sail in sight. In vain I looked +round; not a speck was to be seen above the horizon. At length the sun +went down, and darkness came on, and there the ship lay becalmed, with +her crew of starving men. Anxiously all that night passed away--the +calm continued. We had indeed practical experience of how hard hunger +and thirst is to bear. We could see the Hinchinbrook at a little +distance from us, rolling her polished sides in the water, over which +the moonbeams were now playing. She was now in as bad a condition as we +were, and could no longer render us any assistance. The sun again rose, +and then the two ships lay with their sails idly flapping against the +masts. A hurricane would at that time have been welcomed--anything to +move us on. There was no piping to breakfast that day. The boatswain +put his whistle to his mouth, but instantly let it fall again. The men, +however, were mustered at divisions, and then they were set on to do all +sorts of work, to keep their minds employed if possible, although their +jaws were to be idle. At dinner-time as much of the oil and tallow +candles as could be spared was served out, but some of the men could not +touch the greasy compound, even though about a thimbleful of rum was +offered at the same time to wash it down. + +"Stay a bit," observed the surgeon, "in two or three days they will take +it eagerly enough." + +It was not from hunger we suffered so much as from thirst. That was +terrible. Hour after hour passed by. No relief appeared. I began +almost to wish that I had laid my head down alongside my poor friend and +old shipmate, Delisle, in the desolate savannah near Ou Trou. The +thought was wrong--rank ingratitude to the merciful providence which had +preserved me--but it was human, I fear. How admirably our gallant +fellows behaved! Scarcely a murmur or a grumble was heard. Again the +sun went down. That night was one of great suffering among many of the +crew. Some tried to keep up their own spirits and those of their +messmates by singing and cutting jokes and telling stories. Still it +would not do. They soon broke down. The surgeons kept going about, +administering stimulants to those who appeared sinking, but their store +of medicine was soon exhausted, and they could do no more. Day came +again, but no relief was brought us. I with others climbed aloft. Not +a sail was in sight. In vain--in vain we scanned the horizon, the calm +continued, and the ships floated idly on the smooth, sullen, treacherous +water. Yet who that could by any possibility have seen those two fine, +well-appointed men-of-war would have supposed that so much suffering, +alarm, and dread existed on board them! Death had not yet visited us, +but we could not tell when he would commence his work of destruction. +Any moment he might begin to strike, and we knew that he would not cease +till he had made an end of all. The men were piped to divisions, but +scarcely an attempt was made to find employment for them. They lay +listlessly along the decks, some could scarcely walk. The voices of the +officers, as they issued their orders, sounded hollow and strange. I +felt sure that many would not last out another day. The hours still +drew slowly on, without bringing us any relief. Captain Packenham had +retired to his cabin to conceal the pain he was suffering. The first +lieutenant and I still kept the deck, but I began to feel that I must +soon go below, or I should fall where I stood. The greater part of the +crew were completely prostrate. Some few of the stronger men continued +every now and then to go aloft to take a look-out round the horizon, to +learn if any sail were in sight. I turned to my brother-officer-- + +"What think you, Staunton, of our prospects?" said I. + +"The Jamaica fleet ought to be here by this time," he answered. + +"But if they have been delayed, or have already passed or steered +another course, what are we to do?" I urged. + +"Starve to death," he answered, in a hollow voice. "A day--a few +hours--will settle the point." + +We neither of us spoke again for long after that. The ship's head kept +going round and round the compass. Some of the people were too weak +even to endeavour to crawl into the shade. We supported ourselves as +long as we could against the bulwarks, but at length had to sit down on +a gun-carriage, our knees refusing any longer to hold us up. The day +was drawing on. I felt with Staunton that another day would settle the +question of life or death for most of us. One by one the men had come +down from aloft, giving up all hope of seeing a sail approaching to our +relief. Weak as they were, we could not insist on any of the poor +fellows remaining up there, except as volunteers. + +I was thinking over all I had gone through at different parts of my +life, and how often I had been mercifully preserved. "I'll not give in +even now," I said to myself. "I'll go aloft, and have another +look-out." Suddenly I felt my strength returning. I got up, and, +slinging my glass over my shoulder, went up the fore rigging. It +appeared to me that I was as strong and active as ever. I gained the +foretop mast-head. I unslung my glass and looked out. There, right +away to the westward, was a long, dark line in the horizon, which could +be caused I knew alone by a fresh breeze, and even as I looked and +hailed the welcome sign of deliverance, several dots appeared above it, +the loftier sails, as I well knew, of approaching ships. I rubbed my +eyes. Again I looked to assure myself of the reality of what I fancied +I saw, and that I might not be deceived by some phantom of the brain. +No, I was certain that I was right; there were the approaching sails. +With a strong breeze they came on quickly towards us. + +"Several sail in sight!" I shouted out, and my voice was scarcely +weaker than usual. I waved my hand and pointed in the direction I saw +them. + +The effect was electrical. Men who seemed before almost at their last +gasp rose to their feet. The officers came hurrying on deck. Captain +Packenham himself appeared. Many mounted the rigging and joined me +aloft to assure themselves that I was not deceived. There could be no +doubt about the matter. All saw the approaching ships. Royals, +topgallant sails, topsails appeared one after the other above the +horizon. They might be the ships of the expected Jamaica fleet, or they +might be enemies. By that time the sea was swarming with them. In that +case we should have to fight for what we wanted. + +"No matter," was the cry of all on board, "we are ready and able as ever +to meet a foe." + +The prospect of relief roused everyone, and though our cheeks were thin +and our strength was feeble, our spirits rose and we felt that we could +fight as well as ever. Anxiously we watched the approaching strangers. +As we rose their courses out of the water we felt pretty certain from +their appearance that some of them were men-of-war. At length we made +out their colours. They were English. They might, however, have been +hoisted to deceive us. Not to be taken by surprise we went to quarters. +We now clearly ascertained that the two headmost ships were frigates +and the rest merchantmen. They soon showed the private signals. They +were the Aeolus and Prudente frigates with the long-expected convoy for +England. We hoisted signals of distress, and, lowering our boats, they +were alongside them by the time they hove-to near us. + +The different way in which we were treated by the officers of the two +frigates was very remarkable. Captain Waldegrave of the Prudente aided +us in the most kind and compassionate way, and he was warmly seconded by +two of his lieutenants, Campbell and Ferris, who exerted themselves to +the utmost to bring provisions on board without an instant's delay. +They sent us their own dinners which had just been dressed, and also all +the cooked meat on board, so that we were able at once to satisfy the +cravings of hunger. They despatched also all the delicacies they could +think of, likely to be of use to us from their own private stores. The +officers of the other frigate, on the contrary, treated our sufferings +with heartless indifference, and seemed much vexed at having to give up +some of their provisions towards supplying our wants, and at the delay +which we caused them. + +The masters of the merchantmen seemed to vie with each other which +should afford us most voluntary assistance, and among others we were +especially indebted to Captain Louis of the Augustus Caesar, a large +London ship, who sent us wine, tea, sugar, sheep, fowls--indeed, +everything we could possibly require. Altogether from them and the +men-of-war we were supplied with provisions for three weeks. Delightful +indeed was the change from actual starvation to the abundance we now +enjoyed. With right good-will did we cheer the fleet which had so amply +relieved our distress as we parted from them and made sail once more for +Jamaica. + +The following day, the 6th of August, we saw the Island of the Grand +Caymayne. Here we anchored for a few hours and were then ordered by +Captain Parker to proceed direct for Jamaica with despatches for his +father. One of the ship's company was destined never to reach it. The +captain of the maintop, a fine active fellow, fell from aloft, and, +striking part of the rigging, bounded overboard. The ship was instantly +hove-to, a boat was lowered and pulled towards the spot where he fell. +Some thought they saw his head floating above the waves. In vain we +looked about for him. Either stunned by his fall he sank at once, or a +shark, one of those ravenous monsters of the deep, had made him his +prey. Poor John Nettlethorp! There were mourning hearts in your quiet +home in Devonshire when the ship returned and your fate was told those +who had long-expected to see you once again. + +On the 19th we reached Port Royal. We found everybody in the greatest +excitement making preparations to receive Count D'Estaign, who, with a +powerful fleet and army, was hourly expected to make an attack on the +island. None of England's colonies can boast of more loyal and devoted +inhabitants than does Jamaica, as they have given abundant proof of on +numberless occasions. + + "Yes, gentlemen of England, who stay at home at ease, + Ah! little do you think upon the dangers of the seas." + +Little also, say I, do you dream of all the racketing and knocking about +your naval defenders have to go through in time of war that you may stay +at home at ease! + +My journal will give you some idea of what seamen have to endure. In +harbour one day, at sea for weeks, then to encounter storms and +ship-wrecks, battles and wounds, famine and sickness, extremes of heat +and cold, pain and suffering, defeat sometimes and imprisonment, with +the many ills which make the heart sick, and when at length we return +into port, instead of obtaining rest we have to refit ship, take in +stores and provisions, and seldom enjoy a moment of leisure till we are +once more ready for sea. I was very far, even in the days of which I +speak, of complaining of this. I chose my profession. I loved it. I +delighted in action, and all I wish to impress on my readers is the +nature and duties of a sailor's life. Still, had I again to begin my +existence in this sublunary world and once more to choose my profession, +above all others I would select that of an officer in the glorious navy +of old England. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +EXPECTED ATTACK FROM COUNT D'ESTAIGN.--WAR WITH SPAIN.--EXPEDITION +AGAINST SAINT FERNANDO D'OMOA.--VISIT FROM KING OF THE MOSQUITO SHORE.-- +CANNONADE THE TOWN.--SET IT ON FIRE.--STORM THE TOWN.--ROCKETS AND HIS +TWO CUTLASSES.--GIVES ONE TO SPANIARD TO FIGHT WITH.--RICH GALLEONS +CAPTURED.--I HAVE COMMAND OF THE SAINT DOMINGO.--NEARLY LOST. + +That summer of 1779 was a busy time for the right loyal and patriotic +people of Jamaica, and I believe that even had the Count D'Estaign, with +his twenty-six line-of-battle ships and nine or ten thousand troops, +made his appearance, he would have found it no easy task to gain a +victory. + +After our return from our starvation cruise we remained but a day in +harbour, and again sailed for Old Harbour with despatches for the +Penelope. Having delivered them we were returning when we fell in with +a small schooner. She made a signal to us to heave-to, and an officer +came on board who brought us the news that war with Spain had broken +out, and directed us to go in search of the Penelope and acquaint her +with the fact. We overtook her the following day, and of course we all +regretted that we had not been aware before of the war, as we had +allowed so many Spanish vessels to pass us which, had we captured, would +have proved rich prizes. + +Once more we got back to Port Royal, and had to go alongside the wharf +to heave down and repair the ship. Sir Peter had made every preparation +to receive the enemy. An advanced squadron was kept cruising off the +coast, while the entrance of the harbour was rendered impracticable by +strong booms laid across it, and by forts armed with heavy guns on +either side. + +On the 11th, however, notice was brought us that Count D'Estaign had +sailed for America, where, having been severely handled at the siege of +Savannah, he returned to Europe with the greater part of his force, +sending some, however, back to the West Indies. They had, however, +already done us some mischief by the capture of the Islands of Saint +Vincent and Grenada, with other places of less importance, while they +had also made not a few prizes on their voyage. + +Sir Peter Parker was now designing an attack on the fort of Saint +Fernando D'Omoa. He had been informed that the Spaniards had threatened +to attack the bay-men on the Mosquito shore and Bay of Honduras, and +that they had already landed at Saint George's Quay, which place they +had plundered, and treated the inhabitants with the greatest cruelty. +To protect this settlement from further insults, the instant she was +ready for sea, the Porcupine was directed to take on board +Captain-Commandant Dalrymple and a small party of the Loyal Irish, and +to proceed to the Black River on the Mosquito shore. We sailed on the +12th of September, but, having carried away our mainmast, we had to +return to replace it, so that it was not till the 20th that we could +make a fair start. We reached our destination off the mouth of the +river on the 27th. This is one of the most dangerous situations in +which a ship can bring up, as the bay is completely open to the north, +the quarter from which the winds are most prevalent. The only safe +proceeding, as the anchorage is none of the best, is at once to run to +sea. A bar, on which a tremendous surf breaks, stretches across the +mouth of the river, so that, except in calm weather and a slack tide, +the landing is dangerous in the extreme. Of this we had a sad proof +soon after we arrived there. Everything being made snug, to obtain +fresh provisions was our first consideration. For this purpose a boat +was despatched under the command of Mr York, a master's mate, with +directions to enter the river and to procure fresh beef and other +eatables. All sorts of commissions were likewise given him. + +"Give my compliments to King Hodge-podge, and tell him that I'll knock +up his quarters before long," sang out one of his messmates. + +"Take care of those rollers there, Mr York," I observed. "They are apt +to play people a scurvy trick every now and then." + +"Ay, ay, sir," he answered; and then in a lower tone he added, "I've +crossed such bars as that fifty times, and I should think I knew by this +time how to handle a boat on one of them." + +I pretended not to hear the remark, and the boat pushed off from the +ship's side. Away she pulled towards the bar. I could not help +following her with my glass. The bay was calm, but the current was +running out strong, and a slow, smooth, rolling swell came in from the +offing. The boat glided swiftly on towards the mouth of the river. +Just before she reached the bar I had observed two or three rollers +break with great fury on it. I called the attention of Captain +Packenham and some of my brother-officers to what I had remarked. I +fancied that I could see York looking back in triumph, as much as to +say, "You see I don't fear the bar you speak of." Then on glided the +boat. A huge roller rose between us and her so suddenly, it seemed to +come from the very depths of the sea. On it went; others followed; but +where was the boat? A cry of horror escaped from all those looking on. +With my glass I made out through the mass of foam a black object and +several smaller ones floating near, but they rapidly disappeared. There +could be no doubt that the boat was swamped. The instant this was +ascertained the captain ordered all the boats to be lowered that they +might go in and endeavour to pick up any of the crew who might be +carried out to sea. I went in one of them. Our orders were especially +not to venture on the bar. We were not long in reaching the place. We +looked eagerly about for any traces of our lost shipmates. Even the +boat had been rolled over and over till not a plank remained holding +together. An oar came floating out towards us, and as I watched it I +saw one end rise up suddenly as if the other had been pulled at +violently. We pulled up to it, and as we got near I saw a dark +triangular fin gliding away through the blue bright water. I now saw +clearly what had been the fate of any of the crew who might have hoped +to save themselves by swimming. We returned with sad hearts on board, +but sailors cannot mourn long even for their best friends. The fate of +those who have been taken may be theirs to-morrow. + +A few days after this Captain Packenham invited me to accompany him on +shore to pay a visit to the Intendant of Black River. We took care, +warned by the accident which I have described, to have a black pilot, +and under his guidance we safely crossed the dangerous bar. Once in and +able to draw our breaths freely, we were delighted with the beauty of +the scenery which on every side met our eyes--woods and green fields, +and hills and valleys, diversified the banks of the river, which +branched off in different directions, and added much to the +picturesqueness of the landscape. From the accounts we received of the +barbarities committed by the Spaniards, we longed to meet them, to +chastise them as they deserved. They had just before this made an +attack on the settlement, where they had destroyed a large amount of +property, and carried off a number of prisoners, both men and women, to +Merida, the capital of Yucatan. Thence they were afterwards shipped to +Havannah, where, if they were no better treated than we were at Saint +Domingo, their fate was hard indeed. On the 5th of October we were +highly honoured by a visit from his Indian Majesty of the Mosquito +shore--King Hoco-poco we used to call him--I forget his name. He came +accompanied by a long retinue of princes, generals, and chiefs of all +sorts, rejoicing in very curious names, very dark skins, and a very +scanty amount of clothing. We received his Majesty with all the honours +we were able to pay him, by manning yards and firing a salute of +twenty-one guns. We had also a feast spread for his entertainment, with +an abundance of liquor, which he seemed to consider much more to the +purpose. He and his chiefs indulged very freely in the potent beverages +placed before them, and at length they returned on shore, highly +delighted with the entertainment, vowing eternal friendship to England, +and excessively drunk. The accounts of the atrocities committed by the +Spaniards, which we had just received, induced Captains Packenham and +Dalrymple to come to the resolution of making an attack on one of their +settlements. We accordingly beat up for volunteers, and in a very short +time collected a hundred Indians and Black River volunteers, under the +command of an Indian general named Tempest. Having embarked our army, +we sailed on the 6th of October from the Mosquito shore with light +westerly winds. On the next day three strange sail were seen from the +mast-head to the northward. They very soon also discovered us, and made +all sail in chase. + +"Are they friends or foes?" was the question we asked each other. + +Captain Packenham was not a man to run away from either one or the +other, so we backed our main-topsail, and lay-to for them. We watched +them with no little anxiety till they drew near. I forgot to say that +my old friend O'Driscoll had joined the ship as a supernumerary, and +that I had once more with me my faithful companions in many an +adventure, Nol Grampus and Tom Rockets. Nol did not look a day older +than when I first came to sea. Rockets was now grown into as stout, +active and strong a seaman as any in his Majesty's service. I could not +so often have a yarn with my old followers as I used to when I was a +midshipman, but I frequently exchanged words with them, and never failed +to take them on any expedition on which I was sent. + +"I hopes as how them strangers are friends, old ship," I heard Tom +remark to Grampus. "Three to one is long odds if they ain't, and I +suppose our captain intends to fight, as he don't seem inclined to run. +I only hopes as how he will fight, and sink rather than give in. I've +no fancy to be made prisoner, and to be kept on short commons among +blackamoors, as we was at Ou Trou." + +"No fear, my boy," answered Grampus. "Our skipper has got some dodge or +other in his brain-box, and depend on it he'll make the `Porcupine' +stick up her quills all in good time. You'll see." + +I could not help telling the captain the opinion the crew formed of him, +which was a very just one. Neither he nor I had much doubt that the +ships in sight were British. We hoisted British colours, so did they; +and in a short time we were all paying compliments to each other, they +being his Majesty's ships Charon, Lowestoffe, and Pomona, under the +command of the Honourable Captain Luttrell. He confirmed the account we +had received of the attack of the Spaniards on the British territories, +and informed us also that he had been in quest of two Spanish galleons +which had taken shelter under the strongly-fortified town of San +Fernando D'Omoa. He had wished to attack the place, but, it being +remarkably strong, he had considered that, with the force under his +command, he could scarcely hope for success. Now, however, with the +reinforcements we brought him, he considered that he would have a fair +chance of taking it. + +Having called a council-of-war, all the captains agreed that the exploit +might be accomplished. Accordingly, we made sail for the westward. +There was a general satisfaction throughout the fleet when it was known +that an attack on the fortress was to take place. As with light and +variable winds we moved slowly on to the westward, the ships' companies +were employed in making scaling-ladders, fascines, and all the other +requisites for a siege. Our whole force consisted of the following +ships and vessels:-- + ++==========+=====+====+ +| |Guns.|Men.| ++----------+-----+----+ +|Charon | 44| 300| ++----------+-----+----+ +|Lowestoffe| 32| 220| ++----------+-----+----+ +|Pomona | 28| 200| ++----------+-----+----+ +|Porcupine | 16| 100| ++----------+-----+----+ +|Racehorse | 8| 50| ++----------+-----+----+ +|Peggy | 6| 15| ++==========+=====+====+ + +All the above together with 100 Indians and Volunteers, and 12 Loyal +Irish--no very mighty armament for the attack of so strong a place. But +British sailors hold to the belief that what men dare they can do; so we +went on, never doubting of success. We anchored to wood and water at +the Bay of Truxillo, and then sailed on, touching at various other +places till, on the evening of the 16th, we anchored in Porto Carvalho +Bay, not far from the place we had come to attack. Night had set in +before we approached the land, so that there was little fear that the +enemy would obtain notice of our approach. All of us were in high +spirits at the thoughts of fighting the Spaniards, and O'Driscoll and I +agreed that it was far better than having to make war on the Americans, +whom, rebels as they might be called, we could not help looking on as +our brothers and cousins. + +All arrangements had in the most judicious way been previously made, so +that we were ready, directly the anchors were dropped, about nine +o'clock at night, to commence landing our forces. Everything was done +with the most perfect order and in complete silence. The boats from all +the ships were lowered, and about three hundred seamen and marines, with +about a hundred and fifty Indians, volunteers and regulars, were +embarked in them. The oars were let fall in the water, and together +they pulled in for the shore. I watched the boats as long as they could +be seen through the darkness, like some sea-monsters gliding noiselessly +towards their prey. O'Driscoll accompanied the shore expedition. On +landing, the Indians, who were sent forward, attacked the enemy's +look-out houses, and, having killed a Spaniard and taken two more +prisoners, returned in triumph. At midnight the army began their march +to the westward, and the ships at the same time weighed and stood along +shore. On Sunday morning, the 17th, the ships lay becalmed about a +league off shore, when the troops halted to report themselves. No time, +however, was lost. They had hoped to have arrived before the place just +at daybreak, when they would certainly have surprised it, and even now +it was hoped that the enemy would not have heard of their approach. On +the summit of a high hill, overlooking the fortress, stands the +governor's house--a very important post. Towards it they hurried, and +before ten o'clock reached its base. Up the hill like a swarm of ants +they rushed, and in spite of all opposition quickly carried it. The +garrison were now, of course, on the alert to receive us. It was not, +however, till three in the afternoon that the wind allowed us to stand +into the harbour, when we made the signal to the forces on shore that we +were ready to co-operate with them. As we took up our stations, +directly opposite the town, we commenced a heavy cannonade, which was +warmly returned by the enemy from a battery of between twenty and thirty +heavy guns. In a short time the effect, of our fire was very visible. +Flames burst forth from different parts of the town, which was soon +burning furiously in every quarter, and it seemed to us very evident +that it would soon be entirely burnt to the ground. As the unfortunate +inhabitants were afraid of leaving the town, for fear of falling into +the hands of the Indians, from whom they could expect no quarter, many +of them, we had too much reason to believe, were burnt to death. + +During the heat of the engagement the Lowestoffe, in her eagerness to +get close up to the fort, ran on shore, and was considerably galled +while she remained there by the enemy's fire. The rest of the squadron +lending her assistance, she soon got off. All the ships were, however, +much cut up both in spars and rigging, while a considerable number of +men had been killed and wounded. The commander, in consequence, finding +that we had produced no impression on the enemy's works, threw out a +signal for the ships to haul off for the night. As we sailed out of the +harbour, the Spaniards, fancying that we were about to abandon the +enterprise, made a sortie, and furiously attacked the forces on shore. +They were, however, repulsed with much loss, and again took shelter +within their works. At night a lieutenant was sent in command of a +hundred men, to try and open a communication with the forces on shore, +but the enemy were too much on the alert to render the attempt +practicable. + +We were under no little apprehension all the time as to the fate of the +forces on shore, for we could see that a furious attack was being made +by the Spaniards on Governor's Hill, and its result it was impossible to +ascertain. At daylight we once more stood in, when we had the +satisfaction to discover that our forces still held Governor's Hill, and +had thrown up works on it from which they were bombarding the town. As +the wind would not allow us to get in close to the forts, we hove-to +main-topsails to the masts, and employed ourselves in firing random +shots at the enemy's works while the Lowestoffe repaired damages. At +five in the afternoon, seeing a British Union Jack flying close to the +woods at the water's edge, the Porcupine was directed to run in and land +her guns. This was done under a heavy fire from the fort. I was among +those sent on shore, and I was ordered to take fifty men under my +command, and with four guns to lead them up through the town of Omoa to +the top of an exceedingly high hill on the other side of it. The +enterprise was of no slight danger and difficulty, but it pleased me the +more. I had Grampus and Rockets with me. Placing our guns on light +carriages between us, away we rattled as fast as our legs could move. +The faster our speed, the greater would be our safety. Where we were +going the enemy could not guess; they never thought that we were about +to scale the rocky height before us; they did not know what tricks +blue-jackets could play on shore. They kept peppering away at us as we +proceeded, and now and then one of my men was hit; one poor fellow was +killed, three were wounded. A fine fellow, Jackson, who was near me as +we dashed through the town, caught sight of a dog running through the +streets, evidently having lost his master. + +"I'll have that 'ere animal," he exclaimed, springing on towards him. + +The dog turned tail and ran off, but Jack was too nimble for him, and +catching him up under his arm, and holding his head so that he could not +bite, he was bringing the animal in triumph when a shot struck him on +the arm. He staggered on notwithstanding. + +"Jackson, my man, I'm afraid you are badly hurt," I exclaimed, as I saw +the blood streaming down his side. + +"Never fear, sir," he answered, "I've got the dog; I wanted him for you. +Take him, sir." + +I had a piece of rope in my pocket, which I fastened round the dog's +neck and led him on. Jackson was a severe sufferer, for he lost his arm +in consequence of his wound. On we hurried, and, climbing the height, +dragged up our guns after us. Before the enemy guessed what we were +about, we had them on the top of the hill ready to open on the fort. +With the same rapidity we threw up the necessary earthworks and soon +began firing away with a right good will down into the fortress. The +Spaniards showed us that two could play at the same game. All night +long we blazed away, doing no little mischief to the enemy. They, +however, in return, dismounted one of our guns. On the morning of the +19th three fresh batteries were opened from our works on Governor's +Hill, and our hopes increased of speedily taking the place. + +I enjoyed from my elevated position a full view of the whole surrounding +sea and country. Below me was the town, still burning in places and +smouldering in others. On one side was Governor's Hill, with the +batteries blazing away at the devoted fort which lay below the town, and +was replying from all sides to the fire directed towards it from the +land and sea. Now the ships, with the exception of the Porcupine, stood +in to attack the fort in more serious earnest. Boats came passing and +re-passing to her, and, as I found was the case, as all our guns were on +shore, Captain Packenham with the greater part of the ship's company +went on board the other ships to assist in fighting them. The ships +stood in very close to the walls of the fort before they dropped their +anchors, and then commenced a heavy cannonade, the effects of which soon +became apparent by the crumbling away of the works on every side. +Night, however, put a stop to the work of destruction. Darkness had +just closed in when I received orders to leave my exalted post and to +join the party destined to storm the works at daybreak on the following +morning. This was just according to my taste. I had never a fancy to +know that work was being done and not to be engaged in it. + +It was nearly midnight before I joined O'Driscoll and my other friends. +I found them sitting round their watch-fires, not so much on account of +the cold as to keep off the mosquitoes, and enjoying a good supper, +which they ate as they cooked. We had no cloaks, so we sat up all night +discussing the probabilities of our success on the morrow. We talked +and laughed and joked as if there was nothing particularly serious to be +done. Adams, one of our midshipmen, was the merriest of the merry. He +above all of us was making light of the difficulties and dangers to be +encountered. Towards morning our voices grew lower and lower, and at +length no one spoke. I sat also silent, looking up at the dark sky +studded with a thousand stars, wondering to which of them I should wing +my flight should I lose my life in the coming struggle. I dozed off for +a few moments, it seemed to me, and then the drum beat to arms and I +sprang to my feet. At the same moment the ships re-commenced their +cannonade. Every arrangement had already been made, so that each man of +the expedition knew his station. Not an instant, therefore, was lost. +We hurried to our ranks. I had a hundred men under me. Of course +Grampus and Rockets were among them. Grampus had armed himself with a +musket and cutlass, but Rockets had managed to get hold of two +cutlasses. I asked him why he had thus encumbered himself. + +"Why, sir, you see as how one on 'em may be broken, and then I shall +have t'other for fighting with," he answered with his usual simplicity. + +Down the hill we rushed, the marines and Loyal Irish on either flank. +Nothing stopped us. It seemed scarcely a minute from the time we were +on our feet till we were close under the walls. The fascines were +thrown into the ditches, and the ladders being planted against the +walls, up we climbed, as O'Driscoll observed, like ants attacking a +sugar cask. We had already mounted the walls and were leaping down into +the town before the enemy knew what we were about. As soon as they were +aroused they made a stout resistance and poured a heavy fire on us. +Several men near me were killed or wounded. Poor young Adams was +cheering on his party placed under his orders. A bullet struck him. +His sword was uplifted, his cheerful voice was still sounding on my ear +when I saw him fall over, and before he reached the ground he was dead. +Our men poured over the walls, and on we rushed among the buildings in +the fortress. We encountered a body of Spaniards led on by an officer +who apparently had only that instant been roused out of bed, for he had +neither his coat buttoned, a hat on his head, nor a sword in his hand. +Another party of men on my left engaged my attention, and I was about to +attack them when I saw Tom Rockets rushing towards the unarmed officer. +I thought Tom was going to cut down the Spaniard, and so I dare say did +the latter, but instead of that I heard him sing out, "Senor Don +Officer, you no habby cutlash-o, I've got two-o! Take one of mine, old +boy; let's have fair play and no favour. Stand aside, mates, and we'll +have it out like men!" + +On this, to the very great astonishment of his enemy, he presented him +with one of his cutlasses, and made a sign that he was ready to begin +the fight. The Spaniard, however, had no notion of fighting with so +generous and brave a fellow. Probably, also, he found the Englishman's +cutlass rather an awkward weapon to use, so he made signs to him to take +it back, and that he would yield himself up as a prisoner of war. Tom +thereupon took back the cutlass, and, shaking the Spaniard by the hand, +assured him that he should be ready to have the matter out, if it so +pleased him, as soon as the public fighting was disposed of. So sudden +had been our attack, and so unexpected by the Spaniards, that we had +even fewer men killed and wounded than on the previous days. The +Spanish officer and his men having yielded, I left them under charge of +Tom and some of my people, while I pushed on, accompanied by Grampus, +towards the summit of the fortress, on which stood a flag-staff with the +Spanish flag flying. The Spaniards rallied bravely round it, but, +charging them cutlass in hand, with loud huzzas we put them to flight, +and very soon Nol Grampus had hauled down their flag and hoisted our own +glorious ensign in its stead. It was a signal to the ships to cease +their fire, which was becoming somewhat annoying to us as well as to our +foes. In a few minutes all the defenders of the fortress were scattered +far and wide, or had thrown down their arms and sued for mercy. Thus +the important fortress was won. The first thing I did was to look-out +for Tom Rockets, whom I found guarding the Spanish officer, and +endeavouring to assure him of his friendship and protection. Some of +the prisoners were carried on board the ships, others were shut up under +a guard in the fortress, and others were allowed to take their +departure. Besides two richly-laden galleons and a dhow with dry goods +in the harbour, we found in the fort twenty thousand dollars, a vast +quantity of quicksilver, three or four hundred slaves who had been +lately landed, and were to have been sent into the interior, and sixty +thousand pounds' worth of silk, cables, anchors, and other naval +stores,--the whole not being of less value than a million sterling. + +On my return on board I acquainted Captain Packenham with Tom Rockets' +gallantry. He was much amused, and at once sent for the brave fellow to +come to him on the quarter-deck. Tom approached, hat in hand, looking +somewhat sheepish, as if he was afraid of getting scolded for having +done something wrong. When, however, the captain praised him for his +conduct, he gave a hitch to his trowsers and a twist to his hat, +exclaiming-- + +"It's all right then, sir? I thought as how perhaps I ought to have +knocked the Spanish gentleman over; but you see, sir, I didn't like to +take the life of a man who hadn't even a cutlash to fight with." + +Captain Packenham assured him that he had done perfectly right, and that +he would look after his interests. He spoke to the commodore about him +that very afternoon, and it was agreed to give him a boatswain's +warrant; but Tom at once declined the offer, saying that he had only +done his duty, and did not want any reward. + +After Captain Packenham's return from the commodore's ship, he told me +that he was going home at once with despatches, and that I was to be +removed from the Porcupine into the Charon in order that I might with +some of her crew take charge of the Saint Domingo, one of the galleons +we had just captured. I had placed under me a mate, three midshipmen, +and thirty-six of the best seamen of the Charon, including my two +followers, for whom I got leave to accompany me. I had now a new +follower, the dog I had captured in the burning town. I gave him the +name of Omoa, to which he soon answered and became greatly attached to +me. I at once set to work to get the prize ready for sea; but she had +much to be done to her, and it was not till the 8th of November that, +having scaled guns and bent sails a few days before, I warped out of the +harbour, and made sail in company with the other ships of the squadron, +leaving the Porcupine and the captured dhow for the defence of the fort. + +I must remark that a short time afterwards, the place being attacked by +a thousand regular troops, the men we had left there in garrison were +compelled to make their escape on board those two vessels. And now +commenced one of the most unpleasant and anxious voyages I ever made in +my life. I did not think it was to be so at the time, though. On the +contrary, I was highly delighted at obtaining the command, when I got on +board, and discovered that the galleon was the richest-laden vessel we +had captured, and that several thousand pounds would come to my share +alone if I succeeded in carrying her safely into port. Not, I must say, +that I thought about the money for itself. I never was mercenary. I +should have been considered wiser had I been so, but my thoughts +instantly flew to Madeline Carlyon. I pictured to myself peace restored +between the revolted provinces of America and England, and I, with +wealth at my disposal, able to go over and claim with a good grace the +hand of the only girl for whom I had ever felt that deep affection which +would induce me to marry. She was always in my thoughts, and now that I +felt that, with the required wealth within my grasp, there was a +possibility of our being united, I began in my imagination to realise +the happiness I anticipated. Whatever dangers or difficulties I was in, +I always thought of her. She, though far away, spurred me on to +exertion. She--in the tempest, on the lee-shore in unknown seas, in +darkness and surrounded with rocks and shoals--was ever present, and I +believe that, had it not been for her, I should more than once in +despair have given up the struggle with the adverse circumstances which +well-nigh overwhelmed me. + +It was soon seen that the bulky old galleon would not keep way with the +men-of-war, so the Lowestoffe took us in tow, not much to the +satisfaction of those on board. Thick squally weather with rain came +on, and away we went plunging after her. For two days this continued, +and during the time I could scarcely ever leave the deck. At last I +went below on the night of the 10th, but hardly had I turned in and got +my eyes well closed when I was aroused up again by a terrific uproar, +and, rushing on deck and hurrying for'ard, I found that the Lowestoffe +was taken aback and was making a stern-board right down upon us. +Fortunately an axe was at hand. With a couple of strokes I cut the +hawser, and, putting up the helm, we were just able to run to leeward +out of her way. Soon after this the commodore made the signal to tack, +and the wind then shifting and a heavy gale coming on, I lost sight of +the squadron. Directly after this I made out the land on the lee bow +bearing east-south-east, three or four miles off. Whether I could +weather it was the question; but I made all the sail I could venture to +carry. I stood as close-hauled as I could, watching with no little +anxiety the unwelcome coast. The vessel looked up to the gale in +gallant style, and at length I was able to bring-to under my foresail. + +Thus I remained all night. At six in the morning made sail under the +courses to the north-east, and at eight wore and saw the land bearing +south by south, distant five or six leagues. At noon was again obliged +to bring-to under the foresail, it blowing hard with a thick fog and +squalls. + +On the 11th, the wind continuing to blow as hard as before, I saw the +island of Rattan. At 5 p.m. I fired six guns as signals for a pilot, +but night coming on with the accustomed bad weather, I wore and stood +out to sea. The next morning I bore away for Truxillo, on the Spanish +main. At 10 a.m., being close in-shore, the wind shifted, and blew a +heavy gale with very thick weather, which obliged me to stand to the +eastward. At noon, though we lost sight of the land, I found that we +were in very shoal water, and as may be supposed I became very anxious +when I found that there was no one on board who had ever been there +before, or was at all acquainted with the coast. All we knew was that +it was considered a very dangerous and difficult one. Since we left +Omoa, from not having even seen the sun, I had been unable to take an +observation, nor had I any chart of the Gulf of Honduras in the ship. +My officers, as were all on board, were as well aware as I was myself of +the danger the ship was in, and a bright look-out was kept for the land. +At 2 p.m. we made out an island under our lee. I soon saw by the way +the ship was setting that we should be unable to weather it. My only +resource therefore was to attempt to run between it and the main. I +kept the helm up, and stood for the channel. I was under the +impression, as were my officers, that it was the island of Bonacca, +between which and the main a book of sailing directions we had on board +told us there was a passage; but as we neared it the characteristic +features which we discovered convinced us that we were mistaken, and +that it was the Hogsties. Now we had been assured at Omoa that between +it and the main there was no passage. We did not make this discovery, +however, before we had stood on too far to return. Our eyes, however, +could not deceive us; a passage there certainly was, but whether a +shallow or intricate one we could not tell. I kept the lead going and a +bright look-out in all directions; still it was work to try any man's +nerves. There was a nasty broken sea running, and I felt sure that if +the ship struck on any of the numberless rocks under her bottom, not +many minutes would elapse before she must go down. I kept her on, +notwithstanding this, under her foresail. We were gradually shoaling +our water--sixteen fathom, twelve, ten, six, four had been announced. I +drew my breath faster and faster. It was not a moment I should have +liked anyone to put a trivial question to me; still I could make out a +channel of clear water ahead, and I did not despair. + +"By the mark three," sang out the man in the fore-chains. + +Matters were coming to a crisis. If we shoaled the water much more we +could not hope to force the heavy galleon through. Not only should we +lose all her rich cargo, but our lives also would be sacrificed, for the +few boats we had were in so bad a condition that they would scarcely be +able to carry even half the people we had on board. For my own part, I +did not feel that I had many more hours, or I might say minutes, to +live, for I always held to the opinion that a captain should always be +the last to leave his ship, and not then till he has seen to the safety +of all those entrusted to his care. + +On we glided--not very fast though. I stood conning the ship; sometimes +we passed so close to shoals and rocks that we could have thrown a +biscuit on them, and still the lumbering old Saint Domingo floated free. + +At length we were once more in four fathoms of water, then in five; but +still I did not feel that we were clear of danger; there might be other +reefs running across from the island to the main which might bring us +up. I however began to breathe more freely, and the faces of my +officers wore a more satisfied expression. Still we had many a turn and +twist to make, but with a leading wind we had little difficulty in doing +this. "Breakers ahead!" sang out Grampus from forward. + +"Starboard the helm," was my reply. + +"Starboard it is," cried the man at the wheel. + +"Breakers on the larboard bow!" + +"Port the helm." + +"Port it is," was heard along the deck, and so we glided by danger after +danger till all were passed, and I breathed freely at finding the ship +at length clear of the island. I then once more hauled in for the land +to try and ascertain our situation; but the weather came on so thick +again with heavy squalls that I was compelled very soon to stand off +once more, still ignorant of where we were. + +My difficulties were not over. At 5 p.m. the mizen-yard was carried +away in a heavy squall, though happily no lives were lost by the +accident. While we were endeavouring to repair the damage it fell a +stark calm, and the old galleon began to roll away awfully in the swell. +I at once ordered the lead to be hove, for I knew that there were +treacherous currents hereabouts. + +I had soon proof of this. The first cast gave us thirteen fathoms; very +soon we had ten, eight, and so on, till we shoaled the water to five +fathoms. I guessed that we should very soon be on shore if this +continued, so I saw that I must resort to the only alternative of +anchoring, a dangerous proceeding in the uncertain weather we were +having. Still I held on as long as I could, and hoped for a slant of +wind to enable me to beat off. My hopes were in vain. It was near +midnight, when a heavier gust than we had yet had struck the ship, and +soon the man with the lead gave notice that we had shoaled our water to +three fathoms. Not a moment was to be lost, so I gave orders to clew up +all our canvas and to let go the best bow anchor. This was done without +delay. Our cable held on, but I soon discovered that a strong current +was setting past us to the east-south-east, at the rate of three knots +an hour, which, should our anchor not hold, would very soon send us on +shore. + +I at last began to feel as if my anxiety would break me down, as all the +dangers with which we were surrounded were brought to my thoughts. We +had a dark night, a heavy gale of wind, a lee-shore, a strong current, +untried and probably not over-good ground tackle, and a great +uncertainty as to our position. Added to this, I had under my command a +vessel worth four hundred thousand pounds, and between thirty and forty +lives entrusted to my care. Our anchor held, but not without dragging +slightly. Anxiously I walked the deck and waited for break of day. I +thought it would never come. It did at last, however, and revealed a +sight sufficient to make the stoutest heart quake. Scarcely more than a +cable's length from the ship appeared a ledge of rocks over which the +waves were washing with sullen roars, while the log hove overboard +showed me that there was a strong current setting towards a high rocky +bluff land dead to leeward of us. Towards it the ship was surely though +slowly dragging her anchor. One thing only could save us. We must +without delay get sail on her. We tried to weigh the anchor, but soon +abandoned the attempt as hopeless. I called the officers round me, in a +few words explained our position, then sent every man to his station. +Nol Grampus stood, axe in hand, ready to cut the cable as I gave the +word. Two good hands were at the helm. The men were aloft, ready to +loose sails. I waited till the ship's head tended off the land, then at +a wave of my hand the sails were let fall and sheeted home, down came +old Nol's gleaming axe, the end of the cable disappeared through the +hawse-hole, the sails filled, and away glided the big ship from the +threatening rocks. Still she was not free from danger. I held my +breath, as did every seaman on board, as we gazed at the bluff land it +was necessary to weather. The current set strongly towards it, a shift +of wind might yet cast away the ship. Down she seemed settling towards +it. We were doing our utmost to avoid the danger; we could not carry +more sail, the ship was kept as close as possible to the wind. Still we +had already escaped so many dangers before that I hoped we might this. +Higher grew the land frowning above us, nearer appeared the breakers. +In ten minutes I saw that our fate would be decided. The wind remained +steady. None of our gear gave way. The surf broke under our lee as we +glided by; we were safe; and once more reducing sail we stood out to +sea. We, however, were still in far from a pleasant position, or +rather, we could not tell in what position we were, and had every reason +to believe it a bad one. Various were the opinions broached on board as +to our whereabouts. Some thought we were in the Bay of Dulce; others +that the point we had just weathered was Point Manwick; while the +Spanish prisoners affirmed that we were certainly down in the bottom of +the Gulf of Honduras. I could scarcely believe that the currents and +gales we had encountered, strong as they were, could in so short a time +have drifted us so far out of our course. As the day drew on the +weather moderated, and the mists clearing away, we found ourselves +surrounded by a number of rocks and islands. The Spaniards nodded their +heads and affirmed that they were right in their assertions. +Fortunately the sun came out to settle the question. I was able to take +two altitudes, and found that we were abreast of the Island of Rattan. +Not long after this I got a sight of Truxillo Bay, the place the +commodore had appointed for the rendezvous. I accordingly ran in and +anchored there at six o'clock, hoping to find the rest of the squadron +in the place, but, much to my disappointment and surprise, not another +ship was to be seen. This being the case, I had to examine my officers, +to ascertain what I was next to do. Much to my satisfaction I found +that I was forthwith to proceed home to Falmouth, and, having reported +my arrival to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to await their +further orders. In consequence of this I immediately proceeded to wood +and water the ship. This was a long and tedious operation, for having +lost all our boats one after the other in the gale, I was obliged to +employ a couple of very frail canoes. I persevered, however, and by +working hard managed to make progress in the task. While some of the +crew were on shore cutting wood and filling the casks, others were +employed in towing them off in the canoes, which were likewise laden +with wood. Though I worked myself, for the purpose of setting an +example, I found time to make an excursion or two a little way into the +interior. I was accompanied by Martin, one of my master's mates, and a +great friend of mine. We took our guns with us and my dog Omoa, who had +now become much attached to me. The shores of this bay of Truxillo are +wild and desolate in the extreme. Nature here revels in perfect +freedom, and gigantic trees of all sorts tower up on every side. It is +a long way from any inhabited place; I had heard, however, that the +Spaniards once had a settlement here of considerable size, but it having +been attacked by the buccaneers and Indians, about a hundred years ago, +they were compelled entirely to abandon it; since which time nature had +resumed her original sway over the territory, and as we wandered through +the forest not a sign of human life or human industry did we for a long +time perceive. At length, however, landing one day at a different part +of the bay to that which we had before explored, about a quarter of a +mile from the beach, we came suddenly upon a high-built wall. A little +farther on we found ourselves walking over what had evidently been a +paved street of great length and breadth. In another minute we found +ourselves with the walls of houses on either side of us, the vast trees +growing out from among them and forming a sheltering roof with their +boughs, showing for how long a period they must have been deserted. +There were churches too, which we discovered to be such by their +construction and the massiveness of their walls; many of them of +considerable size, and built of well-burnt bricks. Altogether we were +struck by the elegance and substantial appearance of the different +buildings, so superior to those of modern architecture, and which +convinced us that we were standing in the midst of a once magnificent +and wealthy city. Its wealth had proved its destruction, and now, like +many of the cities of the ancient world, it had become the habitation +alone of the wild beast of the forest, the birds of the air, and the +reptiles which creep on the earth. I cannot properly describe my +sensations as I stood in the midst of that abandoned city; the scene was +so unusual and curious, there was so much beauty and elegance even in +the masses of ruins, and still more in the trees and shrubs which had +taken possession of these walls, once the abodes of men engaged in all +the active pursuits of life. I could not help picturing to myself what +it must have been like; what scenes were going on within it, such as are +enacted in most cities in the present day, when sudden destruction +overtook it. I learned a lesson, I drew a moral, and I received a +warning from the fate it told, from which I trust my readers will profit +likewise. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +VISIT RUINS OF TRUXILLO.--THE COMMODORE RECEIVES ME AND MY GALLEON WITH +JOY.--FEARFUL SICKNESS ON BOARD SQUADRON.--THE ISLAND OF RATTAN.-- +CAPSIZED IN A SQUALL.--SHIP RIGHTS.--BEAT OFF A PRIVATEER.--REACH +JAMAICA.--THE SAINT DOMINGO CONDEMNED, AND CARGO PLACED ON BOARD THE +ROTTEN LEVIATHAN.--REJOIN THE CHARON.--SAIL WITH CONVOY.--PIRATICAL +EXPLOITS.--SINKING OF LEVIATHAN, AND MY HOPES OF PRIZE-MONEY LOST.-- +REACH THE DOWNS, AND START FOR FALMOUTH. + +Whenever the duties of the ship would allow me to go on shore, I +repaired to the ruins of Truxillo, for I was never weary of wandering +among its deserted streets and exploring its shattered edifices. +Meantime the repairs of the ship went on as expeditiously as possible, +and by the 16th of November we had set up our rigging, got all the wood +and water we could stowaway on board, and made every other requisite +preparation for encountering a winter passage to England. I had +arranged to sail the next day, when at noon it was reported to me that a +brig was seen standing into the bay. + +"Make the signal for the people to hurry on board," was my reply as I +went on deck. + +Having examined the stranger through the glass, I thought she looked +suspicious, so I hoisted the private signal and waited with some little +anxiety to ascertain if it was answered. The fact that we had got +possession of the Saint Domingo, with all her wealth on board, would be +known to the Spaniards, and if they should discover that she was +separated from the rest of the fleet, they would very naturally send in +quest of her. The signal was not answered. "My lads, I suspect we +shall have a fight for it," I sung out, as I gave the order to prepare +for action, resolved to put the ship in as good a state of defence as +circumstances would allow. The ship was armed with sixteen +four-pounders, and four six-pounders, besides swivels and cohorns. I +first got springs on my cables, so as to have complete command over the +ship, and as I had not men sufficient to fight all the guns, I ran them +all over on one side, in order to make the first broadside as formidable +as possible. I hoped thus to sink or disable our antagonist, or to make +her sheer off. Should she, however, venture to board, I had no fear, as +I felt certain that my men would not fear to encounter twice their +number. They were full of fight, and the way they went about their +preparations gave me every confidence that we should succeed. The brig +approached us with a great deal of caution. If we did not like her +looks, she evidently did not like ours. I knew that it would be best to +show I was ready for her, so as soon as she was within range of my guns +I hoisted my colours and fired a shot ahead of her. The next was a +moment of suspense, and I believe my people were not a little +disappointed when she hoisted an English ensign and fired a gun to +leeward. Having sailed close past us and hailed, she brought up at a +short distance from me. She then lowered a boat, and Lieutenant +Butcher, whom I had before met, came on board, and informed me that the +commodore had hired the brig and sent him in charge of her to look-out +for the Saint Domingo, which he had heard had been lost on the +Solomadinas, the most dangerous rocks on the coast. + +"A ship we spoke informed us that you had been seen to go on shore, and +we hoped that though the galleon might be lost, we might save some of +your lives," he added; "however, I am heartily glad to find you all +alive and the old craft afloat." + +"Not more glad than I am, that we have escaped all the dangers we have +encountered," I replied, and I told him of all the narrow escapes we had +had. + +He then informed me that the Charon and Lowestoffe had several times +nearly been lost, and were now at Port Royal Harbour, in the Island of +Rattan. + +To that place I found that I was at once to proceed. I will not +describe all the incidents which occurred before I got there. I must +try and hurry on with my adventures, or I shall never bring them to an +end. + +By the 19th I got off the harbour, and, making a signal for assistance, +some boats came out to help tow me in, and by six o'clock I was safely +moored under the guns of the squadron. The commodore was delighted to +see me. I did not flatter myself so much because of my own merits, as +on account of the richly-freighted old galleon. However, I was not +addicted to trouble myself as to the cause of any attention I might +receive, or any compliments which might be paid me; but I always +received them with a good grace, as if they were invariably due to my +own especial merits. The commodore told me that he should at once send +me on to Jamaica, under convoy of the Lowestoffe, and gave me directions +to get ready again for sea. I had a number of visitors on board, who +came to congratulate me on my escape, and to have a look at the galleon, +which was much such a craft as some of the followers of Columbus might +have sailed in to conquer the New World. I found the squadron in a very +sickly state. No less than two-thirds of the crews were living on shore +in huts and tents, suffering from sickness, and since the time they had +left Omoa they had buried upwards of a hundred men, the master of the +Lowestoffe being among them. Altogether I know in a very short time +they lost one hundred and twenty men--while I had not lost one on board +the galleon. Rattan itself was not supposed to be unhealthy, but at +this time there were no inhabitants on it. When the war broke out with +Spain, one of her first acts was to attack our settlements on the coast +of Honduras, and totally to put a stop to our logwood trade. The +merchants and traders connected with that business accordingly earnestly +solicited the commodore to take possession of the Island of Rattan, +which is admirably placed to guard the entrance to the Gulf of Honduras. +It had belonged to the English in the late war, but by the treaty of +peace made at its termination it was restored to the Spaniards, or +rather abandoned, and all the works on it had been destroyed. In +consequence, however, of the requisition of the merchants which I have +spoken of, the commodore, on the 25th of November, 1779, again took +possession of it in the name of his Britannic Majesty, and immediately +set to work to put the place in as good a state of defence as +circumstances would allow. A number of logwood cutters and other +settlers, as well as some merchants and traders, had already arrived +there. These were at once regularly drilled and taught the use of their +arms. Each of the ships of the squadron also launched two of their +guns, which we mounted on the works for the defence of the harbour, +while they were furnished likewise with an abundant supply of ammunition +and stores of all sorts. The harbour of Port Royal is, without doubt, +as good a one as any in the West Indies, and so well formed is it by +nature for defence, that with a small amount of art employed on it, I +should think that it might be made perfectly impregnable from any attack +by sea. At the time of which I speak the island was entirely +uncultivated, and produced only the trees and shrubs nature had planted +there; but from what I saw of the soil and from what others who knew +more about agricultural affairs than I did, I had no doubt that in a few +years it would become a very flourishing spot, and amply repay the +planters who might settle on it. Just now it was serving as the +burial-place of many poor fellows, who were carried off day after day by +the malignant fever which had got among them. It was sad to go on shore +to visit the sick and dying, and all the time to feel that one could be +of no use to them. I had seen a good deal of that sort of thing lately, +but it had not hardened my heart. At last I scarcely went on shore at +all. Nothing I found so depressing to my spirits as to see the long +rows of graves beneath which so many of my poor countrymen were +sleeping, and still more to see them day by day increasing in number. + +While I was getting ready for sea, the Charon, having taken on board the +whole cargo of the Saint Joseph galleon, sailed with the purpose of +proceeding at once to England, leaving the Pomona at Rattan, to bring +off the sick as soon as it was deemed practicable and safe to remove +them. + +On the 26th of November, having taken leave of the commodore and saluted +him with three hearty cheers, such as he well deserved, and having on +board several passengers, some of whom were taken prisoners at Omoa, I +put to sea in company with the Lowestoffe. Scarcely had I done +breakfast next morning, and was congratulating myself on having a +pleasant run to Jamaica, when Nol Grampus entered my cabin with the +pleasing intelligence that the Saint Domingo had sprung a leak. +"Allowing to her being manned by heretics, as the Spaniards would say," +I exclaimed petulantly as I hurried out, and with the carpenter +endeavoured to ascertain where the injury was to be found. At the same +time I set both the pumps going; but do all we could, we could not keep +the leak under. At length I most unwillingly gave orders to hoist the +signal of distress. As soon as it was seen on board the Lowestoffe her +boats were sent to my assistance. + +On inquiring among the Spanish prisoners I found from them that she had +been struck by lightning in the harbour of Omoa, and had been injured in +some place aft. On examining I discovered the injury to exist under the +larboard counter, and having got some lead nailed on over the leak, I +soon had the pleasure of seeing the water sensibly decrease. One danger +over, it was not long before I had to encounter another of a still more +serious nature, and I had great reason to fear that after all I had gone +through I should still not succeed in carrying my prize into port. Had +I been followed by the curse of some revengeful old witch I could +scarcely have been compelled to encounter more difficulties and mishaps; +such a witch as Shakespeare describes as sailing in a sieve, and like a +rat without a tail doing something dreadful. + +On the 29th the wind was favourable and light, and the big galleon was +gliding swiftly over a smooth, laughing sea, when, the decks having been +washed down, I was taking a turn, as was my custom before breakfast, +with Martin. + +"Fine weather, sir," he remarked. "After all our mishaps there seems a +fair prospect of our getting into port in safety." + +"There's many a slip between the cup and the lip, and for my part I +never again will make sure of a thing till I have got it in my hand, and +then I should look very sharp that it does not jump out again," was my +answer, for I was, I own, beginning to be discontented with sublunary +affairs in general. + +"Oh, no fear now, I think, but what we shall get the rich old galleon +safe into port at last, and some day touch the prize-money she will +bring us," remarked Martin, rubbing his hands at the thought of the +wealth he was about to obtain, and the way in which he would very soon +manage to get through it. + +"Breakfast ready, sir," said Tom Rockets, coming up to me and touching +his cap. He was doing the duty of Jenker, my steward, who had broken +his leg in one of the many gales we had encountered. + +I invited Martin to breakfast with me. When we left the deck the wind +was light and the sky had scarcely a cloud floating on it to dim its +splendour. We had finished a plate of scraped salt beef, and had begun +upon a salt herring, (what would I not have given for a fresh, juicy +mutton chop!) I had just taken a cup of coffee and Martin was helping +himself, holding up the coffee-pot, when I saw it and him and the +breakfast-things gliding away to leeward, and felt myself following +them. There was a terrific roaring sound and a loud rush of waters +almost overwhelming the shouts and cries of the people on deck. Over +went everything in a confused mass. I rushed out of the cabin, followed +by Martin, to ascertain what had occurred, though I had no doubt about +the matter. The ship had overset in one of the sudden squalls to which +these seas are liable. There she lay like a log, with her sails almost +in the water. She appeared to me to be going lower and lower every +instant. Nothing could exceed the confusion the deck presented. The +crew were rushing about and letting go any ropes they could lay hands +on, in accordance with the orders of the officer of the watch to take in +sail. The lady passengers were shrieking out for help as they paddled +about to leeward, and the men were in vain endeavouring to afford it, +shouting and striking out in the water and endeavouring to climb up +towards the weather bulwarks. + +"There go all our hopes of wealth," I thought to myself as I saw the +condition of the ship. Strange that that should be the first idea which +came into my head. I did not think that the ship would swim many +minutes longer. I looked out for the Lowestoffe. She was not far-off, +and was lowering her boats, to come to our assistance. Only one chance +of saving the ship remained. We must cut away the masts. I gave the +necessary order. While some of the crew set to work on the rigging with +their knives, I sung out for an axe. One had fallen overboard the day +before. Another was not to be found. + +"Can no one find an axe?" I sung out, not a little enraged. "Bear a +hand, then." + +Rockets was searching in one direction, Nol Grampus in others, with +several of the rest of the men, while I felt almost frantic, expecting +the ship to fill and go down every instant. The officers were hurrying +about for the same object. Were the ship to go down, I felt many lives +might be lost, for the frigate's boats could scarcely save all hands +with the passengers. The confusion and noise was increased, it must be +remembered, by the roaring of the wind and the dashing of the seas over +us. + +At last Grampus appeared with a couple of axes. I seized one and sprung +to the mainmast. He rushed forward. I had lifted up my gleaming +weapon, and was about to give the fatal stroke, when there was a sudden +lull of the wind, and the stout old galleon, no longer feeling its +pressure, sprang up and righted herself in an instant, sending a dozen +of the crew across the deck and all the passengers spinning about in +every direction. Except a little of the standing rigging cut, a few +shins broken, and a complete ducking received by all the passengers, no +damage had occurred. We soon got the lady passengers put to rights, and +seated on the hencoops, where they had been taking their breakfast, the +coffee-cups picked up, the men restored to their legs, and their cigars +re-lighted, and everything in its proper place, while the boats which +had been coming to our help returned to their frigate. + +"All's well that ends well," was Martin's observation when we again sat +down to a fresh supply of coffee, red herrings, and biscuits. + +Nothing else occurred till the 5th of December, when one of the Spanish +prisoners was found dead in his bed in the gun-room. + +On the 8th we made Jamaica, but were beating away under the south-west +end of the island, till the 15th, when I carried away my +fore-topsail-yard, and had to put into Bluefields Bay to repair the +loss. + +On the 16th we sailed again with the Lowestoffe. In the evening, as we +were pretty close in with the shore, the Lowestoffe signalised that a +suspicious schooner was in sight and made sail in chase. Scarcely had +we sunk her courses below the horizon when another vessel appeared from +under the land, standing towards us. She was also a schooner, and we +were not long in making up our minds that she was an enemy's privateer. +I did not fear her though. We loaded and ran out all our guns and +prepared for the encounter. I knew that my men would not yield while +the galleon kept afloat, and so I did not watch the Lowestoffe's +departure with so much anxiety as I might otherwise have done. Tom +Rockets and others were tightening in their waist-bands, fastening +handkerchiefs round their heads, feeling the edges of their cutlasses, +and making all the other usual preparations for a fight. + +The stranger came on boldly towards us. I had no doubt of the character +of the schooner, but as she sailed two knots to our one there was no use +in attempting to try and escape her. It was not long before she got +within gun-shot and exhibited her true character by running up the +Spanish ensign and by firing one of her bow-chasers at us. As our guns +would not carry so far as hers I let her come on considerably nearer +before I returned the compliment. The privateer, thinking that they +were going to make an easy victory of us, fired again, but the shot, as +had the first, flew wide of us. I saw that my people were impatient to +fire in return. + +"Hold fast, my lads," I cried out. "Let her come on a little nearer, +and we'll show her that she has caught a Tartar for once in a way." + +I waited for another ten minutes, but as I saw the way in which the +well-armed daring little craft approached us I could not help thinking +to myself, "I wonder whether this will be another slip between the cup +and the lip." I, of course, did not show what I thought. I now judged +that we had got her well within range of all our guns. Again she fired, +and the shot flew through our rigging. + +"Now give it her, my lads," I sung out. "Blaze away!" + +The men were not slow to obey the order. Our broadside told with +fearful effect. Many of our shot tore along her decks, killing and +wounding a considerable number of her crew. Notwithstanding this the +schooner stood after us. From the spirited way in which she came on I +thought that she must be American, and, knowing the rich prize we should +prove, had determined at all risks to get hold of us. She only carried +six guns, but they were heavier than ours, and while her crew were amply +strong to man them, mine could not fight more than half the guns we had. +The contest, therefore, was much more equal than at first appeared to +be the case. Still I had not much fear as to the results, especially if +the privateer really was Spanish, for however bravely or furiously +Spaniards come on, and however much bravado they make, I have always +found that they never can withstand English pluck and determination. As +soon as we had fired our first broadside we loaded again as fast as we +could, while the schooner gave us the contents of her three guns from +one side, and was about to keep away and run under our stern to fire the +three on the other--the first having done us no little damage, wounded +one of our masts, and cut a poor fellow almost in two--but just as she +was on the point of firing we let fly four or five of our after guns +right down upon her, and one of the shot striking the helmsman, knocked +him over, and before another man could take his place the schooner had +flown up again into the wind. Her starboard broadside not being loaded, +we were able to give her another dose before she was ready to fire, and +in the meantime the report of the guns being heard on board the +Lowestoffe, she was seen standing towards us under all sail. + +The privateer had now had quite sufficient taste of our quality, and +greatly to my vexation and to that, I believe, of everyone on board, she +hauled her wind and stood away from us on a bow-line, a point of sailing +on which we had no chance of overtaking her. We gave her, however, a +parting salute and three cheers and many a hearty wish that she had +stopped to receive the thrashing we all felt confident we should have +bestowed on her. + +The Lowestoffe soon came up and chased her for a few miles, having in +the course of it recaptured a prize which the privateer had just before +taken. Had not the captain of the Lowestoffe been apprehensive that +some more of these privateering gentlemen might try to get hold of my +tenderly-loved galleon, he would probably have continued the chase and +captured the schooner herself, but remembering that a bird in the hand +is worth two in the bush, he wisely would not allow himself to be +tempted on, but returned to keep ward and watch over me. + +"You said, sir, that there was many a slip between the cup and the lip," +observed Martin, as on the morning of the 18th December, 1779, we +sighted the entrance to Port Royal Harbour, Jamaica, and with a fair +breeze stood into it with our rich prize, followed closely by our +faithful guardian the Lowestoffe. + +"Yes, my boy, but we have not touched the rhino yet, and even then it +may be long before the sweets reach our mouth," was my answer. "So I +have always found it to be, and so I always expect to find it. These +bales of indigo which are said to be worth so much, are rather +cumbersome articles to put into our pockets and walk off with. The ship +has to cross the Atlantic and the cash has to pass through the hands of +merchants, and brokers, and prize-agents before we touch it." + +I little thought at the time how necessary my warning was, and how well +it was not to reckon too much on the riches which might so easily take +to themselves wings and flee away. Still, as I have before said, I +could not help believing that I should some day or other possess the +portion which was my due; and over and over again I conjured up the +delightful picture when I should find myself once more in America, no +longer as an enemy to her sons, but as the affianced husband of Madeline +Carlyon and the friend and companion of her kindred and people. + +In high spirits, therefore, and with no small amount of pride in my +heart, I sailed up the harbour and saluted Sir Peter Parker with +thirteen guns, which compliment he returned with eleven. After this +expenditure of gunpowder I hurried up to pay my respects to him, and was +received with all his usual kindness and urbanity. To my astonishment, +and somewhat, I own, to my disappointment, I found my own ship, the +Charon, at anchor among the rest of the fleet. I thought that she had +long ago sailed for England. On going on board I soon was made +acquainted with the cause of her return. On her passage through the +Gulf of Florida she had spoken HMS Salisbury, from which ship Captain +Luttrell gained the information that many very disparaging reports +reflecting on his honour were circulating in Jamaica respecting his +conduct at the taking of Omoa. This made him at once resolve to return +to the island, to vindicate his character. He immediately demanded a +Court of Inquiry, which was held on board the Niger, when he was +honourably acquitted of one and all the malicious charges alleged +against him. Officers, especially in the navy, would always do well to +imitate the commodore's conduct in this particular. All men may have +dirt thrown at them, but the honourable man will never allow it to +remain a moment longer than can be avoided, lest it should leave a stain +behind. + +Captain Luttrell's return to Jamaica had a considerable influence on my +fortunes. I was in high feather at having so far escaped all the +dangers of the voyage with the old Galleon, and was making every +preparation to fit her yet further for encountering the passage in +mid-winter across the Atlantic. During this period I had not altogether +an unpleasant time of it, for the merchants and planters of Kingston +were proverbially hospitable, and I had many friends among them, so that +every moment I could spare from my duties on board ship was occupied in +receiving the attentions and civilities they showered on me. This was +all very agreeable. I made haste to enjoy the moments as they passed, +for I expected to be at sea and far away in a very few days. My +pleasure was, however, of shorter duration even than I anticipated. I +met O'Driscoll one day, who had just come from the admiral. + +"I say, Hurry, my boy," he began; "do you know what they talk of doing +with your old galleon?" + +"Send her to sea at once, before her repairs are finished," I answered. +"It's the way they too often do things." + +"Not a bit of it," he replied. "They say that she is not fit to go to +sea, so they propose transferring her cargo to the old `Leviathan,' +which to my certain knowledge is very much out of repair, and sending +her home with it." + +"Some abominable job!" I exclaimed, stamping with rage. "It's too bad, +after all I have gone through, to deprive me of the credit I ought to +have gained. I won't believe it." + +I soon found, however, that O'Driscoll's account was too true. A survey +was held on the Saint Domingo, and she was condemned as unfit to proceed +on her voyage to England. Her cargo, consisting of twelve hundred and +thirty-two saroons of indigo, and a large quantity of sarsaparilla and +hides, was put on board HMS Leviathan, and her captain was to have three +thousand pounds freight. I protested as loudly as I could against this +decision. I asserted that the Saint Domingo was far more calculated to +take home so valuable and bulky a cargo than the Leviathan, or any other +man-of-war, and I undertook, with twenty of my people, who had been in +her already for three months, to carry her across the Atlantic in +safety. All I could say was of no avail. Not only I, but many other +officers said the same thing. The affair was decided against us, and I +saw, with no small regret, the whole of the Saint Domingo's cargo +transferred to the rotten old Leviathan. + +On the 16th of January, 1780, having given up the hull of the Saint +Domingo to our agent at Jamaica, I joined the Charon, with my two +followers, for the first time since my appointment to her. On the next +day we sailed from Port Royal, in company with his Majesty's ships Ruby, +Lyon, Bristol, Leviathan, Salisbury, James, Resource, Lowestoffe, +Pallas, Galatrea, Delight, and about ninety sail of merchant vessels. +Except the capture of a Spanish privateer, and a vessel laden with +mahogany, nothing particular occurred till the 9th of February, in +latitude 29 degrees north, and longitude 72 degrees west, when the +admiral and his squadron put about to return to Jamaica, leaving us and +the Leviathan in charge of the convoy, to pursue our way to England. + +We had hard work enough in keeping our convoy together, and in whipping +up the laggards. In spite of the danger they ran of being picked up by +privateers, some were continually getting out of the order of sailing. +The Leviathan kept ahead, and led as well as she could, while we did the +duty of huntsman, or of whipper-in. One night when it was my watch on +deck, as I was keeping a bright look-out in all directions, I saw the +flash of a gun on our lee quarter, and the sound directly after reached +my ears. It was, it struck me, from a petronel, or some small piece of +ordnance such as merchantmen carried in those days. I reported the +circumstance to Captain Luttrell, who ordered me at once to make sail in +that direction. One or two other shots followed, and I could just +discern the flashes of pistols, though the reports did not reach our +ears. The night was very dark, but we were able to steer clear of some +of the convoy, which had been near us on our lee quarter. I had +carefully taken the bearings of the spot where I had seen the flashes. +We were not long in getting up to it. There was a large barque under +sail, steering somewhat wildly, but still keeping after the fleet. We +hailed as we got close to her, but received no answer. A second time we +hailed, still louder, but there was no reply. We then fired a shot +across her bows, but she stood on as before. On this the captain +directed me to take a boat and board her. There was not much sea, but +in the wild way in which she was steering about, and in the extreme +darkness, this would, I knew, be no very easy matter. However, singing +out for volunteers, I soon had eight good hands to man a boat, and away +we pulled towards the barque. As we got near I again hailed. As +before, there was no reply. At last, watching the proper moment, I +pulled in towards her, and hooked on to her mizen-chains. We soon, with +lanterns in hand, scrambled on board. As I was hurrying along the deck, +I stepped on some substance which very nearly made me measure my length +on it. I called to Tom Rockets, who was of course near me, to throw the +light of his lantern on the spot. It was blood. There could be no +doubt of it. The deck in several places was moist with the same, but +yet no one had we seen. Aft there was no one. The helm was lashed +amidships, and the ship was left to steer herself. Ordering a hand to +the wheel, to keep her close after the Charon, I again traversed the +deck to examine her forward. On my way I stumbled over two human forms. +The light of the lantern, which fell on their countenances, showed me +that they were not Englishmen--dark-bearded, swarthy fellows, dressed in +true buccaneer style. I had little doubt that they were pirates, or +belonging to the crew of one of the Spanish privateers, most of which +deserved no better character. Farther on were two or three English +seamen, so they seemed. Here evidently had been a desperate fight, but +it was too clear which party had gained the victory. Two other bodies +were found locked in a deadly embrace--an English seaman and a Spaniard. +One had been endeavouring to force the other overboard. The Spaniard's +knife was sticking in the Englishman's throat, but the latter had not +died till he had strangled his antagonist. A few moments sufficed to +reveal this tale of horror. I looked out to endeavour to discern the +pirate. I fancied that I could make out the sails of a fore and aft +vessel to leeward, but when I looked again I could see nothing of them. +I had now to examine the vessel below. I went aft into the cabin. +There also had been a desperate struggle. The master apparently had +been surprised in his cot, and lay half out of it, stabbed to the heart. +Several passengers had sprung out of their berths, it seemed, and been +shot or stabbed before they could reach the door of the cabin. The +mate, I judged, and two other men, lay in a pool of blood just inside +the door. They had retreated there, fighting for their lives. The +table and chairs were upset and broken. One of the pirates had fallen, +and so hurried had been the retreat of his companions that they had been +unable to carry him off. He still breathed when I threw the light of +the lantern on his face, but the moment he was moved he fell back and, +with a deep groan, died. I marched through the whole of the vessel; not +a living soul was found on board. On returning on deck, I again looked +out for the pirate--not that I had much hopes of seeing her. All +appeared dark to leeward, the Charon's stern lanterns only being visible +just ahead of me. As I was peering into the gloom, suddenly a bright +light burst forth, as it seemed, out of the ocean. Up it rose, +increasing in size, a vast mass of flame into the air. I could +distinguish, with the greatest clearness, the masts and spars and canvas +of a schooner, lifting upwards high above the surface of the dark sea. +Then they seemed to separate into a thousand fragments, and to fall down +in showers of sparks on every side. For a moment I was in doubt whether +what I saw was a reality or some hallucination of the mind, such as the +imagination of a sleeper conjures up, but from the exclamations I heard +around me I was soon convinced that the pirate crew who had effected all +the mischief we had witnessed had met with a sudden and just retribution +for their crimes, and that they and their vessel had been blown up. + +The next morning a midshipman and ten men were sent to relieve me, and +to take charge of the barque, which proved to be a vessel bound for +Bristol. Sad was the tale she would have to convey to the wives and +families of her officers and crew. On the 20th a signal of distress was +seen flying on board one of our convoy. A couple of boats were manned, +and I pulled away to her assistance. As we got near we saw the crew +waving to us, some in the rigging, and some leaning over the sides. Her +boats, I concluded, had been knocked to pieces in a gale. At all events +none were lowered. The people waved and shouted more vehemently than +ever. They had good reason for so doing. I saw by the way that the +vessel was labouring, and by her depth in the water, that she was on the +point of sinking. Already she had given one or two ominous rolls. I +cried out to my men to pull up alongside as fast as they could. We were +soon up to her. "Leap, leap!" was the shout. I was afraid that the +boats might get foul of some of the rigging, or be drawn into the +vortex. Not a moment was to be lost. The merchantman's crew saw their +danger, and threw themselves headlong over the bulwarks. The deck was +already almost awash with the sea. Some reached the boats unhurt, +others got much bruised, and two poor fellows plunged into the water. +One of them sank before we could get hold of him, and the other we had +considerable difficulty in saving from the vortex made by the foundering +ship. + +"Shove off! shove off!" I had to cry out. "Give way--give way, my +lads!" + +We had barely time to get clear of the vessel before she gave a terrific +roll, her stern lifted, and down she went, as if dragged by some +invisible power towards the depths of the ocean. We hurried back to the +Charon, without attempting to pick up anything, for the weather was +coming on bad, and the boats were already as full as they could hold. I +could not help remarking how little the men seemed to care for the loss +of their ship. Most of them grumbled about losing their bags, but as to +any thought of gratitude for their preservation, it did not seem to +occur to them that there was any necessity for feeling it. Had no other +ship been near, or had their vessel gone down in the night, not one of +them would have been saved. + +"Oh, they are a precious rough lot, are my men," observed the master. +"There's nothing they wouldn't do, and nothing they care for." + +I thought as he spoke that he was precious rough himself, and that it +was very much owing to him, and men like him, that merchant-seamen are +so often little better than barbarians--without a thought of religion, +or a knowledge of a future life. Several more days passed by, and we +were making good progress. I little guessed what was in store for us. +Often, as I kept my midnight watch, my thoughts flew to Madeline +Carlyon, and I delighted to picture to myself the happiness which I +anticipated when I should one day be united to her. Of course I could +not tell how or when that was to be, but I had so often and so long +dwelt on the subject that I began to consider my union with her as a +settled thing, that was to be a reality. Of one thing I was most +certain, that she fully returned the affection I had bestowed on her. I +pictured to myself how delightful it would be to bring her over to +England as my wife--to introduce her to my father and mother and my +relations, and to witness the admiration I was certain they would bestow +on her. However, I did not intend to trouble my readers with a minute +account of my own private thoughts and feelings, and yet, had I +neglected to speak again of Miss Carlyon, I might have been accused of +having heartlessly forgotten one for whom I had before expressed so +ardent an affection. Most of my hopes of the successful termination of +my love were based, it must be remembered, on the fortune which floated +within the ribs of the huge Leviathan, and then my feelings may well be +imagined, when, on the morning of the 24th of February, I saw a signal +of distress flying on board her. I instantly communicated the +circumstance to Captain Luttrell, who ordered all our boats to go to her +aid. What was the matter we could not tell. Some thought a fire might +have broken out among her cargo--others that she had sprung a leak. At +all events it was very evident that her demand for relief was urgent. +The boats were speedily lowered. Several of the merchantmen were +sending off theirs also, and away we pulled towards her as fast as we +could. I was the first on board. I found all the men with their bags +on deck, and the officers collected with traps of all sorts. I did not +see the captain and first lieutenant. The second lieutenant I knew, and +spoke to him. + +"We have been holding a council of war, and it has been resolved to +abandon the ship, as there does not appear to be the slightest prospect +of being able to keep her afloat a day or perhaps an hour longer," he +remarked with a look in which I thought that there was some little +amount of shame mingled. "You see, it would not do to risk the lives of +the people, or our own either, on the mere chance of keeping the old +ship afloat a few days longer at most. The cargo they have put into her +is more than she can carry--that is very evident." + +"Yes, indeed--that ought to have been known before?" I exclaimed, +stamping with my foot vehemently on the deck. I could not for the life +of me help the action. "And is this valuable cargo to be allowed to +sink to the bottom of the sea without anyone straining a muscle to save +it? That shall not be, and though every body else is afraid of +remaining on board, I'll undertake to stay by her and do my best to keep +her afloat." + +"You'll make your offers to your own captain, sir," said the captain of +the Leviathan, who just then appeared on deck. "If he thinks fit to +accept them, he must be answerable for your life. My officers and I +have come to the decision that to remain on board is certain +destruction. No human power can keep the ship afloat." + +To all this I of course said nothing. I had been too long a midshipman +not to know that the less a subordinate differs with his superior +officer the better. I therefore merely stated that the boats I +commanded were at the captain's disposal, to convey him and his people +on board the Charon, or any of the vessels in the convoy. + +The captain, I thought, looked not a little sheepish, though he tried to +brazen it out by as pompous a manner as he could assume. For want of +sufficient courage and energy he was not only losing three thousand +pounds, which he would have received on arriving in England, but +allowing a number of other people to lose the hard-won wealth which +might have been theirs. It was a very bitter subject to think of, I +know. The captain had made up his mind to abandon the ship, and +accordingly every boat alongside as well as their own was filled with +the men and their bags, and the officers and their private effects. +Many preferred taking passages in the merchantmen rather than be crowded +up and subject to the discipline of a man-of-war. The captain of the +Leviathan resolved on going on board the Charon, and when he got there +it struck me that Captain Luttrell received him with an expression of +scorn on his countenance which I thought he fully deserved. The men who +had been in the boats declared that from what they saw of the old ship +she would, with a good crew on board, be able to swim for many a day to +come. I of course did not keep silence, but complained bitterly among +my shipmates of the cowardice which had caused so valuable a cargo to be +deserted. Finding that I could get plenty of support I resolved to ask +Commodore Luttrell to let me go on board and try and save the cargo. +When I expressed my intention the whole ship's company begged that they +might be allowed to go with me. I told them that I would take as many +as I could. The commodore, who had been hearing all the reasons given +by the captain of the Leviathan for deserting her, at first tried to +dissuade me from going, but when he found that I persisted, in his usual +kind way he told me that I might take fifty men, and that he heartily +wished me success in my enterprise. By the time I had selected my crew +and got the boats in the water it was quite dark. My object was to try +and keep the ship afloat during the night, and in the morning to +endeavour to discover where the worst leaks were to be found. I had but +two boats, so that I could only take part of my crew at a time--the +boats were to return for the rest. We shoved off with the full +intention of saving the old ship. I felt sure I could do it. Nol +Grampus and Tom Rockets were with me, and all were men I knew I could +trust. The night was somewhat dark, and there was a good deal of sea +on, so that the danger we had to encounter was not small. As we drew +near the abandoned ship I saw that she was tumbling about and rolling in +a fearful manner. Even in daytime, when we could have watched her +movements and better calculated the proper moment to pull up alongside +and hook on, the risk would have been very great, and now it was +positively terrific. Now the ship came down with a roaring slush into +the sea, as if she was never coming up again, and then suddenly she rose +and away she rolled over on the other side, lifting her keel almost out +of the water. Still to go back was impossible--I could not bring myself +to do it. At every risk I determined to get on board. I watched +anxiously for the moment. She seemed to be rolling away from us, and I +calculated that we should have time to spring on board just as she +returned. + +"Now, my lads, give way!" I sang out. + +They did give way, poor fellows. A sea sent us closer up alongside than +I expected. Over again rolled the vast lumbering hull--down--right down +upon us it came. Oh, mercy! A cry of horror rose--shrieks for help. +The boat was dashed to fragments and pressed under the ship's bilge. I +found myself struggling in the waves with my poor fellows around me. I +made a desperate effort to reach the main-chains. Now I was driven +back, and all I could see was the dark hull of the old ship rolling +above me, and I seemed to be sinking down into total darkness. Then the +sea lifted me in its rough embrace just as I thought my last moment had +come, and carried me right up to the very spot at which I was aiming. +My struggles had so much exhausted my strength that I do not think I +could have grasped it, but a strong arm seized mine and lifted me up, +and a voice I recognised as that of Nol Grampus exclaimed-- + +"All right, mate, here you are!" + +Tom Rockets had just before reached the same place, and together they +hauled me up out of the water. Some of the other men had climbed up by +the main-chains, and others by the mizen-chains; but when we all at last +got on deck and I began to muster them, I found that seven poor fellows +were missing. There was no time to grieve about their loss. Our +business was to try and get the crew of the other boat--the jolly-boat-- +on board, and to set to work to see if the ship herself could be kept +afloat. Warning them of what had happened, we stood by with ropes to +tell them to approach at the proper time. I waited till the ship was +actually rolling over on that side, and then singing out to them they +got alongside just as she was on an even keel. They were not many +moments in scrambling on board. The boat's falls were happily rove, so +we hooked on and hoisted her up out of harm's way. Not a boat belonging +to the ship remained, and here was I in a sinking craft, with only +twenty-two men instead of the fifty I had expected to have to stand by +me--a dark night--a heavy sea--a gale brewing--not far from an enemy's +shore--not that that mattered much, by-the-bye. Still, thinking about +our condition would do no good--action was what was required. My first +care was to sound the well. There were nine feet of water in the hold. +It was no wonder she tumbled about in the strange way she was doing. It +was only surprising that she kept afloat at all. Grampus proposed +returning to the Charon for more people; but as I thought very likely, +when Captain Luttrell heard that so many had been lost, he would not +allow any more to come, I would not let him go. Besides, I had no fancy +to be left in a sinking ship, without even a boat to take my people and +me off, should she, without more warning, go down. Instead of that I +made my men a speech--a very short one, though--told them that if we set +to work with a will we might yet, without further aid, keep the old +Leviathan at the top of the water till the morning, when more hands +would come to our assistance, and we might probably save some of the +rich cargo on board. They at once saw the justness of my remarks, and +they knew that the Charon had no other boats remaining in which the rest +of those who had volunteered could come to our assistance. Accordingly, +having trimmed sails as well as could be done to keep way with the +convoy, I ordered the pumps to be manned, and we all set to with a will. +Everyone worked as if they felt their lives depended on it; so they +did, I was convinced, for had we relaxed for ten minutes the old ship +might have given one plunge too much and gone down. I took my spell +with the rest, or rather, I may say, that I and all the rest laboured +away with scarcely an interval of rest. After two hours' hard pumping I +sent Grampus to ascertain whether we had in any way diminished the water +in the hold. All we had done was to get it under about a foot. From +the quantity of water we had pumped out I therefore knew that the leak +or rather leaks must be very bad ones. Still, if I had had my fifty men +with me, I should have been able, I was sure, unless the weather came on +very bad, to keep the leaks under. However, I resolved to keep up my +own spirits and those of the people with me as well as I could. Now and +then I shouted out a few words of encouragement, then I sang a few +snatches of some well-known song, or cut a joke or two suited to the +taste of my followers. This kept them in good spirits and prevented +them from thinking of the dangerous predicament in which we were placed. +Hour after hour dragged its heavy footsteps along, and often I felt so +weary that I thought I must throw myself down on the deck and give in. +Then I would take a few minutes' rest, sitting on a gun, and go at it +again. + +Everything contributed to make me persevere, and not the least, I must +own, was my anger and disgust at the shameful and cowardly way in which +the ship had been abandoned. Oh, how I wished for daylight! and yet +daylight I knew was far-off. I kept Grampus and Rockets near me that I +might send them, as might be necessary, to ascertain the state of +affairs in different parts of the ship. In a small craft I might more +easily have known what was going forward, but in a huge lumbering ship +like the Leviathan I could not tell what might be occurring. When the +condition of a ship has become desperate, sailors have very often broken +into the spirit-room, and, getting drunk, have allowed her to sink with +them. I had my fears that my poor fellows, when they became weary, +would be guilty of some similar excess. + +"Well, Grampus, how is the ship getting on?" I asked, after he had +returned from one of the trips on which I had despatched him. + +"The old craft is sucking in almost as much water as our fine fellows +drive out of her, sir, but for all that there isn't one of them shirking +his duty," he answered, in a cheerful voice. "If we could have a glass +of grog apiece served out among us, I don't think as how it would do us +any harm." + +"I'll see to it," I replied. "Here, give me a spell; I'll get some +myself from the spirit-room." Searching about I found a can, and +lantern in hand I descended to the lower regions of the ship. As I +groped my way there, the strange noises which assailed my ears--the +creakings, the groans, the wash of the water--almost deafened me. I +felt strongly inclined to turn back, for I could not help fancying that +the ship was that instant about to go down. The air, too, was close and +pestiferous, as if all the foul vapours had been forced up from the +inward recesses of the hold. She continued pitching and rolling in a +way so unusual that I could scarcely keep my legs. This was owing to +the unseamanlike mode in which the cargo had been stowed: indeed, a ship +of war was not calculated to carry a cargo at all, in addition to her +own stores, water and ammunition. + +At length I filled my can and returned with it on deck, filling it up on +my way at one of the water-casks. Then I went round and served it out +to the people, and never was grog more thankfully received. It did them +all a great deal of good, and I am certain that on this occasion, by +pouring the spirit down their own throats, they were enabled to get a +great deal more of the water out of the ship. I took very sparingly of +it myself, for I never was in the habit of taking much liquor of any +sort, and I felt the vast importance, under present circumstances +especially, that it was for me to keep my head cool. Not only on this +occasion, but on all others did I feel this; indeed, though the licence +of the times allowed a great deal of hard drinking on shore, I held the +vice in just abhorrence. In the navy especially, more men have been +ruined body and soul by drunkenness than by any other way, and many a +fine fellow who would have been an ornament to his profession have I +seen completely lost to it and to his country by giving way to the vice. +I will say that I considered it very creditable to my fellows that, +although they might at any time have found their way to the spirit-room, +they never for a moment left the pumps, and only took the grog I served +out to them. + +Even the longest night must have an end. It was with no little +satisfaction and gratitude also that I hailed the first faint streaks of +light in the eastern sky. As the light increased, and I saw that we +were surrounded by a number of vessels, with the Charon at no great +distance, my spirits rose, and instead of wishing at once to abandon the +Leviathan I bethought me that it still might be possible to get some of +her cargo out of her before she went to the depths below, if go she +must. Grampus agreed with me that this object might be effected. I +signalled my intentions accordingly to the Charon, and very soon I had +the satisfaction of seeing the commodore speaking a number of the +merchantmen. They quickly replied, and he then signalled to me to set +to work and get up the cargo as fast as I could. I could have wished to +be supplied with more men, but, weak-handed as I was, after my faithful +fellows had taken such food as could be found for breakfast, we set to +work and rigged tackles and cranes to hoist up the indigo and +sarsaparilla and anything on which we could lay hands. It was heavy +work, for the old ship was still rolling very much, and we were all +pretty well knocked up with what we had gone through in the night. The +appearance of half-a-dozen boats or more, however, pulling towards us +gave us fresh spirits. We sang away cheerily as we got saroon after +saroon of indigo up on deck. This was, however, only part of the +labour; the greatest difficulty was to lower them into the boats. The +wind fortunately fell, and I was able to get up altogether during the +day no less than 123 saroons of indigo, valued at sixteen thousand +pounds. Why more assistance was not given me I cannot say. I do not +like to dwell on the subject. In the evening the masters signalled to +their boats to return, and my people and I were left alone once more on +board the rotten old ship, with only the jolly-boat in which to make our +escape should she go down. As the sun set the sky looked very windy, +and there was considerably more sea than there had been all day. I +called Grampus to my councils. He agreed with me in not at all liking +the look of the weather. The people were ready to stay by me as long as +I thought fit to remain on board, but they had already begun to express +a wish to return to the Charon. + +Taking all things into consideration I resolved to follow this course, +and with a heavy heart ordered the people into the jolly-boat. I was +the last man to quit the ship, and as I went down the side I certainly +did not expect to see her afloat the next morning. I had no time, +however, for sentimental regrets, for the sea was getting up, the sky +was looking very wild and windy, and darkness was fast coming on. The +boat also was much overcrowded. We, however, left the Leviathan's side +without an accident, and pulled slowly towards the Charon. She lay +across the sea, and was rolling considerably when we got near her. We +pulled up under her quarter. The bowman stood up, boat-hook in hand, to +catch hold of the rope hove to us, when, losing his balance, he was +pitched overboard. In vain his mates forward tried to catch hold of +him; the next sea, probably, struck his head against the ship's side, +and he sank from our sight. While we were endeavouring to save him, +indeed, the boat herself very nearly capsized, when probably all or most +of us in her would have lost our lives. Happily, however, as it was, we +managed to scramble on board, and the jolly-boat was hoisted up safe. + +The commodore, as did my brother-officers, complimented me very much on +what I had done, but as I had been left alone, I thought very unfairly, +in my glory, I cannot say that I valued their compliments at a very high +rate. I knew that I had done my duty at all events, and that was enough +for me. Captain Luttrell, however, of his own accord agreed to remain +by the Leviathan till the morning, in the hopes of being able to get +more of her cargo out of her. Out of spirits at the loss of so many +poor fellows, and after all at having done so little, I entered the +gun-room. Supper was placed before me; I could scarcely touch it. +Getting rid of my wet clothes, I threw myself at last into my berth, and +scarcely had my head touched my pillow than I was fast asleep. Still +the thought of the Leviathan haunted me, and I continued dreaming of the +scenes I had gone through during the time I had been on board her. At +last I awoke, and, slipping on my clothes, found my way on deck. There +she lay--a dark, misty-looking object--rolling away even more violently +than before, so it seemed to me. Still she was afloat, and while she +remained above water I still had hopes of saving more of her cargo. As +I gazed at her a strange sensation came over me. I know that I began to +talk loudly and to wave my hand, and to play all sorts of antics. How +long I was doing this I do not know, when one of my brother-officers put +his hand on my shoulder and said, "You have had hard work, Hurry; bed is +the best place for you." I let him lead me below without a word of +remonstrance. It struck eight bells in the morning watch when I once +more awoke. I hurried on deck; the sky was dark and lowering--the +leaden seas tumbling about with snow-white crests, from which the foam +flew away to leeward, blown by a strong gale, which seemed every moment +increasing. We were still close to the Leviathan. I kept gazing at her +with a sort of stupid stare I dare say it looked like. + +"It will not do, Hurry," said Captain Luttrell. "We must give it up. I +cannot risk your life or those of any of our people on board the old +ship again." + +I was scarcely inclined to acquiesce in his remark. I wanted to make +another effort to save the ship, and regretted that I had not remained +on board all night. Just then she made two or three rolls heavier than +usual--a sea appeared suddenly to lift up her stern--she made a plunge +forward. I watched, expecting her to rise again--but no. It was her +last plunge. Like the huge monster from which she took her name, she +dived down beneath the waves; the waters washed over her decks; +gradually her masts sank till the pennant alone was to be seen streaming +upwards for an instant, till that also was drawn down to the depths of +the ocean. I could not help uttering a groan of grief, not for the +wealth which I thus saw engulfed beneath the waves, but for the +destruction of all the hopes I had been so fondly cherishing. + +The signal was now made for the convoy to continue on their course. The +bad weather which had been brewing now coming on, ship after ship parted +company from us, and at length, after a passage of six weeks, we reached +the Downs on the 21st of March without a single one of the convoy with +us. I had been absent from home just five years and a half. I had left +it a boy--if not in age, in habits and feelings; I had come back an +officer--bearing his Majesty's commission as lieutenant, with ideas +expanded and feelings wonderfully changed. Without any difficulty, the +moment I applied for leave Captain Luttrell granted it, and, taking Tom +Rockets with me, I set off immediately for London on my way to Falmouth. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +ADVENTURES ON THE ROAD.--WELCOMED AT HOME.--CONFESS MY LOVE FOR THE +LITTLE REBEL.--TOM'S GRIEF FOR HIS MOTHER'S DEATH.--HEAR OF CAPTAIN +COOK'S DEATH.--VISIT TO LONDON.--THE GORDON RIOTS.--ENCOUNTER WITH THE +MOB.--SAVE AN OLD GENTLEMAN IN HIS CARRIAGE.--GIVE HIM MY NAME.--WONDER +WHO HE CAN BE.--JOIN THE CHARON, CAPTAIN THOMAS SYMONDS.--SAIL FOR WEST +INDIES. + +Seldom, I suspect, have two rough-looking subjects made their appearance +at an inn in the great City of London than Tom Rockets and I must have +seemed when we arrived there by the Deal heavy coach on the evening of +the 22nd of March, 1780. Our faces were of the colour of dark copper, +and our beards were as rough and thick as holly bushes, while Tom +sported a pig-tail and love-locks, which he flattered himself would +prove the admiration of all the belles in his native village. They, at +all events, drew forth not a few remarks from the little errand-boys in +the streets of London, as we heard such remarks as, "There go two sea +monsters!" "Where can those niggers have come from?" "Look there, at +that sailor man with a bit of a cable fastened on to his pole!" More +than once Tom turned to try and catch hold one of the little jackanapes, +but he was off so fast down some lane or other that even Tom could not +overtake him. I advised him to give up the attempt, and to take their +impertinence coolly. I kept Tom by me wherever I went, for I felt +pretty certain that, should I once lose sight of him, he might never +find his way back to me. + +I cannot stop to describe all the sights we saw, and the places we +visited in the mighty metropolis. The town was talking a great deal of +a duel which had taken place the very morning of our arrival in Hyde +Park between Lord Shelbourne and Colonel Fullerton. The quarrel was +about some reflection which the latter gentleman had cast upon his +lordship. On the second shot the colonel hit Lord Shelbourne, who fell +to the ground, but the wound was not considered dangerous. I bethought +me of the duel I had fought when I was a boy, and that these two great +people were very little wiser than I was then. + +As soon as we could get places in the old coach we started for Falmouth, +intending to visit the remainder of the sights on our way back to the +ship. Away we rumbled, one fine morning, on board the big coach, as Tom +called it, with a guard behind well armed with a huge blunderbuss and a +brace of horse pistols. We stopped to change horses at an inn about +thirty miles from London. A long line of horses, with packs on their +backs, were collected in front of the stables to be watered. Twenty men +or so were lounging about, apparently belonging to them. Presently +there was a cry of, "The Custom-house officers! the Custom-house +officers!" The men ran up from all directions, unloosed the halters, +leaped on the backs of some saddle-horses standing ready, and the whole +party began to move along the road. They had not gone many yards when +another party of horsemen were seen galloping up from the direction in +which they were going. The smugglers--for such the guard told us they +were--turned round and dashed by us, but they were again met by another +party of Custom-house officers. Swords were drawn, pistols were fired, +the bullets came flying about the coach, greatly to the alarm of some of +the passengers, who cried out and begged the combatants to desist. Our +horses kicked and plunged, and nearly upset the coach. Tom and I could +not help wishing to join the skirmish, and had jumped off for the +purpose, though I had scarcely made up my mind with which party to side, +when some of the smugglers threw down their arms and cried peccavi, +while the rest tried to escape across the country over the hedges and +ditches. Some were caught, but several effected their escape. I was +well satisfied, when I had time to reflect on the matter, that I had not +had time to mix in the affray. Altogether, thirty horses were captured, +as were several of the smugglers, some of whom were wounded, as were +five or six of the horses. We were, when passing through Devonshire, +attacked by a party of highwaymen, but they, finding several armed men +on the top of the coach who did not look as if we would stand any +nonsense, thought it was wiser not to make any further attempt at +robbing us. These trifling circumstances were the only events which +occurred to us worthy of notice till we reached Falmouth. Tom +accompanied me to my father's house, for I wanted to show him to them +all, and also to ascertain whether his mother was living before I let +him go home. We had been so long without hearing that I could not tell +what might have occurred during our absence; my knees positively +trembled as I approached the dear old red-brick house, and I felt as if +I could scarcely walk up the flight of stone steps in front of it. The +door was open. A little child was playing on the steps, and when he saw +us he ran into the house, crying out-- + +"Oh, Grannie, Grannie! dear me, dear me! there are two big ugly +blackamoors a-coming!" + +Tom made a face, and looked at himself as if he did not much like the +compliment, though he might have felt he deserved it. I should have +caught up the little fellow and kissed him heartily, for I guessed that +he must be one of my dear sister Mary's children, and the first kindred +thing I had seen for many a long year. The cry brought out a neat, trim +old lady, in a mob cap. She gave me an inquiring glance through her +spectacles, and then, hurrying forward, caught me in her arms and kissed +me again and again on both cheeks in spite of my huge beard and +whiskers. + +"My boy, my boy! you've came back at last to your old father and mother, +bless Heaven far it?" she exclaimed, holding me at arms' length to +examine my features, and then drawing me to her again. Tom pulled off +his hat, and scraped his feet, and hitched up his trousers, and looked +as if he expected to receive a similar welcome. Poor fellow! his heart +yearned, I dare say, to have the arms of his own old mother round his +neck. My mother looked at him to inquire who he was, and when I told +her, an expression of sorrow crossed over her features, and I too truly +guessed that she had some sad tidings for him. She, however, summoned a +maid-servant, to whom she whispered a few words, and then told her to +take him into the kitchen and make him comfortable. My father was out, +but while I was sitting in the parlour I heard him come in. My mother +went out to tell him that I had arrived, and he came hurrying in with +steps far more tottering than was formerly his wont. He wrung my hand +with both of his for more than a minute. From the tremulous motion of +his fingers, and the tone of his voice and his general appearance, with +sorrow I observed that he was much broken and aged. Still his playful +humour had not deserted him, and he soon began to amuse himself by +cutting jokes on my swarthy features and unshorn visage. Mary's little +boy, Jack, in a very short time, became perfectly reconciled to my +looks, and came and sat on my knee and let me dance him and ride him, +and listened eagerly to the songs I sang him and the stories I told. +Though I had not had a child in my hands for I don't know how many +years, it all came naturally, and the little chap and I became great +friends. Only my sister Jane, the one just above me in age, was at +home. All my brothers were scattered about, some in England, others in +different parts of the world seeking their fortunes. I was in a great +hurry to talk to Jane about Madeline. I knew that she would sympathise +with me. I had not written home a word about her, for I knew that it +would never do to say that I had fallen in love with the daughter of a +rebel, as my feelings and motives and reasons would not fail to be +misunderstood. I thought that I would first interest Jane, and then +that we could win over my mother to listen to what we had to say, and +then that my father would easily be brought round. Of course I knew +that two important events must occur before anything I could say or do +would be of any use. The abominable war between England and the United +States must cease, and I must become possessed of a competence to +support a wife as I felt Madeline ought to be supported. + +I had not been long in the house before the news of my arrival had +spread among our friends and neighbours. Many came in to see the +long-absent sailor, as the ladies called me, and some to inquire about +their relatives, my old shipmates and comrades. Of too many, unhappily, +I could give but a bad account. Some had died of fever, others had been +killed fighting with the enemy, and many, knocked up by hard work and +disease, would, I thought, never return, or, if they found their way +home, it would be but to die. I tried, however, to make the best of all +the accounts I had to give, but I strained my conscience not a little a +times to do so. This was a moral cowardice, I own. I could not stand +the tears and sorrowful faces of friends when I would have wished to +have had smiles and laughter. Still there can be no doubt that the +truth should be spoken on all occasions, and I should, at every cost, +have had it out at once. After all, the worst was to have to tell poor +Tom that his mother was dead. For the life of me I could not do it, so +I got Jane to go and break the sad news to him. I knew that the good +girl would do it as gently as it could be done. She screwed up her +courage, and went into the kitchen and sat down, and began to tell him +how she was always talking of him, and hoping that he was a good lad, +and then how ill she had been. At last Tom got up-- + +"Oh, Miss Jane!" said he, almost choking, "I know by your looks what you +are going to tell me. Bless you for your kindness. The old lady has +gone to heaven; that's it, I know. She was a good mother to me, and I +don't care who knows, I would sooner by half have died myself. Bless +you, miss! Bless you, miss!" + +Then Tom sat down, and, putting his hands on the kitchen table, hid his +face in them, and by the working of his brawny shoulders I knew how much +he was affected. We left him to the care of our old cook, Betsy +Treggle, who, we knew, could minister to his sorrow better than we +could, and returned into the parlour. + +"Sailors have got hearts, I see," observed my mother. + +"I should think so, mother," said I; "the sea does not wash them away; +and yet there isn't a braver fellow ever stepped the deck of a ship than +the same Tom Rockets, who seems to be almost pumping his heart out +yonder." + +Then I gave them all an account of his adventure at the taking of San +Fernando D'Omoa, when he handed the Spanish officer a cutlass to fight +with him. In the first few days I was at home I was made more of than I +ever had been before in my life. Tom stayed on with us. He had now no +home to go to--no friends for whom he cared. He recovered his spirits +and became as great a lion among his class as I was among mine--indeed, +I suspect a far greater, as he made more than I could of all the +adventures he had gone through, and was eager to tell about. The days +passed by very pleasantly, but I felt a weight oppressing me, and could +not rest till I had unburdened my mind to Jane about Madeline early on. +At last I got her alone quietly, and told her all that had happened from +beginning to end, and all my hopes and fears and wishes. She listened +attentively. Her countenance changed its expression frequently as I +went on. I looked at her earnestly to try and discover what she +thought. + +"Oh, brother," she exclaimed at last, "I doubt not that she is a dear +charming girl. I doubt not that you love her, and that she is deserving +of your love, but she is the daughter of a rebel. She is living among +rebels; she will not leave them; but for you to go to them, to wed with +her would assuredly bring dishonour and disgrace upon your name." + +"Why, Jane, I did not expect you to speak thus," I exclaimed. "You are +hard upon me. I would not wish to go and live with rebels; but the +Americans will not be rebels much longer. We are pressing them hard by +land and sea, and they will soon come to terms. If they do not give in +I think we shall give up, for everybody is heartily sick of the war. +Nobody is gaining anything, and everybody is losing by it. Fighting the +French and the Spaniards is a very different thing. Everybody feels +that. It's all natural, you know." + +"I'm sure that I shall be glad to hear that the war is over," said Jane, +with a sigh, "but surely the Americans must be very wicked people to +behave as they have done to their lawful sovereign King George." + +"They say that he has been a very ill-advised King to behave as he has +done to them," I replied. "You see, dear Jane, that there are two sides +to every question; but do not let us discuss that matter just now. +You'll say that, for the sake of Madeline Carlyon, I am siding too much +with the Americans, but that is not the reason. I have been on the +spot. I know the feelings of both sides. I have seen how things have +been managed. I am sure the war can bring no honour or profit to +England, and I heartily wish that it was ended one way or the other." + +"So do I, brother, believe me," said Jane warmly; "and then, if Miss +Carlyon is all you describe her, I for one will cordially welcome her as +a sister if you can persuade her to come over here to visit our kith and +kin." + +I jumped up and gave Jane a hearty kiss when she said this. + +"Just like my own good sister," said I at the same time, and in a moment +I pictured to myself the happiness which would be mine, when perhaps in +that very room I might be introducing Madeline to my family. I forgot +that I was still a poor lieutenant--that the wealth I had so nearly +possessed, and had fought so hard to obtain, had gone to the bottom in +the old Leviathan--that I had saved but a few hundred pounds of +prize-money--that England and the American States were still actively +engaged in war--that the Atlantic still rolled between her and me, and +that her kindred would probably exert their influence to make her give +up all thoughts of one fighting on the side of their enemies. I was +young, and hope was bright, and difficulties and impediments were +speedily kicked away. Before another day Jane and I were talking away +as if my marriage with Madeline Carlyon was a settled thing. At last we +told our mother, dear old soul! She didn't see how it could be exactly, +but then that was her fault; and though she used to have some idea +formerly that the Americans were red, and wore leathern cloaks and +petticoats covered with beads and feathers, and painted their faces, +yet, as I assured her that Miss Carlyon was quite fair, and spoke +English like an English girl, she would be very glad to receive her as a +daughter, and for my sake love her very much. The toughest job was to +tell my father. I was half afraid how he would take the matter. He did +not scold me, or say I had been acting foolishly, but merely smiled and +remarked that he had heard of midshipmen falling in love before, and +that he had no doubt that Miss Carlyon was a very charming young lady; +but that when I brought her over as my wife he should be able to +pronounce a more decided opinion on the matter. There was, however, a +touch of irony in his tone which I did not altogether like. However, he +used after that to listen very patiently when we were all talking about +her, and, I flattered myself, began to take an interest in my project. +The days flew by very rapidly. I was invited out everywhere, and became +quite a lion, not only because I had been in so many engagements and +storms and dangers of all sorts, and had had so many hair-breadth +escapes, but more especially because I had actually seen and conversed +with General Washington. The young ladies, however, looked upon me as a +very insensible sort of a person, especially for a naval officer, and +could not in any way make me out. Of course, neither Jane nor my mother +and father said a word about Miss Carlyon, and so we let them wonder on +till I believe that I completely lost my character among them. Six +weeks thus passed rapidly away. The time thus spent was interesting to +me, but no events occurred of sufficient importance to describe to my +readers. My regular employment was to search the public papers for news +from America, to see how affairs were going in that country; and though +most naval officers would have been anxious for a continuance of the +war, my great wish was to discover signs that there was a probability of +its being brought to a conclusion. + +Since I had known Captain Cook I had always taken great interest in his +adventures, and just now the sad news arrived of his death on the island +of Hawaii, one of a group of newly-discovered islands in the Pacific +Ocean called the Sandwich Islands. Four of his marines were killed at +the same time. At first the natives treated him and his people as +divinities, but on some misunderstanding they furiously set upon Captain +Cook, and killed him with their clubs as he was retreating to his boat. +The Resolution and Discovery proceeded on their voyage under the command +of Captain Clerke, but he soon after dying at sea, Mr King took command +of the expedition. Captain Clerke was a very gallant fellow. I knew +him well. + +At last my leave was nearly up, and I had to set off to rejoin my ship, +allowing myself a few days to spend in London. Jane advised me to stop +at Bristol to visit our great-uncle, Sir Hurricane Tempest, but I +replied that I did not think the old gentleman would care about seeing +me, and I certainly should not find any pleasure in seeing him. + +"You don't know," she answered, laughing; "he might take a fancy to you +and make you his heir. He has asked me to visit him, and I think I +will, some of these days." + +"I hope that you will, Jane, dear," said I. "You are far more likely to +win an old man's heart than I am. I am as likely to become his heir as +Sultan of the Turks." + +Jane still further urged the point, but I only laughed and went on to +London without stopping to see him. + +On arriving in London, accompanied by Tom Rockets, I went to the house +of a relative of ours in Bloomsbury Square, one of the most fashionable +and elegant quarters of London. He and his wife were very grand people, +but they had a fancy for patronising celebrities small and great, and +having by some chance heard that I had seen a good deal of service, and +could talk about what I had seen, they begged I would come and see them, +and make their house my home. I took them at their word, though I think +they were somewhat astonished when Tom and I arrived in a coach with our +traps stored inside and out of it. They looked, at all events, as if I +had tumbled from the moon. However, I made myself perfectly at home, +and we soon became great friends. I was on the point of leaving them +when a letter reached me from Captain Luttrell, prolonging my leave, and +I found that I might have remained three weeks longer at home. When +they heard of it, they most kindly invited me to remain on with them. I +amused myself pretty well, after I had seen all the sights of London, by +wandering about and examining the outside, as it were, of the huge +metropolis. One of the places at which I found myself was the suburb of +Tyburn, to the north of Hyde Park. It was a considerable distance from +London itself, and well it might be, for here was the place of execution +of all ordinary malefactors. One day I was passing this spot when I saw +four carts approaching. In each of them were three persons sitting, +with their arms closely pinioned. On each side of the carts rode public +officers, the sheriffs, city marshals, the ordinary of Newgate, and +others. I asked a bystander where they were going and what was to be +done to them, for I did not know at the time that I was near Tyburn. + +"Why, of course, they are all going to be hung," was his reply. "We are +pretty well accustomed to such sights about here." + +"Are they all murderers?" I asked, thinking, perhaps, that they were a +gang of pirates. + +"No--oh no!" said my friend. "They are mostly guilty of robbery, +though. You will hear what they have to say for themselves before they +are turned off; I will learn for you, if you have a curiosity to know." + +He went away, and soon returned with a paper on which were written the +names of the malefactors and their crimes. One had stolen some wearing +apparel; another had robbed a gentleman of his watch on the highway; a +third had purloined some silks and ribbons from a shop, and so on. None +of the crimes, that I remember, were attended with violence, and most of +the criminals were mere lads, from seventeen to twenty years of age, and +only one or two above it. I remarked this to my companion. + +"Yes," he observed. "The older ones are too knowing to be caught." + +The poor lads seemed terribly agitated and cast down at their +approaching fate, and shed abundance of tears. One after the other was +led up to the fatal drop and cast off. I could not stop to see the end, +but hurried away. I had seen hundreds of my fellow-creatures die, but I +hoped that I might never again see any put to death as these were. + +After this I went down to Chatham to see how the ship was getting on, +and then returned to London. I found the city in a complete state of +uproar and confusion. It was on a Friday, the 2nd of June, when Tom and +I made our way towards the Houses of Parliament, for I had heard that +Lord George Gordon was going with a large body of people to present a +protest against the repeal of any of the penal laws against the Roman +Catholics. I wanted to see the fun. There must have been twenty +thousand people at least, who arrived in three different bodies before +the Houses of Parliament. Here they behaved very orderly, and dispersed +after being addressed by some of the magistrates; but the mob in other +places broke out into all sorts of excesses, and as we went home we +found them busily employed in demolishing a Romish Chapel in Duke +Street, near Lincoln's Inn Fields. They hauled out all the ornaments, +and what they thought of no value they trampled under foot, but the rest +they made off with. Several houses, either belonging to Romanists, or +inhabited by persons supposed to be favourable to them, we saw +completely gutted. The same sort of work went on for several days. At +last I got so completely mixed up with one of the mobs that I could not +get free of them. + +"Here, you look a likely man to lead us!" exclaimed a fellow standing +near me. "Where shall we go next?" + +I did not answer him, but endeavoured to get away. This did not suit +him. + +"What does the captain say?" he exclaimed. + +"To Sir George Saville's, to Sir George Saville's!" cried some one. + +"Hurrah for Sir George Saville's in Leicester Fields! He was the very +man who brought the Romish Bill into Parliament. Down with his house, +down with it!" shouted another fellow. "Lead on, captain--lead on!" + +I at once saw that this was a trick that the real leader of the mob +might be screened. I was determined to escape or I might be ruined. I +told Tom to keep his eye on me, and to follow my movements. The mob +began to move on, destroying one or two houses on their way. We at last +passed the entrance to a narrow lane. Leaping aside, I darted down it. +Tom followed. None of the mob missed me. I had got some way along the +lane when a big, ill-favoured-looking fellow rushed out of a house with +a thick stick in his hand, evidently with the intention of joining the +rioters. Seeing a gentleman, and probably thinking I was a Romanist +escaping from the mob, he immediately turned on me and aimed a blow at +my head. I was just turning a corner, and he did not see Tom Rockets, +but Tom saw him, and with a stroke of his fist felled him to the ground. +Some other persons in the neighbouring houses saw the transaction, and +the fellow quickly recovering there was a hue and cry made after us, the +people rushing from their doors just as dogs are seen to run out from +their kennels, yelping and barking when a stranger cur passes through +the village. + +As we were unarmed we could do nothing to defend ourselves, and had to +trust to our heels for safety. Our pursuers were very likely, I knew, +to tear us in pieces without asking any questions, and before we had +time to explain who we were. I never ran faster in my life. How we +were to escape them I could not tell. On we went: I sang out to Tom to +stick by me, for if I should lose him I was afraid he might never find +his way home again. We were distancing our pursuers. I made as many +turns as I could, so as to cause them to lose the scent; but there were +knowing fellows among them, and I conclude that they found as great an +interest in the chase as a foxhunter does when following the hounds. At +last I saw before me a large mob. There is safety in numbers, I thought +to myself, so I called to Tom to dash in among them. + +"Hurrah! hurrah! have you caught the fellow?" I sang out. + +"No, he's slipped out of his kennel, but we'll take care that he does +not burrow in it again," replied some of the people. + +I guessed that they referred to the unfortunate inmate of the mansion +into which numbers of them were forcing their way, while pictures, +books, and pieces of furniture were being thrown out of the windows. I +pretended to be very eager to get into the house, but making my way +round on the opposite side, followed by Tom, we got free; and when I +looked back I saw that no one was following us. We now walked along as +composedly as we could, but it was not without difficulty that we found +our way into Bloomsbury Square. As we got there we saw a mob following +at our heels, and we naturally thought they were after us. We had to +run for it to reach my relative's house. On came the mob. One of the +finest houses in the square belonged to my Lord Mansfield. They rushed +towards it, and began thundering at the door. They soon broke it open, +and in they poured. In an instant the place became the scene of the +most dreadful havoc and destruction. Again did I see pictures, clothes, +books, furniture of the richest sorts, ruthlessly destroyed. I could +scarcely have supposed that the work could have been done so rapidly. +Then the most daring of the ruffians broke into the wine-cellar, and we +saw them coming out with bottles and jugs and glasses, and distributing +the rich liquor to the rabble outside. + +What had become of my lord and his lady all this time we could not tell; +we had great fears that they had fallen victims to the blind fury of the +ignorant populace. I wanted to go out, but my relative would not let +me. What the drunken mob might next have done I do not know, when a +fresh party were seen entering the square; but they were a body of the +royal guards with a magistrate at their head. He boldly approached the +mob, and, halting the soldiers at no great distance from them, began to +read the Riot Act. He finished it without faltering, the mob continuing +as before their work of destruction. "Men," he shouted, "I have warned +you. I am going to give the order to the troops to fire if you do not +desist. Once again I warn you--your blood be on your own heads--Fire!" + +No sooner was the fatal command given than the soldiers levelled their +muskets and let fly in among the rabble. Several fell; there were +shrieks and cries and curses; but the people were too eager in their +thirst for plunder to be driven off from the work they had in hand. +Again the order was given to fire; but the humane magistrate ordered the +troops to fire over the heads of the people. Some on this began to move +off, but others continued their task of plunder and destruction. No one +thought of attacking the soldiery. It showed the class of people +composing the rioters--the very scum of the populace. This last fire of +course did not produce any effect, and the mob began to proceed to +greater extremities, and set fire both to the out-houses and stables, as +also to the mansion itself, when they had possessed themselves of +everything they thought of value. Only after repeated volleys from the +soldiery were they driven off, and not till they had completed the work +of destruction they had commenced. This did not take them long, and at +last, several of their number having fallen, a panic seized them, and +away they went helter-skelter in every direction out of the square. I +could not resist the temptation of sallying out to see what they would +next do, in spite of the warnings of my relative, who advised me to keep +in the house. I laughed at the idea of there being any danger, and said +that Tom and I would very soon be back again. + +The troops stood their ground in readiness to march in any direction to +which they might be sent. Some of the mob went off towards the east, +and I went after them, hearing that they were about to attack some of +the prisons, and having a fancy to see how they would proceed about the +undertaking. Tom and I had gone about half a mile or more, when, coming +along a street which crossed that we were in, I saw a coach driving +somewhat fast. Some of the rioters saw it also, and some seizing the +horses' heads, others proceeded to open the door, crying out that the +person inside was a papist escaping from justice. + +"Papist! I am no papist," cried out an old gentleman from the interior; +"let my carriage proceed on, scoundrels, or I'll break some of your +heads for you." + +This threat had no effect; indeed, from the appearance of the fellows I +had no doubt that their only object in attacking the carriage was for +the sake of robbing the inmate. I had this time taken care to come out +provided with a stout bludgeon and a sword. I knew pretty well the sort +of coward hearts to be found in that sort of gentry, so telling Tom what +I proposed doing, I sang out, "To the rescue! to the rescue!--off +scoundrels, off!" and, drawing my sword, I rushed furiously at them, as +if I had twenty stout fellows at my back. The desired effect was +produced. They did not stop to see who was coming, but took to their +heels and left the carriage free. I assisted back the old gentleman, +who had been dragged half out of it, and, shutting the door, told the +coachman to drive on as hard as he could go. + +"Stop, stop! I want to know your name, young man, to thank you for your +bravery," exclaimed the old gentleman vehemently. + +"Hurricane Hurry, at your service, sir, a lieutenant in his Majesty's +Navy," I answered. "I hail from Falmouth, sir--but I won't stop you, +sir, the mob are coming back, and to a certainty they won't let you off +as easily as before. Drive on, coachman, drive on for your life: I can +tackle them if they attack me." + +The coachman needed no second warning, but, lashing on his horses, drove +furiously along the street, though the old gentleman put his head out of +the coach window and ordered him to stop, as he had another word to say +to me, and wanted me to get into the coach with him. I would gladly +have done as he desired, as there was no object in exposing myself and +Tom to the fury of the mob, and was running after the coach, when, +looking over my shoulder, I saw some of the ruffians so close on my +heels that I was obliged to turn round and defend myself, or I might +have received a knock on the head which would probably have quieted me +for ever. Knowing that there was nothing like a sudden onslaught, I +turned suddenly round, and, seconded by Tom, made so furious an +onslaught on the scoundrels that they one and all fled, as if a body of +dragoons were upon them. The old gentleman, who was still looking out +of the window, calling first to the coachman and then to me, must have +seen this last manoeuvre of mine. + +After Tom and I had with loud shouts pursued the mob a little way, we +once more turned round and set off in order to overtake the coach. It +had, however, by that time got out of sight, and though we followed in +the direction I supposed it had gone, we did not again see it. + +"Never mind," said I, "I should have liked to have known who the old +gentleman was; he looked like somebody of consequence. However, I am +very glad to have been of service to him." + +After this adventure I began to reflect that it would be wiser to return +home. I could not tell what might next happen. The day was drawing to +a close. As we looked eastward, we saw the whole sky glowing with a +lurid glare, which I afterwards found was produced by the conflagration +of Newgate prison, which, after the mob had broken into and released all +the prisoners, they set on fire. My relative was very glad to see me +back safe, and on hearing of my adventures said that Tom and I were very +fortunate to have escaped with our lives, and positively prohibited our +again quitting the house. During the next day flames were seen bursting +forth in every direction. Most of the prisons, as also many private +houses, were broken open and burnt to the ground, and several hundred +people were shot by the military, while perhaps an equal number died +from drinking inordinately of spirits which they procured at the +distillers', into which they broke, or were burnt to death in the ruins +of the houses they set on fire. At length, however, so many troops, +regular and militia, poured into London, that the rioters were +completely overcome, and numerous arrests took place. Among others, +Lord George Gordon was apprehended and committed a prisoner to the +Tower. + +Not long after this, I bade my kind friends in London good-bye, and +joined my ship at Chatham. I ought to have said that they were very +much interested in the account I gave them of the way I had rescued the +old gentleman in the coach. Who he could be they could not guess, but +they said that they would make inquiries, and if they could hear they +would let me know. I felt no little curiosity to obtain this +information; but day after day passed by and I heard nothing about the +matter. There was something in his look and in his eagerness to speak +to me which struck me forcibly at the time, and over and over again his +countenance recurred to me; but whether I had ever seen it before, or +why it made so deep an impression on me, I could not tell. There was +nothing very remarkable in saving an old gentleman from a mob, when mobs +were parading all parts of London, and undoubtedly many old gentlemen, +physicians and others, were driving about in their coaches, called out, +however unwillingly, by urgent business. Hearing nothing, my curiosity +at length died away, and I thought no more about the matter. I must +remark that Lord George Gordon was afterwards brought to trial, but +acquitted of having in any way participated in the riots and plundering +and destruction of property which had occurred, as also that any of the +disorders had occurred in consequence of his instigation or counsel. He +undoubtedly was influenced in his proceedings by a warm affection for +the Protestant faith, though it may be doubted whether he took the +wisest course to support it. He wished that the multitudes he assembled +should merely produce a moral effect on the Houses of Parliament. The +ruffians and robbers of London took the opportunity, on finding large +masses of people assembled, to create disturbances, and to incite the +more ignorant masses to commit all sorts of outrages in order that they +might have greater licence and opportunities of plunder. In this they +unhappily succeeded, and brought no small amount of opprobrium and +disgrace on the Protestant cause. I have now said, I think, enough +about my adventures on shore. + +On the 16th of June Captain Luttrell was superseded in his command of +the Charon by Captain Thomas Symonds, whose son was appointed third +lieutenant of the ship. On the 1st of July we dropped down to +Sheerness, where we got in our guns. On the 12th we removed to the +Little Nore, where the purser, surgeon, lieutenant of marines, gunner +and carpenter quitted the ship. On the 24th we sailed from the Nore, +and on the 25th anchored in the Downs. We quitted it with a convoy on +the 28th, and arrived at Spithead the following morning. Here the first +lieutenant was superseded by Mr Thomas Edwards. On the 6th of August +we sailed from Spithead, and on the 7th anchored in Plymouth Sound. +Here we remained till the 9th, when we proceeded down channel. On the +10th we took our departure from the Lizard, and once more I bade adieu +to the British shore. I will not say that I quitted it with regret. I +dearly loved England, in spite of all her faults, but I believed that I +might on the other side of the Atlantic have a prospect of meeting with +Madeline Carlyon, or at all events of hearing of her, and that alone was +ample inducement to me gladly to encounter all the dangers and hardships +to which I might be exposed. + +Many others have, I suppose, thought and felt and hoped as I did, and +many others have been disappointed. + +"Hurrah for the West Indies--Spanish galleons--dark-eyed Creoles and +prize-money!" was the general toast on board the Charon. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +PUT INTO CORK HARBOUR.--SAIL WITH CONVOY.--CAPTURE OF THE COMPTE +D'ARTOIS.--ARRIVE OFF CHARLESTON.--BRITISH TROOPS MADE PRISONERS.--SAIL +FOR NEW YORK.--HEAR OF MADELINE THROUGH MY HOSTESS THE DUTCH WIDOW.-- +RECEIVE GENERAL ARNOLD AND HIS MEN ON BOARD FLEET.--IN COMMAND OF +ARROW.--REACH THE CHESAPEAKE.--HEAR OF HURRICANE IN THE WEST INDIES.-- +LOSS OF THUNDERER, 74, AND OTHER SHIPS. + +Instead of at once proceeding on her voyage across the Atlantic, the old +Charon was, we found, ordered to put into Cork harbour. We arrived at +that port on the 11th of August, 1780, and found there HM's ships +Lennox, Bienfaisant, Licorne, and Hussar, with a hundred sail of +transports. + +Before I recount the events of our voyage I may as well make a few +remarks about the ship and my brother-officers. Captain Symonds was +himself a thorough sailor, and he showed his love of his profession by +sending four of his sons into the navy. His eldest son, Jermyn John +Symonds, was, though very young, our third lieutenant,--a fine, handsome +fellow. He was afterwards, when in command of the Helena sloop-of-war, +lost with all his crew in her on the coast of Holland. Another son, +William, (see Note 1), though at that time a mere child, was, I believe, +borne on our books as a midshipman. It was with no small satisfaction +that I welcomed my old friend Paddy O'Driscoll, who came on board as a +supernumerary, to rejoin his ship on the American station. I welcomed +him the more gladly as so few of my old shipmates I was ever likely to +meet again. Where were they? The deep sea--West India marshes--the +shot of the enemy best could tell. But avast! I have bad enough of +sentiment in these pages. I must not indulge in this vein. The rest of +our officers were fine, gallant fellows, knowing their duty, and ready +and able on all occasions to do it. What more can you ask of a man? +Having a gentleman, and a kind, good man as our captain, our ship was a +very pleasant and happy one, and that is more than can be said of many +ships in my day. Captains were of necessity despots, and as they had +very rough, untutored, disorderly subjects to deal with, too often very +cruel, hard-hearted despots they were. + +The day after our arrival at Cork we once more weighed and stood out of +the harbour with the Bienfaisant, Captain McBride, having under our +charge about seventy sail of victuallers bound for America. That ship +and the Licorne had orders to escort us sixty leagues to the westward. +We lay-to all night outside the harbour, waiting for the rest of the +squadron to join us, which the Licorne and Hussar had been directed to +bring up. We had drifted pretty well down to the old Head of Kinsale +when, as the morning of the 13th of August broke upon us, we saw +standing right into the fleet a large two-decked ship. + +"If that fellow is an enemy he certainly does not seem to know what he +is about," observed Mr Edwards to me. "Does he expect to carry off +some of our flock without our even barking at him? But see, Captain +McBride is speaking us. What does he say?" + +The signal midshipman on duty replied that he was ordering us to come +within hail. We accordingly made sail towards the Bienfaisant, when +Captain McBride directed us to join with him in chasing the stranger. +Not till then apparently did she make us out from among the fleet of +vessels crowding round us, shrouded, as we were, with the grey mists of +the morning. We were all scrutinising her through our glasses, for it +was still very uncertain what she might prove. Even when we stood out +from among the fleet of merchantmen she gave no signs of any strong +disposition to evade us, but steadily continued her course. + +"She must be some English privateer. No Frenchman with a head on his +shoulders would run it so near the lion's den," remarked Edwards. + +"Faith, then, I don't believe he's got a head on his shoulders. That's +a French ship, depend on it," observed O'Driscoll. + +Some time longer passed before we got near the chase, for the wind was +light. At half-past seven, to our great satisfaction, we saw her +shorten sail and get ready, it appeared, to receive us. On this the +Bienfaisant hoisted her colours and fired a shot ahead of her. We also +hoisted our colours. The chase on this hoisted a blue ensign and +hove-to with main-topsail to the mast. On our getting within hail of +her, we and the Bienfaisant did the same, when Captain McBride spoke her +and inquired her name. + +"HMS `Romney,'" was the answer. "Last from Lisbon." + +"I told you so," observed Mr Edwards, when the words reached us. +"She's a fifty-gun ship, I know, though I never saw her that I know of." + +"But that ship carries more than fifty-guns if I mistake not," I +replied. "Listen! Captain McBride is again speaking her." + +"What does she say?" asked Edwards, as some words, the import of which +we could not make out, came wafted over the water towards no. + +Our people, I ought to have remarked, were all at their quarters ready +for friend or foe--and grim, determined-looking veterans many of them +looked, with their sun-burnt faces and bearded chins. + +"What does she say?" exclaimed O'Driscoll. "Why, listen!--that she's +French, and going to fight for the honour of la belle France. See, our +consort's beginning the game." + +As he spoke, a volley of musketry was opened from the deck of the +Bienfaisant, which was replied to in the most spirited way by the other +ship, she at the same time hoisting French colours, and firing her +stern-chasers at us. The Bienfaisant now ranged up alongside and fired +her broadside right into the enemy. The Frenchman then fired hers, and +by the way her shot flew we judged that her object was to cripple her +opponent. We now stood on after the Bienfaisant, and as we ranged up +fired our guns with terrible effect right across our enemy's decks. +Then on we stood, while our consort had in the meantime tacked and +reached the place we had before occupied. In a short time she once more +ranged up alongside the Frenchman, and poured a heavy broadside into +him. Thus we continued, alternately changing places with each other. +We suffered wonderfully little damage for some time. The Frenchman's +great aim was to wing us. He evidently fought not for victory, for he +must have seen that was almost hopeless, but to escape capture. Never +was a ship better handled or fought with more gallantry. For some time +no one was hurt on board the Charon. At last one poor fellow got hit, +and soon afterwards some blocks and splinters came rattling down from +aloft. The mizen-topsail yard came down by the run, and I saw that it +had been shot away in the slings. Tremendous was the pounding we were +giving our enemy, but still he showed not the slightest intention of +giving in. His deck was already covered with the dead and wounded, and +the ship herself was in a very battered condition. + +"That man is one of the bravest officers I ever encountered," observed +Captain Symonds, pointing to the captain of the French ship, whom we +could see moving about, encouraging his people. + +"I wonder whether he intends to give in at all!" said Mr Edwards as we +prepared to pour another broadside into him. + +"Not a bit of it; he has as much pluck as at the first left in him," +exclaimed O'Driscoll, as the thunder of our artillery once more ceased. + +I could not help longing that, for the sake of the lives of his people, +the French captain would give in. The action had now lasted from a +quarter to eight to half-past eight. Of course the time appeared very +much longer. The Bienfaisant was about to pour in another of her +broadsides which had already produced such fearful effects. The deck of +the Frenchman was truly a shamble; not a spot appeared free from some +dead or wounded occupant. Just then the crew, fearful of encountering +another iron shower, fled from their guns. Down came the Fleur-de-lys +of France. Shouts arose from the deck of the Bienfaisant, which were +loudly and joyfully echoed from ours. All three ships were now hove-to. +On hailing our prize we found that we had captured "Le Compte +D'Artois," a private ship of war of sixty-four guns and seven hundred +and fifty men, commanded by Monsieur Clenard. + +A boat from each ship was sent on board. I went in the Charon's. The +brave captain of the Compte D'Artois came forward and delivered his +sword to the lieutenant of the Bienfaisant. He was desperately wounded +in the mouth, and he looked very sad; he had reason so to be, for his +brother, a colonel of the Legion of Artois, lay dead on the deck, having +been wounded early in the action, while he had lost no less than one +hundred and nineteen killed and wounded of his brave crew. All his +property, too, had probably been embarked in the enterprise. Many other +people in the same way lost their fortunes during the war. They thought +that they had only to fit out a ship of war and that they were certain +to gain great wealth. They forgot that two might play at the same game, +and that they were just as likely to fall into the hands of their +enemies as to capture them. Poor monsieur had another brother on board. +I did not exaggerate when I said that the deck of his ship was like a +perfect shamble. So quickly had the poor Frenchmen been struck down +that the survivors had not had time to carry them below, and there they +lay, some stark and stiff, others writhing in their agony. It was +enough to move the compassion even of their greatest enemies. We at +once set to work to do all we could to help them and to relieve the +wounded from their sufferings. Every one felt also much for poor +Monsieur Clenard, for a braver man never commanded a ship or fought her +longer, till not a prospect of escape remained for him. Strange as it +may appear, we had only one man wounded, while the Bienfaisant had only +two killed and two wounded. This extraordinary difference in the +Frenchman's loss and ours arose from two causes. He wished to escape, +and fired high to try and destroy our spars and rigging; and also his +crew, collected chiefly from the merchant service, and from boatmen and +fishermen who had never till lately handled a gun, and having also a +considerable proportion of landsmen among them, were in no way a match +for our well-trained and hardy seamen. The ship was handled as well as +she could be, while nothing could exceed the gallantry of her officers; +her crew also fought with the greatest bravery, as indeed Frenchmen +generally will fight, though perhaps not with the same bull-dog +determination as the English. We agreed that when the French had had +more practice, and had learned a few lessons from us, they would prove +much tougher customers than they had hitherto been. + +There was great cheering and congratulation on board the ships of the +convoy as they came up, and in a short time the rest of them joined us +with the Licorne and Hussar. In the interval the crew of the Compte +D'Artois were transferred to the Bienfaisant, and she and her prize +stood away for Crookhaven in Ireland. We, meantime, with the other two +ships and the convoy, made sail for the westward. We had generally on +the passage moderate gales and fine pleasant weather. + +On the 12th a strange sail was seen to leeward, beating up towards us. +She was after a time made out to be a ship of some size, probably +watching her opportunity to pick off any stragglers in the fleet. To +prevent this Captain Symonds ordered the Hussar to chase her away, we +making as if we were about to follow. Seeing this, the stranger put up +her helm and ran off before the wind, while the Hussar crowded all sail +in chase. We watched her with no little interest, for the stranger was +evidently a big ship, and, if the Hussar brought her to action, would +very likely prove a powerful antagonist--not that odds, however great, +were much thought of in those days, and I will take upon myself to say +that there was scarcely an officer in the service in command of a +fifty-gun frigate who would not have considered himself fortunate in +having an opportunity of engaging an enemy's ship of sixty guns or more. +In a short time the sails of the chase and her pursuer disappeared +below the horizon. The night closed in and passed away; the next day +drew on and we saw nothing of the Hussar. Another day passed away and +she did not make her appearance. Conjectures as to what had become of +her now formed the general subject of conversation on board, but, like +all conjectures, when there is no data on which to build up a +conclusion, we always left off where we began, and waited till she came +back, if ever she should do so, to tell her own tale. + +O'Driscoll and I had now become great friends. I own that I wanted some +one to whom I could talk to about my love for Madeline. With all his +fun and humour and harum-scarum manner, he was a thoroughly honourable +right-minded fellow, and I knew that I could trust him. He was +delighted with the romance of the affair. + +"If you can but point our where she is, by hook or by crook, I'll help +you to win her," said he, in his full rich irish brogue. "You've +already a pretty lot of prize-money, and please the pigs you'll pick up +not a little more before long. Where there's a will there's a way, +that's one comfort; and, by my faith, what I've seen of some of those +little rebel colonists, they are well worth winning." + +It may amuse my sober-minded readers, when they reflect on all the +difficulties, not to say impossibilities, which existed in my way, to +think that O'Driscoll and I should ever dream of overcoming them. But +they must remember that we were both very young, and that in the navy +such things as impossibilities are not allowed to exist. During how +many a midnight watch did my love serve me as a subject for +contemplation, and, when I was occasionally joined by O'Driscoll, for +conversation also! Although I was on excellent terms with the rest of +my brother-officers, I never felt inclined to open out to any of them. +Perhaps it was a weakness in me to do so even to O'Driscoll, and, as a +general rule, I think a man is wise to keep such thoughts to himself. + +Day after day passed by and our missing consort did not make her +appearance. A whole week elapsed, and we began to entertain serious +apprehensions about her, and to fear that she had been captured. Our +course had been so direct, and the weather so fine, that she would have +had no difficulty, we considered, in rejoining us. At length a sail +appeared standing towards the fleet. She was not one of the convoy, for +all were together. Every glass on board was turned towards her. As the +stranger drew nearer and nearer we were more and more puzzled to make +out what she was. + +"I see, I see!" exclaimed O'Driscoll at last. "She is a frigate and +under jury-top-masts. She has been in a smart action. I see the +shot-holes through her canvas. There can be no mistake about the +matter. She is the `Hussar,' I believe, after all." + +On she came towards us, and the Hussar she proved to be; but the trim +little frigate which she had been when she left us a week before was now +sadly shorn of her beauty. As soon as she came up with the fleet +Captain Symonds sent me on board to inquire what had happened. The +story was soon told. She had fought a very desperate and gallant +action, which, by-the-bye, I have never seen recorded in any naval +history. She, it must be remembered, was only an eight-and-twenty gun +frigate. The stranger after which she had been sent in chase, when she +had drawn her completely away from the squadron, backed his main-topsail +to the mast and waited, prepared for battle, till she came up. The +enemy was soon made out to be a French forty-gun frigate, but that +disparity of fores did not deter her gallant captain from proceeding to +the attack. Ranging up within pistol-shot she opened her broadside, to +which the Frenchman quickly replied in the same way with equal spirit. +As was the case in our action with the Compte D'Artois, the Frenchmen +fired high, evidently with the idea that, by crippling their opponent, +they might have her at their mercy. This system might under some +instances be very good, but, unfortunately for them, they frequently +themselves got so completely thrashed before they had succeeded in +accomplishing their purpose, that they had to cry peccavi and haul down +their flags. The gallant little Hussar had no intention of running +away, and therefore poured her broadsides into the hull of the +Frenchman, committing great havoc along his decks. The action was +continued for some time with great guns and musketry, every man in the +English frigate striving his utmost to gain the victory. Numbers of the +gallant fellows were struck down--some never to rise again, others +desperately wounded. Each attempt of the Frenchman was bravely +repulsed, and every shot fired was responded to with still greater +vigour. Still the captain of the Hussar could not help watching the +progress of the fight with the greatest anxiety. Already two of her +top-masts had been shot away, her lower-masts were wounded, and five or +six of her crew lay dead, while as many more were hurt. Still he had +determined not to give in as long as his ship would float. The +Frenchmen had already suffered severely, but it was impossible to say +how long their endurance might last. He had no doubt that they had lost +far more in killed and wounded than he had, and he saw that they had +some shot between wind and water, and that their rigging was much cut +up. All this gave him hopes that he might yet come off victorious. +Again he ranged up alongside his big antagonist and received her fire +while he delivered his own. Down came his mizen-top-mast by the run-- +several more of his crew fell to the deck--his rigging hung in +festoons--his canvas was full of shot-holes. He thought to himself, +"Ought I to sacrifice the lives of my people in a hopeless contest? But +is it hopeless? No, it is not. Hurrah, my brave fellows! One +broadside more, and we shall do for the enemy!" he shouted loudly. The +combatants were standing on a bow-line alongside each other. Once more +the Hussar fired. The Frenchman returned her broadside, and then, +before the smoke cleared off and the English had time to reload to rake +her, put up her helm and ran off before the wind. The Hussar was not in +a condition to follow. She, however, kept firing at the Frenchman as +long as her shot could reach him, and then hauled her wind and stood +away to the westward after us. She had seven killed and six badly +wounded, besides other hurts. She had lost her three top-masts, while +her lower-masts were disabled. Fortunately the weather was fine, for +had she encountered a gale of wind her condition would have been bad +indeed. I have never, as I have said, seen an account of this very +gallant action in any naval history, and I therefore give it as it was +described to me by the officers of the Hussar. + +On the 14th of October we arrived off Charleston, South Carolina, with +our whole convoy, after a favourable passage of nine weeks, and we were +congratulating ourselves on its successful termination, little thinking +what was to be the fate of many of the ships of the fleet. Charleston +stands on a broad neck of land, with Cooper's river on one side and +Ashley river on the other. They flow into a wide sheet of water, which +forms the harbour of Charleston, but which is shallow, and has a bar at +its mouth, on which there is very little water. + +This, on our arrival, we could not cross, and the convoy had +consequently to anchor outside. Charleston had, after a brave defence +on the 12th of May, been captured from the Americans under General +Lincoln by Sir Henry Howe and Lord Cornwallis. The latter on our +arrival commanded the army which held it. Sir Henry, with part of his +forces, had gone to New York. The capture of Charleston was considered +a very fortunate circumstance, and it was believed that in consequence +the whole of the Carolinas would yield to our arms. Never perhaps were +people more mistaken. The day of our arrival at Charleston I +accompanied Captain Symonds on shore. We went to the house where a +friend of his, Colonel Balfour, had taken up his quarters. He most +kindly received us, and invited us to his table whenever we were on +shore. We slept, however, at one of the largest houses in the place, +occupied by Lord Cornwallis. His lordship had just returned from an +unsuccessful expedition to North Carolina, where a force of nearly a +thousand men, regulars and royalists, under Colonel Ferguson, who was +killed, had been taken prisoners by the Americans; many also lost their +lives with their leader. Colonel Ferguson had made a foray into North +Carolina, and in his retreat had been surprised among the fastnesses of +the mountains by an overwhelming force of the most hardy and brave of +the irregular troops of the neighbouring districts, especially +accustomed to the sort of warfare in which they were called on to +engage. Colonel Ferguson was a very brave and good officer, and Lord +Cornwallis took his defeat and death very much to heart. As we had +executed some of the rebels who, after receiving royal passes, were +taken in arms against us, so now the Americans in retaliation hung +several of the royalists who were captured on this occasion. In +consequence of this there was, we found, a great deal of bitter feeling +in the town against the rebels, and in no time had the contest been +carried on in so sanguinary a way as at present. + +We were aroused at daybreak by the sound of a terrifically heavy gale +which had sprung up, and in going down to the harbour we found that the +bar was perfectly impassable, while the ships at anchor off it were in a +great state of confusion. Some were striking top-masts and letting go +fresh anchors, in the hopes of riding out the gale, while others were +slipping or cutting their cables, and running out to sea, several of +them getting foul of each other and committing all sorts of damage. It +was not till the 20th that the weather moderated sufficiently to enable +us to get off to rejoin our ship. By degrees some of the ships of the +convoy which had run to sea came back, but several never returned, +having been captured by the enemy or lost. + +On the 22nd we again sailed from Charleston with a convoy of fifty sail +of transports, bound for New York. On our passage we captured a rebel +privateer of eight guns and fifty men, and took a merchant brig bound +from London to Charleston with bale goods. We found at Sandy Hook, +where we arrived on the 4th of November, Sir George Rodney, with eight +sail of the line and several frigates, waiting for a wind to sail for +the West Indies. The following day we proceeded through the Narrows up +to New York, where we set to work to refit the ship for sea,--an +operation she very much required. I need not say that I employed my +time on shore in endeavouring to gain intelligence of Miss Carlyon and +her family. In making my inquiries I had, however, to exert great +caution, for I knew that I might very easily bring upon myself the +suspicion of corresponding with the enemy for treasonable purposes. +When I slept on shore I went to the house of a worthy Dutch widow, where +I had before lodged. I did my utmost to ingratiate myself with her, for +I knew that if any one could obtain the information I required she would +do so. Old women, I have found, nearly always are ready to listen with +complacency and attention to the love tales of young men or young women, +and so my kind hostess not only listened to as much of mine as I thought +it necessary to tell her, but gladly promised to assist me to the best +of her ability. + +"And now, my dear Mrs Von Tromp, what news have you for me?" I asked +eagerly one day as I walked into her little back parlour where she +received her select visitors. Considering her origin, she spoke +excellent English. + +"Listen!" she replied; "I have not learned much for you, but what I have +learned you may believe is the truth. I lately had a talk with a +Virginian gentleman. Do not be afraid, sir, for he is a neutral; no +rebel I ever talk with. He knows the family of the lady you want to +hear about. He heard them speaking of her not long ago; she is +unmarried, and they thought she would remain so. She was then in +Virginia with her father, who is a very active rebel, you know." + +Not listening to her last remark, the thought at once struck me that I +would write to her to assure her of my constancy, and would try to send +my letter by means of the gentleman Mrs Von Tromp mentioned. My good +hostess was, however, terrified when I made the proposal. + +"Oh, dear--no, no, it would never do!" she explained. "It would be a +great deal too dangerous to attempt. The letter would be intercepted, +and we should be accused of corresponding with the enemy, and some of us +would be hung to a certainty. Just think, how should you like to suffer +the fate of poor Major Andre? Ah, poor young gentleman! he was, indeed, +a fine, handsome man--or almost a boy, I might say--he looked so young; +he was so civil and polite and kind. I can't think of his cruel death +without crying, that I can't." + +Major Andre had been captured by the Americans, having crossed into +their territory for the purpose of communicating with General Arnold, +who succeeded in escaping from them and joining the British forces. He +was considered as a spy, and as such, tried, condemned, and had just +before this been executed--his hard fate creating much commiseration +even in the bosoms of his enemies. He was fully as brave, talented, +polite, and accomplished in every way as the widow described him. I +assured her that I had no wish to share his lamentable fate, but that, +as I was not holding any treasonable correspondence with the enemy, I +could not be found guilty of so doing. I argued the subject with her +for some time. + +"Ah, you know the way to an old woman's heart as well as to that of a +young one!" at last exclaimed the good-natured dame. "I cannot refuse +you. Write the letter, and I will do my best to forward it. But be +careful what you say. Nothing but love, remember, nothing but love-- +don't forget that." + +"No fear, no fear," I answered, laughing. "I'll stick to my text, +depend on it." + +"I don't doubt you, and a pretty long one it will be, I suspect," she +remarked, as I got up to go off to my room. "When it is ready, bring it +to me. I will do my best, and if it does not reach its destination, +that is no fault of mine." + +I hurried up-stairs to the room I slept in, and was soon deeply immersed +in the occupation of writing a letter to Madeline. I had no fears how +it would be received, so I seized my pen, and, after a few moments' +thought, wrote on. Once having begun, my pen flew rapidly over the +paper, but not so rapidly as my thoughts. When I had covered the sheet +I had not said one quarter of what I wished to say. I took another and +another. At last I finished and folded them up. + +"Umph!" said the widow, when I took the package to her. "You will want +a special courier and a pack-horse to carry this document--but don't +frown now, I am only joking. I am sure that the young lady is well +worthy of the letter, and that you have not said a word more than she +will be glad to hear." + +I was not in a humour to quarrel with Madame Von Tromp for anything she +might say. Leaving my precious letter with her, I hurried away to +attend to my duties on board my ship. At this time Admiral Arbuthnot's +squadron was lying in Gardner's Bay, at the other end of Long Island. +On the 9th, Sir Henry Howe having some important despatches to send to +the admiral, the gallant little Hussar was directed to get under weigh +to convey them. + +Little did I think at the time that, after all she had gone through, we +should see her no more. I have already described the dangerous passage +of Hell Gate, where already, in consequence of the fearful rapidity of +the currents, so many vessels had been lost. I watched the Hussar get +under weigh. I had hoped to take the trip in her, for I had some old +friends on board different ships in the squadron whom I wished to see, +and I was rather annoyed at not being able to get leave to go. That was +one of the numberless instances where I have discovered how little we +mortals know what is good for us. To make a long story short, for I +cannot now stop to give a full description of the accident, in going +through that justly-dreaded passage the Hussar met with baffling winds, +and, the currents catching her, sent her bodily on the rocks. Thus she +became utterly helpless. No seamanship could avail her. The short, +chopping, boiling sea dashed over her and beat her to pieces. Before +hawsers could be got to the shore, by which her crew could make their +escape, several of the poor fellows had been drowned. In the boisterous +and bitterly cold weather of that season many of them suffered much +before they got back to New York. + +Once more we were ready for sea, and on the 2nd of December we hoisted +Admiral Arbuthnot's flag, and, proceeding to Statten Island, we were +joined by HMS Thames, Charlestown, Medea, Amphitrite, Fowey, Hope, +Bonetta, Swift, and several armed vessels. + +I was just now speaking of the death of Major Andre, who was captured by +the Americans when communicating with General Arnold. That officer had +deserted the liberal cause, and, having succeeded in reaching the +British lines in safety, had now been appointed a brigadier-general in +our army. On the 3rd we received him on board with two troops +distributed among the ships of the squadron. All we knew was, that some +expedition of importance was to be undertaken, but on what part of the +coast the descent was to be made did not transpire. I do not believe +that the commanders on our side put much confidence in General Arnold, +and of course the Americans, whose cause he had so basely betrayed, +perfectly detested him. Had he, by the chances of war, fallen into +their hands, they would have treated him as they had done poor Andre. + +We sailed from New York on the 12th of December. In order to deceive +the enemy, and to make them believe that an expedition of very great +importance was about to be undertaken, we kept the admiral's flag flying +till we were out of sight of land. A course was steered to the +southward; it was then understood that we were bound for the Chesapeake, +and it was supposed that a landing would be made somewhere on the shores +of Virginia. I scarcely knew whether to grieve or to rejoice at the +prospect thus held out to me. Of course, I could not but regret that my +countrymen were about to carry the war into the very part of the country +where Madeline, I believed, was residing; at the same time, under the +supposition that such would be done, I rejoiced at the thoughts that I +might meet her, or might render her or her family assistance. Still I +would not venture to reckon much on the prospect of our meeting. +Numberless circumstances might intervene to prevent it. I might not +even be sent on shore. I might not go near where she might be residing, +or, what was probable, her friends might gain tidings of the expedition, +when she would, with other ladies, move away more into the interior. +Still, notwithstanding these considerations, I could not help indulging +myself in the belief that, by some means or other, we should meet once +again, or, at all events, that I should gain tidings of her, and be able +to communicate with her. The very idea gave buoyancy to my step and +manner, and made many of my companions inquire what had put me in such +unusual spirits. + +O'Driscoll had returned on board, having again joined the ship as a +supernumerary, and as an old tried friend he entered, and, I believe, +heartily, into all my hopes and fears. Some of his plans and proposals, +however, though very much in accordance with the notions of Irishmen in +those days, were not such, even with all my harum-scarum habits, which I +could by any possibility adopt. + +"Hurry, my boy, I have been thinking over this affair of yours," said +he, as we were walking the deck together. "I don't like +shilly-shallying in matters of this sort--I never did. The lady loves +you, and you love the lady--well, then, to my mind, the first difficulty +is got over, because, according to my notion, where there's a will +there's a way. You'll find her out, that's certain. Then the next +thing to be done is to get her to run away with you. She'll go, depend +on that. You take her prisoner, you know! Bring her aboard; we'll get +a chaplain to splice you. You can take her up to New York; she'll be +safe there. And then we come to another little matter; I've arranged +that in a satisfactory way. You've some prize-money. I've saved a good +mint one way and another, and, old fellow, I don't want it--my purse is +yours. Old messmates don't stand on ceremony about such matters. My +own dear little Kathleen, the only creature I wanted it for, went to +glory while I was last at sea. When I got home I was desolate. I've no +kith nor kin I care for, and if you don't take the money it's likely +enough I'll heave it into the sea one of these days, or pitch it where +it won't do any one any good, so don't think that I am doing you any +wonderful favour if you take it. The truth is, Hurry, I'd be more than +paid ten times over in having the pleasure of helping you to run off +with the lady. I'm in my element in an affair of this sort--there's +nothing I like better, barring a good stand-up scrimmage, and that's +generally too soon over. Now, Hurry, just do as I say. Promise me!" + +I was struck dumb; so rapidly did he pour out his proposals that I could +not answer him. He took my silence for consent, and ran on. At first I +was somewhat inclined to resent his remarks, but his generosity and +evident unconsciousness that he was proposing anything in any way +incorrect completely disarmed my anger, and, when he ceased speaking, +greatly to his surprise, I burst out into an uncontrollable fit of +laughter. + +"I am most thankful, my dear O'Driscoll, for your kind sympathy, and for +the assistance you so liberally offer me," I exclaimed, as soon as I +could recover myself. "But supposing I could or would persuade her to +leave her home, and the protection of her family, just consider all the +hardships, inconveniences, and danger she would be exposed to on board +ship before I could place her in safety; and then, how could she, +delicately brought up, live on a lieutenant's pay, even with such +prize-money as I might save, and your aid, my kind fellow!" I added. +"No, no! the thing is out of the question." + +"Faith, I hadn't thought all about those little obstructions to +matrimonial felicity," he answered. "Still I can't give up the idea, in +case the chance should offer, of your running away with the young lady. +It seems such a natural thing to do. There's a fine fellow, be +prepared, that's all--and only just let me help you." + +"Well, well! I have no friend on whom I can more fully rely than you," +I replied. "I promise you that I will not fail to apply to you if I see +that you can in any way help me." + +"That's all right," said he, fully satisfied. "I knew that you would, +before long, come into my views." + +Our passage to the south was very tedious, for we had light winds, sad +were also constantly compelled to heave-to for the laggards. + +Soon after the conversation I have mentioned, on the 23rd of December, +it being still calm, one of the leading ships signalled that a ship and +four small sail were in sight to the southward, and that they had all +the appearance of enemies. We, accordingly, crowded all sail in chase, +but scarcely had we got beyond the van of the fleet when it became +evident that, at the rate we were progressing, we should not come up +with the chase before dark. We had, in company, a small privateer +schooner fitted with long sweeps, and which rowed remarkably well. +Captain Symonds directed her by signal to come within hail, and then +ordered me to take thirty men and go on board her and to proceed in +chase of the strangers. + +"If they prove to be enemies," said he, "bring them to action, and keep +them engaged at long range, knocking away their spars, if you can, so +that they cannot escape till we come up. If we take the ship, as I have +no doubt we shall, I will give you the command of her to take her to New +York. She is evidently a big craft, and will be worth not a little." + +I suspect that it was with no good grace that I thanked the captain for +the confidence he placed in me. He looked surprised, I thought, but +said nothing. Under other circumstances I should have been well pleased +with the task confided to me, but now, when I had set my heart on +landing on the shores of Virginia, suddenly to find that I might have to +go back to New York was a sore trial to me. Little do we know, however, +what is the best for us. As soon as the Arrow privateer came up, I and +my crew went on board, and, getting out all the long sweeps, away we +pulled in chase of the strangers. Every man put his full strength into +the work, and we sent the little vessel along at the rate of fully three +knots an hour. We felt as if we were going at a great speed, and we +rapidly neared the strangers. Little did I think in those days that in +my old age I should see vessels sent along in a dead calm without the +slightest exertion of human agency at four or five times that speed. We +kept minutely examining the strangers as we drew near. One was a +man-of-war--of that there was no doubt; the others were merchantmen, +probably, under her convoy. Still she did not show her colours. The +Arrow carried a couple of unusually long guns, and I fully expected to +commit great execution with them. They were all ready. Nol Grampus had +charge of one of them. We had got within range of the ship. I hoisted +English colours. The ship showed none in return. I waited a minute +longer. The word "fire" was on my lips when up went the British ensign +at her peak. Still I was not convinced till she made the private +signal. + +Never perhaps in my life before had I been so satisfied at finding a +friend instead of an enemy. She proved to be HMS Royal Oak, the other +vessels being prizes she had taken. Two days after this we took two +other prizes, the charge of which was given to Lieutenants Seymour and +Bruton. Their absence of course gave me much more work to do--not a bad +thing, perhaps, under my circumstances. The following day a heavy gale +of wind sprang up, and we separated from the fleet as well as from our +prizes. We were knocking about for three days somewhat concerned for +the fate of the convoy. There were so many privateers cruising about, +that it was likely some of them could be picked off, and if any of the +transports were taken or lost, the whole plan of the expedition might be +disconcerted. General Arnold especially was in a state of considerable +anxiety for several reasons. If this, his first expedition, should +fail, he could scarcely expect his new friends to trust him again, while +if by any accident he should fall into the hands of those whose cause he +had betrayed, he knew full well the fate which awaited him. He was, I +believe, a man possessed of considerable military talents and of general +ability, but he wanted principle; and his extravagant habits placed him +in difficulties from which he saw no ordinary way of extricating +himself. He had just put forth an elaborate address to the inhabitants +of America, not only excusing his conduct, but taking great credit for +the motives which had induced him to join the King's arms. He stated +that he had taken up arms to redress grievances, and that those +grievances no longer existed, because Great Britain, with the open arms +of a parent, offered to embrace the colonists as children, and grant +them the wished-for redress. Her worst enemies, he told them, were in +the bosom of America. The French alliance, he assured them, was +calculated not only to ruin the mother-country, but the colonies +themselves; and that the heads of the rebellion, neglecting to take the +sentiments of the people at large, had refused to accept the British +proposals for peace; that for his part, rather than trust to the +insidious offers of France, "I preferred," he continues, "those of Great +Britain, thinking it infinitely wiser and safer to place my confidence +in her justice and generosity than to trust a monarchy too feeble to +establish your independency, so perilous to her distant dominions; the +enemy of the Protestant faith, and fraudulently avowing an affection for +the liberties of mankind while she holds her native sons in vassalage +and chains." He winds up by stating his conviction that it was the +generous intention of Great Britain not only to leave the rights and +privileges of the colonies unimpaired, together with their perpetual +exemption from taxation, but to superadd such further benefits as might +be consistent with the common prosperity of the empire; and then he +says, "I am now led to devote my life to the reunion of the British +Empire as the best and only means to dry up the streams of misery that +have deluged this country." + +We had numberless copies of this address on board, ready to be +distributed throughout the country whenever we should effect a landing. +That was far from a pleasant time we had on our voyage. Not only had we +the effects of the gale to dread, but we were aware that a French +squadron was not far-off; and we were kept constantly on the look-out in +the unpleasant expectation of falling in with them, and having to take +to flight or of undergoing a still worse fate, and of falling into their +hands. Many people, in my day especially, had an idea that ships were +fated to be lucky or unlucky, either because they were launched on a +Friday, or that their keel was laid on a Friday, or that they were +cursed when building or when about to sail, or had a Jonas on board, or +for some other equally cogent reason. I always found that a bad captain +and master and a careless crew was the Jonas most to be dreaded, and +that to ill-fit and ill-find a ship was the worst curse which could be +bestowed on her. I should have been considered a great heretic if I had +publicly expressed such opinions in my younger days; indeed, I probably +did not think of them as I do now. The Charon was considered a lucky +ship, or, in other words, Captain Symonds was a careful commander, and +so few on board had any fear of our falling in with an overpowering +enemy or meeting with any other mishap. They could not as yet be proved +to be wrong; the gale abated on the 28th. The following day the weather +became moderate and fair, and we rejoined the fleet off the capes at the +entrance of the Chesapeake. We found the squadron augmented by the +arrival of two or three ships from the West India station. These were +to have joined to take part in the operations about to be commenced, but +the terrific hurricane which had lately raged over those regions had +either totally destroyed or disabled so many, that no others were then +in a fit condition to proceed to our assistance. Several of the +officers came on board of us, among them many old friends of mine, and +from them I gathered some accounts of that tremendous visitation. + +It first broke on the Island of Jamaica, at the little seaport town of +Savannah-la-Mer. That hapless place, with the adjacent country, was +almost entirely overwhelmed by the sea, which rushed in over it with +tremendous force, driven on by the fury of a tempest whose force has +rarely been surpassed. The gale began at about one o'clock in the +afternoon from the south-east, increasing in violence till four p.m., +when it veered to the south, then reaching its height, and continued +thus till eight, when it began to abate. Terrible was the havoc +committed in these few hours. The waves, raised to a height never +before witnessed, foaming and roaring, rushed with irresistible +impetuosity towards the land, sweeping into the bay and carrying before +it every building it encountered; numbers of the inhabitants it overtook +being drowned, while the rest fled shrieking before it for safety to the +Savannah. There the ruins only of houses remained to afford them +shelter. To add to the horror of the scene, lightning of the most vivid +description flashed from the skies--the wind and waves howled and roared +in concert--darkness came on, and the earth itself shook and trembled as +if about to swallow up those whom the waters or their falling +habitations had spared. The smaller vessels at anchor in the bay were +driven on shore and dashed to pieces, and the largest were torn from +their anchors and carried up far into the morass, whence they could +never be removed. One ship, the Princess Royal, was hove on her +beam-ends, but again righted by the earthquake or by the force of the +wind, and was left fixed firmly in the ground. + +With the morning light the scene of destruction presented to the eyes of +the survivors was truly heart-rending. The ground where the town had +stood was strewed with the mangled forms of the dead and dying, +scattered among the fragments of their dwellings. Scarcely a roof +remained whole or a wall standing. Of all the sugar-works none +remained; the plantain walks were destroyed; every cane-piece was +levelled; and some hundred people, whites and negroes, were killed. In +Montego Bay, and indeed throughout the island, the consequences of the +tempest were equally disastrous. But if people on shore suffered thus, +still more melancholy was the fate of the numerous fleets which came +within its influence. Those of England, France, and Spain equally +suffered; many being wrecked, and others foundering with all hands. + +The hurricane did not reach the Leeward Islands till the 19th. It raged +at Bridgetown, Barbadoes, from the 10th to the 16th, with no less fury +than elsewhere. The evening of the 9th was particularly calm, though a +glow of an unusual red appeared in the sky, and heavy rain began to +fall. On the morning of the 10th the hurricane began, and by the +afternoon the Albemarle frigate and all the merchantmen in the bay +parted from their anchors and drove to sea. By night the fury of the +tempest had reached its utmost height, and dreadful were the +consequences. It is impossible to describe the scenes of horror and +distress occurring on every side. A friend of mine was at the house of +the governor, which was a circular building with very thick walls. The +roof, however, soon began to fall in, and the family were compelled to +take shelter in the cellar. The water, however, speedily found its way +there, and, rising four feet, drove them into the open air, through +showers of tiles and bricks and timber falling on every side. They at +last took shelter under a gun-carriage, but several guns were +dismounted, and every instant they dreaded being crushed by the one +under which they were sitting. They were close, also, to the powder +magazine. A flash of lightning might destroy them in a moment. The +armoury had been already blown down, and all the arms and stores and +other things in it were scattered around. No place seemed safe, for +whole roofs were lifted up, and beams were blown about like feathers, +and darted with violence to the ground: so that the roar of the +elements, the crashing made by the falling houses, and the shrieks of +the inhabitants, were almost more than human courage could bear. + +All waited anxiously looking for the dawn of day, but the light only +exhibited a scene which made them wish that it were again dark. Only +ruin and desolation were visible on every side; houses overthrown, trees +and plantations levelled, the ground strewed with dead bodies, and the +shore covered with wrecks. At the other islands life and property +suffered equally. At Saint Pierre, in Martinique, the new hospital of +Notre Dame was blown down, overwhelming 1600 patients, and 1400 other +houses were destroyed. In Fort Royal Bay four ships foundered, and +every soul perished. At Saint Lucia the destruction was very great. +His Majesty's ship Amazon was driven to sea and most miraculously +escaped foundering. She was commanded by the Honourable Captain William +Clement Finch. An old friend of mine, one of the lieutenants, gave me +the following account:-- + +"We saw by the look of the weather that a hurricane was coming on, but +while we were making everything snug it was down upon us, and we were +driven from our anchors, happily out to sea, instead of on the shore. +We at once got the ship under storm staysails, and as long as the canvas +held she behaved admirably; but as night drew on the gale increased and +every stitch of canvas was blown from the bolt-ropes. It is impossible +to describe the terrific fury of the gale by this time. One thing was +very clear, that if we did not cut away the masts they would either go +by the board, or she herself, from her terrific labouring, would go +down. The captain evidently did not like to cripple the ship by cutting +away the masts, and kept waiting in the hopes that the gale was at its +height and would soon abate. Vain was the hope. The gale, on the +contrary, kept increasing. At last he sent them aloft to cut away the +main-topmast. Quick as lightning they flew to obey the order, for they +well knew how much depended on its execution. Scarcely were they aloft +when the hurricane struck us with greater fury than ever. + +"`Down, down, for your lives!' shouted the captain; `the mainmast must +go.' + +"While we were waiting for the men to come down--and never did a few +moments of my life appear so long, for I knew that every single one was +of importance--a terrific gust struck the ship. Over she heeled; down, +down she went. + +"`She's gone, she's gone!' shrieked out many on deck. + +"I hoped that she would lift again, but she did not. Lower and lower +she sank. All who were on deck, captain, officers and crew, who could +manage it, clambered up on the ship's side. Some poor fellows who were +to leeward, and unable to haul themselves up to the weather side, were +washed off by the foaming sea, and, unable to help them, we saw them +drowned before our eyes. We felt that in another moment their fate +might be ours, for so far gone was the ship that the wheel on the +quarter-deck was already under water, and to our dismay we saw that the +ship was settling down every moment lower and lower. All the time she +kept moving about terrifically, and all we could do was to cling on and +watch for our approaching dissolution. Higher every instant rose the +water, and it had now reached the after part of the carronade slides on +the weather side. All hope was now gone. No ship with a heavy armament +like ours had ever floated in such a position. Those who could or dared +pray prayed; the rest waited in dull or hardened indifference for their +fate. There was a tremendous deafening crash. I thought our last +moment had come, but no, at that instant I saw the masts breaking away +like mere faggots; the bowsprit, spanker-boom, everything went, and with +a spring the ship righted so much that the lee gunwale rose even with +the water's edge. + +"`Now, my lads,' shouted out our captain in a tone which animated all +hands; `now's our time! Overboard with the guns; we shall yet keep the +ship afloat.' + +"We all scrambled back on the deck, and everybody, fore and aft, set to +work with a will to obey the captain's orders. Capstan-bars, handspikes +and axes were in requisition for active service. First we got the lee +quarter-deck guns and carronades overboard; then we hurried forward and +launched one of the forecastle guns into the sea, and cut away the sheet +anchor. All the weight we took off the lee-side had so good an effect +that still more of the ship's side rose above water, and we found that +we could get at the lee-guns on the main deck. What was of equal +importance also, we were able to reach the pumps. The first thing was +to get the lee main deck guns overboard. It was some of the most trying +work we had yet to perform. As I looked aft, and then glanced forward, +I could not help perceiving, as I believed, that the ship was going down +stern foremost. Others were under the same impression. Still a daring +body, led by the gallant Packenham, our first lieutenant, worked away +with such determination that one gun after the other was sent plunging +into the ocean. Meantime the pumps were rigged, and we made a desperate +attempt to free the ship from water. Already it was above the cable on +the orlop deck, and there was an immense quantity between decks. Our +previous unexpected success encouraged us to proceed. No men ever +worked with a better will than did our people; still, it's my belief +that seamen always will thus work when a good example is set them. We +were evidently diminishing the water, and the ship was no longer +sinking, when an accident occurred which made us again almost abandon +hope. On examination, it proved to be that the stump of the mainmast +had worked out of the stop and been driven against one of the +chain-pumps. The carpenter and his mate and crew hurried below to see +what could be done, but scarcely were they there when the cry arose that +the other pump was useless. Still they were undaunted. While the stump +of the mast was being secured, they laboured away to repair the damage. +At length one of the pumps was put to rights: a cheerful shout announced +the fact. Then we set to work on the other, which was in time cleared, +and once more the water flowed out at the lee scuppers in a full stream. +The ship was strong, and tight as a corked bottle. Wonderful as it may +seem, not a leak had been sprung. The ship having at length been got +somewhat to rights, the crew were mustered, when it was found that +twenty men had been drowned or seriously disabled. In a few hours she +was cleared of water, but there we lay, a helpless wreck on the ocean, +an easy prey to the smallest enemy. Our safety existed, we knew, in the +fact that every other vessel afloat must be in nearly an equally bad +condition. When the weather moderated we rigged jury-masts, and after +great exertion got back into harbour, thankful to heaven for our +providential preservation from a fate to which so many of our fellow-men +had been doomed." + +Of his Majesty's ships alone, a great number were lost or dismasted. +The Thunderer, 74, Captain Walshingham, which had just arrived at the +station with a convoy from England, was lost with all hands. The +Scarborough, of 20 guns, was also lost with all hands. The Stirling +Castle, 64 guns, was lost, only the captain, Carteret, and fifty people +escaping. The Phoenix, 44--Deal Castle, 24--Endeavour brig, 14, were +lost, part only of the crews escaping. The Berwick, 74--Hector, 74-- +Grafton, 74, Captain Collingwood--Trident, 64--Ruby, 64--Bristol, 50-- +Ulysses, 44, and Pomona, lost all their masts, while the two first had +also to throw all their guns overboard. They formed the squadron which +had sailed from Port Royal with the trade for Europe, under Rear-Admiral +Rowley. He, with five only of his ships in a most shattered condition, +returned to Jamaica, while the Berwick separated from him, and, almost a +wreck, arrived under jury-masts in England, no one expecting that she +would keep afloat till they got there. + +Again I must sing, as I often have to do-- + + "Ye gentlemen of England, who live at home at ease, + Ah! little do you think upon the dangers of the seas." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note 1. Afterwards Sir William Symonds, Surveyor of the Navy. Another +son was the late Admiral Thomas Symonds, several of whose sons are or +were in the Navy. Captain Thomas Symonds here spoken of was also the +son, I believe, of a naval officer. His brother was Dr Symonds, +Professor of Modern History in the University of Cambridge. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +OLD NOL'S DREAM.--THE CHARON ON SHORE.--AFLOAT AT LAST.--EXPEDITION UP +THE CHESAPEAKE.--SENT ON SHORE.--CAPTURE GUIDES AND HOSTAGES.--VISIT +HAMPTON.--KINDLY RECEIVED BY MADELINE'S FRIENDS.--HER LIKENESS BUT NOT +HERSELF.--WARNED OF APPROACH OF AN ENEMY.--WE RETREAT, AND REGAIN OUR +SHIP. + +With a proud confidence that we were sailing on to victory, and as all +hoped and believed to bring the war to a conclusion, the squadron +entered the Chesapeake on the evening of the 30th of December. + +The Charon, however, did not make a good beginning. The lead was kept +going, and with a fair and light breeze we were running quietly on. +Suddenly, just as eight bells had struck, there was a shock felt--not a +very violent one, happily--but the cause we knew too well; the ship was +on shore on the Willoughby Shoal. The canvas was furled, and an attempt +instantly made to get her off; but there did not then appear much chance +of our efforts proving successful. We had been toiling away for two or +three hours, and still the ship stuck fast. + +"I don't like this here event by no means at all, Tom," I heard Nol +Grampus observe to Tom Rockets. + +Nol, though a sensible fellow in the main, was a thorough old salt, and +with all the usual prejudices of his class. + +"To my mind ill-luck has set in against us. I had a dream t'other +night. I thought as how, while we was a-standing on under all sail, +thinking ourselves all right and free from danger, far away from land, I +saw a big fish--she was a whopper, depend on that--a-swimming along over +the sea. I looked at her, and she opened her mouth and made right at +the ship. Her upper jaw reached far up above the main-top mast truck, +and the lower one, I'd no doubt, dipped far away down below her keel. +Well, as I was a-saying, on she came, roaring away like a young +porpoise, and heaving the foam right over our mast-heads. I knew what +would happen, and so it did. Just as easily as the big shark in Port +Royal harbour would swallow a nigger boy, she made a snap at the ship +and bolted us all, masts and spars and hull, and I felt as how we was +all a-being crunched up in her jaws. I woke with a start, which made me +almost jump clean out of my hammock, all over in a cold sweat, and right +glad I was to find that it wasn't true; but, d'ye see, Tom, as to going +to sleep again, I couldn't for the life of me, but lay awake a-kicking +up my toes and turning the matter over in my mind. Says I to myself, +`There's some harm a-coming to the old barkie of some sort or other, or +my name's not Nol Grampus. When we gets ashore this evening,' says I to +myself, `this is the beginning on it,' and you'll see my words comes +true, Tom." + +There was not light enough to allow me to observe Rockets' countenance, +but I felt very sure, from the exclamations in which he indulged, that +he was taking in the whole matter with open-mouthed credulity, scarcely +understanding that Grampus was only describing his dream, and that he +had fully made up his mind that some dreadful accident was about to +happen to the ship. The scene I have been describing took place during +one of the cessations from labour, while the captain and first +lieutenant and master were considering what means could next be adopted +to get the ship afloat again. I was anxious that Nol's remarks should +not be heard by the rest of the crew, for I knew by experience how +greedily such an idea as the one he had expressed--that the ship was +doomed--might be taken up by the crew, and perhaps produce the very +event he had predicted. I was about to step forward and interfere, when +the order was issued to carry out another anchor astern, and Grampus and +his listener had to go about their duty. All night long we were toiling +away, getting out all our anchors, starting the water, even lowering +some of the guns into the boats. + +"I told you so; I knew how it would be," I heard Grampus remark just as +he happened to meet Tom, while I was passing. "Ill-luck has come to the +ship, and ill-luck will stick to her, unless so be we gets a parson +aboard and manages to heave him into the sea. That'll set things to +rights again, may be." + +I was amused at the old man's recipe for averting the doom from the +ship. It was not, however, new to me, for I had before heard a similar +proposal made under like circumstances. Never did a set of men labour +and toil more perseveringly than did our crew that night. Still the +ship stuck fast. It became at last a matter of doubt whether we should +have to throw all our guns overboard, and perhaps our provisions and +ammunition; and if so, all hopes of gaining prize-money or of doing +anything in the way of fighting was over for a long time to come. +Captain Symonds of course was unwilling to resort to this alternative +till the last. Grog was served out to all hands, and then we set to +again with a will. Hour after hour passed; as yet the weather remained +moderate, but we could not conceal from ourselves the disagreeable fact +that, should it come on to blow, in the position in which we were +placed, the ship would too probably be knocked to pieces. We were all +so busily employed that the hours did not pass so heavily as they would +otherwise have done. We were in constant movement ourselves, and had to +keep the ship in constant movement to prevent her from forming a bed for +herself in the sand. The tide, which was ebbing when we got on shore, +at last turned and began to flow. Slow enough it came in to suit our +impatience. At length dawn appeared. The crokers were of opinion that +the clouds looked threatening. "If a gale springs up, the old ship will +leave her bones here, that's very certain," I heard one or two of them +remark. I watched the current as it came sweeping by us; the water was +evidently rising round the ship. Again all the strain we could command +was put on the hawsers. None but a seaman can understand the +satisfactory sensations we experienced as her vast hulk yielded to our +efforts. We felt that she was gliding off the bank. "She moves, she +moves! hurrah, hurrah!" was shouted fore and aft. Her speed increased, +round went the capstan right merrily. Again and again the men shouted. +She was clear of the bank. One after the other the anchors were +weighed, sail was made on the ship, and rapidly we glided up the mighty +Chesapeake. We proceeded up as high as Newportneuse, and so suddenly +and unexpectedly did we come on the enemy that a considerable number of +merchantmen were unable to make their escape. As soon as we had brought +up, the boats were lowered, and away we went in chase. + +The moment the crews made out who we were, they cut their cables and +ran, while we in hot speed went after them. Some few gave it up as a +hopeless case and hauled down their colours; others ran on shore, and +their crews set them on fire, or we did so, to prevent any one from +benefiting by them. They were mostly loaded with Virginian tobacco. No +one in the fleet wanted a good supply of the fragrant weed after that. +We took or destroyed a dozen or more brigs and schooners. It might have +been necessary, but it was cruel work, and I did not think it was the +best way to make the planters of Virginia love us the more. Such was +the way our expedition commenced operations. + +Before I proceed I must recommend my readers to look at a map of +Virginia bordering the southern or rather western side of the +Chesapeake, and examine the scene of the operations which, under the +directions of General Arnold, we were about to commence against the +rebels. To the east will be found that large estuary of the Atlantic +running nearly north and south, and known as Chesapeake bay, or gulf, or +river. It forms the eastern boundary of Virginia. Flowing into it from +the west the river Potomac bounds the State on the north, while a vast +marsh, known by the unattractive name of the Dismal Swamp, separates it +on the south from North Carolina. Between the Potomac and the Dismal +Swamp several other rivers and creeks are to be found. The largest is +James river, with Portsmouth and Gosport near the mouth. Running into +it on the north is Hampton creek, on which stands the town of Hampton, +and a little to the north of it again is York river and York Town, which +was to become the scene of operations of a character most disastrous to +the royal cause. York Town stands on an elbow of York river, between it +and James river. Some way up James river is the town of Richmond, the +capital of the State of Virginia. The country was, at the time of which +I am speaking, as densely populated and as well cultivated as any part +of the province of North America. The Dismal Swamp is an exception to +the fertility of the surrounding country. It is a vast quagmire, +composed of vegetable matter and the decayed roots of trees and plants. +On the surface appear in rich luxuriance every species of aquatic +plants, from the delicate green moss to the tall cypress. It covers, I +was told, an area of a thousand square miles, and is forty miles long +and twenty-five broad, having, however, in the centre, a lake of some +size fringed to the very borders with dense masses of trees which extend +even into the water itself. The water is perfectly level with the +banks, and sometimes overflows them. Altogether, from its uninhabitable +and impassable character, and the sombre appearance of its vegetable +productions, it well deserves the name given to it. + +The last day of the year 1780 had now arrived. Captain Symonds sent for +me and informed me that I had had the honour of being selected for some +important duty, and that he could fully rely on my carrying it out with +my usual zeal, energy, and discretion. I bowed, and replied that I was +always anxious to do my duty; but my heart, I confess, did beat rather +quickly and anxiously in consequence of the possibility I at once saw of +realising the hopes I had so long entertained, I need not, however, +again revert to that subject. + +"Some intelligent pilots are required to conduct the men-of-war and +transports up James river, as also some guides are wanted for the army +when they land," said my captain. "Now you see, Mr Hurry, as they +won't come simply because they are wanted, you are to go on shore and +catch them. Captain Hawthorne of the 80th Regiment, with two +detachments, one from the Queen's Rangers and one of his own men, will +accompany you. You will have altogether fully three hundred men. With +their courage and discipline they will be a match for a thousand or two +thousand rebels, and I expect that you will carry out your instructions +with credit to yourself and advantage to the service." + +I bowed, and the captain continued: "It is believed that the enemy have +secured some of their vessels in Hampton creek. You are to find out +where they are, and, if you can, take possession of them and bring them +away. If not, burn or destroy them; at all events, acquaint yourself +sufficiently with the country to enable you to lead an expedition up the +creek to capture them. With regard to the inhabitants, you are to treat +them with civility and in a conciliatory manner. If necessary, of +course you will coerce them, but as much as possible show them that we +come as friends rather than as foes." + +Having assured the captain that I fully comprehended my directions, and +would endeavour to carry them out to the full, I took my departure, to +prepare for the expedition. + +I had a hundred picked men with me, including Nol Grampus and Tom +Rockets, whom I kept by me as my bodyguard. We got the soldiers all on +shore by seven o'clock in the evening at Newportneuse, where I joined +them with the blue-jackets. Meeting with no opposition, we were under +the impression that our landing was unnoticed. Forming on the shore we +began our march at about eight o'clock in good military order, the +Rangers in front, the seamen in the centre, and the 80th in the rear, +with advanced and flanking parties from the Rangers. I felt that we +were in an enemy's country, that any moment we might be attacked, and +that such precautions as we were taking were in no way derogatory to +those who would desire to be considered brave men. Others, as will +afterwards be seen, held a different opinion and suffered accordingly. +Captain Hawthorne, however, fully agreed with me in the wisdom of +adopting the precautions I proposed. We advanced in perfect silence, +feeling our way, for we were ignorant of where the path we were +following would lead us. Road, properly so-called, there was none. +After proceeding half a mile or so through a tolerably open country we +reached a thick wood, extending so far before us on either side that it +was in vain to hope to pass round it. Whether or not it was full of +lurking enemies we could not tell. There was nothing to be done but to +penetrate through it. There was something solemn and rather depressing +in the deep silence of that gloomy forest, with the tall gaunt trees +towering above our heads and shutting out the sky itself from view. In +some places it was so dark that we could scarcely discover our way, and +as we marched on we went stumbling into holes and over fallen trunks of +trees and branches, and more than once I found myself up to my middle in +the rotten stem of some ancient monarch of the forest long recumbent on +the ground. Some of the men declared that the wood was full of +rattle-snakes, and that they heard them rattling away their tails as +they went gliding and wriggling along over the ground, rather surprised +at having their haunts invaded by the tramping of so many hundred feet. +Others asserted that there were ghosts and hobgoblins and evil spirits +of all sorts infesting the locality; indeed, I suspect that there was +scarcely a man among them who would not more willingly have met a whole +army of mortal enemies rather than have remained much longer in that +melancholy solitude. Every moment I expected to hear the sharp crack of +the enemy's rifles and to see the wood lighted up with the flashes, for +I could scarcely suppose that they would allow us to pass through a +place, where, without much risk to themselves, they might so easily +molest us and probably escape scot-free. On we marched, or rather +stumbled and groped our way, till at length we emerged from the wood +into the clear light which the starry sky and pure atmosphere afforded +us. We were now among fields and fences, which gave us intimation that +some human habitations were not far-off. In a short time we saw before +us a good-sized mansion standing in the middle of a farm, with various +out-houses. Our first care was to draw up our men closely round it. +Hawthorne and I, with about twenty followers, then approached the front +door and knocked humbly for admission. Soon we heard the voice of a +negro inquiring who was there. + +"Some gentlemen who wish to see your master on important business," I +answered. + +"Ki! at this hour! Come again to-morrow, den; massa no see nobody +to-night." + +"It is business which cannot be put off," said I. "Open, Sambo, you +rascal, or I shall be apt to break your head or your shins rather before +long if you are not quick about it." + +Still Sambo seemed to have his suspicions that all was not right, and +very soon we heard somebody else come to the door and a discussion +commence as to who we could be. Again I knocked and began to lose +patience. + +"Open, friend!" I exclaimed; "we are not robbers, nor are we officers +of the law, but we have a matter in which we want your assistance, but +cannot delay." + +Soft words often have an effect when rough ones would fail. The bolts +were withdrawn, and, the door opening, a gentleman in a dressing-gown +and slippers, his wig off, his waistcoat unbuttoned, and his whole +appearance showing that he had made himself comfortable for the evening, +stood, candle in hand, before us. He held up the light and peered +before him into the darkness to ascertain who we could be. When his eye +fell on our uniforms and the red-coats of the soldiers his countenance +assumed a most ridiculously scared appearance, and with a groan of +terror he let the candlestick fall from his hands. The expiring flame, +as the candle reached the ground, showed me a female arm stretched out. +It hauled him through a doorway, and the door was slammed and bolted in +our faces. Directly afterwards we heard a window thrown up, and a voice +exclaimed-- + +"Fly, Ebenezer, love! fly and hide thyself, or these red-coated villains +will be the death of thee!" + +We stood very quietly waiting the result. I knew pretty well what it +would be. In two minutes a voice was heard outside the window-- + +"Oh, mercy, mercy! Bridget, let me in again, let me in!" it said. "The +house is surrounded by armed men, and thy unhappy husband is truly +caught in the snares of the enemy." + +We had no time to spare, so I thought it best to catch our friend and +see what we could make of him. I accordingly knocked at the door and +desired to be admitted. + +"Oh, mercy, mercy! oh dear, oh dear!" was the only answer I got. + +"Well, my friends, I can wait no longer," I exclaimed, in a voice which +showed that I would not be trifled with. "I have something to +communicate to you, and if you come out peaceably it will save trouble, +and be better for all parties. You have my word that no harm whatever +is intended you." + +There was some discussion inside. I knocked pretty loudly two or three +times with the hilt of my sword. The hint was taken, and at length the +door was slowly and cautiously opened, and the worthy farmer and his +portly dame stood before us. I asked him his name. + +"Ruggles," he answered, looking as if he did not love me certainly, +"Ebenezer Ruggles, and that's my wife Bridget. And now, stranger, what +is it you want of us?" + +"Why, my friend, all I want you to do is to guide a party of his +Majesty's troops and blue-jackets by the nearest and best road to the +town of Hampton, and to give me such other information as I may +reasonably require," I replied, somewhat sternly. "I have lost some +time already, so put on your hat and great coat and come along." + +"What! you are going to carry my husband off, are you? He'll not go; I +tell you that he shan't!" exclaimed Mrs Bridget, walking up in front of +him, like a turkey hen defending her young. "Whatever you want to know +I'll tell you, but you shan't take away my good man from me. He'd catch +his death of cold, I know he would. Here, Jeremiah! Boaz! Timothy! +Luke! Sarah! Martha! Jane! come and stop your dear father from being +shot, murdered, drowned, hung up as a Tory! Oh, dear, oh, dear! I +don't know what will happen to him." + +As she spoke, a number of children streamed in from an inner room, the +smaller ones in their night-gowns, and all more or less in _deshabille_, +as if they had been hurriedly summoned out of their beds. They looked +at me, and the soldiers and sailors behind me, and then threw themselves +shrieking and crying round their father's neck. As I knew that we +should take very good care of the poor man, I could not stand this scene +very long, and had at last to tell him that he must put an end to it, or +that I must order the soldiers to separate him from his children and to +carry him off by force. + +"Oh, you cruel, hard-hearted slave of a tyrant!" exclaimed their mother, +advancing boldly towards me; "you will not take him away--you will not-- +you dare not! You'll have his life to answer for if you do." + +"Come, come, madam," said I, "we must end this business at once. Your +husband must accompany me at all events. No harm will happen to him, so +don't be alarmed. Now, sir, put on your hat and accompany me." + +I had a strong suspicion that she wished to gain time, and had perhaps +sent off some one to try and bring down the enemy on us. + +Again there was a furious chorus of hugging and shrieking and crying and +kissing. + +"Don't go--you shan't go--Papa, you mustn't go--we won't let you go-- +hard-hearted, cruel tyrants!" + +Such were the phrases which reached my ears, but Ebenezer Ruggles saw +that I was in earnest, and, signing to his wife, she brought him a thick +pair of shoes, a great coat, a stick and his hat, and then, in spite of +the renewed cries of his children, he signified, in a manly, fearless +way, that if we compelled him he would accompany us without resistance. +I accordingly took him by the arm, and succeeded at last in separating +him from his wife and children, and leading him out of the house. Even +after we had got some distance off we heard the cries of poor Dame +Bridget and her disconsolate brood. Ebenezer bore the trial very well. + +"Now, friend Ruggles," said I, "you must understand that, if you guide +us right and play us no tricks, we will restore you safe to your wife +and family, but if you lead us into any difficulty I shall be under the +disagreeable necessity of shooting you through the head." + +"Oh! if that's the case, then, I must tell you that you have come two +miles out of the road to Hampton," quoth Mr Ruggles. "If you had gone +on, you would have run your noses against a pretty strong force of our +States' army, who would have made mince-meat of you, I guess." + +"They must have been pretty strong to impede the progress of a thousand +men," said I. "However, lead us by the best road and you shall be well +rewarded." + +"That's reasonable," said Ruggles; and forthwith turning round, away he +trudged alongside me at the rate of nearly four miles an hour. He led +us back right through the dark wood and into the open country, and at +last we reached a fine broad open road. Along that we marched at a +great rate. We soon, however, came to a house. We instantly surrounded +it, and, very much to the surprise and alarm of the inhabitants, made +them prisoners. I rather think that our friend Ruggles was not sorry to +have a companion in his misfortunes. We soon had several. Every house +we came to we surrounded, and had to capture the inhabitants, that they +might not escape to give the alarm through the country. I cannot +describe all the scenes that occurred. Some were rather amusing, as we +knew that we were not going to injure the poor people. Others were +painful, from the dreadful alarm into which both men and women were put +when we appeared at their doors. Still greater was it when they found +that they had to accompany us on our march. + +The night was drawing on, and there were as yet no signs of the town for +which we were bound. Every moment, of course, increased the probability +of our being attacked, for, notwithstanding all our precautions, we +scarcely hoped to have prevented some of the people getting off, who +might give notice of our advance. I began to suspect that Mr Ruggles +was playing us false. I told him so. He assured me that we were close +upon Hampton. I cocked my pistol to his ear, to remind him what would +be the consequence should he be playing us false. He stood firm, and my +confidence in him was restored. In five minutes he asked me to halt my +people, and assured me we were close upon the town. Just then the +advanced guard fell back, and reported that they had suddenly found +themselves at the entrance of a town. We accordingly formed our force +into three divisions. One party went round to the other side, one +remained where we then were, and a third, which I led, entered the town. +Having made a rapid survey of the place, Captain Hawthorne and I placed +a strong body of men at each end of the principal streets, and the +outskirts of the town being at the same time strictly watched, we felt +now that no one could escape or enter the place without our knowledge. +These arrangements being made, we commenced a series of visits to the +abodes of all the principal inhabitants. So silently had we proceeded +that many of them were not aware that the town was in our hands, and +their dismay may be more easily conceived than described when they found +armed men knocking at their doors, and in some instances breaking them +open. One of the first houses we visited was that of an oldish +gentleman--the richest merchant, we were told, in the town. We knocked +at first gently, and then louder and louder, till we heard some one +coming along the passage, and a negro voice inquired who was there and +what was wanted. The usual answer, "Your master--business of +importance--quick--quick!" made the poor black without further +consideration open the door, when in we rushed, and he, stepping back, +tumbled head over heels, and upset two or three of the first men who got +in. Amid shouts of laughter from us, and shrieks and cries from a whole +posse of negroes who ran out from their own dormitories, we hurried up +to the principal staircase. The hubbub, as well it might, roused the +master of the house and his better half from their drowsy slumbers--so +we concluded--for a gruff voice in tones irate began scolding away from +the top of the stairs at the blacks, demanding why they made so terrific +a noise--joined in occasionally by other far sharper notes. + +"The blacks are not to blame, old gentleman," exclaimed Hawthorne, +springing up the stairs. "How do you do! We call upon you at rather an +unseasonable hour, I own, but our stay in the place is short you will +understand. We will have a little conversation together on public +affairs, and then I must trouble you for the keys of your stores, or an +order for the delivery of such provisions as we may require, for which I +am directed to offer you payment." + +The old gentleman, not comprehending who we were, was almost struck down +at first on hearing this address, but, after a time, recovering himself, +he begged leave to slip on some more clothes, and promised that he would +then come down into his sitting-room and speak to us. + +We heard him and the sharp-voiced lady discussing matters up-stairs. + +More than once Hawthorne had to sing out-- + +"We are in a hurry, sir--we are in a hurry," before his better half +would let him appear. + +I left Hawthorne and him to settle matters while I with my men proceeded +to other houses. We had given strict orders that no violence whatever +was to be used towards any of the inhabitants, and I fully believe that +the lieutenants and midshipmen under us did their best to repress +anything of the sort. Still it was necessary to keep a watch on all +parties. Of course I was obeying the orders I had received in what I +did, and had no choice; but, at the same time, I must own that I felt +excessive repugnance in thus having to disturb and frighten out of their +senses the inhabitants of a quiet town, who had in no way done anything +to offend us. I resolved, however, to make amends to them by every +means in my power, by treating them with the utmost delicacy and +kindness. We had already seized on a dozen or more of the principal +people, and marched them off to the square in the centre of the town, +where they were kept under a strong guard as hostages for the good +behaviour of the rest, and as a guarantee for our safety while we +remained in the place. Not slight was the alarm and agitation when they +were told that the instant any attempt was made, either by any of their +fellow-townsmen or by any of the enemy's troops outside, to re-take the +place, their lives would be forfeited, while a pistol was kept presented +at the head of each of them to carry this threat into execution. +Having, in my rounds, visited the square, and comforted our prisoners as +much as I could venture to do, I again went on with my domiciliary +visits. At the next house at which I stopped the door was instantly +opened by the black servant. + +"Oh, massa officer! oh, massa officer! you frighten de poor young ladies +till all die!" he exclaimed as we entered the hall. "Oh, ki! oh, ki! +dey kick and squeal on de sofa like little pigs going to have dey throat +cut. Oh, ki! oh, ki! what shall we do?" + +"Where are the ladies?" I asked. "I will try what I can do to banish +their alarm." + +"Dis way, den, sare--dis way," said the negro, ushering me in a great +hurry into a large and handsomely-furnished room, lighted by several +candles. There were several sofas. On two of them lay two ladies, +apparently in hysterics, while several other ladies and female +attendants, black and brown, were bending over them and applying +restoratives. + +"There, sir! that is what you and your people have done!" exclaimed an +elderly and rather portly lady, turning round and advancing towards me +while she pointed at the younger females, whom I took to be her +daughters, on the sofa. + +Some of my men were following me. When the ladies saw them they +shrieked louder than ever, so I ordered them all to go outside the house +with the exception of Tom Rockets, and then addressed myself to the lady +who had thus spoken to me-- + +"I regret excessively the cruel necessity thus imposed on me, madam," +said I, "but accept the honour of an officer and a gentleman that no +harm shall be done to any member of your family. Let me entreat the +young ladies to calm their fears. My people are under perfect command, +as you may have seen by the way they obeyed my orders, so that you need +be under no apprehension either from them." + +"I'll trust you, sir; I'll trust you," said the lady, frankly putting +out her hand. "There is something in your countenance and manner which +assures me that you speak the truth." + +I could only bow to this pretty compliment--I hope it was deserved. +These words had great effect in calming the agitation of the young +ladies, and in a few minutes they were able to dismiss the negro girls +and the scent bottles and the plates of burnt feathers, and to sit up +and enter into conversation. The room was still too dark to enable me +to see much of their countenances, but I thought their voices sounded +very pleasant and sweet, and I pictured them to myself as very charming +young ladies. + +"The hour is somewhat unusual for tea," observed the lady of the house, +"but I doubt not after your long march you will find it refreshing." + +I thanked the lady very much, and assured her that I should particularly +enjoy a cup of tea. She accordingly gave the order to an attendant +slave, and in a short time a whole troop of black girls came in with urn +and teacups and candles, and in a twinkling a table was spread, and all +the party drew round it. + +As I was approaching the tea-table, I started and stood like one +transfixed, for there appeared before me, with the light of a candle +falling full on her countenance, a young lady the very image of Madeline +Carlyon. "It must be her," I thought; and yet my heart told me that it +could not be, for she did not appear to recognise me. The young lady, +however, saw my confusion, and looked up with an inquiring glance at my +countenance. Women have, I suspect, very sharp eyes in discovering +where anything connected with the heart of the opposite sex is +concerned, and are generally equally clever in concealing what is +passing in their own. She kept looking at me, and I looked at her for a +minute or more without speaking. More than once I made a move towards +her as if the lady I saw before me must be Madeline, and then the +expression of her countenance showed me I was mistaken. + +At last I was aware that I was making myself somewhat remarkable or, as +some of my friends would have said, very ridiculous; so, trying to +overcome my agitation, I drew my chair to the table and sat down. I +watched the young lady, and observed that she still cast an inquiring +glance at me, as much as to say, "For whom do you take me?" On the +strength of this I thought I would venture to inquire if she was in any +way related to Madeline. Just as I was going to speak, a cup of tea was +handed to me. I first emptied half the contents of the sugar-bason into +it, then said I took very little sugar, and asked for a spoonful. Then +I threw off the tea as if it were a doctor's dose, and passed my cup for +some more. At last I mustered courage to look across the table and to +say, "I beg pardon--I fear that I must have appeared very rude, but your +resemblance to a young lady whom I know is so very striking that I +should suppose you to be her sister if I was not aware that she has +none." + +"Then you must be Mr Hurry!" she said quickly. "I am considered very +like my cousin, Madeline Carlyon. She has spoken to me about you--of +your kindness and generosity--oh, how very fortunate!" + +The countenances of all the party were turned towards me, and they +looked at me with an expression of interest and pleasure. The elder +lady got up and, taking my hand, exclaimed-- + +"We welcome you indeed most cordially, Mr Hurry. Our kinswomen have +spoken most warmly of you, and we consider ourselves most happy in +having met you, though you come in the guise of an enemy." + +I had not said all this time who I was, it must be understood. It made +my heart bump away very hard when I found the manner in which Madeline +had spoken of me to her relatives. I made as suitable a reply as I +could to all the complimentary things which were said to me; and then, +as soon as I could, I inquired in a trembling voice where Madeline +Carlyon then was, and how she was. I felt very sure that my secret was +out, and that there was no use in disguising my sentiments. + +"She is now residing with her father not very far away from here. They +were, however, to stay with some friends in the neighbourhood, and we +are not quite certain where they may be at this present moment," +answered the elder lady. "We will, depend on it, take care to let her +know that we have seen you, and she will rejoice to hear of the +courteous way in which you treated us, even when you were unaware who we +were." + +I expressed my thanks, and then remarked that even then I did not know +their names. + +"Langton is my name," said the lady. "These are my daughters, and that +young lady is my niece, and the other is her sister. They are Carlyons. +Grace is indeed very like her cousin, and some curious mistakes have +occurred in consequence." + +I need not repeat more of our conversation. In a few minutes I felt +perfectly at home, and I must own had almost forgotten the errand on +which I had come to the place. Tea was over, and I was about to ask for +paper and a pen to write to Madeline when the sound of a bugle recalled +me to the stern reality of my duties. I started up. I longed to send a +message to Madeline--yet what could I say? I felt that all reserve must +be thrown to the winds. I took Mrs Langton's hand: "Tell her--tell her +that I am true," I exclaimed. "Oh, that this dreadful war were brought +to an end!" + +Again the bugle sounded; Tom Rockets put his head in at the door. He +had been carried off to be tended on by the slaves below. + +"We must be off, sir," said he; "the red-coats are forming outside, and +from what I can make out there is likely to be a scrimmage." + +I shook the ladies warmly by the hand. In vain I endeavoured to get +them to tell me where they believed Madeline Carlyon then was. One +spoke, then another; mentioning the names of different places, which of +course I did not know, nor could I conceive by their descriptions in +what direction they were to be found. Several shots were heard; again +the bugle sounded. I dared not remain another moment. I tore myself +away, still ignorant of a point I would have given much to ascertain, +and rushed out. My own men had formed outside the house; the other +different parties who had been carrying on the examination of the town +were hurrying into the square from all quarters. Some of them brought +us the information that our advanced guard was attacked. + +"Then the hostages must answer for it," said Captain Hawthorne. + +The no-little-alarmed old gentlemen we had in our power entreated that +they might be allowed to try and stop the attack. We, of course, were +glad enough of this, and we let them go to the front in charge of a +strong body of our men. In a short time they returned, well contented +to find that the attack had been made merely by a hundred volunteers or +so, who on finding our strength had retreated. We knew, however, that +they would not go far-off, and felt the unpleasant assurance that we +should, in all probability, be continually harassed during the whole of +our march back, and perhaps even have to fight our way through a crowd +of active enemies. + +Under these circumstances Hawthorne and I agreed that we should, without +a moment's delay, commence our march. It was now about two o'clock in +the morning. We had performed the service we had come on, and gained +all the information we required. We had ascertained that the +surrounding country would supply us amply with provisions; that the +vessels which had taken refuge in the creek could not be cut out without +a strong force, and that the people were, if not actually in arms +against us, far from favourable to the royal cause, as Arnold had led us +to suppose they would be. We had also distributed large numbers of his +address. Discharging some of the more elderly of our prisoners, we +began our march, carrying with us the younger men and those whom we had +picked up on the way. We soon found that our retreat was to be anything +but pleasant. Scarcely had we got clear of the town when the crack of +rifles showed us that an enemy was in our rear. Our road led us through +numerous woods more or less dense. We had got to about the centre of +the first, when on either flank bright jets of flame were seen darting +out like the flashes of fire-flies from among the trees. I could almost +have fancied that they were fire-flies had not the flashes been +accompanied by sharp reports, and had we not felt the bullets whizzing +about our ears. By proceeding, however, in the careful way in which we +made our advance, we kept the enemy at bay, and they saw that we were +not a force to be trifled with. It would have been useless barbarity to +have punished our prisoners for what they could not help, but we told +them that we should hold them responsible if any serious attack was made +on us. Still it was somewhat provoking to have our men hit without +being able to go in pursuit of our nimble adversaries, for, of course, +they were off and away the instant we made a movement towards them. +Thus we proceeded as rapidly as the nature of the ground would allow. +Whenever we reached the habitation of one of our prisoners, we thanked +him for the assistance he had afforded us, and allowed him to remain, on +his undertaking not only not to act against us that day, but to do his +best to prevent his countrymen from attacking us. This was very +judicious; for although, I believe, fresh skirmishers came on, the old +ones gradually withdrew, and thus we never had, at a time, any very +large force with which to contend. Several of our men had been wounded, +but none had been killed that we were aware of. However, when, at seven +o'clock in the morning, we reached the place of debarkation, we found +that, exclusive of the wounded, one seaman and six soldiers were +missing. What had become of them we could not tell, but as they were +not seen to fall, it is more than probable that they deserted to the +enemy. When I returned on board the Charon, Captain Symonds was pleased +to say that the general was highly satisfied with the way the expedition +had been conducted. Whatever may be thought of General Arnold, I may +here remark that he was a first-rate soldier and a clever man, as was +proved by all the expeditions he planned and the exploits he performed. + +Thus ended the year 1780. Who could then tell the important events the +following one was to bring forth? + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +ADVANCE OF ARMY UP JAMES RIVER.--I COMMAND A FLOTILLA OF BOATS UP +NANSIMOND RIVER.--A DARK NIGHT.--SURROUND A HOUSE.--INTERVIEW WITH +MADELINE.--WARNED OF PLAN TO CAPTURE US.--O'DRISCOLL AT HOME.--RAPID +PULL FOR LIBERTY.--MACKEY'S MILLS.--PEOPLE WIDE-AWAKE.--HOT FIRE.-- +REGAIN SHIP. + +The new year of 1781 commenced with the advance of the whole army, under +General Arnold, up the banks of the James river, protected by three +ships of war--the Charlestown, Bonetta, and Swift. No attack was made +on us; indeed, there was no force of the enemy, it was believed, in the +neighbourhood in any way capable of impeding our progress. That evening +I was again sent for, and, in order to ascertain that important fact, I +was directed to take command of five boats and to proceed up the +Nansimond river. "You will learn, also, what shipping is in the river," +said my captain; "and, Mr Hurry, you will not forget to see how they +can best be cut out." Having received this brief professional +admonition, I took my departure. + +I had the Charon's cutter, the Thames's long-boat, and three other +boats, each commanded by a lieutenant or master's mate. I gave them +all, in the clearest way, their instructions, for I felt that we were +about to engage in an expedition which might prove extremely hazardous, +though but little honour was to be reaped from it. The Nansimond river +is about twenty-five miles long, and generally about half a mile wide; +but in some places, as high up as the west branch, it narrows to about +fifty yards. Not far from the entrance is the town of Nansimond, and +higher up a place called Mackey's Mills. Nearly at the source is a town +or village called Suffolk. This information I had obtained from the +prisoners we had taken on our previous expedition. + +Darkness had long settled down before my five boats collected alongside +the Charon. Never was I out in a more pitchy night. Dense clouds +covered the sky, and not a star was visible. On first stepping into my +boat, after leaving the light of the cabin, I could see nothing. + +"You all understand what we are to do, gentlemen?" said I to the +officers under me. "Follow closely in my wake. Let not a word be +spoken. If we are discovered and attacked, we are to put about and pull +down the stream; if not, wait till I give the order to return. Shove +off!" + +Our oars were muffled, so that not a sound was heard as we pulled away +through the darkness towards the mouth of the Nansimond river. We had a +pilot with us who professed to know the navigation, and we believed that +we could trust him. By degrees my eyes began to grow accustomed to the +darkness, and I could distinguish the outline of the shore. We entered +the river about ten o'clock, and slowly groped our way up the stream, +one boat following the other in line, like a long snake wriggling its +way through the grass. On we pulled. Sharp eyes, indeed, must have +been those which could have discovered us from the shore. But few +lights were streaming from the windows of the houses of Nansimond as we +passed that town. Early hours were kept by the colonists in those +primitive days, and most of the inhabitants had retired to rest--not +aware that an enemy was so close to them, or dreaming of danger. As +long as we continued in the wider part of the river we had no fear of +being detected. However, as our object was to obtain information, I +resolved to land near the first house we could see on the shore. My +plan was then to surround it, keep all the inmates captive, carry them +up the river with us, and land them again on our return, so as to +prevent them from giving notice of our expedition, much in the same way +that we had done on our march to Hampton. The darkness, however, made +this no easy matter, for not the sign of a house could we distinguish on +the shore. Sometimes we pulled towards one bank and sometimes towards +the other, but to no purpose. If houses there were, they must have been +among the trees, and the inhabitants must have gone to bed and +extinguished all their lights. At last I resolved to land, and, with +part of one boat's crew, to explore the country on foot. Grampus, +Rockets, and two other men accompanied me, while the boats pulled slowly +along, ready to come to my assistance should I be surprised. I walked +two or three miles in this way, stumbling along through woods and swamps +and other impediments; but, though we crossed several ploughed fields, +no houses could we discover. At last, from very weariness, I was +compelled to take to the boat again. Several times we landed, but with +the same want of success as at first. We came in time to Mackey's +Mills. I had made up my mind to catch Mr Mackey, at all events, and +make him serve our purpose. Accordingly we landed, and having lighted +our lanterns to save ourselves from tumbling into the mill-dams or +traps, which we supposed would everywhere abound, we surrounded the +buildings, and proceeded to search for the miller and his men; but +neither Mr Mackey nor any of his people were to be found. The mill +appeared to be deserted, so we had our trouble for nothing. Once more +we took to the boats. The river was here, for some distance, very +narrow, but it widened out again as we proceeded upwards. Again and +again we landed, always keeping the most profound silence. I had duly +impressed on the minds of the people the fact that our lives and the +success of the enterprise depended on our so doing. We were all, +however, beginning to get rather vexed at our want of success, +especially as we had no safety-valve in the expression of our feelings. +At times it appeared as if the river flowed through the centre of some +large forest. On either side the tall trees rose up, forming a dark +wall, with the sky overhead and the smooth black current of the river on +which we floated flowing beneath. I trusted that none of the enemy had +discovered us, for I thought to myself, if they have, this is just the +place they will select to attack, and very little chance we shall have, +in that case, of successfully running the gauntlet and getting off +scot-free. However, our business was to push up the river as far as we +could go till we discovered the vessels we were to look for, taking +care, only, that we had time to return before daylight should discover +us to our foes. On we went, till we reached a part of the river called +the West Branch. It appeared to me that the night had become less dark +than at first. Perhaps it was that the banks were freer from trees. We +kept carefully examining either shore. I fancied as we pulled on that I +could distinguish a rough sort of landing-place. + +"A house will not be far-off from it," I said to myself, so I gave the +order to pull in for it. My eyes had not deceived me. There was a +regular formal landing-place, and not three hundred yards from it I +thought that I saw a house. Leaving two men in each boat I drew up my +party and gave the order to advance that we might immediately surround +the house, if such, as I suspected, there was. With the same +precautions which we had hitherto used we advanced as rapidly as we +could venture to move towards what I took to be a building. I soon +found that I was not mistaken. The barking of a dog also told me that +the place was inhabited, and at the same time warned us that the inmates +were very likely to be aroused by our approach. I had charged all those +under my command on no account to use violence, whatever might occur, +unless in our own defence, should we be attacked by the enemy. + +As we drew near I saw that the house was a large one, and that it had +all the appearance of a gentleman's country seat. We found ourselves +also in a good road leading apparently into the interior. I therefore +called a halt, and, leaving some of the men where we were, I led the +rest round so as closely to surround the premises on the land side. I +also bethought me of placing a guard to watch the approach by the river, +for I thought it very likely that if any one wished to escape there +would be a boat concealed under the banks by which they might effect +their object. While I was making these dispositions the barking of the +dog continued, but as he did not rush out on us I concluded that he was +chained. He had, however, aroused the inmates, for as I passed through +the garden I saw a light in one of the rooms down-stairs and other +lights, passing the windows of the upper storey. From the situation of +the lower room down-stairs I suspected that it must be the drawing-room +or one of the sitting-rooms, and, halting my men under the shadow of a +shrubbery, with directions to remain there till I summoned them, I +approached the window for the purpose of trying if I could see any of +the people within. There were two windows to the room. The blind +before one of them was drawn down, so I went to the other. The lower +shutter to that was also closed, but by standing up on the window-sill I +could look into the room. What was my surprise to see a lady sitting at +a table, on which stood a lamp, with a book in her hand, reading. Her +back was towards me, but from her figure and dress I thought she was +young. What surprised me was to find a lady sitting up at that hour, +for it was now between two and three o'clock in the morning. Something +unusual must, I suspected, be going on in the house. I was afraid that +the sudden appearance of a body of armed men would seriously frighten +the lady, and so I resolved to enter the house alone and take my chance +of meeting with opposition from any man who might be there. A door +opened into the garden. It was not bolted. I lifted the latch and +entered. A light stood in the hall. I was not mistaken as to the +character of the house; it was evidently that of people of fortune. On +my right hand was a door which I conceived led into the room where I had +seen the lady. An impulse I could not resist induced me to open it. +The noise caused by my so doing made the lady turn her head. Her +countenance was very pale and tearful. She looked up at me; her eye +brightened: I sprang forward and threw myself at her feet. Madeline +Carlyon was before me. So astonished and overcome by numberless +conflicting feelings was she that I thought she would have fainted. She +uttered my name in a tone of doubt and hesitation, as if she did not +believe in the reality of what she saw before her. I took her hand and +pressed it to my lips. + +"It is I, Madeline, who have never ceased thinking of you since we +parted," I exclaimed,--"one whose only wish has been to find means to +make you his own when the blessings of peace have been restored to our +country--one whose earthly hopes are all centred in you. You are +indulging in no dream--no fancy--I am really and truly before you." + +However, I need not repeat all I said on the occasion. I had no great +difficulty in persuading Madeline that I was really before her; but when +she inquired how it was that I came to be there, unwilling indeed I felt +to tell her that I had come in hostile guise. At last, however, I had +to confess the truth. + +"Then I understand it all," she exclaimed hurriedly. "Oh, believe me, +you are beset with dangers. I ought not to betray the councils of my +countrymen, and yet I cannot let you fall into the trap which has been +laid for you. Your arrival in the river was immediately known, and a +plan was forthwith formed to cut you off. The whole country has been +for some hours alarmed. My own father heads the force, consisting, I +heard, of more than four hundred men, who are about to take post at +Mackey's Mills to cut off your retreat. Silently as you may have come +up the river, your progress has been, without doubt, closely watched. +Perhaps even now your presence here is known, and anxiety on my father's +account prevented me from retiring to rest, and little did I think who +was in command of the British boats. I knew not even that you were on +the coast. But I must not lose time in talking. What advice can I give +you? Stay, oh, let me consider! The party must already have nearly +reached Mackey's Mills. They will be there before you can possibly pass +that narrow part of the river. Oh, this cruel, cruel war! What ought +to be done? I am sure that my father himself would deeply grieve to +find that stern duty had compelled him to injure you, and yet how could +even I ask him to act otherwise than he will do? I know that I ought +not, as a patriot, to give you the warning that I now do. Let me +collect my thoughts and consider by what plan I can best secure your +safety. It would be useless, I fear, to advise you to deliver +yourselves up as prisoners of war, and thus avoid bloodshed. Yet how +can you escape from the trap into which you have run? You smile and +shake your head. I know--I know. You would say that you must try to +fight your way through a host of rebels rather than yield yourselves +prisoners. Your safety consists in the rapidity of your movements." + +She was silent for some minutes and then continued-- + +"There are, as high up as Suffolk, several vessels--a ship, a sloop, and +a brig. Let it be known by any people whom you can fall in with that +you are aware of this fact, and it will naturally be supposed that you +have gone up the river to bring them off or to destroy them. The plan +was to detain you by various stratagems in the river till daylight, when +it was expected that you would easily be cut off and destroyed if you +should attempt to fight your way through the crowds of riflemen lining +each bank of the river, or otherwise that you would be compelled to give +yourselves up as prisoners. I fear me much, I repeat, that this latter +course you will not follow--I know you will not. Then you have only +your speed on which to rely. You will have to run a terrible gauntlet +between well-practised sharpshooters. Start without a moment's delay. +The militia will, I fear, have reached Mackey's Mills before you can get +there; but if, as I hope, they will believe that you have gone up the +stream, they may not be on the watch for you, and you may push by +without being perceived." + +Such was the tenor of the words the agitated and alarmed girl poured +out. I felt sure that I could follow no better plan than the one she +suggested. Still it was heart-breaking thus to leave her. I have not +intruded any part of our conversation on my readers relating more +especially to ourselves. She had said all that I could wish to assure +me that her heart was still mine, and I had poured out my own +long-pent-up feelings into her ears. I had been sitting by her side. +She started. A sound was heard in the house--scuffling of feet--a loud +scream--people running here and there. The dog barked loudly outside. +Two black girls rushed into the room. + +"Oh, missie, missie! murder, murder! thieves, thieves!" they cried out. +"Dey be here--dey be everywhere!" + +Just then they caught sight of me. Instead of screaming, they stood as +if petrified. At last, pointing at me, they exclaimed, "Oh, missie, who +dat?" + +The question was a difficult one to answer, but Madeline showed her +presence of mind by replying calmly-- + +"A friend who little expected to find me here, but he will take care +that no harm happens to any one in this house. We may be thankful that +he and his followers are here to protect us. Now go and tell the rest +of the people who remain in the house that they must not be alarmed. +Let them assemble in the hall. I will go and speak to them after I have +seen Mrs Elbank and Miss Porter. Go--run! Be good girls, and do as I +tell you." + +The quick, firm manner with which she spoke had a wonderful effect on +the negresses, and instinctively off they ran, perfectly satisfied, to +obey her orders. She explained, briefly, that Mrs Elbank was an old +lady, the owner of the house where she and her father were staying. + +As soon as the girls had disappeared she took my hand with perfect +frankness and maiden modesty, while she looked up into my face with an +expression which showed me the true feelings of her heart. + +"Farewell, farewell!" she exclaimed. "Let me entreat you not to remain +a moment longer. Every instant's delay may produce danger, and, too +probably, bloodshed. Should, by any chance, the militia discover that +you are here, they would come back with an overwhelming force and cut +you off. Go--oh, go!" + +As she spoke these words her feelings overcame her and her sobs choked +her utterance. I would have given worlds to have been able to stay and +comfort her. I did all I could. I took her in my arms and imprinted a +kiss on her brow. It might be the last, but I dared not think so. No, +I felt that we should meet again. "I obey you now, dearest," I cried, +in a tone intended to reassure her. "Fear not, I shall escape the +danger you dread, and I will return perhaps before long." + +I added some solemn words of comfort, and then I rushed from the room +and hurried into the garden where I had left my men. I found from them +that O'Driscoll had captured an old negro servant, who, hearing the dog +bark, had come out to see what was the matter, and that, conducted by +him, he had entered the house where he now was. This accounted for the +disturbance I had heard. I accordingly went back to the front door, +which was obligingly opened by our friend the negro, who seemed by his +manner to have long-expected me. With many bows he led me into a +handsome dining-hall, when what was my surprise to find O'Driscoll and +another officer seated at a table with an abundance of viands spread +before them, and wine of various sorts sparkling in decanters by their +side. + +"Really, these rebels treat us very well," said O'Driscoll as I entered. +"When we caught that old gentleman he told us that supper was all +ready, and that he had been ordered to invite us in to partake of it, +and to beg us to remain as long as we felt inclined." + +"I do not doubt it, Mr O'Driscoll," I answered sternly. "But, sir, we +have duties to perform, and our orders were to proceed up the river as +far as we could go. Now I have discovered that there are several +vessels at Suffolk, four miles above this. We must go and try to cut +them out. Thank the owners of the house for their hospitality, but we +cannot stay to benefit by it," said I to the negro, giving him a dollar. +"Keep that for yourself, and remember that all Englishmen are not +cannibals and savages." + +Having directed O'Driscoll to call in the rest of the other parties +guarding the approaches to the house, we quickly assembled at the +rendezvous I had appointed outside the gates, whence we set off as fast +as we could for the boats. I could not help having some dread lest they +should have been attacked during our absence, and if so, I knew that we +should at once be made prisoners. I did not, however, express my fears +to any one. The way to the boats appeared very long. I thought more +than once that we must have mistaken our road. Great was my relief +therefore, when I found that we had at length reached the spot where +they lay concealed. I now called the other lieutenants round me, and +briefly explained to them the information I had obtained. I did not +think it necessary to say whence I had obtained it. They unanimously +concurred with me that we had done all that could be required of us, and +that our only proper course was at once to proceed down the river, and +to endeavour to pass our enemies before they could expect us, or were +prepared to impede our progress. + +"Well, gentlemen, to our boats without delay," I said--not speaking, +however, above a whisper, for I thought it very likely that we might +have listeners in ambush. "Rapidly and silently, like Indians on a war +trail, let us make the best of our way down the stream. If any boat is +disabled, let the one ahead of her take her in tow. If fired at, do not +attempt to fire in return, but pull away for our lives. Now shove off." + +Away we went. I took the lead, keeping the centre of the river. +Strange as it may appear, I thought much more of the meeting I had just +had with Madeline, of all she had said to me, and of all I had said to +her, or wished that I had said, than of the terrific danger to which we +were exposed. I use the word advisedly. Let any one fancy what it +would be to pass down a channel fifty yards wide, each bank being lined +with four hundred, or, for what I could tell, twice that number of +sharpshooters. The latter hours of the night continued as dark as had +been the earlier part; there was a slight rain, or rather mist, which +increased the obscurity, while the wind had got up, and its low moaning +among the trees assisted to conceal the sound made by the boats as they +clove their way through the water. We had also come up with the flood; +the tide had now turned, and there was a strong current which much +assisted our progress. These circumstances gave me hopes that we might +yet successfully run the gauntlet of our enemies. There was another +circumstance to be dreaded, which might prove fatal to us. Should the +enemy have time to collect any boats and attack us on the river, we +could scarcely hope to cut our way past them as well as the riflemen on +shore. When any great danger is to be incurred, it is a great relief to +be able to speak. This was now denied us, and each man was left to his +own thoughts. Mine, I may say, were not gloomy--very far from it. +Sometimes they were bright and almost joyous. On we went. When I +brought my thoughts back to the present, I could not help feeling that +any moment we might see the flashes of a hundred rifles, and hear their +sharp cracks as they opened on us. We had got to the southern end of +the West Branch, but, as yet, not a sound from the shore had been heard. +We were approaching the narrow reach, on the banks of which Mackey's +Mill is situated. Most of us, I believe, felt an inclination to hold +our breath as we pulled on. The current here was very strong. I kept +as nearly as I could in the centre, the other boats following. I could +just distinguish the dark outline of the building we had before visited +against the sky ahead of us, when a voice, I knew not whence it came, +shouted, "There they are! Fire!" + +In an instant the whole line of the shore burst into flame--rapidly +sounded the cracks of the rifles, and thickly about our heads flew the +bullets. At that moment I thought I saw a canoe dart away down the +river, and I doubted not that our enemies had stationed her there to +watch for us. Thicker and thicker came the leaden shower, several shots +going through the boats' sides, though as yet no one was hit. Still I +had no notion of giving in. "Now, my lads, give way for your lives!" I +exclaimed in a loud whisper. "Many a man has passed through hotter fire +than this unscathed." + +I scarcely think I was speaking the truth when I said this. So dark was +it, however, that I did not believe that we could be seen from the +shore, though the flashes of the firearms lighted up the dark woods, the +red-brick mill and its out-houses, and threw a lurid glare over the +whirling current as it hurried by its overhanging banks, while ever and +anon we could clearly distinguish the glancing arms and the figures of +our enemies as they stood drawn up along the banks, pouring their fire +down upon us. + +On we pulled, silently as ever, and as fast as the men could lay their +backs to the oars. We were, however, I knew too well, only at the +commencement of the narrow passage, and I could not tell what opposition +we might have to encounter before we got through it. My boat was light, +and pulled easily, but some of the other boats were very slow--the +Thames's long-boat especially--and rowed very heavily, and I kept +anxiously turning round to ascertain that they were following me. For +some time I could count them, one after the other in line, coming up +after me. Then I turned my eyes on the banks of the river. By some +means our enemies calculated our downward progress with great accuracy +if they did not see us, for, while some were blazing away, I could see +other bodies hurrying along the side of the river, to be ready, I +doubted not, to attack us as we came down; some were on foot, but others +were on horseback, who had much the advantage of us in speed. At last I +found that I was getting ahead of the other boats, so I had to slacken +my speed till the next boat came up to me. It was the Charon's cutter, +commanded by Mr Bruton. When I looked back I found that the Thames's +long-boat was nowhere to be seen. Bruton said she had only just dropped +astern, so begged leave to go and tow her up. This I allowed him to do, +telling him that I would remain till he and the other boats came up. I +began to fear, however, that the missing boat might have been cut off. +Away dashed the gallant fellows after her. Whatever might happen, I +resolved not to attempt to escape myself unless I could bring off the +rest of the boats or the survivors of their people with me, though, from +the fastness of my own boat, I might possibly have effected that object. +My men behaved admirably, though exposed to so hot a fire; not a murmur +escaped them at the delay, while they lay on their oars waiting for the +appearance of the missing boat. The other two boats I saw coming on, +and they soon caught me up. Great was my relief to see Bruton, with the +Thames's boat in tow, at the same time emerge from the darkness. Then, +once more, away we all went together down the stream. + +I own myself that, under other circumstances, I should have very much +liked to have had a shot at our pertinacious foes, and I have no doubt +so would my followers, but the knowledge that Madeline's father was +among them restrained my arm, and I felt a curious satisfaction in being +fired at without attempting to injure my assailants in return, and that +I might hereafter be able to assure him that I had not knowingly lifted +my hand against him. + +We were not long about doing what I have been describing. Had we, I do +not believe one of us would have escaped the leaden shower rattling +through the air and splashing up the water on every side, literally +wetting our faces. I could already feel several holes in the side of my +boat close to me; then there was a deep groan of suppressed pain, but no +one ceased rowing. On we went. A sharp cry from one of the boats +astern of me showed me too clearly that another of my people was +wounded. Still the boats dashed on with unabated speed. This success +made me hope that we might still escape. We had passed, I thought, the +greater part of the narrow portion of the river. I had not much fear, +when we could reach the wider parts, that we should get through unless +attacked, as I have said, by a flotilla of boats. + +Never did I hear such a rattle or cracking of rifles as the four or five +hundred militia and irregulars kept up on us. However, there was +nothing derogatory to their character as marksmen that they had hitherto +done so little execution, for had they been the best sharpshooters in +the world, their science would have availed them nothing through the +pitchy darkness which happily enveloped us. + +At length I fancied that I could distinguish the stream widening away +before us, and, judging from the flashes of the fire-arms, the banks +were much farther apart than before. I was not mistaken. With a +satisfaction I can scarcely express I saw that all our boats had come +through, but still the enemy kept up a hot fire astern of us into empty +space, evidently not knowing where we were. My men seemed inclined to +shout when they found themselves in the wide reach of the river, but I +restrained them, not knowing what enemies might be lurking about near us +on the water. Then we continued pulling steadily on, till here and +there I saw a light gleaming on the shore, which I calculated must come +from the town of Nansimond. If a flotilla of boats were on the watch +for us, I thought that we should probably here encounter them--not that +I any longer despaired of escaping from them, even should they attack +us. I had directed the officers not to attempt to retaliate unless +actually boarded, but to employ all their energies in making their +escape. This was, of course, the wisest policy. + +On we went. The town was passed. No boats appeared. We were +approaching the mouth of the river. Daylight was now breaking. I was +only too thankful that we had not delayed till then to make our way down +the river. Either we should all have been taken prisoners, or few if +any of us would have survived the murderous fire to which we should have +been exposed. At length we emerged from the river and finally arrived +on board the Charon at about ten in the morning with only two people +wounded, though the upper works of our boats were riddled like sieves. + +Thus ended an expedition fraught with so much personal interest to me. +We all also gained credit for our exploit. We had completely performed +the duty for which we had been sent, having made ourselves thoroughly +acquainted with the river, and ascertained that it would be impossible +to cut out the vessels which had run up to Suffolk unless a very strong +force, if not the whole army, was to proceed up for that purpose. More +and more as I thought over what had occurred did I pray that the war +might soon cease, and that, if Englishmen must be fighting, they might +not be called on to cross their swords with their relatives and friends. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +SENT TO HAMPTON WITH FLAG OF TRUCE.--VISIT MY FRIENDS.-- +DISAPPOINTMENT.--A FORAGING EXPEDITION, IN WHICH I OBTAIN A PRONG IN THE +LEG INSTEAD OF HONOUR.--A DISASTROUS ONE MADE BY MY SHIPMATES.--A SECOND +TRIP TO HAMPTON.--ATTEMPTS ON MY LOYALTY.--EXPEDITION PROPOSED UNDER +ARNOLD.--O'DRISCOLL ACCOMPANIES ME ON A TRIP UP THE RIVER TO WARN +MADELINE.--MEET COLONEL CARLYON.--NARROW ESCAPE ON OUR RETURN. + +I was to have, I found, very little time for rest or reflection. This, +I dare say, was the better for me. Scarcely had I breakfasted when I +was again sent for to be despatched, as I was told, on special service. +My satisfaction, however, was great indeed when I found that I was to be +the bearer of a flag of truce to Hampton, with a letter to the patriot, +or, as we called him, the rebel general commanding the district. + +I was quickly ready to start. I should now be able to send a message to +Madeline, to assure her of my safety, and perhaps to make arrangements +to keep up a regular communication with her. On one point only was I +somewhat puzzled. How could I speak of her without allowing it to be +suspected that she had given me the warning by which I had escaped from +the trap laid to catch me? I had heard of the stern treatment any of +the rebels had received who had been found guilty of treachery towards +their party, even from General Washington himself, and I knew not what +construction might be put on Madeline's conduct should it be discovered. +I determined, therefore, at all events to be very cautious how I spoke +of having met her. These thoughts occupied my mind till I landed. I +then hired a horse and a guide, and proceeded with Tom Rockets only as +my companion, mounted on rather a sorry jade, towards Hampton. There +were not many white men to be seen on the road. The negroes doffed +their hats and always addressed me in a civil and friendly way. + +Without any adventure I reached Hampton. Having then delivered my +despatches I sought out the house of my new friends, the Langtons, where +I hoped that I should be able to wait till the reply was ready. As soon +as I entered the house I was shown into the drawing-room, where the +ladies received me with the greatest kindness. Mrs Langton assured me +that, from the way I had treated the inhabitants of Hampton the other +night, I should always be received there as a friend. They insisted on +having dinner got ready at once for me, and I found that they were +collecting all sorts of eatables sufficient to load my horse as well as +Rockets and our guides, which they thought might prove useful. + +They had heard, I found, nothing of my expedition up the Nansimond +river, and as no one could know that I was one of those engaged in it, I +considered it prudent to say nothing about the matter, and I trusted +that Madeline would remember that, unless she betrayed her secret, none +of her friends were likely to discover it. In the course of +conversation her cousins spoke frequently of her, and I sent her several +messages. I hoped by their tenor that she would understand that I had +not mentioned our having met. My great hope was that Mrs Langton, +guessing how things stood, would invite her to come to Hampton, and that +I might thus have the opportunity of meeting her, should I again be sent +on shore with a flag of truce. None but those who have been knocking +about for months and years together at sea among rough uncivilised men +can fully appreciate the satisfaction which a sailor feels in spending a +few brief hours under the soothing influence of refined female society. + +It was with a feeling of undisguised annoyance that at last I received +my despatches and had to mount my horse to return. No one would have +supposed, as my friends bade me farewell, that I was serving on the side +of their enemies, and yet I am certain that no more sincere patriots +were to be found in America, only they had the sense not to confound the +individual with the cause with which circumstances compelled him to +side. + +The army, with their guns, ammunition, and stores, had now safely +disembarked, and were on their march up the banks of James river. The +first lieutenant of the Charon, with a detachment of our men, had +accompanied them. I was therefore selected in his place to take command +of a party consisting of a hundred seamen and marines from the different +ships of war, and to go on shore and forage for the squadron. The +marines were commanded by a Lieutenant Brown, and I had two navy +lieutenants besides under me. No duty I could have been ordered to +perform would have been more distasteful, yet I had no choice but to +obey and carry it out to the best of my ability. Having landed at +Newportneuse, we began our march at eight o'clock in the morning into +Elizabeth County. Not having been brought up like some of my Highland +friends in the art of levying black mail on my lowland neighbours, I +could not help feeling as if I had suddenly turned into a robber when I +found myself entering a farm-yard, and, without a word of explanation, +quietly collecting the cattle and pigs, or sheep or poultry, and driving +them off. We marched about ten miles inland as rapidly as we could, and +then, facing about, swept the country before us. On espying a farm we +surrounded it, and then, rushing in, we took prisoners all the negroes +we could find, and made them drive out the cattle and sheep. The pigs +and poultry we killed and placed them in some carts, which, with the +horses, we carried off. Having possessed ourselves of everything of +value in the farm, notwithstanding the indignant protestations of the +farmer's wife, for the farmer himself was away with the army, I suspect, +we proceeded onto the next farm. This was owned by an old man with +several sons, we were informed by one of the negroes. The sons were all +fine young men, and were either in the militia or belonging to some +irregular troops. We expected to find only the old man at home, but as +we drew near the outbuildings a fire was opened on us from some +loop-holes in the walls. As I had no fancy to have my men shot down I +led them rapidly round to the front and charged into the farm-yard, over +some slight barricades which had been hastily thrown up. At the same +moment a dozen to twenty men rushed out of some sheds on one side and +attempted to drive off a herd of cattle from a pen near at hand. I, +with Rockets and some of my people, followed them so closely that they +were compelled to leave the cattle to defend themselves. Most of them +seemed inclined to continue their flight, but an old man, whom I took to +be the owner of the farm, exerted himself to rally them, and shouting, +"On, friends, on! Drive back the robbers!" charged up towards us. I +was rather ahead of my men. Some of his people fired. I suspect the +muskets of the rest were not loaded. Before I had time to defend myself +the old man had his bayonet through my leg, and had I not used my +cutlass pretty smartly the rest would have finished me or carried me off +prisoner before my men could come to my rescue. When they did come up, +they quickly put the rebels to flight, and I was not sorry to find that +his friends had dragged off the brave old man without his receiving any +injury. We were taught a lesson by this, to be more cautious in future +when plundering the farms, lest they might be found fortified and +prepared to receive us. My wound was bad enough to prevent me from +walking. Hunting about, we found a horse and a saddle fitted to him, by +which means I was able to continue my progress. On arriving at several +farms we found that, although no attempt was made to defend them, all +the cattle had been driven off and the pigs and poultry concealed. Now +and then the grunting of a pig or the cackling of a hen betrayed the +dust-hole or cellar in which they were imprisoned. The men were, in +most instances, absent, but the women seldom failed to abuse us in no +measured terms for our behaviour, nor could I help feeling that we +deserved everything, that was said against us. My men, I must say, +behaved very well. In no instance did they offer any violence to the +villagers, and when they were abused they only laughed and retaliated +with jokes, which, if not refined, were harmless. + +We continued our foraging labours, (some people might have called them +our depredations), till about three o'clock in the afternoon, when I +judged that it was necessary to commence our retreat. From the +experience I had gained I felt pretty certain that we should be harassed +on our march by the enemy. I therefore formed my people in the best +order I could for defence. Our six butchers, with their axes, saws, and +knives, marched ahead as an advanced guard. We had collected in all +fifty-seven head of cattle and forty-two sheep. These were driven by +thirty negroes and closely surrounded by the seamen, who formed the +centre. In the rear came the marines to cover our retreat, while on +each flank I placed four marines, who were occasionally relieved from +the rear. Brown laughed at my precautions, and said that they were +absurd and useless, and so I found did my lieutenants, but I knew that I +was right, and kept to my plan. + +Had the country been open our progress would have been easy, but instead +of that it was thickly wooded, so that our order of march was constantly +broken. I kept riding about, doing all I could to keep the people and +the cattle together; but every now and then where the wood was thickest +I could see an ox, or a cow, and a couple of sheep, slyly impelled by a +cunning negro, stealing away between the trees; and perhaps, while I +sent some of the seamen in pursuit of them, others would break away in +an opposite direction. Of course, when the negroes were overtaken, they +always pretended to be endeavouring by lusty strokes to drive the +animals back to us, and there was little use in attempting to punish +them. Besides this inconvenience, every now and then, whenever we had +to pass any hilly or broken ground behind which an enemy could find +shelter, we were certain to be saluted with a shower of rifle-balls. At +first I attempted to retaliate by sending some of the marines in +pursuit, but by the time they got up to the spot from whence the shots +were fired no enemy was to be seen, and I was only too glad to get them +back without having them cut off. This showed me that our enemies, +though persevering, were not numerous. + +Considering all the difficulties I had to encounter, it is not +surprising that when we arrived at the place of embarkation our stock +had been reduced to forty-three head of cattle, with a proportionate +diminution in our sheep, though our two carts with the pigs and poultry +arrived all safe. We embarked at seven o'clock in the evening on board +some vessels sent to carry us and the result of our foraging expedition, +to our respective ships. I had not lost a man, and with the exception +of my own hurt, no one was wounded. I felt sure that my success was +attributable to the dispositions I had made, and the careful way I had +effected my retreat, and that seeing me so well prepared to receive them +had prevented the enemy from attacking me. I expressed myself to this +effect when I returned on board, but was only laughed at for my pains, +and asked what I had to fear from a few despicable rebel boors, whom a +volley would in an instant put to flight. + +"Very well," said I. "If any of you have to perform the same work, and +do not take similar precautions, depend on it you will have to rue your +neglect." + +"Oh, nonsense," was the answer. "We know what the fellows are made of. +They are not worth powder and shot." + +Greatly to my annoyance, the very next day I was again directed to land +with the same number of men for the same object. It was satisfactory to +know that the way I conducted the expedition was approved of, but yet I +would gladly have got off the duty. Just then, finding that a flag of +truce was to be sent to Hampton, I solicited the commodore to allow me +to go on that service. + +"Yes," he replied. "The inhabitants are acquainted with you; and when +you make your appearance they will understand our dispositions are +friendly." + +I was much flattered by this compliment, and still more pleased to gain +the object I had in view. The commodore told me to direct Lieutenant +Fallock, second lieutenant of the Iris, to take charge of the foraging +party in my place. I earnestly advised him to use the same precautions +I had on the previous day, assuring him, from the experience I had had +in the numerous expeditions I had commanded in America, that the people +would never attack a force if well prepared for resistance, and that the +wise principle the people adopted was only to fight when they could +obtain some material advantage. Fallock smiled scornfully. I found +that Lieutenant Brown of the marines had been talking to him and telling +him of my over-cautious and tedious way of retreating, as he called it. +I found afterwards that Brown had advised him to take only forty marines +as amply sufficient to defeat any number of the enemy likely to assemble +to attack them. The officers who had accompanied me had also told him +that, as we had not seen more than twenty rebels in arms at a time, he +was not at all likely to encounter more than that number, though it was +improbable that any would venture to attack him. Having urged the point +as strongly as I could, I proceeded on my mission while Fallock and his +party prepared for their expedition. + +"Don't be afraid, Hurry," said Brown, whom I met as I went down the +side, "we shall return in whole skins, and bring you back a good supply +of beef and mutton." + +I hired a horse and proceeded as before, without any particular +adventure, to Hampton. Having delivered my message to the proper +authorities I went to the Langtons. + +I own that as I approached the house my heart beat many times quicker +than usual, for I could not help persuading myself that Madeline might +have gone there. When the door was opened by the black servant I tried +to discover by his countenance whether my hopes were likely to be +realised. + +"Is there anybody here?" I asked with a trembling voice. + +"Oh, yes; dere be all do young ladies and Madame Langton all at home. +Glad see you, sare," was the answer I got. + +I did not venture to ask more. The drawing-room door was opened. I +held my breath. Her likeness was there, but she was not. I dared not +ask for her, and I too soon found that my hopes were vain. + +I found myself, however, received by the family as an old friend. They +had heard from Madeline. She had, with the wisdom which I felt sure +belonged to her, not mentioned having seen me. They had, however, from +other sources heard of the expedition up the Nansimond river, and of the +courteous way, as they expressed it, in which the English had behaved +while in possession of Mrs Elbank's house. It was reported, however, +naturally enough, that though the boats had got off, nearly all the +people in them had been killed or wounded. I assured my friends that on +this point they were under a mistake; but as I did not like to dwell on +the subject for fear of betraying myself, I left them still unconvinced +that they were in error. + +As I was wishing my friends good-bye, a gentleman came in to whom I was +introduced. When he heard who I was, he begged that I would delay my +departure for a few minutes, saying that he would have the pleasure of +accompanying me part of the way. Having delivered a message to the +Langtons he left the house, requesting that I would remain till his +return. His name, my friends told me, was Sutton, and they added that +he was a friend of Colonel Carlyon's. When I heard this, all sorts of +ideas rushed into my head, and I could not help hoping that the meeting +would be productive of some important consequence, yet how that was to +be I could not tell. Mr Sutton soon returned booted and spurred for a +journey. + +"Perhaps I may go farther than I at first proposed," he observed, as we +mounted and rode out of the town. "I am glad to meet you, Mr Hurry, +for I have heard of you for some time past, and you have won the regard +of many patriots by the way in which you have on several occasions +behaved towards those who have fallen into your power. I, with the +sentiments I entertain, can only wish that you served a better cause, at +the same time that I would not seek to induce you, as an officer bearing +his Majesty's commission, to swerve from the allegiance you owe him." + +When Mr Sutton said this I could not help feeling that he wished to try +me, so I considered some time before I replied. I then said-- + +"This barbarous war must some day be brought to an end, and then without +any sacrifice of principle I may be able not only to express the +feelings I entertain for the people of America, but to act according to +them." + +"Well said, sir," he answered; "we must all eagerly look forward to that +time, and, from the way you speak, I feel sure that no temptations would +induce you to quit the cause you serve, however much you may sympathise +with those opposed to it." + +"I trust not, sir," said I firmly. "The path of honour is a very clear +one; I have always endeavoured to walk in it." + +"I know you have, and perhaps you may wonder why I just now volunteered +to accompany you. Thus far I will tell you: I wished to make your +acquaintance, and I also considered that I might be of some service to +you. Although you bear a flag of truce, so great is the exasperation +against all those serving in arms under the traitor Arnold, that I +thought it possible you might be insulted, if not injured, by some of +the more ignorant country people." + +I thanked Mr Sutton for his kindness, though I suspected that he had +other reasons for wishing to accompany me which he did not explain. Of +course I could not ask them. He did not mention the names of either +Colonel Carlyon or his daughter, and, much as I longed to do so, I could +not bring myself to speak of them to one who to me, at all events, was a +perfect stranger. He soon also began to talk of affairs in general, and +proved himself a very well-informed man and an entertaining companion. +I could not help fancying at times that he was endeavouring to draw me +out, and to assure himself of what my sentiments really were. We passed +several parties of armed men, but when they saw him they doffed their +hats, or saluted him in military style, with every mark of respect. +When within about a mile of our usual landing-place he reined in his +horse. + +"I can go no farther with you," he said; "I have no wish to fall into +the power of any of Arnold's followers. Farewell, Mr Hurry. We may +meet again, perhaps, before long, and when we meet I trust that it will +be as we now part--as friends." + +I made a suitable reply; and then, turning his horse's head, he put the +animal into a full gallop, and was soon out of sight. It was late when +I got on board. A gloom, such as is always felt after a disaster has +occurred hung over the ship. The foraging party, or rather a remnant of +them, had just returned. They had a melancholy tale to tell. Mr +Fallock had taken the same road I had gone on my expedition, and had +succeeded in collecting a considerable number of cattle, sheep, pigs and +poultry--indeed, forage of all sorts. All went successfully with him +and his party till they commenced their return. Instead, however, of +marching in the proper order I had proceeded, the cattle were not kept +well together, and the men were allowed to scatter about, and, when any +of the animals strayed, to follow them to a considerable distance from +the main body. The seamen and marines thought it very good fun, and +went shouting and laughing along, the officers totally forgetting that +they were in an enemy's country. They had proceeded some few miles +without being molested, and were congratulating themselves on their own +wisdom, and on my folly in having taken so many unnecessary precautions, +when suddenly the crack of a rifle was heard--then another and another-- +and a band of horsemen were seen galloping up and cutting down the +stragglers, who in vain attempted to make a successful resistance. +Lieutenant Brown, calling to the men near him, charged the enemy, but +the horsemen, wheeling about, left the ground clear for a body of +footmen, who, as he advanced, opened a heavy fire on him. He was seen +to fall, as were many of those with him; the rest attempted to fly, but +the horsemen were upon them, and, with the exception of one man who got +back to the main body, they were all cut down, or compelled to yield +themselves prisoners. Another small party had, in the meantime, +attacked the rest of the stragglers, and had prevented them from falling +back on the main body, while the greater part of the cattle were +dispersed and driven off. Lieutenant Fallock had, while this was going +forward, called in all the remaining seamen and marines round him, and +presented as bold a front as he could to the enemy. In spite of his +diminished numbers, and the feeling that he had been, in consequence of +his own want of forethought and foolhardiness, surprised by an enemy he +despised, he fought with the greatest coolness and bravery. Even in +numbers he saw that the Americans were inferior to what his party had +been at the commencement of the attack, but now he had lost several of +the seamen and the greater part of the marines, and the people with him +were falling thickly from the bullets of the concealed riflemen. His +only chance of escape was to retreat in close order, and as rapidly as +he could till he got out of the wood. This he did, facing about, and +delivering his fire whenever an enemy appeared. Outside the wood he +made a bold stand, and drove back his foes, keeping up a hot fire on +them till he found that his ammunition was almost expended. Then once +more he retreated. He had escaped without a hurt, though several shots +had passed through his clothes, and many of his people were wounded. +With the remnant he at last succeeded in reaching the landing-place, +where the boats were in waiting for him. + +The next day, when I went on shore to inquire for Brown, I found that he +had just died of his wounds. Nine marines were killed, eleven were +taken prisoners unhurt, and several more were found on the ground +wounded, while of those who got off very few escaped unhurt. Such was +the termination of this foraging expedition--the disaster arising +entirely from the folly of the officers, who would persist, as many had +before done, in despising their enemy, and refusing to take the proper +precautions to guard against surprise. This is only one of many +instances of a similar folly which I observed throughout the American +war. I speak of military officers especially. There is something in +the character of Englishmen which makes them over-confident and +foolhardy, and they will require to be taught by some very severe +lessons before they learn the importance of caution. This want of +caution in an officer, when entrusted with the lives of brave men, is a +very great fault, and shows great folly and an unfitness for command. +The vice, I am happy to say, is not so prevalent generally in the navy. +Most spirited and dashing enterprises are undertaken, and are +successful, for the very reason that forethought is employed and proper +precautions are taken to ensure success. Young officers are too apt to +mistake want of caution for spirit and bravery, and to despise those who +are careful and anxious for the lives as well as for the health of those +entrusted to their care. I am now an old man, but I find these +sentiments penned in my journal, written at the time of the occurrence I +have described, and they have been still more and more impressed by the +experience of fifty years. Since then a long, long catalogue of +melancholy disasters might be chronicled, all contributing to sully the +glory of the British arms, which have arisen from those two causes--the +neglect of proper precaution, and a foolish conceited contempt of the +enemy. + +Where a subject is matter of history I need but briefly touch on it and +I have therefore often skimmed over subjects of far more importance than +those I have described. I will now give a sketch of the proceedings of +the troops under General Arnold, and the mode in which the ships of war +were employed in assisting them. Having marched up James river, +supported by some small ships of war, as I have before mentioned, the +general reached Burds Landing on the 6th of January, and from thence, +with only fifteen hundred men, pushed on to Richmond, the capital of +Virginia--a distance of no less than one hundred and forty miles from +the Capes of Virginia. He defeated all the forces sent against him, and +arriving in that city, destroyed or brought off large quantities of +stores, provisions, ammunition and some guns and stand of arms, +returning to Burds Landing with the loss only of three killed and +fifteen wounded. This was one of the most important expeditions +undertaken into the interior of the country, for all the stores I have +mentioned were destined for the supply of the southern army of the +rebels opposing Lord Cornwallis in the Carolinas. It was followed up on +the 12th by an expedition headed by Colonel Simcoe, who with his own +corps surprised two hundred rebel militia and killed or took prisoners +about fifty of them. On the 14th the troops moved to the town of +Smithfield, where they captured forty hogs-heads of tobacco. On the +15th the troops evacuated Smithfield, and the squadron moved down to +Newportneuse. On the following day that very active officer, Colonel +Simcoe, was engaged in a skirmish with the rebels, the result of which +was that he made prisoners of an officer and fifteen privates of a +militia regiment. The occupation of Portsmouth had now, I found, been +determined on. It stands on a southern branch of that estuary called +Hampton Roads, into which James river empties itself. Between it and +Smithfield is the Nansimond river with Mackey's Mills situated on its +bank, about half-way up, while higher still on the West Branch was the +house belonging to Mr Elbank, where I found Miss Carlyon on the night I +and my party so narrowly escaped being cut off. The moment the above +information reached me, and I ascertained the direction the army was to +march, I became alarmed lest they should pass near Mr Elbank's house +and take possession of it. I knew too well what had occurred on former +occasions, and if it was known to have been occupied by Colonel Carlyon, +it would too probably be destroyed, and the inmates alarmed and +inconvenienced, if not insulted and injured. I had every reason to +believe that Miss Carlyon was still there with her friends, unless our +visit to the place had been a warning to them to quit it. What could I +do to save her? I thought rapidly over the subject. I was not long in +coming to a resolution. I must find some means of communicating with +her. Could I trust any one with the message? No--at every risk I must +go myself. Any personal danger was of course not to be taken into +consideration, and I reflected that the cause I served could, not be +injured by any information I could give her. Besides this, in a public +point of view, I and those under my command, in our late expedition up +the Nansimond, owed her a debt of gratitude for the warning she had +given us, which we, to the best of our power, were bound to repay. +Sometimes I thought that I would go openly to the commodore and ask his +leave to go up the river to Mr Elbank's, and then again I was afraid +that by some means or other Miss Carlyon's name might become known, and +that her party might hear that she had given the information by which my +companions and I had been preserved from the ambush laid for us. That +would expose her to an annoyance to which I would on no account subject +her. I easily persuaded myself that I alone could properly go. Perhaps +the prospect of seeing her biassed me. I knew that I could depend on +assistance. Although O'Driscoll had been less cordial with me since the +night of our expedition, in consequence of the way I had spoken to him, +I knew that he would be delighted to accompany me if I asked him; so of +course would Tom Rockets. We had picked up, some time before, a light, +fast-pulling canoe, which a couple of hands could send along at a great +rate. The use of this I could command. How to get leave to quit the +ship for a night was the difficulty. Without leave I could not go. +Neither would I tell a falsehood to obtain leave. I resolved, +therefore, to go frankly to Captain Symonds, to plead my constant good +conduct, and to beg that he would trust me and O'Driscoll and one man +away from the ship to carry out a matter of importance. I went to him +accordingly. He hesitated a good deal, as I knew he would. He asked to +have the matter more fully explained to him. I told him that I would +rather not explain it--that should it fail, no blame might be attached +to him. + +"There must be blame if I allow you to leave the ship ignorant of where +you are going, and any ill results from your expedition," he answered. + +I saw that he was right. + +"Well, sir, then, as you desire it, I will tell you my object, and leave +it to your generosity to allow me to accomplish it," I answered, lifting +up my head and looking boldly at him, for I felt relieved of a +difficulty. I told him briefly the state of the case. + +"I do not hesitate a moment in giving you leave, and for such an object +will gladly share the blame, if blame there be," he replied with a +well-satisfied look. + +It was amusing to witness O'Driscoll's delight at the thoughts of the +expedition. + +"Arrah! now, that's just as it should be!" he exclaimed; "and, my dear +boy, now, if you could but clap the sweet girl into the boat and pull +off with her, you'd be placing her out of danger, plaising yourself and +doing the right thing." + +I did not argue the subject with him, as I had already done so in vain, +but I let him run on. From the alacrity with which he set about our +preparations it might have been supposed that he was the person most +interested in the result. A light boat was easily procured. Rockets +was of course ready to accompany us. We resolved to go without arms, +but to wear our uniforms that we might not be accused of being spies. I +wrote a letter, which I kept in my pocket, addressed to Colonel Carlyon, +informing him that my object in visiting the house where he was residing +was to request him to remove his family and friends from it, lest it +should become the scene of strife between the contending parties. +Should we be taken prisoners I intended to show this and to claim his +assistance to obtain our release. We left the ship early in the +evening, and with a fair wind our light skiff flew quickly over the +water towards the mouth of the Nansimond river. I never saw O'Driscoll +in such high feather. Had I been inclined to be in low spirits he would +have kept them up. Commend me to such a companion in all cases of this +sort, he joked, he told good stories, he sang and rattled on without +cessation. It was sufficiently dark when we neared the mouth of the +river to enable us, with our sail lowered, to enter without much chance +of being seen from the shore. Though the wind was fair, of course after +that we could not venture to carry sail, so we took it by turns to steer +while the other two pulled. Lights were glimmering in Nansimond as we +passed, but we gave the town a wide berth, and then had little to +apprehend except from a stray boat, till we got up to Mackey's Mills. +We kept a sharp look-out, to avoid any boat crossing or coming down the +stream. As we glided by the mills we could hear voices of people +speaking in them, but we kept near the opposite bank, and no one, we +fancied, saw us. Of course our oars were muffled, and as we sat as low +as we could in our little boat, very sharp eyes would have been required +to make us out. As long as there was a flood-tide we got on very well, +but it was high water before we got to Mackey's Mills, and in a short +time a strong current set against us. It was hard work in some spots +pulling against it; not that I minded that, but I was anxious to hurry +on to perform my mission and to assure myself that Miss Carlyon had +retired to a place of safety. We had just got into the broader part of +the stream, when, as I peered through the darkness ahead, I fancied I +saw a large object coming right down upon us. I instantly steered the +boat over to the north shore, and in a whisper told O'Driscoll and +Rockets to cease pulling. I was but just in time, for immediately after +a large boat full of people hove in sight. We could hear them talking, +and we made out that they expected an attack that very night from the +English. Had they seen us they would probably have supposed we had been +sent in advance, and would have shot us all down. The circumstances +made us consider how we should manage to return, for they would +certainly be on the look-out for us. Other boats also would be coming +down, which we might have some difficulty in avoiding. Still, what I +had undertaken I was determined to accomplish. We pulled on without +stopping. No other boat was seen. At length we reached what we +believed to be the place where we had landed on the night when I had met +Miss Carlyon. I knew it by the peculiar outline of the trees--otherwise +it might have been easily passed. O'Driscoll agreed with me that I was +right; so, running in under the bank, we effectually concealed our boat +in the bushes, and, clambering up, stood on the open ground with the +house we were in search of at no great distance from us. After a short +consultation O'Driscoll consented to remain near the boat with Rockets, +while I proceeded alone to the house. If I was well received I was to +summon him. My heart beat pretty fast as I approached the door. It did +not occur to me till my hand was actually on the knocker that it was +nearly midnight, and that in all probability the family would be in bed. +However, I knocked with tolerable distinctness, and then waited the +result. I saw lights gleaming at the windows, and before long a voice +in negro accents asked who was there and what was wanted. + +"A messenger with important information for Colonel Carlyon or his +daughter," I answered. "I come alone, as a friend, tell your master." + +"Admit him," said a voice. + +The door was opened and I entered. Before me stood an officer in +uniform, with a brace of pistols in his belt and a sword by his side, +evidently prepared for service. I threw open my own cloak to show what +I was, and followed the officer into a well-lighted room on one side of +the passage. Supper was on the table, and another gentleman was in the +room. I instantly recognised him as my companion on my ride from +Hampton. + +"Ah, Mr Hurry, I am glad to see you!" he exclaimed in a cordial tone, +stretching out his hand. "I little expected to meet you again so soon. +What brings you here?" + +Now I was prepared to warn Miss Carlyon and her lady friends of danger, +but I had no intention of giving information to a stranger of the +movements of the British army. I felt myself placed at once in a +dilemma. I need have had no scruples on the subject, as the enemy often +knew as much about the matter as anybody else. I hesitated before +replying. + +"I came to give some information to Colonel Carlyon, on which I expected +that he and his daughter only would act," I answered. "I have never met +Colonel Carlyon. Do I see him now?" + +"You do," said the officer to whom I had first spoken. "I am Colonel +Carlyon, and I am glad to welcome you, sir, to thank you for the +inestimable service you have more than once rendered those dearest to +me. Whatever you have to communicate you may say freely before this +gentleman, my most intimate friend." + +Feeling that I might trust to them, I, without further delay, told them +the object of my adventure. + +"You have not come alone, though," he remarked, after thanking me +cordially for the information I had given him. + +I told him that O'Driscoll and Rockets were waiting for me at the boat. +He insisted on sending for them, and in a very short time they made +their appearance, and while the negro took care of my follower, we were +soon pleasantly seated at supper. I, as may be supposed, was hoping +that I might have an opportunity of seeing Madeline. At last I mustered +courage to ask for her. Her father hesitated, I thought, before he +replied. At length he said-- + +"Yes, she will indeed wish to thank you personally for the risk you have +run, and the exertion you have made for her sake; but I know not whether +your meeting can be productive of advantage to either of you. A wide +gulf separates one from the other. I know not how it can be crossed. I +would rather, sir, that you would not insist on this interview." + +He spoke, it seemed to me, in a stiff and constrained manner. I could +only repeat what I had before said to Madeline. "This war must before +long come to an end, and then I will come and claim her for my wife," I +answered boldly. + +"Well spoken, sir," said Mr Sutton, turning to me. "With my opinions, +I can only regret that you have to wait till the war is terminated. I +can answer for it that Madeline would not forgive us if we sent you away +without letting you see her. When you have finished supper, if you go +into the drawing-room, you will probably find her there." + +My heart gave a jump, and as to putting another mouthful down my throat +I found it impossible. I got up and hurried into the room I had before +met her in. She was there. The old negro had taken good care to tell +her of my arrival. I will not describe our meeting, and all we said, +and the hopes we indulged in. I was amply repaid for what I had done +for her sake. Her father and Mr Sutton were, I found, about to start +on some expedition, but the news I brought them made them alter their +plans. The time too soon arrived that I must take my departure. It was +with a pang I left her, not knowing when the uncertain chances of war +would again allow us to meet. + +"Remember, should you ever desire to quit the standard you now serve +under, you will be welcomed in a land of freedom, and we shall not +expect you to turn your arms against your former comrades," said Mr +Sutton, as he wished me farewell. + +I felt very much inclined to quarrel with him for the remark. It +sounded strangely like asking me to turn traitor to my country, and I +was glad that Colonel Carlyon did not repeat the remarks of his friend. +We left the family about to prepare for their departure in the morning, +while we returned to the river. O'Driscoll said nothing till we had +once more taken our seats in the boat, and then he expressed his +disappointment at what he called the tameness of the result of our +expedition. + +"Arrah, now, I thought we should have had some little fun at all +events," he exclaimed. "I was waiting to see you appear with the lady +in your arms, and to have the old colonel with his pistols popping away +after us while we were pulling like fury for life and liberty down the +river; and after all to have it end in a quiet pleasant supper, and some +matter-of-fact conversation, is very provoking. However, your friends +gave us some capital Burgundy, and that is some consolation." + +In this strain the eccentric Hibernian ran on till I had to hint that it +would be wiser not to speak, lest we might be overheard by any of the +enemy. He then told me that Colonel Carlyon and Mr Sutton had given +him a pass that, should we fall in with any of their party, we might not +be stopped. We, however, proceeded as cautiously as before, for we had +no wish that our expedition should become known. We got as far as +Mackey's Mills without meeting with any adventure. As before, we gave +it a wide berth, for we could hear the sound of voices, and it appeared +evidently occupied by a body of men. However, as long as they all kept +talking together they were less likely to discover us. We paddled, +therefore, quickly and cautiously on, but without any apprehension of +being found out. We had almost lost sight of the mill, and were +congratulating ourselves on getting clear altogether, when the stillness +of the night was broken by a loud sharp voice exclaiming-- + +"There they go! Give it them, lads, give it them! After them, after +them!" + +The next moment a sharp fire of musketry was opened on us, the flashes, +however, showing that we had passed the spot where our enemies were +posted. The balls, however, fell round us unpleasantly thick. Then +again there was another volley, and, by the flash of the pieces, we +could see a number of men hurrying into a boat, with, we had no doubt, +the intention of pursuing us. Our skiff pulled well. O'Driscoll and +Rockets, who were rowing, bent manfully to their oars. Away we flew +over the water, and though the troops on the shore still continued to +fire, the bullets happily flew wide of us. We had a good start of the +pursuing boat. From the glimpse we got of her she was of some size, but +if, as we hoped, she was heavy in proportion to her size, that would be +in our favour. At all events, all we could do was to pull away with all +our might, and to keep a straight course down the river. We could hear +the shouts of our pursuers, and of the people hailing them from the +shore. They only induced us to make greater exertions to keep ahead of +them. On we dashed. In a short time we felt sure that we were already +distancing them. Their voices grew fainter and fainter. We got into +the broad part of the river. We had now another chance of escape. +Should they be overtaking us, we might slip on one side, and in the +darkness and eagerness of the chase they would probably pass by without +observing us. Still that was not our wish. We wanted to get out of the +river without being questioned. On we went, till we could neither see +nor hear anything of our pursuers. At last a few lights here and there +of some midnight watchers were seen glimmering from the town of +Nansimond. We glided by it. We reached the mouth of the river, and not +till then did we slacken our speed. I then relieved O'Driscoll at the +oar. I was duly grateful for the exertions he had made for me, but I +evidently did not hold a high place in his estimation. + +"Ah, you English boys don't understand how to do things!" he observed, +with a sigh. "In ould Ireland we'd have managed an affair of the sort +very differently." + +Just at daylight we got on board our ship--I, at all events, being very +well contented with the result of our expedition. I afterwards heard +that the Americans stated that they had pursued and chased a large +British flotilla out of the river with only a couple of boats, and that +we had lost twenty men in killed and wounded. From so slight a source +does many a tale of wonder spring. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +OPERATIONS UNDER COLONEL SIMCOE.--SENT TO MACKEY'S MILLS.--MY FRIEND'S +HOUSE SACKED.--COLONEL CARLYON TAKEN PRISONER.--RENDER HIM A SERVICE.-- +TROOPS EMBARK AT NIGHT.--MY LOYALTY QUESTIONED.--MILLS BURNT.--IN +COMMAND OF RATTLESNAKE.--SAIL WITH PRIZES.--A WINTRY VOYAGE.--NEW YORK +ONCE MORE.--SERVE ON BOARD CHATHAM.--MISMANAGEMENT OF THE WAR.--REJOIN +CHARON. + +I must endeavour to get on more rapidly than heretofore with my account +of public matters. On the 18th of January the British army marched from +Smithfield southward, and the squadron moved down to Newportneuse. +Among the most active of the English officers was Colonel Simcoe. On +the 16th he surprised and took prisoners an American officer of militia +and fifteen privates. From the report I heard I was much in fear that +Colonel Carlyon was the officer taken, but I had no means of +ascertaining whether or not such was the case. At all events, I hoped +that his daughter was in a place of safety. + +On the 18th the army reached Mackey's Mills, and I received orders to +proceed with a detachment of boats to supply them with bread and other +provisions. I hoped now to gain the information I was so anxious to +possess. Our present expedition was very different to those in which I +had before been engaged. We now went up in daylight, with a force which +no enemy was likely to attack. Mackey's Mills were reached soon after +noon, and when I had delivered the provisions I was ordered to remain to +assist in passing the troops across the river on their way to the attack +of Portsmouth. The embarkation was not to take place till midnight, so +I had ample time to go up the river to ascertain whether the house where +Madeline had been residing had been attacked. O'Driscoll was ready +enough to accompany me, to give me, as he observed, one chance more of +doing the proper thing; but, before I went, I was anxious to ascertain +whether Colonel Carlyon had indeed fallen into our hands. I had, at the +same time, no reason to fear that he would be treated harshly or with +want of courtesy. Only, if he was a prisoner, I naturally wished to see +him, that I might offer him all the assistance in my power. Going on +shore, after some difficulty I found out Colonel Simcoe's quarters at a +farm-house a mile away from the mills. I introduced myself to him, and +told him my errand--that I was acquainted with Colonel Carlyon's family, +and that I wished to be of service to him. He replied that the officer +he had taken had refused to give his name and rank to the party who had +captured him. + +"I understood that he and his men were surprised," I remarked. + +"Not at all," was the answer. "He was apparently covering the retreat +of another party who appeared to have some women and other encumbrances +among them. To do the rebel gentleman justice, he fought very bravely, +and did not yield till he was completely overpowered." + +I begged that I might see the prisoner, and, after some little +hesitation on the part of the colonel, he handed me the necessary order. +Thanking him for his courtesy, I set off for the cottage used as a +prison. It was situated a quarter of a mile nearer the mills. A strong +guard was posted in the neighbourhood, and a couple of sentries paced up +and down before it. I showed my order to the lieutenant in charge of +the party and was at once admitted. I looked round the chamber. Near a +casement window, seated on a rough stool, with a cask serving as a +table, I beheld Colonel Carlyon. He turned his head when I entered, and +I thought that his countenance brightened when he saw me. He rose and +held out his hand. + +"I regret, sir, to see you here as a prisoner," said I. "Hearing that +an officer had been captured, I hastened, should it prove to be you, to +offer such services as I am able to render." + +"The fortune of war, Mr Hurry. I may be thankful that I have escaped +wounds or death," he answered in a cheerful tone. "Believe me, I am +grateful to you for this attention, and I only wish that I had the means +of showing my gratitude." + +He, of course, well knew that he might some day have the power of +showing it most effectually. My first inquiry was, of course, +respecting the safety of his daughter, and he assured me that he had +every reason to believe that she and her companions had reached the +house of some relations in the interior, and that he should have +accompanied them had he not been so hotly pursued by Colonel Simcoe's +persevering and lightly-accoutred troops. When he heard that I had made +preparations to go up to Mrs Langton's house he exclaimed-- + +"You may render me a great service by so doing. In the hurry of our +departure, in consequence of your warning, a small desk was left behind. +It contains not only money and jewels of considerable value, but some +papers of the greatest importance. I had but just discovered my loss +when I was taken prisoner, and the only person I could have entrusted to +go in search of it was killed in the same skirmish in which I became a +prisoner." + +I naturally was much pleased with this opportunity of rendering a +service to Colonel Carlyon. I had but little time, however, left in +which to perform it. After he had explained to me in what part of the +house I was to look for the desk, I took my departure and hastened back +to the river, where I found O'Driscoll with Rockets and two other men +waiting for me. The tide was favourable, so that we had no difficulty +in getting there. The scenery wore so different an aspect by daylight +to what it had done in the dark that we could scarcely recognise the +spots we passed. We landed and approached the house. There, indeed, +was a melancholy change. The shrubberies had been cut down, the garden +trampled under foot, and the house itself plundered and set on fire--I +think by accident--I scarcely believe it could have been done wantonly. +I began to fear, when I saw what had occurred, that I must give up all +hopes of finding the desk of which I was in search. O'Driscoll and I +felt very indignant when we saw the destruction which had been wrought +by our troops. + +"Well, after all, war is a dirty business!" he exclaimed, after +contemplating the scene of ruin for some minutes without speaking. +"Fighting in the open field, where hard blows are given and taken, and +man meets man on equal terms, is all very well in its way. I don't +object to sacking a town which holds out when it should have given in, +but the burning down of old ladies' houses, and injuring the property of +people who could not have caused any offence, I cannot stand. I should +like now to discover the officer who was commanding here and allowed +this. I would pick a quarrel with him and call him out to a certainty." + +My friend had certainly curious notions, not uncommon among his +countrymen in these days. Sad, indeed, was the scene of havoc and +destruction which met our gaze on every side, not only about the house, +but in the fields and cottages in the surrounding country--war's +melancholy consequences. We had no time to contemplate it. + +"Come, O'Driscoll," said I, "we will search through the ruins for my +friend's case, but I scarcely expect to find it." + +"Something like looking for a needle in a rick of hay," he answered; +"or, rather, far more hopeless, for it is very unlikely that the case +should have escaped being burnt or carried off." + +O'Driscoll, Rockets and I hunted in different directions. I first +endeavoured to find the room which Colonel Carlyon had described to me. +That portion of the house had not suffered so much as the rest; most of +the flooring of the room was burnt, but the fire had been extinguished +before the whole had been consumed. I climbed up to it, not without +risk, for the burnt rafters gave way under my feet. I knew the room +from the position of the window, which looked into a little courtyard. +A portion of the furniture had escaped, though blackened and disfigured. +My hopes revived as to finding the desk. I hunted eagerly round. It +was too evident that everything considered of value had been carried +away. I was about to scramble down again by the way we had come up when +I bethought me of looking out of the window for the enjoyment of the +prospect, which was a very beautiful one. Woods, fields, the terraced +garden, distant hills, and the river rushing by were well combined to +form it. As I looked out, my eye fell on a heap of rubbish in one +corner of the courtyard, with burnt and broken pieces of furniture, and +I fancied that I saw the edge of such a case as I was in search of +sticking out from among them. I quickly descended and found my way to +the spot. I eagerly pulled out the object I had seen. It was a +peculiarly old-fashioned, unattractive-looking case, and from its +outward appearance no one would have supposed that it contained objects +of value. I felt sure that I was right, and that I had got the object I +was seeking. I sang out to O'Driscoll, who after a little time heard my +voice and was delighted at my good fortune. Calling Rockets, we then +hurried back to the boat. There was no time to be lost, for night was +coming on; we had a long pull before us, and I was anxious to deliver +the case to Colonel Carlyon without delay. After this I had to assist +in getting the boats ready for the embarkation of the troops. Away we +pulled. O'Driscoll was in high feather, laughing and joking to his +heart's content. + +"You're in a fair way now, at all events, to win the lady, my boy," said +he. "Only just keep moving, and put yourself under my guidance. We +must soon knock this rebellion on the head, and then, do ye see, you can +step in and be of still greater service to the father and the family, +and claim your reward. Oh! it's beautiful. I see it all now as clear +as a pikestaff." + +Certainly, we neither of us at the time thought what a different turn +affairs were to take from what he was then calculating on. Yet, I must +own, I had even then my misgivings on the subject. As soon as we +landed, I hurried as fast as my legs could carry me to the cottage where +Colonel Carlyon was kept a prisoner. His satisfaction was very great +when I delivered the case to him, and the way in which he expressed his +gratitude was manly and cordial in the extreme. + +"It is useless for a prisoner to make promises, which, should your party +finally triumph, he may never be able to fulfil," he observed with a +grave look. "In the latter case, those taken with arms in their hands +may be hung, drawn and quartered as traitors, in accordance with the +time-honoured custom of our fathers. If the patriots are victorious, +the prisoners will be liberated with all the honours which can be +showered on them, and I may have the satisfaction of proving that I am +not ungrateful for what you have done for me and mine." + +I found some difficulty in answering properly to these remarks. I could +not say that I wished the royal cause not to succeed, and yet I +certainly did not desire to see the Americans completely defeated and +humbled. I therefore said-- + +"I trust that a peace, honourable to both parties, may ere long be +established, and that the Americans may gain to the full what they +consider their just rights." + +"That will never be unless victory smiles on our arms," he replied with +a faint smile. "We must conquer to obtain our rights. What has +hitherto been denied will never be otherwise granted." + +I looked at my watch. I found that I must hasten back to the boats. + +"Farewell, sir!" I said. "I have duties to which I must attend at +present, but I will endeavour, if possible, to see you again before I +return to my ship." + +"Stay one moment," said he; "I would ask you to ascertain from our +friends at Hampton if they have received positive information as to the +safety of my daughter and her relatives. When you gain it send me word, +and you will add to the weight of the debt of gratitude I already owe +you." + +He said this in a stiff way, as if unwilling to give me the task. This +I thought but natural. Though I was conferring obligations on him, my +position as a poor lieutenant was unaltered, and I knew that he could +not desire to entrust his daughter's happiness to my charge, even should +peace be established. It was almost the hour appointed for the +embarkation of the troops when I got down to the river. So well had our +arrangements been made, that I doubt whether the enemy knew what we were +about. There is something particularly exciting and wild in the +movement of a large body of armed men at night. I could not help +remarking the scene in which I was taking so active a part. Rapidly +flowed by the dark river; boats crowded with men and horses were +continually passing, while others were returning empty for a further +supply; people with torches were stationed on both banks of the river, +to enable the soldiers, as they came down, to take their proper places +in the boats, the lights from the flaming brands throwing a ruddy glare +over the stream, and making the tall buildings of the mills stand out +prominently from the dark forest in the background. All night long the +work was going on, for it was a slow process to get across horses, +artillery and ammunition, provisions and baggage. The first thing in +the morning, after his men had rested but a couple of hours, the +indefatigable Colonel Simcoe set off towards Portsmouth to summon the +town to surrender. At 2 p.m. the army began their march, and arrived +before the place the following day, when the inhabitants, finding that +resistance was useless, surrendered at discretion. I endeavoured to +ascertain where Colonel Carlyon and the other prisoners had been placed, +but was unable to discover any clue to their place of imprisonment. As +soon as the rear of the army was out of sight, all the officers +commanding boats assembled on board a brig, which had been captured in +the Nansimond river, previous to returning to our ships. It was with +much regret that I heard it proposed to burn Mackey's Mills, and to +ravage the country round, in consequence of the attack which had been +made on our boats. I opposed the suggestion with all my might. I said +that I thought it a wanton destruction of property, that would in no way +advance our cause, and would certainly exasperate the sufferers against +us. Not only were my counsels disregarded, but several remarks were +made hinting pretty broadly that I was too friendly disposed towards the +enemy. I had to stand a severe fire from several of my +brother-officers. Some, among whom was O'Driscoll, began to joke, and I +took it very ill from him, as he knew the depth of my sentiments, and I +considered his conduct a breach of confidence. Others went on from +joking to make more serious remarks, which I felt reflected on my +honour, so much so that I rose up and declared that if another +observation of the sort was ventured on by any present, I must insist on +settling the matter at another time and place. Some held their peace +after this, but some continued to talk of officers showing lukewarmness +and want of loyalty to the king's cause, and to declare that such had +better declare themselves to be the rebels they were at heart. + +The last man who spoke was a Lieutenant Dawson. I was surprised that he +should venture to speak thus, for he was a man of whose spirit or +courage I had but a mean opinion. My impulse was to throw a +pocket-pistol I seized hold of across the table at his head, but I +restrained my anger. Though he was my junior in the service, we were +engaged on public duty together, and, under these circumstances, it was +a serious matter for one officer to strike another, even in those days. + +"Mr Dawson, you must know what you say is false, sir," I exclaimed. +"Can any one here say that I have been slack in my duty--that I have +ever shown the white feather--that I have ever done anything derogatory +to the character of an officer and a gentleman? If no one here condemns +me--then, sir, I shall make you eat your words, and acknowledge that the +insinuations on which you have ventured were most foul and unjust." + +No one spoke. Dawson looked confounded. + +"No one condemns me," I added. "That is well; but will no one speak in +my favour--will no one say that, to the best of his knowledge, I have +never failed in my duty, or acted otherwise than as a British officer +ought to act?" + +"In faith, Hurry, I'll speak in your favour, my boy, and gladly too," +cried O'Driscoll, with all the enthusiasm of which his warm heart was +capable. "If every one fought as well, and did their duty as completely +as you do, we should have had this war over long ago--that's my belief; +and small blame to you if you think a pair of bright eyes in this +western hemisphere brighter than any to be found in the old country; +besides, you've never been in my part of Ireland, or you might be of a +different opinion. Now, gentlemen, if any one has anything to say +against Mr Hurry, then let him say it to me. I'll settle the matter +for him." + +This diversion of O'Driscoll's completely silenced all opposition to me, +and Dawson, not wishing to come into a personal conflict with my +hot-headed though warm-hearted Irish friend, slunk out of the cabin. + +I was, however, left in a decided minority with respect to an attack on +the mills, which it was determined forthwith to destroy. I was of +course under the orders of the commanding officer of the brigade of +boats, who happened to be Lieutenant Edwards, first of the Charon, so +that I had no choice but to obey. As soon as our crews had taken some +refreshment we pulled away in battle array for the mills. A few +irregulars and armed peasantry, who had entered the place when the army +had quitted it, were speedily put to flight when we landed. Piles of +brushwood were collected and heaped up inside the building in different +parts of it. Fire was set to them, and rapidly the flames burst forth, +and, catching the dry wood-work of the mills, were soon seen climbing up +from storey to storey, twisting themselves in and out of the windows, +and encircling the beams and rafters in their deadly embrace. I never +saw any building so rapidly consumed. Higher and higher rose the +devouring flames; down came tumbling the roof and lofty walls; with loud +crashes the floors fell in; showers of bright sparks flew on every side, +and nothing but a mass of burning ruins--a huge bonfire--remained before +us. The men shouted when they saw the destruction they had caused, like +mischievous schoolboys. They little thought or cared to whom the +property belonged, or who were the sufferers. They would just as +readily have burnt it had it belonged to royalists. They enjoyed the +sight of the conflagration--the effects of their own handiwork. Many of +the officers, too, shouted and clapped their hands, and seemed to take +as much pleasure in the mischief they were producing as the men; but +this might have been a mere exhibition of their loyalty and patriotism. +Having thus effectually destroyed the mills, our commanding officer +ordered us to march into the interior to forage, or, in other words, to +plunder any farms the army had spared, and to commit any other acts of +mischief the time would allow. I need not enter into particulars. +Cattle we spared, as we could not carry them off, but we collected sheep +and pigs and fowls wherever we could find them. To this, of course, I +could not object, as provisions were necessary; but at length we came to +the house of a gentleman--a colonel of militia we were told--and, though +no defence of it was attempted, it was proposed to burn it to the +ground. Against this further wanton destruction of property I loudly +protested-- + +"It has lately been said that I am a friend of the rebels," I exclaimed. +"That I deny; but I do not deny that I am ashamed to see my countrymen +destroy the property of people who make no resistance, and who are +Englishmen as much as we are. Such conduct can only cause a bitter +hatred to spring up in the breasts of the sufferers, which will make +them refuse ever again to become our fellow-subjects and friends." + +Mr Edwards did not at all like my interference; but my remonstrance had +an effect, and though he allowed the house to be plundered, and the +furniture to be destroyed, he soon after ordered a retreat, observing +that he could not depend on my co-operation or assistance. The owner of +the house, as it turned out, was in the neighbourhood, with a +considerable body of men, and he very nearly succeeded in inflicting a +severe retaliation on us by surprising and cutting off our party. +However, we discovered his approach in time to get into order, and, +though he and his men followed us for some way, we kept him at bay, and +reached the river without loss. Lieutenant Edwards at once returned on +board our ship in the Charon's barge, leaving me in command of the +boats--directing me to land and forage at any convenient spot towards +the mouth of the river. Here again, however much against my +inclination, I must obey orders. We had observed a large farm a little +above the town of Nansimond. As we proceeded down the river we suddenly +pulled in towards the shore. Sixty men, without a moment's delay, ran +on and surrounded the farm before the inmates had time to drive away any +of the stock, or, indeed, had perceived our approach. We soon collected +everything eatable on which we could lay hands, and were in our boats +and away again before any force had time to assemble from the +neighbourhood to attack us. Such was the system of warfare which I +believe General Arnold recommended and encouraged--the most galling and +injurious to the unhappy colonists. We got on board our ships by +midnight, with provisions sufficient to supply all the ships' companies +for a couple of days. + +The Rattlesnake, a ship pierced for fourteen guns, but mounting ten +three-pounders and six swivels, had been captured at Portsmouth, and the +next morning I received orders to take command of her, to fit her for +sea, and to hold myself in readiness to proceed with charge of all the +rest of the prizes to New York. + +The army was at this period employed in throwing up works for the +defence of Portsmouth, and in making excursions into the surrounding +country to crush, it was said in the despatches, any embers of rebellion +which might yet be smouldering there. As I have before remarked, the +way taken to produce the desired result was anything but effectual. I +was very nearly being deprived of my new command in a somewhat summary +way by the sinking of my vessel. A terrifically heavy gale of wind +sprang up on the night of the 21st, and first driving one of the larger +prizes foul of her, which carried away my fore and cross-jack yards, +fore channels, both quarters and best bower-anchor, (such a grinding and +crushing and crashing I never before got on board any craft); scarcely +was she clear when another craft came thundering down aboard of me, and +very nearly completed the work which the other had commenced. However, +I did manage to swim while several other vessels drove on shore and +were, with all their crews, lost. For several days after that I was +employed in refitting my ship for sea. + +On the 25th I proceeded with my convoy of prizes to Portsmouth, and when +there, General Arnold sent for me and informed me that the commodore had +assured him I should immediately sail in the Rattlesnake for New York +with despatches for Sir Henry Clinton. After he had handed me his +despatches I took my departure. He informed me of their contents that, +should I be compelled to throw them overboard, I might be able to give a +verbal report to Sir Henry of the wants of the army. Those wants were +not a few. More guns, ammunition, food and clothing,--all were +required. + +On reaching Sewel's Point, where I brought up to receive the commodore's +despatches, I was surprised to receive an order to return immediately +and to give back those entrusted to me by General Arnold. This order +originated, I afterwards discovered, in consequence of some +unaccountable disagreement which had arisen between the general and the +admiral. General Arnold said nothing when I gave him back his +despatches, but he looked not a little angry and astonished. When the +heads fell out it is not surprising that want of success was the result +of their undertakings. My journal is full of various little incidents +which happened at this time. The Charlestown and Hope captured in the +Chesapeake a rich fleet of eight rebel merchantmen bound for the +Havannah. The lieutenant of the Swift was made prisoner in consequence +of an illegal use of a flag of truce. Several officers and men were +blown up when chasing a rebel brig, and an artillery officer, heading a +foraging party, was killed. The squadron was kept on the alert by an +account brought by the General Monk sloop-of-war of a French ship of the +line and two frigates having sailed from Rhode Island, it was supposed, +for the Chesapeake. + +Once more, on the 31st, the old Charon, during a heavy gale of wind, +drove on shore, but by great and prompt exertion was got off. To keep +her in countenance, when on the 5th of February I sailed with my prizes +under convoy of the Charlestown for New York, on going down the West +Branch I also got on shore, but succeeded in quickly getting off again. +I had no little trouble in keeping the prizes in order. The Americans +left on board one of them persuaded the people to side with them, and +they ran her on shore, purposing to give her up to the rebels. I went +in chase of her, fired several shots into her, and then, manning one of +my boats, boarded her, captured her crew, who had been unable to escape, +and got her off, made sail with my recaptured prize, and rejoined the +fleet at midnight, when I put the mutineers on board the Charlestown, to +be dealt with according to martial law. + +On the 11th, at night, finding the "Langolee," one of my prizes, some +distance astern, and suspecting that she was about to give us the slip, +I dropped astern, and, taking her in tow, brought her into the middle of +the fleet. At midnight, however, a heavy gust of wind compelled me to +cut the hawser and clap before it. With the small crew I had I found no +little difficulty in handing my sails, which, after some time having +done, I struck topgallant yards and masts and lay-to under a +close-reefed mainsail. Once having made the ship snug I endeavoured to +discover the whereabouts of the rest of the convoy, but not a trace of +them could I discover. I hoped, however, with the morning light to make +them out. When the cold-grey dawn spread over the ocean and I went +aloft not a sail was in sight. + +"This is no great misfortune," said I to Grampus when I came on deck. +"The Rattlesnake is a prime sailer, and by taking advantage of the winds +we shall reach New York much sooner than if we had been obliged to whip +up the convoy. We are a match, too, for any of the smaller rebel +vessels we are likely to fall in with, and we must run away from the +bigger ones." + +"That may be, sir," answered the old man, "but d'ye see, sir, I've no +great opinion of this here craft if it was to come on any long course of +bad weather. I've a notion she's an old craft, and I doubt much the +soundness of her timbers and planks." + +I was rather inclined to laugh at Nol's prognostication, and thought no +more about his remarks. Before, however, many hours had passed, the +gale, which had hitherto been blowing pretty steadily, increased in +fury; the sea ran very high, and the spray, as it broke on board, froze +hard on deck and sheathed the rigging in ice. When short-handed this is +very trying, as double the strength is required to make the running +rigging work. Happily we were under snug canvas, for I do not think we +could have made or shortened sail. Towards evening Grampus came up to +me with a look of concern in his countenance. + +"I told you so, sir," he said, touching his hat. "The old ship has +sprung a leak. She has not lost time in letting in the water, for there +are four feet already in the hold." + +Immediately on hearing this appalling news I gave orders to man the +pumps, but it was at once found, to our further dismay, that they were +useless, for they were choked with ice. Since the gale sprang up we had +been unable to light a fire. In vain for a long time we tried. Without +boiling water or a hot iron it was impossible to clear the pumps. The +water was rapidly gaining on us. There seemed every probability of the +ship sinking under our feet. Such has been the fate of many poor +fellows--to have gone down in a cold, icy sea, hope and help far away. +Such was the risk I had often before run, but never before had the +expectation of it been brought so prominently before me. Never before +had I, it seemed, so much to lose. Never so much to which to look +forward with hope. Our efforts to light the fire became more and more +frantic. At last I bethought me of applying salt to the ice in the +pumps. We fortunately had a good supply of it on board. By forcing the +salt down with a long iron the ice was melted, and the pumps at length +got to act. Frantically we pumped away with our two pumps. We sounded +the well; the water had decreased. This gave us courage to continue our +exertions. At length we were able to keep the ship free. Still the +gale continued, and I had my apprehensions, from the condition of the +ship, that another leak might yet be sprung and all our efforts prove +vain. Even a winter gale of wind in those latitudes off the American +coast must come to an end, and this, by the morning of the 5th, +sufficiently abated to allow me to set the fore and main stay-sails. I +then stood towards the land. At noon Rockets came into my cabin, where +I had gone to snatch a few minutes' sleep, and reported a ship and two +schooners in sight. + +"An enemy, I'll warrant," I said to myself testily. "I shall be driven +out to sea again, or perhaps, after all, fall into their hands." + +Still I stood towards them, ready to make all sail to escape should my +suspicions be realised. I could not make them out. When I got within +signalising distance I made the private signal, and great was my +satisfaction to find in answer that the ship was the Charlestown, and +the schooners two of the convoy. + +The next day we made the high land of Neversink, and that evening +reached the entrance of New York harbour. It was with the greatest +difficulty, however, that we could work our way into it, so full was it +of floating ice, through which it was often scarcely possible to steer. +The other prizes which had parted company with me in the gale arrived +all safe three days afterwards. The accommodations of one of the +prizes, the Charity Brig, being much superior to those of the +Rattlesnake, I took up my quarters on board her. I invited also some of +the more gentlemanly and pleasant of the midshipmen to live on board her +also, so that we were able to form an agreeable society among ourselves. +At New York there was none in which we could mix with any satisfaction. +Whenever I went on shore I did not fail to visit the house of my old +Dutch friend, the widow Von Tromp. It was already so crowded with +soldier officers that I could not live there altogether, had I been so +disposed, but in truth I preferred remaining on board ship with my +brother-officers. As I was allowed a guinea a day for my table I was +able to live in comparative luxury and comfort. + +On the 10th we began to discharge our prizes, which were loaded with +tobacco. On clearing the Rattlesnake I had indeed reason to be thankful +that I and those who had been with me on board were still in the land of +the living. Her entire bottom was completely rotten, and all who saw +her were astonished that she had made the passage from Portsmouth to New +York. It seemed a miracle that the water had been kept out of her. Her +whole bottom had to be replanked before she was again fit to put to sea. +This is only one of the numberless escapes from destruction which I +have had during my life. + +The widow Von Tromp was delighted to see me, and especially interested +in all I had to tell her. I was amused with her notions about the war. +Her sympathies were evidently with the American party, but at present +she assuredly reaped no small profit from the custom which the military +brought to her house. She tried sore to reconcile the two opinions--she +wished well to the patriots, and yet she was in no hurry to see the war +brought to an end. Often since have I seen people on more serious +matters halting between two opinions. + +"Ah me, Mr Hurry, I wish the war were ended and my dear friends from +the south would come back, but den dees nice young officers all go away +and I see dem no more! Oh, it is vary sad, vary sad!" she used to +exclaim, after descanting on the liberality of her guests. "But den you +come back, Mr Hurry; member dat. You always come and see de widow Von +Tromp." + +Of course I promised, and intended faithfully to fulfil my promise, +little dreaming at that time the course which events would take. + +Having discharged faithfully and, as I hoped, to the satisfaction of all +concerned, the duty on which I had been sent, I requested the commanding +officer of the port that he would enable me and my people to return to +the Charon by the first opportunity. Just as I had done so I called on +board the Chatham, now commanded by my old friend Captain Hudson, with +whom I sailed in the Orpheus. He received me most kindly, and informing +me that two of his lieutenants were sick in the hospital, requested that +I would perform the duty of first lieutenant on board till I could +rejoin my own ship. Anxious as I was, for private reasons, to get to +the south, I could not refuse his request. I accordingly at once went +on board with my people and commenced the duty of first lieutenant, and +pretty hard duty it was; but it is a satisfaction to me to feel that I +never refused, during the whole course of my naval career, any duty +offered me, however hard or irksome it might have promised to be. + +On the 18th of March we sailed from Sandy Hook for the southward, having +under our orders the following fleet, viz. Chatham, Roebuck, Raleigh, +Bonetta, Savage, Halifax, Vulcan, fire-ship, with a number of +transports, which had on board two thousand troops under the command of +General Phillips, who had not long before been released by a cartel +concluded a few months previously with the enemy. We were going, I +found, to the assistance of General Arnold, who was under very serious +apprehensions of being overwhelmed by a French fleet with an expedition +on board, which it was supposed had sailed from Rhode Island to attack +him. + +On the 18th we spoke the Pearl and Iris, from which ships we learned +that an action had been fought a few days before between the British +fleet, under Admiral Arbuthnot, and the French fleet from Rhode Island. +Although pretty fairly matched as to numbers the general opinion was +that the English ships should have done much more than they did. They +drove back the French and prevented them from reaching the Chesapeake +before our arrival, but not a Frenchman was sunk or taken, whereas I +believe that Admiral Arbuthnot might have followed, cut up, and +dispersed the whole French squadron had he possessed the spirit which +should animate the bosom of every officer in the service. His only +excuse was that some of the ships under his command had suffered in the +late hurricane, and that the crews were worn out in their exertions to +repair damages and put again to sea. I would gladly see the accounts of +such engagements expunged from the annals of English history. + +We arrived at Lynhaven Bay in the Chesapeake on the 28th, and found +Admiral Arbuthnot's squadron lying there repairing the damages of the +late action. On the next day I rejoined the Charon, having been absent +from her nine weeks. I was now in hopes of being able to get on shore +to make inquiries for Colonel Carlyon and his daughter, but as I found +that we were every moment expecting to sail in search of the French +fleet I was compelled to restrain my impatience and to endure as I best +could all the anxiety I felt about them. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +A CRUISE.--LEAVE THE CHESAPEAKE.--NEW YORK.--PRESS-GANGS AT WORK.--CRUEL +SCENES.--EVIL TIDINGS FROM HOME.--BRITISH TAKE POSSESSION OF YORK +TOWN.--PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENCE.--A DANGEROUS TRIP.--MORE LOSSES--A +NARROW ESCAPE.--SLIGHT HOPES OF SUCCESS. + +At this period of the American war both parties seemed so equally +balanced that it appeared doubtful which after all would come off +successful in the contest. The superior discipline of the British, and +the experience and talent of their generals, had frequently obtained for +them the victory in the expeditions which had of late been undertaken. +General Arnold's plans had hitherto never failed in Virginia. Lord +Rawdon had obtained a considerable advantage over General Greene in +South Carolina, while it was hoped, from the bravery and talent of Lord +Cornwallis, that he would carry everything before him in North Carolina. +He had been posted at Wilmington in the southern part of that province. +His supplies however failing, he took the bold resolution of marching +through North Carolina to join Generals Phillips and Arnold at +Portsmouth. Sir James Wright held the town of Savannah in Georgia, and +Colonel Cruger the important post of Ninety-six in South Carolina. New +York and the country in the immediate neighbourhood was in possession of +the British, and at that city Sir Henry Clinton, as Commander-in-chief +of the British Army in North America, held his head-quarters. + +The British forces however, it will thus be seen, were broken into small +divisions and stationed at posts so much apart as to be of little mutual +assistance. The war thus raged pretty equally in South Carolina, North +Carolina, and Virginia, and while the force seemed everywhere sufficient +for destroying considerable tracts of country, and accumulating a great +deal of spoil, it was wholly inadequate to the main purpose of bringing +matters to a conclusion. Thus numbers of brave men lost their lives +without any equivalent result, and veteran battalions were worn down by +fruitless exertions of valour, and by a series of most brilliant +successes which produced no permanent result. On the other hand, +although the French had landed a small army under the Marquis de la +Fayette, the American forces were mostly ill-disciplined and +disorganised, and although it cannot be said that they were favourable +to the English, they were discontented with the treatment they were +receiving from their own government, many of them being ill-paid, +ill-clothed, and often but scantily fed. The unsuccessful attempt of +the French fleet to enter the Chesapeake was also a great damper to the +patriot cause. + +At this time the American forces were separated into as many divisions +as the English. General Greene commanded in the Carolinas, the Marquis +de la Fayette was in Virginia, and watched the banks of the James River, +to prevent the further advance of the British in that direction, while +General Washington himself remained with another army in the north, his +head-quarters being Newport in Rhode Island. Soon after this General +Phillips died, and General Arnold, greatly to the disgust of our +officers, who did not at all like serving under him, would have had the +command, had not Lord Cornwallis arrived with his army from the south at +Portsmouth. + +Such was the state of affairs on shore. At sea the British arms were in +most instances victorious. While the Marquis de la Fayette was hovering +about General Arnold in the hopes of cutting him off by land, the French +expedition to the Chesapeake, concerted at Rhode Island by Monsieur de +Ternay and the Count Rochambeau was, as I have described, defeated by +the fleet of Admiral Arbuthnot. The British also were collecting a +large fleet to be ready to encounter one which was expected on the coast +of America from the West Indies under the Count de Grasse. + +The war was no longer confined to one between England and her revolted +colonies, but we had now the French, Spaniards, and Dutch to contend +with on various parts of the American coasts, and mighty fleets were +collecting to contest with us as of yore the sovereignty of the seas. +I, for one, looked forward with the greatest satisfaction to an +engagement with either the Spaniards or the French, the hereditary +enemies of England. I regretted at the same time that the Americans had +adopted the dangerous expedient of calling in their assistance. If they +were to be free, I felt that it would be better for them to achieve +their independence by themselves, instead of trusting to those who were +too likely to play them some treacherous trick in the end. I felt, +however, that our own Government was more likely to come to terms +considering the immense pressure brought against the country if the +Americans would be but moderate in their demands. + +On the 2nd of April we sailed from the Chesapeake with the whole of the +squadron, consisting of seven line-of-battle ships, two fifty-gun ships, +five frigates, and two sloops, and stood to the southward in search of +the French fleet. On the 5th the fleet tacked and stood to the +north-east. + +There is something very exciting and interesting in forming one of a +large fleet of men-of-war. I had sailed often, and more than enough +with fleets of merchantmen and transports, but then I had generally to +act the part of a whipper-in to a pack of lazy or worn-out hounds, and +had to run in and out among them, hailing one, signalising a second, and +firing a shot at another to keep them all in order, caring very little +how my own ship looked, provided I could accomplish my object. Now, on +the contrary, each ship sailed in proper order, and one vied with the +other in the neatness of their appearance, and the rapidity with which +various evolutions could be performed. + +On the 6th the Charon was detached ahead of the squadron to look into +the Delaware to ascertain if the French fleet was still there. We +obeyed the order with alacrity, though we expected that if they were +there we should be very quickly chased out again. We had great hopes +that this would be done, as we might thus lead them down upon our own +squadron which was well prepared to receive them. O'Driscoll rubbed his +hands as we sailed up that magnificent estuary, keeping a bright +look-out on every side for the mast-heads of the enemy's fleet. + +"Arrah, now, won't it be fun to see them all come bounding out like +bulldogs when by chance a stranger comes suddenly into the courtyard +where they are chained up, all barking, and leaping, and pulling with +the amiable wish of tearing him to pieces!" he exclaimed, as I was +expressing a hope that they might still be found there. + +On we sailed, till at last we felt convinced that the Frenchmen had +already put to sea. Once more therefore we stood out again in search of +the Admiral. On the 11th we spoke the Chatham, which ship had also been +sent to look-out for the enemy. She had taken a prize, and from her had +gained the information that a large fleet of merchantmen was in the +neighbourhood, bound from Saint Domingo to Philadelphia under the convoy +of the Dean and Confederacy State frigates. + +I ought to have said that we had hove-to, and that Captain Ord of the +Chatham had come on board us, Captain Symonds being the senior officer. +Captain Ord now proposed that we should in company cruise off the heads +of the Delaware in the hopes of intercepting this valuable convoy. Once +more there appeared a certain prospect of my picking up an ample supply +of prize-money, but greatly to our disappointment; Captain Symonds +declined to accede to the proposal, though he allowed Captain Ord to +remain if he thought fit. This Captain Ord said he should do, and +returned on board the Chatham, while we made sail to the northward. +That evening I heard Nol Grampus holding forth on the subject. + +"I knew it would be so," he exclaimed, clapping his right hand down on +his hat, which he held in his left; "our ship's got ill-lack in her +sails, depend on that. I don't say nothing against our skipper; what he +does is all right and above board, and a better man nor officer never +stepped a deck, but, mark my words, that 'ere `Chatham's' people now +will be filling their pockets with gold dollars, while we shan't have a +penny piece to chink in ours; as for our ship, I knows what I knows, and +I thinks what I thinks." + +The effect of old Nol's remarks were, however, counteracted before long, +for on the 13th we sighted a large brig, which immediately stood away +from us. We, therefore, made sail in chase. She sailed so fast we had +to do our best to come up with her. It seemed, however, doubtful +whether we should do so. Nol shook his head, and remarked that night +would come down, and that she would slip away before we could overhaul +her. Hour after hour passed. It was evident that we were gaining on +her, and at length, at the end of a chase of seven hours we came up with +the stranger, when she struck her flag and proved to be the Peggy, rebel +privateer, of fourteen guns and seventy men, loaded with rum and indigo, +from Carolina to Philadelphia. + +On our arrival at New York with our prize, we had the mortification to +find that the admiral approved of Captain Ord's proposition, and still +greater was our annoyance to hear a few days afterwards that he, with +the Roebuck and Orpheus, had taken the Confederacy and several of her +convoy. + +And now I was engaged in a scene, to do proper justice to which +completely baffles all my powers of description. The fleet were sadly +in want of men. By some means or other they must be procured. New York +was, we heard, full of seafaring men, boatmen and others, accustomed to +the water, whom the war had driven from their usual vocations, and who +were now living on shore. To get hold of these was our object. It +would not do to attempt to capture them by driblets, for if a few were +pressed, the rest would take alarm and hide away where we were not +likely to find them. The admiral's plans were quickly and secretly +formed. All the boats of the fleet were ordered to assemble, with the +crews well armed, by break of day, on board the Rainbow. Silently we +pulled in for the city much in the same way that we should have +attempted to surprise a place held by an enemy. Having completely +surrounded all the lower parts of the town inhabited by the class of men +we wanted, we commenced our press. While one portion of our force were +told off to keep guard, the others broke into every house without +ceremony, where there was a probability of finding men. Very seldom we +stopped to knock for admission. Generally the door was forced open, and +in we rushed, seizing the husband from the arms of his wife, and very +often allowing him scarcely time to put on his clothes, while we were +compelled to endure the bitter invectives, the tears, the screams, and +abuse of his wife, whom we were thus cruelly robbing. Sometimes the +men, aided by their better halves, made an attempt at resistance, but +were speedily overpowered, bound hand and foot, and carried off. Often, +too, we fell in with young men of a better class, mates of merchantmen +and others lately married; and truly pitiable was it to witness the +grief and agony of the poor young wives as they saw their husbands in +the power of our rough-looking and seemingly heartless press-gangs. +They did not scream; they did not abuse us; but often on their knees, +with tears and sighs, they implored us to release those who had become +dearer to them than life itself. These appeals I found harder to +withstand than anything else, and had to steel my heart and to assume a +roughness which I did not feel, to resist giving way to their +entreaties. I did, as it was, all I could to assure them that their +husbands would soon again be at liberty; though I might have remembered, +had I thought more about it, how bitterly they would be disappointed. +In too many instances, husbands and wives then parted, never met again. +Fathers, also, were torn from their children, leaving them desolate +indeed; young sons were carried off from their parents. We had not time +to stop to listen to any remonstrances. Men must be had at every cost. +The only question asked was, "Have you a protection?" If not, seamen, +and often landsmen, if they were stout fellows, were bound hand and foot +and carried off to the boats. I would have given much to have allowed +one young man, especially, to escape. He had been aroused by the noise +in the street, and was sitting up dressed when we entered his house, +holding his wife in his arms. She was a fragile, delicate-looking girl, +soon about to become a mother. I felt almost sure when I saw the couple +that the shock would kill her. + +"You will not take him, sir?" she said, calmly appealing to me as I +entered the room in which my men had just seized him, though even they +were inclined to treat him with some delicacy. "He has been an officer, +sir. You will not carry him off and make a common seaman of him? Oh, +sir, he is my husband, he does not wish to leave me. Let him, let him +remain!" + +This simple and artless appeal affected me much. + +"He surely has some protection," said I. "Pray, let me see it." + +"Oh, you relent, you relent!" she shrieked out joyfully. + +"I have no protection that I am aware of, except the right of being +free," answered the young man mournfully. + +If I let this poor fellow off, so I must many others, and, besides, my +duty is to take him; orders must be obeyed, I reflected. + +"It cannot be helped," said I gruffly. "You must come along with us. +The captain may let you off when he hears your story." + +"I'll go quietly, but do not bind me, for mercy's sake," he answered +calmly. + +I walked out of the room. There was the sound of something falling on +the floor. The poor young wife had fainted. Thus the husband had to +leave her, unconscious of her bereavement, he was conveyed on board the +Charon. Before we left the port, a letter was brought him from the +shore. He was a widower. While he remained in the ship he was to all +appearance a steady, obedient man, but I suspect that he wreaked a +bitter vengeance ere long for the cruel wrong he felt that he had +suffered. + +The result of this hot-press was four hundred men, captured that +forenoon. A fleet of transports now received on board another division +of two thousand troops, to be conveyed to the assistance of Lord +Cornwallis, at Portsmouth. + +On the 12th of May, having fallen down to the Hook, we sailed with the +whole fleet for the southward. Nothing occurred on the passage except +the capture of an unfortunate brig, which found herself near us in a +calm, and upon which nearly all the boats of the squadron set at once. +It made me think of a number of birds of prey pouncing down on some poor +beast of burden which has dropped through fatigue on the road. The +commander-in-chief having given up the command of the convoy to Captain +Symonds, leaving also the Roebuck and Assurance, he parted company, +while we continued our course for our destination. + +We anchored with the convoy off Sewel's Point on the 20th, and Captain +Symonds remained in command till the 30th, when the Richmond coming in, +he was relieved of that duty by Captain Hudson. Twice during that time +I was sent on shore with flags of truce to Hampton, where I was, as +before, most hospitably received by my friends the Langtons. My first +inquiries on returning to the coast of Virginia had been for Colonel +Carlyon. He was still a prisoner at Portsmouth; but, from what I could +learn, I had hopes that he would soon be exchanged. I was unable to see +him before I was sent off to Hampton. On reaching the house of my +friends, I eagerly asked after Madeline. I felt that it was unnecessary +with them to disguise my feelings, and that it would please them better +if I spoke openly to them on the subject. + +"Where is she? Is she safe? Is she well?" I exclaimed, almost before +the first greetings were over. + +To all my questions they gave me satisfactory answers, and I went back +much lighter of heart than I had been for a long time. They also loaded +me with all the luxuries and delicacies which their most fertile +province can produce, and welcomed indeed they were by my messmates, who +had been for some time living chiefly on salt pork, beef, and +peas-pudding--not pleasant food during a warm spring in that southern +clime. On my second visit I had the satisfaction of negotiating the +exchange of Colonel Carlyon and some other Americans with several of our +own officers, who had been captured in the numerous engagements our +forces had lately had in the Carolinas, as well as in some of what I +may, with justice, call our marauding expeditions in Virginia. I had an +opportunity of seeing Colonel Carlyon but for a moment, when he again +expressed his gratitude for what he was pleased to call the very great +services I had done him. Curious it may seem, but I had rather he had +said less on the subject, and taken it for granted that nothing could +give me greater satisfaction than assisting the father of one to whom I +was so deeply attached. There was, I thought, too much stiffness and +formality in his mode of expressing himself. I, of course, speak of +what my feelings were at the time, and after I had left him my spirits +once more sank to their former level. Those were busy times, and I had +not much opportunity of being troubled with my own thoughts. + +Once more, on the 4th of June, we put to sea, to convoy thirty sail of +transports back to New York; chased a rebel privateer on our way, but +she escaped us. When there, we refitted the ship, and sailed again for +Virginia on the 24th of June. On the 26th spoke the Solebay and +Warwick, with a convoy from Europe, and after parting from them on the +same day, sighted another sail, which did her utmost to escape from us. +We accordingly made sail after her, and at the end of four hours, on +coming up and signalising her, she proved to be no other than the +Cartwright packet from Falmouth to New York. The moment I discovered +this my heart began to beat with anxiety to hear from those I loved so +well. It was long since I had had any news from home. Letters might, I +knew, have been written, but being so constantly on the move as I had +been, there were great probabilities of their having missed me. The +packet hove-to. She had letters on board for the Charon. The bag was +delivered. I had one. There was a black seal to it. The handwriting +was that of my sister. + +There was bad news, I knew. For some moments I dared not open it. One +of our family circle was gone. When I returned his or her place would +be empty. I tore open the letter. One we could all of us least spare, +one we had every reason to love and revere, was taken from us. My +father was no more. A choking sensation filled my throat--tears, long +strangers, then started to my eyes. Often had I pictured to myself the +delight I should feel, should I carry home Madeline as my bride, in +presenting her to him. I knew how he would admire her, how proud he +would be of her, how he would have delighted to call her his little +rebel American daughter-in-law. All that was ended. I should never +again see the kind, good old man. I dashed the tears from my eyes, and +in a hoarse voice gave the order to trim sails as we once more shaped a +course to the southward. + +We arrived off the Heads of Virginia on the 9th of July, and found there +the Richmond, Guadaloupe, Fowey, and Vulcan fire-ship. It had been for +some time seen that the town of Portsmouth was not a tenable post. The +neighbourhood, especially in the summer season, was unhealthy, and ships +of any size could not get up sufficiently near it to assist in its +defence. The commanders-in-chief had accordingly resolved to evacuate +it, and to occupy York Town, on the James River, instead. The latter +place was supposed to possess many advantages over the former, while the +river was navigable for ships of far larger burden than those which +could approach Portsmouth. + +The first division of the army having embarked on board the transports +by the 30th of July we sailed with them, Lord Cornwallis himself, who +took the command, being on board the Richmond. We landed the troops on +the 2nd, and took possession of York Town and Gloucester without any +opposition. It was not, however, till the 19th that the second division +of the army arrived, Portsmouth being entirely evacuated. There was a +general feeling that events of considerable importance were about to +occur. While we were eagerly looking for a reinforcement of troops and +the arrival of a fleet capable of competing with the French, the enemy +were assembling their forces in the neighbourhood, and it was very +evident would bring the whole of their strength to bear upon York Town, +and to endeavour to crush our army there before the arrival of the aid +we so much required. I resolved at all events to note down from day to +day with even greater care than heretofore the occurrences which might +take place in the stout brown journal which had already been so long my +companion, and which I had preserved through so many chances of +destruction both by fire and water--from thieves and the carelessness of +servants and others to whom I had from time to time been compelled to +entrust it. Yet here it still is, battered on the outside, like its +owner; but, though its leaves are somewhat yellow and stained, as sound +as ever in the main, and with the ink as black as the day it was +written. Brief but, believe me, perfectly accurate, according to my +means of information and my own observation, are the descriptions I am +about to offer of those events. Before, however, I go on with my +journal I will give a short account of the position now taken up by the +British army. + +The peninsula which is formed by the rivers James and York is one of the +richest and most beautiful parts of Virginia. York Town is situated on +the south bank of the latter-named stream and on the narrowest part of +the peninsula, which is there but five miles across. Gloucester Point +is on the north, and therefore the opposite side of the river, into +which it extends so far that it reaches within almost a mile of York +Town. The two posts thus completely command the navigation of the +river, which is here of sufficient depth to allow ships of considerable +size to ascend it. The force with which we now occupied these two +important positions amounted to about 7000 men, and it was the intention +of Lord Cornwallis so completely to fortify them both on the sea and +land sides, that they might resist any attack likely to be made against +them either by the French fleet or the combined American and French +armies till we could be relieved by Sir Henry Clinton or by a fresh army +and fleet from England. It was too well known from the first that the +army was but ill-supplied with guns, and indeed with all the munitions +of war requisite for carrying on offensive, or even defensive, +operations against the enemy. This became still more evident when the +guns and ammunition were landed from the ships-of-war, and the crews +were summoned on shore to work them. Every effort was made to put our +positions in an efficient state of defence, for our hopes of being +relieved from New York were very slight, it being understood that +General Washington was preparing for an attack on that city with all the +forces he could muster in the north, at the same time that a sufficient +number of troops were left in the south to give us a good deal of +trouble, and to cause much anxiety to our commanders-in-chief. By my +daily journal I find that on the 20th of August the Charon's lower deck +guns were landed for the defences on shore, while she with the Richmond +was moored so as to flank the enemy should they make an attack on +Gloucester. + +21st.--The troops were engaged in throwing up works, while the seamen of +the squadron were employed in landing the guns and ammunition, the +transports, meantime, being secured under the town of York. + +22nd.--The seamen were employed in the boats, landing at every available +spot on the river, and foraging. On the following day detachments of +men were landed to assist the troops in throwing up works. + +24th.--Foraging parties from the army and navy procuring fresh +provisions often having to take them by force, while the remainder were +employed on the works. It was an ominous circumstance that at no time +did the inhabitants offer a cordial welcome to any of our troops, +although to individuals they were often inclined to show courtesy and +kindness. + +25th.--The Richmond sailed for New York, leaving the command of the +squadron to Captain Symonds. + +26th.--I was sent to get off a schooner belonging to the enemy which had +been run on shore in a small creek. I accomplished my mission, and, she +being found a serviceable little craft, the commodore kept her as a +tender, and appointed me to the command of her. + +27th.--The Bonetta was sent to anchor on the Shoe as advanced ship to +give notice of the approach of an enemy. I was employed with thirty +seamen in fitting out the tender. + +28th.--While the army was employed as before on the works, they were +engaged in pulling down the houses in front of York Town, greatly to +their amusement, it seemed. Tackles were hooked on to the top of the +walls, and thundering down they came almost on the heads of the men. +The wonder was that numbers were not crushed beneath the ruins as off +they ran, laughing and shouting with glee at the havoc they had +committed. + +29th.--The Guadaloupe and Express despatched to Charleston, and the +Loyalist sent to the Shoe to relieve the Bonetta. + +30th.--A day of much excitement and no little anxiety. About noon the +Guadaloupe and Bonetta were seen standing up the harbour under all sail, +and soon it became known that they had been chased by a fleet of French +ships, consisting of twenty-six sail of the line, besides frigates, +fire-ships, bombs, and transports, who followed them to the mouth of the +harbour and captured the Loyalist within three miles of the town after a +most gallant resistance, her masts having gone by the board before she +struck her colours to the enemy. This fleet is commanded by the Count +de Grasse, and has come direct from the West Indies. Three of their +ships brought up at the mouth of the harbour, but the main body anchored +at Lynhaven Bay. + +31st.--The enemy's forces have assembled at Williamsburg, about twelve +miles from York, under the command of the Marquis de la Fayette, and the +French fleet advanced to the Shoe. Thus is York Town shut in both by +sea and land, and it becomes evident that they intend more and more +closely to press us in till they completely invest our positions. The +troops and seamen engaged hard at the works. The shipping removing +further up the harbour. + +September 1st.--The French landed 6000 troops up the James river, which +joined the Marquis de la Fayette at Williamsburg. The enemy now far +outnumber us. I was sent for by the commodore that night, and directed +to guard, till she had safely passed the French advanced ships, an +express boat which was sent off to convey important despatches to New +York, describing the dangerous position in which we were placed. The +risk of being captured was very great. My greatest safeguard was in the +very boldness of the undertaking. The night was dark, and as the roads +where they were anchored were very wide, I might hope to slip by without +being observed. As soon as night fell we sailed. The wind was fair, +and we stood boldly on, looking out for the dark forms of the enemy's +ships. One after the other were passed, till at midnight we were clear +of the enemy, as we believed, and the despatch-boat stood on her course +for the northward, while I made the best of my way back to port. Here I +arrived by daylight, and my report seemed to give great satisfaction to +the commodore. + +2nd.--The seamen of the fleet were removed on shore, and took up their +quarters in tents. Engaged night and day in throwing up works towards +the sea, from which quarter an attack may be expected. + +3rd.--Nine of the French ships advanced to Tous Marsh, and the rest +employed in landing the artillery and stores up James river. + +4th.--Mounted all the Charon's eighteen-pounders on the new sea works. +The seamen engaged in pulling down the front of the town, and in cutting +trees for stockades. + +5th.--The enemy preparing to commence the attack. + +6th and 7th.--The seamen unrigging the ships and hauling some transports +on shore for the defence of the place. The army, as before, employed +without intermission on the works, day and night. + +8th.--The enemy's advanced ships quitted the river and joined the main +body at Lynhaven Bay in consequence of Admiral Graves having appeared +off the Capes with twenty sail of the line. After some slight +skirmishing with the French, the British admiral was compelled from +their great superiority in strength to retreat. The French also on +their return to Lynhaven Bay unfortunately fell in with the Richmond and +Iris frigates, both of which were captured. + +9th.--My duties are very arduous, but honourable, and show the +confidence reposed in me by my superior officer. I went down the river +in the tender to reconnoitre the enemy's fleet, with orders to come +occasionally up in sight of York to signal what was going on among them. +The French fleet from Rhode Island under Monsieur de Barras had now +joined them, making their force consist of thirty-six sail of the line +besides frigates, fire-ships, bombs and transports. During the night I +signalled to York Town that the enemy were at anchor in Lynhaven Bay, +and then I stood off and on in sight of them, watching for any movement +till daylight. + +10th.--Observed the enemy getting under weigh from Lynhaven Bay. +Watched them till they stood towards the Shoe. Ran up and signalled +accordingly. Soon after they anchored at that place. + +11th.--Calm, moderate weather. At four AM the enemy began to advance +from the Shoe, at which time I lay becalmed about three miles from them, +and as they brought the sea breeze with them while I was without power +of moving, I felt that my time was come, and that I should once more +fall into their hands as a prisoner. Ou Trou and all its horrors rose +up before me. Old Nol looked very grave. + +"It's hard times we shall have of it, Mr Hurry, if the breeze don't be +smart about coming, sir," he remarked, shaking his head. "I'd sooner by +half have a chance of fighting, sir, than running for our liberty." + +"We have no choice left us, I fear, Grampus," said I. "However, we'll +do our best, and not give in as long as the little barkie can swim." + +"That's it, sir, that's the thing. The people will stick by you and go +down in the craft if you wishes it," was his answer. + +This being the spirit of my men, my hopes revived. The enemy came on +slowly, but still they were nearing me. With hearty good-will every one +on board kept whistling for a wind, but for all that the breeze did not +come. At six o'clock one of the headmost ships tried the range of her +guns by firing a shot at me. It came pretty near, but a miss is as good +as a mile. There was, however, no time to be lost. Another and another +shot came whistling after me. I cut away my boat, the breeze was +rippling the water astern. I trimmed sails, the wind filled them. Once +more the craft began to move. She slipped faster and faster through the +water, and away she went before the wind with everything we could clap +on her like a scalded cock, as O'Driscoll remarked afterwards, and for +this time happily escaped the durance vile I had been anticipating. At +noon I made the signal that the enemy were still approaching, and at +four o'clock, they having anchored at the mouth of the harbour, I ran up +to the town with the conviction that Othello's occupation had gone. In +the evening I accordingly received orders to haul her on shore and to +join the Charon's at the battery in which they were posted. I do not +mean to say that we did not hope by some means or other to succeed, but +even the most sanguine could not help acknowledging just then that +things looked black and threatening in the extreme. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +DEFENCE OF YORK TOWN.--SENT WITH FIRE-SHIPS AGAINST FRENCH FLEET.-- +FAILURE.--IN COMMAND OF BATTERY.--FIERCE ENGAGEMENTS.--COLONEL CARLYON A +PRISONER AND WOUNDED.--THE CHARON BLOWS UP.--DESPERATE CONDITION OF THE +TOWN.--DEATH OF MY OLD FOLLOWER.--ATTEMPT TO EVACUATE TOWN FRUSTRATED BY +A GALE.--I AM BADLY WOUNDED.--ARMY OF LORD CORNWALLIS CAPITULATES.--WAR +AT AN END.--PRISONERS KINDLY TREATED BY AMERICANS AND FRENCH.--MADELINE +BECOMES MY NURSE.--NEWS FROM ENGLAND.--SIR HURRICANE TEMPEST HAS LEFT ME +HIS HEIR.--I MARRY THE LITTLE REBEL.--FINIS. + +I could not help feeling, in common with many other thoughtful officers, +that we were on the eve of great events. Each day, each hour confirmed +this opinion, and now we were startled if not confounded by the +undoubted information that General Washington had arrived with a +considerable body of troops from the north. He arrived on the 24th in +the Chesapeake, with, it was said, six thousand French and continental +troops, whom we had the mortification to see a frigate and a body of +transports go down to bring up, we no longer having the power to molest +them. Thus still further was the dark thunder-cloud augmented, about, +we believed, to break over our heads. Day and night, however, we +continued working at the batteries, and levelling houses, and clearing +all the ground round the lines of everything which might afford the +enemy shelter in their expected attack. + +September 15th, 1781.--Two ships of the line and a frigate came up a +mile nearer the forts, and under cover of their guns foraging parties +went on shore, whom we were thus prevented from attacking. + +16th.--Never did men work harder than we had been doing to strengthen a +position to enable us to hold out till the arrival of a fleet superior +to the French; and from news received our hopes again arose that it +might yet arrive before we were driven to extremities. Many persons +have been blaming Sir Henry Clinton for allowing General Washington to +pass by him, but the truth is, he did not expect that this would have +been done, but fully believed that he purposed rather to besiege New +York itself. + +17th.--A ship of the line advanced from the shore and joined those off +Tous Marsh. Signals being made all day long between the French +Commodore and the Compte de Grasse. French frigates passing and +re-passing between their squadrons. Something evidently in the wind. + +18th.--Our forces employed as usual in pulling down houses and throwing +up works. + +19th.--All the women and children, the negroes and other non-combatants, +were sent out of the town to enable us to eke out our not-over-abundant +supply of provisions. + +20th.--The soldiers engaged in throwing up works, the seamen in cutting +down trees and in forming stockades. + +21st.--Heavy rain fell, greatly retarding the progress of the works. I +was not a little pleased to hear that an attempt was to be made to +destroy the French squadron at the mouth of the harbour, and that four +fire-ships were to be employed on that service. I immediately offered +to command one of them--an offer which was at once accepted. +Lieutenants Conway and Symonds were appointed to command two others, and +Mr Camel, a lieutenant of a privateer, had charge of the fourth. Our +wish was to be under the orders of Captain Palmer of the Vulcan, whose +experience and judgment we felt would insure success, but the commodore +decided on allowing each of us to trust to our own abilities and to act +according to circumstances. The vessels were patched-up schooners and +sloops, and fitted in so hurried a way that they were scarcely +manageable. The experiment was to have been made that night, but the +wind and weather proving unfavourable, Captain Palmer, with whom we +consulted, advised us to defer it till the following-- + +22nd.--The wind being about north-west, it was this evening considered +practicable to attack the advanced ships of the enemy, and we +accordingly made preparations for our hazardous expedition. The Vulcan +and four other vessels were to be employed in the service. I was of +course well acquainted with all the risks to be encountered. I knew +that I might either be blown up, or, if overtaken by the enemy, cut to +pieces without remorse, no quarter being given to people engaged in that +sort of work. During the first day after volunteering I had not time to +think much about the matter, but four-and-twenty hours spent in +comparative inaction enabled me to contemplate the consequences in their +true light, and though I felt as resolved and determined as ever, I knew +well that this might be the last day of my existence. I did not so much +dread the future, I own, as regret all I was leaving behind. I thought +over and over again of Madeline--of the happiness I had hoped to enjoy +with her--of the grief should I fall, my death would cause her. I +thought of my family and of the dear ones still surviving at home who +hoped to welcome me when war was over, but would hope in vain. I felt +very grave and sad, but not the less resolved or undaunted I may say, +and determined to do my duty. The time was approaching for our start. +I walked aft and stood looking over the taffrail away from the crew, and +there I offered up a deep, earnest prayer for protection for myself and +also for my people in the expedition in which we were engaged. Yes, I +prayed, and sincerely too, believing that I was praying aright as I +stood over all those terrific combustibles which were to bring havoc and +destruction among hundreds of our fellow-creatures not more guilty, not +more worthy of death than were I and my fellows. I will not stop to +moralise on that subject, yet I have often since thought that it is one +worthy of deep consideration. Of one thing only I was certain that, as +an officer in the Navy, I was doing my duty to my king and country in +endeavouring to destroy their enemies, and all the rest I left to the +guidance of Him who rules all things for the best. I now feel that +there is a purer law, a stricter rule which should prevail instead of +those which most men follow, but it would be out of place here to +discuss the subject. + +The ships in the harbour gave out the hour of midnight. It was the +signal agreed on for starting. We made sail, cut our cables, and ran +down the river. The wind held fair, the night was dark, and there +appeared every probability that our undertaking would succeed. Nol +Grampus, Rockets, and four other men were with me to man the boat in +which we were to make our escape. Not a word was spoken. Every +arrangement had before been made. Having placed our vessels in a +position from which they could not fail to drift down on the enemy, we +were to set fire to them, and then, jumping into our boats, pull away +for our lives. There was not much fear of pursuit if the vessels hit +their marks, as we knew that the boats of the squadron would be engaged +in endeavouring to clear their ships of the burning craft. If, however, +through a change of wind, or any other circumstance, they should drift +clear of the ships, it was probable that the boats might come in chase +of us to take vengeance on our heads for the injury we had attempted to +inflict on them. + +There lay the French squadron before us, no one on board dreaming of the +havoc and destruction about to be wrought among them. It was just two +o'clock in the morning. Our little flotilla of evil was slowly +approaching. Evidently no sufficient watch was kept ahead of the French +ships. Our success appeared certain. Suddenly a bright light burst +forth, revealing our vessels clearly to the enemy, and shedding a lurid +glare over their ships which lay sleeping on the calm water ahead. What +had happened? There, blazing away on the right of our line, was the +fire-ship commanded by Mr Camel, the lieutenant of the privateer. The +proceeding was as unaccountable as strange, and I at once suspected that +he had thus acted to betray us. I never have had cause to place much +confidence in privateer officers, though undoubtedly many brave men are +to be found among them. The instant the flames blazed up, the roll of +drums was heard on board the French ships beating to quarters. Then a +brisk fire from thirty to forty guns was opened on us, and the shot came +rattling thickly about our heads. The light had revealed to the +Frenchmen our fire-vessels, and they could not tell how many more might +be in the rear, so they hurriedly cut their cables, and, in the greatest +confusion, endeavoured to make sail to get out of our way. Mr Conway +next set fire to his vessel, Symonds following his example, and both +taking to their boats. I had still hopes of effecting my purpose, so I +stood on. I had not gone far before Grampus exclaimed from forward-- + +"There, sir; there are the French launches; they are after us!" + +Such was the case. + +"Haul up the boat, my lads!" I exclaimed. "Jump into her!" + +As the men slipped over the side I set fire to the train, and, before I +had time to jump into the boat, the vessel was in a blaze from stem to +stern. The Vulcan was the last vessel fired. She was, at the time, +within her own length of a French twenty-four. What had become of her +gallant commander and crew I could not discover. The French launches +were after me. My people pulled away with all their might. It was, +indeed, a matter of life and death. The other boats were ahead, and I +hoped safe. Several bullets came whizzing past us. As I looked astern, +my satisfaction was great to see our fire-ships still blazing away, and +the Frenchmen drifting, as it appeared, towards the shore. As it +afterwards appeared, two of them did drive on shore, and I believe that, +had our ships had their guns on board, we might by prompt action have +run down and destroyed them before reinforcements could have come to +their aid. Happily for me the French launches were recalled to go to +the assistance of their ships, and, finding myself no longer pursued, I +lay on my oars to try and discover what had become of Captain Palmer. +To my great satisfaction, he soon made his appearance, having, at first, +wisely pulled across the stream, where he had not been observed. All +the boats assembling together, we returned considerably crestfallen and +dispirited to our tents. Whether it was treachery, cowardice, or want +of consideration induced the privateer's man to set fire to his vessel I +cannot say, but owing to him alone was the failure of our expedition to +be attributed. + +23rd.--The French this morning got off their ships, and removed to a +more respectable distance from the garrison. Guard-boats were sent down +the river, and continued rowing all night. This duty pressed very +severely on the seamen of the fleet. The enemy began their march from +Williamsburg, and on this day attacked and drove in our pickets. + +24th.--The seamen were directed to man the guns in the front, and they +were then to-day reviewed by Lord Cornwallis. + +25th.--To-day the seamen were again inspected by Lord Cornwallis, and +went through the exercise of the great guns before him, when his +lordship expressed himself highly pleased with our conduct. At this +time, the first lieutenant of the Charon commanded a battery in the +centre of the lines of one twenty-four, two eighteens, and two twelves; +I had charge of a battery with three eighteenss and four sixes, in front +of the 17th Regiment to the right; Lieutenant Symonds, one of three +nines to the left of mine; Lieutenant Conway, of two nines, to the right +of all; Mr Conway, of two twelves, as flanking guns; the master of the +Fowey, of two nines, in front of the 43rd Regiment; while all the +batteries to the left were manned by seamen from the transports, under +the command of the agent. All the sea batteries were commanded by Mr +Robb, master of the Charon. Thus it will be seen that the Navy took a +very active part in the defence of the place. + +26th.--The seamen's tents were to-day moved in front of the quarters of +the army, close to our batteries. This was done, as we were in +momentary expectation of being attacked by the enemy. + +27th.--Our pickets were driven in, and the enemy advanced in order of +battle. The troops marched out to meet them, Lord Cornwallis being +resolved to give them battle; but they retired as we advanced, evidently +at that time not wishing to bring on the final struggle. Our army, +therefore, returned within the lines. + +28th.--At noon the enemy appeared in front of our works, in force about +26,000. They extended the whole distance from the right to the left of +our lines, and a very formidable force they appeared. It was evident +that they wished, by their show of numbers, to strike terror into the +hearts of our men. They were mistaken, however, if such was their +object, for nothing could persuade our fellows that any one of +themselves was not equal to twenty Continentals or Frenchmen. It is +very well for the men to despise an enemy, and to feel sure that they +can thrash him; but officers, on the contrary, cannot have too much +respect for him, nor do too much to insure victory, or take too many +precautions to guard against surprise. A body of the enemy advancing to +reconnoitre in a ravine in front of my battery, I opened fire on them +till they rapidly dispersed. + +29th.--Lord Cornwallis, having in vain, with his small army of 5000 men, +offered the enemy battle, and finding them intent on waiting their own +time to attack him on the left flank, moved this night with all the army +inside the works. He did not doubt but that, by acting on the +defensive, we should be able to hold out till the arrival of the long +and earnestly-expected fleet and army to relieve us. It is no +disparagement to the bravery of our little army to say that that succour +was most earnestly prayed for. A body of French horse and foot attacked +the German Legion, who had to retreat under the cover of a battery to +the left. I had again to open fire with my 18-pounders on a body of the +enemy who appeared in front of the works, but took to flight as the shot +went rattling in among them. + +30th.--The enemy broke ground, and began to throw up redoubts, moving on +at the same time in three columns towards our centre. They quickly took +possession of two of our redoubts, which we had evacuated on withdrawing +into the town. At eleven o'clock they attacked the right and left of +the town with the intention evidently of storming the flanking redoubts. +A smart action ensued. Our men behaved magnificently, so did the +enemy; but after severe fighting for two hours they were repulsed, and +while our batteries played on them they were driven back in great +confusion into the woods behind the town. + +1st October.--The Hessian Legion with other light troops made a sortie, +and while skirmishing in front of the town captured several of the +enemy. The Hessians returned into the town close to my battery. I +observed that they were carrying among them a person on a litter. At +first I thought that it was one of their own wounded people, but as they +came nearer his uniform showed me that he was an American officer. A +strong impulse induced me to hurry down to meet him, and I knew at all +events that very likely the Hessians would not understand him, and I was +anxious to render him assistance--a mark of my interest in the Americans +which I felt glad my duty would allow me to bestow. I started when I +got up to the litter, for though his features were convulsed with pain, +I recognised Colonel Carlyon. He had been shot through both his legs. +He knew me when I spoke to him. I explained who he was as well as I +could to one of the Hessian officers whom I knew, and entreated that he +might be carefully looked after. Just then O'Driscoll, who had come on +shore from the ship, arrived to pay me a visit, and volunteered to +accompany Colonel Carlyon to some house where he might be comfortably +lodged, and to get a surgeon to attend to his wounds. I explained to +the colonel what I had done. He pressed my hand warmly as if he +understood me, for he was in too much pain to speak, and I hurried back +to my battery. + +The enemy were now night and day engaged in throwing up works, while our +batteries kept up a continual cannonade on the people labouring in them, +which impeded their operations somewhat. Notwithstanding this, from the +immense number of men employed, the works were raised with astonishing +rapidity. At night a negro was caught deserting to the enemy with a +note in his possession from one of the merchants in the town describing +the distressed state of the garrison. I have not spoken much of our +distress, but it was very great. Our supply of food was daily becoming +more scanty and bad, and it could scarcely be concealed that even our +ammunition was failing us. The treacherous merchant was at once taken +in custody, to be tried for his crime. + +2nd October.--A constant and heavy cannonade kept up all day on the +enemy's working parties. They nearly completed their first parallel. +Our men occupied in throwing up works. + +3rd.--Much as yesterday. The enemy bringing up their artillery. + +4th.--A flag came in from the enemy; the cause I know not. Perhaps to +offer terms. We kept up as hot a fire as our want of ammunition would +allow. Each day I sent to inquire after Colonel Carlyon, but could not +leave my battery. + +5th.--The French displayed five stand of colours on their works, while +the Americans displayed their new States' flag of the Stars and Stripes; +we eagerly looking for that relief which would enable us to sally out +from behind our works, beside which we stood fretting angrily, and drive +them away into the recesses of their woods and marshes. + +6th and 7th.--The enemy mounting their heavy artillery on their first +parallel and supplying their batteries with ammunition. The garrison +throwing up traverses to defend the works. + +8th.--The enemy attacked our pickets on the left at midnight, and drove +them inside the lines. Some time after this a body of them came to the +barricade and persuaded the officers that they were deserters. The +officers of the 43rd regiment, in a most unwary manner having got on the +works to show them the way in, were treacherously shot at and killed, +their murderers making their escape. + +9th.--The enemy having completed their works and mounted their guns, +their batteries opened on the evening of this day with great vigour, +that on the right of eight 24-pounders, and that on the left of four +24-pounders and two eighteens. Day and night the cannonade continued +without intermission--we, as well as we could, keeping up a reply. +Several shot having struck the Charon and Guadaloupe, they were removed +farther down the river. It will be impossible to account for the killed +and wounded in each day's action. I may be able to say something about +it if I come out of the work alive. All I can now say is that the +slaughter is very great. Among the killed this day is the +commissary-general, who with several other officers lost their lives, +while sitting at dinner, by a shell which burst among them. + +10th.--The enemy opened several fresh batteries to-day. One of them +commanded the Charon, on which they began to cannonade with red-hot +shot. I heard of her danger from Tom Rockets, who came hurrying into +the battery with a look of as much concern as if the town had been +taken. + +"They're at her, sir!" he exclaimed. "They're blazing away like fury, +and I see'd smoke, when last I looked at her, coming up her +main-hatchway. Poor old barkie! I don't by no manner of means like the +look of things." + +I could ill spare any of my people from the battery, but I despatched a +master's mate, with Grampus, Rockets, and a few other men, to render +what assistance they could. They, however, very soon returned. + +"I know'd it would be so," exclaimed old Grampus, throwing down his hat +and almost blubbering outright. "The dear old barkie, there's an end on +her. I know'd she was to have ill-luck from the time we first came +inside them Capes of Virginia; but I didn't think, that I didn't, that +she'd have been blown to blazes by them infernal hot iron balls, which +to my mind ain't fit for Christians to make use on, that they ain't. +Well, there was we a-waiting for a boat to get aboard her, though I +didn't think there was much use, seeing she was in a blaze from stem to +stern. In a few minutes the flames licked and coiled themselves up +round the masts and spars till they reached the mast-heads, and then she +broke adrift from her moorings, and, not content with getting burnt +herself, what should she do but drive aboard a transport which she set +on fire, and then there the two were burning away together, without the +power of mortal man to stop them. The enemy were still commanding them, +while our old barkie, to show that she was game to the last, kept firing +away her own guns as long as one of them remained mounted, and then up +she went in a shower of sparks and flames, and wasn't long in burning to +the water's edge." + +The master's mate told me that, notwithstanding the circumstances Nol +had described, he could scarcely restrain him and the other men from +shoving off to get aboard the frigate. The inconvenience we suffered, +the loss of our things, was not to be compared to our regret for the +destruction, (for her rate), of one of the finest ships in the Navy. +Scenes almost indescribable of distress and death, misery and suffering, +now crowd around us on every side. + +This evening the enemy, having mounted more of his artillery, totally +silenced Number 5 battery commanded by the first lieutenant of the +Charon, the shot and shells having torn up his platforms and dismounted +his guns. He, with his men, was therefore obliged to quit it. At ten +o'clock at night the enemy under cover of their guns made a general +attack from the centre to the left, but were again repulsed. Twice I +witnessed the Hessians give way before the enemy in front of my works. +The cannonade continued all night with a warmth hitherto unsurpassed. +The slaughter in all parts of the town was very great. We were +occasionally employed in restoring the works which the enemy had knocked +down. Not a moment was there for rest; every man was employed either in +fighting or toiling with pickaxe or shovel. Many parts of the town were +set on fire, a lurid glare being cast over the whole scene, exposing to +sight the falling buildings, the brave garrison working their guns or +labouring in the trenches, the wounded carried off on litters, the dead +strewed about in every direction; the whole to my idea presenting a +picture more awful and terrific than any I had ever yet beheld; yet I +had seen, as may be remembered, in my day a good deal of hard fighting. + +11th.--No words of mine can properly describe the dreadful condition to +which our small but brave garrison was reduced. The enemy this evening +began their second parallel by which they advanced three hundred yards +nearer to us. Their fire continued incessant from heavy artillery and +mortars, and we opened fresh embrasures to flank their works, keeping up +a constant fire from all the howitzers and small mortars were possessed. +Upwards of a thousand shells were thrown into the works this night, and +every spot alike became dangerous. To talk of the thundering of the +cannon, the cries of the wounded, and the shrieks and distressing +gestures of the inhabitants, whose dwellings were in flames, and knew +not where to seek for safety, will but give a faint picture of what was +taking place. Yet amidst all this havoc, destruction, and suffering, +the known scarcity of everything necessary to prolong the siege, no +murmuring was heard. Not a wish was expressed to give up the town while +the most distant hope remained of our being relieved. On the contrary, +our gallant little army, taking example from their chief, exhibited the +most undaunted resolution, and hourly gave proof of their attachment to +the noble general who had so often led them on to victory in the field. +One man there is, and one only, who may well tremble at the result. +Often do I think of him and what his fate will be if the place is taken +by assault. Yet, strange to say, he appears as cool and fearless as the +rest. On this night the enemy burnt several transports with red-hot +shot and sunk two others from a battery on the left. The inhabitants +who still remained in the town, and other non-combatants, were now +living in holes under the cliffs or along the shore by the river side. +Even there, however, they were not safe, the shot finding them out in +their places of refuge and destroying numbers of them. My great anxiety +was for Colonel Carlyon. He was recovering from his wounds, but I +dreaded lest a stray shot or shell might penetrate the hospital, and +that he might share the fate of so many of our own people. I sent him a +message whenever I had an opportunity, and received many kind +expressions from him in return. + +12th.--At eight o'clock this morning the enemy sunk one of the +fire-ships from a fresh battery thrown up during the night. All day a +hot fire was kept up from it which almost completed the destruction of +the shipping intended for the defence of the town against an attack by +sea. + +At nine o'clock the chief officer of artillery waited on the commodore +with a message from Lord Cornwallis, requesting that the lieutenants of +the navy with their men should move on from the right into the hornwork +on the left, which the crews of the transports had quitted in +consequence of the heavy fire to which it was exposed. It was every +instant expected that the enemy would storm the works. Hearing this, I +immediately volunteered to work this battery, and set off for it +accordingly, with a midshipman and thirty-six seamen, it being +understood that I was to be relieved in eight hours by the first +lieutenant. In fifty-two minutes after my arrival in the hornwork the +enemy silenced the three left guns by closing the embrasures, and +shortly afterwards they dismounted a twelve-pounder, knocked off the +muzzles of two eighteens, and for the last hour and a half of the time I +had undertaken to hold the post left me with one eighteen-pounder. +Although even a part of its muzzle also was shot away, I kept up a fire +with it, determining to hold out to the last. My poor fellows were +falling thick around me. Numbers had been wounded; scarcely one had +escaped; eight had been killed. Tom Rockets had received a bad injury +on one arm; still he worked away with the other, helping as best he +could to load and fire the gun. The midshipman, Nol Grampus, and I were +the only men in the battery uninjured. Old Nol stood as upright and +undaunted as ever. The gun had just been loaded; he held the match in +his hand; he was about to fire. At that instant I saw a shell pitching +into the battery. Our gun went off. Its roar seemed louder than +before. At the same instant there was the noise of the bursting of the +shell. I was covered with dust and smoke. It cleared away, but when I +looked out for Grampus, expecting to see him at the gun, he was gone. A +little way off lay a mangled form. I ran up. It was that of my old +faithful follower and friend. He knew me, but he was breathing out his +last. + +"I knowed it would be so, Mr Hurry," he whispered, as I stooped down +over him. "When I saw the old barkie go I knowed that the days of many +on us was numbered. I'd have like to have seen the war ended, and you, +Mr Hurry, made happy. Bless you, my boy, bless you! You've always +showed your love for the old seaman. Well, it's all right. I don't +fear to die. He who rules up aloft knows what's best. He will have +mercy on a poor ignorant sailor who trusts on One who came on earth to +save him. That's my religion. You stick to that, boy! I can't see. +I'm cold, very cold." + +I took my old friend's hand. He pressed it faintly. "Thank ye, thank +ye," I thought he said. His lips moved for a few moments, then suddenly +he fell back. A shudder passed through his frame, and he was gone. A +better or a braver seaman than Nol Grampus never died fighting for his +sovereign's cause. + +I had to spring up and help work the gun, for another of my poor fellows +was just knocked over. I looked at my watch. It was the time my relief +should arrive, and time it was, for the midshipman and I were the only +two now remaining unhurt. Out of the thirty-six men who followed me +into the battery nine lay dead, eight more were breathing out their last +on the ground, and of the nineteen others most had lost either an arm or +a leg. + +At last my brother-officer with some men appeared. He stood aghast, as +well he might, at the spectacle presented to him. As he was approaching +me a shell fell in the space between us, sending its fragments in every +direction. I felt that I was wounded, and, staggering back, I fell to +the ground. My brother-officer ran to lift me up. I found that I had +been struck on the right leg and received a severe contusion on the +head, but in a few minutes I was able to stand. The midshipman also was +wounded in the arm by the same shell, and he and I were the only two +people able to walk out of the battery. Of the others several died +before they were removed. I left it at a quarter-past six, and on my +way past the redoubt, where he had been the greater part of the time, I +received the thanks of my Lord Cornwallis for what he was pleased to +call my gallantry and determination. + +13th.--Too clearly does it appear that a struggle in which we can +scarcely hope to be the victors is approaching. The besiegers have +greatly augmented the number of their guns and mortars in the works of +their second parallel, while our lines, it is evident, are becoming +every hour more and more defenceless. Even the most sanguine begin to +despair of the arrival of relief in time to save the garrison from a +surrender, although the commander-in-chief at New York sends us +assurance that he will come to our aid; but he has not started, and any +hour may seal our fate. + +At five this evening, in spite of my wound, I again quitted my battery +on the right, having volunteered to command two eighteen-pounders on the +left. I kept up a constant fire with them all night on the enemy's +works. By the morning the battery was masked, and I and my people +returned to our own works. + +14th.--Our works were now in every direction reduced almost to heaps of +ruins, and incapable of withstanding the tremendous fire poured into +them by the enemy's artillery, which, from want of ammunition, we had no +power of silencing. Considerable breaches were made in our strongest +batteries and redoubts; indeed, it was too evident that they were no +longer tenable. Early this morning the enemy sunk another fire-ship and +two transports; at seven in the evening they attempted to storm the +flanking redoubts to the right, but were repulsed with considerable +loss. We were all kept on the _qui vive_, for it was evident that they +had not done with us yet. This was proved at nine o'clock, when we were +warned that they were advancing against us with a force believed to be +not less than 17,000 men. From right to left they came on, with drums +beating and loud huzzas, and attempted to storm our works. We opened on +them with all our guns from one end of our works to the other. They +replied with their musketry, and it may well be supposed how terrific +appeared that blaze of fire extending throughout the whole length of +that wide-stretching line. It was a sight which, although many are the +battles I have seen, I shall never forget. Then there were the burning +houses, the bursting shells, the roar of the artillery, the rattle of +the musketry, the crashing of falling buildings, the blowing-up of +mines, the cries of the combatants, the shrieks of the wounded, the loud +clang of the martial bands, the wild huzzas of the stormers, the defiant +shouts of our gallant fellows,--all these must be thrown in, and yet +after all no adequate conception can be formed of that midnight scene of +slaughter and destruction. Our men fought fiercely and desperately; +soldiers and sailors vied with each other in their feats of gallantry. +Bravely they stood at the breaches in our crumbling works; the sick and +wounded rushed to the trenches. I heard a voice near me which I +recognised as that of Tom Rockets. + +"I thought you had been in your bed, Tom," said I. + +"So I was, sir," he answered; "but I couldn't stay there when this sort +of fun was going on, so as I'd yet one arm at liberty I thought as how +I'd come and use it alongside you, Mr Hurry; I knew you wasn't over +well to do either." + +Tom had no jacket on, and his arm was bound up just as it had been when +he managed to make his escape from the hospital. Although in most +directions we drove the enemy back, they managed to carry two of our +flanking redoubts on the left, which had hitherto retarded their +approaches, when nearly all the poor fellows in them were, as is +generally the case when a post is taken by storm, put to the bayonet. + +15th.--The enemy lost no time in throwing up a line of communication +between the two flanking redoubts, which they perfected before daylight. +The consequence of this to us was most disastrous, for they would now +rake the whole of our lines. Still we persevered and returned, though +it must be owned but feebly, the vigorous fire they kept up on us. + +16th.--At half-past four in the morning, Lord Cornwallis directed a +sortie to be made in order to destroy or to spike the guns in one of the +enemy's batteries which was causing us most annoyance. The party +consisted of about a hundred and fifty men from the guards, the light +infantry and the 80th regiment. Never have I seen a more spirited or +dashing affair. Away they went, nor stopped till they had surmounted +the enemy's works, which were found to be occupied by French troops, +upwards of a hundred of whom were bayoneted. Eleven guns were spiked +and in five minutes they were back again within our lines with the loss +only of twelve killed and wounded. Scarcely anything took place in the +garrison with which the enemy were not made acquainted. The general, +therefore, never allowed any of his intentions to transpire till the +moment of execution. It was therefore without much surprise that I +heard at midnight that boats were in readiness to convey the troops over +to the Gloucester side, and that the seamen were to keep up as heavy a +fire as we could, to deceive the enemy. When the troops had passed over +we were to make a rush for the boats and get across to follow them as +best we could. What was then to be done we were left to divine. The +sick and wounded and prisoners, and our guns and stores, were of course +to be abandoned. Scarcely had I heard of the proposed plan before I +found that the embarkation had commenced. The night had been +threatening, and now a storm with wind and rain, thunder and lightning, +such as I had not often witnessed, commenced and increased in fury. It +made our work easier in deceiving the enemy, though our artillery seemed +but a mockery of the thunder of the skies. Our gallant seamen felt that +the safety of the army depended on their exertions, and in spite of the +showers of shot and shell falling among us all night, most nobly did +they stand to their guns. The time was approaching when I expected to +receive orders to call them off from the lines, that we might commence +our retreat. O'Driscoll was engaged in the embarkation of the troops. +He was to come when they had crossed, to assist me in managing the +retreat of the seamen. At length I heard his voice in my battery. + +"All right," I exclaimed. "One shot more and we'll make a run for it." + +"Not at all right," was his answer. "The plan has failed, and if the +enemy discover our condition we are done for. I came to stop you from +leaving your guns." + +"What has happened?" I exclaimed. + +"The larger part of the army were got across in safety when the gale +increased so much that I began to doubt the possibility of passing over +any more. Even the empty boats could scarcely make head against it. I +was going to represent this to the commodore, when I found that two of +the boats full of troops had drifted down the river before the gale. If +the poor fellows in them have escaped drowning, they will by daylight +fall into the hands of the enemy. This settled the question; the +further embarkation of the troops has been stopped, and now I must hurry +away to endeavour to get the main body back again before our manoeuvre +is discovered." + +The troops remaining on the York side once more returned to the lines, +and the night passed away, as had many previous nights, both sides +keeping up a heavy cannonade with the addition of the fearful storm +which raged till long after the sun had risen on the scene of slaughter +and destruction. + +The plan formed by our noble general was worthy of him, desperate as it +may appear, and would, I believe, have succeeded had not the elements +been against him. Sallying from the lines at Gloucester Point as soon +as all the army had crossed over, he intended to attack the camp of the +French cavalry, mount the infantry on their horses, and push on by rapid +marches towards the north, till he could form a junction with such +forces as Sir Henry Clinton might send out to his support. Part of the +navy and a small body of troops were to be left behind to arrange terms +for the inhabitants as well as for our poor wounded and sick men, who +could not be moved. The baggage also of course was to have been +abandoned. Had the plan succeeded, it would have been looked upon as +one of the most gallant exploits on record. Still many lives might have +been sacrificed and no adequate object obtained, so I doubt not that +events turned out for the best. + +17th.--At length the storm began to abate, but great was our anxiety +lest the enemy should discover our situation and attack us. Happily +they did not come on, and by noon we were able to bring back that part +of the army which had crossed the river. Our generals held a council of +war, and it became known that the sad hour had arrived when we must sue +for terms with the enemy, or undergo all the dangers of an assault with +the certainty of being defeated at last. With feelings of sorrow and +regret we saw the flag of truce depart. We waited the result with +anxiety. Whatever were the terms proposed they were peremptorily +refused by the enemy, and our brave general determined to hold out for +one day more on the bare possibility of relief arriving from New York. +The fire accordingly re-commenced on both sides with greater fury than +before. + +18th.--During the whole morning the fire from all the batteries +continued with unabated warmth, though one after the other our guns were +becoming useless. I continued working away at mine with gloomy +desperation. I was suffering from my wounds, from fatigue, and from +hunger too, for our provisions had almost failed us. I could have gone +on, however, as long as a man remained alive to help me work my guns. +At last a shot came through the embrasure at which was a gun I was on +the point of firing. Suddenly I felt my arm jerked up--the match +dropped from my nerveless arm, and I fell. At that moment the signal +was given to cease firing. Another flag of truce was going forth. I +felt that I was desperately wounded--I believed that my last hour had +come. + +It was just then four o'clock. This was nearly the last shot fired +during that hateful and fratricidal war. Angels were rejoicing that +blood had ceased to flow, though proud British hearts were sad and +humbled at the thoughts of their defeat. That hour struck the knell of +England's supremacy in the West, and gave forth the first glad notes of +the establishment of American Independence. Directly afterwards the +cannonade from the side of the enemy ceased along the whole extent of +their line. + +My men, when they saw me on the ground, lifted me up, and placed me on a +litter already deeply stained with blood. O'Driscoll arrived, and +sincere was the sorrow and commiseration he expressed when he saw me. I +inquired for Colonel Carlyon, and entreated that I might be conveyed to +where he was. + +I felt a longing desire to see Madeline's father once more, and to send +by him, should he survive, my last message of love and devotion to her. +I thought that he would not hesitate about delivering them. + +"I will inquire where your friend the colonel is," answered O'Driscoll. +"He was removed, I know, for the house where he lay was too much +battered to be longer tenable. I am uncertain to what quarters he has +been removed." + +My heart sank within me when I heard these words, for I fully believed +that Colonel Carlyon had been killed, and that O'Driscoll was unwilling +to wound my feelings by the information. My men now moved on with me +through the town. I need not again describe the scenes I witnessed--the +dead scattered about, piles of ruins, houses battered and blackened, the +remnant of the inhabitants wandering about looking for their lost +friends, maimed and wounded soldiers and seamen--gaunt, pale and +starved--others still unhurt, looking angry and sullen at the thought of +our defeat. Officers were standing about in groups, greeting each other +with vexed and sorrowful looks. I was suffering too much physically to +feel deeply on the matter, but my sensations were of a very mixed +character, and I do not feel that it was derogatory to my character, as +a loyal subject of his Majesty, or as a British officer, to say that I +heartily prayed that the war might be over, even though the proposed +humiliating surrender might be the last great event connected with it. +After I had been conveyed through several ruined, half-burned streets, +my bearers at length stopped at a house where O'Driscoll told me he +believed Colonel Carlyon was to be found. + +Such was the case. Though sitting up, he was unable to walk. The +expression of sorrow and commiseration which lit up his countenance, and +the kind words with which he greeted me, gave me the assurance that I +was regarded by him in the light I desired. It was some time before a +surgeon could attend me--so many more urgent cases demanding the care of +the medical men in every direction. In the meantime notice was brought +us that a cessation of arms had been agreed on, and which time was +afterwards increased till the following day. + +Like a father or a fond brother did Colonel Carlyon tend me all that +night, refusing to lie down till my wounds had been dressed, and I had +sunk into the slumber I so much needed. + +19th.--The day--painful, though scarcely to be called humiliating, to +the brave army which had so heroically endured that desperate if not +protracted siege--at length arrived. Lord Cornwallis, finding that our +enemies had resolved to grant us alone the terms which they had +previously offered--that we had not as yet experienced the effect of the +fire from the flanking redoubts, armed with numerous pieces of heavy +artillery ready to open on us--that our garrison was now reduced to +scarcely three thousand effective men, in want both of provisions and +ammunition--felt that the only course open to him, to prevent the +horrors of an assault, and to save the lives of the remainder of his +troops, was to accept them. Accordingly, at noon, the army surrendered +prisoners-of-war to the United States of America, while the navy became +prisoners by arrangement to the Compte de Grasse. At one o'clock a +regiment of American troops, followed by one of French, took possession +of the works, with drums beating and colours flying, when the British +flag was struck, and that of America displayed in its stead. At three +o'clock the British troops marched out, with drums beating and colours +cased, towards the enemy's lines. There in a wide field were drawn up +the armies of the allies, with the generals ready to receive them. +Proud and happy, indeed, must Washington and his brethren-in-arms have +felt at this, to them, glorious termination of the struggle. + +Sullen and sad looked our men, I was told, as, with gestures of +impatience and vexation, they grounded their arms, and then marched back +into the town. At the same time the enemy took possession of all our +lines and works. My wounds, though severe, were not dangerous, and I +was able to take an interest in all that was going forward, and to +receive the visits of friends who came to inquire after me and to offer +me assistance. With regard to the condition of the garrison on the day +we surrendered, I can state positively that, on a correct muster, we +were unable to march out more than two thousand five hundred men. We +found, therefore, that we had lost, in killed and wounded, upwards of a +thousand, and from sickness four hundred and fifty. From this +calculation it will be seen that we had about a hundred and ten killed +and wounded every day after the enemy opened their batteries. The +remaining troops were at Gloucester, on the other side of the river, the +works of which they bravely defended to the last. + +The ruinous condition of the town and works, which altogether did not +cover half a mile of ground in length and nothing like it in width, may +be conceived by the accounts I have already given. I may remark that +from one end to the other it was strewed with shot and shell, and had +truly the appearance of a ploughed field. I must not close my account +of the public events of this memorable period without speaking of the +civility and humanity the English prisoners received from the French--so +different to that which I experienced when I fell into their hands at +Saint Domingo. They showed evident compassion for our condition, and +not only rendered us every delicate attention in their power, but gave +the officers a captain's guard of grenadiers to guard them from the +insolence and abuse of the American soldiers, who showed, it was said, +much disposition to ill-treat and rob them. The excitement and the +great exertion made by all had hitherto kept at bay the attacks of +sickness from many who now began, their toils over, to succumb to them. +Intermittent fevers appeared, and few, I believe, escaped. Among those +who died was my gallant friend and brother-officer, Lieutenant Conway, +whose name I have before frequently mentioned. For my own part, I +received the greatest personal kindness both from Americans and French. +Those especially who had at any time received any attention from the +English seemed anxious on this occasion to exhibit their gratitude. +Among them I must particularly mention Monsieur Clenard who commanded +the Compte D'Artois, the French ship we and the Bienfaisant took off +Ireland. He now commanded one of the ships of war in the French fleet. +He showed the Charon's, in particular, every mark of esteem and +kindness. So did a French officer we took in the Peggy privateer, when +we went in search of the French fleet, and whom we had properly treated +when he was on board us. Such conduct reflects the highest honour on +the French, and authorises them to expect, should any of their people at +any time by the chances of war fall into our hands, the same kindness +and consideration. + +The American officers were not backward in the same liberal and generous +conduct. I had on one occasion--I omitted to mention it--an opportunity +of showing a favour to the son of a Colonel Matthews in the American +army. Colonel Matthews immediately came and offered money, servants and +horses, and invited me to his house as soon as I could be moved. Mr +Jones also, a gentleman residing at Hampton, whose family I had met +there, sent the instant he heard we had been defeated to ascertain how +he could best serve me, and wrote to assure me that, should I decide to +remain on my parole in America, he would request General Washington to +allow me to reside at his house, and that money or anything he had was +at my service. Just at the same time I received a similar message from +Mrs Langton, whose house was not more than seven miles from York Town. +I need scarcely say that, grateful as I felt for all the other offers of +kindness I had received. I resolved, should I have the power, to accept +hers. The public events which took place on the days subsequent to the +surrender may not be considered of general interest. On the 20th the +French ships of war came up the harbour, and on the following day the +British troops were marched into the country, where they were to be +distributed, and kept as prisoners of war till the conclusion of peace. +The seamen still remained in the town. On the 21st, paroles of honour +were granted to the officers of the Navy, who were to go to Europe in +flags of truce with all the seamen and marines. Every exertion was made +to fit out the vessels remaining in the harbour for this purpose, but it +was not till the 2nd of November that they were ready to take their +departure. On the very day we capitulated, Sir Henry Clinton, with a +large fleet of line-of-battle ships and frigates, with seven thousand of +his best troops, set sail from New York. He did not appear off the +Capes of Virginia till the 24th, when, hearing what had occurred, he +returned to New York. It was not, however, till the 26th of January, +1782, that a treaty of peace was signed at Paris, the happy news of +which reached Philadelphia on the 23rd of March. But I am anticipating +events. + +Colonel Carlyon was sufficiently recovered two days after the surrender +of York Town to be removed to Mrs Langton's, but several days elapsed +before I was able to follow him, when I obtained permission from the +commodore as well as from the Compte de Grasse, to remain in America +till my health was restored. I had an affectionate parting with +O'Driscoll and with my old follower, Tom Rockets, who were the bearers +of many messages from me to my family. + +"Tell them, O'Driscoll," said I, "that though I am a loyal subject of +King George, I see no reason why I should not win the hand, as I believe +I have the heart, of a daughter of America." + +"You're right, my dear boy," he answered. "You'll be doing the most +loyal thing in your power, for you'll be winning back a subject who +would otherwise be lost, and gaining many little subjects too, maybe, +old fellow," he added, with a poke in my wounded ribs which almost upset +me. + +At length a litter was brought into my room, and I was carried in it on +men's shoulders to the house of my friends. What words of mine can do +justice to the generous kindness and the delicate attention with which I +was treated by all the family, and the marks of tender affection I +received from one who was there to welcome me? When I first looked up, +after I had been placed on the bed prepared for my wounded form, +Madeline stood by my side. My wounds healed. I rapidly recovered my +strength, and then the depressing feeling of my poverty, of my utter +inability to support a wife as I desired that Madeline should be +maintained, came over me. She ascertained the cause of my despondency. + +"But papa can obtain employment for you," she remarked. "Why not, when +there is peace, leave the British Navy and enter that of the United +States? Surely it is equally honourable!" + +Little did she know, when she said that, how, with all its faults, I +loved the glorious Navy of England: I perhaps scarcely knew myself, till +the sensations which the suggestion conjured up in my bosom told me. +Even the idea of quitting the sea and following some occupation on shore +had not the attraction for me which might have been supposed. Still I +had resolved to adopt the latter alternative if her father would bestow +her hand on me. He had been absent for some time, attending to public +affairs. At length he returned. I explained to him my position. I +thought he looked grave and sad as I went on speaking. + +"I have been under a mistake," he observed. "I thought that you were in +the expectation of receiving a good property, and that you would have +the means of supporting my dear child. This war has ruined my estate, +and I am but little able to leave her anything. It will be better for +you both to part; I grieve that you should have again met." + +These words pierced me to the heart, and overthrew all the bright +visions I had conjured up. They were so unlike, too, what I expected to +hear from him. I pressed my hands on my face and groaned. I dared not +meet Madeline. I thought that, too probably, he would prohibit me from +seeing her again. I sat the picture of despair. Just then a negro +servant entered the room, and gave a packet of letters to the colonel. +He handed me one with a black seal. Another blow. Some other member of +my family dead. It is too bitter. I cannot stand this. I'll go to sea +again, and hope that in mercy I may lose that life which has become too +burdensome to bear. Such thoughts, (wrong and impious I know they +were), passed through my mind as I kept the letter in my hand before +breaking the seal. I looked at the superscription. It was from my dear +sister Jane. I tore it open. The contents soon riveted my attention. +It was not long. One passage ran thus:-- + +"Some weeks ago, our old relation, Sir Hurricane Tempest, much to our +surprise, sent to ask one of us to go and nurse him, saying that he was, +he believed, on his death-bed, and beseeching us to have compassion on a +friendless, childless old man. The lot fell on me. I found him very +different to what I expected, and interested in all matters concerning +us. Do you remember, Hurry, rescuing an old gentleman from the mob in +London during the Lord George Gordon riots? That was Sir Hurricane +himself. He knew you; and when I told him about you, and that you had +fallen in love with an American lady, the daughter of a rebel, and that +you had no means of marrying her, he answered, `But he shall have the +means. I'll give them to him. I like his spirit. I like her. Her +friends have espoused the right side--the side of liberty. They were +not afraid to stand up boldly against tyranny and injustice. Tell him I +shall be happy to welcome the little rebel as my niece, if I live, and, +at all events, to know that her children will inherit my property.' +Soon after this our kind old uncle died, and he has left you, as far as +I can understand, fully three thousand a year." + +How my heart bounded when I heard these words! I handed the letter to +Colonel Carlyon. He rose and took my hand. + +"I had not intended to be very stern when, just now, I spoke to you," he +said, and I knew that he spoke the truth. "I wished to ascertain +whether your affection for my daughter was as great as I was assured it +is. I know that you are eager to give her, before she hears it from +others, the satisfactory information you have received. Go and tell +her." + +I did. A few days subsequent to the news of peace being received, we +were married. After a tour in the States she accompanied me to England, +and my American bride won golden opinions from all the relatives and +friends to whom I had the happiness of introducing her. A dutiful and +affectionate wife she has always been to me, and I have had just cause +to be thankful that I married the Little Rebel. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hurricane Hurry, by W.H.G. 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